141 Weird Theater 12
◎The Secret History of Xi Shi◎
[The Secret History of Xi Shi is about to begin! Countdown three minutes, actors please get ready and go on stage one by one. ]
[In 494 BC, King Fuchai of Wu trained his troops day and night in preparation for an attack on Yue. King Goujian of Yue heard about this and planned to take the initiative and attack Wu before the Wu troops set out. King Fuchai asked for information and mobilized all the navy and army to fight. The two sides engaged in a fierce battle and the Yue army was defeated.]
[After being defeated, King Gou Jian of Yue listened to Fan Li's advice and asked for peace with King Fu Chai of Wu, and ordered Fan Li to search for women all over the world to present to the king]
My name is Shi Yi Guang. I grew up in Zhuluo Village, Zhuji, Zhejiang. I have been in poor health since I was a child. When I grew up, I developed heart pain. When it occurred, I felt like dying.
As far as I can remember, the phrase I heard most often was, "Oh! Your girl is so pretty! I think a fairy from heaven would look no better than this!"
Beauty is perhaps one of the things that women in the world desire most. Both men and women love my beauty and say that I will definitely marry into a wealthy family and enjoy wealth and glory in the future. The only downside is that I am weak and I am afraid I will not be able to have children in the future.
Everyone thought so, even my parents.
My father is a simple farmer and my mother weaves at home, working hard all day to earn just enough for three meals a day. They hope that I can marry into a wealthy family with my beauty, so that I can recuperate and also supplement the family income a little.
But I don’t think so. Sometimes I wonder if I can only rely on my beauty for the rest of my life? Am I born just to show this beautiful face to everyone?
I don't understand it, but I have a firm idea. I don't want to marry a man I don't love and rely on him for the rest of my life with my beauty. I want to have my own value.
"Have you heard? A handsome young man has come to the village!"
The gossip of the girls in the village caught my attention.
It seemed that another stranger had come, but I didn’t take it to heart. After all, many strangers had come to the village in recent years, and they all had a common purpose - to admire my beautiful skin.
Over the years, news of my beauty has spread throughout the area. They would travel a day and a night to see my beauty. Even the sight of me covering my heart in pain was still regarded as a beauty by them.
I sneered in my heart. All men in the world are so superficial that appearance alone can attract them. Is there no other important things to do in the world?
But the young man who came this time seemed different. I first met him by the river.
At that time, I was washing the gauze my mother had woven. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my heart and the gauze slipped from my hands into the river. I no longer had the strength to pick it up, so I could only hold my chest and wait for the pain to go away.
It was at this time that I met the young man. He was sitting on a small boat and helped me salvage the gauze from the river. He didn't say anything, but just looked at me with concern.
After the pain subsided, the young man let out a long sigh and said with fear in his tone: "You scared me to death! I almost thought you were going to die in front of me!"
"It's an old problem. It's nothing serious." I replied calmly, but I was a little surprised that he was actually worried about me instead of being obsessed with my beauty.
"Thank you, sir." I stretched out my hand to the young man and asked for gauze. I have to say that this stranger has an extraordinary temperament. He doesn't look like a man from a remote village. He has the air of a gentleman and scholar. No wonder the girls in the village talk about him every day.
All intellectuals think highly of themselves, so I thought he would quickly return the gauze stained with dirty water to me, but I didn't expect him to ask the boatman to dock.
The boy quickly got off the boat holding the gauze and walked to the stream. He squatted down very naturally to help me wash the gauze.
I was shocked: "No! How can I dirty the master's hands! Let me do it myself!"
The young man waved his hand nonchalantly, "Forget it, you're about to faint, let me do it." He pulled the wooden basin on the stone and quickly washed the gauze inside clean.
I tried to dissuade him halfway, but the boy still insisted on helping me finish washing. I simply let him do it. Anyway, he was happy to do so and I didn't force him.
That day was our first acquaintance. The young man told me that his name was Fan Li. He heard that there was a woman washing silk here who was the most beautiful woman in ancient and modern times, so he came here to see her.
