Li Ruzhen's The Edge of Mirrors and Flowers is a long novel full of fantasy. The author draws on material from the Shanhaijing, and the first half of the novel depicts the various strange kingdoms overseas through the overseas travels of Tang Ao and Duogong, the daughter kingdom where men and women are interchangeable, the gentleman kingdom where there is no competition, and the gutless kingdom where dung is used as food. The second half of the book tells the story of Wu Zetian's selection of talented girls for the imperial examinations, and the successful examination and gathering of 100 talented girls.