Lu Siniang, an Outlaw Girl

Lu Siniang was the granddaughter of Lu liuliang, a scholar in Shimen county, Zhejiang Province.

Also known as Master Wancun, Lu Liukliang was very learned in Confucianism and Mencianism, especially in Neo-Confucianism advanced by Cheng Ying, Cheng Yi and Zhu Xin the Song Dynasty. After the Manchus overthrew the Ming dynasty and established the Qing dynasty, Lu Liuliang refused to serve the new court as an official. Dispite his old age and poor health, he buried himself in writing. He was sentenced to death by the new rulers because his articles exposed their malpractice. Several years later, suspecting Lu had been involved in another frame-up case, Emperor Yong Zheng ordered Lu's body dug out from the tomb, whipped and destroyed, and all the remaining members of his family killed. Lu Siniang happened to be away from home and escaped the massacre.

Now homeless, the girl fled to Shaolin Monastery and became a nun, apprentising under master Guang Ci. Master Guang Ci was in fact princess ChangPing, daughter of the last emperor of the Ming dynasty Chong Zhen. She escaped her father's fall under the protection of her grandfather on her mother's side. Before leaving the palace, however, the Emperor cut one of her arms. So she was later known in the monastery as a "Single Armed Nun."

Harboring a will to take revenge, Master Guang Ci had practiced swordmanship for many years. Now she wanted to teach the girl all the skills. The girl practiced hard, hoping one day to avenge the country and her family. A dozen years later, she learned the essence of Shaolin Wushu. She could move as lightly as a swallow, play the sword as if it were a dragon swimming in the water.

Having thoroughly mastered the skills, Lu Siniang left Shaolin Monastery for the capital. In a dark night, she flew over the palace wall. It was deadly quiet, ancient pine and cypress threes standing in the darkness. Only the Kunning Hall was lit. Approaching the window, she made a hole in the window paper and saw Emperor Yong Zheng play chess with another person. Thinking of the death of her grandfather, all her lelatives, and the deaths of many scholars, she entered the hall with hatred.

Hearing sound of the door, Emperor Yong Zheng stood up and drew his sword. Hacking down, he noticed the assassin was a beautiful girl abut 15 or 16 , glaring at him with arched brows and piercing eyes three steps away. Skilled in Wushu himself, though, the Emperor knew the girl must be good, otherwise she would not dare to come.

The Emperor brought down his sword. The girl fenced and at the same time kicked the emperor at his wrist. The emperor felt the shooting pain, as it the hand had been cut off. Lu Siniang ripped away the sword from the emperor's hand. Retreating hastily, the emperor demanded, "what do you want?"

"I want your head!" the girl said.

The emperor moved over his bed and drew another sword from it. But the girl was quicker. She swang her sword and the Emperor's head rolled down onto the ground. Lu Siniang hurried out of the palace, back to the monastery to tell old teacher the good news.