The capital pulsates with strange signs and foreboding omens as Emperor Gaozong, lying on his deathbed within the palace, contemplates the legacy he leaves behind. Amidst the complexities of war in Korea, border clashes, support for the exiled Emperor of Persia, and a dynamic religious landscape, Gaozong finds solace in the knowledge that the true power behind the throne, Empress Wu Zetian, will continue to shape the destiny of China. Delve into the political machinations, diplomatic finesse, and religious patronage that characterize this tumultuous period.