Speaking of these queens, there were Empress Lou, known as Empress Shenwu Ming, Empress Wenxiang, Empress Wenxuan, Empress Xiaozhao, Empress Wu Cheng, Empress Holu, Empress Hu, Empress Mu... Let's start with Empress Lou.
Lou Zhaojun was the daughter of the Minister of Internal Affairs. She was clever from a young age, and many noble families came to propose marriage to her, but she refused them all. Later, she saw Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) working on the city wall and exclaimed, "This must be my husband!" She had her maidservants deliver the message and even sent gifts to Gao Huan several times, asking him to marry her. Her parents could not oppose her, so they agreed to the marriage.
As for Gao Huan, he was determined to achieve great things and dedicated all his resources to befriending heroes and strategizing. Lou Zhaojun was always involved, providing advice and strategies. Later, Gao Huan was titled King of Bohai, and Lou Zhaojun had the final say in all matters concerning the queen.
Empress Gao was known for her strictness and frugality, traveling with no more than ten attendants. She was kind-hearted and never envious of others, treating the emperor's concubines and maidservants equally.
Once, when Emperor Shenwu was on a western expedition, Empress Gao gave birth to twins at night. People around her felt it was an urgent situation and advised her to quickly inform the emperor. However, Empress Gao disagreed, saying, "How can the emperor leave the army easily because of my situation? Life and death are destined; what does it matter what the future holds for the children?" When Emperor Shenwu heard about this, he was deeply moved.
After the Battle of Shayuan, Hou Jing repeatedly requested Emperor Shenwu to give him twenty thousand elite soldiers, promising to defeat the enemy. Emperor Shenwu, intrigued, shared this with Empress Gao. The empress said, "If we follow his plan, there will be no room for retreat. Getting the otter but losing the beautiful scenery, what good would that do?" Thus, Emperor Shenwu decided against it.
Later, Emperor Taizong considered marrying a Rouran princess to deal with the pressure from the Rouran, but he had not made up his mind yet. Empress Zhangsun said to him, "For the sake of the country, I hope you will not hesitate." When the Rouran princess arrived, the Empress voluntarily stepped aside, giving up her position as the main wife. Emperor Taizong felt deeply ashamed and sincerely apologized to the Empress, saying, "This matter may become known to others; I hope you will not interfere in the future."
Empress Zhangsun was very loving towards the children, treating them as if they were her own. She personally spun and wove fabric, making a robe and pants for each person. She also personally sewed military uniforms for the soldiers. Her brother, Yuwen Zhao, was promoted based on his merits and reputation, but she never asked for titles for any of her other relatives. She often said that talented individuals should be valued and that justice should not be compromised for personal reasons.
After Emperor Wenxuan ascended the throne, she was recognized as the Grand Empress. When Emperor Wenxuan wanted to accept the abdication of the Wei Dynasty, Empress Zhangsun strongly opposed, which prevented it from happening. In the early years of the Tianbao era, she was honored as the Empress Dowager, and her palace was called Xuanxun Palace. After Prince Jinan Yuwen Jue ascended the throne, she was honored as the Grand Empress Dowager.
The Minister of Works, Yang Yin, and others who received the posthumous edict to assist in governance pushed the princes aside and oppressed them. The Grand Empress Dowager secretly plotted with Emperor Xiaozhao and several generals to execute Yang Yin and others, and ordered the abdication of the Emperor. After Emperor Xiaozhao ascended the throne, she once more became the Empress Dowager. After Emperor Xiaozhao's death, she issued an edict to enthrone Emperor Wucheng.
In the second year of Daining in spring, the Empress Dowager fell gravely ill, and her clothes suddenly began to float. She believed a witch's words and changed her surname to Shi. On the day of Xinchou in April, she passed away in the Northern Palace at sixty-two. On the day of Jiashen in May, she was buried alongside Emperor Wen at Yiping Mausoleum.
