In the first year of the Tianshou era, Wu Zetian finally eliminated all opposition to her ascension by slaughtering countless members of the Li imperial clan and loyal ministers. She announced that she was changing the dynasty from Tang to Zhou and took the throne.
At last, she officially ruled the realm!
But just as she sat on the dragon throne, beginning to imagine her life as empress, a man she never wanted to see again for as long as she lived walked unhindered from the frontier of the Tang, through Luoyang, and into the imperial palace, stopping right before her.
Li Xian asked with a smile, "Mother, if you were going to rebel, why didn't you tell your son?"
The civil and military officials wept tears of joy as they bowed deeply to the man. "We, the officials of the Tang, welcome the Crown Prince home! We ask that the Crown Prince ascend the throne and set the world right!"
Shangguan Wan'er and Princess Taiping, standing beside Wu Zetian, wept with joy. "Your younger sisters and concubine welcome our elder brother, the Crown Prince, home..."
Almost on the very same day, the Zhou banners across the realm were all replaced by Tang banners.
In this life, the Tang dynasty will surpass the Qin and Han by far, and the Azure Dragon banner will fly across the world.
This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.
