[Spirit] The Zhou Dynasty: A Plan to Ascend the Throne Ten Years Early

[Female lead, no romance + no rivalry among women + ensemble cast + no male character hogs the spotlight + she ascends the throne more than twenty years early!]

A fanfic set in the Wu Zhou era. A scheming noblewoman advisor, the female lead Cui Yuan, joins forces with the reborn emperor Wu Zetian, also known as Wu Zhao, to take the throne ahead of schedule.

[Synopsis] Anecdotes of Chancellor Cui, Grand Ancestor of the Great Zhou

Chancellor Cui was skilled at the zither and once played “Zhaoyang Melody.” The piece began with a majestic tune, but was sadly left unfinished. Those who heard it always regretted that it had no ending.

Grand Ancestor was also versed in music. After ascending the throne, she composed the missing final section, bringing the piece full circle: it began with grandeur and ended in grandeur.

Whenever the mood struck, Grand Ancestor would have Chancellor Cui play the zither beside her while she sang and beat a clay pot for rhythm.

Later generations called it “Singing with the Bamboo Invitation,” a tale of a ruler and her minister who understood one another and answered each other through music, the highest form of harmony between ruler and minister.

[Highlights and content notes]

1. The author handles the wild plot ideas, while an AI assistant helps with the prose. Feel free to read casually.

2. The timeline of events has been changed considerably. Some female characters have surnames drawn from female officials of the Wu Zhou period, while others are original creations. Male characters are left unnamed unless necessary, and there are few figures from the Li Tang dynasty.

3. The author is a straightforward HE enthusiast. This is essentially a brainless power fantasy. No angst, starting with me.