Although the classical "Four Beauties" are well-known among people, women and children, objectively speaking, their authenticity needs to be greatly reduced. What they carry should be a kind of humanistic load, mixed with the romance color of many later generations. Diao Chan is a literary image, which has not been recorded in history books.
The "five beauties" mentioned in the next few chapters are probably the classical beauties in ancient China who are truly "beautiful through the ages" and valued as empresses (kings).
1、 Xia Ji: the first lady in spring and Autumn
In the spring and Autumn period, Xia Ji was the number one mistress. Xia Ji was born with an apricot face, peach cheeks, moth eyebrows and Phoenix eyes. When he grew up, he was more like a spring willow and stepped out of the lotus. He had the beauty of Liji and Xigui, and was also the fox of Daji and Baosi. He was called "a generation of enchantress". It is said in historical books that "when the Duke and Marquis fight for it, they will be confused and frustrated.". She was three queens and seven wives. It can be said that there is no one before and no one after.
It is said that Xia Ji knows "the art of picking and tonifying". After marrying Chen Guoxia Yu Shu, she gave birth to a son, Xia Zhengshu, less than September. Although the imperial uncle has doubts, he has already been fascinated by Xia Ji's beauty and has no time to study deeply. Later, Xia Yushu died in his prime of life. Some people said that he might have died of Xia Ji's "Caibu technique". Xia Ji was still in her forties. She had a delicate face and delicate skin. She kept the appearance of a young girl. She was admired by the monarchs and officials for her unique charm.
After being widowed, Xia Ji first made gongsunning and yixingfu lose their souls, and then involved the monarch Chen linggong. According to historical records, when Xia Zhengshu, the son of Xia Ji, went to court, Chen linggong, Gong sunning and Yi Xingfu took turns to meet Xia Ji. Xia Ji also gives her underwear to three people, but Chen linggong and Chen linggong dare to go to court in Xia Ji's gift clothes and talk about the affair with Xia Ji in public. Once, Chen linggong and his three friends were drinking and having fun at Xia's house. During the dinner, they argued with each other about whose child Xia Zhengshu was. Xia Zhengshu was humiliated, but he angrily killed Chen linggong. Gongsunning and yixingfu fled to the state of Chu and complained about Xia Zhengshu's regicide. King Zhuang of Chu listened to one side of the story, so he launched an army against Chen, killed Xia Zhengshu, and plundered Xia Ji.
At that time, the king of Chuzhuang was excited by Xia Ji's beauty. He wanted to be included in the harem, but he had to give up to remonstrate for Shen Gong. The general saw that Xia Ji was beautiful and wanted to dominate for himself, which was also dissuaded by the witches. King Zhuang of Chu bestowed Xia Ji on Lian Yinxiang, who died in battle soon after. Xianglao's son was willing to bear the name of incest with his concubine's mother on his back, and soon fell under Xia Ji's skirt. As a matter of fact, the witch Minister of Shengong had coveted Xia Ji for a long time. In the end, he designed to capture Xia Ji and defected to the state of Jin. What he paid was the price of killing his family.
