#xishi

[rizzoreads88]

(Created by jjenreads on Pinterest)

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is about to become my whole personality. This book was phenomenal.

( if your looking for a fantasy book with forbidden romance you’ll love this one. Major Elriel vibes!)

[diaryoflacuna]

In China, there is a legend about the greatest beauty named Xi Shi and how she defeated a kingdom alone with her beauty.

Here is her story :

Xi Shi was born in the State of Yue in a poor mountain village. Her father was a firewood peddler and her mother a weaver. Xi Shi was always known for her beauty ever since she was a little girl.

The Yue ruler wanted to bring down the State of Wu. One advisor suggested the king to send an extremely beautiful woman to the Wu king as a tribute to allure him away from his state affairs. Hence, Xi Shi was brought to the Yue ruler. The Yue ruler was shocked by her beauty and wanted to make her his concubine. But for the kingdom he sent her to the State of Wu.

After 3 years of training Xi Shi, a village girl, turned into a fair lady. As soon as the king of Wu set eyes on Xi Shi, he was immediately captivated by the ethereal beauty and elegance. Gradually, the Wu king began to neglect his duties and spent most of his time with Xi Shi. Xi Shi tried her best to keep the Wu king away from his court duties and frequently sent intelligence to her home state. A few years later, an opportunity came and the Yue army launched an all-out war against the State of Wu. The once powerful Wu collapsed and its king killed himself.

But there is a tragic end to this beauty. According to folk stories, Xi Shi was secretly thrown into a river one night by the order of the Yue king and drowned. It was said that the purpose was to prevent Xi Shi from bewitching other men in the world, including the Yue king himself.

The first time I heard this story, I wondered what she looked like in order to destroy a whole kingdom only by her beauty. This is one of the story that fascinated me the most. To this day, people in China are retelling the legends of the greatest beauty. 

[threekingdomsstuff]

Shin Sangoku Musou Blast: Liao Hua, Xishi, Huang Hao, Jian Yong, Fu Shiren, Mi Fang

[teawarehouse]

The azure ruyao xishi teapot from #teawarehouse #teapot #teapots #teapotcollector #teapotset #gongfucha #gongfutea #teapotcollection #teastagram #tea #teapotart #teapotaddict #kitchen #teatime #teaparty #teaware #teawareaddict #teawares #teapotlove #teapotlover #teapottime #xishi #xishiteapot #ruyao #rukiln #craze #crazing

[highqueenseleni]

Omg this Jade #oolong from @teafulco tastes just like daffodils! Freaking yum!! All their teas have really impressed me! #teapot from eBay Cup from @teawarehouse #gongfucha #tea #taiwanesetea #teaofinstagram #yixing #xishi #boobpot #rabbitfur #junyao

[not-so-secretfangirl]

Today I finished reading A Song to Drown Rivers by Anne Liang, a book I've been looking forward to reading for awhile now, and I am so thoroughly disappointed by it that I'm almost angry. What do you mean you had the coolest plot (a girl chosen for her beauty is trained to be a spy and help topple an enemy kingdom), which is rooted on actual history, and you fumbled it so bad???

They promised romance and didn't deliver.

They promised court intrigue and didn't deliver.

They promised revenge and delivered it when I couldn't care less.

I am really annoyed. No one talk to me.

[wildflowercleaver]

Shi YiGuang, a citizen of the Kingdom of Ng, is an exceptionally gifted mage and healer, hailing from the powerful Shi mages clan. During his youth, he formed a deep bond with FuChai, acting as her devoted playmate and friend. Prior to a momentous day that would forever alter his life, he entrusted FuChai with a jade fish amulet imbued with potent magic, ensuring her protection against any malevolent forces. Tragically, Shi YiGuang's parents, the high priest and priestess of Ng, met their demise while attempting to break the sacred vow with the dragon god under the orders of King HeLu. Escaping covertly to ZhuLuo Village in the Kingdom of Yue, Shi YiGuang evaded the gruesome fate of his clansmen, who were sacrificed at the sword pond trying to seal the dragon god into the ding of virtue. Despite his dark past, YiGuang places unwavering trust in FuChai, willing to go to any lengths to fulfil his parents' dying wish of breaking the sacred vow and rescuing FuChai from a harrowing fate. His tender and benevolent nature endears him to those around him, resulting in the affectionate nickname, XiShi.

[vixensreiha]

Xishi (西施) by 狮子之眼