{"product_id":"wu-the-chinese-empress-who-schemed-seduced-and-murdered-her-way-to-become-a-living-god","title":"Wu: The Chinese Empress Who Schemed  Seduced and Murdered Her Way to Become a Living God","description":"\u003cp\u003eWu was the first and only woman in Chinese history to become a reigning empress. Jonathan Clements tells the dramatic and colourful story of the seventh-century daughter of a lumber merchant who used her looks  cunning and connections to rule one of the largest empires of the world. Before Wu was born  prophecies predicted that she would become an emperor. It was thus a source of disappointment to her family when she turned out to be a girl. But they underestimated Wus steely determination to succeed. At the age of 13 she took the first steps on her path to power when she was selected as a concubine to the 40-year-old Supreme Emperor (Taizong). When the emperor fell ill  the ambitious Wu committed a capital crime by seducing his heir. Her gamble paid off  and when the emperor died  his besotted heir  now the High Emperor (Gaozong)  rescued Wu from life in a convent. Back in the palace  Wu wasted no time in framing and executing her opposition  the empress and the beautiful Pure Concubine. Her ruthlessness even extended to her own family. After her husband had died  she poisoned her strong-willed eldest son  tried to rule through his two more malleable brothers but eventually took the throne herself. Coloured by intrigue  murder  incest and seduction  Wus incredible true story is a rich and fascinating tale. Drawing on the original Chinese sources  Jonathan Clements reveals the life of this extraordinary woman who proclaimed herself a living god  founded a new dynasty and was only deposed  aged 79  after jealous courtiers had murdered her two young lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44984617271349,"sku":"ByrdShop_0750939613","price":66.37,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780750939614.jpg?v=1770839305","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/wu-the-chinese-empress-who-schemed-seduced-and-murdered-her-way-to-become-a-living-god","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}