Princess Xiaonv Wang was the daughter of Prince Chun of Zhao. Her father, Prince Chun, had a strained relationship with his cousin Changxin. Later, when the state of Qi defeated Zhao, Changxin and his wife conspired to murder Prince Chun. At that time, Xiaonv was only seven years old, with two younger sisters, one named Can who was five years old, and the other named Fan who was two years old. The three of them were left without parents and had to rely on relatives for shelter. Xiaonv took on the responsibility of raising her two younger sisters, and the sisters shared a very close bond. However, Xiaonv always wanted to avenge her father, while Changxin was completely unprepared.
When the sisters grew up, relatives wanted to marry them off, but they all refused. Xiaonv secretly said to her two sisters, "We have no brothers, so we can't avenge our father. What's the point of living as women without avenging him? I want to seek revenge with you, what do you think?" Both sisters cried and said, "We'll listen to you, sister." That night, the three sisters each took a knife and scaled the wall into Changxin's home. They killed Changxin and his wife with their own hands, then went to their father's grave to pay their respects. Afterwards, they surrendered to the county, and the three sisters each claimed to be the one behind the plan, so neither the county nor the state could make a judgment. The Emperor was greatly impressed by their actions and granted them a pardon.
Han Ji's wife was the daughter of Yu Shi from Luoyang, with the courtesy name Maode. Her father, Yu Shi, was a high-ranking official of the Zhou Dynasty. Yu Shi's daughter married Han Ji at the age of fourteen. Although she was born into a wealthy and noble family, her demeanor was always proper and in accordance with etiquette. She led a simple and frugal life and was highly respected by her family. When she was eighteen, Han Ji died in battle while serving in the military, leaving her in deep grief. Her tears moved those who passed by. Every morning and evening when she made offerings to Han Ji, she personally held the offerings.
After the mourning period was over, her father, noticing that she was young and childless, wanted to marry her off. But she swore never to remarry. Her father had family members try to persuade her, and Yu cried all night, even cutting her hair as a vow. Seeing her determination, her father was heartbroken and ultimately did not force her. She then raised Han Ji's son, Shi Long, as her own, teaching and nurturing him carefully, and he eventually grew up to be successful. Since becoming a widow, she only visited her parents' home occasionally, cutting ties with other relatives and friends. Even when important and honorable guests came to visit, she did not come out to greet them. She ate vegetarian dishes, wore plain clothes, and did not listen to music, living this way for the remainder of her life. When Gaozu heard about her, he greatly admired her and issued a decree praising her, erecting a monument for her family, and the people of Chang'an called her "the chaste widow." She eventually passed away peacefully at the age of seventy-two.
Luo Rang's mother was the daughter of the Feng family from Shangdang and was kind and loving, with a motherly demeanor. Luo Rang was her adopted son. During the Renshou period, Luo Rang became the governor of Fanzhou, but he became corrupt, extorting and exploiting the people, leading to chaos. He was reported by Sima and investigated by the emperor, who verified his crimes, arrested him, and personally interrogated him. Luo Rang protested his innocence, so the emperor ordered the imperial censor to reinvestigate, with the same result. The emperor then summoned the court officials for a discussion, and they all concurred that Luo Rang deserved death. The emperor sanctioned the decree for Luo Rang's execution.
Lu Rang is about to be executed. Feng, with her hair in disarray and her face streaked with dirt, ran to the court and rebuked Lu Rang: "You became a governor without having achieved any notable accomplishments, yet you have neither served the country wholeheartedly nor repaid the emperor's grace; instead, you violated the law, embezzled funds, and extorted money from the people. If Sima falsely accused you, are the people and officials also falsely accusing you? If the emperor has no mercy for you, then why send officials to re-examine your case? What kind of loyal servant are you? What kind of dutiful son are you? If you are neither loyal nor filial, can you even call yourself a person?" As she spoke, Feng began to cry, choking on her sobs, while offering Lu Rang some porridge to eat.
After crying, Feng petitioned the emperor for leniency. Her petition was filled with sorrow and heartfelt sincerity, which deeply moved the emperor, visibly changing his expression. The Empress Dowager admired Feng's actions as well and joined in pleading with the emperor. The official Liu Yu said, "Feng's maternal virtues have touched the hearts of many. If Lu Rang is executed, who else would follow her example?" The emperor then gathered the people of the capital at the Zhuque Gate and had an attendant announce the imperial edict: "Feng, with the virtues of a devoted mother, is a role model for everyone. Her compassion and righteousness have moved heaven and earth, and she is pardoned for her crimes to promote good social values. Lu Rang can be spared from the death penalty, stripped of his official title, and demoted to commoner status."
