Speaking of the Queen of Huayang King Kai, she was the daughter of the Yuan family from Yuanshi, Henan. Her father, Yuan Yan, was an intelligent and capable man of great ambition. During the reign of Emperor Ren Shou of the Sui Dynasty, Yuan Yan became the Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate and was also granted the title of Duke of Longhe County. Later, when Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Yuan Yan was stripped of his title and exiled to Nanhai. After a general amnesty was declared, he returned to Chang'an. However, he was falsely accused of fleeing, and he was arrested and killed.
The queen was beautiful and gentle, and was initially chosen to be the queen in the palace. Not long after, Huayang King Kai was imprisoned by the emperor. The queen became even more respectful and cautious around Kai. Whenever she saw Kai worried, she would comfort him with wise words, and Kai respected her greatly. Later, during the Jiangdu Rebellion, Kai encountered the rebel army led by Yuwen Huaji, and the queen was awarded to Yuan Wuda, a subordinate of Yuwen Huaji, as a reward.
Yuan Wuda initially treated her with a degree of dignity and placed her in a separate house according to the clan's customs. But later, he got drunk and forced himself on the queen. The queen resolutely refused, so Yuan Wuda flew into a rage and brutally beat her more than a hundred times, cursing her viciously. Unable to bear it, the queen picked up a brick and struck her own face, blood and tears streaming down. Only then did Yuan Wuda let her go. The queen told her maid, "I cannot die early, which led to today's humiliation; it's all my own fault!" After speaking, she starved herself to death.
Lady Qiao Guo was the daughter of the Xishi family in Gaoliang. Their family had been the leaders of Nanyue for generations, occupying caves and governing tens of thousands of households. Lady Qiao Guo was intelligent and strategically minded from a young age. When she was with her parents, she was skilled at pacifying her people and leading troops in battle, conquering the various Yue tribes. She often advised her people to do good deeds, which earned her great trust from the people in her hometown.
The Yue people have a troubling tendency to attack one another. The lady's brother, Xiting, who was the governor of Nanliangzhou, often caused trouble for the nearby counties, and the people in Lingnan couldn't put up with it any longer. The lady advised her brother many times, finally resolving their conflicts, and over a thousand tribes in Hainan and Dan'er regions submitted to them.
During the Liang Dynasty, the governor of Luozhou, Feng Rong, heard of the lady's talent and married his son, Feng Bao, to the lady. Feng Rong was a descendant of Northern Yan. When Feng Hong fled to Goryeo, his grandfather Feng Ye led three hundred people to escape back to the Song Dynasty and later settled in Xinhui. From Feng Ye to Feng Rong, three generations of their family served as officials in the local area, and despite being outsiders, they were highly skilled in governing the region. After the lady married into the Feng family, she urged her family to follow the laws. She and Feng Bao dealt with legal cases together, and even when her own relatives broke the law, she never showed favoritism. From then on, the governance of Gaoliang became orderly, and no one dared to disobey.
During Hou Jing's rebellion, the governor of Guangzhou, Xiao Bo, called up troops to support Taizhou. The governor of Gaozhou, Li Qianshi, occupied Dagao Kou and sent for Feng Bao. When Feng Bao was about to go, the lady stopped him, saying, "The governor summoned the prefect without a good reason; he's probably trying to trick you into rebelling." Feng Bao asked, "How do you know?" The lady said, "The governor was called to support Taizhou but feigned illness, secretly forged weapons, gathered troops, and then called you. If you go now, he'll likely hold you hostage and attack your army. His intentions are obvious; it's better not to go first and see how things develop."
After a few days, Li Qianshi actually rebelled, sending General Du Pinglu to attack Xianshi with his troops. Feng Bao found out and quickly informed his wife. His wife said, "Du Pinglu is a brave general. When he leads the troops to attack Xianshi, he’ll definitely confront the officials and soldiers and won't be back anytime soon. Li Qianshi won't be able to do much from the state. If you go there yourself, it’ll definitely lead to a fight. We should send an envoy to trick him, with a humble tone and some generous gifts, saying that you dare not go in person and want to send me to visit. He’ll be really pleased to hear this and won’t suspect a thing. At that time, I’ll lead over a thousand people, pretending to transport tribute, and when we get near his camp, we can attack them." Feng Bao followed his wife's plan, and Li Qianshi was indeed very happy. When he saw his wife's team carrying things and not prepared for battle, he was caught off guard and ended up losing badly. Li Qianshi fled and hid in Ningdu. His wife led the army to meet with Chen Baxian, the Marquis of Changcheng, at Xianshi. When they got back, she said to Feng Bao, "Commander Chen is really impressive and has the people's support. I’m sure he can totally quell the rebellion. You should treat him well."
