Liu Chang's daughter married into the Changsun family of Henan. During the Zhou Dynasty, Liu Chang married a princess and achieved high-ranking titles, including Pillar of the State and Duke of Peng, serving multiple times as a general, earning him great status and reputation. He was a longtime friend of the emperor. After the emperor ascended the throne, he trusted Liu Chang greatly and appointed him as the Left General of the Military Guards and the Governor of Qingzhou. His son, Jushi, served as a guard for the crown prince and had a penchant for forming cliques, bullying others, and breaking the law, frequently causing trouble. The emperor pardoned him each time, out of respect for Liu Chang.
Jushi grew increasingly brazen, often shamelessly declaring, "Men should let their hair down, tie their hands behind their backs, and dance like wild men on bamboo poles!" He would abduct strong young men from noble families, put wheels around their necks, and beat them with sticks. Those who were beaten nearly to death but still refused to submit were dubbed "brave warriors" by him, and he would then release them and befriend them. He had over three hundred followers, with the agile ones called the "Hungry Hawks" and the strong ones known as the "Pengzhuan Squad." They often rode horses on the roads, accompanied by eagles and hunting dogs, attacking passersby and robbing them. In Chang'an City, everyone—including high-ranking officials and imperial relatives—avoided them in fear, as no one dared to confront them.
Liu Chang's daughter, Ju Shi's sister, often cried and advised him earnestly. However, Ju Shi showed no remorse and eventually wasted their family fortune. As Liu Chang aged, his son neglected him. After his daughter became a widow, she saw her father in such a state, and every time she returned to her father's house, she personally wove fabric, doing her utmost to make sure her father was well-fed and cared for. Some people reported that Ju Shi and his associates were wandering in Chang'an City, climbing the ruins of the old Weiyang Palace, sitting facing south in rows, acting in a very arrogant manner, and they often agreed, "Let's die for this!" Some also said that Ju Shi colluded with the Turks, letting them invade from the south, collaborating both inside and outside the capital. The emperor asked Liu Chang, "What do you plan to do about this now?" Liu Chang, relying on past favors, refused to take any responsibility, stating directly, "It's black and white; it all depends on how Your Majesty judges." The emperor was furious, imprisoned Liu Chang, arrested Ju Shi and his followers, and dealt with them severely. The inspection department also reported Liu Chang's lack of filial piety towards his mother.
Liu Chang's daughter knew that her father would definitely not escape punishment, and she went several days without eating. She personally prepared food, held it in her hands, and went to the Dali Temple to deliver it to her father. Upon seeing the jailer, she knelt down for an extended time, crying incessantly, and everyone who saw her felt very sorry for her. Ju Shi was sentenced to execution, while Liu Chang was granted the mercy of dying at home. The emperor ordered all officials to watch. In that moment, his daughter experienced several near-death episodes, and the court officials comforted her. His daughter said her father was not guilty; it was because of his son that he was implicated. Her words were steeped in sorrow, leaving all who heard them deeply moved. Ultimately, she spent her life dressed in rough fabric and subsisting on simple fare.
Upon hearing this, he sighed and remarked, "I've heard the saying, 'a declining family raises daughters, while a thriving family raises sons,' and it rings true!"
Zhong Shixiong's mother was Jiang Shi of Linhe. Zhong Shixiong became the Fubo General in the Chen Dynasty. The Emperor of the Chen Dynasty, fearing that Zhong Shixiong, who was in charge of the barbarian leaders in Lingnan, would rebel, often kept Jiang Shi in the capital as a hostage. Later, Prince Jin pacified Jiangnan. Since Zhong Shixiong was in Lingnan, Prince Jin hoped to win him over with kindness, so he allowed Jiang Shi to return to her hometown, Linhe.
At this time, Zhong Shixiong's fellow townsmen, Yu Zimao, Zhong Wenhua, and others, rebelled, launched an attack on the city, and sent people to invite Zhong Shixiong to join the rebellion. Jiang Shi said to Zhong Shixiong, "I have suffered all kinds of hardships when I was in the capital of Yangzhou. Now that we have encountered wise rule, mother and son can be reunited. I can never repay the emperor's kindness in this lifetime. How can I rebel? If you betray your conscience like a beast, I will take my own life right in front of you!" Zhong Shixiong, after hearing his mother's words, dismissed the thought of rebellion. Jiang Shi wrote letters to Yu Zimao and the others, urging them to think about the consequences. Yu Zimao ignored her advice and was ultimately defeated by the imperial army. The Emperor, upon hearing of Jiang Shi's actions, held her in high regard and bestowed upon her the title of Lady of Anle County.
At that time, there lived a widow named Hu Shi. It was unclear which family she had married into, but she was known for her integrity and was highly respected among the local elite. During the rebellion in Jiangnan, she urged her relatives and friends to hold their ground in strategic positions and refrain from joining the rebellion. She was later honored with the title of Lady of Miling County.
