Preface
Zhao Feiyan, as the favorite concubine of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, had a flaw in her that became part of her special relationship with the emperor. This shortcoming was later recognized as a disease, but it was deeply loved by Emperor Cheng of Han. Let's take a look at this shortcoming of Zhao Feiyan and the story of what she encountered in the court.
The tragic life of a singer
Born should not be a sin, but in that era, Zhao Feiyan's birth was like a sin. In the winter of a few years BC, the Zhao family gave birth to a baby girl, which was supposed to make the family laugh, but no one cared about her because of her gender. Before Zhao Feiyan opened her eyes and saw the appearance of this world, she was abandoned in the wilderness by her ruthless parents.
For three days and three nights, the baby's cry resounded in the open field. Hungry and thirsty, she was dying but still unwilling to give up crying, as if indicting the indifference and ruthlessness of the world.
At dawn on the fourth day, perhaps because of the discovery of conscience, Zhao's parents finally brought her home. The good times didn't last long, the family was in the middle of the road, her father died early, and Zhao Feiyan could only become a singer to make a living. Her youthful face was used by her in exchange for a living, dancing and singing day and night, hoping that someone would save her from this boring life.
A princess with a discerning eye for heroes
That year, Zhao Feiyan was fifteen years old. Liu Zhan, the grandson of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, succeeded to the throne as Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty has been on the throne for more than ten years, but he has no heirs due to excessive prostitution. The ministers were helpless, and Emperor Han Cheng frowned. At this time, his sister Princess Yang'a thought of a countermeasure - she knew that the royal brother liked to sing and dance, so she decided to hold a song and dance party to relieve his worries. She selected the best singers from all over the country to serve Emperor Han Cheng for fun.
When Zhao Feiyan danced, Princess Yang Ah recognized this beautiful girl at a glance. She has an innate charm, dancing lightly on her fingertips, charming and innocent, which makes people can't help but want to care for and protect. Princess Yang'a appreciates Zhao Feiyan's talent and keeps her in the mansion, which also changes the trajectory of Zhao Feiyan's life - she will face this cruel and beautiful world again with a new identity.
A turning point in fate
Early one morning, Princess Yang'a quietly came to Zhao Feiyan's residence. She said to the girl mysteriously: "Feiyan, today the imperial brother plans to pay a private visit to the palace, you must dance a song for him and behave well!" Zhao Feiyan's heart moved. She had heard that His Majesty still has no heirs, and there are thousands of concubines in the harem, but none of them can be favored by the emperor.
This originally had nothing to do with her, she just wanted to Xi singing and dancing skills in the mansion safely, and not look at the moonlight in the sky. But fate is so unpredictable. At dusk that day, Zhao Feiyan danced as promised. Her light figure and graceful dancing deeply impressed Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty. It was the first time he had seen such a spiritual woman, like a butterfly dancing under the moon, beautiful. That night, Zhao Feiyan was brought into the palace by Emperor Cheng of Han and became the new concubine.
soared into the sky, handed over power to the palace
Zhao Feiyan soon became Emperor Cheng of Han's favorite person. She has a different kind of charm that is deeply liked by Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty. In order to curry favor with Zhao Feiyan, Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty even named her father the Marquis of Chengyang, making an ordinary peasant household reach the top. Zhao Feiyan is unwilling to be just one of the concubines, she longs for greater power. So she introduced her sister Zhao Hede into the palace, Zhao Hede's beauty deeply impressed Emperor Han Cheng, since then the Zhao sisters in the harem, indeed poured the favor of Emperor Han Cheng.
Gradually, power made the Zhao sisters become blind and arrogant. They were no longer satisfied with just accepting the favor of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, but tried every means to seek power and profit, in a vain attempt to interfere in court politics. Empress Xu was one of their victims, being deposed and exiled by the Zhao sisters. At this time, the Zhao sisters can be said to be the most powerful people in the harem, and even the queen is ashamed of herself. However, they forgot how fleeting the favor of the emperor was.
The emperor's grace is floating in the clouds, and the fate is ill-fated
The years flew by, and ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Zhao Feiyan is still beautiful and moving, but Emperor Han Cheng's body is getting worse. He suffered a stroke because of his long-term fornication. Finally in 7 BC, Emperor Cheng of Han was critically ill in Zhao Hede's bed. The moment the emperor died, the power of the Zhao sisters also collapsed.
The courtiers, led by Taichang Cheng Ben, sharply condemned their arrogance and tyranny in the harem. Under the pressure of public opinion, Zhao Hede hanged himself after wailing. Zhao Feiyan survived because Liu Xin, the heir of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, needed her help.
Previously, Liu Xin was able to be made the crown prince through the pillow wind of the Zhao sisters, and now that Liu Xin is enthroned as Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty, it is natural to keep Zhao Feiyan to thank her for her help. Zhao Feiyan was honored as the empress dowager. However, this respite lasted only a few years. In 1 BC, Emperor Ai of Han died, and there was no one in the court to protect Zhao Feiyan.
She was soon impeached by her ministers, and under pressure from Wang Mang and others, the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun ordered the deposition of Zhao Feiyan as a concubine. This is undoubtedly the final blow to the once proud top of the harem. In desperation, Zhao Feiyan hanged himself in the cemetery of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, and his life came to a tragic end.
Only by being anti-human can you be favored by the country
The reason why Zhao Feiyan was able to win the favor of Emperor Han Cheng was that she was unique and eye-catching. She was born with a good figure, and her gestures are full of style. In particular, her waist is unusually slender and soft, and she is known as "Huan Fat Yan Thin". This may be her biggest killer feature.
We now know that this is actually a congenital connective tissue lesion – osteomalacia. This makes her bones and joints extremely fragile and deformed with a little exertion. It is precisely because of this sick figure that Zhao Feiyan was able to create the unique "palm dance" - she dances lightly in the palm of a person's hand without falling at all.
This shocking dance posture deeply impressed Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty. In his opinion, only Zhao Feiyan's figure is worthy of dancing with him, and all the other women are ashamed of themselves. In order to maintain this sick figure, Zhao Feiyan also took a drug called "polypyotic pills" for a long time, which made her infertile for life. But it is precisely because she has no heirs that she can dedicate herself to Emperor Han Cheng.
We have to say that this eternal beauty is undoubtedly at the expense of physical health in exchange for a position of power. But at the same time, it was her anti-human and charming figure that made her stand out among many beauties and attracted the first sight of Emperor Han Cheng. This may be said to be her innate, the gift of fate.
epilogue
The name Zhao Feiyan is destined to be a sensation. She is like a meteor, streaking the sky of the harem. But the fleeting splendor will only become a lonely afterglow in the night sky. This may be her fate. History has nowhere to place a peerless beauty who has no heirs and is too bright. Especially when it comes to aging, the fate of decline becomes inevitable.
However, the beauty of the country that has poured over thousands of people throughout her life is also worth her decades of life. Zhao Feiyan is not just a legend, but also a warning - to remind the world not to waste life and forget health for the sake of vanity and power. Every woman will eventually grow old; But only the light of the heart is eternal.
History cannot be rewritten, but it is enough that we can at least learn from it and not make the same mistakes again. This is the bitter gift that Zhao Feiyan left for future generations. Spring goes to autumn, and the stars change; That wisp of flying swallows finally disappeared in the ethereal distant mountains. Stunning through the ages, intoxicated in decadence; And life, after all, must forge ahead in the ordinary.