After Uncle Bao passed away, the Lingnan region descended into chaos. His wife, who was very capable, united the various Baiyue tribes, restoring peace in several states. In the second year of the Yongding era of the Chen Dynasty, her son was only nine years old. The former generals and leaders all went to Danyang to pay their respects to him, and the court directly appointed him as the magistrate of Yangchun County.
Later, the Governor of Guangzhou, Ouyang Ge, rebelled and called Pu to Gao'an, trying to persuade him to join the rebellion. Pu quickly sent someone back to tell his mother. His mother said, "I have been loyal to the court all my life; it has been two generations. I cannot abandon my loyalty for your sake and betray the country." So she immediately led troops to guard the border, and together with various leaders of the Baiyue, welcomed the general sent by the court, Zhang Zhaoda. With a coordinated effort from within and outside, Ouyang Ge's army quickly fell apart.
Due to Lady Baoshu's contributions, her son Pu was titled as Marquis Xindu, and was also appointed as the General of Pacifying the Southern Tribes, later promoted to the Prefect of Shilong. The court also issued a decree, officially appointing Lady Baoshu as the General of the Army and Lady of Shilong, rewarding her with an embroidered canopy, decorated horses, a comfortable carriage, a ceremonial guard, as well as various flags and ceremonial equipment, with the same status as a governor! During the reign of the Chen dynasty, Pu also passed away.
Later, the Chen dynasty was destroyed, and before the Lingnan region could submit to the new dynasty, the people from several counties rallied around Lady Baoshu, honoring her as the "Holy Mother." She continued to protect the land, ensuring the people could live in peace and prosperity.
The Emperor Gaozu sent Wei Guang to pacify Lingnan, while the Chen dynasty's general Xu Shi resisted in Nankang. Upon his arrival in Lingnan, Wei Guang hesitated to move forward. Earlier, the Chen dynasty's queen had presented a rhinoceros horn cane from Funan to Chen Shubao, the Emperor. Now, Prince Jin Yang Guang sent someone to deliver a message to the Chen dynasty's queen, notifying her of the fall of the Chen dynasty, asking her to submit to the Great Sui, and also sending the rhinoceros horn cane and military token as a gesture of goodwill. Upon seeing the cane, the queen realized that the Chen dynasty had indeed fallen, and she summoned thousands of leaders, mourning for an entire day.
Then, she sent her grandson Xiao Hun to greet Wei Guang. After Wei Guang entered Guangzhou, the Lingnan region was fully brought under control. The court bestowed the title of Lady of Song Kang County upon the queen. Not long after, the people of Panyu rose in rebellion, and many leaders responded to him. They surrounded the city where Wei Guang was stationed and stationed troops in Hengling. The queen sent her grandson Xiao Xuan to rescue Wei Guang. Xiao Xuan and the rebel Chen Fuzhi had been friends before, so he deliberately delayed, refusing to send troops. The queen found out and was furious, dispatching guards to arrest Xiao Xuan and imprison him.
She then sent her grandson Xiao Ang to attack Chen Fuzhi. Xiao Ang defeated and killed Chen Fuzhi. Then, Xiao Ang continued to advance to Nanhai, where he joined forces with the army of Lu Yuan and together defeated Wang Zhongxuan. The queen personally donned armor, mounted a spirited steed, held a brocade umbrella, and led the cavalry to escort the court envoy Pei Ju to conduct inspections across the provinces. Leaders such as Chen Tan from Cangwu, Feng Cenweng from Gangzhou, Deng Matou from Lianghua, Li Guanglue from Tengzhou, Pang Jing from Luozhou, and others came to pay their homage to her. Upon returning, the queen once again took command of their tribes, and the Lingnan region was finally pacified.