The emperor issued another decree: "Feng is compassionate and kind-hearted, always abiding by the rules. Her adopted son Lu Rang has committed a crime and should be punished according to the law. However, she personally came to the palace to plead for her son, kneeling and kowtowing. I am touched by her devotion to her son, so I pardon Lu Rang's death sentence. If all women were like Feng, wouldn't families be harmonious and society more peaceful? Every time I think about this, I can't help but praise her. Her virtues deserve recognition, and she should be generously rewarded. Give her five hundred rolls of fabric." The emperor also summoned all the noblewomen in the capital to meet Feng and honor her in a grand ceremony.
Liu Chang's daughter is married into the Changsun family in Henan. During the Zhou Dynasty, Liu Chang married a princess and held prestigious positions as a pillar of the state and Duke of Peng. He and the founding emperor were old friends. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he trusted Liu Chang and appointed him as the General of the Left Military Guards and Governor of Qingzhou. His son, named Jushi, was a guard of the crown prince, forming factions and abusing his power, flouting the law and frequently getting into trouble. Out of respect for Liu Chang, the emperor always pardoned him.
Jushi became more and more arrogant, often brazenly declaring, "Men should have disheveled hair, untied arms, and perform barbaric dances on bamboo mats!" He would pick the strong-looking sons of officials and nobles, take them home, pin them down with a cartwheel, and beat them. He called those who were nearly beaten to death but still refused to submit "brave warriors," and he would befriend them. He had over three hundred followers, with the agile ones known as the "Hungry Hawk Squad" and the strong ones as the "Pengzhuan Squad." They would often ride horses on the streets with eagles and hunting dogs, attacking passersby and robbing them. In Chang'an City, anyone who saw them kept their distance; even nobles and royal relatives dared not cross them.
Liu Chang's daughter, who is Ju Shi's sister, often cried and advised him with heartfelt concern. However, Ju Shi remained unrepentant, and in the end, he squandered all his family's wealth. As Liu Chang aged, his daughter and son-in-law showed him little filial piety. After his daughter became a widow, seeing her father in such distress, she prepared meals herself and took them to the Dali Temple for her father, spinning thread and weaving fabric with all her heart and effort. 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, marching in formation, acting with blatant arrogance, and often agreeing with each other, "It's worth dying for this!" Some also said that Ju Shi had colluded with the Turks to invade from the south and conspired inside and outside the capital. The emperor asked Liu Chang, "What do you think of this?" Banking on past favors, Liu Chang refused to take responsibility and directly said, "Right and wrong, Your Majesty, you have the final say." The emperor was furious, imprisoned Liu Chang, and arrested Ju Shi and his followers, dealing with them harshly. The authorities also reported Liu Chang's lack of filial piety towards his mother.
Liu Chang's daughter knew that her father would definitely not escape, so she went several days without eating or drinking, personally preparing meals and bringing them to the Dali Temple to feed her father. Upon seeing the jailers, she knelt down for a long time, crying inconsolably, moving all who witnessed her. Ju Shi was sentenced to death, and Liu Chang was ultimately sentenced to death at home. The emperor ordered all officials to witness the execution. Liu Chang's daughter fainted multiple times before regaining consciousness, and the courtiers and ministers comforted her. She cried that her father was innocent and was only punished due to her son. Her grief was truly heartbreaking. In the end, she spent her life dressed in coarse clothing and subsisting on plain food.
After hearing this, he sighed and said, "I've heard of the fates of daughters from fallen families and the fortunes of sons from prosperous ones. It’s definitely not just empty words!"
Zhong Shixiong's mother, Jiang, was from the Jiang family of Linhe. Zhong Shixiong became the General of Fubo in the Chen Dynasty. The emperor of the Chen Dynasty was worried that Zhong Shixiong, who was in charge of the non-Han people in Lingnan, would rebel, so he often kept Jiang under house arrest in the capital. Later, Wang Guangping of the Jin Dynasty pacified Jiangnan. Because Zhong Shixiong was in Lingnan, the Jin Dynasty wanted to win him over with kindness, so they permitted Jiang to return to her hometown of Linhe. As a result, fellow locals, including Yu Zimao and Zhong Wenhua, rebelled, attacked the city, and sent people to invite Zhong Shixiong to join the rebellion. Zhong Shixiong was contemplating this invitation when his mother Jiang said, "I suffered a lot when I was in the capital of Yangzhou. Now that we have encountered the rule of a wise emperor and mother and son are finally reunited, I can never repay this kindness for the rest of my life. How can we rebel? If you forget gratitude and be ungrateful like a beast, I will commit suicide in front of you!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Shixiong dispelled the idea of rebelling. Jiang wrote letters to Yu Zimao and the others, advising them not to rebel and informing them of the consequences of rebellion. Yu Zimao did not listen and was later defeated by the imperial forces. The emperor, upon hearing about Jiang's deeds, greatly admired her and titled her the County Lady of Anle.
