At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the situation suddenly changed and dynasties changed. Although the Qinhuai River in Nanjing was still bustling with singing and dancing, there was also an invisible sense of generosity and sadness. Ironically, when the dignitaries of the Ming Dynasty betrayed their country for glory and vying for favor, the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai" stood out. Not only do they have unparalleled beauty and outstanding talents, but most of them also have commendable national integrity, which makes people admire and admire them endlessly. The Concubine of the Prime Minister's Mansion

"I saw how charming the green mountains were, and I expected that the green mountains would be so charming when they saw me." Xin Qiji's fresh and beautiful words touched the heart of a brothel girl. She gave herself a pure and elegant name: Liu Rushi. Liu Rushi's original surname was Yang, and his given name was Ai. Later, his surname was changed to Liu, his given name was Yin, and his name was Hedong Jun. A native of Jiaxing, Zhejiang, he was born in the 46th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1618). Because her family was poor, she was sold to the Guijia Courtyard in Songjiang Shengze Town as a maid at a very young age. The so-called Guijiayuan is actually a brothel for prostitutes. At that time, the popularity of singing and dancing in Shengze Town was almost comparable to that of Jinling (Nanjing). The head of Guijiayuan is named Xu Fo, who can play the piano, is good at painting orchids, and has good looks. The young Liu Rushi was influenced by Xu Fo. She was also good at poetry, calligraphy and painting, and had outstanding talents. After a while, the prime minister Zhou Daodeng retired and returned to his hometown. He went to the home courtyard to choose a maid to serve his mother. After many selections, he chose Liu Rushi. Zhou's mother often lives in the courtyard of the deep house, and she is naturally happy to see the sharp-tongued Liu Rushi. Liu Rushi met many people in Guijiayuan. He was observant and calm, and he was naturally able to serve Zhou's mother with ease. Unfortunately, not long after, the young and beautiful Liu Rushi was spotted by Zhou Daodeng, who had many wives and concubines, and took her as the last concubine. She quickly became a favorite among the exclusive clients. Volume 7 of Qian Zhaoao's "Zhizhitaner" of the Qing Dynasty: "(She) is the most immature and extremely intelligent. The master often holds her on his lap and teaches her literature and art, so she is a taboo for the concubines." Soon, the concubines falsely accused Liu. If he had an affair with a male servant, Mr. Zhou was a fool to begin with, and he was so greedy for money that he didn't know what was true and what was false. He became furious and wanted Liu Rushi to commit suicide. In the end, Zhou's mother remembered Liu Rushi's service and escaped death. In 1633, fifteen-year-old Liu Rushi was expelled from the Zhou family and returned to Guijiayuan again. After Liu Rushi left, the master of the Zhou family became lovesick and returned to the west with hatred. This is equivalent to making a real and vigorous advertisement for Liu Rushi. With the celebrity effect of "the concubine of the prime minister's house", she quickly stood out among the many famous girls in brothels. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the area around Wu and Yue was a gathering of humanities and literary societies. Celebrities sang together, chanted poems and wrote articles, and the Qing Dynasty discussed government affairs and judged people. Liu Rushi was born with intelligence, and he had been surrounded by celebrities, scholar-bureaucrats since he was a child, and received rare edification and lessons. He is proficient in calligraphy and painting, reciting poems and lyrics, playing and singing music, and is proficient in everything, which adds an unworldly beauty. Each meeting can be divided into topics and rhymes in an instant, which is quite the talent of Cao Zijian. She has an open-minded and cheerful personality, and often compares herself to Liang Hongyu, the all-powerful heroine of the Southern Song Dynasty. She was immediately famous and was overwhelmed by the number of people who came to her.

Stuck on the road of marriage

What is sad is that Liu Rushi has superhuman talents, but does not have the fate of ordinary people! "My heart is as high as the sky", but her status is lower than that of the miserable Qingwen, a prostitute. This is doomed for her to have a lifetime of troubles on the road to marriage. Song Yuanwen was born into a prominent family in Yunjian. He was smart and eager to learn. He was famous in his hometown even before he was young. He was known as one of the "Three Talented Scholars in Yunjian" together with Chen Zilong and Li Wen.

In the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), he met Liu Rushi at the birthday banquet of Chen Meigong and wrote the famous "Qiutang Song" for her. The preface goes: "There is a school secretary named Xin who has come to live in the world from the old prime minister's family in Wujiang. Everything he narrates is filled with emotion and emotion, which is definitely not like the boudoir talk." The poem also has "The school secretary Chanjuan is sixteen years old, and she can cry bitterly in the rain, rain and wind." "It is natural that the boudoir is full of glory, but how could it be that the world is so busy?" I admired Liu Rushi's talents. He started dating Liu Rushi. Liu was full of talents, singing softly and crooning, talking eloquently, dancing with sleeves to return the wind, or improvising rhymes, which all made Yuanwen of Song Dynasty fascinated and fascinated. He was determined to marry Liu as his wife, but Liu Rushi was doubtful of the young master's words. She is cunning and wants to test his determination and sincerity. "Liu Rushi's Farewell Biography" writes: "Ru Shi made an appointment to meet in Bailongtan on a boat."

