Old Tang Book: In the first month of the first year of Shenlong (705), the Queen Mother was very ill and was not prepared. Imperial edicts of the Tang Dynasty: On the 23rd day of the first month of the first year of Shenlong, there was a slight wind scab (rash).
In 705, Wu Zetian died at the age of 83. At this age, Wu Zetian died of old age. However, considering that Wu Zetian was ousted from the throne in the Dragon Coup, people inevitably suspect that Tang Zhongzong Li Xian deliberately murdered Wu Zetian. After all, Wu Zetian recorded in history books is only a minor illness.
In the buried tomb in Dingling, Tang Zhongzong, Shaanxi Province, archaeologists dug up an epitaph, which is the epitaph of Tang Wang Jiao Tong, and mentioned the cause of death of Wu Zetian.
The so-called king, that is, his son-in-law and Wu Zetian's granddaughter, is one of the main promoters of the Shenlong coup. Later, when she plotted to punish Wu Sansi, she was betrayed by the famous poet Song and killed. There is a saying in the Song Dynasty, "When you are near my village, you dare not ask anyone." Although this man is very talented, he is extremely worried about his character, but he betrayed the king who helped him.
Epitaph of Jiao Tong, Tang Wang: At that time, there was a wind disease in the Spring and Autumn Period of Emperor Tiandi. Zhang Yizhi and his younger brother, Chang Zong * * *, benefited from it. They all inherited first and were autocratic in the middle. ...
This passage is about Wu Zetian's physical condition before the Dragon Coup, in which it is mentioned that Wu Zetian's "high in spring and autumn, plus wind disease" is very important: high in spring and autumn and older, wind disease (stroke) is more serious, which means that Wu Zetian suffers from cardiovascular disease and may die at any time.
Zi Zhi Tong Jian: In February of the second year of the Holy Calendar (699), the Queen Mother was unprepared and sent envoys to pray for Shaoshi Mountain, and her condition improved slightly. In July of the fourth year of Chang 'an (704), he served Shen Dan with a try. Obviously, Wu Zetian was already terminally ill.
Combined with the records in the Epitaph of Tang Wang Jiao Tong, it is not difficult to determine that Wu Zetian suffered from a stroke, which made her unable to move or even hemiplegia.
According to historical records, Wu Zetian was "seriously ill" in her later years and basically stayed at home. She was bedridden in Yingxian Palace, which led Toy Boy and Zhang Yizhi brothers to dominate the state affairs.
Therefore, Wu Zetian should have died of illness, a stroke, not the murder of Tang Zhongzong Li Xian. Especially the dragon coup and the killing of Toy Boy Zhang Yizhi aggravated Wu Zetian's illness. Six months after she finally abdicated, a generation of empress Wu Zetian died suddenly.
In May of the second year of Shenlong (706), Wu Zetian and Tang Gaozong Li Zhi were buried together in Tangganling, leaving no monument.