Princess Ke of Xiangcheng was a girl from the Liu family in Hedong. Her father, Liu Dan, served as the Governor of Xunzhou. Princess Ke was beautiful, and when she was in her teens, she was chosen as the princess due to her noble lineage and suitability. Shortly thereafter, the Prince of Xiangcheng was deposed, but Princess Ke continued to serve him dutifully. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, the Prince of Xiangcheng was ambushed and killed by the emperor's men on the way. Before they parted, Princess Ke declared, "If the prince dies, I will never live alone!" They both wept bitterly. After the Prince of Xiangcheng's burial, Princess Ke told the officials at the funeral, "I swear to be buried alongside the Yang family (referring to the Prince of Xiangcheng). If we can be buried together after death, I would be eternally grateful." After saying this, she embraced the coffin, wept, and then took her own life. Everyone present was moved to tears.
Princess Kai Fei of Hua Yang was a young woman from the Yuan family in Henan. Her father, Yuan Yan, was intelligent and capable, with a strong character. During the Renshou era, he served as a palace attendant and was granted the title of Duke of Longhe County. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he was reduced to commoner status and exiled to the South Sea due to his involvement with Liu Shu. Later, he was pardoned during a general amnesty and returned to Chang'an. He was falsely accused of fleeing, and as a result, he was arrested and killed. Kai Fei was beautiful, gentle, and obedient, and was initially selected as the king's consort. Not long after, King Hua Yang was imprisoned and deposed, and Kai Fei served him with even greater caution. Whenever she saw King Hua Yang worried and afraid, she offered him comfort and reassurance. King Hua Yang respected her greatly. During the Jiangdu uprising, King Hua Yang was killed by the rebel army led by Yuwen Huaji, and Kai Fei was awarded to Yuan Wuda, a subordinate of Yuwen Huaji, as a reward. At first, Yuan Wuda treated her like a member of his family, arranging her in a separate residence. However, when he got drunk, he assaulted her. Kai Fei swore not to submit, and this angered Yuan Wuda. He beat her more than a hundred times, growing increasingly brutal. Kai Fei used a shard of tile to mutilate her own face, with blood streaming from her eyes, before Yuan Wuda finally let her go. She said to Yuan Wuda's men, "I cannot die before I face this humiliation; it’s all my fault!" She then stopped eating and ultimately starved to death.
Lady Qiao Guo is the daughter of the Xishi family of Gaoliang. Their family has been the leaders of Nanyue for generations, occupying caves and governing tens of thousands of households. Lady Qiao has been intelligent and wise since childhood, with great strategic insight. She was adept at pacifying the people and leading soldiers to conquer various regions of the Yue people. She often advised her people to do good deeds, so the local people trusted her. The Yue people had a tendency to attack one another. Her brother, Xitiang, the Governor of Nanliang Prefecture, often invaded nearby counties, causing immense suffering to the people of Lingnan. Lady Qiao counseled her brother on multiple occasions, which helped to ease the conflicts. Over a thousand tribes in the Hainan and Dan'er area submitted to her leadership.
During the Datong period of the Liang Dynasty, 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 Northern Yan. His grandfather, Feng Ye, escaped from Goryeo to the Song Dynasty with three hundred followers by boat and settled in Xinhui. From Feng Ye to Feng Rong, three generations of their family served as officials in the area. Although they were outsiders, they were very capable in governing the region. After her marriage to the Feng family, Lady Qiao urged her family members to observe local customs and etiquette. She and Feng Bao handled lawsuits together, and she did not tolerate any wrongdoing, even from her own relatives. Since then, the governance of Gaoliang became orderly, and no one dared to defy her authority.
Later, Hou Jing rebelled, and the Governor of Guangzhou, Xiao Bo, called up troops to aid Taizhou. The Governor of Gaozhou, Li Qianshi, occupied Dagao Kou and sent someone to summon Feng Bao to his presence. Feng Bao wanted to go, but his wife stopped him, saying, "The Governor has summoned the Prefect without good reason; it must be a trap, trying to lure you into rebellion." Feng Bao asked, "How do you know?" His wife replied, "The Governor was summoned to support Taizhou but pretended to be ill, secretly manufactured weapons, gathered forces, and then summoned you. If you go now, he will definitely hold you as a hostage and attack your army. His intentions are clear; it's best to hold off for now and see how things unfold."
