Editing Wu Zetian (section)

====Plenipotentiary regent for Emperor Zhongzong ====
Upon the death of her husband Emperor Gaozong, Wu became empress dowager ({{lang|zh|皇太后}}, ''húangtàihòu'') and then regent and she automatically gained full power over the empire. She had the power to remove and install emperors. Just as before, government decisions were made by her. Wu had already poisoned the crown prince Li Hong and had enough other princes exiled that her third son, [[Emperor Zhongzong of Tang|Li Zhe]], was made heir apparent. Furthermore, Gaozong's will included provisions that Li Zhe should ascend immediately to the imperial throne, he should look to Empress Wu in regards to any important matter, either military or civil, and Empress Wu should claim the senior authority in the Empire for herself.<ref name="Paludan, 97">{{harvp|Paludan|1998|p= 97}}</ref> In the second month of 684, Li Zhe ascended to the imperial throne, known as his temple name Zhongzong, for a short six weeks.

The new emperor was married to a woman of the Wei family. Because Zhongzong was as weak and incompetent as his father, the new Empress sought to place herself in the same position of great authority that Empress Wu had enjoyed.

Immediately, Emperor Zhongzong showed signs of disobeying Empress Dowager Wu. Emperor Zhongzong was under the thumb of his wife, Empress Wei. Under her influence, the Emperor, appointed his father-in-law as prime minister. He also tried to make his father-in-law ''Shizhong'' ({{lang|zh|侍中}}, the head of the examination bureau of government, {{lang|zh|門下省}}, ''Menxia Sheng'', and a post considered one for a chancellor) and gave a mid-level office to his [[wet nurse]]'s son—despite stern opposition by the chancellor Pei Yan, at one point remarking to Pei:<ref name="ZZTJ203" />

{{blockquote|What would be wrong even if I gave the empire to Wei Xuanzhen? Why do you care about ''Shizhong'' so much?}}

Pei reported this to Empress Dowager Wu, and she, after planning with Pei, Liu Yizhi, and the generals Cheng Wuting ({{lang|zh|程務挺}}) and Zhang Qianxu ({{lang|zh|張虔勖}}), deposed Emperor Zhongzong and replaced him with her youngest son, [[Emperor Ruizong of Tang|Li Dan]], the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong). Wu had Zhongzong's father-in-law, Wei Xuanzhen ({{lang|zh|韋玄貞}}), brought up on charges of treason. Wei Xuanzhen was sent into seclusion. Zhongzong was reduced to the title of Prince of Luling and exiled. Wu also sent General Qiu Shenji ({{lang|zh|丘神勣}}) to Li Xián's place in exile and forced Li Xián to commit suicide.