A Heart’s Return to the Ends of the Earth (Formerly The Dancing Queen)

Before I was five, I lived in a brothel, yet carried myself like a princess;

After I turned five, I lived in the imperial palace, but became a prisoner in truth;

Overnight, I became an orphan. Overnight, I lost the light forever;

The first time my tender hands touched a cheek as soft and smooth as jade, I was shaken to the core. Suddenly, whether I could see or not no longer mattered;

I called her Aunt, but her tenderness wasn't mine. I was content!

Cooped up in the Cold Palace, I listened to the princes and princesses laughing beyond the walls and calmly stroked the strings of my zither. Auntie Xiuhong burst into tears, saying I reminded her of my mother!

When an overwhelming sense of another's presence closed in around me, I reached out again without thinking. The moment my fingertips touched that person's warm, gentle lips, my heart trembled. It was different from the way Cold Aunt made me feel!

Leaning in his arms, I suddenly realized that darkness wasn't so frightening after all, because someone was willing to give everything for me: all the wealth and splendor, even the empire itself!

I don't know if this is love, but I was content all the same!

The one thing I could never forget was the look of bitter resolve in my mother's eyes during our final dance. Then, one day, I found myself standing on that very stage...

(A woman's extraordinary life, lived without a ripple: No Need for So Much Love!)

A new story in the same style, currently being revised:

A Glorious New Story

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