ongoingIn the first year, the Great Qian princess met the 'Gentleman,' who solemnly upheld justice; she sneered: 'Hypocrite.' In the second year, during the struggle for the imperial succession, one step wrong meant total defeat; she closed her eyes awaiting death, and he alone stepped forward, risking his life to escort her back to the capital; she scoffed: 'Still a gentleman.' In the fifth year, during the coup and ascension, the female emperor took the throne, granting him high office, wealth, noble ladies, and beauties—all refused; she frowned slightly: 'Truly a gentleman.' In the tenth year, waking in the morning, her body ached all over; she gritted her teeth and cursed the man beside her: 'You are no gentleman!'…………'Three things can restore the empire to greatness: the sword, this minister, and Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.' He said this to the female emperor.