Lady Qiao is the daughter of the Xishi family of Gaoliang. Their family has been the leaders of Nan Yue for generations, occupying the caves in the mountains and governing over tens of thousands of households. Lady Qiao has been intelligent and wise since childhood, with great strategic thinking. In her parents' home, she was adept at soothing the populace, leading troops in battle, and subduing the Yue people from various regions. She often advised her people to do good deeds, earning high respect in the local area.
The Yue people had a tendency to engage in infighting. Lady Qiao's brother, Xie Ting, the governor of Nanliangzhou, exploited his considerable power to frequently harass neighboring counties, causing immense suffering for the people of Lingnan. Lady Qiao repeatedly advised her brother, eventually resolving the conflicts between the two sides. Thousands of villages in the Hainan and Dan'er regions pledged allegiance to them.
During the Liang Datong period, Feng Rong, the governor of Luozhou, heard of Lady Qiao's talents and married his son, Feng Bao, to her. Feng Rong was a descendant of Beiyuan, whose grandfather, Feng Ye, led three hundred people across the sea to seek refuge in 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. Despite being outsiders, they proved quite capable in governing the region. After Lady Qiao married into the Feng family, she urged her people to adhere to local laws and regulations and to coexist harmoniously with the locals. She often handled litigation cases with Feng Bao, and she never showed favoritism, even when her own people broke the law. From that point on, governance in Gaoliang became effective, the people have lived and worked in peace, and no one dared to violate the laws. Her leadership fostered a climate of peace and stability that benefited all.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, the Governor of Guangzhou, Xiao Bo, recruited soldiers to support Taizhou. The Governor of Gaozhou, Li Qianshi, occupied Dagao Kou and sent someone to summon Feng Bao. Feng Bao wanted to go, but his wife stopped him, saying, "The Governor summoned the Prefect without cause; there must be a scheme. He definitely wants to use you to rebel together." Feng Bao asked, "How do you know?" His wife said, "The Governor was summoned to support Taizhou but feigned illness, secretly forging weapons and gathering troops, only then did he call you over. If you go, he will definitely hold you as a hostage and send troops to attack your army. His intentions are clear; it would be wiser not to go for now and to observe the situation first."
A few days later, Li Qianshi did indeed rebel, sending the general Du Pinglu to attack Shan Shi. Feng Bao learned of this and hurriedly told his wife. His wife said, "Du Pinglu is a brave and skilled general; when he leads the troops to attack Shan Shi, there will definitely be conflicts with the officials, and he will not return for some time. Li Qianshi in the state is also unable to come to the rescue. If you go in person, there will definitely be a battle. We should dispatch an envoy to mislead him, using humble language, sending generous gifts, and stating that you dare not go in person but want to send me to console him. He will be pleased to hear this and let his guard down. By then, I will lead over a thousand men, pretending to transport tribute, and when we reach near his camp, we can attack him." Feng Bao followed his wife's plan. Li Qianshi was indeed very pleased, seeing that the wife's team was carrying things and not prepared for battle; he was caught off guard and decisively defeated. Li Qianshi fled to Ningdu. The wife led the army to meet with Chen Baxian at Shan Shi and Changcheng. Upon returning, the wife said to Feng Bao, "Commander Chen is very powerful, held in high regard by the people; I believe this person will definitely be able to quell the rebellion. You should offer him substantial support."
After Bao Shu died, there was chaos in the Lingnan region. His wife, also known as Madam Bao, was very capable and united the various Baiyue tribes, bringing stability to several provinces. In the second year of the Yongding reign of the Chen Dynasty, when her son Pu was only nine years old, the former generals and leaders traveled to Danyang to pay their respects to him, and the court appointed him directly as the governor of Yangchun County.
