The petition drive initially got Wu Zetian's attention, and the chancellors Cen Changqian and Ge Fuyuan were executed for vehemently opposing it.
However, she never made Wu Chengsi crown prince, and after Wang was killed by the official Li Zhaode later in the year, the petition drive dissipated.
Empress Wei did not immediately announce Emperor Zhongzong's death, and she carried out a number of moves intended to consolidate her power over the government.
As a part of these moves, Zhang, who was then the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu), was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
At that time, Zhang had reached Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo, Henan), and was arrested and executed.