Contents
Chapter Thirty-Four: Ever-Growing hit List
Overview
During Match Crowning photo shoots, Zetian struggles to reach Shimin after learning An Lushan engineered his addiction and resolves to kill An. At the Wall, she discovers female spirit pressures often feel stronger, and tensions flare when Zhu Yuanzhang insults Xianbei Shimin and Qieluo. Qieluo unexpectedly offers Shimin a respectful boost, hinting at shifting alliances. The team departs for a sunset shoot in Zetian’s home rice terraces.
Summary
On a Vermilion Bird shoot, Li Shimin opens the beak with red qi while Zetian poses despite her lingering bullet wound. Zetian, reeling from the revelation that An Lushan forced Shimin’s addiction, forces herself to work with him and inwardly vows to kill An. Their media team pushes provocative images to fuel interest ahead of the Match Crowning.
As they wrap, Sima Yi’s updates confirm frequent recent Hundun attacks, but daylight keeps this flight safe. Gao Qiu is absent, busy pressuring Sui-Tang strategists, including An Lushan. Zetian reflects on media expectations for women and how photographers struggle to frame her as either meek or threatening, especially without Gao’s leering oversight.
At the Wall, Qieluo, Xiuying, and their partners wait to share a hovercraft to Chang’an. When Zetian’s spirit sense flares, she notices Xiuying and Qieluo feel stronger than their male partners. Xiuying explains female spirit pressures often register more acutely despite lower measured values. Tension spikes when Qieluo derides Shimin as a murderer, Shimin snaps back in Xianbei, and Zhu Yuanzhang explodes, refusing to ride with “barbarians” due to past Rongdi trauma. Xiuying chases after him, apologetic.
After Yang Jian restrains Qieluo, she surprises everyone by quietly encouraging Shimin, calling him “Khan” (King), softening their hostility. The group then departs for a sunset photo shoot set in Zetian’s home rice terraces, a detour before returning to Chang’an for the Match Crowning.
Who Appears
- Wu ZetianNarrator; poses for Match Crowning shoots, vows to kill An Lushan, notes female spirit pressure dynamic, manages team tensions.
- Li ShiminOpens the Vermilion Bird beak; distant after trauma revelation; targeted by Zhu’s slurs; affirmed by Qieluo as “Khan.”
- QieluoAbrasive Princess-class pilot; clashes with Zhu; unexpectedly encourages Shimin, signaling a tentative shift.
- XiuyingExplains that female spirit pressures often feel stronger; disturbed by Shimin; tries to defuse Zhu’s outburst.
- Zhu YuanzhangXiuying’s partner; hostile toward Xianbei, refuses to ride with them due to past Rongdi trauma.
- Yang JianQieluo’s partner; restrains her during the confrontation and departs with her afterward.