Prince Zhaoye of Yulin, whose courtesy name was Yuanshang, was the eldest son of Crown Prince Wen Hui, nicknamed Fashen. After his grandfather, Emperor Shizu, ascended to the throne, he was granted the title of King of Nanjun, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. On the 11th day of the 11th month in the 5th year of Yongming, he participated in the coronation ceremony at the Chongzheng Hall in the Eastern Palace. On that day, a small banquet was also held, where the Emperor bestowed gifts of silk upon officials of lower ranks, and assigned him two attendants. Seven years later, the court requested that he be provided with twenty sword-bearing guards, a ceremonial procession, and permitted him to select teachers and friends for his education. In the 11th year, he was given three black horse-drawn carriages, and a decree was issued to appoint distinguished officials to assist him. After the death of Crown Prince Wen Hui, Zhaoye was named Crown Prince and resided in the Eastern Palace. Later, after Emperor Shizu passed away, Crown Prince Zhaoye ascended the throne as Emperor.
On the Renwu day in August, the emperor issued a decree stating that, in accordance with the late emperor's will, General Wuling Wang Ye Hujun was appointed as the Guard General, and General Chen Xianda, the Grand General of the South, was to retain his original position and also set up a household, and enjoy the same privileges as the San Si (Shangshu, Menxia, Zhongshu). The Left Deputy of the Shangshu, Marquis of Xichang, Luan, was appointed as the Shangshu Ling; the Crown Prince's grandson, Shen Wenji, was appointed as the Guard General. On the Guiwei day, Prince Jingling Ziliang was appointed as the Grand Tutor. The emperor also issued a decree, stating: "I am of mediocre talent, having inherited the throne, facing the ancestral spirits, I respectfully follow the late emperor's will, thinking about how to uphold the rules left by my ancestors, and treating the royal family and ministers with due respect. The country has just gone through a time of mourning and turmoil, and there are many things that need to be dealt with. We must cultivate virtue, uplift the people, and honor the late emperor's wisdom. All outstanding taxes and various corvées will be waived by July 30th of this year. Any confiscated land, houses, or goods, if not yet sold, should be returned to their rightful owners. The land, ponds, mansions, and smelting factories of the various departments of the imperial palace, those that have been built or abandoned in the past and are no longer in use, should be thoroughly assessed and then abolished. Officials should promptly stop this and return these to the people, and tariffs and taxes should be minimized as much as possible."
On the day of Bing Xu, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Recently, the people captured from the north will all be enlisted as military households. Although the law stipulates that there are no minor offenses, considering that comforting the people and promoting benevolent governance are important matters that reflect the emperor's wisdom, there should be a general amnesty, allowing them to start anew, be released together, and have their citizenship restored. Those who have already received rewards should also be relieved of their guilt." On the day of Xin Chou, the emperor issued a decree saying, "In the past few years, raiders and bandits colluded to disturb the border. Various generals fought bravely and defeated the enemy. The troops in Geping and Wuyin fought valiantly, defending the cities, but the contributions of these soldiers have not been rewarded. Officials should be sent to assign them suitable positions and titles."
On a certain day in early September, the emperor issued a decree saying, "In the Eastern and Western Palaces, as well as in various prefectures and states, I am particularly concerned about the elderly officials with little savings and low salaries. The Department of Selection must carefully select talented individuals, examine their qualifications and years of service, such as governors and county magistrates, and arrange suitable positions based on the actual situation, prioritizing those less fortunate officials." On the same day, the emperor posthumously honored Crown Prince Wen Hui as Emperor Shizong Wen. On a certain day in October, the emperor honored the Grand Empress Dowager of the Crown Prince as the Empress Dowager and appointed Lady He as the Empress.
On a certain day in November, the emperor appointed Duke Zhao Wen of Linru as King Xin'an, Duke Zhao Xiu of Qujiang as King Linhai, and Prince Zhao Can as King Yongjia.
