Heavenly Tyrant
by Xiran Jay Zhao
Contents
Chapter Forty-Seven: Nothing that Won’t Be Over Soon
Overview
The regime scapegoats Yizhi and the Gewei Bu for the terror, executing Lai Junchen publicly while Yizhi remains missing. Qin Zheng rebuilds his image with public appearances, Taiping's merit currency stabilizes the economy, and the strike against the gods is one month away. On New Year's, after the nine tribute girls are taken to Mount Tai, Zetian breaks down grieving her family and again seeks emotional refuge with Qin Zheng.
Summary
Zetian reflects on Yizhi's parting offer to take the blame for the revolution's atrocities. The regime executes Lai Junchen and the remaining Gewei Bu agents on livestream at the Phoenix Nest stadium, with Qin Zheng publicly condemning their crimes as if uninvolved, providing catharsis without ceding power. Despite massive manhunts and envoys to Rongdi tribes, Yizhi cannot be found. Zetian dissuades Qin Zheng from executing Yizhi's siblings; Liu Che has been sent to a youth reform center in Qing province.
Qin Zheng begins making public appearances at hospitals, factories, and disaster sites, rebuilding his image. He pilots the Yellow Dragon again during a Chu River flood. Zetian, declared too pregnant for combat, accompanies him on every trip but arranges solo Alliance visits to maintain her own legacy. She pushes policies on parental leave and childcare by framing them as productivity gains. Taiping introduces a new currency, merits, earned only through labor and exchanged for luxuries, redistributing elite wealth and reviving luxury industries while reframing status around contribution.
As the New Year approaches, Sima Yi conveys the gods' demand for the annual tribute of nine girls on Mount Tai. Zetian and Qin Zheng abandon a plan to plant a spy. Watching the tribute, Zetian wonders if Yizhi was whisked away by an unseen aircraft like Shimin, possibly reuniting with him in the Heavenly Court. The strike against the gods is one month away.
On New Year's night, Zetian stands on the throne room balcony mourning the nine taken girls. Qin Zheng's clumsy attempt to comfort her fails, but when she admits she stayed with him rather than join Taiping's dinner, he kisses her and they have sex on the bed in her side chamber. Zetian channels her rage into the encounter, comparing her self-destructive release to Shimin's coping. Afterward, lying together in the cold throne room, Zetian weeps thinking of her mother and family she helped destroy. Qin Zheng pulls her close, telling her she did what she had to do, and she falls asleep in his arms.
Who Appears
- Wu ZetianSeven months pregnant empress; pushes women's policies, mourns the tribute girls and her family, seeks emotional release with Qin Zheng.
- Qin ZhengEmperor rebuilding public image, hunts Yizhi obsessively, comforts Zetian clumsily on New Year's night.
- Zhang YizhiVanished fugitive scapegoated for the terror; Zetian suspects he was taken by the gods like Shimin.
- TaipingFinance Minister who introduces the merit currency system, hosts a New Year's gathering for friends without families.
- Lai JunchenFormer Tianlao prison head publicly executed by The Hammer to provide cathartic scapegoating.
- Liu CheSpared former rival sent to a youth reform center in Qing province for laborist reeducation.
- QieluoIron Widow who occasionally shares dream training with Zetian and previously witnessed an aircraft retrieve the Vermilion Bird's remains.
- Sima YiRelays the gods' demand for the annual tribute of nine girls on Mount Tai.
- Wan'erImperial Secretary who attends Taiping's New Year's dinner party.
- ShiminReferenced as previously taken by the gods; Zetian relates to his self-destruction as coping.