In the dead of night, Wu Zetian was sleeping soundly on her dragon bed when she was suddenly awakened by a burst of ethereal, cold celestial light.
She opened her eyes and saw a celestial official standing before her bed, enveloped in a faint halo.
"Who are you?" Wu Zetian asked, somewhat alarmed.
"Your Majesty need not worry. I am a celestial official sent by the Jade Emperor. I have come tonight on a matter of great importance."
"What matter is that?" After all, she was a female emperor in her own right. Once she had calmed herself, Wu Zetian's usual commanding presence returned.
"Your Majesty," the celestial official bowed, "the Heavenly Court commands you to proceed to the execution ground immediately to oversee the beheading of the Peony Immortal for violating the celestial laws."
"Oh!?" Upon hearing this, Wu Zetian was stunned for a moment, then a sly glint flashed in her eyes.
She rose, throwing on a robe, and thought to herself with secret delight: It seems even Heaven is on my side! For a mere flower immortal to dare defy my imperial decree, this fate is well-deserved!
...
Following the celestial official, they arrived in a flash at an execution ground wreathed in mist and clouds. The Peony Immortal was bound to the Immortal-Slaying Platform. Her plain white robes were stained and filthy, her hair disheveled, and her face haggard.
Even so, the innate pride in her bearing had not diminished.
Wu Zetian looked down upon her from above and sneered, "What an ungrateful flower immortal! You defied my decree back then. Do you regret it today?"
The Peony Immortal looked up at her, her gaze as placid as an ancient well, neither begging for pardon nor offering an explanation.
This silence only enraged Wu Zetian further. She waved her sleeve. "Execute!"
Just as the executioner raised the Immortal-Slaying Blade, a cold shout resounded through the heavens: "Hold!"
The Peony Immortal trembled and looked toward the sound.
When she saw who had arrived, a spark of light suddenly flashed in her dim eyes, and an unconscious, hopeful smile touched her pale lips.
Ji Hongli arrived on a cloud, her sleeves fluttering, and landed directly on the execution platform. She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze fixed directly on Wu Zetian like a bolt of lightning.
"Who are you?" Wu Zetian narrowed her phoenix eyes, her voice radiating unquestionable authority.
Ji Hongli smiled faintly. "I am but a humble wanderer, a Daoist named Li Buping. I am here today to file a complaint against Your Majesty, the Empress."
"A complaint against me?" Wu Zetian sneered. "Do you know this is a grave offense of disrespect?"
"Your Majesty disregarded the cycle of the seasons, forcing a hundred flowers to bloom in winter. This is what drove the Peony Immortal to violate the celestial laws and bring down rain herself," Ji Hongli replied without showing deference or defiance. "If we must behead someone, then let us behead Your Majesty as well. Now that would be justice."
Wu Zetian flew into a rage, the sleeves of her dragon robe flapping despite the still air. "How dare you! I am the Son of Heaven! How can I be compared to a mere flower immortal!"
"The Son of Heaven?" Ji Hongli scoffed. "Your Majesty may be a female emperor, but in the end, you are merely mortal. Besides..."
She paused meaningfully. "Your path to the throne was hardly honorable."
Wu Zetian's expression changed abruptly, a flicker of panic in her eyes. "You... cease your slander!"
But Ji Hongli gave her no chance to recover, her voice clear and resonant as a temple bell: "In the twenty-third year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong passed away, and Li Zhi ascended the throne as the new emperor. In the sixth year of the Yonghui era, Your Majesty entered Ganye Temple as a nun, having been a consort of the late emperor."
"In the fifth year of the Xianqing era, you returned to the palace by taking advantage of the rivalry between Empress Wang and Consort Xiao. In the first year of the Linde era, you, along with Li Yifu and others, falsely accused Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, causing them to be deposed and reduced to common status..."
"Silence!" Wu Zetian roared, her face ashen as she cut her off.
These were the past she least wanted mentioned, laid bare one by one like daggers piercing her heart.
Ji Hongli continued, "In the first year of the Hongdao era, Your Majesty poisoned Crown Prince Li Hong. In the fourth year of the Chuigong era, you deposed Emperor Zhongong and made him Prince of Luzhing. In the first year of the Tianshou era, you went so far as to change the Tang dynasty to the Zhou and declared yourself emperor..."
With every word she spoke, Wu Zetian's face grew darker.