Later, the Guangzhou governor Ouyang Ge rebelled and called Pu to Gao'an, hoping to persuade him to join the rebellion. Pu quickly sent someone back to inform his mother, who replied, "I have been loyal to the court my entire life, for two generations; I cannot abandon the country for your sake." So she immediately mobilized troops to resist, and even brought the various Baiyue tribal leaders to meet General Zhang Zhaoda sent by the court. With a coordinated internal and external effort, Ouyang Ge's army immediately dispersed. Due to Madam Bao's contributions, her son Pu was granted the title of Marquis of Xindu and was also appointed as the Lady General of Shilong, later promoted to the position of Shilong Prefect. The court even specially sent someone with an imperial decree to appoint Madam Bao as the Lady General of Shilong, rewarding her with an embroidered canopy, lavish horses, a comfortable carriage, and a ceremonial escort, similar to that of a governor.
During the Xide era of the Chen Dynasty, Pu also passed away. After the Chen Dynasty fell, the Lingnan region had yet to surrender to the new dynasty, and several counties paid homage to her as the "Holy Mother," and she safeguarded the borders and administered the region.
Emperor Gaozu sent the general Wei Guang to bring peace to Lingnan, while the Chen general Xu Zhan resisted in Nankang. When Wei Guang arrived at the border of Lingnan, he hesitated to move forward. Earlier, the queen of the Chen dynasty presented a rhinoceros horn staff from Funan to the Chen emperor. At that time, Prince Yang Guang of Jin sent a letter to the Chen queen, informing her of the demise of the Chen dynasty and urging her to submit to the Great Sui, offering the rhinoceros horn staff and military token as proof. Upon seeing the rhinoceros horn staff, the queen realized that the Chen dynasty had indeed fallen, so she gathered thousands of leaders and mourned for an entire day.
She then sent her grandson Hun to lead the army to meet Wei Guang. Wei Guang entered Guangzhou and pacified the entire Lingnan region. The court appointed Hun as the Yitong Sanqi official, and the queen was appointed as the Lady of Songkang County. Not long after, the people of Panyu, led by Wang Zhongxuan, revolted, and many leaders supported him, surrounding the city where Wei Guang was stationed, with the army stationed at Hengling. The queen sent Sun Xuan to rescue Wei Guang. Sun Xuan and the rebel Chen Fuzhi had been friends before, so he deliberately stalled and refused to move forward. When the queen learned of this, she was furious and ordered Sun Xuan's arrest and had him imprisoned. She then sent Sun Ang to confront Chen Fuzhi, who was defeated and killed.
The army marched to the South China Sea and joined forces with the army of Lu Yuan, and together they defeated Wang Zhongxuan. The Empress personally donned armor, rode a war horse, carried a brocade umbrella, led the cavalry, and escorted the imperial envoy Pei Ju to inspect the various provinces. Leaders such as Chen Tan from Cangwu, Feng Cenweng from Gangzhou, Deng Matou from Lianghua, Li Guanglue from Tengzhou, and Pang Jing from Luozhou all came to pay homage to her. Upon returning, the Empress continued to lead their tribes, thoroughly pacifying Lingnan. The Emperor held her in high regard for this, appointing Sun Ang as the Prefect of Gaozhou, pardoning Sun Xuan, and appointing him as the Prefect of Luozhou. The Empress was posthumously granted the title of Governor of Guangzhou and Duke of Qiao, elevated to the rank of Lady of Qiao, and restored the title of Song Kang County to her maid Xi Shi.
The court also established an office for the Lady of Qiao Guo, appointed officials, including a Chief Historian, gave her a seal, allowed her to mobilize the troops from the six provinces of Lingnan, and permitted her to handle emergencies independently. Gaozu issued an imperial decree saying, "As I govern the world, my care for the people is like that of a parent, hoping for peace and prosperity throughout the country, and for the people to live in peace and contentment. However, Wang Zhongxuan and others have gathered to rebel, disrupting the lives of the people. Therefore, I have dispatched troops to quell them and protect the people. The Empress has wholeheartedly served the country, understanding her responsibilities, and dispatched Sun Ang to kill Chen Fuzhi, ultimately quelling the rebellion with significant contributions. Now I reward the Empress with five thousand bolts of silk. Sun Xuan failed to mobilize his troops in time and should indeed face punishment, but in light of the Empress's contributions, I have granted him a pardon. The Empress should properly educate her descendants, instill in them the importance of etiquette and moral teachings, obey the court's orders, and act in accordance with my wishes." The Empress also rewarded her with jewelry and a set of banquet clothing, which she kept in a golden box, along with gifts from the Liang and Chen dynasties, in a separate warehouse. At the grand banquets held each year, the Empress would display these items in the courtyard for her descendants to view, stating, "You must always be loyal to the Emperor. I have served three dynasties of emperors with unwavering loyalty. These rewards serve as a testament to loyalty and filial piety, and I hope you all remember this."