The founding emperor was delighted upon hearing the news, appointing Xiao Ang as the governor of Gaozhou and pardoning Xiao Xuan, appointing him as the governor of Luozhou. Xiao Bao was posthumously honored as the Governor of Guangzhou, Duke of Qiao, and the queen was granted the title of Lady of Qiao, restoring the title of Song Kang County to her maid Xi Shi. A household was established for the Lady of Qiao as well, with officials such as the Chief Historian appointed, bestowing upon her a seal, granting her the authority to mobilize the military of the six states of Lingnan, and manage emergencies independently. The founding emperor also proclaimed an edict stating: "I govern the realm with the same love and care for the people as a parent, hoping for peace and happiness for the people. However, Wang Zhongxuan and others gathered to incite chaos, disturbing the populace, so I dispatched troops to quell them and eliminate the threat to the people."
The Queen was loyal to the court, with a deep grasp of righteousness. She had Xiao Ang execute Chen Fozhi, ultimately quelling the rebellion and earning great merit. Now, I bestow upon her 5,000 bolts of cloth. Xiao Xuan's delay in deploying troops was a serious offense, but because the Queen has earned great merit, I have pardoned him. The Queen should educate her descendants well, observe proper conduct, and be loyal to the court, in order to fulfill my intentions." The Queen also rewarded her with jewelry and a set of banquet attire, storing these items in a golden box alongside gifts from the Liang and Chen dynasties. During grand banquets held annually, she would display these items in the courtyard for her descendants to admire, saying, "You must be loyal to the Emperor. I have served three different emperors, always maintaining a loyal heart. These rewards are still here; this is the reward of loyalty and filial piety. I hope you all remember this."
The provincial governor Zhao Ne was too greedy and cruel, causing the local people to flee and rebel. His wife, known as the lady, quickly wrote to the Emperor via Chief Clerk Zhang Rong, explaining the situation and suggesting that the Emperor pacify the people and expose Zhao Ne’s crimes, arguing that his actions would not persuade the fleeing people to return. Upon reading the letter, the Emperor sent people to investigate Zhao Ne, uncovering a wealth of evidence of his corruption and bribery, ultimately bringing him to trial. The Emperor then issued an imperial decree, ordering Zhao Ne’s wife to calm the rebellious citizens.
The Madam personally carried the imperial decree, as if she were a special envoy sent by the emperor, and traveled to more than ten states, delivering the emperor's message to the fleeing populace. Wherever she went, the locals surrendered. Emperor Gaozu appreciated her greatly, rewarding her with the Tangmu Prefecture in Linzhen County, comprising around 1,500 households. Her husband was posthumously named Governor of Yanzhou and Duke of Pingyuan. Madam passed away during the Renshou period, and the court provided her with a thousand bolts of cloth for her funeral, posthumously honoring her with the title "Madam Chengjing."
Zheng Shanguo's mother was from the Cui family in Qinghe. She married Zheng Cheng at the age of thirteen and later gave birth to Zheng Shanguo. Later, Zheng Cheng fought against Wei Jiong and was killed bravely in battle. She became a widow at twenty. Her father-in-law, Zheng Yanmu, wanted her to remarry, but she held Zheng Shanguo and said to her father-in-law, "It's against etiquette for a woman to remarry. Besides, although Zheng Cheng has died, he has left behind this child. Abandoning a child is not being a kind mother, and betraying a deceased husband is not observing etiquette. I'd rather cut off my ears and hair to prove my loyalty. I dare not disobey etiquette or be unkind to my child." Because her father died for his country, Zheng Shanguo became a general at a young age, inheriting the title of Duke of Kaifeng County from her father, with a fief of 1,000 households. During the Kaihuang period, she was elevated to Duke of Wude County. At fourteen, she was appointed Inspector of Yizhou, later transferred to Jingzhou, and then became the Prefect of Lu County.
Her mother was truly a formidable figure! Virtuous, principled, exceptionally knowledgeable, and proficient in medicine. Whenever her son Shanguo finished a case, his mother would sit on the couch, hiding behind a screen to watch. If Shanguo ruled the case fairly, his mother would be thrilled when she returned, quickly inviting Shanguo to sit down for a chat, sharing laughs.
