Wu Zetian’s Love Story: Forbidden Romance in the Palace

After Wu Zetian became emperor, her love life drew considerable attention. She had several male favorites. Xue Huaiyi was originally an ordinary man who rose to prominence after winning Wu Zetian's favor, then became arrogant on the strength of it. Shen Nanqiu was an imperial physician who gained her favor after Xue Huaiyi, but his poor health kept them from being together for long. The most famous were the brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong. Young and handsome, they won her favor with their talents and good looks, wielded immense power for a time, and even interfered in state affairs, sparking numerous disputes at court.