Princess Taiping was wu Zetian's only biological daughter. Wu Zetian was very harsh on his son, but he was very protective of this daughter. Princess Taiping was very clever and scheming. During the Yifeng period, Tubo asked the princess to marry, and she asked to be a female Taoist priest to escape and kiss. Once, she put on the military attaché costume to see Emperor Gaozong and Wuhou, and Wuhou asked her why she was wearing a military uniform, and she said that she could give it to a donkey. Emperor Gaozong listened and knew that his daughter wanted to get married, so he recruited Xue Shao, the son of Xue Xuan, the duke of Madu, as his son-in-law, and Xue Shao's mother was Princess Chengyang, the daughter of Emperor Taizong. Xue Shao was born with a table of talents, and Princess Taiping was also a beautiful woman, and it was a good story for a while.
However, the good times did not last long, because of the involvement in the rebellion of the King of Langya, Xue Shao, the lieutenant of the horse, was imprisoned and died in prison, and Princess Taiping became a widow. Although Wu Zetian sealed her three thousand households, she was still depressed. Wu Zetian chose another mate for her, and at that time, when Wu Chengsi lost his wife, Wu Zetian wanted to recruit her as a lieutenant, but Princess Taiping was unwilling. Wu Zetian told her to choose for herself, and she said that she would marry Wu Youji. Wu Zetian said, "Youji already has a wife, I'm afraid it's not appropriate." Princess Taiping said, "It's easy, as long as you don't say a word." So Wu Zetian sent someone to poison Wu Youji's wife, so that Princess Taiping could rest assured that she would marry Wu Youji.
The relationship between Princess Taiping and Li Xian, Li Dan's brothers and sisters is still good. Princess Taiping contributed to Zhang Yizhi's killing of Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong's restoration of Emperor Zhongzong, so after Emperor Zhongzong's restoration, she was crowned Princess Taiping of Zhenguo, and from then on, Princess Taiping was more active in participating in political affairs.
Emperor Zhongzong was poisoned, and the sixteen-year-old Shigemo took the throne. After Wei Hou was reprimanded, Princess Taiping actively engaged in the activities of supporting Wang Dan as emperor. Li Dan expressed a firm resignation in this regard, believing that the young emperor Chongmao was his own nephew and how could he be expelled from the throne. Later, after his son Li Longji and other solid requests, he agreed. The next morning, Princess Taiping came to the palace early, and when the minister entered the court, she said in a loud voice: "The young emperor Chongmao wants to give up the throne to his uncle, do you think it is good?" The ministers said yes in unison. At this time, Shigeshige was sitting on the throne and did not know what the situation was, and Princess Taiping went up and pulled him off the throne and welcomed Li Dan to the throne, for Ruizong.
Emperor Ruizong announced a general amnesty for the world, made Chongmao the King of Wen, and gave Princess Taiping the title of Princess Ofe. All other meritorious servants were added to the rank of knight. It is only the matter of appointing a prince, and whether the eldest son is the youngest son with meritorious service is difficult to decide for a while. Emperor Ruizong's eldest son, King Chengji of Song, had self-knowledge, so he said to Emperor Ruizong: "When the country undertakes peacetime, it should be established as a leader, and when the country is in danger, it should be a meritorious person. Liu Youqiu, a member of the Zhongshu She, went on to say: "PingWang An Sheji, saving the king's relatives, has done a great service and should be established." Most of the courtiers agreed, so they decided to appoint Li Longji as crown prince.
Ruizong was very attached to his sister Princess Taiping, and he always had to discuss everything with her. Princess Taiping also boasted of her high merits and actively participated in major political affairs. At first she saw that the prince was only in his twenties, thinking that he was young and inexperienced and could be used for use, but gradually she found that the prince was a man with independent opinions, who dared to express opinions when things happened, and even expressed opinions opposed to herself, so she was dissatisfied with this nephew.
In the first month of Jing yun's second year, after Princess Taiping had made her request, Emperor Ruizong said: "Concubine Liu and Concubine Dou have both died, and He Ren has established an empress again, but they should be posthumously crowned empresses." Princess Taiping said, "Concubine Liu should be posthumously sealed, Concubine Dou, I'll just forget it." It turned out that Concubine Dou was Li Longji's birth mother, princess Taiping's voice, and Ruizong could still hear it, that is, he did not agree to add the birth mother of the crown prince. Emperor Ruizong did not do as Princess Taiping wanted, but made the two deceased concubines empresses. When Princess Taiping learned of this, her heart was even more unhappy. So he further spread rumors, saying that "the Eastern Palace has a suspicious heart, relies on Yao Chong, Song Jing as its right and left hands, and does not see changes." After Emperor Ruizong heard this, he summoned Wei Anshi to inquire about the situation, and Wei Anshi said, "This is a rumor, I am afraid that some traitors will provoke right and wrong." ”
Princess Taiping saw that Emperor Ruizong did not move, and went so far as to invite the chancellor to signal that he wanted to depose the crown prince. Song Jing said: "The Eastern Palace has rectified the chaos and made great contributions, so why should it be abolished?" Princess Taiping was furious and whisked away. Therefore, Song Jing and Yao Chong went to see Emperor Ruizong to explain the situation, and asked Tang Ruizong to place Princess Taiping in a foreign country. Ruizong said, "There is only one sister in the world, how can you bear to place her in a foreign country?" A few days later, Zhongshu Shilang and Pingzhang Shi Zhang said in jinzhi: "Since the traitors have divided the relationship between the prince and the emperor, why not simply call the prince to supervise the country, so that the rumors will not be destroyed." Emperor Ruizong agreed, and ordered the crown prince to oversee the country, and finally made up his mind to place Princess Taiping in Puzhou.
