The legend of Wu Zetian demoting Peony

Wu Zetian ascended the throne and called himself the Holy Emperor. One winter, she suddenly became excited and took her concubines and maids to Shangyuan to drink and enjoy the snow. At this time, the snow had just stopped, and the scenery in the rockeries, pavilions, bridges, and corridors were all covered in white plain clothes. Although the branches and leaves of various flowers, plants and trees are withered, they are covered with snow and look particularly beautiful, like silver branches and jade flowers. Occasionally, two birds fly in, gently brushing the branches and scattering white flocks, like butterflies. Flying. Wu Zetian was fascinated by the sight, but she didn't expect the snow scene to be so magnificent. Suddenly, she found a little flame burning and jumping in the white snow. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be blossoming cranberries. Wu Zetian is so happy! She couldn't help but recite a poem to express her joy. The accompanying Mrs. Ji saw that the Queen Mother was so happy, and they all rushed to toast her. At this time, a concubine said: "Wu Hou, no matter how beautiful the plum blossom is, it is a flower that blooms alone after all. If the flowers in the garden can bloom under the imperial edict, wouldn't it be more of a wish? Another concubine shook her head and said, "Now It is the coldest month of winter, and the plum blossoms are blooming at the right time. If a hundred flowers bloom, it will have to wait until next spring. "Wu Zetian said with a smile, "It's not surprising that the flowers are blooming in spring. Hundreds of flowers are blooming in the snow, which suits my heart. Seeing that he was a little drunk, the concubines persuaded him: "Wu Hou, it's getting late." Please go back to the palace and take a rest. If you still want to see it, come back tomorrow morning. "Wu Zetian's maid took her back to the palace. However, she was still thinking about letting a hundred flowers bloom to compete with the snow. So, the maid brought the Four Treasures of the Study, immediately took the cream in her hand, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote a five-character poem on the white silk. "You go to the garden in the Ming Dynasty to announce the arrival of spring quickly. The flowers should be kept overnight, and don't wait for the breeze to blow. After writing, she ordered the palace maid to take them to the garden and burn them to inform the flower god to take Wu Zetian's imperial edict to Shangyuan. After falling, Fairy Baihua was frightened. Everyone gathered together to discuss countermeasures. Fairy Peach Blossom was the least courageous, so she whispered: "Wu Zetian is vicious and can do anything." We dare not disobey her! "Some little flower fairies also timidly echoed: "Yes! Let’s prepare early and open early! The Peony Fairy disagreed with their opinions and said angrily: "Wu Zetian is too domineering." You were in charge of human affairs, but now you are in charge of us. These flowers bloom, each with its own season, creating an era and following the four seasons. Can it go against heaven? Sisters, we can’t follow this! "After hearing what the Peony Fairy said, the Flower Fairy felt that every sentence made sense. But when I thought of Wu Zetian's cruelty, I hesitated again. The Peach Blossom Fairy begged the Peony Fairy, good sister, listen to me, let's be obedient. Wu Zetian kills people like trampling someone to death. Only ants, not to mention us delicate flowers? Many fairies continued: "Sister, it is also this time. Otherwise, it will be a disaster. "The Peony Fairy said stubbornly: "You can't do anything against your will even once. As long as we are strong-willed and strong-willed, what can she do for me? "It was already four o'clock at this time and it was almost dawn. Huaxian was determined to see the fairy Peony, so she left in a hurry to bloom. Birds were chirping and dawn was coming. When Wu Zetian woke up, her drunkenness had disappeared. She dressed She got up, sat in front of the mirror, and asked the maid to dress her up. At this moment, the palace maid opened the door and told her happily: "Long live the flowers in Shangyuan!" Wu Zetian was overjoyed after hearing this, thinking that the poem she wrote late at night was just a "drunk joke", but she did not expect that the flowers were really blooming under the order. She hurried out of the palace and came to Shangyuan. Looking up, the garden was full of peach blossoms, Plum blossoms, magnolias, crabapples, hibiscus, and lilacs are all in bloom, clusters in clusters. The bright morning glow sets off the flowers, and the bright white snow sets off the green leaves, swaying in the wind, tilting up and down, graceful and charming. At this time, all the civil and military officials in Manchuria came to see Wu Zetian, who was so proud that she strode towards a bald peony. When she saw that there were only peonies in the flowers, she thought to herself, That's it! If you don't obey me, how can I take power? Besides, wouldn't this bring shame to these civil and military officials? She became more and more angry as she thought about it, yelling: "Bold Peony! How dare you be so presumptuous and unable to resist the decree. Set fire, not one plant! "After that, he left angrily. After receiving the order, the warriors immediately lit firewood and threw it into the peonies. Suddenly, thick smoke billowed and flames were blazing, and only the peonies crackled. The Peony Fairy watched a peony being destroyed. He couldn't help but shed tears and was extremely angry. At noon, the fire burned down and the peony garden was reduced to ashes. The servant told Wu Zetian: Long live the prince, the peony has been burned to ashes. Wu Zetian was still angry and said: " Uprooted it, demoted it out of Chang'an, threw it into Mangshan Mountain in Luoyang, and made it extinct! "Why did Wu Zetian demote Mudan to Mang Mountain in Luoyang? She had been to Luoyang before and also to Mang Mountain.

She knew that the ravines, remoteness and desolation made her suffer in loneliness to relieve the hatred in her heart. The warriors immediately dug out the peony roots with iron trowels, loaded them into trucks overnight, sent them to Luoyang, and dumped them in the Mang Mountains. Who knows, as soon as the peonies enter the new soil, they will take root again. Next spring, the mountains will be green. Mangshan people have been fond of peonies for a long time, and they are transplanted and cultivated by everyone. Later, people in the city heard about it and came to transplant it. I was very happy to see that the Luoyang people in "The Peony Fairy" love peonies so much. As soon as I arrived in Guyu, every plant was in full bloom. People looking at the peonies, supporting the old and the young, are constantly surrounded by people in the dusk, and the flowers are in full bloom. Peonies are in full bloom in Luoyang. This peony is known as the "scorched bone peony" because it is firm and resolute in Wu Zetian's fire. Later, after careful cultivation by Luoyang people, the flowers became redder and more colorful, and later generations named it "Luoyang Red".