Liu Li actually has a prototype in history. Kudi was a female official during Wu Zetian's period. There are records about Kudi in "New Book of Tang" and "Old Book of Tang". Historically, Kudi was a legendary woman. She is Pei Xingjian's stepmother. In the era when men were superior to women, Kudi was called into the palace as a female official by Wu Zetian, and was later named Mrs. Huayang.