The Secret Chronicles of the Tang Dynasty

Li Yifu: A key force behind Wu Zetian's rise to the throne, he was the first to publicly support "deposing the Wang empress and installing Wu." Known as the "human cat," he hid a knife behind his smile. Later exiled for corruption and forming a clique, he died on the way to his place of exile.

Xu Jingzong: A key figure in the struggle over the empress's deposition and in bringing down Changsun Wuji. He oversaw the revision of the Register of Surnames, breaking the aristocratic clans' monopoly and clearing the way for Wu Zetian. He eventually died peacefully while serving as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Lai Junchen: The most notorious cruel official of the Zhou period under Wu Zetian. He rose to power through informing and fabricating charges, devising numerous forms of torture and causing countless wrongful convictions. A tool Wu Zetian used to suppress political enemies, he was eventually executed for attempting to frame members of the imperial clan.

Di Renjie: The chancellor Wu Zetian relied on most in her later years, honored as the "Old Statesman." Renowned for his integrity and candid remonstrations, he recommended such talents as Yao Chong and Zhang Jianzhi and urged Wu Zetian to return power to the Li Tang dynasty.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.