hell in disguise

Every April, when the crabapple flowers bloom, the whole town of Haitang is shrouded in a faint cloud of carmine.The colors of the flowers reflect the plain pink walls and blue shingled tiles, the bright cheeks and black eyebrows of the girls, and the light spring clothes of pink, willow and green. It is a rare romantic beauty.

At this time of year, there are many tourists who come to see flowers from Bianliang, and there are many arty young masters.Come to see flowers, but also to see beautiful women.And the place with the most beauties is of course the Xiaoyu Building.

Xiaoyulou is a trick house, although it is not as big or as gorgeous as those in Xiaotianshui Lane in Bianliang, but it also has the exquisite style of Xiaojiabiyu.

Yue Qiao sat in front of the dressing table, opened the lid of the rouge cream with her slender and fair hands, dipped it with a brush and applied it on her lips.The lavender light at dusk was slightly rippling in the octagonal water chestnut bronze mirror in front of her, adding a dreamlike halo to her delicate and beautiful facial features.

Mr. Liu is coming tonight, and I heard that he will bring some friends from Bianliang with him.She must become the most beautiful woman in this drizzle building.

Her appearance is very beautiful.Graceful willow-leaf eyebrows, glistening almond eyes, a slightly raised jade nose, and small lips like cherries, a face that perfectly fits the imagination of a beauty.Her fingers were beautiful, too, with finely manicured nails and a brilliant coat of coudan red.Her figure is petite and lovely, her waist is like a weak willow Fufeng, a pair of small and straight jade feet are worn in finely embroidered shoes, but no socks, her white ankles are looming under the pomegranate skirt, with a hint of temptation.

This pair of feet is the most beautiful when dancing. There are silver bells tied around the ankles, which jingle with the steps. I don’t know how many other benefactors watched it so fascinated that they almost drool.

But, she is getting older now.In this world that is extremely harsh on women, youth is fleeting at the age of 20, and you are already old at the age of 25.Even if she doesn't have a wrinkle, even if she is proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, even if she dances gracefully, when the guests know that she is 25 years old, they always show some hesitation and disgust, and even lower her worth.

She always felt as if she was being pushed towards the cliff step by step, and she didn't know when she was about to fall, and she would be smashed to pieces.

At the age of ten, he was sold into Xiaoyu Building, where he learned to dance, sing, and sing poetry. When she was listed at the age of 16, she became an instant hit, and even the wealthy masters of Bianliang came to watch her dance and listen to her singing.At that time, in the midst of all the flowers and brocades, she almost forgot that she was just a plaything for Israeli servants.

At that time, she and her other sisters secretly laughed at the sight of those old and decrepit geishas who were willing to degenerate and put down their bodies to pick up the most inferior customers, and even picked up so many in a day.She even told Yu Huan, who grew up with her, that if she was old enough to be like that, she would rather kill her head-on than let those rough traffickers spoil her.

Ten years was like a big dream, and in the blink of an eye, she had already reached a precarious age.The first choice of those officials and gentlemen who used to love her is no longer her, but the newly listed Binuo who is six years younger than her.If Binuo is not free or menstruation occurs, she will be selected.Even the two high officials who had vowed to redeem her never mentioned it now, and they became more and more stingy when spending money on her.Sometimes even if a guest she doesn't like so much asks to have sex with her, she actually agrees, because although she earns a lot as the top card, she also spends a lot of money, and she can no longer afford to refuse.

Time, the worst curse on beauty.

Fortunately, she still has Young Master Liu.

Mr. Liu is different from other men, he has never had sex with her, and every time he comes, he just watches her dance and listens to her sing.He really appreciates her and regards her as a beautiful treasure.He wrote poems for her, painted pictures for her, and talked with her about his thoughts and troubles.Although he was not that rich, and hadn't entered the rank yet, but his appearance was handsome, and he carried an insane energy, which made her heart, which had been tempered in the sea of ​​love and desire, fall into a little bit of intoxication.

As long as she saw him, her heart seemed to be illuminated by the sun.She likes to listen to him talk, see his beaming face, and also like to listen to his poems, although sometimes she can't understand, but she understands the feelings he expresses.She likes to see him weep because of the tune he sang, and also likes to watch him watch her dance with stars shining in his silly eyes.

She thinks he likes her too.He had never seen other girls before, and he didn't even have much reaction when he saw Bino.He still only came to find himself, although the frequency was not particularly frequent.

With Young Master Liu, even if all the other benefactors changed their minds and went to find Binuo, she didn't care.

