pdf-ebookys Chapter 362: Those Famous Women in History
Chapter 362: Those Famous Women in History
The bullying from her husband and mother-in-law, like wind, frost, rain and snow, eroded the beauty of this Qing Dynasty poetess day by day. However, no matter how the outside world tortured her, it could not extinguish He Shuangqing's passion for poetry creation.
When the paper brought by the Yang family ran out, she wrote poems and lyrics on reed leaves, bamboo leaves, osmanthus leaves, and even scraps of cloth. When the pen and ink ran out, she used carbon sticks and white powder to write.
Despite her mother-in-law's repeated abuse of power, breaking her pen and burning her poems, she was unable to stop her love for poetry.
He Shuangqing did not desire to leave behind masterpieces that would be passed down through the ages, nor did she even want her works to be passed down to the world. Her original intention in writing poetry and lyrics was simply to express her sorrow, embellish her life, and add a touch of brilliance to her life.
The unfortunate experience made her often miss the good times before marriage. Although she was poor, she had the most precious family affection in the world at that time, and her heart was full of peace and tranquility.
Now those good times have gone like flowing water and cannot be retrieved. He Shuangqing can only rely on these meager memories to soothe her wounded heart.
In He Shuangqing's short life, love seems to be a luxury for her. Therefore, she cherishes friendship even more, especially the friendship from the girl next door, Han Xi.
When He Shuangqing was ill in bed, Han Xi stayed by her side silently, crying for her sorrow. Although he did not understand poetry, Han Xi admired He Shuangqing's writing and poetry talent very much.
She asked He Shuangqing to write the Heart Sutra on bamboo leaves so that she could recite it. Later, Han Xi got married. When she returned to her parents' home, she invited He Shuangqing to her home for dinner before returning to her husband's home.
He Shuangqing was unable to attend the appointment due to illness, so Han Xi sent the unfinished food to He Shuangqing's bedside. He Shuangqing, who was sick and hungry, was deeply moved and wrote two poems for Han Xi. One of the poems is comparable to Li Qingzhao's "Sheng Sheng Man":
"Inch by inch tiny clouds, wisps of fading light, nameless and hard to disappear. The whole piece of soul is broken, flickering and shaking. Often mountains and rivers, people go away, vaguely and far away. From now on, it will be sad and sorrowful, just like tonight. Qingyao asked the sky but no answer, looking at the little Shuangqing, it is gone. Who will see who will see, who will feel pain and pity, who will care, for all eternity, night and morning."
Although she suffered from the torture from her evil mother-in-law and her fierce husband, He Shuangqing, who was deeply poisoned by feudal ethics, only moaned a few times when she could no longer bear it.
Most of the time, she chose to endure silently, feel sorry for herself, and complain about the unfairness of fate, but she refused the care and help from the outside world in order to maintain her reputation. This behavior makes people sympathize with her, but they are unable to help her, and can only lament her misfortune and be angry at her helplessness.
In the end, this talented female poet died of physical and mental exhaustion, leaving behind an eternal regret.
【Historical facts and figures of sober women in the world】
Being beautiful is an advantage, but living beautifully is a skill.
Her life is a perfect example of a comeback, perfectly illustrating what it means to be “clear-headed” in life—knowing clearly what she wants at any time. Although she was born in the dusty world, she was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, and even won the title of “the best southern opera”; she transformed herself from a brothel girl to a restaurant owner, and was eventually awarded the title of a first-class imperial lady. She is Gu Hengbo, one of the “Eight Beauties of Qinhuai”).
Gu Hengbo's original name was Gu Mei. She was born in 1619 in a poor family in Shangyuan County, Yingtian Prefecture. She was born with a graceful figure, especially her big eyes, which were full of charm and charming.
Because of her poor family background, she was sold to a brothel at a very young age and grew up in a brothel. The tragic experience made the young Gu Hengbo more sensible than her peers, and the comings and goings in the brothel made her deeply understand the rules of survival: on the banks of the Qinhuai River, birth and background are meaningless, only strength is king. Only by working hard to make yourself better and more valuable can you avoid being abandoned by fate.
From then on, Gu Hengbo followed various masters to practice her skills. She knew that her beauty alone could not help her gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive Qinhuai River, so she studied the art of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, striving to achieve perfection. When girls of the same age were preparing for marriage, Gu Hengbo had already started to receive guests.
Despite her young age, she stood out among her sisters with her beautiful face and elegant temperament. She soon overshadowed the others and became the top star on the Qinhuai River, becoming one of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai". It can be said that she "reached the peak as soon as she debuted."
Compared to Chen Yuanyuan's stunning beauty and Liu Rushi's outstanding talent, Gu Hengbo may be slightly inferior, but her overall strength is unmatched. However, she was not satisfied with the status quo and always reminded herself: "Only by standing out can you be respected."