However, if Shanguo handles cases unfairly or flies off the handle, her mother will go back to her room, pull the covers over her head and cry, not eating a thing all day. Shanguo kneels in front of her mother's bed, too scared to make a sound. Once her mother has cried it out, she gets up and says to Shanguo, "I'm not mad at you, I'm ashamed of your family! When I married into your family, I kept the house in order and served your family just like your father did, who was a loyal and upright official in the court, upright and incorruptible, willing to sacrifice everything for the country, even his life. I hope you can carry on his spirit! You became an orphan at a young age, and I, a widow, am loving but not strict enough with you, leaving you clueless about proper conduct. How can you follow in your father's footsteps without grasping his ideals? You inherited the family business from a young age, became a magistrate—did you really achieve it all on your own? How can you be so reckless, fly off the handle, indulge yourself, and forget all about justice and integrity? If you continue like this, the family will fall apart, you'll lose your position, and you'll break the Emperor's laws and commit a serious offense. After I die, how will I ever face your ancestors?"
My mother always spins thread and weaves fabric, often working until late at night before sleeping. I, Shanguo, asked her, "Mom, I am now a high official with a sufficient salary, why do you still work so hard?" My mother sighed and said, "Ah, you are already so grown up, I thought you understood the principles of life, but hearing you say that, it seems I expected too much from you. Your official positions and salaries—where do you think they come from? They are rewards from the emperor to repay your father's sacrifices for the country! This money should be used to help relatives and friends, to repay your father's kindness; how can you only think of enjoying yourself and consider it your own achievement? Furthermore, spinning and weaving are tasks every woman should undertake, from empresses to the wives of common officials, they all have to do these tasks. If you refuse to do even this, it is self-indulgence and extravagance. Although I may not understand big principles, I cannot ruin my own reputation!"
Since my father passed away, my mother has stopped dressing up and wearing makeup; she usually wears plain clothes. She is very frugal, never serving meat and alcohol at home except for sacrifices or when entertaining guests. She mostly stays quietly at home and rarely goes out. For major events among relatives and friends, she sends generous gifts but never visits others' homes. Except for what she makes herself or the income from the estate, she does not allow anything else, even gifts from relatives, to enter the house.
After I became an official, no matter where I served, I always brought my own meals to the office and never accepted the provisions from the office, using them to repair the office or share with my colleagues instead. Due to my self-discipline and commitment to public service, everyone said I was an honest official. Later, Emperor Yang of Sui sent Chief Imperial Secretary Zhang Heng to assess me, declaring me the best official in the empire and promoting me to Guangluqing. However, after my mother died, I became the Grand Minister of Justice and gradually became indulgent, losing the uprightness and honesty I once had.
It is said that Princess Shun, the filial daughter, is the daughter of Prince Chun of Zhao. Her father, Prince Chun, did not get along with his cousin Zhang Xin. Later, when Qi conquered Zhao, Zhang Xin and his wife plotted to murder Prince Chun. At that time, Shun was only seven years old and had two younger sisters: Can, who was five, and Fan, who was just two. The three little girls were left without parents and had to depend on their relatives for support. The three sisters relied on each other and shared a strong bond. However, Shun always wanted revenge in her heart, something her uncle Zhang Xin never expected.
As the three girls grew older, relatives wanted to marry them off, but they all refused. Shun secretly told her two sisters, "We have no brothers, so we can't avenge our father. What's the point of living if we're just girls? I want to seek revenge with you both; what do you think?" The two sisters cried and said, "We'll listen to our sister." That night, the three sisters armed themselves with knives and scaled the wall into Zhang Xin's house, killing him and his wife. They then went to their father's grave to pay their respects. Afterwards, they turned themselves in to the local authorities. The three sisters all claimed to be the masterminds, and the local officials were at a loss. Emperor Gaozu heard of their actions and was greatly impressed, granting them a pardon.