A few days later, Li Qianshi indeed rebelled, sending the general Du Pinglu to lead troops into Yanshi. Feng Bao found out and quickly told his wife, who said, "Du Pinglu is a brave general. When he enters Yanshi, he will definitely face the official troops and won't be back for some time. Li Qianshi has no combat power in the city. If you go in person, there's bound to be a fight. Send an envoy to deceive him, speak humbly, and present generous gifts, saying you dare not go in person and want to send the lady to visit. When he hears this news, he will be happy and unprepared. At that time, I will lead more than a thousand men, pretending to transport tribute, and when we reach his camp, we can attack them." Feng Bao listened to his wife's plan, and Li Qianshi was indeed pleased to see the lady's team carrying things without preparing weapons, leading to a surprise attack and a resounding victory. Li Qianshi fled and hid in Ningdu. His wife led the army and joined forces with Chen Baxian at Yanshi and the Great Wall. When she returned, his wife said to Feng Bao, "Commander Chen is quite formidable and has garnered the people's support. I believe he can surely quell the rebellion. You ought to reward him handsomely."
After Uncle Bao passed away, the Lingnan region fell into chaos. His wife, Madam Bao, leveraged her abilities to unite the various Baiyue tribes, restoring peace in several prefectures. In the second year of the Yongding period 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 magistrate of Yangchun County.
Later, the Guangzhou governor Ouyang He rebelled and summoned Pu to Gao'an, hoping to persuade him to join the rebellion. Pu quickly sent someone back to inform his mother. She said, "I have been loyal my entire life, serving the court for two generations. I cannot forsake my principles and betray my country for your sake!" So she immediately led troops to resist, joining forces with various Baiyue leaders to welcome General Zhang Zhaoda, who was sent by the court. With cooperation from both inside and outside, Ouyang He's army was routed and scattered.
Due to Lady Bao's efforts, her son Pu was titled Marquis of Xindu and appointed as the Prefect of Pingyue as well, later promoted to Prefect of Shilong. The court also issued an edict, formally appointing Lady Bao as Prefect of Shilong, and awarded her an ornate four-horse carriage, accompanied by a band and a ceremonial guard, matching the grandeur of a governor. In the Chen Dynasty period, Pu also passed away.
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, the Lingnan region had yet to submit to the new dynasty, and people in several prefectures revered Lady Bao, referring to her as "Holy Mother." She comforted the populace and ensured peace in the region.
The founding emperor sent Wei Guang, the commander, to pacify the Lingnan region, while General Xu Shu of the Chen dynasty resisted in Nankang. When Wei Guang arrived at the border of Lingnan, he hesitated to advance. Meanwhile, the queen of the Chen dynasty presented a crutch made of South Vietnamese rhinoceros horn to Chen Shubao. At this time, Prince Yang Guang of Jin sent a letter to the queen of the Chen dynasty, informing her that the Chen dynasty had been destroyed, and asking her to submit to the Great Sui, offering the rhinoceros horn crutch and a military token as proof. When the queen saw the crutch, she knew that the Chen dynasty had indeed been destroyed, which led her to summon thousands of leaders and weep throughout the day. Then she sent her grandson Xiao Hun to lead the army to welcome Wei Guang. Wei Guang entered Guangzhou, and the Lingnan region was completely pacified. The court appointed Xiao Hun to the title of Yitong Sanqi and appointed the queen as the Lady of Songkang County.
Not long after, Wang Zhongxuan, a leader from Panyu, rebelled, and many leaders responded to him, surrounding the prefecture where Wei Guang was located and stationing 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 advance. When the queen learned of this, she was very angry and sent someone to arrest Xiao Xuan and imprison him in the local prison. She then sent her grandson Xiao Ang to confront Chen Fuzhi, defeated him, and killed him. Xiao Ang continued to advance to Nanhai, where he allied with Lu Yuan's forces and together defeated Wang Zhongxuan. The queen personally wore armor, rode a horse, held a brocade umbrella, and led the cavalry to escort the imperial envoy Pei Ju to oversee the inspection of various prefectures. 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 their respects. Upon her return, the queen continued to lead their tribes, and ultimately, the Lingnan region was pacified.
