How did Li Zhi’s sons end up Why did four people have a tragic ending

Li Zhi, also known as Tang Gaozong, was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He was born to Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and Empress Wen Deshun Sheng, Changsun. His personality is generous and kind. At that time, Li Shimin believed that Li Zhi was a generous and benevolent person without any murderous intentions. Therefore, even if he became the crown prince or emperor, he would not have murderous intentions because other brothers were more talented than him. Below, the history encyclopedia editor brings relevant content to share with you.
Li Zhi did not take action against his own brothers when he became emperor. But since Li Zhi began to love Wu Zetian, his brothers and son have had a bad time. Especially his sons, several of whom were murdered by Wu Zetian, why is Li Zhi indifferent?
Li Zhi had a total of eight sons, but the endings of the four sons were truly tragic.
The eldest son Li Zhong once served as a crown prince and was eventually executed by Wu Zetian. Li Shangjin, the third son, and Li Sujie, the fourth son, were falsely accused of rebellion by Wu Zetian and forced to commit suicide. Even as Wu Zetian’s own biological son, Li Xian, known for his reputation, did not have a good ending because he offended Wu Zetian and ultimately ended in tragedy.
The death of Li Hong, the eldest son of Empress Wu Zetian, is also very suspicious. Some people say it was a sudden death, while others believe that he was killed by Empress Wu Zetian.
Li Zhong is the eldest son, but his mother is only a palace maid. Although her status is not high, Li Zhong is still the eldest son, which makes Li Zhi very happy. Due to the fact that Queen Wang has no children, she is very upset. So Li Zhong was adopted by her, and now Li Zhong became the eldest son, and Li Zhi naturally became his crown prince.
But Empress Wang failed to defeat Empress Wu Zetian and was deposed, and Empress Wu Zetian became the empress. In this way, Li Zhong became a illegitimate son again. So Wu Zetian’s son Li Hong became the legitimate son, and Tang Gaozong Li Zhi deposed Li Zhong and replaced him with Li Hong.
This matter should have ended, but it was unexpected that Li Zhong would still be framed. Wu Zetian instructed someone to falsely accuse Li Zhong of plotting rebellion, so Emperor Gaozong of Tang sentenced Li Zhong to death.
Li Zhong’s death was actually entirely due to the struggle of the court. As the Crown Prince, he was naturally a thorn in the side of Wu Zetian. Although he was the son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, in Wu Zetian’s view, whoever influenced her political path would inevitably be eliminated. Moreover, at that time, Emperor Gaozong of Tang had a very good relationship with Wu Zetian.
Moreover, after Li Zhong was deposed, he was also worried that others would frame him, so he became suspicious every night and his spirit was very fragile. Emperor Gaozong felt pity for Li Zhong’s dismissal, but he could no longer control Wu Zetian’s power. Even if Li Zhong doesn’t die, he won’t have a good ending after Li Zhi’s death.
Prince Zhanghuai, Li Xian, was the son of Empress Wu Zetian, but even so, he could not oppose or pose a threat to herself in her eyes. Once this happened, he could only be eliminated. So people around Wu Zetian began to frame the Crown Prince for rebellion. Tang Gaozong had always loved Li Xian and wanted to forgive him, but Wu Zetian disagreed, believing that it should be done with righteousness. As a result, Li Xian was deposed and imprisoned for a long time, which Tang Gaozong could not stop at this time.
After the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Xian ascended to the throne as emperor. But the power was in the hands of Empress Wu Zetian, who had not forgotten her former crown prince Li Xian. In order to prevent future troubles, she sent people to force Li Xian to death. And not long after, Li Xian’s throne was deposed and exiled to another place before he could sit still.
So Wu Zetian began to prepare for proclaiming herself emperor, and just before Wu Zetian proclaimed herself emperor, the Wu clan remembered the other two sons of Tang Gaozong Li Zhi, the third son Li Shangjin and the fourth son Li Sujie. These two were suddenly falsely accused of rebellion one day, and they knew their fate, so they hanged themselves and died.