Empress Xiaoyuan, the mother of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, came from a family that was a total powerhouse, boasting ten marquises and five Grand Commandants — their influence was insane, and all of this is recorded. Emperor Cheng's Empress Xu was the daughter of the Grand Commandant and Cavalry General Ping'en Marquis Xu Jia. Emperor Yuan was particularly saddened that his mother, Empress Gong'ai, had a short reign due to the Huo clan's affairs, so he chose Xu Jia's daughter to be the Crown Prince's wife. Right after Empress Xu arrived at the Prince's palace, the Emperor specially sent the royal staff to serve her and asked the Crown Prince how they were getting along. Emperor Yuan was thrilled. "Fill my cup!" he told his attendants, and everyone cheered. Later, the Empress became pregnant and gave birth to a son, but unfortunately, he did not survive. After Emperor Cheng ascended the throne, he made Empress Xu the Empress, and she gave birth to a daughter who also died young. Initially, the Empress's father, Xu Jia, had been helping run the government as Grand Commandant and Cavalry General since Emperor Yuan's reign, for about eight or nine years. After Emperor Cheng ascended the throne, he appointed Emperor Yuan's uncle, Marquis of Yangping Wang Feng, as Grand Commandant and Grand General, ranking alongside Xu Jia. A man named Du Qin thought that, according to convention, the Empress's father should have a higher status than the Emperor's uncle, so he advised Wang Feng, "Look, the Grand Commandant's already got a top job. You should show him some respect, Wang Feng, before things get awkward. Little things can blow up, you know? Remember what happened with General Wei and Marquis Gai? Think about it." After some time, the Emperor wanted to entrust Wang Feng with all the power, so he appointed Xu Jia to an official position and said, "General, your family's got enough clout, and you're highly respected. Time to retire and enjoy the good life. Here's two hundred catties of gold, and I'm making you a Marquis of Special Merit. Relax and enjoy your time in the court." Over a year later, Xu Jia passed away, and he was given the posthumous title of Gonghou.
Her Majesty the Empress, a clever and learned woman, well-versed in history, has enjoyed the Emperor's unwavering favor, a privilege few others in the palace have known. The Empress Dowager and several uncles of the Emperor were worried that the Emperor had no heir. At that time, there were also a series of natural calamities. Liu Xiang and Gu Yong, among others, attributed these calamities to the failings of the imperial court. The Emperor also thought they had a point, so he decreased expenditures within the palace and the imperial household. The Empress then submitted a memorial:
I once wore roughspun clothes, ate simple fare, and was, frankly, quite unpolished. I was fortunate enough to escape my humble beginnings and find service in the palace. Thanks to the Emperor's favor, my station far surpasses my merits, but I have failed to live up to the responsibilities of my position, violating the laws multiple times, and I deserve exile and execution, a punishment wholly inadequate for my transgressions.
But on the day of Renyin, the Grand Chamberlain read the imperial edict: "The imperial household's expenditures, the Empress's attire and transport, and all disbursements and gifts to relatives, officials, and concubines are to revert to the practices observed prior to the Jingning era." I secretly thought to myself that since I entered the inner court, the rewards to relatives have never exceeded the old rules, always seeking the Emperor's approval before making decisions; why the further inquiry? While times have changed, and the current system differs from its predecessors, adherence to the established Han Dynasty precedents should suffice; strict adherence to every detail is unnecessary. Were the reward systems of the Jingning and Huanglong eras identical? My household staff are unfamiliar with these matters, leaving me quite perplexed by this sudden edict.
The edict says I can't get anything from the government offices. Basically, it means the Weiyang Palace isn't under my control, so I shouldn't be getting stuff on my own. So, no gifts for my family either, which I find completely baffling. The Emperor gave me a Tangmuyi to live on, so what's the harm in taking a little extra? The edict also says the Empress's clothes and carriages should follow the old ways, pre-Jingning period. The officials are clueless, so I'll just stick to the old styles. If I even try to hang a screen, they'll claim it's against the rules and use the edict to stop me. These two things are impossible to manage, Your Majesty. Please understand!
Those palace eunuchs are such snakes, always trying to get one over on me. When I was higher up, they wouldn't dare. Now I'm falling down the ladder, and with this edict, they'll clamp down even harder. Who am I going to complain to? Your Majesty, seeing me in the Pepper Room, won't you even grant me this small favor? If I can't get a little something from the treasury, how am I supposed to live? Those middle officials used to steal cheap silk from the maids and eunuchs, even from the royal carriages, claiming it was for repairs, but they were selling it on the sly. The maids and eunuchs were furious and humiliated.
And besides, we used special oxen for our grandparents' sacrifices. Even Daihou and Jinghou got the full imperial treatment. We should follow tradition, Your Majesty. Please show some mercy!
First of all, the Empress said, "Having just received the imperial edict and reviewed the memorial, I immediately stated that in the future, we can no longer privately take things from the inner treasury as we used to. Why do they have to restrict me like this? It's just to avoid breaking protocol and attracting gossip. Now, as long as we reduce the use of carriages and horses, don’t take things from the Palace of Eternal Harmony as we did before, and reward clothing according to the previous rules, as for other matters, they are too urgent—what should I do? I find myself in a difficult position. Back in the days of the Ning Palace, the difference compared to now is like night and day! So, in the past, if there were any rewards of wine and meat from outside families, I had to request permission first. Take for example, the beauty of Du Lingliang, who was only rewarded with approximately 26 gallons of wine and 220 pounds of meat each year. My share is nothing compared to the land given to eight sons! There are too many things; I can’t finish writing them all. When you see me in person, I will explain in detail. Your Majesty, please give this some thought!"
The Emperor accepted the suggestions of Liu Xiang and Gu Yong and replied:
Your Majesty, I've heard what you've said. The sun is the origin of all things, heaven's most important light, the symbol of kings, and the position of rulers. If you use darkness to undermine the light, it's like the lowly surpassing the noble. It's like a wife ruling over her husband – utter chaos! In the 242 years of the Spring and Autumn Period, there were many changes, but nothing was greater than a solar eclipse. Since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, only ministers like Empress Lü and Huo Guang could witness a solar eclipse. How could such a sign appear now? The Han system keeps the vassals in line, so there's no chance of another rebellion like the Seven States. The ministers are loyal, so there's no threat of conspiracies like those of Shangguan Jie, Bolu Hou, and Xuan Cheng Hou. The barbarians are all subdued. Everyone respects the Han. The people are content. Even if there were discontent, it's nothing to worry about. And there isn't!
It is said that in the first month of the first year of Jian Shi, white gas appeared in the imperial palace. The imperial palace's inner chambers are where the emperor's wives live, and in the first month, it is called the Emperor's Pole, the time of greatest imperial power. White, associated with the west, is an ominous color in spring. Its appearance in the imperial palace during the most auspicious month is a very bad sign. This means trouble with the succession, and it suggests someone lowly might seize power.