Yuan Wenwen went to the appointment, but before he got up, someone sent a message: "Song, please don't board the boat. If Lang Guo has feelings, he should jump into the water to wait for him." Song immediately went to the water. It was cold, so he urgently ordered the pole master to hold it, put it on the bed, and hug the woman in his arms. Because the love is good and close. Despite this, it was very difficult for Liu Rushi to become the wife of his official matchmaker. When Song's mother heard that her son had fallen in love with a prostitute, she was furious and ordered him to kneel down for punishment. Song Yuanwen argued that Liu Rushi did not ask for money, and his mother became even more angry, saying: "Money is nothing, she doesn't want money, but she wants your life!" Due to family pressure, Song Yuanwen visited Liu Rushi less and less often. . Soon, Songjiang Magistrate Fang Yuegong ordered a cleanup of stray prostitutes. Liu Rushi approached Song Yuanwen, hoping that he would come forward to keep her as his "guest". Song Yuanwen was cowardly and waited for a long time before saying, "Just stay out of the way." ". After hearing this, Liu Rushi said sadly: "It's okay for others to say this, but you shouldn't do this. From now on, I will never be friends with you!" After saying that, he showed a samurai sword and slashed at the lyre on the table. Go, with a loud sound, the strings of the piano are cut off. Another man that Liu Rushi admired was Chen Zilong. He was ten years older than Liu Rushi and was the leader of the "several societies" at that time. He was generous and heroic, ambitious and talented. He accepted apprentices and gave lectures everywhere. Naturally, he was also very arrogant. Liu Rushi usually likes to "wear scarves, bow shoes, and men's clothes." When interacting with literati and celebrities, Liu Rushi often calls himself "brother." In modern times, Wang Guowei marveled at Liu Rushi's boldness, and once wrote a poem praising him: "It's strange that the Taoist monks wear scarves and obey their authority, but they don't doubt the brothers calling each other." Don't blame your daughter for being too abrupt, and the scholars in Jimen court are so handsome. But when she wrote to Chen Zilong calling herself "brother", Chen was unhappy and did not reply. It is said that Liu Rushi "came to visit Chen and said: If you don't recognize things in the world, how can you be a famous person in the world?" Zilong was greatly ashamed. From then on, the two began to have a literary friendship, and their relationship became increasingly close. Once, when the two were on a boat trip, Chen Zilong looked at Liu Rushi's fluttering skirt and couldn't help but admired: "How beautiful, Luo Shen!" Liu Rushi heard this and said half-jokingly: "You men always say bad things about women. Fourth, judge and comment, as if women were born for you to appreciate and play with. Today I want to appreciate, comment and comment on you men." With that, Liu Rushi wrote an article called "Male Luo Shen Fu" (collected in Liu Rushi's collection). "Wuyincao" poem collection), compares Chen Zilong to the male Luo God, which is a wonderful idea through the ages. This poem completely inherits the writing style of the Six Dynasties, with gorgeous diction and complex and accurate allusions. It not only comments on Chen Zilong's character and literary talent, but also expresses his admiration for Chen Zilong. His high spirit and courage make him both a poet and a poet. Surprised and moved. At this time, Chen Zilong lost his reputation twice and met Liu Rushi, who was depressed and frustrated. When they met, the two talked about everything, commented on world affairs, discussed poetry and art, and fell in love unknowingly. In the eighth year of Chongzhen (1635), Chen Zilong carried his family behind his back and lived with Liu Rushi in a small red building called Nanlou outside Songjiang. Liu Rushi called this building Yuanyang Tower, and named the collection of poems written during this period "Yuanyang Tower Ci". During this period, Liu Rushi worked as a school teacher to earn a living, while Chen Zilong devoted himself to studying to prepare for the examination. Light tea and light meals nourish a loving, loving, and sentimental life. At this time, Chen Zilong wrote a popular quatrain "Getting Up Early in Spring": Standing alone on the railing facing the morning breeze, the stream is full of spring water to the east of the small bridge. Only then did I realize that I was in the Dream of Red Mansions last night, among thousands of peach blossom trees. Some people think that it is the source of the title of "Dream of Red Mansions". However, this pathos and lingering love story was destined to end in tragedy from the beginning. After all, Chen Zilong is a man who has a family. He is both emotional and reasonable. No matter how deep the relationship between them is, it can only be regarded as a romantic story between a talented man and a beautiful woman by the bohemian scholar-bureaucrats. Liu Rushi will never be able to behave openly. Enter Chen Zilong's life. Half a year later, Chen Zilong's wife Zhang and a group of people made a big fuss in Yuanyang Tower. Liu Rushi was unwilling to be humiliated and left sadly and resolutely.

