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624
Wu Zhao's birth
She was born in 624 CE during the Tang Dynasty. Her mother's name was Lady Yang and her father was Wu Shiyue who was a high ranking minister in the government and was very wealthy. She was also given good education. -
649
Rise to power
At 14 she became a junior concubine of the emperor Taizong which gave her insights into court procedures. in 649 CE the emperor died and she was moved to a Buddhist nunnery where she was picked up by the new emperor and put in a position as a more senior concubine. she gave birth to children and killed her baby daughter and blamed on two other women, the emperor believed her and deposed the women into a well. Gaozong had a stroke and later died then he took power.