Chapter 180

When Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, came in, Yang Yuhuan turned around and knelt down, tears streaming down her face,

"Your concubine truly failed the grace of the country, and has no regrets in death. I only ask... to let me die with dignity."

【Three feet of white silk were handed into her hands. Yang Guifei walked toward the pear tree outside the Buddha hall, and looked back at the direction of Chang'an one last time】

【The Heavenly Screen added a legend here:

Local commoners said that after Yang Guifei hanged herself, that pear tree never bloomed again.

There are also rumors that she did not die, but was replaced by her personal maid, and she herself went east to Japan—

But historical materials show that this claim first appeared in the artistic processing of Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Regret," and later research mostly considers it an attachment】

【The Heavenly Screen listed evaluations from various dynasties—

"Old Book of Tang": "Xuanzong, because of his love for Consort Wu, excluded the empress, followed by Taizhen, almost losing the world."

Ouyang Xiu was more blunt in the "New Book of Tang",

"Alas, the disaster caused by women to people is great!... As for toppling cities and countries, can one not be careful?"

Sima Guang was relatively objective in "Zizhi Tongjian",

"The Noble Consort is truly not worth mentioning, but Xuanzong was lazy in his later years and trusted sycophants; even without the Noble Consort, the rebellion would have been hard to avoid."】

【Special shot: When Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty read the "Book of Tang", he annotated: "The fault of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang lies in his laziness, not his love for beauty."

"If he had been as diligent as in the beginning, even with Consort Yang, how could it have led to rebellion? He abandoned his government and entrusted it to treacherous officials, how is it the fault of a beautiful woman?"】

【The remorse of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang for the rest of his life】

【The scene turns to the later years of Retired Emperor Li Longji. He lived alone in Xingqing Palace, often staring blankly at a portrait. The Yang Guifei in the portrait smiled like a flower】

Gao Lishi was old, but still accompanied him: "Dajia, it's time to take medicine."

Xuanzong muttered: "Lishi, do you think Yuhuan hates me?"

No one answered.

Only the wind blew through the palace corridors, as if it were the Rainbow Feather Garment Dance of that year.

【He ordered people to organize Yang Guifei's belongings and found a sachet—that was the token of love he gave her back then, and it still contained dried lychee shells】

"A rider in the red dust, the concubine smiles... now the red dust is still there, where is the concubine?" The old emperor was in tears.

【The Heavenly Screen summarized the Yang Yuhuan chapter:

She was not a politician like Wu Zhao, nor a virtuous helper like Empress Zhangsun.

She was just a woman pushed to the pinnacle of power by fate, intoxicated in the gorgeous banquet of the prosperous age, and annihilated in the torrent of the chaotic world.

Beauty was her capital, and also her original sin.

And the decline of the Great Tang had already been foreshadowed at the end of the Kaiyuan era; she was just the last feather that broke the camel's back—

Although this feather was gold-rimmed and stained with rouge.】

【Fourth place on the Beauty List: Yang Yuhuan, counting finished!】

【The Heavenly Screen scene turned from the peonies of the prosperous Tang to the smoke of war in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. The bright moon was in the sky, suddenly covered by clouds, as if ashamed of itself】

【Third place on the Beauty List: Diao Chan (Late Eastern Han Dynasty)】

【Special note: Diao Chan as a person is not recorded in official history, first appearing in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and Yuan dramas, and later became a household name through the artistic shaping of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

This count will combine folk legends, romance stories, and historical background to present this legendary woman.】

【The Heavenly Screen first played the relationship between Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu recorded in official history—】

"Book of the Later Han: Biography of Lu Bu": "Zhu was rigid and narrow-minded, angry without thinking of difficulties, once slightly dissatisfied, he threw a hand-halberd at Bu. Bu was agile and dodged it... from then on, he secretly resented Zhu."

Pei Songzhi's annotation to "Records of the Three Kingdoms" cites "Records of Heroes",

"Bu had an affair with one of Zhu's maids, fearing the matter would be discovered, he felt uneasy."

【Official history only says Lu Bu had an affair with Dong Zhuo's maid, and did not specify the maid's name, identity, or whether it was intentional alienation.