Gaozu greatly appreciated this and appointed Xiao Ang as the Prefect of Gaozhou, granted clemency to Xiao Xuan, and appointed him as the Prefect of Luozhou. Posthumously honored Xiao Bao as the Governor of Guangzhou and Duke of Qiao, bestowed the title of Lady of Qiao upon the Empress, and restored the title of Song Kang County to her maid, Xi Shi. A court was established for the Lady of Qiao, appointing officials, including a Chief Historian, and granted her a seal, allowing her to mobilize the military of the six southern provinces. In emergencies, she was authorized to act independently. Gaozu issued an edict stating, "I govern the people of the world with the love of a parent, hoping for peace and happiness for all. However, Wang Zhongxuan and others gathered to cause chaos, disturbing the people. Therefore, troops were sent to suppress them and eliminate the harm to the people. The Lady wholeheartedly serves the country, understands the principles of righteousness, and had her grandson Xiao Ang execute Chen Fozhi, ultimately defeating the rebels with significant merit. She is now rewarded with five thousand bolts of silk. Xiao Xuan's failure to mobilize troops in time cannot be overlooked, but due to the Lady's remarkable achievements, he is granted clemency. The Lady should diligently educate her descendants, observe rituals and teachings, obey the court, and act in accordance with my wishes." The Empress also bestowed jewelry and a set of ceremonial attire as rewards, placing them in a golden box alongside gifts from the Liang and Chen dynasties, stored separately. During the annual sacrificial ceremonies, the Empress would display these items in the courtyard for her descendants to observe, stating, "You must remain unwaveringly loyal to the Emperor. I have served three dynasties of emperors with unwavering loyalty. These rewards still exist as a testament to loyalty and filial piety. I hope you will all keep this in mind."
Once upon a time, Zhao Ne, the governor of Fanzhou, was particularly greedy and cruel, which drove the local people to flee and rebel. Zhao Ne's wife sent her chief official, Zhang Rong, to the capital to submit a memorial, outlining how to appease the rebels and revealing Zhao Ne's wrongdoings, arguing that he was unfit to negotiate with the fugitives. After the emperor reviewed the memorial, he dispatched investigators to look into Zhao Ne and uncovered a mountain of evidence of his corruption and bribery, ultimately bringing him to trial. The emperor then ordered Zhao Ne's wife to go and calm the rebellious populace.
Zhao Ne's wife personally took the emperor's decree, claiming she was the emperor's envoy, and traveled across more than a dozen provinces, proclaiming the emperor's will and persuading the rebels. Wherever she went, people surrendered. Emperor Gaozu was delighted and rewarded her with the Tangmu Prefecture in Linzhen County, comprising 1,500 households. Her husband was posthumously named governor of Yanzhou and Duke of Pingyuan County. She passed away during the Renshou period, and the court granted her 1,000 pieces of silk and conferred upon her the posthumous title of Lady Chengjing.
Zheng Shanguo's mother is the daughter of the Cui family from Qinghe. She married Zheng Cheng when she was thirteen and gave birth to Zheng Shanguo. Later, Zheng Cheng went to fight against Wei Jiong and heroically sacrificed his life on the battlefield. Zheng Shanguo's mother became a widow when she was twenty. Her father, Cui Yanmu, wanted her to remarry, but she held Zheng Shanguo close and said to her father, "A woman shouldn’t remarry. Besides, even though Zheng Cheng has passed away, he left behind this son. Abandoning a son is unfilial, and betraying a deceased husband is disrespectful. I would rather cut off my ears and shave my head to show my resolve than remarry. I can’t go against etiquette or be unfilial and disrespectful, so I cannot heed your words." Because his father sacrificed for the country, Zheng Shanguo became a general at a young age, inheriting the title of County Duke of Kaifeng with a fief that included one thousand households. During the Kaihuang era, he was elevated to Duke of Wude County. At just fourteen, he was appointed as the Inspector of Yizhou, later transferred to the Inspector of Jingzhou, and then became the Prefect of Lu County.
Wow, she was truly an incredible woman! Virtuous, principled, and incredibly knowledgeable, she was also skilled in medicine. Every time her son Shanguo finished a case, his mother would sit on the Hu bed, hiding behind a screen to watch. If her son judged the case fairly, she would be especially pleased when he returned, and she would quickly invite him to sit down and chat, sharing some laughs together.