Zhao Ne, the governor of Fanzhou, was too greedy and cruel, causing the local minority people to flee and rebel. His wife, the governor's wife, sent her chief secretary, Zhang Rong, to the capital to submit a memorial, detailing how to pacify these minority groups. She also exposed Zhao Ne's crimes, arguing that his conduct made it impossible to win back the fleeing people. The emperor ordered an investigation into Zhao Ne, uncovering a large amount of bribes he had accepted. He was eventually brought to trial and held accountable according to the law. The emperor then ordered Zhao Ne's wife to pacify the rebellious minority groups.
Madam Zhao personally took the emperor's decree, proclaiming herself as the emperor's envoy, and traveled to over a dozen states, promoting the emperor's wishes and persuading the rebellious minority groups. Wherever she went, the people surrendered. The emperor was very pleased and rewarded her with the town of Tangmu in Linzhen County, which had 1,500 households! Her husband was posthumously named governor of Yanzhou and Duke of Pingyuan County. In the early years of Renshou, she passed away, and the court awarded her 1,000 bolts of cloth and bestowed upon her the posthumous title of "Madam Chengjing."
Zheng Shanguo's mother, the daughter of the Cui family in Qinghe, married Zheng Cheng when she was thirteen and gave birth to Zheng Shanguo. Later, Zheng Cheng participated in the war against Wei Jiong, fought bravely, and died in battle. Zheng Shanguo's mother was widowed at twenty. Her father, Cui Yanmu, urged her to remarry, but she held Zheng Shanguo and said to Cui Yanmu, "It is not proper for a woman to remarry. Besides, although Zheng Cheng has died, he has left behind this son. Abandoning a son is unfilial; betraying a deceased husband is disrespectful. I would rather cut off my ears and shave my head to show my resolve than violate etiquette and be unfilial and disrespectful. I will never listen to you!" Because her father sacrificed himself for the country, Zheng Shanguo became a commander and general at a young age, inheriting the title of Duke of Kaifeng County with land that supported a thousand households. In the early Kaihuang era, she was later promoted to Duke of Wude County. At the age of fourteen, she was appointed as the governor of Yizhou, then transferred to the governor of Jingzhou, and later became the governor of Lu County. Her mother was truly a remarkable woman! She was both virtuous and upright, wise, and even had medical skills. Whenever Shanguo wrapped up a case, her mother would sit on the couch, secretly observing behind the screen. If Shanguo's judgment was fair and reasonable, her mother would be especially happy when she returned and would sit down with Shanguo to have a chat and share some laughs.
However, if Shanguo handles cases unfairly or flies into a rage, her mother will go back to the room, cover her head with a blanket and cry, and not eat all day. Shanguo can only kneel by the bedside, afraid to make a sound. When her mother's mood lifts a little, she will say, "I am not angry with you; I feel ashamed for bringing shame upon our family! As your wife, I manage the household for your family, all thanks to your late father's legacy. He was a loyal and upright official, upright and incorruptible during his service, never corrupt, and even sacrificed his life for the country. I hope you will carry on his legacy. You became an orphan at a young age, and I am a widow, loving you but lacking authority, letting you not learn manners properly. How can you honor your father's loyal reputation? You inherited the family title at a young age and became a marquis; was it all due to your own efforts? How can you not consider these, just fly off the handle whenever you feel like it, only focused on pleasure while neglecting your official duties? In this way, the family's reputation is ruined, and even the risk of losing your position, violating the emperor's laws and committing a serious offense. After I die, how can I ever show my face to your ancestors?"
