Emperor Xiaocheng was born to luxury and pride.
Visiting Princess Pingyang's home, he spied.
A pitiable maiden, fifteen years or so.
A tender flower in the garden's lovely show.
Song and dance were never held in high esteem.
But once she met the lord, she touched his dream.
The lord's heart, admiring, did not forget.
Sisters both flew to the Purple Chamber's net.
In Purple Chamber, palace maids unseen.
Sole glory and firm favor in Zhaoyang's scene.
Rouged faces, precious mirrors on coral stands.
Green-lattice windows, silver reeds, mica fans.
Day and night, the wind carries songs and dance.
Disturbing Changxin Palace, stirring grief's advance.
Changxin's grieving one is breathless with despair.
The monarch's music never ends its air.
At dawn, playing jade flutes beneath colored clouds.
At night, climbing golden stairs to the moon that shrouds.
The moon eclipses, the sun's essence turns dim.
A jealous beauty topples the realm for him.
Already seen the white rainbow cross the Purple Pole.
Again heard Flying Swallow peck the imperial scion's soul.
The imperial scion not dead, the swallow's beak broke.
The younger sister in one morning like fire's smoke.
The enlightened Son of Heaven should be warned by all.
The mighty Zhou fell by Bao Si's fatal thrall.
Since ancient times, sages sighed at fox-fur's blame.
One state's debauchery brings all states shame.
How to get the Heaven's horse-slaying sword?
To behead the noble sons behind vermilion doors, abhorred.