Is “Wu Chengsi sought to be made crown prince” true?
The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Relatives of the Emperor, records that Wu Chengsi, as Empress Wu's nephew, presumed he should be made heir, saying, 'Chengsi considered himself next in line for the imperial heir, and ordered Fengge Sheren Zhang Jiafu to subtly persuade the people to submit a petition, but Empress Wu ultimately did not permit... Chengsi, because he was not made crown prince, died of vexation.' In Chapter 074 of Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Empress Wu asks Di Renjie, 'Wu Chengsi seeks to be crown prince; what should be done?' Di Renjie dissuades her based on the closeness of aunt-nephew versus mother-son, which basically conforms to the official history.
In the official history, Wu Chengsi, relying on his status as a clan heir, sought to be made crown prince but failed and died of vexation. The novel faithfully dramatizes Di Renjie dissuading Empress Wu.
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