Speaking of Han Ji's wife, she is the daughter of the Yu family in Luoyang, named Maode. Her father's name is Yu Shi, who served as a high-ranking official during the Zhou dynasty. When Yu was fourteen years old, she married Han Ji. Although she grew up in luxury and her family was prominent, she was exemplary in her conduct, lived frugally, and was highly respected by her family. When she was eighteen years old, Han Ji died in battle, leaving Yu heartbroken. Every day, when she made offerings in memory of Han Ji, she personally held the offerings. After the mourning period, her father, noticing her youth and lack of children, wanted to remarry her. However, she resolutely refused, vowing never to marry again. Even when her family tried to persuade her, Yu cried all night and even cut off her hair as a sign of protest. Her father sighed and ultimately respected her wishes. She raised Han Ji's son, Shilong, as if he were her own, nurturing and educating him until he became successful. After her husband's death, she only visited her family occasionally and avoided visiting other relatives. When distinguished guests came to visit, she did not go out to greet them. She led a simple life, subsisting on vegetarian meals, wearing plain clothes, and refraining from music. The Emperor was deeply impressed upon hearing her story and issued a decree to commend her, erecting a monument in front of her home, and people in Chang'an referred to her house as the "Model of Virtuous Woman." She passed away peacefully at the age of seventy-two years.
Luo Rang's mother was the daughter of the Feng family in Shangdang, renowned for her kindness and compassion, exemplifying the virtues of motherhood. Luo Rang was her adopted son. During the Renshou period, Luo Rang became the governor of Fanzhou but was convicted of corruption, embezzlement, and exploiting the populace, amassing a considerable fortune. He was reported, investigated by imperial officials, and ultimately found guilty. As a result, Luo Rang was arrested, taken to the capital, and personally interrogated by the Emperor. In spite of his protests, the Emperor ordered a re-investigation by the officials, but the outcome was unchanged.
Then, the emperor called a meeting with the court ministers to discuss, and everyone said that Lu Rang should be put to death. The emperor ordered his execution. Just as Lu Rang was about to face execution, Mrs. Feng rushed to the court looking disheveled and rebuked Lu Rang in front of everyone: "You became a governor without having accomplished anything, but you did not wholeheartedly serve the country, repay the emperor’s kindness; instead, you broke the law, embezzled, and extorted money from the people. If Sima has falsely accused you, are all the people and officials also falsely accusing you? If the emperor does not show mercy to you, then why would he let the imperial historian reexamine your case? What kind of loyal subject are you? What kind of filial son can you claim to be? If you are disloyal and unfilial, are you still a human being?" Tears streaming down her face, Mrs. Feng choked up and personally offered porridge to Lu Rang.
Later, Mrs. Feng wrote to the emperor pleading for mercy, and her heartfelt sincerity moved the emperor, resulting in a change of heart. The Empress Dowager also admired Mrs. Feng's actions and pleaded with the emperor. The imperial historian Liu Yu also said, "Mrs. Feng's maternal virtue has moved many people. If Lu Rang is killed, who would be inspired to follow her example?" Therefore, the emperor gathered all the citizens of the capital at the Vermilion Bird Gate and had the decree read out: "Mrs. Feng, with the virtue of a devoted mother, is a shining example for women everywhere. Her kindness and righteousness have moved heaven and earth, therefore, Lu Rang's death sentence is commuted in recognition of her virtue. Lu Rang will be spared from death, but he will be stripped of his official position and demoted to commoner status."
The emperor issued another imperial decree: "Feng is compassionate and kind-hearted, always following the rules and customs. Her adopted son Lu Rang has committed a crime and should face legal consequences. However, she personally came to the imperial palace to kneel and plead for her son, begging for mercy. I am touched by her devotion to her family and hereby pardon Lu Rang's death penalty. If all women in the world could be like Feng, families would be harmonious and society would be stable! Every time I think of this, I am deeply moved and cannot help but commend her. Her virtues deserve recognition, and she should be rewarded generously. She is granted five hundred pieces of silk." The emperor also summoned all the noblewomen in the capital to meet Feng in order to honor her.
Liu Chang's daughter is married into the Changsun family of Henan. During the Zhou Dynasty, Liu Chang married a princess, rose to prominence as a pillar of the state, Duke of Peng, and held high positions and reputation as a general. He was a close friend of the emperor. After the emperor ascended the throne, he held Liu Chang in high regard and appointed him as the Grand General of the Left Military Guard and the Governor of Qingzhou. His son, named Jushi, was a guard of the crown prince, liked to form factions, bullied others, disregarded the law, and frequently got into trouble. The emperor, out of respect for Liu Chang, always pardoned him.
