Empress Wu Zetian

In a world of corruption and intrigue, Wu Zetian's rise to power as China's only female emperor is unparalleled. Starting as a concubine of Emperor Taizong, Wu Zetian was forced into a temple after his death, only to return to the palace through cunning and fierce ambition. With her husband, Emperor Gaozong, she ruled as one of the "Two Saints," but after his death, she seized control and became the undisputed ruler of the Tang Dynasty. At 65, she usurped her own son to claim the throne, renaming the dynasty Wu Zhou. Known for both her brilliant leadership and ruthless tactics, Wu Zetian eliminated rivals and even family members to secure her place in history. This novel captures her bloody ascent, political savvy, and reign of ambition.

Nangong Bo, whose real name was Ma Bin, was from Yuyao, Zhejiang Province. He had long been employed in the newspaper industry and was also capable of writing modern novels, but what set him apart and made him highly regarded in the literary world was his historical fiction.
In the 1950s, he published books such as The Ballad of Yuanyuan ,The Pavilion in the Wind , and The Peach Blossom Fan in Hong Kong. Later, he wrote dozens of books, including Wu Zetian-Empress Wu Zetian-and Yang Guifei-Noble Consort Yang-.