What did Wu Zetian do to be favored by Emperor Taizong?

In November of the 11th year of Zhenguan (637), when Wu Zetian was fourteen years old, Emperor Taizong heard that she was beautiful in appearance and manner, called her into the palace, and made her a talented person with five talents, with the title of "Wu Mei", and later generations wrongly called her Wu Meiniang.

Wu Zetian admired Li Shimin for a long time. After entering the palace, she deliberately catered to and imitated his hobbies and personality characteristics.

Li Shimin is an ambitious politician, and the strategy of governing the country is his key study and research content. Wu Zetian was deeply influenced by him and hoped that she could do something for him, so she devoted herself to studying books on history, politics, philosophy and management. Later, she became a famous female politician in history, which was inseparable from her hard work during this period.

For another example, Li Shimin attaches importance to cultural construction and calls for the creation of a learning society. He often reads extensively after work. Wu Zetian actively responded to his call, and she was diligent and eager to learn, so she never left her hand.

Also, Li Shimin likes to copy Wang Xizhi's calligraphy at ordinary times, and his level is absolutely good. Wu Zetian's calligraphy foundation is not bad either. Seeing that Li Shimin is good at it, she practiced writing Wang Xizhi's words all day. Unexpectedly, she really practiced calligraphy, and her works were handed down from generation to generation.

One of the most famous events in which Wu Zetian was favored by Li Shimin was the Lion Qi incident.

Emperor Taizong had a strong and irascible famous jun named Lion Luo, which was given by a foreign country in the western regions. Taizong liked it thick and wild, but suffered from it unruly. One day, Emperor Taizong called several ministers of civil and military affairs to the royal stables and asked them, "Who can control such a fine horse?" At this time, Wu Meiniang went to Taizong and bowed down and said, "Men and women can handle it." Taizong asked her which state to use. Mei Niang replied, "As long as your majesty gives your male and female servants three things-a iron whip, a hammer and a dagger. Whip first, hammer if you don't tame it, or cut its throat with a dagger if you don't tame it! " Mei Niang's voice just fell, and Taizong clapped and praised: "You have courage! Have ambition! " .

A mighty BMW named Lion Qi presented by the Western Regions has aroused great interest in Li Shimin, but this horse is violent and no one can tame it.

Li Shimin wanted to conquer it, so he asked his entourage, "Who can tame it? I have a reward! " It is estimated that everyone knows the power of this horse, and they are all silent. At this time, Wu Zetian, standing in the crowd, volunteered to say, "Your Majesty, I can tame it!" " Li Shimin was amazed after hearing this and asked, "Wu Mei, tell me, how can you tame it?" Wu Zetian calmly replied: "I need three things, one is iron whip, the other is a hammer, and the third is a dagger." Li Shimin was puzzled and asked, "It's a horse. What do you need these things for?" Wu Zetian said confidently and boldly, "isn't it very violent?" I'll whip it with iron whip first. If it refuses, I'll hit it on the head with a hammer. If it refuses again, I'll stab it in the throat with a dagger to see if it can still be violent? "

Li Shimin clapped his hands and praised him: "You have courage and ambition!"

However, this incident did not make Wu Zetian popular. Li Shimin loves horses, especially such a good horse must not be tamed like this. On the contrary, this incident made Wu Meiniang leave an impression in Li Shimin's mind that he was ruthless and by no means kind.

After being a talented person for 12 years, Wu Zetian's position has never been improved. During the period when Emperor Taizong was seriously ill, Wu Zetian and Prince Li Zhi established feelings.

In the 23rd year of Zhenguan (649), Emperor Taizong died, and Wu Zetian joined some childless concubines in Chang 'an Ganye Temple as a nun, but she was never connected with the new emperor Li Zhi.