Wu Zetian, as an outstanding empress, has gone through ups and downs and finally feels the hard work of managing the country. After several years of government affairs, she decided to find a suitable assistant. The assistant needs to meet three conditions: First, it must be a woman. As a queen, she needs to maintain a certain amount of decency, and it is not appropriate to be accompanied by men all the time. Secondly, they should have the skills of writing, because assisting in government affairs requires proficiency in reading and writing. Finally, possess superior comprehension to ensure that he is in tune with Wu Zetian.
Shangguan Wan'er attracted attention because of her mother's good education, and her talent spread to Wu Zetian's ears. In a rare interview, Wu Zetian personally served as the examiner, and Wan'er was the only candidate. This interview is comparable to the "New Concept Composition" make-up competition at the end of the last century, Wan'er successfully won the favor of Wu Zetian with her excellent psychological quality and outstanding talent.
Since then, Wan'er has become Wu Zetian's personal secretary to assist in handling important government affairs. She witnessed the arduous journey of Wu Zetian's promotion from empress to empress, and witnessed the ups and downs of the court, including the deposition of the crown prince Li Xian, the death of Gaozong Li Zhi, and the magnificent chapter of Wu Zetian's eventual ascension to empress.
Wan'er's political activities benefited from her unique position by Wu Zetian's side. As her personal secretary, she not only participated in the review of the recitals and the drafting of edicts, but also played a key role in major decisions. Although he had committed a capital crime due to negligence, Wu Zetian's trust in her was not shaken, but he relied on her more and let her participate in the handling of the ministers' deliberations.
In literature, Wan'er showed extraordinary talent. With her fresh and refined words, she became a treasure of court literature. She won a literary competition and became a literary talent favored by Wu Zetian.