In ancient times, wealthy Chinese families submitted their young daughter to the court to serve as a concubine in the hope that she might marry the emperor and elevate her family to the privileges of officialdom, political influence, and wealth. Passing the requirements of beauty, intelligence, and pleasant poise, fourteen-year-old Wu Zeitian became a lower-rank concubine of the Tang Emperor Taizong. Her duties as chambermaid in the ailing … LEARN MORE