The Empress Dowager gave birth to a total of six sons and two daughters. Each time she was pregnant, she would have dreams: when pregnant with Emperor Wen of Xiang, she dreamed of a fragmented dragon; when pregnant with Emperor Wen of Xuan, she dreamed of a huge dragon, whose head and tail connected the heavens and the earth, its mouth open and eyes glaring, exuding a formidable presence; when pregnant with Emperor Xiaozhao, she dreamed of a dragon slithering on the ground; when pregnant with Emperor Wucheng, she dreamed of a dragon bathing in the sea; when carrying Prince Xiangcheng and Prince Boling, they both dreamed of mice crawling under their clothes. Before the Empress Dowager died, people sang nursery rhymes saying, "Even after the mother of nine dragons dies, she remains unfilial." After the Empress Dowager's death, Emperor Wucheng shockingly refused to change into mourning attire, but continued to wear his red official robes. Not long after, he ascended the throne, hosted lavish banquets, and celebrated extravagantly. When a princess presented white mourning clothes, Emperor Wucheng was furious and threw the mourning clothes down the steps. He Shi Kai asked him to stop the festivities, which made Emperor Wucheng even angrier, and he violently struck He Shi Kai. Emperor Wucheng ranked ninth among his siblings, which likely fulfilled the nursery rhyme.
Emperor Wenxian held deep respect for his empress, Yuan Shi, the sister of Wei's Emperor Xiaojing. During Emperor Xiaowu's reign, Yuan Shi was granted the title of Princess Fengyi and later married Emperor Wenxian. She was not only beautiful but also possessed a noble character and demonstrated great respect and loyalty to Emperor Wenxian. When Prince Xiaowan of Hejian was born to Emperor Wenxian, who was then the crown prince, Emperor Xiaojing personally visited the crown prince's residence three days later, presenting a large amount of silk and cloth, totaling over ten thousand pieces. The crown prince politely declined and requested that these valuable gifts be distributed among the ministers, which resulted in ten rooms being filled with gifts. Later, two princesses were born. After Emperor Wenxuan seized the throne, he formally recognized Yuan Shi as empress and had her reside in the Jingde Palace. In the sixth year of Tianbao, Emperor Wenxuan gradually descended into incompetence and tyranny, moving the empress to a residence in Gaoyang and seizing her treasury, claiming, "My brother once violated my wife; now I seek revenge!" He then sexually assaulted the empress. Women of the Gao clan, regardless of their relationship, were commanded by him to commit immoral acts in public. He even had ropes woven from vines, with Wei Ande's wife atop, being pushed along, and commanded the Huns to humiliate her in the harshest manner. Emperor Wucheng personally publicly displayed these lewd acts to humiliate the populace. During the Wuping era, the empress passed away and was interred in the Yiping Mausoleum, alongside Emperor Wenxuan.
Li Zu'e, a native of Zhao County, was the daughter of Li Xizong. She was beautiful and of good character. Initially, she was the wife of the Taiyuan Duke. Later, Gao Huan wanted to establish a queen, but Gao Longzhi and Gao Dezhen believed that women from the Han Dynasty were not fit to be the mothers of the world and should be chosen anew. Yang Yin insisted on following the old customs of the Han and Wei dynasties and not changing the queen. However, Gao Dezhen persisted in deposing the queen to elevate Duan Zhaoyi, hoping to win over the nobility. In the end, Gao Huan did not listen to him and made Li Zu'e the queen. Gao Huan was known for scolding and beating his concubines, and he had even killed before, yet he respected Li Zu'e. In the tenth year of the Tianbao era, Li Zu'e was reappointed as Empress Ke He Dun. After Gao Yang ascended to the throne, Li Zu'e was demoted to Empress Zhaoxin of the Zhaoxin Palace. After Gao Zhan ascended the throne, he forced Li Zu'e into an incestuous relationship, threatening, "If you refuse, I will kill your son!" Li Zu'e was afraid and agreed. Later, when Li Zu'e became pregnant, her younger brother, Prince Taoyuan Wang Shaode, came to the palace to visit her but could not see her. He angrily said, "Sister, your belly is so big; why don't I see you?" Li Zu'e felt ashamed upon hearing this, leading her to not raise the daughter she gave birth to. Gao Zhan, brandishing a knife, exclaimed, "You killed my daughter; why shouldn't I kill your son!" Then he killed Shaode in front of Li Zu'e. Li Zu'e cried bitterly, which angered Gao Zhan even more. He stripped Li Zu'e bare, beat her, and her cries echoed like thunder. Gao Zhan wrapped her in a silk cloth, covered in blood, and threw her into a ditch. After a long time, she regained consciousness and was then transported to the Miaosheng Nunnery in an ox cart. As a devout Buddhist, Li Zu'e chose to become a nun. After the fall of Northern Qi, she returned to Guanzhong, and it was only during the Sui Dynasty that she returned to her hometown in Zhao County.