In September, a huge, melon-shaped meteor blazed across the heavens, streaking from Wen Chang, across Zi Wei Palace, its dragon-like tail arcing towards Gou Chen. This is another bad omen, and occurring within the palace makes it even more ominous. Afterwards, the well water in the Northern Palace overflowed and flowed southward, disrupting the natural order and causing floods in several counties that drowned many people. Panic spread like wildfire; even a little girl slipped unnoticed into the palace. The Yellow River, the source of Yin energy and China's mightiest river, has breached its banks, submerging many towns and villages, indicating an excessive Yin that defies the laws of nature.
In the previous months, rats built nests in trees, and wild magpies changed color. On the Geng Zi day of May, birds in the Tai Shan region spontaneously combusted their nests. The *Yi Jing* warns that neglecting your people is like a bird burning its nest – initially satisfying, but ultimately disastrous. Losing your people is like a cow losing its coat – a terrible omen. Tai Shan is where the Mandate of Heaven is said to shift, and the unusual occurrences in the Tai Shan area are truly worrying.
On the day of March 22, a ferocious westerly wind ravaged the ancestral temple, overturning curtains, knocking down trees, overturning carriages, damaging houses, and bringing disaster to the ancestral temple—truly chilling! On the day of April 17, a solar eclipse occurred near the Dongjing star, and the shape of the eclipse was strange, unlike any before. The astrological signs—earth overcoming wood, and the water element of Hai—point to an imbalance of yin, suggesting the palace itself is the source of the misfortune. A solar eclipse occurring in the years of Wuji indicates the emperor's health is at risk, and if it occurs in the years of Huangji, it predicts turmoil spreading to the capital. The ominous signs near Dongjing star predict that disasters will become more severe and frequent. If not resolved in time, the consequences will be unimaginable. These signs of disaster are so obvious; how can they be ignored?
The Book of Documents states: "On Gao Zongrong day, there were houzhi. Zu Ji said: 'Only the king can handle his affairs.'" It also says: "Even in times of peace, vigilance is crucial; upholding the law and virtuous conduct secures prosperity." This serves as a warning to all within the palace, from Your Majesty down to the humblest maid. If Your Majesty has any questions, feels that something is not appropriate, or has any grievances, let Da Changqiu report to me. Officials are bound by the law; your position as Empress grants no exemption. This principle of rectifying injustice holds true throughout history. Furthermore, be frugal with money and hold fewer sacrificial activities. Such frugality would only enhance Your Majesty's virtue and majesty. Failure to address the root cause will only invite further calamity, jeopardizing even the ancestral rites—and Your position as Empress. As the ancient texts say, "Those who admit their mistakes are few." Do you truly wish to continue being extravagant? I intend to follow the example of Emperor Xiaowu of Han; if this extravagance continues, I foresee the need to rebuild palaces like Ganquan and Jianzhang.
Things change, times change. You gotta be flexible and adapt to the situation, not just follow the rules blindly. That county magistrate's always changing his mind, sticking to the rules one minute and then changing them the next – not a good look. When the State of Lu was building Changfu, Min Ziqian said, "Why all the changes? Wasn't the original plan just fine?" He was against making changes. As the old saying goes, "Even without wise elders, there are precedents to follow. Ignoring them leads to disaster." Emperor Xiaowen was my teacher, and the Empress Dowager is the perfect example for you. Look, even if the Empress Dowager messed up before, things are different now, but we still can't break the rules! Empress, you must remember this: be virtuous, follow the rules, cut back on spending, be humble, respect the Crown Prince, remember your duties, reflect on your actions, and set a good example for the other ladies-in-waiting. So think about it carefully, okay?
So, the story goes that General Wang Feng was riding high, and in the following three years, there were three straight solar eclipses. Many people blamed Wang Feng for this. Gu Yong and his crew wrote to Empress Xu, ratting Wang Feng out, and Empress Xu knew she was out of Wang Feng's good graces. After a long time, Empress Xu's favor decreased, and new concubines were popping up left and right. Later, to curry favor with Wang Feng, Empress Xu's sister, Lady Ping'an, put a hex on all the pregnant concubines in the palace, including Lady Wang and Wang Feng. When the truth came out, the Empress Dowager hit the roof and had them hauled in for questioning. Lady Ping'an and her crew were offed, Empress Xu got the boot and was sent to Zhao Tai Palace, her whole family—relatives and brother, Marquis Ping'en—were sent packing back to Shanyang. Empress Xu was deposed after being empress for fourteen years, lived in Zhao Tai Palace for several years, and later moved to Changding Palace.
Nine years down the line, the Emperor remembered Xu and issued a decree saying, "Look, I've heard that even the kindest hearts don't forget faraway folk, and family never forgets its own. Lady Ping'an's crew messed up big time, but their family got a lucky break and went home. I've been thinking about Ping'en, the late Emperor's grandpa, and his spirit's been neglected. So, I'm bringing Ping'en and his family back from Shanyang." That was the end of Empress Xu's story. Before this, her sister, Lady Mei, was widowed and started shacking up with Marquis Chunyu Chang, becoming his concubine. Chunyu Chang sweet-talked her, promising, "I'll get the Crown Prince to make you Left Empress again." Empress Xu slipped Chunyu Chang gifts, and they wrote each other lovey-dovey letters. Chunyu Chang's letters were full of hot air, and when the whole thing blew up, the Emperor sent Kong Guang, the Minister of Justice, with an order to give her poison. She drank it, and they buried her out west of Yanling Jiaodao Stable.
Let's talk about Ban Jieyu. She entered the palace when the emperor had just ascended to the throne. She began as a humble palace maid, but later, due to her beauty, she caught the emperor's eye and was appointed as a concubine, living in Zengcheng Palace (a palace building), and later moving to a separate residence, Guanshe. She also gave birth to a son, but unfortunately the child died a few months later. One day, while touring the palace grounds, the emperor wanted to share a carriage with Ban Jieyu. She politely refused, saying, "I've read that wise rulers are always surrounded by capable ministers; only the doomed rulers of fallen states rely on favored concubines. Sharing a carriage with me... wouldn't that make you look like one of *them*?" The emperor appreciated her words and abandoned the idea. The Empress Dowager, upon hearing this, exclaimed joyfully, "In ancient times there was Fan Ji, now there is Ban Jieyu!" Ban Jieyu knew the *Book of Songs* backwards and forwards, reciting passages like "Guanju," "Meng," "Beifeng: Dexing," and "Nv Jie" effortlessly. Each time she met the emperor, she followed ancient rituals.