In the first month of the Longchang era, the era name was changed and a general amnesty was granted nationwide. The Emperor bestowed special honors upon Prince Liang of Jingling, appointing him as Grand Tutor, appointed Prince Zhuo of Jinxin as the Governor of Yingzhou, Prince Jing of Anlu as the Governor of Nanyanzhou, Prince Mao of Jin'an as the Governor of Jiangzhou, Prince Xiushow of Linhai as the Governor of Jingzhou, Prince Zhaocan of Yongjia as the Governor of Nanxuzhou, promoted General Chen Xianda to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and appointed Prince Zhen of Jian'an as the General of the Imperial Guards. The Emperor also ordered all officials to speak openly about the successes and failures they have observed in the country. He then ordered all nobles and ministers to recommend any talented individuals they were aware of.
The next day, General Shen Wenji was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief. The following day, former general Cao Hu was appointed as the Governor of Yongzhou, and General Xue Yuan was appointed as the Governor of Sizhou. The day after that, General Xiao Yi was appointed as the Governor of Liangzhou and South Qinzhou, and Assistant State Secretary Shen Xizhu was appointed as the Governor of Jiaozhou. A day later, the emperor went to the southern outskirts to pay homage to Heaven and Earth. The emperor issued a decree saying, "Farmers temporarily put down their hoes, and the musical instruments for worship temporarily stopped playing. The country's machinery may sometimes slack off, and the people wear coarse clothes all year round. This is not due to negligence or neglect. Although we follow the royal path, the bountiful harvests and the people's peaceful and prosperous lives are closely tied to their hard work and the government's sound policies. In recent years, we have enjoyed continuous harvests, with grain piling up like mountains. However, we are still far from achieving the 'ideal of triple harvests.' The country still has a long way to go in terms of infrastructure. Moreover, local customs vary, and the production and life of the people are also different. Legal provisions and governance methods may not be applicable everywhere. Some things may hinder agricultural production, harm national interests, and the situation is complex and cannot be oversimplified. I am constantly worried and cannot afford to be lax for even a moment. Therefore, we must impose strict requirements on the provinces to vigorously develop agricultural production, reclaim wasteland, foster local economies, and strengthen the foundation of the nation, ensuring that the people live and work in peace and contentment. At the same time, we need to conduct a thorough investigation of the conditions in prisons and markets, gain a wide understanding of the people's sentiments, and any actions that undermine social morality should be reported individually. Relevant departments should formulate specific rules and regulations."
After a few days, the emperor went to Jing'an Mausoleum to worship. The newly appointed Chamberlain Zhou Fengshu was designated as the Governor of Qingzhou. In early February, the emperor went to the Mingtang to pay his respects. After some time, in early April, Prince Wuling, Xiao Ye, passed away. He was the Guard General and also held the title of Governor of the Imperial Palace. Ah, he was certainly a significant figure.
Shortly after, a few days later, Prince Liang of Jingling also passed away, who was the Grand Tutor. Losing two high-ranking officials in a row is truly lamentable! Then, after a while, the court appointed Yang Jiong, who previously served as the Inspector of Shazhou, to continue as the Inspector of Shazhou. This is some good news; at least the appointments are still being made. Finally, after a few more days, the court adjusted the positions of some officials. Prince Xiao Ziqing of Luling was promoted to General of the Guards, also concurrently serving as the Chief of Staff; Prince Xiao Qiang of Poyang was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry, also concurrently serving as the Chief of Staff. The changes in the government are really constant! In a certain leap month of a particular year, Xiao Yingzhou was appointed as the Inspector of Qingzhou and Jizhou. In a few days, Luan was appointed as the Grand General of the Army, also concurrently serving as the Chief of Staff. Shortly after, Prince Zhaowen of Xin'an was appointed as the Inspector of Yangzhou. One day in June, Wang Siyuan was appointed as the Inspector of Guangzhou. In the autumn of July, Xiao Yaoxin was appointed as the Inspector of Yanzhou, and Zang Lingzhi was appointed as the Inspector of Jiaozhou.
