Is “Emperor Zhongzong of Tang was deposed as Prince of Luling and relocated to Fangzhou” true?
The Old Book of Tang, Annals of Empress Wu Zetian, records that in the first year of Sisheng, 'the Emperor was deposed as Prince of Luling and confined in a separate place,' and later moved to Fangling. In Chapter 72 of Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it is written that the Empress Dowager angrily rebuked Zhongzong for a slip of the tongue, 'then summoned Pei Yan to depose Zhongzong as Prince of Luling and relocate him to Fangzhou,' and made Prince Yu Dan emperor. The process of his confinement in Fangling until Di Renjie advised his return to the capital is all based on official history.
In the official history, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang was deposed by Empress Wu and exiled to Fangling, then restored. The novel depicts his exile and return based on facts.
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