The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

"That time, she didn't die, but she was depressed for a few days. The guests in the building couldn't see the 'Moon Fairy', so they turned to the 'Flower Goddess' in the Jade Bottle Pavilion. The owner of the Tianwu Pavilion couldn't stand this, so he forced her to come out to entertain the guests, regardless of the fact that her injuries had not yet healed."

"While her wounds were still not fully healed, the boss found a tattoo artist from somewhere and painted those wounds into the pattern of flowing clouds and flying stars. When she took off her clothes, it was like the moonlight reflecting on her body... They also invited the man surnamed Qi to come and paint another beautiful picture for her. When the picture was circulated, countless bees and butterflies flocked to Tianwu Pavilion."

"During those days...she rarely had the chance to leave the attic."

The eyes of the brothel owner and the pimp turned golden, and they led wave after wave of men in and out of the room on a moonlit night.

at last.

"...At the end of the year, there were fewer guests in the building. One night, she came to me and said to me -"

"I want to die." Yue Mingye, with her long hair loose and wearing a white dress, stood barefoot in front of Shiqi Niang and told her calmly.

The smile on Shiqi Niang's face quickly froze: "Why? I will grow up soon. I... Mammy told us that our face and figure are the best weapons to deal with men. If we make men like us, we will improve our value and climb up the social ladder. We don't have to be like prostitutes in some places outside, entertaining those dirty, smelly and sick men."

"Just like...the beautiful lady and the talented scholar in the story, if we dance and sing for them, they will give us money, write poems and paint pictures, so that more men will like us, and who knows, we may even be able to redeem ourselves in the end."

"When that time comes, I will have my own room like you, wear beautiful clothes like you, and help others to have their meals just like you helped me to have their meals... I haven't even thanked you or treated you to a meal yet!"

The moon was silent for a long time.

This was the time when all the prostitutes in the building were sleeping the deepest. She took Shiqi Niang and went through a small door in the backyard into a room where they could see the river. On the way, they met the sleepy-eyed brothel owner, who just looked at the two, one big and one small, said something to them to behave themselves, and left yawning.

"Don't believe what the madam said." Yue Mingye told Shiqi Niang, "We were not born to receive men. The men who come to this building are no different from those who can't afford to come here."

Shiqi Niang still didn't understand: "Mammy told me and my sisters that you have the best life among all of us, and you are the most valued by the boss. In the future you will definitely..."

"I have no future." Yue Mingye suddenly interrupted her irritably, then undressed himself and showed Shiqi Niang the pattern on his body that emitted a faint silver light. "Do you know what this is?"

She didn't need the little girl in front of her to answer her: "This is poison. If I use this, I won't live for a few years. No, I won't live for too long anyway."

Yue Mingye stared blankly at Shiqi Niang with his eyes wide open. Suddenly, he raised his hand and combed his hair twice, grabbing a handful of hair. "I am seventeen years old, but my body says that it is too old to walk. I feel pain every day. Every time I am touched by a man, it hurts, but I don't have the strength to struggle or shout. I screamed at them to get out, but they thought I was trying to please them..."

"Don't learn from me."

"Don't be like me!"

Yue Mingye suddenly collapsed and squatted down, grabbing Shiqi Niang's shoulders and staring at her: "Don't believe those brothel owners and men who talk about talented men and beautiful women. They are just lies made up to make money from you so that you can be eaten peacefully!"

"Talented man?"

"beautiful woman?"

"Redemption?"

“Hahaha…” Yuemingye laughed desolately, “Don’t believe the stories written by the prostitutes, don’t believe anything they say, don’t believe the old ladies in the building… Look at me, look at me, they will only take advantage of me being young, beautiful, and famous to sell me to different men again and again, until they squeeze my last drop of blood and turn me into a pool of rotten meat, and then abandon me without hesitation, and continue to use these sets of lies to deceive and train the next ‘Yuemingye’!!!”

"They are so good at beautifying their own actions, describing cannibalism as beautiful, and even goading us... They are proud of buying and selling themselves?"

"Famous prostitute, what a glorious place!"

"How enviable! How jealous! Famous prostitute! Famous prostitute! Why don't they want to sell themselves? Become the famous prostitute praised in the books!"

Shiqi Niang was frightened by her sudden outburst.

But Yue Mingye suddenly became gentle: "You are the only person here who can talk to me, but I don't even know your name."

"I..." Shiqi Niang looked at her timidly and answered instinctively, "My name is San Ya, I don't know my family name..."

Yue Mingye gently stroked her hair lovingly: "Hello, I am... Xiang Xiezhi. Like you, I am also the third daughter in the family. I have an older sister named Xiang Caizhi. We are all the same as you. Our father and mother care more about our younger brother..."

"I water my garden with the intention of picking flowers. I pick them, and there are plenty. Pick them... pick them... my elder sister is in love with the prince of the marquis's mansion, and we are his treasures. As for us... he really hopes that we can marry into a rich family as soon as possible, so that we can help our younger brother in the future. Unfortunately... unfortunately, before we grew up, before we could get married, he committed a crime, was stripped of his official position, and became a prisoner."

Seeing that Shiqi Niang was confused, with concern in her eyes, she gave Xie Zhi a gentle smile: "Did I scare you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I just... I just can't control myself anymore, I really want to die."

She approached gently, her hands loosely encircling Shiqi Niang's body, but she refused to let her body touch the little girl: "Don't be afraid, after I die, you can still continue to have enough food. I know a man, he may not be a good guy, but... someone who can persist in looking for his fallen sister after so many years is still worthy of trust, unlike my family... they went back, Xiang Caizhi and Xiang Xiezhi, but they were already dead."

"I have entrusted you to someone else. Leave here, go anywhere better than here. Don't be afraid. Live well, eat well, sleep well, grow up and make sure no one dares to bully you."

Shiqi Niang was still ignorant. She only felt sad and distressed. She vaguely sensed that the woman in front of her was disgusted with her and this world. Shiqi Niang didn't know what to do.

So she just leaned gently into Xiang Xiezhi's arms and hugged her tightly.