The first year of Shenlong, winter. The sky-wide fire in Luoyang's Ziwei Palace burned half of the night sky red. The flames devoured the carved beams and painted buildings, and also burned away the supreme power that Wu Zetian had held for fifty years.
The eighty-two-year-old Wu Zhao was slumped on the dragon couch, his white hair scattered, the emperor's crown rolled to the ground, and broken jade scattered everywhere. Throughout his life, he was decisive in killing and wielding power over the world. He abolished the Tang Dynasty and established the Zhou Dynasty, and controlled thousands of miles of rivers and mountains. In the end, he could not escape the shackles of time and the betrayal of people's hearts. Prince Li Xian forced the palace, civil and military affairs turned against him, his lifelong foundation suddenly collapsed, and the pain of the burning palace swept through his limbs and bones.