After being forced to break up with Chen Zilong, Liu Rushi lived alone in Hengyun Mountain. She recalled this deep love and resentment, reluctant to leave it, and once wrote "Dream Jiangnan?" in one breath. "Remembering People", eloquently spread out twenty pages, one by one recalling the "Painting Building", "Tangli", "Heron Island", "Mulan Boat" and other scenery in the South Garden.

But it seemed that Wang Chang's news was good, so he followed suit as soon as he picked up his suitcase. Qian Qianyi compared Liu Rushi to Wen Jun who eloped, and also used allusions related to romance such as Zhang Tai and Wang Chang. How could the clever Liu Rushi be ignorant? She respects Qian Qianyi for his profound knowledge, and Qian Qianyi loves her unstained through the mud. They respect her and love her, and a colorful love affair begins. Niu Xiu's "Gu leftover?" There is a record in "Hedong Jun": "(Liu) Chang said to people, in the world, only the Qian bachelor from Yushan can speak of talent. I will not marry anyone who is not a bachelor. Shi Zongbo was widowed. He was very happy when he heard that, and said: Only the world has pity for this. A woman? I don’t want to marry someone who is not as talented as a willow.” As the saying goes, it is already a matter of course. From then on, the silent "Hanye Hall" was filled with the laughter of an old man and a young man who had forgotten their friendship. They walked in the snow to admire plum blossoms, fished in cold boats, rowed in the lake, watched the moon on the mountains, accompanied by poetry and wine, and lived a happy and harmonious life. The next year, that is, 1641, Qian Qianyi got rid of family interference and the criticism of the world, and married Liu Rushi, a brothel girl, in the Furong Boat on West Lake in Hangzhou. He spent a huge sum of money to build a beautiful and elegant small building for her, named It is called "Jiangyun Tower", and the collection of books in the building is the highest in the south of the Yangtze River. Based on the sentence "This is what I heard" in the Diamond Sutra, Liu's living room was named "I heard the room" to coincide with Liu Rushi's name. At that time, Qian was already fifty-nine years old, while Liu Ze was only twenty-three years old. Although they were an old man and a young wife, they were in love with each other and were extremely affectionate. Gu Gongxie's "Xiao Xia Xian Ji" records: One day, Liu Rushi asked her husband what he loved about her, and Qian Qianyi said: "I love your white face and black hair!" The implication is that there is nothing he doesn't love; then, Qian Qianyi Yi asked his beloved wife again. Liu Rushi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said coquettishly: "I love your white hair and dark face!" . After the fall of the country

In 1644, Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself in Meishan, and the old officials in Jiangnan planned to support the new emperor. Qian Qianyi originally supported Zhu Changzi, the king of Lu, but Ma Shiying brought the army to push Zhu Yousong, the king of Fu, to power and became the Hongguang Emperor. Qian Qianyi changed his mind and quickly curried favor with Ma Shiying, who was in power, and actually became the Minister of Rites. Soon, the Qing army conquered Nandu, and the Hongguang court collapsed. Hongguang's ministers who were high in the court surrendered one after another and surrendered to the new master, which became a strange landscape at that time. Qian Qianyi, as a relic of the old dynasty and a famous person, would not serve the new dynasty but would be loyal to the old master. He faced a choice of fate. Liu Rushi witnessed the tragic scenes of the Qing troops destroying the city and sweeping the south of the Yangtze River, and was filled with grief and anger. She personally prepared a banquet, raised her glass to Qian Qianyi and said, "At this time, the whole festival should be honored to be famous." Qian Qianyi thought about it again and again, and nodded in agreement. The next day, the two went boating on the lake and agreed to commit suicide by drowning. Unexpectedly, Qian Qianyi looked around in confusion on the boat, stretched out his hand to explore the water again and again, raised his head and said to Liu Rushi: "The water is too cold tonight, we might as well come back another day!" "What's wrong with the cold water!" "I am weak and cannot bear the cold. "Liu Rushi didn't expect that the husband he respected would say such unworthy words. He felt deeply desperate. Without saying a word, he turned around and threw himself into the water. Qian Qianyi was in a panic. Fortunately, the crew on the ship rescued him in time, and Liu Rushi did not die. When Liu Rushi saw what had happened, he added: "If you live in seclusion and do not engage in the Qing court, you can be considered worthy of the old dynasty." However, Qian Qianyi appeared to be only modest, but in fact he had shaved off his hair and left braids, and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. Liu Rushi was helpless. In the autumn of that year, the Qing government issued a decree ordering all demoted officials to go to Beijing for appointment. Everyone brought their wives and concubines with them, but Liu Rushi was determined not to go north with the money. On the day of departure, Liu Rushi stood on the roadside wearing a red shirt symbolizing the Zhu Ming Dynasty to see her husband off. The fellow travelers who were demoted were not only ashamed and embarrassed when they saw Liu's move, but they were also worried about her boldness. However, Liu Rushi's heart was as calm as water at this time, and he had already given up on life and death.