Becoming the top star 5 years later, Gu Hengbo made a surprising move: she used her savings to open a restaurant called "Meilou" and served as the boss herself, determined to completely tear off the label of "firework girl".
Meilou has pavilions, towers, bridges and flowing water, and is elegantly decorated. Under Gu Hengbo's management, it quickly became famous. Guests came in an endless stream and gave it "five-star praise". Some even compared Meilou to Emperor Yang of Sui's "Mi Lou". For a time, dignitaries and scholars in Nanjing chose Meilou as their first choice for banquets, and its grand occasion was comparable to today's "Internet celebrity check-in spots".
The success of her career has transformed Gu Hengbo into a real "little rich woman" by the Qinhuai River. Single, rich and beautiful, she has many suitors around her, but she remains unmoved - she knows that what she wants is true love.
After waiting for a long time, a man broke into her life. One day, two guests came to Meilou: a scholar and a vulgar warrior. Both asked Gu Hengbo to accompany them, and she chose the scholar. This angered the warrior, who falsely accused her of "secretly hiding forbidden objects", and Gu Hengbo fell into trouble. At this time, the scholar Yu Huai stepped forward, published an article to denounce the warrior, and asked for help from his uncle who was an official. After finding out the truth, the upright uncle judged Gu Hengbo not guilty and helped her out of danger.
After the "hero rescues the beauty", Gu Hengbo gradually develops feelings for Yu Huai. She finds that he is not only knowledgeable and handsome, but also has a noble character - he speaks out for justice without seeking rewards, but only for justice. To express her gratitude, Gu Hengbo, the "number one southern opera singer", even lowers her status and celebrates Yu Huai's birthday on stage, which attracts the envy of countless men.
After they fell in love, Gu Hengbo closed the door to visitors and accompanied Yu Huai wholeheartedly. However, after a long time together, she gradually discovered that although Yu Huai loved her deeply, he was not a "loyal person" - he often lingered in various brothels and even wrote a "brothel strategy"; whenever Gu Hengbo mentioned marriage, he always avoided the topic. The smart Gu Hengbo immediately realized that this person could not be trusted, and decisively ended the first relationship.
During the period of heartbreak, Liu Fang, a son of an official, broke into Gu Hengbo's life. Unlike Yu Huai, Liu Fang was devoted to her and spent three years just to see her. Gu Hengbo thought he was a "playboy", but found that he was a decent man and never made excessive demands. The two got along well and often drank tea, watched flowers, and recited poems.
However, Gu Hengbo gradually realized that Liu Fang's parents disliked her background, and although Liu Fang promised to communicate, she kept delaying. Gu Hengbo waited for three years, and was already 23 years old - in ancient times, this was already recognized as the "late marriage age". She no longer endured and asked Liu Fang for a clear answer: "Can we get married? If not, let's break up." Unexpectedly, Liu Fang escaped again. Although Gu Hengbo was heartbroken, she resolutely chose to cut her losses in time and leave this relationship with no future.
4. From a Qinhuai courtesan to a first-rank imperial edict: a turning point in the troubled times
At this time, Gu Hengbo's crazy fan Gong Dingzi entered her life. As one of the "Three Great Men of Jiangzuo", Gong Dingzi was talented and a sixth-rank official at the time. He had long admired Gu Hengbo. After consideration, Gu Hengbo decided to give up her career and connections in Nanjing and follow him to the capital.
In the 1641th year of Chongzhen (), Gu Hengbo married Gong Dingzi as a concubine and changed her name to "Xu Shanchi" (the original name "Xu Shanchi" is questionable, and it should be "Xu Shanchi" according to historical records). On the wedding night, looking at her affectionate husband, she was filled with emotion: after years of struggle, she finally got rid of her status as a prostitute and thought she had found true love and a home.
However, fate is unpredictable. In 1644, Li Zicheng conquered Beijing. Gong Dingzi wanted to commit suicide by jumping into a well with his wife, but he failed and was captured instead. Later, Gong Dingzi surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and had a prosperous career. He served in three dynasties and finally became the Minister of Rites. Gu Hengbo once advised her husband to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty and die for his integrity, but Gong Dingzi was greedy for fame and wealth and even pretended to "hang himself to die for his country". When Gu Hengbo handed him a rope, he backed down and shirked the responsibility by saying "I want to die for my country, but my concubine doesn't agree", which made Gu Hengbo furious but reluctant to accept the reality.