She is willing to dance only for him and sing for him only.

Yuhuan persuaded her many times.At their age, they should find someone to redeem themselves as soon as possible, and really shouldn't waste time with these poor scholars.There have been so many precedents of brothel girls being abandoned by their lovers throughout the ages, why is she still so stupid.Of course Yue Qiao also knew the truth in Yu Huan's words, but many times no matter how many stories she heard, when it happened to her, the result was still the same.

She couldn't refuse to see him, and she couldn't stop pretending to be him when she was having fun with others. She had already fallen in love with him unconsciously.

She believed that with his talent and learning, he would definitely be able to win the gold medal and reach the top of the clouds.She is willing to wait for him.

So tonight, she must not let him down, she must show her most beautiful dance in front of those friends who are likely to be able to help him.

She put the emerald jade swing on her jet-black hair, and smiled coquettishly at herself in the mirror.

But in the blink of an eye, she vaguely felt that something was wrong with herself in the mirror.

When I was dazzling just now, the self in the mirror seemed to blink... a little slower?

She froze for a moment, then blinked twice, as if there was still that subtle delay.

is this normal?Is it because I haven't slept well these two days?

She decided to ignore these trivial matters, put the jade bracelet on her wrist, stood up and opened the door to go out.

As night falls, the day in Huajie and Liuxiang has just begun.She was wearing a gorgeous long dress, and her lips were as beautiful as peaches and plums, and she stepped onto the stage gracefully.She saw Mr. Liu sitting under the stage at a glance.The sons around him obviously have good families, and they have a distinctive temperament in their clothes and clothes. Based on her years of experience in looking at people, they should all be the children of officials and eunuchs.But even so, Mr. Liu's poetic madness is still outstanding.

Seeing her on the stage, Mr. Liu immediately showed that happy expression with bright eyes, stood up and applauded vigorously, and was laughed at by a few friends next to her.

The water sleeves are like a rainbow, across the sky.The slightly dense light of the Xiaoyu Building was all stirred up by her.There was no sound in the entire lobby, and everyone was shocked by her glamorous figure.A few bronze mirrors were hung high on the four sides of the stage, refracting the lights several times, and all fell on her body, making the golden and emerald beads on her head sparkle, and the whole person seemed to be transformed into an auspicious goddess.

After the dance, there was thunderous applause.

She bowed profusely, her eyes lingering on Mr. Liu.I saw the sons of the aristocratic families stand up and cheer, one of them suggested that everyone write poems for her dance, and whoever wrote the best poems would be her guest of honor tonight.She knew that Mr. Liu would definitely win, so she readily agreed.

She only has a little understanding of poetry, but she can vaguely feel which is better.In the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, several sons took turns writing their poems on paper, and then read them aloud one by one.She listened one by one, just laughed, but did not speak.

Only at Mr. Liu's place, there is a seven-character quatrain, which is beautiful and not vulgar, with a fairy air.As soon as he read it, everyone knew he had won.

Just when she smiled and wanted to walk to Mr. Liu, a soft female voice suddenly chanted softly, "The drizzle is full of begonias, and the beautiful woman has deep red sleeves. The lotus feet touch the green dew, and the crane neck draws the fragrance. The lonely man does not know , Hua Nian has nothing to hate. Who said that the Queen of the Flying Swallow could not see her body in the palm?"

Le Qiao was startled, but saw that it was Binuo leaning on the second floor and reciting softly.She was still wearing a water-green gauze dress as before, with delicate but very elegant makeup, like hibiscus emerging from clear water, which was particularly eye-catching in the drizzle building full of dazzling colors.

As soon as she appeared, she immediately took away half of Le Qiao's elegance.

However, before the age of double tenth, there is a natural ice-like temperament, which makes people feel a certain kind of admiration that can be seen from a distance and cannot be played with.

Le Qiao felt suffocated when he saw Mr. Liu's admiring eyes when he looked at Binuo.A premonition of doom made her dizzy, and she almost couldn't stand still.

She had never hated another woman so much.In the past, she was the one who was envied by thousands of people.

She didn't want to watch the scene of Mr. Liu and Binuo's earnest conversation, so she raised her head slightly, and opened her eyes wide so that no one could see the tear that was circling in her eye sockets.But at this moment, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of her face reflected in the bronze mirror hanging above her right, and something seemed wrong.

Why do I look older in the mirror?