My mother has always spun yarn and woven cloth by herself, often working until late at night before going to sleep. I (Shanguo) asked her, "Mom, I am now a high-ranking official with a salary that is more than enough; why do you still work so hard?" My mother said, "Oh! You are already so grown up; I thought you would understand some principles, but hearing you say that, it seems you still haven't grasped it! Do you think that salary comes from your own abilities? It is the emperor's way of repaying your ancestors' service to the country! You should use some of it to honor your ancestors' contributions, as how can you only think of your own enjoyment? Besides, it is a duty for every woman to engage in tasks like spinning and weaving, from the empress to the wives of common officials. If you neglect these tasks, it is luxury and extravagance. Although I may not understand grand principles, I cannot ruin our reputation!"
Since becoming a widow, my mother never wore makeup or fancy clothes, always dressing in coarse fabric. She was exceptionally frugal, only spending on sacrifices and entertaining guests, never partaking in excessive food or drink. She always stayed quietly at home, seldom going out. When there were important events for relatives or friends, she would send many gifts as congratulations or condolences, but never visit them. Even gifts from relatives were forbidden from entering our home, except for those made by her own hands or given from the estate.
After becoming an official, no matter where I served in which province or county, I brought my own meals to the office, refusing the provisions provided by the office, using them for repairs or to share with colleagues. I maintained strict standards for myself, earning a reputation as an honest official. Emperor Yang of Sui even sent Grand Master Zhang Heng to praise me as the best official in the realm, and promoted me to Guangluqing. After my mother passed away, I was appointed as the Grand Minister of Justice, gradually becoming more proud and indulgent, losing the honesty and fairness I once had.
It is said that Princess Xiaonu, Wang Shun, is the daughter of Prince Chun of Zhao. Her father, Prince Chun, had a strained relationship with his cousin, Changxin, and during the fall of the State of Qi, Changxin and his wife conspired to murder Prince Chun. At that time, Shun was only seven years old, and she had two younger sisters, one named Can, who was five years old, and one named Fan, who was two years old. The three of them were orphaned and had no one to turn to, so they could only live with relatives. Shun took on the responsibility of raising her two younger sisters, and their sisterly bond was very strong. However, Shun always wanted to avenge her father, while Changxin was completely unprepared.
When the sisters grew up, their relatives wanted to marry them off, but they all refused. Shun quietly said to her two sisters, "We have no brothers, so we cannot avenge our father. What's the point of our lives as women? I want to seek revenge with you; what do you think?" The two sisters cried and said, "We will listen to you, sister." That night, the three sisters each took a knife and climbed over the wall into Changxin's house, where they killed Changxin and his wife themselves, then went to their father's grave to confess what they had done. They then surrendered themselves to the county office. The three sisters insisted that they were the masterminds, and the county and state officials were at a loss. When Emperor Gaozu learned of this, he admired them greatly and granted them a pardon.
Han Ji's wife was a daughter of the Yu family from Luoyang, named Maode. Her father was Yu Shi, a prominent minister of the Zhou dynasty. She married Han Ji when she was fourteen. Although she grew up in a wealthy and prominent family, she adhered to proper etiquette, lived simply, and earned great respect from her relatives. When Han Ji was killed in battle at the age of eighteen, Yu was heartbroken and mourned him so deeply that she became emaciated. Her grief touched the hearts of passersby. Every day, she personally made offerings to Han Ji. After the mourning period was over, her father, concerned about her youth and lack of children, wanted her to remarry. However, she firmly refused. Even when her family tried to persuade her, Yu cried all night and even cut her hair as a pledge. Seeing her determination, her father respected her wishes. She raised Han Ji's son, Shilong, as her own, nurturing and educating him until he became successful. After becoming a widow, she only visited her parents occasionally, cutting off contact with other relatives and friends. She lived a life of simplicity, wearing coarse clothing, eating vegetarian food, and avoiding music. Emperor Gaozu heard of her and praised her, issuing a decree in her honor and erecting a monument at her home to commemorate her. The people of Chang'an called her the "Exemplary Widow." She passed away peacefully at seventy-two.