After Emperor Cheng's reign, however, the emperors increasingly favored the harem's concubines. A concubine named Li Ping caught the emperor's eye and was soon promoted. The emperor said, "Back then, Empress Wei also rose from a humble position step by step!" So he granted Li Ping the surname Wei, and she was known as Wei Jieyu. Then came the Zhao Feiyan sisters, who also rose from humble beginnings, flouting court etiquette and laws to amass considerable power and influence. Meanwhile, Ban Jieyu and Empress Xu fell from favor, rarely seeing the emperor.
In the third year of Hongjia, Zhao Feiyan falsely accused Empress Xu and Ban Jieyu of using witchcraft, placing a curse on the imperial household, and even insulting the emperor. As a result, Empress Xu was deposed. The emperor asked Ban Jieyu, "So, what's the story?" Ban Jieyu replied, "I've heard that 'life and death are fated, wealth and honor are bestowed by heaven.' I've always kept my nose clean and haven't received any blessings, so how could I expect any benefits from engaging in such shenanigans? If spirits really exist, they wouldn't accept such disloyal and unjust accusations; if they do not exist at all, what is the use of accusations? Therefore, I have never done such things." The emperor appreciated her response and felt sympathetic towards her, rewarding her with one hundred catties of gold.
The Zhao sisters were arrogant and jealous, and Ban Jieyu was worried about her safety staying in the palace for a long time, so she requested to serve the Empress Dowager in Changxin Palace. The emperor granted her request. After moving to the Eastern Palace, Ban Jieyu wrote a rhapsody to express her sadness and reflections, in which she wrote:
Inheriting the virtues of ancestors, what noble spirit guides my life,
A humble soul ascends the palace walls, serving in the rear court.
Receiving the grace of the holy emperor, under the bright sun and moon,
Displaying brilliance and honor, receiving the emperor's favor.
Though fortunate to be in a high position, I secretly fear the auspicious time,
Every waking moment is a burden, pondering in solitude,
Reflecting on myself in the mirror, asking the maid about poetry.
Regretting the warnings of the morning, praising the virtuous and wise;
Honoring the empresses and princesses, respecting the mothers of the Zhou dynasty.
Though lacking in talent, how can I abandon my heart and forget this?
Passing years bring fear and regret, lamenting the lack of prosperity.
Painful memories of the past, still carrying the burden of misfortune,
Is this a mortal's curse, or fate's cruel decree? A question unanswered, eternally.
Goodness, the sky suddenly darkened, inky black, really making me anxious. But fortunately, I guess I've been spared for my mistakes. I pour my heart and soul into serving the emperor in the Eastern Palace, giving it my all. I clean the palace every day for the rest of my days. I hope to be buried at the foot of the mountain, to rest among the pines.
Oh, think again. This deep palace... so quiet, so secluded. The gates were always locked. The grand palace was choked with dust, its jade steps overgrown with weeds, the courtyard a sea of green. The vast chambers were cold and damp, the wind whispering through the heavy curtains, the empty rooms only filled with a gentle breeze. I touch my luxurious clothes, listening to the rustling of silk, feeling a bittersweet ache. Such a beautiful place, such a quiet residence, yet the emperor does not live here. Who can enjoy this glory and wealth? I look down at the red palace steps, thinking of the path the emperor walked; I look up at the towering palace roof, tears flowing uncontrollably. I look around, force a smile, raise my glass, trying to drown my sorrows in wine. Life goes by in a flash. I've had a good life, received great favor in this world. I strive for happiness, hoping for lasting fortune and joy. It's just like those old songs say: life's fleeting.
After Emperor Cheng passed away, I was arranged to serve the imperial mausoleum, and there I remained, at peace at last.
Empress Xiaocheng Zhao was originally a palace maid in Chang'an. When she was born, her parents did not want her, and no one took care of her for three days until she was adopted. As she grew up, she was taken in by Princess Yang A's family to learn singing and dancing, and she was known as "Feiyan." One day, Emperor Cheng went on a private visit and passed by Princess Yang A's residence, where he admired the performance of singing and dancing and became instantly smitten with Zhao Feiyan, bringing her into the palace and favoring her. Later, Zhao Feiyan's younger sister was also brought into the palace, and the two sisters both became imperial concubines, holding considerable sway in the harem.
After Empress Xu was deposed, the Emperor wanted to make Zhao Feiyan the Empress. However, the Empress Dowager thought Zhao Feiyan's lowly origins were deemed unsuitable. The Empress Dowager's nephew, Chunyu Zhang, who was an attendant, often acted as a go-between for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, eventually persuading the Empress Dowager. The Emperor then made Zhao Feiyan's father Marquis Chengyang. A month later, Zhao Feiyan was made Empress, while Chunyu Zhang, due to his previous merits at Changling, was pardoned and made Marquis Dingling.
After becoming Empress, she aged prematurely, while her younger brother was favored and made Marquis Zhaoyi. Marquis Zhaoyi lived in Zhaoyang Pavilion. The courtyard was red, the palace black-lacquered. Copper nails and gold leaf adorned every surface. White jade steps led up to walls glittering with golden lanterns, blue jade ornaments, pearls, and even emerald bird feathers. The extravagance was unlike anything the palace had ever seen. Despite being favored for over a decade, the siblings were unable to have children.
Later, King Dingtao came to visit the Emperor, and Empress Dowager Fu bribed Empress Zhao and Marquis Zhaoyi in private, leading to King Dingtao's appointment as Crown Prince.
In the spring of the second year, Emperor Cheng died. The Emperor was usually very healthy and had no illnesses. At that time, King Chu Si and King Liang came to see him and were planning to leave the next day. The Emperor rested in the White Tiger Hall that night. He also wanted to appoint General Kong Guang as Prime Minister, and the seal and decree for the position were already prepared. He was fine that night, but the next morning, while getting dressed, he suddenly collapsed and couldn't speak. After ten hours, he passed away. People blamed Zhao Zhaoyi for his death, and the Empress Dowager ordered an investigation. Wang Mang, the Prime Minister, and the Grand Commandant were to lead the investigation, along with the Palace Attendants and those who served the Emperor in the palace, as well as the Imperial Censor and Court Chief. Zhao Zhaoyi ultimately committed suicide.
After Emperor Ai ascended the throne, he honored Empress Zhao as Empress Dowager and appointed her brother, Qin, as the Marquis of Cheng. Two members of the Zhao family were made marquises. A few months later, the Colonel Director of Retainers, Jie Guang, reported: "I heard that Lady Xu and the former Empress's historian, Cao Gong, both slept with Emperor Xiaocheng and bore children, but the children have never appeared."