Empress Xiaozhao Yuan, the daughter of Yuan Man, the Minister of Works, was initially the consort of Prince Changshan. In the later years of the Tianbao era, she was granted the surname Boliugu. After Gao Yang ascended the throne, she was made empress. After Gao Yang died, her coffin was taken to Ye City. Just after crossing Fen Bridge, Gao Zhan heard rumors that the empress had a special medicine, so he sent people to search for it. When they couldn't find it, he permitted eunuchs to humiliate her in the carriage. She was then demoted to a concubine in Shuncheng Palace. After Gao Zhan killed Queen Le Ling, Yuan Shi was imprisoned and could not contact her family. Suddenly, rumors spread in the palace, and Gao Zhan ordered an investigation. Letters from Yuan Shi's parents and siblings were discovered, resulting in Yuan Man's dismissal. After the fall of Northern Qi, Yuan Shi entered the palace of the Zhou Dynasty. When Emperor Wen of Sui became the prime minister, he returned her to her hometown in Shandong.
According to legend, Empress Wucheng Hu was the daughter of Hu Yanzhi from Anding, whose mother was Lu Daoyue from Fanyang. When her mother was pregnant, a monk named Hu ran to their house and said, "There is a moon hidden in the gourd in this house!" After saying this, he left, and Hu was born shortly thereafter. During the Tianbao period of Northern Qi Dynasty, she was chosen as the consort of Prince Changguang. On the night she gave birth, there was an owl hooting above the delivery room tent. After Emperor Wucheng's death, she was posthumously honored as the empress dowager.
Later, Lu Ao and Shikai conspired to assassinate Gao Rui, the Prince of Zhao, and sent Lou Dingyuan and Gao Wen to be governors. Lu Ao and Shikai were extremely obsequious to the empress dowager, going to great lengths to curry favor. In fact, even during Emperor Wucheng's reign, the empress dowager had affairs with several eunuchs. Emperor Wucheng had a particular trust in Shikai, often engaged in playful activities with the empress dowager, wielding a spear, which eventually led to an affair.
After the death of Emperor Wucheng, the Empress Dowager often went to the Buddhist temple and became romantically involved with a monk named Tan Xian. She would scatter money under Tan Xian's seat and even hung the luxurious bed that Emperor Wucheng had used in Tan Xian's room. She also brought over a hundred monks into the inner palace, claiming she wanted to hear their teachings, but actually spending every day and night with Tan Xian. She even bestowed the title of "Zhaoxuan Tong" upon Tan Xian. The monks intentionally pointed and laughed at the Empress Dowager, even referring to Tan Xian as "Emperor Dowager."
When the Emperor first heard about the Empress Dowager's scandalous behavior, he did not believe it. Later, when the Emperor went to see the Empress Dowager, he saw two young nuns whom he found attractive and had them brought over, only to find out they were actually two men in disguise! This revelation exposed Tan Xian's affair, and they were all arrested and executed, along with the three lords Yuan, Shan, and Wang, who were also involved with the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor brought the Empress Dowager back to Ye City from Jin Yang, and as they reached the Purple Street, a strong wind suddenly blew. A retainer named Wei Sengjia who understood divination predicted that a rebellion was about to happen. The Emperor pretended that there was an urgent matter in Ye City, bent his bow, held his spear, and quickly rushed into the South City, ordering Deng Changyong to lock the Empress Dowager in the North Palace and forbidding any of her relatives from seeing her. After a long time, the Emperor finally brought the Empress Dowager back. At first, when the Empress Dowager heard that the messenger had arrived, she was frightened and anxious about what might happen.
Every time the Empress Dowager prepared a meal, the Emperor did not dare to eat. Later, when the envoy Yuan Wei from the Zhou Dynasty came to pay respects, he wrote a poem called "Describing the Journey," which told the story of Duke Zheng Zhuang defeating the Duan clan and moving the Jiang clan. Even though the poem was poorly written, it embarrassed the Emperor. After the fall of the Qi Dynasty, the Empress Dowager became even more reckless and engaged in all sorts of wrongdoing. She died during the Sui Kaihuang period.
It is said that the last emperor's wife, Empress Helü, was the daughter of Left Prime Minister Guang. Initially the Crown Princess, she became Empress when the emperor ascended the throne. In the third year of the Wuping era, she gave birth to a daughter. To win favor with her father Guang, the emperor pretended it was a son and even declared a general amnesty to celebrate. Unfortunately, Guang was later killed, and she was sent to the palace of cold, and later, she was forced to become a nun. After the fall of Northern Qi, she eventually remarried to Kaifu Yuanren.