I snorted in my heart, he is indeed a man without substance, he would walk hundreds of miles for beauty.
"So now that you've seen it, what do you think?" I asked him deliberately.
Fan Li laughed heartily: "It is indeed beautiful, but not as beautiful as people say." He observed my eyes carefully: "Well... after all, fairies can't wash clothes, right?"
"Smooth talker." My impression of him became even worse. It turns out that intellectuals, like ordinary men, like to say annoying things.
I carried the wooden basin home, having thought that Fan Li was just a minor episode in my daily life. Unexpectedly, he settled down in our village. He came to my house every day to help me wash the gauze. I could see him six hours out of twelve.
Originally, I would compete with him for gauze, but as time went by, I also became happy with the leisure time. Although he was a thin scholar, he was much stronger than me. He could finish washing clothes that usually took an hour in half an hour. In his spare time, he would bring a book to show off his knowledge in front of me.
He recited in front of me: "The orioles are singing on the island in the river. The beautiful lady is the ideal match for the gentleman."
In our small village, girls are not qualified to go to school, even the daughters of the village chief. They believe that girls only need to learn how to take care of their husbands and children, and do needlework, and that letting girls go to school is a waste of money.
Fan Li clearly knew this but still showed off his knowledge in front of me, so I hated him even more.
"If you want to study, go home. Listening to you nagging me gives me a headache." I said in a bad tone, hoping that this would drive away the stranger, but due to my weak body, my voice was soft and had no deterrent effect at all.
Fan Li came up to me without knowing what was good for him. He asked me with a smile, "Do you want to know what it means?"
I said angrily, "I don't want to know. I might as well help my mother thread the needle and knit some more gauze to sell! Do you think everyone has nothing to do like you?"
Fan Li explained: "That's not what I meant..."
"If I had a healthy body, I would definitely help my mother weave and sell cloth instead of changing and washing gauze by the stream, doing trivial things! Apart from this useless skin, what else do I have worth living for in this world!" I became more and more angry: "You and I are not from the same world, can you please stay away from me as soon as possible! Stop getting in my way all day long!"
I surrounded myself like a hedgehog, refusing anyone to approach me, especially Fan Li. I couldn't tell what I was thinking, maybe I had an inferiority complex. When I was with Fan Li, I always envied him.
Fan Li didn't speak for a long time that day and looked listless. I ignored him and went straight home.
He didn't show up for several days, and I finally had some quiet time. Fan Li also left the village a few days later.
I thought Fan Li and I would never see each other again, but unexpectedly he came back five days later.
This time he did not come alone, he also brought a doctor.
His face was filled with joy as he introduced the doctor to me. He said that he had specially traveled to other counties to invite this miracle doctor, who was very good at treating heart pain. He had cured many difficult and complicated diseases over his many years of practice.
He said, "Don't worry, I will heal you."
He said: "You are not only beautiful, you are the fairy in my heart."
He said: "Fairies have no worries, and all their wishes will come true. I am willing to be a believer who worships fairies."
He said to me: "Your beauty is just a guide for our acquaintance. I am willing to slowly copy your heart."
I admit that I was touched for a moment. I didn't expect Fan Li to take my words to heart and find a doctor for me. I was just a farm girl. How could it be worth it for others to care about me? But Fan Li did it, running back and forth just for a sick farm girl.
But I still turned my head away proudly: "You are so smooth-talking, I don't believe you."
He urged the doctor to take my pulse. Our eyes were shining like stars, and we even began to imagine how happy I would be after I was cured.
Unfortunately, things did not go as I wished. The doctor shook his head and said that I had this disease from my mother’s womb and it could not be cured and could only be controlled with medication.
The light in Fan Li's eyes dimmed. He wanted to grab my hand to comfort me, but because it was forbidden for men and women to touch each other, he finally withdrew his hand and forced a smile: "It's okay, I won't give up!"
In the next six months, Fan Li traveled to more than a dozen counties for my illness and invited many doctors. After taking my pulse, every doctor shook his head and left, leaving only Fan Li with a thin back.