Jushi grew increasingly reckless, would often brazenly declare, "A true man should wear his hair loose, tie his hands, and dance the barbarian dance on a bamboo mat!" He would pick the strong and powerful sons of officials and nobles, bring them home, trap their necks with cartwheels, and thrash them with clubs. Those who were beaten nearly to death yet still stood their ground, he referred to them as "brave souls" and treated them like brothers. He had over three hundred followers, with the nimble ones dubbed the "Hungry Hawks" and the strong ones called the "Peng Zhuan Team." They often rode horses on the roads with eagles and hunting dogs, attacking passersby and stealing from them. In Chang'an City, anyone who encountered them would be terrified and keep their distance, even officials and royal relatives dared not stand up to them.
Liu Chang's daughter, who is also the sister of the younger brother, often cried and earnestly advised her brother with great sorrow. But the younger brother remained unchanged and eventually wasted the entire family fortune. As Liu Chang grew older, his son was very unfilial. After his daughter became a widow, she saw her father in such a desolate state. Every time she returned to her parents' home, she wove fabric by hand to provide for her father's food and drink. Someone reported that the younger brother and his associates were wandering in Chang'an City, visiting the ruins of the old Weiyang Palace, sitting facing south in rows, and acting quite arrogantly. They often agreed, "We will die anyway!" Some also said that the younger brother had colluded with the Turks to invade from the south and was preparing to conspire inside and outside the capital. The emperor asked Liu Chang, "What do you think of this?" Taking advantage of past favors, Liu Chang refused to admit fault and directly said, "Right and wrong are for Your Majesty to decide!" The emperor was furious, imprisoned Liu Chang, arrested the younger brother and his followers, and punished them harshly. The authorities also accused Liu Chang of being unfilial. Liu Chang's daughter knew her father was doomed. She did not eat or drink for several days, personally prepared food, brought the meals, and delivered them to her father at the Dali Temple. When she saw the jailer, she knelt down to present the food, crying uncontrollably, and everyone who saw her felt great sympathy for her. The younger brother was sentenced to be executed by beheading, and Liu Chang was ultimately put to death at home. The emperor ordered all officials to witness. Liu Chang's daughter fainted multiple times before regaining consciousness, and the courtiers comforted her. She lamented that her father was innocent but was punished because of his son. Her words were so filled with grief that they were unbearable to hear. Finally, she spent her remaining days in rough clothes, eating simple meals. After hearing this, he sighed and said, "This saying really holds true!"
Zhong Shixiong's mother, Jiang Shi, was the daughter of a prominent family from Linhe. Zhong Shixiong became the Fubo General of the Chen State. The emperor of Chen was worried that Zhong Shixiong, who oversaw the indigenous tribes in Lingnan, would rebel, so he always kept Jiang Shi under house arrest in the capital. Later, Prince Jin pacified Jiangnan, and because Zhong Shixiong was in Lingnan, Prince Jin wanted to win him over through kindness, so he sent Jiang Shi back to Linhe. Consequently, local figures like Yu Zimao and Zhong Wenhua revolted, raising troops and inviting Zhong Shixiong to join their rebellion. Zhong Shixiong was on the verge of agreeing when his mother, Jiang Shi, said to him, "I endured great hardships in Yangzhou. Now that we are in a time of peace and have been reunited, I can never repay the emperor's kindness. How could I dare to rebel? If you forget your gratitude and act like a beast, I will take my own life before your eyes!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Shixiong abandoned the idea of rebellion. Jiang Shi also wrote a letter to Yu Zimao and the others involved, urging them not to rebel and outlining the consequences. Yu Zimao did not heed her advice and was later defeated by the imperial army. The emperor, upon learning of Jiang Shi's deeds, held her in high regard and appointed her as the Lady of Anle County.
Next is another story. In Yinzhou, there lived a widow named Hu Shi. Her marital family remains unknown, but she was known for her virtue and was highly respected by the local elite. Amid the chaos in Jiangnan, she persuaded her relatives and friends to remain steadfast and refrain from joining the rebellion, and was subsequently honored as the Lady of Miling County.
There was also a filial daughter-in-law named Tan Shi from the Zhong family in Shangjun. Her husband died shortly after their marriage, when she was only eighteen years old. She was very filial to her mother-in-law and was well-known for it. Over the years, her mother-in-law and other relatives passed away one after another. Tan Shi's family was very poor and couldn't afford funeral arrangements. So she lived frugally, worked day and night spinning and weaving, saved money for ten years, and finally managed to arrange funerals for eight people. The people in the village admired her greatly. When the emperor heard about this, he rewarded her with one hundred shi of rice and erected a monument in front of her house to honor her.
