According to ancient documents, Zhong was extraordinarily unshapely -- she possessed a projecting forehead, deep-set eyes, a potbelly, big knuckles, an upturned nose, a disproportionately big head with scant hair, and had dark skin. Owing to her unprepossessing looks, Zhong remained single until the age of 40. Far from being frustrated, she delved into books and martial arts.
As its name implies, the Warring States Period was an era when a number of small states fought perennially for land and power. The Qi monarch, King Xuan, was a confirmed hedonist and negligent ruler.
Zhong Wuyan was deeply concerned about the fate of her country at this time, so she went to the palace to offer herself as the king's maiden. All in the palace tittered at the sight of her. The king was also amused. "How can a woman like you even think of entering the palace?" he said. "Do you have any special faculty?" to which Zhong replied, "I have no faculty but for asking riddles." At the king's request for a demonstration, Zhong raised her eyes, opened her mouth, lifted her arms and patted her lap, saying: "Danger, danger."
please follow the link for more of her story, from what I gather she focused on her assets, her mind, body and soul developing them and when the time was right used her gifts wisely. I enjoyed reading her story.
Another telling of the legend:
Courtesy of: http://www.orientalwomentalk.net/ChineseLegend.html
Excerpt: Legend 5 - Superwoman Zhong Wu-yan
During the period of Warring States, the King of the State of Qi always
indulged himself in leisure, wine and women. One day he went hunting,
taking with him a bow and arrows. He saw a wild goose flying past and
immediately shot it with his arrow. He was no doubt a good expert
shooter and shot down the goose. All his courtiers and guards
applauded and praised him profusely. They then went to look for the
goose but when they saw the dead goose, they did not see the King's
arrow, which bore the King's emblem. However, a woman walked
slowly towards the royal party and as she came near to the King, he
saw her holding the arrow. The woman understood that standing in front
of her was the King; therefore, she knelt in front of the King, just slightly
lifting part of her face. The King was utterly displeased and when he
was just about to question her as to why she had removed the arrow
from the goose, the beauty of the woman stunned him, though he could
only see a small part of her face. He thought this woman must be a
fairy who had descended from Heaven. The King was so enchanted by
this woman and immediately wanted her to be one of his concubines.
When asked by the King that her name be, she replied with her
sweet voice, "I am called Zhong Wu-yan." "I would like to take you
back to the Palace so that you can be my concubine. You will be
able to enjoy unlimited wealth and lead a most luxurious life." said
the King. Zhong Wu-yan said she would not agree unless she was
made Queen. Charmed by her heavenly beauty, the King acceded
to her demand without hesitation.
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