For readers who do not yet understand: Empress Wu Zetian did not pass on the throne, the following History Encyclopedia editor will bring you a detailed introduction. Let’s continue reading~Empress Wu Zetian served as emperor for more than ten years, why did she dare not pass on the throne to the Wu family? What is Wu Zetian afraid of?
Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, was an old ox eating angry grass. At the age of 14, Wu Zetian entered the palace and became Li Shimin’s talented person, accompanying him to warm the bed, read memorials, and beat beans. From a hazy girl at the age of 14 to a mature woman at the age of 26, she gave the most beautiful youth of 12 years to the middle-aged leader Li Shimin, who was only 50 years old at the time. Wu Zetian was not satisfied with this and even got into an unclear relationship with Li Zhi, the son of Li Shimin, while her husband Li Shimin was seriously ill!
According to the historical book “Zizhi Tongjian”, Wu Zetian, as the mother of Li Zhi (although not herself, at least she was also the wife of Li Zhi’s father), disregarded the Three Obediences and Five Constant Virtues to seduce her son Li Zhi. When Li Shimin became the Kapi and Li Zhi ascended to power, Wu Zetian smoothly entered the palace and became the wife of her son Li Zhi. In order to win the love of her son Li Zhi, Wu Zetian personally strangled her own daughter and framed the Empress Wang! A malicious heart is far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
After a few years, Li Zhi mysteriously fell ill, and Wu Zetian gradually took control of the court. After Li Zhi’s death, Wu Zetian first deposed Li Xian, the crown prince of Li Zhili, and set up cruel officials to slaughter his husband Li Shimin and Li Zhi’s clan. She killed twelve members of the royal family, including Prince An Nan Li Ying, and also whipped the two sons of the former crown prince Li Xian. The Tang royal family was wiped out, and the weak survivors were exiled to Lingnan. For a time, everyone surnamed Li in the world was in a state of panic. Wu Zetian was so vicious that it was rare in the world.
Wu Zetian’s family relationship was not as close as many people imagined. When Wu Zetian’s father was alive, she had two original wives. After the death of the first original wife, Li, she gave birth to two brothers, Yuan Qing and Yuan Shuang. Wu Zetian’s biological mother, Yang, did not have a son. After her father’s death, her son inherited the family business and often bullied Yang’s mother and daughter. Wu Zetian initially had no other choice but to enter the palace. However, Wu Zetian became empress and had to promote her two brothers due to lack of support around her.
However, Wu Zetian was very displeased with her two brothers who were ignorant of their status and social status. After being demoted from the capital, she died shortly thereafter. The most notorious person in the family who bullied Yang’s mother and daughter at that time was whipped to death. These members of the family knew very well that if there were no vested interests, they would have long harbored irreconcilable hatred. Furthermore, the reason why Empress Wu Zetian was able to ascend to the throne was not only due to her strong desire for power, but also closely related to her excellent political wisdom. During her time in power, she rested with the people, developed the economy, and achieved outstanding political achievements that were not inferior to those of men.
People place great emphasis on legitimacy when it comes to inheritance. Anyone who seeks power and usurps the throne will work hard to seek legitimacy, and Wu Zetian is no exception. During her reign, she was questioned and criticized countless times. If she were to pass on the throne to others, it would inevitably bring social unrest and ultimately result in a catastrophic disaster. This statement entered Wu Zetian’s heart, and although she did not agree on the surface, it definitely helped in the matter of the Li family later on. There are many speculations about Wu Zetian’s choice, and regardless of the reasons, one cannot help but admire this somewhat ruthless but highly capable monarch. Although her reign as emperor was brief, in the patriarchal society of China, she left a lasting impression on history.