There was a Yeting Prison Warden named Ji Wu, who received a task to investigate a case. He gathered several witnesses: Wang Shun, Wu Gong, Jin Yan, and a few palace maids—Cao Xiao, Daofang, Zhang Qi—as well as Zhao Zhaoyi's attendants Yu Kezi, Wang Pian, Zang Jian, and others. These witnesses unanimously stated that there was a woman named Gong who used to be close to the Empress. Because she was well-versed in the Book of Songs, she was favored by the Empress. Gong and Daofang often ate together, and in the first year of Yuanyan, Daofang told Gong, "The Emperor's taken a shine to you." A few months later, Cao Xiao entered the palace and saw that Gong was pregnant. She asked her what happened, and Gong replied, "The Emperor favored me, and I am pregnant."
In October, a palace woman gave birth to a child and was locked in the residence of the Yeting supervisor, with six palace maids serving by her side. At this time, Tianke, a eunuch of the Zhonghuangmen, came with the emperor's decree, wrapped in green silk and sealed with the seal of the Imperial Censor. He handed the decree to Ji Wu and said, "Lock up the woman who just gave birth and her six palace maids in prison, regardless of the child's sex or parentage!" Ji Wu locked them all up. The palace woman said, "Please protect my child; remember who the father is!" Three days later, Tianke came again with the decree and asked Ji Wu, "Please let me know if the child is dead. Send a report!" Ji Wu quickly wrote, "The child is still alive, not dead."
After a while, Tianke came out and said, "The emperor is furious. Why haven't you killed the child?" Ji Wu knelt down and cried, saying, "I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't!" So, Ji Wu took the opportunity to submit a memorial to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, you need an heir. This child matters, whatever its background!" After the memorial was sent into the palace, Tianke came again with the decree to find Ji Wu and said, "At 5 AM tonight, hand the child over to Wang Shun and meet at the East Jiaoye Gate." Ji Wu asked Tianke, "What was the emperor's reaction after reading my memorial?" Tianke said, "The emperor is very angry." Ji Wu then gave the child to Wang Shun.
Wang Shun got orders to bring the baby to the palace and find a wet nurse, telling her, "Take good care of the child; there will be rewards. Keep it on the down low!" Wang Shun chose Zhang Qi as the wet nurse, and at that time, the baby was only eight or nine days old. Three days later, Tian Ke came again with an edict, and just like last time, he also brought a small green box. The order was, "Give this to the woman in prison and make sure Ji Wu sees her drink it." Ji Wu opened the box; inside were two packets of medicine and a letter that read, "Ji Neng: Quickly drink this medicine; don't think about entering the palace again. You know it in your heart!" This "Ji Neng" was the palace concubine. After reading the letter, the palace said, "So that's it, they want those two sisters to run the whole show! He's a boy, with a full head of hair – just like Emperor Xiaoyuan! Where is my child now? They want to kill him! How can I tell Princess Changxin?" The palace drank the medicine and died. Later, the six palace maids were called in; they said to Ji Wu, "The Empress said, 'It's not your fault. Better to end it yourselves, like we always do back home.' We, Cao Xiao, are willing to do the same." So, Cao Xiao killed herself too. Ji Wu reported all the circumstances. After Zhang Qi raised the child for eleven days, Li Nan from the palace came with an edict and took the baby away. Nobody knows where they took the baby.
Xu Meiren lived in Zhuomu Pavilion in Shanglin Yuan. The emperor often summoned her to his lavish chambers, and she would be summoned several times a year, each time being kept for months at a time, sometimes even half a year. In the second year of Yuan Yan, Xu Meiren became pregnant and gave birth to a child in November. The emperor also ordered a detachment of soldiers led by General Yan to bring a wet nurse, a doctor, and three different types of pills to Xu Meiren. Later, the eunuchs Kesi, Pian, and Jian whispered to Empress Zhao that the emperor always said that Meiren came from the inner palace, so where did her child come from? Can Xu Meiren still be made empress? The empress was very angry; she beat herself, hit her head against the wall, jumped off the bed, cried, and refused to eat, saying, "What am I supposed to do? I wanna go home!" The emperor said, "I was gonna tell her, but she blew up! I don't get it!" The emperor himself couldn't eat. The empress said, "You know you're lying, Your Majesty! Why aren't you eating? You always said you'd look after me, but now Meiren has a kid, and you're going back on your word! What's the deal?" The emperor said, "I promised Zhao, so Xu Meiren ain't getting the crown. As long as nobody's higher up than Zhao, we're good."
Later, the emperor sent General Yan with a green cloth bag containing a letter to Consort Xu, instructing him, "Consort Xu should give me the child. Once received, place it in the south corner of the emperor's private chamber." Consort Xu placed the child in a box made of reed mat, sealed it, and handed it to General Yan along with the green cloth bag and letter. General Yan took the box and letter and placed them in the south corner of the emperor's private chamber. The emperor and the empress were sitting there and asked the court officials and eunuchs to open the box. Before it was fully opened, the emperor asked them to leave, closed the door, and stayed alone with the empress. After a while, the emperor opened the door, called the court officials and eunuchs back in, and told them to seal the box and green cloth bag with the imperial seal and have them moved to the east side of the screen. Following the emperor's orders, they handed the box and cloth bag to General Wu, sealed with the imperial seal. The emperor said, "Tell General Wu: the box contains a stillborn child. Bury it behind the screen and do not let anyone know." General Wu dug a hole under the wall of the prison tower and buried the box in it.
As a result, Consort Xu, who was previously honored as a noblewoman, as well as the maids Wang Ye from the household of the Marquis of Chengdu, Ren Ling, and Gongsun Xi, were all demoted to commoners. The emperor summoned them and told the empress to treat them as personal maids. When Emperor Cheng died, before his body could be taken to the Zifu Palace, during the rush of mourning, the empress, feeling deeply guilty and knowing that Wang Ye and the others were former maids of Consort Xu and Lady Wang, fearing exposure, rewarded each of them with ten highly-favored maids like Yang Zi to comfort them, and instructed them, "Keep this between ourselves."
In May of 11 BC, Wuqiu Zun, the Superintendent of the Imperial Palace Women, said to Wu Shi, "All the officials in Yue Tingling, from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest, are colluding with Zhao Zhaoyi. None of them dare speak out. I just want to talk to you. I have no son; you have a son. We're nobody. In Yue Tingling, the emperor's concubines who bore children have all died, and countless others have suffered or died from forced abortions. I want to discuss this with the ministers with you, but General Piao Qi is a greedy, womanizing scoundrel, and we can't count on him at all. How can we let Changxin Hou know?" Zun later fell seriously ill and said to Wu Shi, "I am about to die. The things I told you before, you can't shoulder this alone. Be careful!" These events all occurred before the amnesty in the third year of Yongguang. After carefully reviewing historical records, in the third year of Yongguang, men such as Zhong illegally excavated the tomb of Lady Fu in Changling. After the incident, there was an amnesty, and Emperor Xiaoyuan decreed, "This amnesty should not have applied." After a thorough investigation, all the criminals were brought to justice, and everyone felt justice had been served. The Lady of Yan in Lu killed her eldest son, and Duke Huan of Qi summoned her and executed her, as recorded in the "Spring and Autumn Annals." Zhao Zhaoyi's actions threatened the throne and destroyed the line of succession. Her family deserved divine retribution. Previously, Lady Ping'an, the wife of Duke Ganghou, was arrested for treason, and all her relatives should have been punished together, but they were sent back to their hometown because of the amnesty decree. Now the crimes committed by Zhao Zhaoyi are more serious than those of Lady Ping'an, but her relatives are all in high positions in the court, close to the emperor, which has left everyone feeling cold. This sets a terrible example. I urge the prime minister and his colleagues to consider legal action.