That was the first time I held a man's hand, and I took the initiative. I smiled at him and said, "It's okay. I'm used to it. Just take good care of it."
Fan Li smiled bitterly, held my hand back, and said very seriously: "Yi Guang, I will not give up on you."
I never dreamed of being with Fan Li before. The gap between us was too big. I didn't think he would marry me. I came from a poor family and was weak, so it would be difficult for me to have children. Any sober young man would only marry me as a concubine.
But after seeing what Fan Li did for me, I felt at peace.
We lived in peace for some time.
More than a month later, Fan Li's friends came to the village to visit him.
The men, women, young and old in the village welcomed Fan Li's friend very much. They treated him with fruits and vegetables grown in the fields. Fan Li and his friends got drunk that day. Even when they were drunk, they still held the wine jug and refused to let go.
Several servants helped them back to Fan Li's house.
I was a little worried about them, so I made some hangover soup at home and sent it over. When I was about to push the door open, I heard the conversation between the two.
I was planning to leave and go back in after the two of them finished talking, but when I turned around, I heard my name.
"Brother Fan, have you found a beauty in your one-year travels? But is that peasant girl Xizi?"
After a long silence in the room, Fan Li said, "I have my own plans, Wen Zhong does not need to worry."
"The monarch can't wait any longer. You must send the beauty to Wu as soon as possible. Don't delay the monarch's great cause." Wen Zhong said seriously: "Now is a critical moment. Brother Fan's travels should also end."
I was extremely confused for a moment. I knew that Fan Li's background was not simple. He was not like an ordinary rich boy, nor was he like a hard-working scholar, but I never expected that he had such a powerful background.
Looking for a beautiful woman to present to my country...Will he send me to the State of Wu?
I left Fan Li's residence with light steps, thinking back to the past six months, he had worked tirelessly to find medical treatment for me, walking through snowy winters, walking through rugged mountain roads, enduring the scorching sun, he never stopped looking for medical treatment for me.
Fan Li has never lied about his feelings for me, so I don't need to worry and I should trust him.
Fan Li will definitely protect me. He said he would never give up on me. With faith in him, I slowly fell asleep.
The next morning, when I got up, I found Fan Li standing under the peach tree in my yard, with a look of sadness and death on his face.
I asked him deliberately with a smile, pretending that I didn't know what happened last night.
"Why is it so early today?"
Fan Li looked at me deeply. He didn't say anything. His eyes seemed to carve me into his bones and blood.
He rarely showed such an expression. The sad and reluctant look in his eyes made my heart grow colder.
I dare not think about what Fan Li will say next. Did he realize that there is no woman more suitable than me and plan to send me to the State of Wu?
In fact, I can understand him. First, I have no family background, second, I have no connections, third, I am just the right age, and I have a good appearance. Who else but me is more suitable to go to the State of Wu?
My heart ached slightly, but I still smiled at him. Sometimes you have to hear it in person before you give up, right?
That was the second time Fan Li held my hand. His Adam's apple rolled and he said in a hoarse voice, "Yi Guang, I will not give up on you. Do you believe me?"
When I heard that, I didn't care about anything else. I just nodded continuously, with tears streaming down my cheeks.
Fan Li was extremely serious, as if he had put forth all his sincerity in this life, and said, "Yi Guang, I will come and propose marriage tomorrow."
Wait for me to propose tomorrow.
It’s great that he didn’t let me down.
I also answered him solemnly: "Okay."
The day of the proposal was the happiest day of my life. I specially put on the most precious and beautiful clothes, which were not made of coarse linen but soft silk. I usually never wanted to wear this because I was afraid of getting it dirty or torn.
I was looking at the peach tree at home, feeling very happy. I was wondering when he would come. Would he bring a lot of gifts like other families do when proposing marriage? Probably not, he was just staying in our village temporarily and couldn't bring too many things.
It doesn’t matter, I don’t care. After all, I’m not interested in the money, I’m interested in him as a person.
I see things very clearly. It is not easy for a woman to meet a husband she truly loves in her life. Many girls in the village marry men they don't know and spend their lives with them. In comparison, I am very lucky.