Lu Rang's mother is from the Feng family of Shangdang, a kind and loving person, embodying the virtues of motherhood. Lu Rang is her adopted son. During the Renshou period, Lu Rang became the governor of Fanzhou, but he became embroiled in corruption and bribery, creating a scandal that led to accusations from Sima. The emperor sent people to investigate, confirming Lu Rang's crimes, resulting in his arrest and interrogation. Lu Rang pleaded his innocence, so the emperor ordered a reinvestigation by the imperial historian, but the result was the same. The emperor then summoned his officials to deliberate, and the consensus was that Lu Rang deserved death. The emperor approved the memorial to execute Lu Rang.
As Lu Rang was about to be executed, Feng rushed into the court, disheveled, and confronted him: "You became a governor without any merit, failed to wholeheartedly repay the emperor's kindness, violated the law, and engaged in corruption. If Sima has framed you, does that mean the common people and officials are doing the same? If the emperor does not show mercy, why would he order a reinvestigation? What kind of loyal subject are you? What sort of filial son can you claim to be? If you are neither loyal nor filial, can you still be considered a human being?" Tears streaming down her face, Feng personally brought a bowl of porridge and urged Lu Rang to eat. Then, she submitted a petition, pleading very earnestly, which touched the emperor's heart and softened his demeanor. The Empress Dowager admired Feng's actions and interceded on Lu Rang's behalf. The imperial historian Liu Yu also said, "Feng's maternal virtues have resonated with many. If Lu Rang is killed, what kind of deterrent would that be?"
The emperor then summoned all the common people of the capital to Zhuque Gate and sent an official to read the imperial edict: "Feng Shi, with the virtues of a devoted mother, can serve as an example to the world. Her kindness and righteousness have moved the heavens and earth, and therefore she should be specially pardoned as a reward for her good conduct. Lu Rang is spared from the death penalty, but he must be dismissed from his position." The emperor then issued another imperial edict: "Feng Shi is kind and virtuous, always abiding by etiquette. Lu Rang is not her own son and should be punished according to the law for his offenses. Feng Shi personally ran to the palace to plead for her son, kneeling and bowing her head. I am truly touched, and hereby pardon Lu Rang from the death penalty. If all the women in the world were like Feng Shi, then families would surely be harmonious and society stable! Every time I think of this matter, I am deeply moved. She should be commended and rewarded to recognize her virtues. Give her five hundred rolls of cloth." The emperor also summoned many noblewomen to meet with Feng Shi in order to honor her.
Liu Chang's daughter is the daughter-in-law of the Changsun family from Henan. During the Zhou dynasty, Liu Chang married a princess and held the titles of Pillar of the State and Duke of Peng, serving as a general multiple times, with a high status and reputation. He was an old friend of the founding emperor. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he trusted Liu Chang greatly and appointed him as the General of the Left Guard and Governor of Qingzhou. His son, named Jushi, was a guard of the crown prince, forming cliques, bullying people, ignoring the law, and frequently getting into trouble. The emperor, out of respect for Liu Chang, always pardoned him.
The recluse became more and more arrogant, often shamelessly saying, "A true man should bind his hands behind his back and dance like a wild man on a bamboo mat!" He would target the burly sons of officials and nobles, drag them to his lair, use a cartwheel to choke them, and then beat them with a stick. Those who were beaten almost to death but still refused to yield, he would call "brave warriors" and treat them as brothers. He had more than three hundred followers, with the nimble ones dubbed the "Hungry Hawk Squad" and the strong ones called the "Pengzhuan Team." They often rode horses on the road with eagles and hunting dogs, attacking passersby and robbing them blind. In Chang'an City, anyone who saw them would be frightened and keep their distance; even the officials and royal relatives didn't dare to stand up to them.
