Chapter 1

In the second year of the Zhen Guan era of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin was in his thirties, and the blood from the Xuanwu Gate Incident was still fresh. On a certain day of that year, the famous Taoist master Yuan Tian Gang, who was renowned in history, was walking on the most dangerous part of the thousand-mile Shu Road, at the Chaotian Temple. He saw the aura of royalty rising from the city of Li, so he entered the city to read the face of Wu Shiyue's daughter, saying, "If this child is a girl, she will be the ruler of the world."

At that time, Wu Shiyue's daughter was only five years old and dressed as a boy. It was also in that year that Li Shimin's ninth son, Li Zhi, was born.

This is the legend of "Chaotian Temple, Wangyunpu."

Half a century passed, and the Tang Dynasty was in the Yong Long era. Li Zhi had ruled for over thirty years, and now his empress, the former Wu Shiyue's daughter, was ruling behind the curtain, managing the state affairs—she was the Wu Zetian of the time.

The people called them the "Two Sages," as the emperor and empress ruled the country together, known as the "Two Sages in Court."

Li Zhi was seriously ill and could no longer handle state affairs, so all power fell into the hands of Empress Wu, and the first female emperor, Wu Zetian, was about to emerge.

In the second year of Yong Long (681 AD), the Tang Empire was at its largest, with peaceful borders and a prosperous people. It was like a man in his thirties, in the prime of his life.

On a sunny day in early spring, the county of Lantian, under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Prefecture, was as peaceful and harmonious as ever.

The Drunken Immortal Tower, the best tavern in the county, was still bustling with guests and the aroma of wine and meat. Today, several young scholars were drinking and reciting poems, which attracted many diners to watch and admire.

Poetry, wine, swords, and beauties were the four treasures that scholars and officials of the time aspired to, and the prevailing fashion. The number of poems left by the Tang Dynasty was no less than the total of all other dynasties in Chinese history.

These young scholars recited poems and composed verses in public, which, though somewhat showy, was something the common people enjoyed. If a good poem or verse came from their mouths, the tavern owner would even waive the wine money and ask for their calligraphy to be inscribed on the wall, as a unique treasure to attract more diners.

As the wine flowed, these young scholars were inspired to recite more poems, drawing applause from the guests and more diners into the tavern.

The tavern owner was beaming with joy, feeling that the wine money spent today was well worth it!

Just as the atmosphere in the tavern was at its peak, someone shouted, "Look, another one is coming out of the Xue family!"

This shout was like a call to action, and both the common diners and the well-dressed scholars rushed to the balcony or outside the tavern, looking toward the gate of the Xue family, not far from the Drunken Immortal Tower.

A graceful woman, carrying a bundle, slowly walked out of the red-painted gate.

She was a beauty of unparalleled charm.

When the crowd saw the woman, they let out a chorus of exclamations!

"Zhang Yaotiao!"

Among the young scholars who were reciting poems, one recognized her and couldn't help but call out, his eyes fixed and his throat dry.

"Indeed, it's Zhang Yaotiao!"

A chorus of exclamations!

Zhang Yaotiao, a woman from the Sichuan region, was a famous courtesan in the capital, whose beauty was unmatched. In the capital city of Chang'an, countless nobles and officials were captivated by her, willing to spend a fortune to win her smile. It was said that after passing the Mingjing examination last year, Xu Sheng, the third-place winner, went to Zhang Yaotiao's residence to invite her to tour the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.

All newly appointed scholars were invited by the emperor to climb the Great Wild Goose Pagoda and inscribe their names, which gradually became a popular tradition among scholars, considered a great honor, akin to a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

However, Zhang Yaotiao declined Xu Sheng's invitation because on that day, she entered the Xue family in a three-flowered carriage, serving the young master of Lantian, until today.

It was said that Zhang Yaotiao, after seeing the young master of Lantian in Chang'an, redeemed herself and willingly entered the Xue family as a concubine, leaving behind countless admirers who lamented and sighed.