She blinked hard, but she was still the same in the mirror.The eyelids drooped a little, the original beautiful and delicate almond eyes turned into triangular eyes, the bags under the eyes became so big that even makeup couldn't cover them, and the face seemed to be slack, and the radiant and round lines disappeared.

She felt as if a hammer had hit her head hard, and she covered her face with her hands with a terrified expression on her face.She screamed and passed out.

When she woke up again, it was not her maid who was taking care of her, but Binuo.

There seemed to be traces of tears on her plump, white cheeks that were as moist as peeled eggs, and her beautiful phoenix eyes were still a little red and swollen.

Le Qiao suddenly remembered what she saw before, she pushed Bino away, almost staggered and rushed to the bronze mirror, looking at her face carefully.

It's strange, it's still the bright and moving beauty from before.She pinched the skin on her face with some uncertainty, it was still tight and elastic.

"Sister Xiaoqiao, what's wrong with you? You fainted suddenly before, and I have already asked Zi Yuan to call for a doctor."

Binuo's voice sounded behind her, she turned her head, and saw the girl standing behind her, looking at her worriedly.

"Why are you here? Didn't you go to accompany Young Master Liu?" Le Qiao's voice was cold and alienated.

Binuo seemed to be stabbed by her cold and stinging tone, and lowered her head sadly, "I know my sister likes him, and I won't rob him."

"Steal? Hmph, do you think you can snatch it if you want?" Le Qiao Mingli's eyes shot out raging anger, and the palm of her clenched fist was pierced by sharp nails, but she didn't feel any pain.

Binuo stared at her blankly, then lowered her eyes and said, "Sister, Liu is not someone who can be entrusted to her for life. He looks at her as if he is admiring a flower. He doesn't love you at all. As long as he sees More exotic flowers will empathize immediately. Sister, don't get too involved!"

These words were extremely earnest, even with a hint of pleading.But in Le Qiao's ears, there was only thick irony and sarcasm left.She raised her hand and slapped Bino hard.

Bino's face suddenly turned to one side, and there was even a thin mark on his cheek by Le Qiao's nails.But she didn't seem to care at all, she just looked at Le Qiao with sad eyes.

Le Qiao didn't expect to hurt her face, and was shocked for a moment.She quickly got up and took out the ointment from the cabinet, picked out a little bit with her fingers, gave Bino an embarrassed look, and finally applied the ointment on Bino's cheeks in silence.For these prostitutes, their faces are their wealth and life, and they cannot have the slightest blemish.

The cool touch spread on the cheeks, with a trace of long-lost tenderness.Bino suddenly grabbed Le Qiao's wrist.

Le Qiao was startled, and wanted to withdraw his hand, but he didn't move for a while.

How could she not recognize Binuo's affectionate eyes.Those eyes were deeper than those rich and young who had spent a lot of money on her.

But after all, Binuo's strength is weak, she made a sudden struggle, and finally broke free.

An embarrassing silence spread between the dangling jewels and emeralds on their heads.

"Sister, why don't you like me anymore?" Binuo's phoenix eyes were filled with water vapor again, as if there were thousands of grievances, "We used to be together, how good it is."

"Shut up! I've never been with you! You and I are both women, how could we be together!"

"Sister, do you believe what you said? You were so gentle and kind to me at that time, protecting me, taking care of me, teaching me everything and even that aspect. My first time is yours, and we Get up and sleep together. If this isn't together what is?"

The explicit words made Le Qiao blush.She didn't understand that Binuo was usually cold and indifferent outside, and what came out of his mouth were all elegant poems, how could he be so...vulgar when he came to her.

"That's because you were just sold in. You were so scared and suffered so much. I feel sorry for you, so I took care of you. They want to train you. I don't want those stinky men to bully you, so I promised to teach you everything with my mother." ... nothing else!"

But these words could not convince Binuo.Bino still remembers how scared she was when she was sold in at the age of 16.Unlike those who were raised in the building since childhood, she would be forced to list soon after she came in.She tried to escape, but was caught and returned. She was pressed to the ground and beaten severely. She was also tied up and hung on the beams of the house until she opened the door to welcome guests.

That was the first time she saw Le Qiao walking down from the second floor with several other girls.Le Qiao seems to have just woken up not long ago. He is wearing a lazy bun, and a blue enamel walker is inserted obliquely. The wide collar can hardly hide the white and slender neck like a swan. The elegant and calm posture and smile are like a mural. Fairy on the sky.

Bino had never seen such a beautiful woman.