In addition, in Yinzhou, there was a widow named Hu, whose family background was unclear. She was very principled and was held in high regard by the local gentry. During the rebellion in Jiangnan, she encouraged her relatives and friends to hold their ground in strategic locations and not participate in the rebellion. She was later honored with the title of Lady of Miling County.
There was also a filial daughter-in-law named Tan, who was married into the Zhong family of Shangjun. She had not been married to her husband for long when he passed away, leaving her at the age of eighteen. She was exceptionally devoted to her mother-in-law, earning her a reputation for filial piety. Several years later, her mother-in-law and uncles passed away one after another, leaving Tan's family impoverished and unable to afford proper funeral arrangements. She frugally saved money for ten years, spinning and weaving day and night, in order to complete the funeral arrangements for eight people. The villagers held her in high esteem. Upon hearing about this, the emperor awarded her a hundred measures of rice and commended her family.
Yuan Wuguang's mother, Lu, was the daughter of the Lu family in Fanyang. She loved reading since childhood and was very well-mannered. In her middle age, she was widowed with young sons, and the family was poor, unable to afford to send the children to school. Lu took it upon herself to teach them to read and instilled in them the principles of being good people, which earned her widespread praise. During the reign of Ren Shou, Han Wang Liang launched a rebellion and sent General Qi Liang to Shandong to seize territory. Qi Liang appointed Wuguang as his secretary. Later, Qi Liang was defeated, and the Cizhou governor Shangguan Zheng searched Wuguang's home and saw Lu, harboring malicious intentions and attempting to force himself on her. Lu resolutely refused and vowed not to submit. Shangguan Zheng was very ruthless and furious, burning her body with candles. Lu's will became even firmer, and she never gave in.
Pei Lun's wife was the daughter of the Liu family in Hedong, receiving a good education since childhood. Towards the end of the Sui Dynasty, when the Great Enterprise was about to end, Pei Lun became the magistrate of Weiyuan County. During the rebellion of Xue Ju, the county was attacked by bandits, and Pei Lun was unfortunately killed. At that time, Liu, at forty, had two daughters and a daughter-in-law, all three of whom were beautiful. Liu said to them, "We are now experiencing war and chaos, your father has died, and I feel I cannot fully protect you. Our family has always upheld its integrity and cannot be dishonored by those bandits. I plan to die together with you. What do you think?" The daughters and daughter-in-law cried and said, "We will listen to mother." Liu then jumped into the well to commit suicide, and her daughters and daughter-in-law followed suit, and all three perished in the well.
Zhao Yuankai's wife is a young lady from the Cui family of Qinghe. Her father, Cui Nuo, is mentioned in the "Literary Chronicles." Their family has always upheld strong family values, and its children adhere to proper etiquette. Zhao Yuankai held Mrs. Cui in high regard; even at private gatherings, he refrained from speaking out of turn, and his behavior and attire were in line with etiquette. Later, chaos erupted across the land, and Zhao Yuankai went to Hebei, preparing to return to Chang'an. When they reached Fukou, they were ambushed by bandits, and Zhao Yuankai barely saved his life. Mrs. Cui, however, was captured by the bandits, who intended to force her into marriage. Mrs. Cui said to the bandits, "I am the daughter of a scholar-official family and the daughter-in-law of a minister. Today, my family is destroyed and my loved ones are dead. If I die, so be it. I will never agree to be your wife!" The bandits tore her clothes, leaving her completely exposed, tied her to a bed, and attempted to rape her. Fearing humiliation, Mrs. Cui deceived them, saying, "I lack the strength to resist now. Do as you wish, I dare not resist. Please untie me." The bandits quickly released her. Once freed, Mrs. Cui quickly dressed, picked up the bandit's knife, stood against a tree and declared, "If you want to kill me, use your sword. If you want me to die, come and force me!" Enraged, the bandits shot her with arrows. Later, Zhao Yuankai tracked down his wife's killer and dismembered him, using his remains as an offering to mourn Mrs. Cui.
In historical records, when praising the virtues of women, they always put gentleness and submissiveness in the first place. In fact, this only represents an average standard and does not reach the highest level. To truly possess vision, insight, and an unyielding character, with a steadfast commitment to live solely for justice, flip through the history books; which era did not have such women! Like Princess Lanling, noble and steadfast, like Princess Nanyang, resolute in will, like the filial daughter of the Xi family, loyal and brave, like the two mothers Cui and Feng, genuine and honorable, all of them can make the brave heroes feel ashamed and those with noble character feel inferior.
Princess Xiangcheng and Princess Huayang, these princesses, as well as the wives of Pei Lun and Yuan Kai, have all experienced hardships and difficulties, encountered unpleasant situations, but they are willing to share the joys and sorrows with their husbands, unwavering in the face of adversity, their will as unyielding as ice, their words and actions as bright and upright as the sun. While the "Book of Songs" praises Gong Jiang's oath and the "Zuo Zhuan" recounts Bo Ji's loyalty and sacrifice, who can truly surpass them?
