Occupation: Emperor of China

Born: February 17, 624 Lizhou, China

Died: December 16, 705 in Luoyang, China

Reign: October 16, 690 to February 22, 705

Best known for: The only woman to be Emperor of China

Wu Zhou was a 16 year old girl born from a high rank official in an aristocratic family. She was sent as a
lady for the Emperor Taizong along with several other girls. She was taught everything that a lady should
know, but she was also curious about politics so her father let her have scholars to teach her about it.

She was an impressive teenager who was both beautiful and intelligent. It led her to being despised by
the other girls that were with her as they entered the palace.

Wu Zhou earned the Emperor Taizong's affection during her stay in the palace. She was a great dancer
that caught the his highness' favor when she performed the 'Prince Lan Ling' dance during a banquet and
her wits were incomparable to the other girls who only knew how to sheme.

His highness bestowed her the nickname 'Mei' which means pretty. She would often be called as Wu Mei
Niang by his highness.

When his highness died, Wu Mei Niang was sent into the mountains to be a nun.

Emperor Gaizong was the Emperor Taizong's youngest son. It was unknown how the Imperial Concubine
Mei Niang become the new second wife of Emperor Gaizong.

She bore him a daughter But was unknownly killed and the blame was placed on the present Empress
Wang.
Emperor Gaizong dotes in Mei Niang so much that he let all of his concubines die and turned a blind eye
towards Mei Niang's wrong doings. She was then elevated from an Imperial Concubine into the Imperial
Empress of China.

Emperor Gaizong died from an unknown illness and left the world. Empress Wu (Mei Niang) become the
Empress Regent and held the direct power of the entire empire.

She then changed the main religion of Chine from Confucius into Buddhism since it didn't agree with
women leading.

Empress Wu became the first and only female Emperor of China and reigned for 15 years. China became
more richer and stronger during her reign.

Before she died, she made sure to give the empire to her and Emperor Gaizong's son.