Liu Chang's daughter, who was the recluse's sister, often cried and pleaded with her brother earnestly. But the recluse did not change at all and eventually blew through all the family's money. Liu Chang grew old, and his son barely took care of him. His daughter, widowed, saw her father in this state and every time she returned to her maternal home, she personally wove and did her best to make sure her father was well-fed and taken care of. Someone reported that the recluse and his accomplices were wandering in Chang'an City, scaling the ruins of Weiyang Palace, sitting facing south in a row, with an air of arrogance, often swearing to each other, "We’d die for this!" Some also said that the recluse had colluded with the Turks to launch an invasion from the south and stage an inside job in the capital. The emperor asked Liu Chang, "What do you say about this?" Banking on past favors, Liu Chang refused to take responsibility and bluntly said, "Right or wrong, it's up to you to decide!" The emperor was furious, imprisoned Liu Chang, arrested the recluse and his followers, and meted out harsh punishment.
The Censor accused Liu Chang for being unfilial to his mother. Liu Chang's daughter knew that her father could not escape, so she stopped eating for several days, personally prepared meals, and delivered them to her father at the Dali Temple. When she encountered the jailer, she fell to her knees and wept, which made everyone who witnessed her plight feel sorrowful. The layman was sentenced to be executed by beheading, and Liu Chang was ultimately granted a death sentence at home. The emperor ordered all officials to watch. At that moment, Liu Chang's daughter experienced several near-death episodes before reviving, and the court officials tried to console her. She pleaded for her father's innocence, claiming he was only found guilty due to his son. Her heartbreaking cries moved everyone to tears. In the end, she wore rough clothing, subsisted on plain food, and lived a humble life.
After hearing this, he sighed and said, "I’ve heard the saying, 'the daughter of a declining family and the son of a prosperous family,' and it certainly holds true!"
Zhong Shixiong's mother, Jiang Shi, was the daughter of the Jiang family from Linhe. Zhong Shixiong became the Fubo General during the Chen Dynasty. The Emperor of the Chen Dynasty worried that Zhong Shixiong, overseeing the minority ethnic leaders in Lingnan, might rebel, so he often kept Jiang Shi under house arrest in the capital. Later, Wang Guangping of the Jin Dynasty pacified Jiangnan. Since Zhong Shixiong was in Lingnan, the Jin Dynasty wanted to win his loyalty with favors, so they allowed Jiang Shi to return to her hometown of Linhe. As a result, his fellow townsmen, Yu Zimao, Zhong Wenhua, and others, rebelled, attacking the city and even inviting Zhong Shixiong to join the rebellion. Zhong Shixiong was about to agree when his mother, Jiang Shi, said to him, "I suffered a lot in the capital of Yangzhou before. Now that we are in a peaceful era and reunited as mother and son, I can never repay the Emperor's kindness in this lifetime. How could I still rebel? If you forget your gratitude like a heartless beast, I will kill myself in front of you!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Shixiong renounced the idea of joining the rebellion. Jiang Shi wrote letters to Yu Zimao and others, urging them not to rebel and informing them of the consequences. Yu Zimao did not listen and was later defeated by the officials. When the Emperor learned of Jiang Shi's deeds, he held her in high esteem and bestowed upon her the title of Lady of Anle County.
Next, we have a widow named Hu Shi from Yinzhou. Her marital family is unknown, but she was known for her strong integrity and earned the respect of the local nobility. During the chaos in Jiangnan, she persuaded her relatives and friends to stand firm and refrain from joining the rebellion. She was later honored with the title of Lady of Miling County.
Now, let’s talk about the devoted woman, Tan Shi. She was the daughter-in-law of the Zhong family from Shangjun. Her husband passed away shortly after their marriage, when she was only eighteen years old. She was known for her deep filial piety towards her mother-in-law. Within a few years, her mother-in-law and uncles all passed away. Tan Shi's family was very poor and had no money for funeral arrangements. Determined to honor their memory, she worked tirelessly, spinning and weaving day and night to save money. After ten years of hard work, she was finally able to arrange funerals for eight family members, and the villagers held her in high regard. Upon hearing of her dedication, the emperor rewarded her with a hundred measures of rice and erected a monument at her doorstep to honor her.