Le Qiao walked to Binuo's side, and the tortoise, who was guarding the side with a whip, immediately laughed so hard that he couldn't see his eyes, nodded and bowed his head and said good morning.Le Jo said, "You're always like this, such a beautiful kid, do you want to scare her into a fool? You tell mom if she wants a beauty who will actually make her a lot of money instead of someone who just lays down and picks up customers Ordinary prostitutes, just give her to me to train for three years. After three years, she will definitely not be disappointed."

Just like that, Bino came to Le Qiao's side.

Le Qiao always spoke softly, even when she was angry, she would never yell, let alone order her to work.Le Qiao taught her to read, write, sing and dance.Later, after discovering that she was more talented than himself in reciting poems and composing pairs, Le Qiao found her a teacher.She felt that Le Qiao was as noble and elegant as a queen in the palace, and as beautiful as the Luoshen in Cao Zhi's works.Le Qiao often danced for her, and she was fascinated by watching, as if in a dream.

When her mother heard that Le Qiao hadn't taught her how to have sex, she was so angry that she wanted to list her immediately and let a few tortoises come and "teach" her.In desperation, Le Qiao had no choice but to promise that she would be proficient in this way within a year.During that first night, she lay anxiously on the bed, watching Le Qiao wearing a loose red dress, with her black hair draped behind her back, her charming brows full of tenderness.

"Don't be afraid, this is the happiest thing in the world. Once you taste it, you won't forget it." Le Qiao gently leaned on her body and whispered in her ear.

That night was indeed a night she would never forget.Le Qiao's skillful and exquisite skills made her almost crazy.

After that night, there seemed to be another layer of intimacy and love between the two of them.Le Qiao will show various expressions in front of her that he does not show in front of others.Draw two big red dots on her face when putting on makeup for her, and then she chases her around the room; flicks her forehead and kisses her again when she plays the wrong tune; I personally made Sydney pear soup for her.At night, when Le Qiao has no guests, they sometimes embrace each other and sleep, and sometimes experience that forbidden happiness again.Binuo had the illusion that they were already a couple in love.

So she began to be jealous of those guests who touched Le Qiao, and she was almost mad with jealousy.Hearing Le Qiao's soft groans occasionally in the room, she forcibly tore the veil in her hand.

When did things go bad?It seemed that it was after she was listed, and it seemed that it was after the man surnamed Liu appeared.

Le Qiao became more and more indifferent to her, even hostility appeared in his eyes.She was so sad, but she didn't know what to do to keep Le Qiao.

She never thought that maybe the absurdity to Le Qiao was really just absurdity.Women falling in love with women is too shocking even for men's playthings like them.

"Sister, you don't believe me, but you have to trust that ruthless Mr. Liu. You will regret it sooner or later!" Binuo said this sentence with tears in her eyes, and left.

Later, Binuo's words really came true.Mr. Liu seemed to be enamored of Binuo's talent and learning, and he no longer came to see her dance.

Le Qiao felt that his world was collapsing little by little.

To make matters worse, she felt that something was wrong with her mirror.Every night her face in the bronze mirror was aging more than three times faster than normal.She watched as the corners of her eyes were covered with wrinkles, her cheekbones drooped, fine lines appeared at the corners of her mouth, her teeth turned yellow and fell out, her once bright eyes became cloudy and dull, and her smooth forehead became more and more uneven Uneven, that thick black hair also became dry and sparse, mixed with many white hairs.

But the next morning, she was back to normal in the mirror.

She thought there was something wrong with her mirror, but at night, all the mirrors reflected her horribly old and decayed appearance.She was frightened, and at night, she covered all the reflective places with a cloth.Ziyuan, who served her, told others in private that something went wrong with her brain, she was probably crazy.

As if to add insult to injury, one morning, she found that there were indeed a few wrinkles around the corners of her eyes.At first she didn't believe it, thinking it was a problem with the mirror, but when he touched it with his hands, he could obviously feel that his skin was rougher and looser than before.

The person in the mirror stared blankly at him, his eyes seemed to be filled with endless evil for some reason.

Le Qiao violently swept everything on the dressing table to the ground.

She stopped looking in the mirror, not even in the morning.

Then, one day, after a guest looked closely at her, she suddenly clamored for a change.To say her face is full of wrinkles is off-putting.

She sat on the bed blankly, listening to the guest yelling in the corridor, listening to the old|bustard comforting her over and over again, and listening to the sound of her last bit of pride shattering on the ground.

Two days later, she was asked to move out of Nuan Shao Court where she had lived for ten years.