Emperor Ai therefore dismissed the Marquis of Xincheng, Zhao Qin, and Cheng Yanghou, the son of Zhao Qin, both reduced to commoner status, and their families were relocated to Liaoxi County. Meanwhile, the Yilang Geng Yu submitted a memorial saying:
"I have heard that when the heir is disorderly, the rightful heir gets bumped for a bastard son; this is a law established by the sages and has always been a great taboo. However, the Grand Uncle (referring to Emperor Xiaocheng) considered that the legitimate son was young and refused to abdicate, choosing instead to live in seclusion in Wuyue. This was a risky gambit, eventually passing the throne to Prince Wang (referring to Emperor Xuan of Han), thus honoring the legitimate heir, securing the throne, and establishing his dynasty for seven or eight hundred years, surpassing the achievements of three generations of emperors and demonstrating impeccable morals, so he was posthumously honored as a great king. Therefore, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
Emperor Xiaocheng himself knew that the establishment of the heir was untimely, and thought that although there was no prince for the time being, he would not be able to control the power of the state a hundred years later, with major power being held by the power-hungry and ruthless Empress Dowager; the young emperor would have no authority over his ministers, and there was no Duke Zhou to guide the young emperor. He was worried that this would endanger the state and cause chaos in the world. He knew that Your Majesty possesses wise and virtuous conduct, benevolent and filial grace, and unique insights, and can make decisions on your own. Therefore, he gradually abolished the harem, removed the threat, and wanted to pass the throne to Your Majesty to save the empire. A lowly official like myself cannot deeply analyze the pros and cons, formulate comprehensive strategies, nor fully expound your saintly virtues or express the late emperor's wishes, but instead repeatedly review the records in the palace, exposing the late emperor's faults in his private life, falsely accusing him of being manipulated by a favorite concubine, resulting in her death. This disrespects the late emperor's wisdom and his dedication to the country."
To be honest, true virtue and great achievements often defy convention and popular opinion. This was a decision made by Emperor Xiaocheng after careful consideration, and it was also for the sake of the people of the world. Your Majesty's virtuous reign is divinely ordained. How can this be understood by small-minded folks? Moreover, celebrating the late Emperor's filial piety and his efforts to correct past wrongs is a principle that has been passed down through the ages. When things are amiss, one must act decisively and prevent future problems. However, everyone's blindly agreeing and flattering just to please. After the late emperor's passing, his posthumous title has been decided, and the matter has ended. Now, to dredge up the past and expose hidden flaws, this is where I deeply feel heartbroken!
I hope that subordinate officials will discuss and act according to my words, and should proclaim it to the land, so that everyone knows the true intentions of the late emperor. Otherwise, if these slanders reach the imperial tomb, they will taint history and spread far and wide. A filial son carries out his father's wishes and completes his unfinished work, so please Your Majesty, observe carefully!
Ah, Emperor Ai, when crown prince, had Empress Dowager Zhao's backing, yet the matter still failed. Empress Dowager Fu was quite good to Empress Dowager Zhao, and Empress Dowager Zhao was also sincerely good to her, so the Emperor's mother and Wang Zhengjun loathed Empress Dowager Zhao.
After the death of Emperor Ai, Wang Mang falsely claimed that the Empress Dowager had issued orders and told the relevant departments: "The previous Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine (referring to Zhao Feiyan) both served by the Emperor's side; the two sisters held a complete monopoly on the Emperor's affections, engaged in conspiracies and plots, harmed the descendants of the royal family, threatened the empire, violated the will of heaven, and were unworthy to be the Empress Dowager. Demote the Empress Dowager to Empress Xiaocheng, and move her to the Northern Palace." Over a month later, he ordered again: "The Empress herself is aware of her grave transgressions, rarely attends court to pay respects, isn't doing her job as Empress, but instead is ruthless, like a vicious beast, hated by members of the royal family and resented by the people. She still holds the position of Empress, which is against the Mandate of Heaven. There is a saying, 'You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.' Sometimes, for the greater good, sacrifices must be made. Now depose the Empress, and send her back to her own estate." That day, Empress Zhao committed suicide. Sixteen years later, Wang Mang was also killed. Earlier, there was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "Swallow, with a long tail, Zhang Gongzi, often met. Wooden door, the palace gate rings, swallow flies in, pecks the prince. The prince dies, the swallow pecks the arrow." When Emperor Cheng disguised himself for private visits, he often accompanied Zhang Fang, who was from the Fuping Marquis's family, and called him Zhang Gongzi.
Fu Zhaoyi was the grandmother of Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty. Her father was from Wen County in Henei, but passed away early. Her mother later remarried Zheng Weng from Wei County and gave birth to a son named Yun. When Fu Zhaoyi was young, she served as a lady-in-waiting under Empress Dowager Shangguan. She won the emperor's affection during the time of Emperor Yuan as a prince. After Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, he raised her to the rank of concubine, and she was greatly favored. She was very talented and strategic, skilled in handling interpersonal relationships. Even with the palace servants, she would share a drink with them, then pour it out as an offering while praying for good fortune. She had a son and a daughter, the daughter being Princess Pingdu and the son being Prince Gong of Dingtao. Prince Gong was very talented and especially favored by the emperor. Emperor Yuan valued Concubine Fu greatly and later favored Concubine Feng, who gave birth to Prince Xiaowang of Zhongshan. The emperor wanted to elevate both women and their sons to princely status. However, since the emperor was still alive, they could not be called empresses dowager, so Concubine Fu was renamed Zhaoyi and given a seal of authority, with a status higher than that of concubines. The title "Zhaoyi" – literally, "to illuminate her conduct" – was bestowed to emphasize her exemplary virtue and high rank. Even later emperors, Cheng and Ai, continued to bestow the title Zhaoyi on women, regardless of whether they had sons.