Finally, let’s discuss Yuan Wuguang’s mother, who was the daughter of the Lu family from Fanyang. She loved reading from a young age, and her demeanor was always dignified. After her husband passed away, she raised several young children on her own. The family struggled financially, leaving the children unable to afford an education, so she took it upon herself to teach them how to read and instill in them the values of integrity. Everyone praised her. During the reign of Ren Shou, Prince Han Liang led a rebellion, dispatching General Qi Liang to Shandong to claim territory. Qi Liang appointed Wuguang as his secretary. After Qi Liang was defeated, Shang Guanzheng, the magistrate of Cizhou, searched Wuguang's home and encountered Lu. Shang Guanzheng became infatuated with Lu and attempted to assault her. Lu vowed to resist, and furious, the ruthless Shang Guanzheng resorted to burning Lu's body with a candle. Lu steadfastly upheld her integrity and never wavered.
Pei Lun's wife was the daughter of the Liu family from Hedong, and she had received a good education since childhood. As the Sui Dynasty was nearing its end, Pei Lun became the magistrate of Weiyuan County. During Xue Ju's rebellion, the county was besieged by bandits, and Pei Lun was tragically killed. At that time, Liu was forty, and she had two daughters and a daughter-in-law, all of whom were beautiful. Liu said to them, "We are facing this chaotic world, your father has already died, and I feel I cannot fully protect you. Our family has always been strict; we cannot allow ourselves to be insulted by bandits. I plan to die with you. What do you think?" Her daughters and daughter-in-law wept and replied, "We will follow mother." So Liu jumped into the well to take her own life, and 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 "Literary Biography." Their family has always upheld strict values in education, and all their children are well-behaved. Zhao Yuankai's father is a supervisor; the family is very wealthy and places great importance on ancestry, so he offered generous gifts to marry into the Cui family. Zhao Yuankai held Cui in high regard; even at private banquets, he refrained from speaking out of turn, and his behavior and dress conformed to etiquette. Upon reaching Fukou, Zhao Yuankai encountered bandits who attempted to rob him, but he narrowly escaped with his life. However, Cui was captured by the bandits, who intended to force her into marriage. Cui declared to the bandits, "I am the daughter of a scholar-official, the daughter-in-law of a supervisor. Today, my family is ruined and people are dead. I would rather die than be your wife! That is absolutely out of the question!" The bandits ripped her clothes and bound her naked body to the bed, attempting to assault her. Afraid of being humiliated, Cui deceived them, saying, "I am too weak to resist now; do as you wish, I dare not resist, please untie me first." The bandits complied and quickly untied her. Cui swiftly dressed, took the bandit's dagger, stood by a tree and declared, "If you want to kill me, then come at me with your sword! If you want me to die, just come!" Enraged, the bandits shot her with arrows. Later, Zhao Yuankai tracked down the murderer who had killed his wife, dismembered him and used his remains to honor Cui's spirit.
The historians say that when it comes to women's virtues, many consider gentleness and obedience to be the most important, but that’s really just a moderate standard. To truly possess foresight, insight, unwavering character, and a steadfast commitment to justice, one only needs to look through the history books to find such women in every era! Women like Princess Lanling, noble and resolute; Princess Nanyang, resolute in will; the elderly Xi and the devoted daughter, both loyal and courageous; the mothers Cui and Feng, sincere and earnest - all of them put even the bravest heroes to shame and make the virtuous feel embarrassed. Princess Xiangcheng, Lady Huayang, the wives of Pei Lun and Yuan Kai, they all faced hardships and difficulties, but willingly endured hardship alongside their husbands, never losing their resolve even in tough times. Their will is as unyielding as ice, their words and deeds as bright and honorable as the sun. Even the oaths of Gong Jiang in the Book of Songs and the fidelity of Bo Ji in the Zuo Commentary pale in comparison to them!
