*
Until the Emperor Yong'an, who cherished Song Wenchu, fell ill, she was a noble princess of Great Liang, the pampered eldest daughter of a powerful family, and a darling of fate.
Later, when a courtier seized power and dominated the court, she felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles at the Ningxuan Abbey, each day dragging on like a year. All she received was a dead beast and a cup of poisoned wine.
The poisoned wine was meant to take Song Wenchu's life, and the Kun beast was meant to trample the dignity of a princess of the imperial line.
The Regent casually ordered her death. Then he crouched before her, a mocking smile on his lips, and said slowly, "If you've got what it takes, then fight for your life and show me."
*
Fight for her life? What life was there to fight for?
Song Wenchu squatted by the roadside, gnawing on a steamed bun, with an ancient Kunpeng tucked beneath her ragged clothes.
On the bustling main street of the capital, a charlatan Taoist came over with a tattered banner in hand. He took one look at her and exclaimed, "Oh no! Miss, your brow is dark. You have the fate of a woman destined to die without heirs!"
Song Wenchu took a bite of her bun. "How bad is it?"
The charlatan stroked his beard solemnly. "You won't live past twenty. No one will bury you when you die. The star of solitude governs your fate, and your family will bring you misfortune..."
"In short, yours is a wretched life."
Song Wenchu asked, "Could a wretched life like that still turn around?"
The charlatan said, "That would be harder than a sparrow laying a goose egg."
A sparrow laying a goose egg? What nonsense.
Song Wenchu sighed. "Old sir, I haven't a penny to my name. You won't get anything out of me."
The charlatan's goatee twitched. With a deft hand, he reached into the incongruous brocade pouch tied at her waist, expecting to find a few coins. Instead, there wasn't a single one, only a sparrow.
His expression tightened. He put on a sigh and said, "How pitiful, how pitiful. Still, a sparrow laying a goose egg is better than a sparrow flying to the heavens."
Song Wenchu asked, "How so?"
The charlatan chuckled. "Because a sparrow can't turn into a Kunpeng."
With that, he gave her a knowing smile and swept away with a flourish. The very next step, he planted his foot in a fresh pile of dog poop.
Song Wenchu smiled too. He couldn't even predict a flower sprouting underfoot within three steps, yet he dared claim he could tell her whole life's fortune.
She loosened the pouch and met the Kun's eyes as it pecked at crumbs of steamed bun.
One day, she would bring the treacherous minister to justice, claim the throne at Taiji Hall, rule the court, and receive the worship of the people.
"The phoenix roosts in the paulownia tree, and the dragon lies hidden in the abyss. I think that is the fate meant for me."
Theme: Saving one another in humble times, protecting the people after ascending the throne.
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