Emperor Han Yuan kicked the bucket, and Fu Zhaoyi followed Wang (Prince of Dingtao) back to their hometown, becoming the Empress Dowager of Dingtao. Ten years later, Prince Gong died, and his son took over. Prince Gong's mother was named Ding Ji. The Empress Dowager raised Prince Gong's kids herself. When they grew up, Emperor Cheng still didn’t have a son to inherit the throne. At that time, Prince Xiaowang of Zhongshan was still around. In the fourth year of Yuan Yan, both Prince Xiaowang of Zhongshan and the Prince of Dingtao went to the capital for a visit. Secretly, the Empress Dowager showered Zhao Zhaoyi and Emperor Cheng's uncle, Wang Gen, with gifts, all to boost the Prince of Dingtao's chances of inheriting the throne. Seeing the Emperor had no sons, the Empress Dowager started working the angles, showering the Prince of Dingtao with praise. Emperor Cheng liked the Prince of Dingtao too, and made him Crown Prince the next year – just like it says in the *Ai Ji*.
This month, the Emperor again appointed Chu Xiaowang's grandson Jing as the King of Dingtao, asking him to care for the Dowager Empress. The Crown Prince wanted to decline this position, but the tutor Yan Chong advised, "In the 'Spring and Autumn Annals', it is recorded that one cannot abolish a grandfather's command because of a father's. A loyal subject shouldn't let personal feelings get in the way, and one should not decline." However, the preceptor Zhao Xuan believed it should be declined, and the Crown Prince followed Zhao Xuan's advice. The Emperor issued a decree asking why the position was declined, and the Minister then accused Zhao Xuan, demoting him to the Imperial Household Department, and then appointing Guanglu Xun Shi Dan as the preceptor. The Emperor ordered the Dowager Empress and the Crown Prince's mother, Ding Ji, to move to the mansion in the Kingdom of Dingtao. Then the relevant departments discussed whether the Crown Prince could meet with the Dowager Empress and Ding Ji, and the outcome of the discussion was that they could not meet. After a while, Empress Wang wanted the Dowager Empress and Ding Ji to visit the Crown Prince's residence every ten days. Emperor Cheng said, "The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir and should be raised by everyone together, without considering personal feelings." Empress Wang replied, "The Crown Prince is still young; the Dowager Empress raised him. Visiting the Crown Prince's residence now is just a gesture of gratitude, like a nursemaid, and it won't cause any issues." Therefore, the Dowager Empress was permitted to visit the Crown Prince. Ding Ji, however, found it inconvenient to take care of the Crown Prince and could not go alone.
After Emperor Cheng of Han kicked the bucket, Emperor Ai ascended to the throne. Empress Dowager Wang ordered Fu Empress Dowager and Lady Ding to visit Weiyang Palace every ten days. That whippersnapper Dong Hong had a lot of courage and suggested in a memorial to make Lady Ding the Empress Dowager. As a result, Shi Dan accused him: "This young man Dong Hong is up to no good, messing with the court, the cheeky sod!" Emperor Ai had just ascended to the throne and was still relatively humble and cautious. After hearing Shi Dan's words, he ditched the idea. Later, Emperor Ai ordered Empress Dowager Wang to issue an edict, honoring Prince Gong of Tao as the Gong Emperor. Emperor Ai also said: "The *Spring and Autumn Annals* says, 'A mother's status rises with her son's,' so we should honor Empress Dowager Fu as the Gong Empress Dowager, and Lady Ding as the Gong Empress, each having their own left and right hand men, and their estates should be as large as those of the Changxin and Central Palaces." He also posthumously honored the father of Gong Empress Dowager as Marquis Chongzu, and the father of Gong Empress as Marquis Baode.
Over a year later, Emperor Ai issued another edict: "The system of the Han Dynasty emphasizes honoring relatives, so the title 'Gong Emperor of Dingtai' is not quite appropriate and should be changed. Let's honor Gong Empress Dowager as Empress Grandmother, and Lady Ding as Empress Mother!" Later, he changed the title of Empress Grandmother to Empress Grandmother, residing in Yongxin Palace; Empress Mother resided in Zhongan Palace. The Empress Dowager, the mother of Emperor Cheng, resided in Changxin Palace, while Empress Zhao, the Empress Dowager of Emperor Cheng, was the Empress Mother. Suddenly, there were four Empress Mothers, each equipped with a steward and a chief steward, with official ranks of about 2,000 dan. In honor of Gong Emperor, a temple was built in the capital city, with specifications similar to those of his old man's memorial temple, arranged in the proper ancestral order in front of the palace hall.
Dowager Empress Fu had four younger brothers: Zimeng, Zhongshu, Ziyuan, and Youjun. Zimeng, styled Zixi, became Grand Marshal and held the title of Gao Wu Marquis; Zhongshu, styled Ziyan, also served as Grand Marshal and was Marquis of Kongxiang; Youjun, styled Zishang, was Marquis of Ruchang. Later, because Dowager Empress Fu's father was posthumously honored as Chongzu Marquis, the title of Chongzu Marquis was changed to Ruchang Ai Marquis. Dowager Empress Fu's half-brother Zheng Yun passed away earlier, and his son Zheng Ye was titled Yangxin Marquis, while Zheng Yun was posthumously honored as Yangxin Jie Marquis. In the Fu and Zheng families, a total of six marquis titles were granted, including two Grand Marshals, six high-ranking officials, and over a dozen officials in the imperial court and various government departments.
Since being honored as Dowager Empress, Fu became even more arrogant and overbearing. She even insulted the mother of Emperor Cheng, calling her "old woman" without any respect. She had served alongside Empress Feng, the mother of Prince Xiaowen of Zhongshan, during the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han and held a grudge against her. Dowager Empress Fu falsely accused Empress Feng of witchcraft, claiming she had cursed the emperor and caused her death. In the first year of Yuanshou, Dowager Empress Fu passed away and was buried together with Emperor Cheng at Weiling, given the posthumous title of Empress Xiaoyuan Fu.
So, Ding Ji was the mother of Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty and the great-granddaughter of General Ding, the originator of the I Ching. Her family lived in Xiqiu, Shanyang, and her father was the governor of Lujiang. The Dingtao prince became King of Shanyang and married Ding Ji. This queen's surname was Zhang; her mother was Zheng Li, and she was the half-sister of Empress Dowager Fu. Because of this family relationship, Empress Dowager Fu was especially eager for Ding Ji to have a child, but for many years, nothing happened. Unexpectedly, in the fourth year of Heping, Ding Ji suddenly gave birth to Emperor Ai. Ding Ji became the Empress Dowager, and she had two brothers, one named Zhong and the other named Ming. Ming, as the emperor's uncle, was made Marquis of Yang'an. Zhong passed away early, and his son Man was appointed as the Marquis of Pingzhou. Her uncles were Xian and Wang; Wang became the Left General, while Xian served as the Master of the Stables. Ming later rose to the position of Grand Marshal and assisted the emperor in handling political affairs. The Ding family produced two marquises, a Grand Marshal, and several generals, as well as high-ranking officials. Including the officials of the Imperial Household and various departments, there were more than ten in total. Within a year or two, the power of the Ding and Fu families grew rapidly and became very influential. However, Emperor Ai did not particularly favor them, and their power was far inferior to the Wang family's influence during the reign of Emperor Cheng. In the second year of Jianping, the Empress Dowager Ding passed away. Emperor Ai said, "It's like that old saying, 'Different houses in life, but together in death.' When Duke Wu of Ji built the tomb, the Du family's tomb was below the west steps, and he requested a joint burial, which was granted. It was traditional to bury family members together, and the Emperor wanted to honor his mother's wishes." Therefore, he sent Grand Marshal Ming to escort the Empress Dowager Ding back to her hometown of Dingtao for burial, and the funeral was a grand affair, causing quite a stir in Shandong.