There was a filial daughter-in-law named Qin Shi from the Zhong family of Shangjun. She got married to her husband not long before he passed away, when she was only eighteen years old. She served her mother-in-law with great filial piety and gained a good reputation. Within a few years, her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and uncle all passed away one after another. Qin Shi's family was very poor and unable to afford funerals. So she worked tirelessly at weaving day and night. After a decade of saving, she managed to hold eight funerals, and the people in the village admired her greatly. When the emperor heard about it, he rewarded her with one hundred shi of rice and erected a monument in her honor at her doorstep.
Yuan Wuguang's mother was Lu Shi from Fanyang. In her youth, she was passionate about reading, and her demeanor was always proper. In middle age, she became a widow with young sons and struggled to make ends meet. Lu Shi personally taught her sons to read and educated them on moral principles, gaining widespread admiration. During the Ren Shou period, Prince Han Liang rebelled and sent General Qi Liang to attack Shandong. Qi Liang asked Wuguang to be his secretary. After Qi Liang was defeated, the Governor of Cizhou, Shangguan Zheng, searched Wuguang's house for official documents and saw Lu Shi, harboring sinister intentions towards her. Lu Shi vowed not to submit. Shangguan Zheng was cruel and brutal, and in anger, he set Lu Shi ablaze with a candle. Lu Shi remained unwavering in her principles and never capitulated.
Pei Lun's wife was the Liu family daughter from Hedong, who had received a good education since childhood and was very well-mannered. In the late years of the Sui Dynasty period, Pei Lun served as the magistrate of Weiyuan County. When Xue Ju rebelled and raised troops, the county was attacked and overrun by bandits, resulting in Pei Lun's tragic death. At that time, Liu was forty years old and had two daughters and a daughter-in-law, all of whom were beautiful. Liu addressed them, "We are facing this chaotic world; your father has already died, and I know I cannot fully protect you. Our family has always valued our honor, and we cannot allow ourselves to be dishonored by bandits. I want to die with you. What do you think?" The daughters and daughter-in-law wept and replied, "We will follow mother's lead." So Liu was the first to jump into the well to take her own life, and her daughters and daughter-in-law followed her, and all three perished in the well.
Zhao Yuankai's wife is the daughter of the Cui family from Qinghe. Her father, Cui Ran, is recorded in "Literary Biography." Their family has always upheld strong family values, and all their children abide by the norms of etiquette. Zhao Yuankai's father was a minister, the family was very wealthy and placed great importance on their social status, so they offered lavish gifts to the Cui family to propose marriage. Zhao Yuankai held his wife Cui in high regard. Even at private banquets, he maintained proper decorum; his behavior, speech, and attire all adhered to the norms of etiquette. When war broke out, Zhao Yuankai followed the imperial army to Hebei, preparing to return to Chang'an. When he reached Fukou, he encountered bandits who robbed him, but he narrowly escaped with his life. Cui, however, was captured by the bandits, who intended to force her into marriage. Cui said to the bandits, "I am the daughter of a scholar-official, the daughter-in-law of a minister. Today, my family is ruined and my loved ones are dead. I am ready to die. It is absolutely out of the question for me to become your wife!" The bandits ripped her clothes off, bound her naked form to the bed, and prepared to insult her. Fearing dishonor, Cui deceived them, saying, "I have no strength to resist now. You can do as you wish; I will not resist. Please untie my ropes first." The bandits quickly untied her. Cui immediately put on her clothes, grabbed the knife from one of the bandits, stood beside a tree and declared, "If you want to kill me, then come at me with your sword. If you want me to die, come and force me!" Enraged, the bandits shot her with arrows. Eventually, Zhao Yuankai tracked down his wife's murderer and dismembered him as an offering to appease Cui's spirit.
Historians say that when it comes to virtuous women, many believe that gentleness and obedience are the most important qualities, but in fact, this is only a mediocre standard and has yet to reach the highest level. To truly have foresight, determination, noble character, and to always adhere to one's principles and do what is right in any situation, just flip through the history books. Which era hasn't had such women? Women like Princess Lanling, who are steadfast and unyielding, like Princess Nanyang, who have unwavering determination, like the loyal and brave Xishi, and the devoted filial daughter, like the sincere mothers Cui and Feng; the spirits of these women can make even the bravest martyrs feel ashamed and make beautiful orchids and jade trees feel inferior.
Princess Xiangcheng and Lady Huayang, the wives of Pei Lun and Yuan Kai, have all experienced hardships and difficulties, and their marital lives have faced challenges, but they are willing to stand by their husbands through thick and thin, and no matter what setbacks they encounter, they remain true to their original intentions. Their wills are as resilient as frost, and their words are as bright and clear as sunlight. Even compared to the oaths of Gong Jiang in the Book of Songs and the chastity of Bo Ji in the Zuo Zhuan, how can they compare to them?