If she handles cases unfairly or loses her temper easily, she will go back to her room, cover herself with a blanket, cry, and not eat all day. Shanguo would kneel in front of her bed, too afraid to breathe. When her mood improves a bit, she will say, "I'm not angry with you; I'm ashamed for our family! I married into your family and managed the household well, just like your father, who was a loyal and upright official. He was honest in officialdom, never corrupt, devoted himself to the country, and served until his death. I hope you can carry on his legacy! You became an orphan at a young age, and I am a widow. I love you but lack authority, which leads you to not know manners and etiquette. How can you bear the title of a loyal minister? Did you really think you became a marquis just through your own abilities after inheriting the family business at such a young age? How can you focus solely on enjoying yourself and treat it like a means to get rich? This could ruin our family’s reputation and may even result in losing your title and rank; secondly, it violates the emperor's laws and commits a great crime. What face will I have to show your ancestors after I die?"
My mother always spins and weaves by herself, often busy until late at night before sleeping. I (Shanguo) asked her, "Mom, now that I am a high official and have a lot of salary, why are you still working so hard?" My mother said, "Ah! You are already so grown up; I thought you understood the principles of duty, but listening to you, it seems you still don't understand. That salary of yours is given by the emperor to repay your father's sacrifice for the country; it should be used to help relatives and repay the ancestors' kindness. How can you only focus on enjoying yourself and treat it like a means to get rich? Moreover, spinning and weaving are women's responsibilities; from empresses to the wives of ordinary scholars, each has their own duties. If you neglect these tasks, it is indulgence and luxury. I may not understand grand theories, but I cannot tarnish my reputation!"
Since my mother became a widow, she never wore makeup or dressed up, usually wearing homespun clothes. She was very frugal, never indulging in unnecessary food or drink except for sacrifices and entertaining guests. She would stay quietly at home, rarely going out. Whenever there were major events among relatives and friends, she would send generous gifts, but never visit their homes. Even gifts from relatives and friends were not allowed inside except for those made by herself or given from the estate.
When I held an official position, no matter where I was assigned, I brought my own food to eat at the office, never consuming the office meals, which I used for office repairs or shared with colleagues. It was because of this that I was able to restrain myself and was praised as an upright and honest official. Emperor Yang of Sui even sent the Grand Master of Ceremonies Zhang Heng to commend and praise me, declaring me the best official in the country, and then promoted me to the rank of Guangluqing. Shortly after my mother passed away, I was promoted to the rank of Daliqing, gradually becoming indulgent and less upright.
Lady Wang Shun was the daughter of Prince Chun of Zhao Jun. Her father Prince Chun was on bad terms with his cousin Chang Xin, who conspired to kill Prince Chun when the state of Qi fell. At that time, Shun was only seven years old, with two younger sisters, Can who was five years old, and Fan who was two years old. The three of them were left without parents and had to stay with relatives. Shun took care of her two sisters, and they shared a very deep sisterly bond. However, Shun always harbored thoughts of revenge for her father, while Chang Xin remained completely unsuspecting.
After the sisters grew up, their relatives wanted to marry them off, but they all refused. Shun secretly said to her two sisters, "We have no brothers, so we cannot take revenge for our father's death. Even though we are women, what's the point of living? I want to take revenge with you; what do you think?" The two sisters cried and said, "We will listen to our sister." That night, the three sisters each took a knife and climbed over the wall into Changxin's house, killing the Changxin couple themselves, and then went to their father's grave to deliver the news. Afterwards, they turned themselves in to the authorities, and the three sisters took turns claiming to be the mastermind, but neither the county nor the state could reach a verdict. When Gaozu heard about it, he was greatly impressed by them, granting them a pardon for their actions.
Han Ji's wife was a daughter of the Yu family from Luoyang, whose courtesy name was Maode. Her father was named Yu Shi, a high-ranking official in the Zhou Dynasty. Yu married Han Ji when she was fourteen. Despite growing up in a wealthy and prestigious family, she was extremely courteous in her conduct, lived a simple life, and was highly respected by her family members. When she was eighteen years old, Han Ji died in battle, leaving Yu heartbroken to the point of emaciation. Her mourning touched the hearts of passersby. Every morning and evening when she made offerings to Han Ji, she personally held the offerings. After the mourning period ended, her father, noticing her youth and childless condition, wanted to marry her off. However, she vowed never to remarry. Despite her father's and relatives' attempts to persuade her, Yu cried all night and even cut her hair off in a vow. Seeing her resolve, her father sighed in sorrow and ultimately did not force her. She raised Han Ji's son Shilong as her own, nurturing and educating him with care until he became successful. After her husband's death, she only occasionally visited her parents' home and never visited any other relatives or friends. If any high-ranking visitors came, she refused to greet them at the door. She subsisted on a vegetarian diet, wore simple, coarse garments, and never listened to music for the remainder of her life. The Emperor, upon learning of her deeds, praised and rewarded her, honoring her family, and the people of Chang'an referred to her home as the "Model Widow's Residence." She passed away at the age of seventy-two.
