#History in ancient books #Xi Shi, a beautiful legend of ancient China, is known as one of the four beauties of China. Her beauty not only captivated people at that time, but also left a unique footprint in the long river of history.
Xi Shi (c. 500 BC – 470 BC) was born into an ordinary family in the Kingdom of Yue. She showed extraordinary beauty and intelligence from a young age, which caused a sensation in the local area. As she grew up, her beauty gradually spread throughout the surrounding countries.
Legend has it that one day, King Goujian of Yue was invaded by the Kingdom of Wu, and in order to seek help, he sent someone to invite Xi Shi into the palace to dance to win King Wu's favor. Xi Shi's dancing was gentle and moving, and King Wu fell in love with her and finally agreed to help Yue Guo. Therefore, the beautiful merits of Xi Shi enabled the Yue Kingdom to successfully obtain the support of the Wu Kingdom.
However, the beauty of Xi Shi also caused jealousy and strife. According to legend, there were two eunuchs in Vietnam, named Bluebeard and Whitebeard, both of whom were distracted by Xi Shi's beauty. Bluebeard finally got a chance and tried to kill Xi Shi while King Yue was not in the palace. Fortunately, Xi Shi was rescued by the kind palace maid and managed to escape the palace.
Xi Shi then went into exile to a small fishing village and lived an ordinary life. With her beauty and wisdom, she was loved and respected by the villagers in the fishing village. She helps fishermen repair boats and nets to make their fisheries prosperous.
However, fate once again befell Xi Shi. When King Wu heard of Xi Shi's whereabouts, he was still jealous of her and sent her captive to the Kingdom of Wu. In the Kingdom of Wu, Xi Shi was once again forced to become a court dancer.
Although she was forced to dance in Wu Kingdom, Xi Shi did not lose courage and hope. She used her ingenuity to forge deep friendships with other court ladies and through her influence won more benefits for the Kingdom of Vietnam.
As time passed, the war between Wu and Vietnam ended and the country regained its independence. Xi Shi was finally freed. After returning to Vietnam, she announced her retirement and spent the rest of her life in a secluded place.
Xi Shi's life is full of legends and bitterness. She influenced the king of a nation with her beauty, but also endured the pain of being captured and deprived of her liberty. However, her courage, intelligence and kindness have left her with beautiful legends in history. Her story also reminds us that people should respect and cherish the beauty and abilities of others from the heart, rather than as objects of bullying and attachment.