That day I looked out the door every half hour. There was no other way. The waiting was too torturous. I wanted to see him right away.
Unfortunately, he disappointed me.
I waited from day to noon, from noon to evening, and from evening to night, but still did not wait for the young man who said he wanted to marry me.
He said he would never give up on me.
He said he believed him.
He said he wanted to marry me.
He broke his promise.
I sat there all night that day, still unwilling to believe that Fan Li did not come, until someone knocked on my door the next morning.
I ran to the door like crazy, and when I opened it, the person outside was not Fan Li, but Wen Zhong.
My heart was broken for a moment, and I murmured, "Why is it you? Where is he?"
"He won't come." Wen Zhong said calmly, "I came here to discuss something important with you..."
"Will you offer me to the King of Wu?" I asked softly.
"As a citizen of Yue, the national situation is more important than anything else. Miss, you are so beautiful that you can overwhelm the country. Are you willing to join the game and help the monarch?" Wen Zhong said seriously, "I know it is difficult for you to make a decision, but please consider it for the sake of the country."
He didn't answer my question directly, but told me the answer indirectly. After hearing the result, my heart still twitched.
Wen Zhong continued, "Brother Fan and I talked about the people's sentiments last night. Although you don't have to worry about food and clothing, most of the cities outside the village are in dire straits."
"Miss, do you know why?" Wen Zhong sighed, "Because we lost! The winner is the king and the loser is the enemy. Every year, Yue State has to pay a large amount of gold and silver to Wu State, which makes our already poor country even worse."
"If the status quo is maintained and the country continues to be exploited by the Wu State, the people will inevitably become even poorer. They will not have enough food or warm clothes, and some may even eat tree bark to fill their stomachs. Children from poor families will die in their mothers' arms when they get sick because they have no money to buy medicine or see a doctor. Tragedies like this have already happened in our country, and there will be more and more in the future."
I had never heard of what Wen Zhong said, and I was filled with grief. Are the people outside so miserable? Displaced, starving and cold.
Suddenly, I understood Fan Li a little bit. He traveled around the mountains and rivers and saw too many poor people. In the face of the national justice, his love was too insignificant, so he was in pain and conflicted. He didn't come to marry me because he wanted to use me for the country.
Suddenly I felt much clearer. Yes, this is my country, the place where I grew up. I am not only Shi Yi Guang of Zhuluo Village, but also Shi Yi Guang of Yue State. As a citizen of Yue State, when the country is in trouble, it is my duty to serve the country!
On a certain level, I think my thoughts are highly consistent with Fan Li's. It's not that he doesn't love me, but that we must love our country more.
"I promise you, I am willing to lend a helping hand to the monarch." I said very seriously.
Wen Zhong looked at me in surprise and said, "Girl, have you thought it through? You will be sent to the State of Wu, and you may never come back..." Wen Zhong said that this was a beauty trap set up against King Fuchai of Wu. The purpose was to make Fuchai indulge in wine and women and gradually neglect the affairs of state, so the woman in the beauty trap was extremely important.
Only a woman with a stunning appearance could lure King Fuchai of Wu into the game.
I nodded in agreement, my expression calm, "For the country and the people, this is what I should do."
I think this is what I should do. I have a beauty that is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Rather than using my beauty to please men in exchange for wealth and glory for the rest of my life, I would rather make the most of my beauty to buy a breathing space for the country. Perhaps dedicating myself to the country should be my path.
Wen Zhong's eyes were complicated: "After today, you will go back with me to meet the monarch."
*
If you want to play the greatest role in the beauty trap, beauty alone is not enough. Wen Zhong trained me carefully for three years. During these three years, I learned the arts of playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, stringed instruments, and singing. I worked hard to learn these. Only in this way could I stand out from the crowd of beauties and make the King of Wu fall in love with me at first sight.
During these three years, I often saw Fan Li. We hardly spoke, but we could understand each other's thoughts with just a glance, because we knew that we were working towards the same goal.
The night before I left, Fan Li stood at my door for a long time and promised me again: "I will marry you when you come back."
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