Because of Gong Dingzi's loyalty to the Qing court, his family was awarded the title of "First-rank Imperial Lady". Gong Dingzi's original wife was an imperial concubine of the Ming Dynasty and refused to accept the grace of the Qing Dynasty, so the title was passed on to Gu Hengbo. She gladly accepted it and became a First-rank Imperial Lady of the Qing Dynasty - the little girl who was once sold into a brothel eventually turned a "bad hand" into a "king bomb" and became the one with the most "perfect" ending among the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai".
【Life history trivia historical figures of the counterattack】
He is a top star who always loves, is devoted to his career, and is loyal to the Tang Dynasty. He is willing to give up his dignity for the sake of life, just to find a good home for himself. She is one of the four great female poets of the Tang Dynasty, with both talent and beauty, and brilliant literary talent. One of her small inventions is still used today. Although she was born in the dust, she has seen through the world. She is Xue Tao, known as the "Peacock of the Tang Dynasty".
Xue Tao was born in Chang'an in 768 AD. Her father, Xu Yun, was an official in the capital and had a good family background. As the only daughter in the family, Xue Tao was loved by everyone and her father personally trained her to read poetry and become proficient in poetry. The environment and talent complemented each other and shaped the talented Xue Tao.
When she was 8 years old, Xue Tao and her father Xu Yun sat quietly under a sycamore tree in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. Her father suddenly got inspired and wrote "There is an old sycamore tree in the courtyard, its trunk reaches up into the clouds".
At that time, little Xue Tao pondered for a moment, and immediately responded: "The branches welcome birds from the north and south, and the leaves send the wind back and forth." When Xu Yun first heard this sentence, he was ecstatic, but after careful consideration, he felt that something was wrong. "The branches welcome birds from the north and south" seemed to indicate that his daughter might become a prostitute in the future.
He could not help but feel worried, knowing that ancient scholars were very sensitive to unlucky words. Perhaps fate was playing tricks on him. Because of his upright character, Xu Yun offended the powerful and was demoted to Sichuan. At that time, Sichuan was still a difficult place to travel to. A few years later, Xu Yun contracted malaria and unfortunately passed away.
Faced with the sudden predicament, Xue Tao, who was only 14 years old at the time, had two choices: one was to become a priest, and the other was to enter the workplace. With no money, Xue Tao could only rely on her natural beauty and musical talent to join the music industry. She was only 16 years old that year. The music industry only provided services for dignitaries and literati, and was a formal organization with a stable job.
Her daily work was to play songs, dance, and recite poems. Women in the music industry were similar to the current entertainment industry. Successful women could soar to the sky, while unsuccessful women would remain unknown. Xue Tao was born with natural beauty and was a lady from a wealthy family. She received a good education and devoted herself to studying music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, creating a unique temperament that transcended the mundane world. Famous poets in the entertainment industry, such as Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, and Du Mu, all had close contacts with her. Her poems often aroused heated discussions on the streets and attracted countless fans.
Xue Tao could have lived a life of ease and comfort, and then been married to a noble family. However, fate ruthlessly destroyed all her beautiful dreams. But Xue Tao did not complain about the world or sink into decadence. Instead, she faced it positively and tried her best to turn the situation around. Such spirit and perseverance made her a strong person in life. In the eyes of everyone, Xue Tao has become a top-tier actress, but this is not the end. She longed for a stronger support, so before every grand banquet, she would make careful preparations. Finally, she waited for her own opportunity.
In 785 AD, Wei Gao was appointed as the governor of Jiannan Xichuan and governed Sichuan. During a banquet, Wei Gao asked Xue Tao to improvise a poem. Xue Tao wrote "Visiting Wushan Temple" immediately. After reading it, Wei Gao clapped his hands in admiration.
This poem did not seem to be written by a young woman at all, and it made Xue Tao famous. From then on, Xue Tao became the only choice for the banquets in the shogunate, and soon became a popular person around Wei Gao, and was taken in as a secretary.
Xue Tao was 17 years old that year. In addition to serving at banquets and composing poems, she also had to handle official business and write official documents. Her writing was neat and meticulous, with very few mistakes, and Wei Gao couldn't help but feel that she was being wasted.
Therefore, Wei Gao had an idea and submitted a petition to the court, asking Emperor Dezong of Tang to grant Xue Tao the post of proofreader in the Secretariat. Although this post was only of the ninth rank, according to the regulations, only those who had passed the imperial examination were eligible to hold the post. Bai Juyi, Wang Changling, Du Mu and others had all held this post, but there had never been a woman in history who held this post. So although she failed to get her wish, the name "Xue Tao Female Proofreader" has been passed down to this day.
Xue Tao was so famous that officials from all over the country would salute Xue Tao when they came to Chengdu to report on their work. After receiving money and gifts from her subordinates, Xue Tao handed them all over. However, Wei Gao was very angry about this and thought that Xue Tao had privately interfered in his affairs and ruined his reputation, so he sent Xue Tao to Songzhou as a punishment.