Chapter 182

【Second place on the Beauty List: Wang Zhaojun (Consort Ming)】

【Dynasty: Western Han】

【Title: Falling Goose, Ninghu Yanshi】

The list appeared, and the heavenly voice also became distant and deep, as if telling an epic that spanned the desert and connected the Hu and Han:

【Born around 52 BC, surname Wang, given name Qiang, courtesy name Zhaojun. A name, tightly connected with the two words "heqin" (marriage alliance), became the most moving and tragic bridge between Huaxia civilization and grassland civilization.】

【She is one of the "Four Great Beauties of History", the "Falling Goose", her beauty lies not in competing for favor in the palace, but in resolutely going out of the fortress; her legend lies not in personal love, but in the grand narrative of national righteousness and ethnic integration.】

On the left side of the Golden List, light and shadow first condensed into a scene with a strong sense of imagery:

At the junction of the vast desert and grassland, a lonely Han ceremonial guard was struggling to move forward in the wind and sand. The gorgeous canopy of the carriage could not hide the hardship of the journey.

The carriage curtain was slightly lifted by the wind, revealing a young face that was peerlessly beautiful, yet with a faint sorrow and infinite determination between the eyebrows.

She held a pipa in her arms and looked at the southern horizon.

Just at this time, a team of wild geese flying south swept across the sky.

The leading goose seemed to be stunned by the peerless beauty of the woman in the carriage and the mournful pipa sound, and actually forgot to flap its wings, falling straight from the sky.

This is the Heavenly Screen's interpretation of the "Falling Goose" posture, beautiful and heart-shaking, even more beautiful and lonely and tragic, as if all living things in heaven and earth were moved by her fate.

【She was originally a commoner's daughter from Zigui, Nanjun (now Xingshan, Hubei), gathered by the spiritual beauty of Jing Mountain and Chu Water.】

【In the third year of Jianzhao, she was selected into the Chang'an Imperial Palace as a "good family girl", becoming one of the thousands of unknown palace maids.】

The scene flashed the green mountains and clear waters of Zigui, young Wang Zhaojun washing clothes by the stream, although in plain clothes, she could not hide her beauty.

Then came the long and dull palace maid life, deep palace high walls, lonely years.

【In the spring of the first year of Jining, an opportunity that decided her fate and affected the Han-Xiongnu relationship for decades arrived.】

The heavenly voice carried the echo of history.

【The Xiongnu Huhanye Chanyu came to Chang'an for the third time, submitted to the Han, and actively requested to "marry a Han princess to be close", that is, to marry a Han princess and form a permanent alliance.】

The scene showed the grand court meeting in Weiyang Palace, Chang'an, where Huhanye Chanyu bowed to Emperor Yuan of Han, Liu Shi, and made the request.

Emperor Yuan readily agreed, but did not want to marry a real princess to a bitter cold place, so he issued an edict to select palace maids in the harem to marry as a princess.

【After the edict reached the harem, those palace maids who usually competed for beauty and longed for the emperor's favor, hearing of the bitter cold of the frontier, the different languages, and the different customs, were all afraid like tigers and wolves, and no one wanted to go.】

The scene showed the panic and shirking in the harem, palace maids crying, pretending to be sick, or begging others everywhere to avoid being selected.

【Only one person calmly stepped out and said to the eunuch in charge of the harem: "I am willing to go."】

The camera focused, it was Wang Zhaojun.

Her expression was calm, her eyes clear and firm, standing out among the panicked crowd like an orchid in a deep valley.

Even the eunuch in charge was stunned.

【Later rumors say that Zhaojun was deliberately uglified in her portrait because she refused to bribe the painter Mao Yanshou, so she was not summoned by Emperor Yuan for several years after entering the palace. This time, her active request to go also had disappointment and determination toward the darkness of the palace.】

【The Heavenly Screen displayed an unofficial history scene:

The greedy painter Mao Yanshou demanded bribes from the palace maids, other maids offered gold and silver, only Zhaojun flicked her sleeves and left.

Mao Yanshou sneered, and when painting her portrait, deliberately added a "tear mole of a widowed husband" at the corner of her eye.

