Exclusive Interview with the Emperor and Empress: Their Sweet Daily Life

Host: (With a big smile) Today we are honored to have the current emperor and empress with us. First of all, how do you two maintain a sweet relationship outside of work?

Li Zhi: (Gently stroking Wu Meiniang's hand) It's very simple. She took half of my memorials, so I ate half of her snacks.

Wu Meiniang: (Giving him a reproachful look) Your Majesty even stole the candied fruit I hid yesterday!

Li Zhi: (leaning closer and whispering) Then I'll give you a new box tonight, picked from the batch that Cheng Wuting presented as tribute.

Host: (Laughs while covering mouth) It seems His Majesty knows how to make the Empress happy!

Wu Meiniang: (blushing slightly) He's only at times like this.

Host: I heard that your token of love is quite special?

Li Zhi: (Taking out a jade pendant from his sleeve) This Azure Dragon jade pendant, someone wore it every day to pray for me when I was sick, and it even cracked from being dropped.

Wu Zetian: (Lightly touching the crack) Your Majesty, how dare you say that? Back then, I had a high fever that wouldn't go down, it terrified me...

Li Zhi: (holding her hand) So now I exercise every day, just to spend a few more years with this crybaby.

Wu Zetian: (Eyes slightly red but smiling) Who's crying! It's clearly just that the wind got in your eyes.

Host: (wiping away tears of emotion) How enviable! Can you tell us what you like most about your partner?

Wu Zetian: I love the way His Majesty looks when he's reviewing memorials with such seriousness... (whispering) and the way he sneaks a snack.

Li Zhi: (chuckles) I love the way the Empress pretends to be serious when she gives me acupuncture, even though she's clearly in pain.

Wu Zetian: (scoldingly) Then next time I'll really hurt you!

Li Zhi: (whispering close) You're willing to do that?

Host: (blushing) Ahem... One last question, what do you two think is the best form of love?

Li Zhi: (gazing at Wu Meiniang) It was when she stayed up all night reviewing memorials that I was able to hold a lamp for her.

Wu Meiniang: (Looking back tenderly) When His Majesty refuses to take his medicine, I can come up with a thousand ways to coax him.

Li Zhi: Actually... (lowering his voice) I deliberately didn't take the medicine.

Wu Zetian: (Surprised) What?

Li Zhi: (laughs) Because I want to see how you try to coax me.

Wu Zetian: (Pretending to hit) Fine, I'll add three times the amount of Coptis chinensis to your medicine tonight!

Li Zhi: (Grasping her wrist) If you're willing, that's fine, Madam.

[Interview Highlights]

According to palace staff, after the interview, His Majesty personally went to the Imperial Hospital to retrieve Coptis chinensis, saying that he wanted to "fulfill his promise."

But the Empress didn't actually add the honey; instead, she added an extra spoonful to the medicine.

Sure enough, the emperor and empress never argued for more than a quarter of an hour—after all, who would be willing to let the other suffer?