The Precarious Rise of a Former Concubine

In 652 AD, the Tang Dynasty court simmered with tension as Wu Zetian—once a low-ranking concubine of Emperor Taizong now reinstated as Emperor Gaozong’s favored consort—faced an impossible barrier. Despite bearing the emperor’s first son Li Hong and rising to the prestigious Zhaoyi rank, the path to empress remained blocked by Wang Shi, the childless but irreproachable empress. Contemporary records describe Wang as “composed and dignified,” offering no openings for criticism.

The rigid Tang harem system permitted only one empress, requiring either death or formal deposition before succession. With Wang enjoying aristocratic support and committing no offenses, Wu recognized that passive waiting would prove futile. As historian Meng Man notes, “Wu believed opportunities weren’t merely to be awaited, but manufactured.” This conviction would lead to one of imperial China’s most infamous alleged crimes.

The Infant Princess’s Mysterious Death

Historical accounts diverge sharply regarding the pivotal event of 654 AD:

1. The Official Court Version (唐会要)
Records state Princess安定 died suddenly, with Wu accusing Wang of murder—a claim that turned Gaozong against his empress.

2. The Controversial Account (新唐书)
This version paints Wu as the architect of infanticide:
– Wang visits the newborn briefly (per protocol)
– Wu allegedly suffocates her own daughter post-visit
– A staged discovery implicates Wang through servants’ testimony
– Gaozong, witnessing Wu’s theatrical grief, declares: “The empress killed my child!”

Meng Man’s analysis favors the latter interpretation through three lenses:

Motivational Analysis
Wang lacked incentive—killing a princess wouldn’t weaken Wu’s position when targeting Li Hong would prove more logical. Wu, however, stood to gain dramatically by breaking the stalemate.

Forensic Plausibility
Infant mortality rates in Tang China were high (≈30%), but royal children received constant supervision. The reported timeline—death occurring precisely between Wang’s departure and Gaozong’s arrival—strains coincidence.

Behavioral Patterns
Wu had demonstrated willingness to transgress boundaries (her relationship with Gaozong violated mourning protocols). Her established spy network among palace staff enabled precise timing.

Cultural Shockwaves and Political Fallout

The incident ruptured seventh-century China’s moral frameworks:

– Confucian Ethics Violated
The alleged matricide contradicted core filial piety principles, yet Wu’s subsequent rise forced scholars to reconcile morality with realpolitik.

– Judicial Precedent
Gaozong’s acceptance of circumstantial evidence set dangerous precedents for later political prosecutions.

– Gender Dynamics
Traditional narratives painted women as passive harem dwellers; Wu’s alleged agency shocked contemporaries. Poet Luo Binwang later condemned her as “a hen crowing at dawn”—an unnatural usurper.

The Relentless Ascent

Wu’s campaign escalated through calculated steps:

1. Testing the Waters with Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji
In a lavish 655 AD visit, Gaozong and Wu:
– Granted Zhangsun’s sons unprecedentedly high ranks (朝散大夫, rank 5b)
– Bestowed ten cartloads of silk and four of gold
The chancellor’s polite deflections revealed aristocratic resistance.

2. The “Sorcery” Accusation
Wu accused Wang and her mother of 厌胜 (witchcraft)—a capital offense. Though Gaozong stopped short of execution, he:
– Banned Wang’s family from court
– Exiled her uncle to Sichuan

3. The “Celestial Consort” Gambit
Proposing a new 宸妃 title (bypassing traditional ranks), Wu invoked cosmic symbolism (“宸” = Polaris, the imperial star). Chancellors immediately blocked the move, proving harem politics required broader alliances.

Legacy: A Watershed in Chinese Governance

Wu’s eventual triumph (655 AD) marked several firsts:

– Bureaucratic Transformation
Her rise necessitated breaking aristocratic monopolies, paving way for the imperial examination system’s expansion.

– Historical Documentation Challenges
Competing narratives about Princess安定’s death exemplify how power shapes historiography—a theme recurring in Wu’s later reign.

– Gender in Power Structures
Subsequent dynasties imposed stricter harem controls, fearing another Wu. Yet her success proved women could navigate—and dominate—Confucian power systems.

Modern reassessments view the incident as emblematic of Tang power struggles rather than mere personal villainy. As historian N. Harry Rothschild notes, “Wu operated within the system’s rules—she simply played the game better than her contemporaries.” The princess’s tragic death, whether accidental or orchestrated, became the fulcrum upon which China’s only female emperor leveraged her destiny.