In a room in the side hall of Yanxi Palace, Zhang Xiaowan sat tightly on a stool, slowly combing her long hair in front of a square mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had cried a lot.
Zhang Xiaowan looked at her face in the mirror, feeling complicated and sad.
Zhang Xiaowan has always liked to look in the mirror, because she has always felt that she was born very beautiful. She likes herself in the mirror and feels that she is really lucky to be born with a good appearance.
She likes to dress herself up beautifully. When she goes out, she will be very happy when others give her stunning looks.
She felt that with her appearance, she would be able to find a suitable husband in the future and live a happy life.
She often looks in the mirror, looking forward to her future life, weaving a picture of the future with the beautiful dreams of a girl, and feels that life is full of hope and happiness.
Even when her family suffered drastic changes, Zhang Xiaowan felt that she was lucky because she met Yang Tinghe. Although Yang Tinghe was older, he fit all Zhang Xiaowan's imagination of men. He was highly knowledgeable, handsome, and upright.
And he occupies a high position as the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty. Such a man stands out from the crowd and is the standard for the ideal husband that almost all girls in the world dream of.
Therefore, Zhang Xiaowan did not hesitate to recommend himself as a pillow and fell into the arms of Yang Tinghe.
The first year with Yang Tinghe was completely Zhang Xiaowan's dream life. Living and traveling with Yang Tinghe, the two of them read, drew, played chess and rode horses. They were so affectionate that they only envy mandarin ducks but not immortals. Zhang Xiaowan even felt that he had to thank Liu Jin for ruining his life.
Otherwise, how could he have met Yang Tinghe and how could he have such a happy life.
However, everything has changed so fast. In just two years, I have changed from that happy woman to what I am now. Are I Zhang Xiaowan, a famous singing girl in the capital? Are I the tool of Yang Tinghe? What exactly am I?
who?
The face in the mirror was still beautiful, but when Zhang Xiaowan looked at her, she felt extremely strange. The woman in the mirror was no longer Zhang Xiaowan, she was a dirty woman without any shame. The one before was as gorgeous and carefree as a flower.
The carefree girl was completely dead. The person in the mirror was a walking corpse, a red and pink skeleton.
Thinking of what happened last night, Zhang Xiaowan felt sick in his heart. Although it was the emperor, in Zhang Xiaowan's view, he was just a perverted, disgusting and wretched man. The emperor's harsh laughter is still echoing in Zhang Xiaowan's mind.
It seemed like I could still smell the foul smell of alcohol coming out of his mouth.
When she took a shower just now, there were purple marks all over her body. They were all pinched by the emperor.
Zhang Xiaowan felt a little desperate in her heart. Will she have to accompany this man from now on? She remembered what Yang Tinghe said. He said that in order to be together in the future, sacrifices must be made. A good life must be striven for. Zhang Xiaowan didn't know if she should
She wanted to believe Yang Tinghe's words, but she felt that Yang Tinghe was deceiving her.
If he really loved himself, how could he be willing to let himself do these things?
But do I have a choice? There doesn’t seem to be any other choice.
"Miss Xiaowan, can I come in?" Someone said outside the house.
Zhang Xiaowan quickly moved the mirror away, stood up and turned to the door, with a smile on her face.
"Please come in." Zhang Xiaowan said.
The person who came in was Cuiyu, the personal maid of the Empress Dowager in the Yanxi Palace. Behind her was a little maid, holding a bright red dress with peony flowers.
"Miss Xiaowan, the Queen Mother has given Miss Xiaowan a brocade robe. We will help you put it on. You will go to Qianqing Palace to see the emperor in a moment. The Queen Mother drank wine and has not gotten up yet, so she asked me to give it to Miss Xiaowan. Please tell me, Miss Xiaowan, to serve the Emperor well from now on." Cuiyu said with a smile.
"Come on, put it on." Cuiyu stepped forward with a smile, took the luxurious peony brocade robe from the little palace maid, and put it on for Zhang Xiaowan.
"It's beautiful, it's really beautiful. Most people can't hold up this robe. Peonies are so rich and noble, they are the king of flowers. But Miss Xiaowan is very suitable. No matter the figure or temperament, she can conquer it." Cuiyu said with a smile. .
"Thank you for the compliment." Zhang Xiaowan said softly. To be honest, she didn't like this bright red peony brocade robe at all. The red was too dazzling, like the color of blood.
"Then, please leave. Someone from Qianqing Palace has come to pick you up. They are waiting in the front hall. Miss Xiaowan, come with me." Cuiyu said with a smile.
Zhang Xiaowan nodded lightly, followed Cuiyu out of the house, and walked along the deserted corridor to the front hall. An eunuch was standing outside the hall waiting, and when he saw Zhang Xiaowan coming out, he hurriedly bowed and saluted.
"This father-in-law, I leave it to you." Cuiyu said.