Now, let's discuss another empress of the last emperor, Empress Hu, the daughter of Prince Changren of Longdong. Feeling remorseful for not being a good empress, she tried to please the emperor by dressing up and waiting for him in the palace. The emperor was pleased with her and immediately appointed her as Hongde Lady, later promoting her to Left Zhao Yi, who showed her great favor. When Empress Helü was deposed, there was a proposal to make Lady Mu the empress, but Empress Hu disagreed. Later, Zuxiao Zheng proposed to make Lady Hu the Empress, and she became the Empress. This Lady Mu not only did not support the appointment of Empress Hu but still had feelings for Lady Mu. Later, in front of the Empress Dowager, she rolled her eyes and remarked, "What a niece, speaking so rudely!" When the Empress Dowager asked what she said, she replied, "Can't say." When pressed by the Empress Dowager, she said, "She told everyone that many things you did were wrong and should not be taken as an example!" The Empress Dowager was furious and immediately shaved Empress Hu's head and sent her back home. The emperor missed her and often sent gifts to express his feelings. Later, both Empress Hu and Empress Helü were summoned back to the palace, but the city of Ye could not be defended for long. Empress Hu eventually remarried.
Empress Mu Xielili, the last ruler of Northern Qi, was originally a maidservant of Empress Hulv. Her mother, Qingxiao, was also a maidservant in the Mu household and later transferred to serve in the household of Song Qindao, where she became romantically involved with him and gave birth to Mu Xielili. As a result, Mu Xielili's family background remains ambiguous, with some claiming she might be Song Qindao's daughter. Mu Xielili was originally nicknamed Huanghua, but later changed her name to Sheli. Song Qindao's wife, consumed by jealousy, marked Qingxiao's face with the character "Song." After Song Qindao was killed, Huanghua entered the palace and gained the favor of the emperor, and everyone in the palace referred to her as "Eunuch Sheli."
Lu Lingxuan, the Minister of Ceremonies, recognized that Mu Xielili was in favor, so he raised her as his own daughter and recommended her for the title of Lady Hongde. In the first year of Wuping, in June, Mu Xielili gave birth to the crown prince Gao Heng. At that time, the emperor lacked an heir, and Lu Lingxuan worked behind the scenes to ensure someone could assume the vital responsibilities of governance. The current empress, Empress Hulv, was the daughter of Prime Minister Hulv Guang. Lu Lingxuan was worried that Empress Hulv would be resentful, so she arranged for Mu Xielili's mother to raise Gao Heng and declared him the crown prince. Utilizing her status in the imperial family, Lu Lingxuan worked with Mu Xielili's mother and petitioned the emperor to bestow the surname Mu upon Mu Xielili. Following the deposition of Empress Hu, Lu Lingxuan played a significant role in this matter, resulting in Mu Xielili being ultimately made empress and issuing a general amnesty for the populace.
In the beginning, General Yuan Zhenglie found a jade seal in the water east of Ye City and presented it to the emperor. The seal was engraved with the inscription "Heavenly King's Seal," reportedly crafted by the Shi family. The emperor issued a decree declaring this an auspicious sign for Lady Mu's ascension to empress. During the reign of Emperor Wucheng, a lavish pearl skirt and pants were created for Empress Hu at great expense, but they were eventually destroyed in a fire. After Empress Mu was established, a new set was crafted for her. Upon the death of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou's mother, Emperor Wu sent officials to offer condolences, as well as merchants carrying thirty thousand pieces of silk and the envoy of condolences to Northern Zhou, in hopes of acquiring pearls to craft a seven-treasure carriage for the empress. However, the Northern Zhou refused to engage in trade, so the carriage was ultimately constructed without the pearls.
A nursery rhyme went: "Yellow flowers are about to fall, toast with a full cup." This suggests that Lady Mu's reign (Huanghua) would be short-lived. After Empress Mu was established, she became enamored with alcohol and indulgence, hence the mention of "toast with a full cup" in the nursery rhyme. Lu Lingxuan's younger brother, Lu Tibo, adopted the surname Mu, and Lu Lingxuan also gained favor from Empress Mu. As Lady Mu acknowledged Lu Lingxuan as her mother and Lu Tibo as her brother, she disregarded Qingxiao. Qingxiao later tended to the scars on her face and wanted to see her daughter, but the empress dowager and Lu Lingxuan dispatched people to prevent her, and ultimately, she was unable to see her daughter.
