A Dance That Stirs the Heart

Someone asked, “What do you think of repaying resentment with kindness?” Confucius replied, “Then what would you repay kindness with? Repay resentment with justice, and kindness with kindness.” People say that the left and right prime ministers of the Bohuang Dynasty are equally virtuous and talented. Yet the right prime minister's daughter is as beautiful as a celestial maiden, gentle, and kind, while the left prime minister's daughter is plain and malicious. The left prime minister's daughter lusts after her brother and tries to kill his wife. In a single night, her wicked reputation spreads throughout the capital, and her brother has no choice but to take his new bride and leave for the frontier. The left prime minister's daughter relentlessly pursues Prince Qiongyu and even tries to harm his fiancée, the right prime minister's daughter. Enraged, Qiongyu kicks her into the water and orders his servants, “Don't rescue her until she's been punished.” When she opens her eyes again, Chu Huimian, the left prime minister's daughter whom everyone called wicked, has become someone else inside. What, her brother was badly mistreated by “her”? Then she'll sincerely apologize. They say she's an airhead? One poem, “Spring River, Flowers, Moonlit Night,” makes her famous throughout the capital and outshines the capital's Three Wonders, including Zhuang Liuzhuang, the “Poet.” After only a few meetings, Xiao Yuexing, the “Immortal of the Jade Flute,” proposes directly: “How about I marry you?” She thinks it over, then asks, “How good is your lightness skill?” And so he, whose lightness skill is nothing special, takes her along as she puts him to the test, and they make a spectacular tumble to the ground. She says, “You've passed the test. For now, try being my boyfriend.” Less than two months into their relationship, he says, “I really want to hurry up and take you home as my wife.” But from behind a screen, she hears him say, “Ru'er, ever since the first time I saw you, I haven't been able to look at another woman.” He says, “I thought I would clear away every obstacle standing in the way of your happiness.” He says, “She's already mine. I have to marry her...” Then all she can hear echoing in her ears is her own voice: “You're more shameless than anyone I've ever met.” She says, “Do you think my brother wants to marry you because he likes you? You're not even worthy of being his concubine.” He says, “Your shamelessness has reached new heights. Compared with how you used to be, you've truly perfected it.” He also says, “Shameless.” That night, she gave her heart to the darkness and surrendered her body to him. He tells her, “When Father comes back, we'll get married, all right?” She smiles flirtatiously. “Second Brother, you know perfectly well that this body of mine is already soiled. You don't have to take responsibility for me.” He asks, “Why?” She says, “Because I... hate... you.” From that day on, her greatest pleasure is watching him suffer, until one day rumors spread throughout the capital: “The Immortal of the Jade Flute is no more.” The first part of this story is warm and gently flirtatious. The second part brings a little angst and a whole lot of love. I can't write a good synopsis. Click to read for more exciting scenes.