In the scene, Emperor Yuan flipped through the portraits of the palace maids, saw the uglified portrait of Zhaojun, and casually put it aside.

Although this interpretation is not recorded in official history (neither "Book of Han" nor "Book of Later Han" mentions Mao Yanshou), because of its drama, it is widely circulated, and the Heavenly Screen also presented it as a "legend", enriching Zhaojun's image.】

【At the farewell ceremony before departure, Emperor Yuan of Han held a farewell banquet for Huhanye Chanyu, and also ordered the "princess" who was about to marry far away to come out and meet.】

The scene came to the grand ceremony in front of the Weiyang Palace.

When the gorgeously dressed Wang Zhaojun, guided by palace attendants, walked slowly into the hall, it was as if a bright moon had risen, illuminating the entire hall.

【Historical records say: "Her appearance was gorgeous, illuminating the Han palace, looking back and forth, startling those around her."】

【Emperor Yuan of Han was shocked when he saw her! He never thought there was such a peerless beauty in his palace! A thousand regrets surged in his heart, and he wanted to keep Zhaojun.】

The camera gave Emperor Yuan a close-up, the wine cup in his hand almost fell, his eyes full of amazement and regret.

And Huhanye Chanyu under the hall was even more stunned, then showed a look of ecstasy, and thanked Emperor Yuan repeatedly.

【However, the Son of Heaven's words are final, especially toward vassal states like the Xiongnu, one cannot lose faith.】

Emperor Yuan's face changed, and finally he forced a smile: "This is a match made in heaven, I am very pleased."

He could only watch Zhaojun bow to him and then walk toward Huhanye Chanyu.

At the moment of turning around, Zhaojun and Emperor Yuan's eyes met for a moment, Zhaojun's eyes were neither happy nor sad, only a calm like a deep pool, while Emperor Yuan's eyes were full of endless regret and a trace of pain.

【After the incident, Emperor Yuan investigated and found out about the uglified portrait, and angrily executed the painter Mao Yanshou and others (according to unofficial history). But Zhaojun had already left, and it was too late to regret.】

The scene flashed the segment where Mao Yanshou and others were imprisoned and executed (unofficial history interpretation).

【Zhaojun returned north with Huhanye Chanyu, Emperor Yuan, to show importance, changed the era name to "Jining", meaning "border peace", and gave Zhaojun the title "Ninghu Yanshi"—meaning the Khatun (Empress) who brought peace to the Xiongnu.】

The scene followed the marriage alliance team, walking along the long Qin straight road, crossing the Xiaoguan, and stepping into a completely strange grassland.

The prosperous Chang'an went further and further away, and before her eyes were boundless wilderness, wind and sand, tents, cattle and sheep, and Hu people with completely different clothes and languages.

Wang Zhaojun sat in the carriage, holding the pipa, looked back at the southern horizon one last time, and then resolutely turned her head to look at the vast world in the north.

【Zhaojun's life in the Xiongnu was not a simple "sacrifice", she actively adapted and tried her best to play the role of "peace envoy".】

【She and Huhanye Chanyu had a harmonious relationship and had a son, named Yituzhiyashi, later titled Right Rizhu King.】

The scene showed Zhaojun learning the Xiongnu language, adapting to the grassland diet and living, and getting along with Huhanye Chanyu, who respected and doted on her.

She also taught the Xiongnu people Central Plains weaving and farming techniques, introduced Han etiquette, played the pipa, and spread Han culture.

【However, good times did not last long. After more than two years of marriage, Huhanye Chanyu passed away.】

Mournful songs rose on the grassland, Zhaojun wore mourning clothes, holding her young son, standing alone in the cold wind, her figure lonely.

【According to the Xiongnu "levirate marriage" custom, when the father dies, the son can marry his stepmother (not biological mother).】

【Huhanye's eldest son Diaotaomogao succeeded to the throne, as Fuzhuleiruodi Chanyu, and wanted to marry Zhaojun according to custom.】

【For Zhaojun, who had been influenced by Han ethics since childhood, this was like a bolt from the blue.】