Lü Rang's mother was the daughter of the Feng family from Shangdang, known for her kindness and motherly virtues. Lü Rang was her adopted son. During the Renshou era, Lü Rang became the governor of Fanzhou, but he engaged in corruption, extortion, and exploitation of the people, causing widespread resentment with piles of ill-gotten gains. He was eventually reported, investigated by imperial decree, and found guilty of his offenses, which led to his arrest and interrogation.
Lu Rang cried out in injustice, and the Emperor ordered the Imperial Historian to conduct a new investigation, but the outcome was still the same. So the Emperor summoned the court ministers for a discussion, and everyone agreed that Lu Rang should be executed. The Emperor approved the memorial to execute Lu Rang.
Seeing that Lu Rang was about to be executed, Mrs. Feng rushed to the court with her hair unkempt and her face dirty, shouting at Lu Rang: "You became a governor without having achieved anything, but you did not wholeheartedly repay the Emperor's kindness; instead, you broke the law, embezzled, and extorted money from the people! If Sima framed you, are the common people and officials also lying about you? If it was the Emperor who did not show you mercy, then why did he order the Imperial Historian to review your case? What kind of loyal minister do you think you are? What kind of filial son do you think you are? If you are neither loyal nor filial, are you even human anymore?" As tears streamed down her face, Mrs. Feng sobbed uncontrollably, urging Lu Rang to eat the porridge she brought.
Afterwards, Mrs. Feng submitted a petition to the Emperor, full of sorrow and grief in every line. The Emperor was deeply touched by her plea, and his expression softened. Empress Xian was also moved by Mrs. Feng's heartfelt actions and pleaded with the Emperor. The Imperial Historian Liu Yu also said, "Mrs. Feng's maternal virtue has moved passersby. If Lu Rang is killed, what lesson would that teach the people?"
Therefore, the emperor summoned all the people of the capital to the Zhuque Gate, and an official announced the imperial edict: "Feng Shi's virtues as a mother-in-law are worthy of being a model for all. Her loving actions have touched the hearts of heaven and earth, and she is pardoned for her crimes to promote good morals. Lu Rang can be spared from the death penalty, but he will be stripped of his official title and demoted to commoner status." The emperor then issued another imperial edict: "Feng Shi is kind and virtuous, always adhering to etiquette and laws. Her adopted son, Lu Rang, has committed a crime and should be dealt with according to the law. However, Feng Shi personally came to the palace gate to plead on behalf of her son, kneeling and repeatedly kowtowing. I am touched by her filial piety and hereby pardon Lu Rang's death sentence. If all women were like Feng Shi, wouldn't every household be harmonious and society peaceful? Every time I think of this, I am deeply moved and cannot help but feel emotional. Her virtues deserve recognition, and she will be generously rewarded with five hundred bolts of silk." The emperor also summoned all the noblewomen of the capital to meet Feng Shi, in order to honor her. Liu Chang's daughter is married to a member of the Changsun family from Henan. During the Zhou Dynasty, Liu Chang married a princess and attained high-ranking positions, including Duke of Peng and General, with significant status and prestige. He was an old friend of the founding emperor. After the founding emperor ascended to the throne, he trusted Liu Chang greatly and appointed him as the General of the Left Wuwei and the Governor of Qingzhou. His son, Jushi, served as a guard to the crown prince, forming cliques, abusing his power, ignoring the law, and often causing trouble. The emperor, respecting Liu Chang, always pardoned him.