"Enough!" Wu Zetian, enraged to the point of laughter, "You think these old tales can shake my imperial throne?"
Ji Hongli remained composed. "I am merely stating facts. For a woman to ascend the throne was unprecedented in all of history. Unfortunately, your methods were too ruthless, angering both Heaven and man. Today's decree for the flowers to bloom is merely another example of your obstinacy."
Wu Zetian trembled with rage and was about to erupt when the celestial official stepped forward.
"Both of you, please cease your dispute. This matter is of great importance. Allow me to report back to the Jade Emperor for a final decision."
Wu Zetian spun around. "You..."
The celestial official replied without flinching, "Your Majesty, please understand. This matter indeed involves many complexities. It is true that the Peony Immortal violated the celestial laws, but the cause was Your Majesty's defiance of the natural order of seasons. It would be best to postpone this and await the Jade Emperor's judgment."
Wu Zetian stared hard at the celestial official, then at the calm and composed Ji Hongli. Being a mortal emperor herself, she was well-versed in the arts of rulership and suddenly realized that today's affair was likely premeditated.
Suppressing her fury, she snorted coldly. "Very well. I would like to see just how the Heavenly Court intends to handle this!"
Ji Hongli smiled slightly and turned to the Peony Immortal. The immortal's eyes shimmered with a complex emotion that could not be described.
Seeing this, the celestial official quickly formed a hand seal and began to cast a spell. "In that case, I shall return to the Heavenly Court to report. Please wait here."
With that, he transformed into a golden ray of light and vanished into the distance.
On the execution ground, Wu Zetian and Ji Hongli stood facing each other, as if invisible sparks were flying through the air between them.
...
The next morning, the sound of shattering porcelain echoed from the Zichen Palace.
"Idiots! Utter idiots!" Wu Zetian swept a teacup from her desk, shattering it on the floor.
The hot tea splashed onto the crimson carpet, steaming into wisps of white vapor. Her phoenix eyes glared with venom, her jade-white fingers clenched so tightly around her dragon robe sleeve that her knuckles turned pale.
The palace maids outside stood as silent as if they were holding their breath, their breathing barely audible. Shangguan Wan'er stood with her head bowed at the palace entrance until she heard the Empress summon her, then she stepped forward slowly.
"Wan'er." Wu Zetian's voice had regained its composure, but the coldness in her eyes had deepened. "Find this person for me."
She took a piece of rice paper from her imperial desk and picked up a brush. With bold, dragon-like strokes, a strikingly handsome man's image appeared on the paper—sharp brows and starry eyes, an extraordinary bearing.
It was none other than "Li Buping," the man who had confronted her on the execution ground the previous night.
Shangguan Wan'er accepted the portrait with both hands and examined it closely. The subject's spirit seemed to leap from the page, a testament to the depth of the Empress's hatred as she painted it.
She discreetly rolled up the scroll. "Your subject will see to it at once."
"Remember," Wu Zetian's voice came from behind her, as cold as ice, "I want him alive."
Shangguan Wan'er paused for a moment, didn't turn around, simply gave a slight nod, and then quickly departed.
Unlock 30 chapters instantly (for the price of the old 20-chapter tier) and get 50–55 new chapters every month.
If you're enjoying the story, consider supporting me here:
patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
{I need to be real with you for a moment. I'm reaching out because I'm in a genuinely tough spot financially right now, and I need your help to keep the stories flowing. Writing these chapters for you is my passion, but circumstances have put me in a position where I desperately need monetary support to continue dedicating time to what we both love—this fic.
Here's what I'm offering if you join my highest tier:
🚀 Instant Gratification: The moment you sign up, you get 30 chapters immediately—no waiting, no delays. Just a massive backlog of content to binge.
📅 Consistent Monthly Rewards: After that, you'll receive 60 fresh chapters every single month—double the story, double the excitement, all for your favorite fic.
But it doesn't stop there. Your support means everything, and I want to repay your generosity with mass releases, bonus chapters, and exclusive content that won't be available anywhere else. The more support I get, the more I can pour back into creating the stories you love.
If you've ever enjoyed this fic, if you've ever stayed up late reading "just one more chapter," if this story has been there for you during hard times—please consider joining. You're not just funding chapters; you're keeping this story alive and helping a creator in dire need.
Join today, get those 30 chapters instantly, and let's keep this journey going together.
Thank you for even considering it. You mean the world to me.}