During the reign of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in China, several women appeared in the political arena of the Tang Dynasty, creating the era of red makeup politics in the history of the Tang Dynasty, and Princess Taiping was also one of them. As the only daughter of Wu Zetian, she was at the center of power in the Tang Dynasty from birth, and the later historical development process also proved that Princess Taiping was one of the key figures who repeatedly influenced the historical development of the Tang Dynasty. However, Princess Taiping was not able to become the second Wu Zetian after all, and she, who had once been in power, eventually lost to her nephew Li Longji, the crown prince. After Princess Taiping failed to seize power, Li Longji executed all her children to avoid trouble, leaving only her son Xue Chongjian.
Stills of Xue Chongjian
Xue Chongjian was born to Princess Taiping and her first husband Xue Shao, because the youngest son Xue Chongjian looked exactly like his parents, out of the psychology of loving Wu and Wu, Tang Gaozong and Wu Zetian both favored Xue Chongjian, Princess Taiping took the favor of her mother, Xue Chongjian was given the title of Duke of Yingguo when she was young, and followed her mother in and out of the palace for many years. Because of this, Xue Chongjian and his cousin Li Longgene have been similar in age and like-minded since childhood, and their relationship is very good, and the feelings and friendships between the two are far better than those of other cousins.
Princess Taiping stills
In the fourth year of Jinglong, Wei Hou, who wanted to emulate Wu Zetian as the next female emperor, secretly planned to kill Tang Zhongzong. At that time, Xue Chongjian followed his cousin Li Longji to participate in the "Tang Long Coup" and raised an army against Empress Wei's party. After the coup d'état, Li Dan, the Prince of Xiang, with the help of his sister Princess Taiping, successfully ascended the throne and became Emperor Ruizong of Tang. From raising troops to rebel to the new emperor ascending the throne, Princess Taiping and Xue Chongjian's mother and son can be described as high and great. However, since then, the ambition to be crowned Princess Taiping of Zhenguo has become even more inflated.
With the increasing power of Princess Taiping's hands, she even had the idea of becoming the next empress Wu Zetian. However, this kind of political ambition of Princess Taiping was not recognized by her son Xue Chongjian, and the mother and son often disagreed on political issues, and Princess Taiping often rebuked Xue Chongjian for fear of her mother's position of power.
Lee Long-ki stills
As Princess Taiping's political ambitions grew, Tang Ruizong, who could not withstand this political pressure, could only cede the throne to Li Longji. After Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ascended the throne, in order to weaken the power of Princess Taiping, he took various measures, and even once wanted to depose Princess Taiping. Xue Chongjian saw that his mother was deeply involved in the political whirlpool, and although he had repeatedly advised Princess Taiping not to be estranged from the emperor and be nepotistic, he could not end it with his mother's anger and flogging.
In the end, Princess Taiping launched a rebellion in 713, and the struggle for power ended in a crushing defeat for Princess Taiping, who was also ordered to die by Li Longji. After Princess Taiping's death, her children and henchmen were also killed, except for Xue Chongjian, who was given the surname of Li by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and retained in his original post. He was able to escape among his brothers and sisters, firstly because of his many years of friendship with his cousin Tang Xuanzong, and secondly because he did not have any rebellious actions, which allowed Tang Xuanzong to leave his life.