九天护国娘娘与牛郎织女的神话故事在一幅古老绢画上生动重现
1886年，大清朝礼部侍郎洪钧因母亲病逝，匆忙返回苏州。途经仓桥浜时，他听到了河面上的花船上传来一阵婉转的笑声，那笑声如同温柔的手臂，平息了洪钧心中的波澜。就在他准备探望时，一位笑靥如花的女孩也从彩绘精致的窗帘中探出头来，这一瞬间，让洪钧惊艳不已。
洪钧派人打听那女子姓名后得知，她是名动苏州城的赵灵飞，也称为赵彩云。她原是徽州士绅家庭出身，但因家道中落而在苏州生活。赵灵飞天生丽质，从小便美貌过人，然而家境衰败，她选择到花船卖笑，不愿让家人吃苦。
当年的周家巷小女赵灵飞，因其美貌远近皆闻，其声名鹊起。但她为了顾全体面，将名字改为傅彩云，并在花船上做“坐舱姑娘”。然而，当年周家巷的小女人的身份很快被发现，她成为了名动苏州城的人物。
次年正月十四日，八抬绿呢大轿将赵灵飞迎至洪府，与之结婚。这段婚姻在当时不失为佳话。在京后不久，洪钧赴德、奥、俄、荷四国任使，由于元配和姨太太都不能随行，因此他的妻子赵灵飞成了公使夫人的不可或缺人物。
三年的欧洲之旅结束后，1890年洪钧回国，而1893年他去世。 widowed, she was surrounded by relatives and friends who urged her to remarry. Eventually, she decided to return to her hometown and started a new life.
However, fate had other plans for her. In 1898, she opened a brothel in Shanghai called "金花班" or "赛金花," where she employed several young women from southern China. Her fame spread far and wide, and soon she became acquainted with influential men such as Yang Lizhang and De Xiao'ao.
In 1900, the Boxer Rebellion broke out in Beijing. When the city fell to the Eight-Nation Alliance led by Germany's Alfred von Waldersee, he sought out Zhao Lianfei (now known as 赛金花) who had become a familiar figure among the foreign troops due to her beauty and influence. She intervened on behalf of civilians caught up in the fighting between foreign troops and Chinese forces.
Zhao Lianfei's actions were instrumental in preventing widespread slaughter during the occupation of Beijing by foreign troops. For this reason, locals began calling her "九天护国娘娘" (the Heavenly Queen Who Guards the Nation). Her reputation extended beyond China; even Lin Yutang mentioned her role in his book "Chinatown Family."
Despite all these accomplishments, Lu Xun viewed Zhao Lianfei's story with skepticism: "During the reign of Emperor Guangxu when society was plagued by corruption and chaos...a courtesan named Race Track Flower gained prominence due to being involved with high-ranking officials." He saw no grand moral lesson or positive change coming from such individuals.
Thus ended an extraordinary life that saw rise from humble beginnings through various twists of fortune until becoming an iconic figure - Nine Skies Protecting Country Goddess - whose name echoed across history books for generations yet unknown what lies ahead after leaving behind footprints upon this earth we call home
