The Heroes of Sui and Tang, Part Six

In the first year of the Shenlong era of the Great Zhou, Empress Wu Zetian passed the throne from her sickbed, and Li Xian was restored as Emperor Zhongzong. Before the cheers celebrating the restoration of the Li Tang dynasty had even died down, undercurrents were already surging through the court and the martial world.

In Chang'an, morning dew glimmers on the spears at the Xue family estate. Xue Lei, grandson of Xue Gang, dances with his spear like a dragon. The cold gleam of its tip hides both the loyalty and passion of three generations of the Xue family, and his unease at the treacherous political situation. The new emperor's position is not yet secure. Wu Sansi and the remaining members of the Wu clan lie in wait, while the old ministers led by Chancellor Zhang Jianzhi support the Li Tang dynasty but cannot prevent factional strife at court. On the northern grasslands, barbarian tribes that have been quiet for years suddenly stir. Reports of raids on frontier cities fly into Chang'an like snowflakes. Worse, the mysterious Tianxuan Cult is fanning the flames amid the barbarian unrest. Its teachings are obscure and its methods ruthless, and it seems connected to old grudges from the previous dynasty as well as secrets of the martial world.