Wu Zetian (AD 624-AD 705), whose real name was Jue, was later renamed Zhao, a native of Wenshui, Shanxi, and the only orthodox female emperor in Chinese history (reigned from 690 to 705), and the oldest ascended to the throne (67 The female emperor who came to the throne at age), later generations will call it "Lu Wu" together with Lu Hou of the Han Dynasty.
Wu Zetian entered the palace at the age of fourteen. He was a talented man of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty and was given the title "Wu Mei". Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty named Zhaoyi, the queen was named "Queen of Heaven", and was called "Two Saints" together with Gaozong. After Gaozong's death, as the empress dowager of Tang Zhongzong and Tang Ruizong, she came to court.
In 690, Wu Zetian announced that he would change the Tang Dynasty to the Zhou Dynasty, establish himself as the emperor, set Luoyang as the capital, and call it "the capital of God" and establish Wu Zhou. During the reign of Wu Zetian, the society was stable and life was prosperous, which paved the way for the prosperity of Kaiyuan. She combines wisdom and cleverness, coldness and cruelty, and has left a strong mark in history.
In order to consolidate his rule, Wu Zetian murdered nearly a hundred officials (not including his implicated relatives) in his life. In spite of family affection, he killed 23 of his relatives.
She personally killed her infant daughter and blamed the king and queen, which made Gaozong decide to abolish Wang Liwu.
After she poisoned her eldest son Li Hong, she was loved by Gaozong because of the handsome appearance, dignified manner and quick thinking of her second son Li Xian, but she was jealous of Wu Zetian and was finally forced to death by her mother Wu Zetian. Li Xian's three sons were also persecuted by Wu Zetian. Among them, the eldest son Li Guangshun was executed by Wu Zetian; the second son Li Shouli was imprisoned and condemned for many years, and he did not have a good day; the third son Li Shouyi died strangely.
Wu Zetian's sister, Mrs. Korea, was killed by her for bringing happiness to her husband Tang Gaozong, committing her taboos, hating and fighting for favor.
Wu Zetian has four elder brothers, two of them were forced to commit suicide because they were accused of disorderly politics. After the other two brothers returned to the palace, Wu Zetian personally cooked and poisoned the fish brought by his brother, poisoning his niece, Mrs. Wei Guo, who was avenging his mother. Wu Zetian therefore framed that the fish sent by his brother was poisonous, and took the opportunity to kill the two brothers.
Tang Zhongzong Li Xian was the third son of Wu Zetian. Although he did not encounter his mother, Wu Zetian, he was abolished after only 55 days in his first reign. He was put in exile for 14 years and was life-threatening several times. Wu Zetian imprisoned Li Xian's wife, Zhao, in the provincial women's jail for "disrespectful", and was finally starved to death.
After Li Xian was restored to the position of prince, Wu Zetian did not stop the persecution of his family. In 701 AD, Li Xian's eldest son, Li Zhongrun, was framed, saying that he and his younger sister, Li Xianhui, the lord of Yongtai County, and his brother-in-law Wu Yanji (Wu Zetian's grand-nephew) were discussing Zhang Yi's brother in private. Wu Zetian was furious when he knew it, and ordered all three of them to be shot to death. Legend has it that Wu Zetian's granddaughter Li Xianhui, the lord of Yongtai County, was still pregnant with a fetus when she was killed with a stick. For the youngest son Li Dan, Wu Zetian not only seized his throne, but also cruelly executed his monowife and concubine.
