Xiao Niang Marries Again

When she first married, Xiao Miaozhi wanted nothing more than to spend her life with one person.

When her veil was lifted, she saw only her jade-like husband, unmatched in all the world.

She would hide her smile behind her red sleeve beside the silver candle, and keep her talented husband from reading at night.

She thought she could live that way forever,

but who could have guessed that one day the sky would come crashing down, and tears would fall like pearls from her lovely face?

When she married again, Xiao Miaozhi was furious with herself for still being alive.

Then she thought, since she was going to die anyway,

she might as well kill the bastard who had taken liberties with her first.

But she failed to kill him, and she failed to die, too.

All they had was a broken bed that creaked,

and a red quilt bought with the money from pawning her jade hairpin.

They held each other close and sought pleasure, tasting every one of life's desires.

Until the jade-like man came back from the dead.

Xiao Niang was held in his arms,

and when she looked up, she saw the scoundrel she had married a second time holding a knife,

grining at her.

Theme: Live well, and love well.