The recluse became more and more unruly, often shamelessly saying, "Men should be tied in reverse like braids and dance fiercely on the bamboo mat!" He would pick those strong and powerful among the sons of officials, bring them home, trap their necks in a cart wheel, and then beat them with sticks. Those who were beaten to near death and refused to submit, he referred to as "brave warriors," then released them and befriended them. He had more than three hundred followers; the agile ones were known as the "Hungry Hawks," and the strong ones were known as the "Pengzhuan." They often rode horses on the road with eagles and hounds, attacking passersby and robbing them. In the city of Chang'an, regardless of their social standing, people would stay far away when they saw them, even the high-ranking officials and imperial relatives dared not confront them.
Liu Chang's daughter, the recluse's sister, often cried and earnestly advised him. But the recluse never changed, and eventually squandered all his family's wealth. As Liu Chang grew older, his son treated him very poorly. After his daughter became a widow, she saw her father suffering like this, so every time she returned to her parents' home, she personally spun yarn and wove cloth to support her father's livelihood. Someone reported that the recluse and his accomplices were wandering in Chang'an, climbing the ruins of Weiyang Palace, sitting facing south, parading in formation, acting very arrogantly, and they often agreed, "Anyway, we all have to die once!" There were also reports that the recluse had colluded with the Turks to launch an invasion from the south, planning to coordinate an inside-and-outside attack on the capital. The emperor asked Liu Chang, "How do you plan to handle this?" Liu Chang, banking on past favors, refused to take responsibility, stating directly, "Right and wrong, Your Majesty, it's up to you to decide!" The emperor, furious, imprisoned Liu Chang, arrested the recluse and his followers, and dealt harshly with them. The oversight agency also accused Liu Chang of being unfilial towards his mother.
Liu Chang's daughter knew that her father would definitely not be able to escape the blame. She didn't eat or drink for several days, personally prepared food, and carried it to Dali Si to deliver to her father. When she saw the guards, she knelt down and couldn't get up, crying uncontrollably, drawing sympathy from everyone who witnessed her plight. Liu Chang was sentenced to death by beheading, and he was ultimately granted a death sentence at home. The emperor even ordered all officials to come and watch. During this time, Liu Chang's daughter fainted several times before regaining consciousness, and the ministers all comforted her. She cried out that her father was innocent, only guilty because of her son; her heart-wrenching cries shattered the hearts of those who heard her. In the end, she lived her life in coarse clothing, subsisting on plain tea and simple meals.
Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but sigh, "I've heard the saying, 'the daughter of a declining family, the son of a prosperous family,' and it certainly holds true!"
Zhong Shixiong's mother was the daughter of Jiang, from Linhe. Zhong Shixiong rose to the rank of Fubo General during the Chen Dynasty. The Chen Dynasty emperor, worried that Zhong Shixiong, who oversaw the barbarians in Lingnan, might rebel, always held Jiang captive in the capital. Later, Wang Guangping of the Jin Dynasty pacified Jiangnan and sought to win Zhong Shixiong over with kindness, so he let Jiang return to her hometown of Linhe. As a result, fellow countymen, including Yu Zimao and Zhong Wenhua, rebelled, raised troops to attack the city, and sent people to invite Zhong Shixiong to join them. Jiang said to Zhong Shixiong, "I suffered a lot when I was in the capital of Yangzhou. Now that I have encountered the wise court, mother and son are finally reunited. I can never repay this kindness as long as I live. How can I rebel! If you forget your gratitude and act like a beast, I will commit suicide in front of you!" Hearing this, Zhong Shixiong abandoned any thoughts of rebellion. Jiang also wrote letters to Yu Zimao and others, urging them not to rebel and warning them of the consequences. Yu Zimao ignored her advice and was ultimately defeated by the imperial troops. The emperor learned of Jiang's actions and held her in high regard, bestowing upon her the title of Lady of Anle County.
