Contents
Chapter Twenty-One: Not Weird at All
Overview
Zetian, Li Shimin, and Yizhi move into a shared watchtower suite under Sima Yi’s supervision. Zetian confesses to Li Shimin that Yizhi is her longtime lover, prioritizing honesty for pilot synchronization. Later, Zetian tries to be intimate with Yizhi but freezes from trauma and doubt. The moment ends abruptly when Li Shimin’s wristlet signals a dangerous heart-rate spike.
Summary
Sima Yi delivers Zetian, Li Shimin, and Yizhi to a multi-room suite in the Kaihuang watchtower, warning that the army isn’t liable and locking them in due to Li Shimin’s confinement. Zetian briefly revels in seeing the White Tiger Chrysalis outside before reminding herself of the system’s brutality. She and Yizhi discuss the famed Balanced Match upstairs and the risk of crossing them.
At dinner’s edge, tension builds as Li Shimin watches Zetian and Yizhi. Refusing to be intimidated, Zetian confronts Li Shimin, who presses for honesty to protect their synchronization. In a low exchange, Zetian reveals that Yizhi is the city boy who taught her to read and that she loves him. Li Shimin, moved, urges her not to lose Yizhi, even as they acknowledge Zetian and Li Shimin remain bound as a pilot pair.
Later that night, Zetian goes to Yizhi’s room and initiates intimacy, asserting her agency after a lifetime of control by others. Yizhi hesitates but reciprocates until his robe falls open, revealing extensive floral-and-serpentine tattoos tied to his father’s family. The sight cools Zetian’s momentum, stirring doubts about how well she knows him and triggering flashbacks to past violations and violence.
As anxiety mounts, Zetian tries to continue, but the moment fractures. A sudden beeping from the biometric wristlet interrupts them. Yizhi checks the alert, then rushes out, announcing that Li Shimin’s heart rate is spiking dangerously, forcing an abrupt end to the night and refocusing urgency on Li Shimin’s precarious withdrawal.
Who Appears
- Wu ZetianNarrator; moves into the suite, confesses love for Yizhi to protect sync with Li Shimin, initiates intimacy but panics from trauma and doubt.
- Gao YizhiSecures the suite, brews Li Shimin’s medicine; reciprocates Zetian’s advances; reveals family tattoos; rushes out when Li Shimin’s vitals spike.
- Li ShiminWithdrawaling from alcohol, demands honesty for synchronization; hears Zetian loves Yizhi; later suffers a dangerous heart-rate spike.
- Sima YiOpens and locks the suite, warns them about army liability, remains on-call for their confinement.