On February 26th, the first year of Shenlong (65438+70516)1,Wu Zetian died at the Xianju Temple in Shangyang Palace at the age of 82. The testamentary edict omitted the title of the emperor, calling him "Tianhou", and pardoned the queen, family and relatives of Chu Suiliang, Han Xuan and He. In May of the second year of Shenlong (706), he was buried with Emperor Gaozong.

In the first year of God-given, Wu Zetian proclaimed himself emperor, changed his title to Zhou, made Luoyang his capital, and established Wu Zhou. Before and after his reign, he was "observant and good at judging", with more power and less responsibility, and paid attention to selecting talents, thus creating the system of palace examination, martial arts and trial officials. It also rewards farmers and mulberry trees and reforms official management. Militarily, the four towns of Anxi were recovered, and the post-Turks were once surrendered. In his later years, he gradually became extravagant and arbitrary, and gradually degenerated.

Appoint cruel officials

After Wu Zetian's rule was stable, he began to use cruel officials. In order to consolidate her rule, Wu Zetian used severe measures. In order to master the sovereignty of the country, she poisoned her son who was made a prince. In the second year of becoming emperor, Wu Zetian and Lai Junchen, one of the two cruel officials, killed another cruel official, Zhou Xing. In 697, Lai Junchen was killed, ending the politics of cruel officials.