The Legend of Zhuohua

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Protecting the Eyes and Turning Off the Lights

Large, Medium, Small

In the winter of the fourteenth year of Zhaoming, with the biting cold wind and desolation all around, migratory birds flew south. Yet, there was a small green donkey pulling a rudimentary carriage, moving steadily against the direction of the migrating geese, trotting along from Jiangnan towards the capital.

On the small donkey's carriage, Mu Zhaohua cracked a whip, casually imparting life lessons to her young maid.

"A woman must study well; otherwise, she'll end up getting married." Miss Mu Qixiao, wearing a scholar's hair crown, rubbed her reddened face against the chilly wind and said earnestly, "If a woman gets married, that's it for her. Remember this well, Jüli. It's crucial."

Sitting beside her, the young maid named Guo Jüli, two years younger and approaching sixteen, slender but with a sturdy build, had been known as "Jüli" for years due to her innate strength. Without a proper name, she became accustomed to being called the "maid," and the nickname stuck, becoming her name.

Guo Jüli listened attentively, nodding her head. In her eyes, Miss Mu was the most knowledgeable and kind person in the world, so whatever she said must be right. As a result, when Mu Qixiao told Guo Jüli about her plan to escape from the Mu family, there was no hesitation; Jüli promptly packed her belongings.

On a lively day, the two of them secretly fled from the wealthiest family in Jiangnan—the Mu family. That day, the Mu estate was filled with the sound of drums and gongs, celebrating the good fortune of Mr. Mu Rong, who was raising his eighteenth concubine. The festivities were as lively as a first wedding.

Mu Zhaohua had a famous and romantic father. The Mu family had been the wealthiest in Jiangnan since the time of Mu Rong's great-grandfather. Mu Rong, as the only son of his generation, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, possessing wealth that could not be squandered even in eighteen lifetimes. His extremely wealthy background, combined with his naturally charming appearance, made his life full of peach blossoms. His greatest pleasure was mingling in the realm of romantic pursuits. If he liked someone, he would throw mountains of gold and silver into the sea just to make her smile. And which woman could resist the passionate pursuit of such a gallant playboy?

Mu Zhaohua's mother, also renowned in Jiangnan, was a songstress named Gu Yixiao. She was both beautiful and talented, originally the daughter of a disgraced official. Orphaned at a young age due to family misfortune, she fell into the world of entertainment. Compared to other songstresses, she exuded a unique elegance and melancholy, attributed to her noble and sorrowful background. It was this uniqueness that deeply attracted Mu Rong. During their passionate love affair, he spared no expense to ignite fireworks for her, fought against wealthy and powerful rivals for her, endured torture and imprisonment for her, and even stood vigil through cold nights. Finally, her once cold and lonely heart felt the warmth she thought she had found true love, ignoring the advice of others and marrying into the Mu family, becoming Mu Rong's third concubine, adding fragrance to his red sleeves, and bearing children for him.

However, before the child in her womb could be born, Mu Rong had taken in two more concubines. On the day when the drums and gongs were resounding in the Mu estate, she stood quietly by the door, watching the fireworks that suddenly disappeared, turning into ashes in her eyes. That's how she witnessed him wholeheartedly giving the fiery passion he once had for her to other women—one after another.

"A scholar may indulge, and it can still be acceptable. But a woman's indulgence cannot be spoken of." Mu Zhaohua shook her head. "A woman should not become like my mother. Never let your life revolve around a man, causing harm to other women and children. That's meaningless."