The Imperial Prince’s Bride from a Poor Family

My father was a top scholar from a poor family, and he married Princess Yongle, the emperor’s own younger sister. They loved each other dearly and had eight sons, yet they doted on me, their only daughter, above all.

When I fell gravely ill, my princess mother, praying for my health and long life, wore only a thin robe and kowtowed all the way to the Buddha.

When my brothers took me out to play, I accidentally injured my face. Mother hung them up and beat them for three days and three nights.

Father taught me with great care, passing on everything he had learned in his lifetime.

Everyone in the princess’s residence cherished and protected me as if I were the apple of their eye.

Though I had no remarkable beauty or talent, I even became the intended bride of the eldest son of the current empress.

I swore I would repay them for raising me.

So, on the eve of my wedding, I slaughtered all the thousands of people in the princess’s residence.

I even personally cut off my father and mother’s heads.

As bright red lanterns hung high, I fell to my knees and, through streaming tears, bowed heavily toward the southwest.