After a few days, the Empress Dowager ordered, "Garrison Commander, Cavalry Commander, Left Deputy, Front General, Commander-in-Chief, Left Guard, and Guard Commander, listen up, all eight of you: Since the founding of our royal family, we have experienced the Song Dynasty, the wise and virtuous emperors, spanning three glorious generations. The founding emperor laid the foundation through his heroic strength, the Martial Emperor was wise and martial, and the Literary Emperor was wise. Although their achievements may not have been fully recognized, their virtues are deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people. The royal fortune is flourishing, and the country is stable. However, the current emperor... Alas, he is young and has become consumed by wine and women, only pursuing pleasure while making life difficult for his loyal ministers and generals. His father, the Emperor Shizu, was very loving towards him, hoping he would turn over a new leaf and protect the country and the people. However, after he ascended the throne, his misdeeds worsened. During the mourning period, he showed no grief, treating his mourning attire as banquet clothing. He spends all day indulging in wine and women, neglecting state affairs, leaving everyone puzzled by his orders. Eunuch Xu Longju wields excessive power, Prince Feng and Prince Zhen fight for power and profit, and the emperor believes he has chosen the right people, thinking he is wiser than Xiao He and Cao Shen, and more stable than Mount Tai. So he acts recklessly, ignoring the laws of heaven, bringing his sisters and concubines into the harem, and playing with relics from the previous dynasty. The palace is in chaos, men and women mix freely, the harem has turned into a tavern, and the palace has become a marketplace. He often disguises himself and leaves the palace, leaving the court empty and the palace vacant for several days. Loyal ministers do their utmost to assist him, striving to eliminate corruption in hopes that he will repent, but not only does he refuse to repent, but he also grows to resent them even more. Those loyal ministers who had devoted themselves to him were executed, and he became suspicious of both civil and military officials. He insults the ministers at will, and even wants to unleash a massacre, putting the country in imminent danger."
In history, the illustrious achievements of Emperor Taizong brought benefits to the Han Dynasty, and the diligent governance of Emperor Jianwen revitalized the Jin Dynasty. The experiences and lessons of our predecessors should be heeded. The General who commands with integrity is the backbone of the country and should emulate Yi Yin and Huo Guang by deposing incompetent rulers. The Central Army General, Prince of Xin'an, embodies the exemplary qualities of Emperor Wen, and with his wisdom and insight, he is well-suited to succeed to the throne and restore stability to the realm. He should be welcomed with the appropriate rituals upon his ascension to the throne. Faced with such a difficult situation, we as courtiers can only express our concerns and helplessness by writing down these words.
Zhao Ye is quite handsome and enjoys writing in clerical script. The Emperor Gaozu ordered that the characters written by the prince cannot be taken lightly, underscoring his value. He has a pleasant voice and is highly regarded. Nobles and officials pay him a visit every five days, and Emperor Gaozu frequently summons him privately to the tent, demonstrating particular concern for him, referring to him as "Fashen," showing special favoritism towards him. When Crown Prince Wen Hui died, Zhao Ye mourned deeply each time, but shortly after returning to the palace, he would cheerfully partake in leisure activities. After mourning the death of Emperor Gaozu, he returned to the harem and arranged for two teams of Hu musicians to perform on the balcony to lighten the mood.
When the King of Nanjun was in charge of him, Crown Prince Wenhui restricted his life and expenses. Zhao Ye said to the Princess of Yuzhang, "Grandma, the scriptures say that only fortunate people can be born into the imperial family. Now that I am the emperor, I have become a great wrongdoer, and the ministers around me could be arrested at any time. It's better to be a rich butcher!" After becoming emperor, he showered others with gifts, often giving away tens of thousands of coins. Every time he saw money, he would say, "It used to be difficult for me to even get a penny, but now I can finally use money, right?" In less than a year, he had nearly squandered the wealth left by Emperor Gaozu. He opened the imperial wardrobe and let the empresses and concubines take a look, giving some to eunuchs and guards to take as they pleased, smashing the treasures they grabbed for fun. He often walked around bare-chested, wearing only red gauze pants and floral clothes. He was also into cockfighting and secretly bought thousands of chickens. The licorice stick used by Emperor Gaozu was chopped into small pieces by the palace maids. He also dismantled Emperor Gaozu's Zhaowan Hall and had Xu Longju, the eunuch, perform rituals there. Xu Longju was highly favored and became the Chamberlain of the Rear Palace, hanging around the harem all day. Zhao Ye had an affair with Empress Huo, and Xu Longju suggested he keep Huo in the palace, claiming he would make Huo a nun and find someone else to replace her.
