Wu Zetian 1939

During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty (played by Yin Xiuling), Wu Zetian (played by Gu Lanjun) was summoned to the palace from Ganye Temple amid private discussions and opposition in the court and palace. She was extremely intelligent and eloquent, winning Gaozong's preference for her. In order to clear the way to participate in politics and eliminate hostile forces, Mrs. Han and Queen Wang were killed to death, thereby seizing power, establishing the Seven Temples of the Wu family, changing Tang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty, and ascended the throne. Then she used both kindness and power to subdue dissidents. Zhongshu ordered Pei Yan to remonstrate with the emperor and be executed for treason. She then improved the political system and reduced corvee taxes to stabilize people's hearts. When Wu Zetian reached the peak of her power and prominence, she began to enjoy herself, playing with men, and hanging out with Xue Huaiyi and the Zhang brothers all day long. As a result, the government became increasingly sparse and the state affairs became increasingly unstable. In order to control the situation, cruel officials were appointed to frame the innocent, causing public resentment to boil. She was exhausted mentally and physically, aging day by day, and losing her political power.