In Yinzhou, there was a widow named Hu. It is unclear which family she married into, but she was of great integrity, and the local prestigious families all respected her. During the rebellion in Jiangnan, she persuaded her relatives and friends to stay put and resist joining the rebellion. She was later bestowed the title of Lady of Miling Commandery. Another notable figure is a filial daughter-in-law named Tan from Shangjun, who was married into the Zhong family. Her husband died shortly after their marriage, leaving her just eighteen. She was renowned for her devotion to her mother-in-law. Within a few years, her mother-in-law and uncles all passed away one after another, leaving Tan's family in dire poverty, unable to afford proper funerals. She then lived frugally, spinning and weaving tirelessly day and night, saving money for ten years to finally hold the funerals for eight family members. The villagers held her in great esteem. Upon hearing of this, the emperor rewarded her with one hundred shi of rice and erected a monument in front of her house to commend her. Yuan Wuguang's mother was the daughter of the Lu family from Fanyang. She loved reading from a young age and conducted herself with grace and propriety. After her husband passed away, she raised several young children on her own, and the family was impoverished and could not afford their children's education. Lu personally taught them to read and educated them on moral principles, gaining widespread admiration. During the reign of Ren Shou, Han Wang Liang rebelled and sent a general named Qi Liang to Shandong to seize land. Qi Liang asked Wuguang to be his secretary. After Qi Liang's defeat, the Cizhou Governor Shangguan Zheng searched Wuguang's house and, upon seeing Lu, harbored malicious intentions and attempted to coerce her. Lu resolutely vowed never to yield. Shangguan Zheng, a cruel man, became furious and subjected her to candle torture. Lu's will became even stronger, and she never gave in.
Pei Lun's wife was the daughter of the Liu family from Hedong, who had been well-educated and was highly cultured. In the late years of the Sui Dynasty’s reign, Pei Lun served as the magistrate of Weiyuan County. When Xue Ju rebelled and attacked the county, the city was overrun by bandits and Pei Lun was tragically killed. At that time, Liu was forty, with two daughters and a daughter-in-law; all three were beautiful. Liu said to them, "We are facing war and chaos, your father has already died, and I realize I cannot protect you. Our family has always valued our reputation; we cannot allow ourselves to be insulted by bandits. I intend to die with you. What do you think?" Her daughters and daughter-in-law cried out, "We will do as mother says." Liu was the first to leap into the well, taking her own life, and her daughters and daughter-in-law followed suit, all perishing in the well.
Zhao Yuankai's wife was the daughter of the Cui family from Qinghe. Her father, Cui Ran, was recorded in "Literary Records." Their family has always had strong family values, and their children all follow proper etiquette. Zhao Yuankai's father held the position of a high-ranking official; the family was very wealthy and placed great importance on social standing, so they used generous gifts to propose to the Cui family. Zhao Yuankai greatly respected his wife, Cui Shi; even during private banquets, he did not make jokes casually, and his behavior, speech, and attire all adhered to proper etiquette. After the outbreak of the An Shi Rebellion, Zhao Yuankai followed the court to Hebei, preparing to return to Chang'an. When they reached Fukou, they encountered bandits who attacked them; Zhao Yuankai managed to escape with his life. However, Cui Shi was captured by the bandits, who intended to force her into marriage. Cui Shi said to the bandits, "I am the daughter of a scholar-official, the daughter-in-law of a high-ranking official. Now that my family is ruined and people are dead, I could die right now. There is no way I would ever become your wife!" The bandits tore her clothes, revealed her body, and tied her to the bed, preparing to violate her. Cui Shi, terrified of being violated, lied to them, "I have no strength left to resist; I will comply with your wishes. I dare not resist; please untie my ropes." The bandits quickly untied her. Cui Shi immediately put on her clothes, grabbed the bandit's knife, stood by the tree, and declared, "If you want to kill me, go ahead and use your weapons! If you want to die, come and force me!" The bandits were very angry and shot her down with arrows. Later, Zhao Yuankai tracked down the man who murdered his wife, dismembered the murderer, and used his remains to honor Cui Shi's spirit.
Historians say: Usually when praising a woman's character, gentleness and obedience are considered the primary standards, but this is only at a moderate level, not yet reaching the highest standard. To truly possess vision and determination, unwavering willpower, unshakeable integrity, and act only for justice, flipping through the history books, which era did not have such women! Noble as Princess Lanling, steadfast as Princess Nanyang, loyal and brave like Lady Xi and the filial daughter, sincere and earnest like the two mothers Cui and Feng, they all make brave men feel ashamed and noble women feel inadequate. Princess Xiangcheng, Lady Huayang, the wives of Pei Lun and Yuan Kai, have all faced hardships and difficulties, and things did not always go their way, but they were willing to endure hardships with their husbands, steadfast in the face of adversity. Their will is as unyielding as ice, their words and actions are above reproach. Even when compared to Gong Jiang's oaths in the Book of Songs and Bo Ji's loyalty recorded in the Zuo Zhuan, how do they measure up?
