Zhaoming Terrace

Xiao Dingli is a treacherous minister.

In the eyes of the world, he is the new emperor's uncle. Yet he destroys imperial edicts, murders loyal officials, and coerces his nephew. His temper is cruel, and he stops at nothing. He holds the emperor hostage to control the court. Historians condemn him, the puppet emperor fears and loathes him, and he bears the blame for everything. He is a thorn in the side of both officials and emperor, and everyone longs to see him dead.

Only Ji Zhao is different.

She is a female official serving the puppet emperor, and the young lady of the Prince of Poyang's household who once saved Xiao Dingli's life when he was a young fugitive.

*

For the first seventeen years of her life, Ji Zhao was a brilliant young lady of a prince's household. After turning seventeen, she obeyed her father's wishes and entered the palace as a female official. Her duty was to help the new emperor purge his political enemies, return power to the emperor, and restore peace to the court and the realm.

Step by step, she and the patient emperor plot together. They demote corrupt officials and kill their enemies, until the new emperor has grown strong enough to turn his sword against the ruthless regent.

To eliminate him, the emperor orders the female official he trusts most to change her name and infiltrate the regent's residence, where she is to gather evidence against him.

On the eve of her departure, the emperor speaks to her over his desk.

"That man is a treacherous, selfish villain who stops at nothing. You must help me and the court get rid of him."

Everyone in the realm hates him and calls him a treacherous usurper. But when she was seventeen, Ji Zhao once carried a lamp through a snowy night and glimpsed this powerful minister working tirelessly to keep a kingdom battered by storms from falling apart.

She knows he has no intention of rebelling, and she understands the truth and loyalty beneath his vile nature.

Once she sees through the lies, the death sentence the new emperor gave her to carry out can no longer be imposed on him.

*

The internal threat has yet to be eliminated when a border general raises an army in rebellion in the name of purging the emperor's wicked advisers. To protect their homeland and capital, the people and officials all kneel beneath the city wall and beg him to take his own life.

The female official stands across from him and asks calmly why he won't defend himself.

Xiao Dingli casts aside his ruthless bearing and laughs aloud at Ji Zhao.

"A-Zhao, just think of me as a vile, treacherous man by nature."

Everyone in the realm wants him dead. By now, no one cares for his explanations or righteous words.

Xiao Dingli has never had a good reputation to his name.

He intends to die after doing one last thing for the kingdom. But the female official facing him blocks his sword with her own hand, saving him from his illness and the infamy surrounding him. Then she takes his hand, and together they save the kingdom battered by storms.

She saved him once when she was seventeen. Why shouldn't she save him again at twenty-two?

Female official and regent. Synopsis dated November 17, 2023.

An alternate historical setting where women can hold government office.

Cover used with permission from artist Yixu.

A self-indulgent story, written just for the author's own enjoyment.

Theme: Hold up the great building as it totters on the verge of collapse.