He always kisses up to climb the ladder, and even says to others, "Back in the day, there were officials who oversaw the three branches too." The empress is acting all kinds of reckless, with the Zhaige Hall staying open all night, people from inside and outside the palace mingling with no rules at all. The Imperial Secretariat officials—Qimu Zhenzhi, Zhulong Zhi, General Cao Daogang, and Zhou Fengshu—are all the emperor's trusted allies. Emperor Gaozong tried to advise him several times, but he wouldn’t listen. First, he offed Xu Longju, then he took out Zhou Fengshu and Qimu Zhenzhi, and the emperor couldn’t do anything to stop him. Later, some nuns and old ladies came into the palace, spreading weird rumors all over, making the emperor suspect that Gaozong was plotting a rebellion. He Yin, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, is the empress's uncle. The emperor appointed him to the palace as an official, often calling him "Three Dads," and hatched a plan with him to take out Gaozong. But He Yin was too scared and made excuses, so the emperor dropped the plan.
Later, he wanted to exile Emperor Gaozong to Xizhou Province, secretly ordering the matter without consulting anyone else. Emperor Gaozong sensed the danger and plotted to depose him. On the 22nd day of the 10th month of the Renchen year, he sent Xiao Chen, Xiao Tan, and others into the palace to kill Cao Daogang, Zhu Long, and others, leading the army from the Ministry of Personnel into the Yunlong Gate, in military attire and draped in a red robe. Upon entering the palace, he stumbled three times. Wang Yan, Xu Xiaosi, Xiao Tan, Chen Xianda, Wang Guangzhi, Shen Wenji, and others were all involved. The emperor was in the Shouchang Hall; upon hearing the commotion outside, he ordered all the rooms in the inner hall to be locked and had eunuchs go up to the Xingguang Tower to check. The eunuchs returned with the report, saying, "I saw a person dressed in armor with hundreds of men, all neatly dressed, under the West Bell Tower." Moments later, Xiao Chen led the troops to charge into the palace, surrounding the Shouchang Pavilion. The emperor rushed to the chamber of his favored concubine, Lady Xu, and attempted to stab himself with a sword but failed. He then used a cloth strip to strangle himself and was taken to the Yande Hall. Just as Xiao Chen entered the hall, the guards were armed with bows and shields, prepared to resist. Xiao Chen told them, "The person we need to capture has already been dealt with; you don't need to act!" The guards believed him, but when they saw the emperor being carried out, they were ready to revolt, but the emperor didn't say a word. Once they reached West Lane, he was executed. At that time, he was just twenty-two years old. His body was carried to the home of Xu Longju and buried with royal honors. The remaining conspirators were also executed.
Historians say that on the surface, Prince Yulin seems charming and charismatic, loved by all, but in reality, he is treacherous and sly, and his true nature remains hidden from everyone. When he named his eldest son as crown prince, it seemed there would be no problems, but he had no intention of following ancestral customs. As a result, problems arose in the palace, with the root of the trouble in the harem. Although the situation hasn’t escalated yet, it’s already enough to shake the nation’s foundations. The "Spring and Autumn Annals" records that Lord Liang made mistakes; he brought it on himself, ultimately leading to his own ruin. They say that if a country makes just one mistake out of ten, it’s doomed. Prince Yulin bore so many sins, discarded rituals, broke laws, and ultimately led to his own destruction.