The image of Diao Chan is an artistic reconstruction of this period of history by later generations.】

【The Heavenly Screen playfully added: "Just like the storytellers of later generations, seeing that the history books only had a skeleton, they added flesh and clothes to it, and finally it became a beautiful woman full of life."】

【The first year of Chuping (190 AD), Luoyang, Situ Wang Yun's mansion】

【In the night, sixteen-year-old Diao Chan (at this time still called Ren Hongchang) was burning incense and praying in the back garden. She was dressed in plain clothes, her face hazy like a fairy in the moonlight】

Wang Yun passed by and stopped to listen.

Only heard the young girl whisper: "May Heaven protect the Han house, eradicate the national thieves, and return peace to the world..."

"What a woman with the world in her heart!" Wang Yun clapped his hands and came out.

Diao Chan bowed in panic: "Foster Father."

【Wang Yun helped her up and looked at her carefully. The moonlight happened to be covered by flowing clouds—this is the origin of the "closing moon" legend】

【The Heavenly Screen inserted ridicule from later generations:

Tang Dynasty novels wrote: "Chan worships the moon, the moon hides in the clouds, ashamed to see her."

Song Dynasty joke: "If the moon hid every time a beauty worshipped it, there would be no moon to enjoy during the Mid-Autumn Festival!"

Li Yu, a writer at the end of the Ming and beginning of the Qing Dynasty, joked even more: "This is clouds covering the moon, not the moon avoiding people. Storytellers attach it, just adding to the laughter."】

【But the Wang Yun in the scene was deeply moved. He was troubled by Dong Zhuo's monopoly on power, and this foster daughter before him might be the key to breaking the situation】

"Chan'er, if you were asked to eliminate the thief for the country, would you dare?"

Diao Chan looked up, a flash of determination in her eyes: "As long as there is an order, I will not hesitate even if I die!"

【The following is unofficial history content, dear readers, just enjoy it, those who have electricity for love, please pity the author ૮₍ɵ̷﹏ɵ̷̥̥᷅₎ა】

【For the next three months, Wang Yun secretly trained Diao Chan. Not only did he teach her singing and dancing skills, but he also taught her how to observe words and expressions, and how to use words as weapons】

One day, Wang Yun disguised himself as Dong Zhuo and let Diao Chan practice how to respond.

"If the Grand Preceptor asks your opinion on Lu Bu, how do you answer?"

Diao Chan thought for a moment: "I am just a woman, how dare I rashly discuss the General? I only heard that General Lu is brave among the three armies and is loyal to the Grand Preceptor."

"If Lu Bu asks if you are willing to follow him, how do you answer?"

Diao Chan's eyes filled with tears: "I have already promised the Grand Preceptor, General, are you trying to trap me in unrighteousness?"

Wang Yun stroked his beard and laughed: "Good! Good! Chan'er has already grasped the essence!"

【The Heavenly Screen commented here: "This might be the earliest spy training in history. Diao Chan had to maneuver between two of the world's greatest heroes, and a slight mistake would mean being smashed to pieces."】

【Spring of the second year of Chuping, Wang Yun began to act】

【Step 1: Make friends with Lu Bu】

【Wang Yun hosted a banquet for Lu Bu, and let Diao Chan perform a dance during the banquet. Diao Chan was dressed in red, her dance was fluttering, and her eyes and eyebrows were full of charm】

The wine cup in Lu Bu's hand stopped in mid-air, and his eyes could no longer move away.

"This woman is named Diao Chan, she is my foster daughter." Wang Yun laughed, "If the General is interested, I am willing to be the master and marry her to the General as a concubine."

Lu Bu was overjoyed and took off his jade pendant on the spot as a betrothal gift.

【Step 2: Present to Dong Zhuo】

【Three days later, Wang Yun hosted a banquet for Dong Zhuo. The same dance, different performance—

Diao Chan danced more softly and charmingly this time, but her eyes carried a trace of coldness, which was exactly the kind of "refusing while welcoming" that Dong Zhuo loved most】

Dong Zhuo really fell for the trick: "This woman is truly a fairy!"

Wang Yun went with the flow: "If the Grand Preceptor likes her, I will send her to your mansion tomorrow."

【Key detail: The two banquets used the same dance, but Diao Chan's interpretation was completely different.

For Lu Bu, it was bright and enthusiastic, for Dong Zhuo, it was subtle and seductive—this was the "differentiated performance" carefully designed by Wang Yun】

【Step 3: The Fengyi Pavilion Incident (this section is entirely from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", not recorded in official history but widely circulated)】

【After Diao Chan entered Dong's mansion, she catered to Dong Zhuo on one hand, and secretly expressed her feelings to Lu Bu on the other.】