When Princess Taiping was about to leave, she summoned the crown prince and said, "I have made everything for your father and son, but you have repaid the virtue with resentment." The prince said, "How dare the nephew do this?" Probably Yao and Song asked His Majesty to do this, and I asked His Majesty to dispose of these two people. Also, in the near future, I will ask you to bring my aunt back. So the crown prince asked the emperor to demote Yao Chong to the History of The Thorns of Shenzhou and Song Jing to the History of the Thorns of Chu Prefecture.
Soon, Emperor Ruizong granted the crown prince's request and took Princess Taiping back to Chang'an. After Princess Taiping returned, she further cultivated private forces, no matter what the face of the defectors, as long as they were willing to serve themselves, they would all be taken in. Once the comet appeared, Princess Taiping instructed the warlock Shang Ruizong to say: "The appearance of the comet is to remove the old cloth and the new image, and the former star has also changed, probably the prince is going to be the emperor." "The so-called former star refers to the prince. Book of Han and Five Elements:
"Heart, Great Star, Heavenly King, its former star Prince, Later Star, Shuzi also."
Princess Taiping's original intention was to imply that the crown prince should ascend the throne as soon as possible in order to provoke the relationship between Ruizong's father and son, but Ruizong said that he would obey Providence and pass the throne as soon as possible. The warlock reported Ruizong's opinion to Princess Taiping, who felt self-defeating and had words of suffering.
Princess Taiping then instigated the left and right to play the song to prevent the emperor from taking the throne as soon as possible, but after the song was presented, it was like a stone sinking into the sea without news. Princess Taiping also sent people to persuade the crown prince, warning him not to succeed to the throne as soon as possible. The crown prince then entered the palace and said to Ruizong: "Erchen only made a little merit, and was made crown prince, which is already a special favor, and now the father wants to pass the throne as soon as possible, I don't know what it means?" Emperor Ruizong said, "The celestial signs warn that you should pass on the throne to avoid disasters, you have done a great job for the country, and to pass on the throne as soon as possible is to obey the will of Heaven." The crown prince insisted, and Ruizong said, "If you want to be filial piety, you should obey." The prince had to quit.
The next day, Emperor Ruizong issued an edict, passing it on to the crown prince as Emperor Xuanzong. This is the year of Yanhe (712 AD).
Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, changed the yuan to Xiantian, announced a general amnesty, and made the crown princess Wang Shi empress. The appointment of officials above the third rank and major political affairs must also be played by the Emperor Taishang, and can only be carried out after obtaining consent.
Princess Taiping saw that Li Longji had ascended the throne and regretted it too much, so she thought of poisoning Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong usually wore red arrow powder, and Princess Taiping sent the palace daughter Yuan Shi to Xuanzong's office to prepare red arrow powder and instructed the palace women to take advantage of the opportunity to poison. The so-called red arrow powder, that is, gastropod powder, is a health supplement. Shen Kuo of the Song Dynasty said in the Mengxi Pen Talk and Medicine Discussion:
"Red Arrow, Now Tenmaya... This immortal tonic, health care medicine. ”
When the Yuan clan had no time to poison, the matter had already been discovered by Zhongshu Shilang, Xuanzong's old friend Wang Ju when he was the King of Linzi. Wang Ju hurriedly told Xuanzong that he could not hesitate any longer. Just at this time, Zhang said that the envoy had sent an envoy to offer a box of gifts, and Xuanzong opened it to see that it was a sabre, and immediately understood the meaning of Zhang's words. So he made up his mind to destroy the rebellious party.
Princess Taiping heard that the palace lady YuanShi had committed suicide, and knowing that the poisoning incident had been defeated, she summoned her cronies to discuss and decided to hold a military coup plan, at which time she designated personnel to lead the Yulin army directly into the Wude Hall and force Emperor Xuanzong to abdicate. At this time, Princess Taiping's son Wu Chongjian opposed this practice, and he said to Princess Taiping: "Mother is pampered and superior, rich and noble, why is she still not satisfied, what is it for?" Princess Taiping was furious, and Bento beat Chongjian with a staff full of blood, and she hugged her head and retreated. A coup d'état is imminent.
At this time, Emperor Xuanzong decided to strike first, and on July 3 of the second year of The First Heaven (713 AD), he ordered Wang Maozhong and other military generals to lead the army of princess Taiping and kill one by one. When Emperor Taishang heard the chaos outside, he ascended to the Tianmen City Tower to inquire, and when he learned that it was because Princess Taiping was plotting against him, Xuanzong was searching for Yu Dang, he sighed and left, and issued an edict saying: "After that, the grand plan of the military state will be handled by Emperor Xuanzong." "When Emperor Xuanzong saw the edict, he ordered someone to arrest Princess Taiping.
Finally, princess Taiping was captured in the Nanshan Temple, taken back to Chang'an, and committed suicide. Her son Wu Chongjian was spared death and given the surname Li, still in his original position.