Without a maid and living in a shabby house that was twice as small as before, she began to sleep badly at night.She always felt that when she was about to fall asleep, something would knock on her bed to wake her up.But after waking up, there was no sound at all.She froze on the bed and didn't dare to move, and when she was about to fall asleep, she would feel the vibration of the bed board again.She couldn't bear it anymore, and looked down under the bed, only to see a bottomless and suffocating black.She didn't dare to think about what might be hidden in the shadows, so she buried her head in the quilt and continued to lie down.

In the dark night, she could hear all kinds of noises.It seemed that every piece of furniture was alive, doing things that humans couldn't understand, making some rustling sounds when she couldn't see it.

Those former friends no longer spoke to her, and she no longer had the privilege of choosing her guests.Her Mr. Liu also seemed to have forgotten her long ago, only Binuo was left in his eyes.

But Binuo, the person she hated the most, was the only one who still came to her.Seeing that she had fallen to such a state, she actually shed a few tears in a hypocritical way.She threw all the pearls and jade that she sent her and the money that she secretly gave her.She felt that no matter how down-and-out she was, she still had the last bit of dignity.

It's ridiculous that she has to bear so many vulgar benefactors every night, but she still holds on to that ridiculous dignity.

Day-to-day life has become a hell from which I cannot wake up.Since she no longer looked in the mirror, she became more and more unkempt, and her expression was in a trance.She thought, what's the point of going on like this?

So she hung a belt on the beam, found a wooden stool by herself, and climbed on it.

When she stuck her head into the death trap, she suddenly heard a short laugh.

A shrill, unhuman laugh.

She was startled, turned her head suddenly and asked, "Who?!"

The room was silent.

But when she stretched her head to the belt again, there was another short laugh.

This time, she recognized that the laughter came from the mirror on the table that she covered.

She felt her heart beating faster and her feet were a little weak.

She hesitated and climbed off the wooden bench, and walked to the bronze mirror.She didn't dare to think about what was reflected in the mirror at this moment.

Trembling hands approached the piece of cloth and pulled it off abruptly.

She was stunned.

It was her face reflected in the mirror.

But not her face.

That was the best look she could possibly have.The skin that can be broken by blowing, the plump and plump outline, the delicate and delicate double eyelids, and the lips that are so moist that they can squeeze out water.It was a face that belonged to a stunning beauty, a face that no matter men or women saw, they would never forget it.

Even when it was her, she was never beautiful like this.

Her knees softened and she knelt down on the ground, clutching the mirror tightly.She wanted such a face, how she wished this was her own face!

She doesn't grow old!Don't grow old!When you are old, you have nothing!

As long as she can look as beautiful as a flower, she is willing to pay any price!

As if being bewitched, she brought the mirror closer and closer to her face, and finally pressed it firmly against her face.

After a while, she gently removed the mirror.

The suffocating beauty is still in the mirror.

She reached out and touched her cheek.

Smooth as jade, delicate as pearls.

She put the bronze mirror back to its original position with trembling hands, but in the depths of her eyes, a cluster of empty and weird lights flashed.

She took out the dusty dowry, opened the lid of the rouge rose cream, and then closed it again.She just tidied up her hair a little, changed into a clean and elegant long dress, opened the door, and walked towards the lobby of Xiaoyu Building.

............................................................

Half a month later, a Taoist in Tsing Yi and a young man in red led their horses and walked slowly down the long street in Haitang Town, which was still full of sensuality and eccentricity even at night.The fragrance of crabapple flowers permeates the air faintly, making people want to smell it.

"Let's go, let's go! Xiaoyulou's oiran is going to dance!"

A group of richly dressed men whimpered past and bumped into Tan Yangzi.Tan Yangzi frowned, and dusted his clothes with a dust whisk.

Yan Fei curiously pointed to the brightly lit flower building in the distance, and said, "Are they going to the same place as us?"

Tan Yangzi hummed.

Yan Fei looked at Tan Yangzi, with an expression on his face that he wanted to say something but dared not.

Tan Yangzi glared at him, "Say what you want to say!"

"Master... You are dressed as a monk, will they let you in? Will it damage the reputation of the Taoist school?"

Tan Yangzi said calmly, "From what we've heard, they should wish for a Taoist who can exorcise ghosts to help them."

Yan Fei let out a cry, and after a while trotted a few steps to Tan Yangzi's side, and said in a low voice, "Master, don't worry, I will never let those Yingying Yanyan eat your tofu!"

Tan Yangzi hit Yan Fei on the forehead with a whisk, "It's not big or small!"