Qian Qianyi went north to Beijing, partly out of necessity and partly because he still had a trace of nostalgia for fame and wealth. Unexpectedly, the Qing government only gave him the sinecure position of vice president of editing "History of the Ming Dynasty". Qian Qianyi had already felt guilty for his betrayal and surrender to the Qing Dynasty, and now he was acting cowardly as an official. Within half a year, he claimed to be ill and resigned and returned home. In the fifth year of Shunzhi (1648), thirty-year-old Liu Rushi gave birth to a daughter, and Qian Qianyi was overjoyed.

However, when the Qing people crossed the river and Qian Qianyi surrendered, Liu Rushi was extremely angry and left the famous saying "You sacrificed your country, I sacrificed my husband". After Qian Qianyi returned to seclusion, she took advantage of Qian's influence to actively participate in anti-Qing and restoration activities across the country. Since Zheng Chenggong came to Changshu to teach Qian Qianyi in the 17th year of Chongzhen (1644), Liu Rushi even worked with him as his master's wife. Discussing current affairs and evaluating gains and losses laid a certain foundation for Zheng's resistance to the Qing Dynasty and restoration of the Ming Dynasty. However, in the second year of Shunzhi (1645), the Hongguang regime was wiped out; in the third year (1646), the Longwu regime, King Lu, and Shaowu regime were successively destroyed; in the eighteenth year (1661), Emperor Yongli was captured and later He was hanged by Wu Sangui. With the collapse of the last regime in Nanming, the hope of restoring the Ming Dynasty was completely shattered. Now that her husband is dead, the so-called national and family affairs are in a state of desolation. She was in despair. How could Liu Rushi, who had long wanted to "sacrifice his country and husband", survive in vain? She wrote in her suicide note: "After death, the coffin cannot be buried because the land has been occupied by others. Iron ropes must be suspended in the earthen chamber, and the coffin must be placed on the iron ropes." Her patriotism is beyond words. After despair, her suicide was inevitable. The tribesmen's extortion for money only accelerated the process. Liu Rushi's postscript

Liu Rushi's literary talent and poetic skills rank first among the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai", including "Wuyin Cao", "Hu Shang Cao", "Dongshan Huohe Collection", "Hongdou Village Miscellaneous Records", Works such as "Collection of Poems and Essays by Hedong Jun", "Child Slips", "I Wen Shi Yuanyang Lou Ci" are handed down to the world. The sheer number of them and the beauty of their diction are staggering. His "Chi Shou" was considered by the Qing Dynasty to be "more beautiful than the Six Dynasties and deeply affectionate to Ban Cai". Her calligraphy and paintings are also very famous. Later generations praised her as "an iron fist with a silver hook, which once collected the wonderful traces", and has always been a collection treasure. Chen Yinke, a contemporary master of traditional Chinese culture, not only praised Liu Rushi as a "famous heroine", but also wrote a monograph of more than 800,000 words "A Farewell Biography of Liu Rushi" for her when she was blind at the age of 80. He is in "Liu Rushi's Farewell Biography?" "The Origin" said: "Searching for Qian Liu's chapters, even after being incomplete and destroyed, often reveals his loneliness and hatred, and some of them can make people cry and unable to control themselves." It is not just her peerless beauty that makes Mr. Chen "unable to control himself" Talent, and more importantly, her commendable integrity. Mr. Chen's poem says: Wandering alone in high buildings meditating, singing and crying for no reason at all. The beauty of women has been sold out for a long time in the world. Who can save the sorrow in old age in Jiangguan? The tears of the broken mountain are shed by the scraps, and the calmness and calmness of the desperate life are the talents of the next generation. The song of the fairy couple in Qiutan is left behind, and the hatred in the world will never be resolved. Liu Ru was so knowledgeable that the infatuated old man should look back and smile three hundred years later! After Liu Rushi's death, he was not buried with Qian Qianyi, but was expelled from the Qian family cemetery. Liu Rushi's tomb is at the foot of Yushan Mountain. It is an isolated tomb. The stone tablet in front of the tomb is only a little more than one meter, and it is engraved on it: the tomb of Hedong Jun (named Liu Rushi). A hundred steps away, Qian Qianyi and his first wife were buried together. Alas!