After the death of Emperor Ai, Wang Mang took power and used the Empress Dowager's authority to fire them both, sending the Dings packing. He also ordered the demotion of Empress Fu's title to "Mother of Prince Gong of Dingtao" and downgraded Empress Ding's title to "Lady Ding."
In the year 1 BC, Wang Mang spoke again: "Those two weren't Empresses or Consorts when they were alive, yet they got buried like royalty next to Emperor Yuan – with all the Empress Dowager's fancy seals and stuff! That's a load of rubbish! According to ritual, we can move their graves, so I request to open the tombs of the Empress Dowager and Lady Ding, take out the seals to destroy them, and then move them to Dingtao for burial next to Prince Gong's tomb, while Lady Ding will be buried back in her original location." The Empress Dowager thought, "That's done and dusted, leave it be!" Wang Mang wouldn't let it go, and the Empress Dowager had no choice but to order: "Use whatever's there to build a new coffin and tomb, and make sure you use the proper sacrificial animals." As a result, when the guys doing the job opened the tomb of Empress Fu, the whole thing came crashing down, killing hundreds! When they opened Lady Ding's coffin, suddenly, whoosh! Flames shot up, maybe fifteen or twenty feet high! It took the officials and soldiers pouring water to extinguish the fire, and everything inside the coffin was burned.
Wang Mang once again wrote to the emperor, saying, "When Empress Dowager Gong was alive, she illegally lived in the Gui Palace, provoking divine wrath, and her main hall suffered calamity; after Lady Ding's death, the burial exceeded the regulations, and now the coffin has caught fire. That's gotta be a sign from God! She should be reburied as a concubine. My previous suggestion to bury Lady Ding back in her original place was wrong. Both Empress Dowager Gong and Lady Ding's coffins are called the Zi Palace, dressed in pearl and jade clothing, which is not the treatment of a concubine. I request to use wooden coffins instead, remove the pearl and jade clothing, and bury Lady Ding in the concubine's graveyard." The Emperor gave the go-ahead. After opening Empress Dowager Fu's coffin, the stench was awful; you could smell it for miles. The court officials all fell in line with Wang Mang, sending money and goods one after another, and even sending their sons, grandsons, students, and people from minority groups, totaling more than 100,000 people, to help excavate and level the graves of Empress Dowager Gong and Lady Ding. They finished the whole thing in twenty days. Wang Mang put up a sign as a warning to anyone who came after. At this time, thousands of swallows kept bringing mud to Lady Ding's tomb and dropping it in. After Lady Ding and Empress Dowager Fu's tombs were destroyed, Marquis Kong Xiangyan and his family moved to Hepu, while the rest of his clan returned to their home counties. Only Marquis Gao Wu survived, and his line continued.
So, the Empress of Emperor Ai of Xiaowen was the niece of Empress Dowager Dingtao. When Emperor Ai was still the Prince of Dingtao, Empress Dowager Dingtao wanted to shore up his family ties, so she married her niece to him. Later, when Emperor Ai became the crown prince, this young woman from the Fu family became the crown princess. After Emperor Ai took the throne, and while Emperor Cheng's funeral was still underway in the main hall, Empress Dowager Dingtao swiftly had Yan, Fu Fei's father, made Marquis of Kongxiang, on the same day as the Emperor's uncle, Marquis Yang'an Ding Ming. At that time, a minister named Shi Dan advised, "The Emperor owns the whole country; what's to fear for his relatives? They'll be rich enough, surely! Such hasty honors may not last long!" Barely a month after Yan's appointment, Fu Fei became Empress. The Fus' influence soared, and Yan enjoyed the Emperor's special favor. After Emperor Ai died, Wang Mang issued an edict in the name of the Empress Dowager, saying, "Empress Dowager Dingtao and Marquis of Kongxiang Yan were up to no good, showing ingratitude and acting like they owned the place. They even bore the same title as the Emperor, and after death, were placed next to the Emperor's seat. That's a slap in the face to Heaven itself! So, Empress Xiaowen's moving to Gui Palace." After more than a month, Empress Xiaowen and Empress Zhao, the mother of Emperor Xiaocheng, were stripped of their titles and then took their own lives in their garden.
Let's talk about Lady Feng ZhaoYi, the grandmother of Emperor Xiao Yuan. In the second year of Emperor Xiao Yuan's reign, Feng ZhaoYi was selected to enter the palace. At that time, her father Feng FengShi was serving as the Commander of the Palace Guards. Feng ZhaoYi started as a low-level lady-in-waiting, and a few months later was promoted to the rank of Consort. Five years later, she gave birth to a son outside the palace and was then elevated to the title of Concubine. By this time, her father Feng FengShi had been promoted to General of the Right, and her brother Feng YeWang had become the Left General, both serving as officials in the court. Some whispered that their success stemmed from merit, not just their daughter's influence. However, Feng ZhaoYi's status in the palace was indeed similar to that of the previous Fu ZhaoYi.
During the reign of Emperor Han Yuan, the emperor went to the tiger pen to watch a spectacle of animals fighting, with the concubines of the harem seated there. Suddenly, a bear ran out of the pen and climbed onto the railing, seemingly about to charge into the hall! Panic erupted; Fu ZhaoYi and the other ladies-in-waiting scattered in terror. Only Feng ZhaoYi stood bravely in front of the bear! The guards quickly dispatched the bear.
Seeing this, the emperor asked Feng ZhaoYi, "Everyone was scared and ran away; why did you dare to stand in front of the bear?" Feng ZhaoYi replied, "Fierce beasts stop when they see humans. I was afraid the bear would charge towards the place where you, Sire, were sitting, so I used my body to block it." Emperor Yuan was deeply impressed by her bravery and held her in even higher regard. Fu ZhaoYi and the others felt ashamed when they saw Feng ZhaoYi's actions.
