Sun, after taking over as khan and reorganizing Khitan forces, again attacks Zhou territory and has many victories over Zhou forces, including a battle during which Wang Shijie is killed.

Wu Zetian tries to allay the situation by making peace with Ashina Mochuo at fairly costly terms—the return of Tujue people who had previously submitted to Zhou and the provision of Ashina Mochuo with seeds, silk, tools, and iron.

In summer 697, Ashina Mochuo launches another attack on Khitan's base of operations, and this time, after his attack, Khitan forces collapse, and Sun is killed in flight, ending the Khitan threat.

Meanwhile, also in 697, Lai Junchen, who had at one point lost power but had then returned to power, falsely accuses Li Zhaode (who has been pardoned) of crimes, and then plans to falsely accuse Li Dan, Li Zhe, the Wu clan princes, and Princess Taiping, of treason.

The Wu clan princes and Princess Taiping act first against him, accusing him of crimes, and he and Li Zhaode are executed together.

After Lai's death, the reign of the secret police largely ends, and many of the victims of Lai and the other secret police officials are gradually exonerated posthumously.

Meanwhile, around this time, Wu Zetian begins to engage herself with two new lovers—the brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, who become honored within the palace and are eventually created dukes.