"Alas, what a pity for such a beautiful woman to have such a thin fate!" A scholar sighed and wrote on the tavern wall, "The courtyard is full of flowers, but no one comes; the swallows, full of affection, speak in pairs."

"Brother Du, I remember this line is from Zhang Yaotiao!" Another scholar sighed.

"Indeed," the scholar who wrote the line replied, "Last year, I and Xu Sheng went to the capital to take the examination. We had the chance to meet Zhang Yaotiao, and she even gave me advice on my poetry. I remember this line very well!"

"Brother Du actually received guidance from Zhang Yaotiao?" The other scholars exclaimed in admiration.

In the Tang Dynasty, visiting courtesans was a popular trend among scholars and officials. Discussing it in public was not considered shameful but rather a sign of fashion. The "high-class" courtesans of the time were not just beautiful; they were also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

But a courtesan like Zhang Yaotiao, who was not only beautiful but also capable of guiding scholars in poetry, was one of a kind.

"Alas, a beauty like Zhang Yaotiao, who captivated the capital, was also dismissed by the young master of Lantian!" One diner lamented, "It's like burning a lute to cook a crane!"

The scholars' faces were tense with envy and admiration.

"Alas, this is the seventh one this month!" Another diner sighed jealously, "Three days ago, the girl who was dismissed, Pei, was even more beautiful than Zhang Yaotiao. Her father was a sixth-rank official and the magistrate of a county, and her family was from the prestigious Pei clan of Hedong. The girl, at the age of sixteen, was so beautiful that many noble families sought to marry her, but she chose to be a concubine and follow the young master of Lantian!"

Amid the diners' exclamations and envy, Zhang Yaotiao walked out of the Xue family gate, picked up a brush, and wrote a poem on the wall:

"Light spring breeze, flowers fall; unable to bear the sorrow, I think of you. Without gold to buy the Longmen Fu, I can only recite the poem of the round fan with regret."

Then, Zhang Yaotiao, sobbing, got into a carriage and left.

Many people wanted to stop Zhang Yaotiao's carriage, but no one actually did.

In the capital, there were countless nobles who would welcome Zhang Yaotiao with open arms. Even if she was now a dismissed concubine of the young master of Lantian, she was still beyond their reach.

...

The title "young master" in the Tang Dynasty was not given lightly. It was reserved for young men from prestigious families or the sons of prime ministers and nobles.

The young master of Lantian, surnamed Xue, named Shao, and styled Chengyu, was in his early twenties. He came from the prestigious Xue clan of Hedong, and his father, Xue Guan, had married the direct daughter of Emperor Taizong, Princess Chengyang. Xue Shao carried the blood of the noble Xue clan and the royal Li clan. In the Tang Dynasty, which placed great importance on lineage and family status, Xue Shao was a top-tier noble and a highly sought-after son-in-law for many families.

Even so, it was not unusual.

After all, in the Guannei region, where officials and nobles were abundant, there were many young nobles like Xue Shao. However, Xue Shao had a face that could make women swoon, and he was skilled in the arts, extremely charming, and generous with his wealth, embodying the ideal of a "dream lover" for Tang women, making him the ultimate "god" in the hearts of many women.

Especially in the Lantian area where Xue Shao lived, whether it was a young maiden or a married woman, all would be captivated by the name of Xue Shao. There was even a saying, "A woman who never sees Xue Shao in her life will have a lifelong regret."

In the grand residence of the young master of Lantian, besides the usual "scholars and no commoners," there were nightly revelries and endless entertainment. The courtesans and dancers in his household were all exceptionally skilled and beautiful, and he frequently changed his concubines, but none of them could become his official wife.

In the Guannei region of the Tang Dynasty, the name "young master of Lantian" almost became synonymous with "charm."

