Empress Li Hua offered her father a gentle smile before speaking.
"Before I conceived this child, I had a dream. In the dream, I stood alone in darkness, but the sky above me was filled with glittering stars. Amidst the gloom, two amber lights emerged—eyes, watching me intently. Then the darkness lifted, revealing a radiant azure sky. The eyes belonged to a majestic golden dragon, resplendent and full of might."
Li Gaosun beamed with joy.
"A golden dragon! An auspicious sign indeed. The Son of Heaven must surely reside in your womb."
But after recounting the dream, the Empress's smile faded. No trace of happiness lingered on her face. Her brows drew together, her eyes clouded with worry.
Li Gaosun grew concerned.
"What troubles you, daughter? Why do you not rejoice at such a vision? Has something else unsettled you?"
The Empress turned to him with a solemn expression.
"The dream did not end there. There was more."
She continued:
"Suddenly, a woman appeared. Her face was as beautiful as the celestial goddess Ma Gu, but her eyes held a sinister glint. She gazed at the golden dragon with ill intent. Then her form vanished, transforming into two celestial phoenixes. One was a brilliant crimson—stunning beyond description. The other was pure white, delicate and radiant, yet still less splendid than the red one."
"The red phoenix soared toward the golden dragon, and the two ascended into the sky, entwining midair as if in embrace. Then the red phoenix burst into flame, engulfing the dragon in fire, burning it to ash."
"The white phoenix hovered nearby, watching with a cry that echoed across the heavens, as though rejoicing at the sight. When the dragon collapsed, the white phoenix launched itself at the red, not to save the dragon—but to destroy the red phoenix alongside it."
"Then came another phoenix—this one black as ink, grotesque and fearsome, yet emanating immense power. It beat its wings, stirring a tempest that swept the red and white phoenixes away in an instant."
"The black phoenix then descended upon the fallen dragon, ready to strike. But just then, a fourth phoenix appeared—this one emerald green. It spread its small wings, shielding the dragon with its body. Strangely, the black phoenix halted its attack immediately, as if it had never intended to harm the green one."
"The red and white phoenixes returned, and now the four celestial birds stood face to face. They clashed in a fierce storm of light and fury, the sky itself twisting under their might. Then, a blinding explosion—followed by silence. All four phoenixes fell from the sky, motionless upon the earth."
"And in the dream, I ran to the golden dragon, desperate to save it. It wasn't dead—its form turned into golden fire and entered my body. Then…"
She hesitated.
"Then what happened?" Li Gaosun pressed.
"I heard the sound of wings. Before I could turn to see which phoenix had survived, it seized me and flew high into the sky… and dropped me. I fell, shattered against the ground. That was when I awoke."
Li Gaosun was shaken. He was no imperial astrologer, but even he knew the dream was ominous.
"Have you consulted the royal astrologers?"
Li Hua nodded.
"And what did they say?"
Her expression grew grave.
"The imperial astrologers studied the dream in relation to the fate of the realm. They confirmed that the stars currently reveal the Emperor Star, heralding the birth of a child of great destiny. One who will defeat all enemies and unite the land under a single will."
Li Gaosun's eyes brightened.
"And after that?"
"The Emperor Star does not shine alone," she said slowly. "In the southern quadrant—the domain of the Vermilion Phoenix—four stars of Yu Ni have also appeared. Though each glows faintly, together their light outshines the Emperor Star. This is an omen: the phoenix shall rise above the dragon. Four women shall come together to overthrow the imperial throne."
Li Gaosun cursed.
"Blasphemous! A woman rising above a man? I will never allow such disgrace to take hold!"
"The astrologers also warned," she continued, "to beware a woman of surpassing beauty, like a goddess, who shall lead others born on the third day of the third month to bring down the Dragon Throne. If such a woman is found, she must be eliminated at once. Only then can the stars of Yu Ni be dimmed. If not, their brilliance shall eclipse the Emperor Star, and the empire shall lose its sovereign forever."