"Don't worry." One of the chamberlains said. His voice was a bit thick, which was a bit special among the chamberlains.
Cuiyu glanced at the eunuch in surprise and asked, "This father-in-law is a bit unfamiliar. It seems I have never seen him before."
"Oh, I am Ma Fu, newly transferred by the Royal Horse Superintendent to run errands in Qianqing Palace. Please take good care of me in the future." The eunuch lowered his head and said.
"It turns out it's Eunuch Ma. I'm so unfamiliar with you." Cuiyu dispelled her doubts and turned to look at Zhang Xiaowan and said: "Goodbye, Miss Xiaowan. Miss Xiaowan has reached the sky in one step. I envy you so much. Remember to take care of us in the future. Where are the slaves? How do you say that? Don’t forget each other if you are rich or noble. Hee hee."
Zhang Xiaowan smiled bitterly, nodded and walked down the steps.
Zhang Xiaowan followed the eunuch and left the Yanxi Palace and walked south to the Qianqing Palace.
The morning sun has just risen, the morning dew is crystal clear, the flowers and trees are fragrant, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant all around, and the scenery is very pleasant. Zhang Xiaowan wants to walk slowly and enjoy this moment.
"Miss Xiaowan, please go this way." The eunuch leading the way stood still and pointed to the path among the flowers and trees.
Zhang Xiaowan said: "Isn't this avenue leading to Qianqing Palace? Where does this small road lead to?"
The eunuch smiled and said: "The small road is a shortcut, and the main road has a lot of space. The scenery of the small road is also good. There is a begonia flower garden in front. It is the flowering season, so you can enjoy the flowers. Can Miss Xiaowan still be familiar with me?"
Zhang Xiaowan smiled and said: "It's my first time here, how can you be familiar with me? I'll just listen to you."
The eunuch smiled and walked quickly onto the path, followed by Zhang Xiaowan.
The flowers and trees on both sides of the gravel path are indeed beautiful. This is a forest of flowers and trees located between Yanxi Palace and Qianqing Palace. The flowers and trees are dense. After entering for dozens of steps, all sounds from outside can no longer be heard. Only birds are seen. It chirped on the branches, and the wind rustled the flowers and trees. The air was filled with fragrance.
Zhang Xiaowan secretly admired in his heart. He turned around and looked at the surrounding scenery. The eunuch accelerated his pace in front of him, constantly urging him. Zhang Xiaowan complained a little in his heart, but he could only speed up his pace. Soon after, the path turned, and a small tree sheltered by trees appeared in front of him. Small pavilion.
Not far from the pavilion, a red begonia flowerbed is in full bloom, and it is a splendid scene under the morning sun.
"It's so beautiful." Zhang Xiaowan exclaimed.
"I'm not lying to you. You can rest in the pavilion for a while and enjoy the begonia flowers." The eunuch said.
"Is it okay?" Zhang Xiaowan said in surprise.
"Of course, it won't waste... time." The eunuch whispered, looking a little strange.
Zhang Xiaowan didn't pay attention to this. She quickly walked into the pavilion, sat by the railing and looked at the gorgeous begonia flower garden in front of her. She couldn't take her eyes away and let out a sound of admiration.
The eunuch took out a long white silk ribbon from his waist, tied a knot at one end, hung it on the beam inside the pavilion, and tied a slip knot at the bottom.
Zhang Xiaowan heard the movement, turned around and said in surprise: "This father-in-law, what are you doing?"
The eunuch looked at Zhang Xiaowan and said in a deep voice: "Miss Xiaowan, don't hate me. I am also following orders. Miss, please look at the begonia flowers more. We will be on our way soon."
Zhang Xiaowan was shocked: "What do you mean by this? What are you going to do?"
The eunuch said: "Miss Xiaowan, I'm really sorry. I have chosen this good place for you, you should be satisfied."
Zhang Xiaowan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up and ran out of the pavilion. The eunuch frowned, strode over to catch up, and stretched out his hand to grab Zhang Xiaowan. He grabbed Zhang Xiaowan and carried him back to the pavilion.
"Miss Xiaowan, don't blame me. I'm just following orders. If you want to blame me, I can only blame you for your misfortune. Let's go on your way." The eunuch stretched out his hand and pulled off the knot at one end of Bai Ling and put it around Zhang Xiaowan's head and neck, and then
Pull the other end with one hand.
Zhang Xiaowan struggled violently, but the eunuch remained unmoved and kept pulling her body up in the air. He tied Bai Ling's head to the railing and watched Zhang Xiaowan struggle in the air until she was motionless. Then he bowed and clasped his hands together.
After bowing, he turned around and left quickly.
Zhang Xiaowan hung in the air, her eyes confused and lifeless. The wind blew by, and her body turned, her empty eyes facing the begonia flower bed.
It was brilliant there, like fire, and like a sea of blood.