However, recently, many "Zhang Yaotiaos" had been dismissed by the young master of Lantian. A few days ago, the Xue family posted a notice inviting martial artists from near and far to come and demonstrate their skills. If they were outstanding, they could be hired or even become the young master's teacher, with generous treatment.

In the Tang Dynasty, martial arts were highly valued, and it was common for noble sons to practice horseback riding, archery, and swordsmanship. The people of Lantian were not surprised by this, but they were envious of the beautiful women who were dismissed, leaving a trail of drool.

At this moment, the young master of Lantian, Xue Shao, who was usually indulged in pleasure, was sitting in the corridor of the polo field, watching a martial arts competition.

The two martial artists had inherited their skills from their ancestors and were well-known in the area. Today, they were putting in their best efforts, using their most skilled techniques.

Xue Shao watched quietly, neither applauding nor criticizing. A cold expression, which he rarely showed, occasionally flashed across his face.

"Reward them and send them away," Xue Shao said casually, and the two martial artists left dejectedly.

Two more martial artists, armed with long sticks, came forward to practice, putting in even more effort than the previous ones. They hit each other hard, clearly using their true skills.

Xue Shao shook his head, a look of disappointment in his eyes. "Moon Slave, find some truly skilled martial artists. I don't want to see these showy and pretentious charlatans anymore."

With that, Xue Shao got up and left.

"Yes, young master," Moon Slave replied. She was the only young female servant left in the young master of Lantian's household, besides the kitchen aunt.

"Charlatans?" The two martial artists, who were bruised and swollen from their efforts, felt angry. "We have practiced martial arts for over thirty years and have never met our match in the countryside. Is it too much for the young master of Lantian to belittle us?"

"Thirty years?" Moon Slave walked up to the two martial artists, who were in their forties, with a cold and distant expression, like a fox spirit who had seen through the world after a thousand years of cultivation.

The two martial artists, seeing the extremely beautiful young woman in front of them, felt their hearts race and their faces flush.

The personal attendants of the young master of Lantian were always beautiful, and she was the only one left who had not been dismissed. The young woman named Moon Slave had a face that could make over 90% of men swoon, a tall and slender figure, and full, firm breasts. Her face had a mix of the wild and fierce beauty of a foreign woman and the delicate and refined beauty of a Han woman, with deep, enchanting eyes, suggesting she was of mixed Han and foreign descent.

Her attire was not the common silk skirts and gold hairpins of noble women but a simple, well-fitted white narrow-sleeved Hu-style dress, with a wide black belt with gold patterns around her waist. Her chest was impressively high, and her abdomen was unusually flat, with a graceful and curvaceous figure. Her hair was simply tied up with a wooden pin, and she wore no makeup.

"Are you不服?" Moon Slave stood with her hands behind her back, her voice calm.

"Yes, we are不服!" The two martial artists shouted, "Xue Shao clearly doesn't understand martial arts, yet he accuses us of being unskilled!"

"Within three moves, if you can stand, Moon Slave will guarantee your stay, and Xue Shao will treat you as his teacher." Moon Slave pointed to the gate, "Or, leave quickly!"

"..."

The two martial artists were first stunned, then furious!

"Attack!"

In a flash, the two martial artists were on the ground. One had a broken left arm, and the other's long stick was split in two by Moon Slave's long, beautiful leg, which kicked out from under her Hu-style dress like a shadow.

The two martial artists looked up at the beautiful young woman in shock, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

Moon Slave's expression remained calm, her eyes cold, and a stern look appeared on her beautiful face, which was not typical for a young and beautiful woman. She said one word—

"Please!"

The two martial artists scrambled to their feet and ran away without a word.

Now they understood why the young master of Lantian had only kept this servant named Moon Slave!

...

[After preparing for many days, the new book is finally uploaded! A familiar era and a familiar style, I will put my heart and soul into it! Please support me, and I will appreciate every collection, click, comment, and reward! — Let's write this new legend together!]