Preface
In ancient feudal society, women wanted to gain equal status and power with men. However, the Tang Dynasty gave birth to a woman who broke this precedent - Wu Zetian. Not only did she gain the power to sit on an equal footing with the emperor, but she even ascended the throne herself in her later years, creating a precedent for the hostess to be in power in mainland history.
Who is such a woman? How did she rise from a concubine to the throne? Her life was magnificent, but it was also full of tragedy. The questioning voice of "the heroine can't" finally pulled her down from the glorious throne.
The girl Liu Wu married into the palace and was pampered
Liu was born in the last years of the Sui Dynasty, and his family background was not prominent. However, she was born with bright eyes and bright teeth, and the country was beautiful and fragrant, which brought a ray of life to this humble family. When she was 18 years old, it was the most charming and moving time for the girl, she was favored by Tang Gaozu Li Yuan and elected to the harem.
Before long, the Xuanwumen Rebellion broke out, Li Yuan was killed, and Li Shimin ascended the throne. Liu's beauty was noticed by the new emperor and officially included in the harem and named "Ezi". The name "Ezi" is a homonym for the legendary beautiful Empress E, who helped King Wu to fight the Emperor, which shows how much Li Shimin loves her.
Ezi is well versed in the ability to look back and smile, and every time she sees the emperor, she is sultry and charming, and Li Shimin is also fascinated by her style. Two years later, Ezi was promoted to a talented person and changed her name to Wu.
This Wu clan can be described as a national color and fragrance, bright and moving. Her plump body was covered with charming dimples, and her thick black hair fell like a waterfall, provoking infinite reverie. Li Shimin couldn't help but be fascinated by her, and even wrote poems to praise her for being the best in the world.
After the crown prince Li Zhi succeeded to the throne, the Wu family helped him co-govern
Li Shimin is old, and his love for the Wu family is gradually fading. The Wu clan knew that he had to form another high branch, otherwise he would be forgotten to death in this cold palace. So she secretly hooked up with Li Shimin's youngest son, Li Zhi.
Li Zhi was born burly and upright, flying and domineering, and when he was young and vigorous, he was known as "reckless bull". He is straightforward by nature, and when he sees a beauty, he wants to possess it as soon as possible. Wu's gentle and touching posture, well versed in male psychology, is particularly attractive to him. The two soon became lustful and became underground lovers.
In 649, Li Shimin died, and Li Zhi ascended the throne for Tang Gaozong. After he ascended the throne, he immediately integrated the Wu clan into the palace and was named Zhaoyi. Wu finally stood by his sweetheart's side in the name of righteousness. Gaozong's favor for the Wu clan became stronger and stronger, and he even intended to abolish the crown princess Wang clan and establish the Wu clan as the queen.
In 652, Wu gave birth to a son for Gaozong, who wept with joy and immediately promoted her to Zhaorong. Three years later, he deposed the Wang clan as a commoner and replaced him with Wu Zhaorong. Wu became the empress of Gojong from then on.
Wu Zetian is both wise and brave, and he has also made a lot of achievements in the court. She assisted Gaozong in handling the government and was known as the "two sages co-governance". Under her influence, the Tang Dynasty had a good prosperity for several years. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and peace and prosperity were realized. However, the good times did not last long, and after Gaozong suffered a stroke, he drank heavily and was comfortable, and gradually handed over power to Wu Zetian.
In his later years, he usurped the throne and became the emperor, creating a precedent for the heroine to be in power
In 683, Gojong died. The crown prince Li Zhe succeeded to the throne as Zhongzong. Zhongzong was cowardly and incompetent by nature, and Wu Zetian became the regent and still controlled the power of the court. The following year, she deposed Zhongzong as the king of Luling and replaced her 9-year-old son Li Zhe as the emperor.
Four years later, Wu Zetian had a fierce conflict with the young Li Zhe. Li Zhe repeatedly accused Wu Zetian of being arbitrary and rude. The two argued for a long time, and Li Zhe even angrily denounced Wu Zetian as a monarch killer and would be punished by God in the future. Wu Zetian was furious when he heard this, and immediately deposed Li Zhe as Li Yin and took power alone.
In 690, at the behest of Wu Zetian, Prime Minister Lai Junchen and others asked Wu Zetian to become emperor. Wu Zetian also knew that such a situation would not last long, so he decided to make a desperate bet and ascend to the throne in person. She changed the name of the country to Zhou, and since then she has created a precedent in the history of the mainland: the heroine has established herself as the emperor.
In order to stabilize his position, Wu Zetian began to frantically purge dissidents. She wantonly used the punishment of cool officials such as Lai Junchen, Liu Jingxian and others to slaughter dissidents on the charge of treason. Wu Sansi, Princess Taiping's lover Gao Jian and others all died. Wu Zetian alienated the remnants of the clan and promoted his own family to consolidate the power of the Wu clan. This made the entire government and the opposition have a deep grudge against her.
The Shenlong coup broke out, forcing Wu Zetian to abdicate
In his later years, Wu Zetian was seriously ill and was bedridden. However, if she intends to pass on the throne to her nephew Wu Chenghei or her male favorites Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, she will inevitably be opposed by the government and the opposition. Brother Zhang is self-indulgent and has already offended many ministers. Once they have their will, they will go on a killing spree.
Many ministers secretly formed factions and plotted rebellions. Princess Taiping was killed because of her lover, and she also had a deep grudge and was also involved. She opened the palace gate and led Zhang Cambodia, Cui Xuanwei and others into the palace city. Dozens of strong men who took advantage of the weakness came to Wu Zetian's bedroom with swords in hand!
"What are the strong men doing!" Wu Zetian changed color and wanted to call for help, but was surprised to see Princess Taiping in it. "Why did my daughter betray me!" she was devastated. "The slut will give my lover's life!" the princess gushed incriminatingly, in fierce words.
"The position of the emperor is not suitable for women! The soldiers raised their swords and went forward, which was extremely threatening. Wu Zetian was furious and ordered the guards to take them down. I didn't know that the guards were indifferent. The situation has passed, Wu Zetian was unable to resist the persecution of everyone after all, and tearfully passed on to the crown prince Li Xian.
After abdicating, Wu Zetian was physically and mentally damaged and died depressed
Wu Zetian abdicated the throne, and the Li regime continued. Yet her heart was dead. Losing her power, she became a sinner in the mouths of the public. The ministers never came to visit again, and none of the children came to visit the sick old lady.
Such a woman, who once reached the peak of the Tang Dynasty, gradually lost weight under the eyes of illness and resentment. In the end, there is no longer the sharpness and domineering in this body. Wu Zetian's face was vicissitudes, his eyes lost their lustre, and his face was stained with tears all day long.
Half a year later, Wu Zetian died of illness in the palace. There were few mourners, just like her empty and sad life. Datang, who has achieved fame, will not stop to mourn for such a woman. But who knows how great the ambition was in that heart?
epilogue
She has a bad fate and a magnificent life; She has the power of the world and creates a prosperous peace. Even though it is vigorous, it still can't withstand the loneliness. This is Wu Zetian, this shining woman, but also the most desolate woman.