Amid the vast history of China's dynasties, no story captivates like that of Wu Zetian, the nation's first and only female emperor. Rising to power at age 65 by dethroning her own son, Wu Zetian defied all conventions to become the Empress of the Tang Dynasty. This book chronicles her journey from a concubine to the ultimate ruler, beginning with her exile to Gan Ye Temple after Emperor Taizong's death. Through cunning and fierce ambition, she re-entered the palace, eliminated rivals, and seized power. Known for both her brilliant governance and ruthless tactics, Wu Zetian's reign was marked by brutal power struggles and political purges—even against her own family. In order to clear obstacles and eliminate political enemies in the struggle for imperial power, she carried out bloody killings time and time again, not even sparing her own descendants.