"Since ancient times, historians' pens have shunned the traces left beside perfumed dressing cases; the secrets behind pearl curtains have eluded the writers' ink.
For women's chambers are deep and quiet, their deeds often concealed; behind layer upon layer of closed doors, their voices and faces seldom come to light.
Thus the hearts of beauties remain locked within their chambers; their fragrant footsteps fade into the distance, leaving only lingering echoes. What a pity!
Moreover, men of letters often embellish their conjectures; poets weave false accounts, forcing connections where none exist.
Thus the Luo River Goddess was falsely portrayed in verse, leaving only the shadow of her footsteps upon the waves; Lady of the Xiang was misrepresented in legend, leaving only the absurd tale of spotted bamboo.
Mao Qiang and Green Pearl became mere beauties upon paper; the divine maiden and Magu fell into fantasies beneath the pen!
This is truly a grievous injustice to lovely women, and a deplorable habit among those who record events.
Moved by how few tales of women's chambers reach the world in their true form, I have therefore written a biography of my friend Lady Xiao, making clear that all her deeds can be verified, and none of my words lack foundation. With a heart like an orchid and a nature like fragrant angelica, is her gift merely that of singing of snow as willow catkins? Her grand designs and far-reaching strategies reveal a true ambition to govern the realm..."
Xiao Baoyue trembled all over with rage, even her clenched fingertips turning white!
To prevent anyone from dismissing the book's contents as fiction, this treacherous scoundrel had actually laid all that groundwork, stressing that he would never fabricate baseless conjecture! He had also deliberately clouded people's eyes and ears, inviting wild speculation with talk