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    Empress Wu Zetian, A Play in Three Acts
    Empress Wu Zetian, A Play in Three Acts
    Empress Wu Zetian, A Play in Three Acts
    Ebook114 pages36 minutes

    Empress Wu Zetian, A Play in Three Acts

    By Laurel A. Rockefeller

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    About this ebook

    Empress Wu's fascinating true story comes alive in this stage version based on the narrative biography "Empress Wu Zetian."

    Born Wu Zhao and given the reign title "Zetian" just weeks before her death in 705 CE, Empress Wu was the unwanted daughter of Chancellor Wu Shihuo -- too bright, too educated, and too politically focused to make a good wife according to contemporary interpretations of the Analects of Confucius.

    Married off at age 14 as a low-ranking concubine to Emperor Taizong, Wu’s intelligence, beauty, and charm won her a place as his secretary and protégé, political experience that would empower her to transform the lives of countless billions.

    Discover one of the most influential women in all of world history with this beautiful stage drama certain to delight audiences of all ages.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLaurel A. Rockefeller
    Release dateMar 27, 2017
    ISBN9781370342617
    Empress Wu Zetian, A Play in Three Acts
    Author

    Laurel A. Rockefeller

    Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller’s passion for animals comes through in everything she writes. First self-published in 2012 as social science fiction author (the Peers of Beinan series), Laurel has expanded her work into the animal care/guide, history, historical fiction, and biography genres.Find Laurel’s books in digital, paperback, and hardcover in your choice of up to ten languages, including Welsh, Chinese, and Dutch. Audio editions are published in all four available languages for audible: English, French, Spanish, and German.Besides advocating for animals and related environmental causes, Laurel A. Rockefeller is a passionate educator dedicated to improving history literacy worldwide, especially as it relates to women’s accomplishments. In her spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels, travelling to historic places, and watching classic motion pictures and classic television series.

    Read more from Laurel A. Rockefeller

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      Book preview

      Empress Wu Zetian, A Play in Three Acts - Laurel A. Rockefeller

      Empress Wu Zetian

      A Play in Three Acts

      By Laurel A. Rockefeller

      Adapted from the biography Empress Wu Zetian

      by Laurel A. Rockefeller 

      © 2017 by Laurel A. Rockefeller

      Email: peersofbeinan@gmail.com

      Pinyin Romanization is used exclusively in the text of this book. When applicable names using other Romanization systems such as Wade-Giles were converted into pinyin for consistency and accurate pronunciation of Chinese words.

      Share the love of this book and the Legendary Women of World History Series by kindly reviewing this book on your blog, website, and on major retailer websites. Your review not only offers this author your feedback for improvement of this book series, but helps other people find this book so they can enjoy it as well. Only a few sentences and a few minutes of your time is all it takes to share the love with those who want to enjoy it too.

      Table of Contents

      PROLOGUE

      ACT I

      ACT I, SCENE I

      ACT I, SCENE II

      ACT I, SCENE III

      ACT I, SCENE IV

      ACT I, SCENE V

      ACT I, SCENE VI

      ACT II

      ACT II, SCENE I

      ACT II, SCENE II

      ACT II, SCENE III

      ACT II, SCENE IV

      ACT II, SCENE V

      ACT II, SCENE VI

      ACT II, SCENE VII

      ACT III

      ACT III, SCENE I

      ACT III, SCENE II

      ACT III, SCENE III

      ACT III, SCENE IV

      ACT III, SCENE V

      EPILOGUE

      PRODUCTION NOTES

      CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

      SCENE BREAKDOWN: CHARACTERS

      SCENE BREAKDOWN: SETTINGS

      ABOUT THIS SERIES

      PROLOGUE

      1861 Beijing—The British Legation. Upstage we see clusters of centuries old Chinese style buildings, the signs changed over from Chinese to English. A gated fence runs across centre stage from centre left to centre right. On the gate is a sign reading No Chinese or dogs allowed. HUA-LIN ENTERS downstage left and approaches the gate. SECOND LEFTENENT ENTERS running from center right.

      SECOND LEFTENENT

      (opening gate and grabbing Hua-Lin gruffly)

      Miss? Miss, where do you think you are going?

      HUA-LIN

      (resisting angrily)

      Hands off me, barbarian! I am no coolie, no slave! Who do you think you are grabbing me as if I were some animal?

      BRITISH SOLDIERS ENTER running center right, quickly surrounded Hua-Lin and subduing her, pinning her arms behind her back.

      SECOND LEFTENENT

      (strutting proudly)

      Barbarian? You are the barbarian! But you might make some nice sport.

      (kisses Hua-Lin menacing before beginning to unbutton her dress)

      No one is going to stop me. You are only Chinese after all. What is your life worth?

      HUA-LIN

      May the ravens and falcons of Abka Hehe devour your heart!

      CAPTAIN RICHARD JAMES MANN

      (ENTERING downstage right in front of the fence)

      Why you pathetic excuse for a soldier! You dare call yourself Englishmen! Be gone with you and confine yourself to barracks until further notice!

      SECOND LEFTENENT/BRITISH SOLDIERS

      (saluting hastily)

      Sir! Yes sir!

      CAPTAIN RICHARD JAMES MANN

      (barking angrily)

      Dismissed!

      (turning to Hua-Lin and

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