Chapter 0003: A Bleak Future.

As for the person Wu Zetian, regardless of her merits and demerits in history, she was truly ruthless towards her descendants. Her path to power was paved with the flesh and bones of the Li clan and other affected subjects. Even if Li Tong is temporarily safe for now, he will find it extremely difficult to stay out of the new wave of attacks that will arise from the Wu Zhou Revolution and the Tianzhu Reform two years later.

Actually, to some extent, the deeds of Shangguan Wan'er are also highly worthy of Li Tong's emulation. Shangguan Wan'er's grandfather, Shangguan Yi, advised Emperor Gaozong to abdicate, and Wu Zetian definitely hated the old man to the bone for it. However, she was able to love and retain Shangguan Wan'er, who became a criminal later on.

When Li Tong clearly felt the kind of unwillingness in his heart, despite thinking about the difficulties ahead, he still couldn't help but feel weak. However, tasting weakness will only exhaust and damage one's willpower, which is of no use. What he needs to determine now is the goal of surviving, and how to achieve it?

After hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er did not directly answer, but just turned her head and glanced at Fang Shi.

Fang Shi at this moment also passed the initial impulse, and realized from Shang Guan Wan'er's words that her impulse today had many hidden dangers. She was already in a state of chaos, and she just looked at Li Tong and said slowly, "Reborn from the brink of death, a great blessing in the world. May the children and grandchildren cherish this grace and not let it go to waste! Stay here in peace and wait for the dawn."

It's not entirely accurate to say that, because there are several palace maids who followed Lady Shangguan Wan'er here and stayed behind. They either went into the rooms to tidy up and clean, or stood in the front courtyard, their gazes constantly wandering over Li Tong's body, with the capital letters "监视" (monitoring) clearly visible in their eyes.

However, when his fingers landed on the handle of the knife hanging on the belt, the image of Fang's resolute visit just now flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but have a myriad of thoughts.

Life is not about luck, but about taking action based on words!

One thing, two interpretations, the result it brings may very well be a matter of life and death! Therefore, there is not much time left for Li Tong. If he cannot guide the situation towards a positive direction, he might be attacked by Ben Shi and killed with a chaotic sword at any moment.

If it was just some old stories unrelated to oneself before, then after witnessing the tragic event of Princess Consort Fang Shi resorting to self-harm and even risking her life in order to see me, the real and vivid human tragedy happened to oneself and people around, it's hard for Li Tong to maintain any relaxed and optimistic attitude.

He had a sudden idea in his mind, thinking of his "grandmother" whom he had never met. If we talk about the hopelessness of the future, didn't Wu Zetian, who was exiled to a temple, also experience it? Time passes by, grace is not enjoyed, yet one has to spend the rest of their life in solitude.

What kind of mood did the young lamp ancient Buddha Wu Zetian have back then?

Wu's rise to power can be attributed to the challenge posed by the gentry landlords to the traditional aristocratic order, and to the unwavering indulgence of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi over the course of several decades. Both emperors held her in high regard, granting Wu Zetian the highest honor a woman could achieve within the existing political ecosystem. This recognition was already bestowed upon her during the reign of Emperor Li Zhi, and subsequent breakthroughs were built upon this foundation.

Knowing the subsequent development of history only makes Li Tong more fearful of his future fate. He was just an ordinary person who died in the line of duty, without the natural heroic spirit to fight against the heavens and the earth. Thinking of the various dangers and uncertainties in his future, he even had the idea of ​​just passing through this world and ending his remaining life.

Before leaving, Fang also left a hint for Li Tong, that is, to associate his resurrection with auspiciousness, making his existence a proof of Wu Zetian's divine favor.

This also shows that Wu Zetian is not just a power-hungry woman, she has the true qualities and breadth of a politician.

At the age of 25, Shangguan Wan'er was a woman in the prime of her life, with a beautiful and charming appearance. She wore her hair in a lily bun and dressed in a top and skirt, standing out from the crowd with her pure and elegant beauty.

Leaving aside Shangguan Wan'er's control over the current chaotic situation, what concerns Li Tong the most is the revelation from his birth mother, Lady Fang, who tearfully expressed that he also had the intention of using his own resurrection, but he did not expect Lady Fang to quickly blurt out about the protection of Kunfu, showing that her thinking was much more agile than his, directly linking his resurrection to the blessings of Empress Wu.

First of all, it is necessary to recognize one thing, that is, being born as a member of the Li family during the period before and after the Wu Zhou dynasty is a capital tragedy. As a member of the family of Crown Prince Zhang Huai, Li Xian, the word "tragedy" should be emphasized even more, a tragedy within a tragedy!

This also inspired Li Tong that if he wants to survive, he must not only leave an impression of being a useless grandson in Wu Zetian's mind. In addition to this, he must demonstrate value and usefulness beyond his bloodline.

Such an experience, Li Tong naturally does not want to accept, but he also knows clearly that the so-called death and resurrection is just the beginning, and various real tortures will come one after another.

Leaving aside the conflict between the descendants of the Li family and Empress Wu's natural position, Li Tong truly believes that Wu Zetian is a great person. Greatness lies not in the achievements of an emperor, but in being a genuine person, daring to have ambitions, daring to act, not being constrained by worldly norms, never being bound by known knowledge, and maximizing the value of life, pioneering and innovating!

Upon seeing the situation, Li Tong rushed forward and exclaimed loudly, "A mother's pain is a child's suffering. I implore the talented lady to show mercy and not fall into despair. Allow me to approach and attend to the medicine."

Wu Zetian was able to become the only female emperor in the history of China due to a combination of circumstances and her exceptional skills. She steadily and solidly advanced, and her success was not easily reversed by minor changes.

That Xu Dian nodded repeatedly, dare not speak out his dissatisfaction and complaints, just looked at the eyes of the Princess Yong's room with some unkindness.

Is it possible that one has come to this era, only to hastily take a glimpse and after experiencing the bitterness of life, to then desolately rush towards the underworld?

Although I have not yet met Wu Zetian in person, the delicate and cautious manner of speech and behavior displayed by Shangguan Wan'er just now has left a deep impression on Li Tong. As a result, he understands that it is not an easy task to survive under the majestic and benevolent rule of Wu Zetian, especially considering the original sin that runs in his blood.

Li Tong returned to the room once again and sat back on the plain couch under the canopy. The palace maids probably knew what this place used to be, so they didn't dare to stand too close, allowing Li Tong to avoid those intrusive gazes.

After a brief disturbance, only Li Tong remained in the large courtyard.