Lastly, there is a story about Yuan Wuguang's mother, who was a daughter of the Lu family in Fanyang. She loved reading from a young age and behaved very properly. When she became a widow in her middle age while raising young sons and no money to educate them, Lu personally taught them to read and instilled in them the principles of being good people. Everyone praised her. During the Ren Shou period, Prince Han Liang rebelled and sent his general Qi Liang to Shandong to seize territory. Qi Liang asked Wu Guang to be his secretary. Later, Qi Liang was defeated, and the provincial governor Shangguan Zheng searched Wu Guang's house and saw Lu, who had evil intentions and wanted to force her. Lu resolutely refused and vowed to never give in. Shangguan Zheng was very cruel and angry, so he set Lu on fire with a candle. Lu's resolve only strengthened, and she never wavered.
Pei Lun's wife was the daughter of Liu from Hedong, who had received a good upbringing since childhood. Towards the end of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty, Pei Lun became the magistrate of Weiyuan County. When Xue Ju rebelled, bandits attacked the county, and unfortunately, Pei Lun was killed. At that time, Liu was forty years old and had two daughters and a daughter-in-law, all of whom were very beautiful. Liu said to them, "We are in troubled times, your father has already died, and I know I cannot protect you. Our family has always upheld a good reputation and must not be dishonored by bandits. I will die with you. What do you think?" Her daughters and daughter-in-law cried, "We will follow your wishes, Mother." Thus, Liu was the first to jump into the well to take her own life; her daughters and daughter-in-law followed suit, all perishing in the well.
Zhao Yuankai's wife is the daughter of the Cui family from Qinghe. Her father, Cui Nao, is mentioned in the "Literary Biography." Their family has always upheld strong family values, and their children all follow the norms of etiquette. Zhao Yuankai's father is a minister, the family is quite wealthy and places great importance on social status, and he married her with an impressive betrothal gift. Zhao Yuankai holds Cui in high regard; even at private banquets, he never speaks out of turn, and his behavior and attire are in line with etiquette. After the Anshi Rebellion broke out, Zhao Yuankai fled to Hebei with the court, preparing to return to Chang'an. When he reached Fukou, he was attacked by bandits. Zhao Yuankai luckily escaped, but Cui was caught by the bandits, who wanted to forcibly marry her. Cui defiantly told the bandits, "I am the daughter of a scholar-official and the daughter-in-law of a minister. Today, my family is destroyed, and my loved ones are gone. If I die, so be it. It is absolutely impossible for me to be your wife!" The bandits tore her clothes, leaving her exposed, and tied her to the bed, preparing to violate her. Afraid of being violated, Cui lied to them, saying, "I am too weak to resist now; I will submit to your will. I dare not resist, please untie me first." The bandits quickly let her go. Cui quickly dressed herself, took the bandit's knife, stood beside a tree, and declared, "If you want to kill me, then go ahead and use your sword. If you want me to die, just come over!" The bandits, enraged, shot her with arrows. Later, Zhao Yuankai tracked down his wife's killer and dismembered him, using his remains to honor Cui's spirit.
Historians say: People often praise women's virtues, merely moderate in nature, and have not reached the extreme. To truly have foresight and insight, to possess a steadfast character, a firm will, and to act only for justice, if you flip through the history books, you'll find that every era has had such women! Princess Lanling's qualities are nobler than those of cold pines, and Princess Nanyang's determination is harder than stubborn stone; the loyalty and bravery of Lady Xi and the filial daughters, along with the sincerity and integrity of mothers Cui and Feng, are enough to make those brave heroes feel ashamed and make even the most virtuous gentlemen feel inadequate.
Princess Xiangcheng and Lady Huayang, the wives of Pei Lun and Yuan Kai, have faced hardships and setbacks, and while things have not always gone as planned, they are willing to share the hardships with their husbands, remaining steadfast through all trials. Their will is as unyielding as ice, and their words and actions are as bright and upright as the sun. Can even the oaths of Gong Jiang in the Book of Songs or the loyalty of Bo Ji in the Zuo Zhuan surpass them?