The following summer, Feng ZhaoYi's son was named Prince Xindu, and Feng ZhaoYi herself was granted the title of ZhaoYi. After Emperor Han Yuan passed away, Feng ZhaoYi became the Dowager Consort of Xindu, living with her son in the Chuyuan Palace. She accompanied her son to his fiefdom during the Heping era, eventually settling in Zhongshan, where he became known as the Prince of Zhongshan.
Later, the emperor made Prince Tao the crown prince and also appointed the uncle of King Xiaowang of Zhongshan as the Marquis of Yixiang. This was Empress Dowager Feng's brother. In the same year, King Xiaowang of Zhongshan died, leaving behind a son who was less than a year old to inherit the throne. This child was deathly ill, and Empress Dowager Feng personally took care of him, often going to offer sacrifices and prayers, hoping to cure the child's illness.
Emperor Ai became emperor and sent a eunuch named Zhang You to Zhongshan to treat the young prince. This Zhang You was a bit flaky and always getting sick; he just up and left when he got sick this time and returned to Chang'an. The Shangshu guys saw him bolt and wrote him up, which scared Zhang You. He then started spinning yarns, claiming that the Empress Dowager of Zhongshan had cursed the emperor and empress dowager. This empress dowager was Fu Zhaoyi, who already had it in for Empress Dowager Feng. She immediately seized the opportunity and sent the imperial censor Ding Xuan to investigate, and BAM! Over a hundred people – including the siblings of Empress Dowager Feng and many officials from the palace – were arrested and detained in Luoyang, Weijun, and Julu respectively. After investigating for a few dozen days, nothing was found. Then they sent another eunuch, Li, along with the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary and the Grand Herald, to continue the investigation.
This Shi Li totally sucked up to Empress Dowager Fu, brown-nosed big time, and almost became a marquis. He really screwed over Feng Taihou's sister Xi, her widowed brother-in-law Junzhi, and a whole bunch of others, causing the death of like fifty people. Some witch, Liu Wu, even admitted to participating in cursing. A doctor, Xu Suicheng, said to Xi and Junzhi, "Dude, back in Emperor Wu's day, this doctor, Xiu Shi, raked in twenty million coins just for treating him! And you're *way* more powerful than Emperor Wu, but you can't even get a marquisate? Why don't you just off the emperor, put the King of Zhongshan on the throne, and *then* you'll be set!" Shi Li and others used this as a reason to accuse Feng Taihou and the others of plotting rebellion and committing grave crimes. When interrogated, Feng Taihou clammed up. Shi Li pointed at her and said, "Even a bear would've been braver than you!" Feng Taihou said to those around her, "This is all ancient history! How would they know? They're totally setting me up!" After speaking, she took some poison and checked out.
Before Feng Taihou died, the authorities requested her execution, but the emperor, unable to bear it, deposed her, stripped her of her title, and banished her to Yunyang Palace. After her death, the authorities reported, "She hadn't even been deposed yet when she kicked the bucket!" The emperor then ordered her funeral to be held according to the standards of a queen dowager. Marquis Yixiang, Junzhi, Xi Fu, and their sons got what was coming to them—some topped themselves, others got executed. Marquis Yixiang's daughter was the Empress Dowager Xiaowang, with two daughters. The authorities wanted her stripped of her title and sent back to her family home with the rest of the Fengs. Zhang You, who had previously filed a complaint, was rewarded with the title of Marquis of Guannei, while Shi Li was promoted to Grand Minister of Ceremonies.
After Emperor Ai died, Kong Guang reported, "Zhang You ratted out his own family, and Shi Li framed people and sent 'em to the gallows, making a whole heap of enemies for the country. They got promoted thanks to all that, but luckily they got pardoned. I say we strip 'em of their titles and send 'em to Hepu."
So, Princess Wei of Zhongshan – you know, Emperor Ping's mum – was quite the figure. Her father was named Fuzi Hao, a man from Lu'nu in Zhongshan, who was a high-ranking Weiwei. Fuzi Hao's daughter, her sister, became one of Emperor Xuan's consorts and gave birth to King Xiao of Chu; her other sister was also remarkable, becoming a consort to Emperor Yuan and giving birth to Princess Pingyang. When Emperor Cheng was on the throne, King Xiao of Zhongshan had no sons, and the Emperor thought the Wei name was considered lucky, so he married off a girl from the family to King Xiao. However, in the fourth year of Yuan Yan, young Emperor Ping died.
Talk about a lucky family! First, the younger sister gave birth to King Xiao of Chu, the older sister gave birth to Princess Pingyang, and now their niece was married off to King Xiao of Zhongshan, further boosting their influence. Emperor Cheng probably hoped the Wei family's luck would rub off on King Xiao and give him lots of kids. But sadly, young Emperor Ping died, and that was the end of the Wei family's good fortune.
Emperor Ping was only two years old when King Xiao passed away, and he inherited the throne. Later, Emperor Ai died without leaving an heir. The Empress Dowager and Wang Mang, the Marquis of Xindu, put the King of Zhongshan on the throne. Wang Mang was ambitious and power-hungry, and he had it in for the powerful Ding and Fu families. He figured the new Emperor, being Emperor Cheng's son, didn't need his mother and her family hanging around the capital.
So Wang Mang made Chengdu, son of the Marquis of Taoxiang, the Prince of Zhongshan, to succeed Empress Dowager Xiaowang (Ai Di's mother). He then sent General Zhen Feng to present the seal and sash to Wei Ji, making her the Empress Dowager of Zhongshan, and also allocated Ku Xing County to her as her own county. He also gave titles to the emperor's uncle, Wei Bao, and his brother, Wei Xuan (Marquis of Guannei). The emperor's three sisters were also granted titles by Wang Mang, known as Xiuyi, Chengli, and Zunde, each with 2,000 households.
Wang Mang's oldest boy, Wang Yu, felt that Wang Mang had the Wei family locked up and feared it might cause trouble later, so he secretly contacted Wei Bao and taught Wei Hou to write a letter of gratitude while exposing the past misdeeds of the Ding and Fu families in the letter, trying to get the Wei family into the capital. Wang Mang feigned telling the Empress Dowager about Wei Hou's letter of gratitude, and then ordered the officials to say:
"The Empress Dowager of Zhongshan is a paragon of virtue and understands her duty. She laid bare the past wrongdoings of the Empress Dowager of Ding and Lady Ding, who went against Heaven's will, seized the throne, moved the King of Dingtao to Xindu, and erected a temple for the Prince (referring to Emperor Ai) in the capital, with specifications equal to that of an emperor, showing no respect for Heaven, disregarding the teachings of sages, violating the laws, living in improper palaces and using improper titles. Therefore, Heaven was angered and destroyed their palaces, leading to six years of unrest in the country, with disasters continuously occurring, ultimately leading to Emperor Xiaoming's untimely death and even interrupting the sacrifices for the Prince, leaving their souls untended.
I believe that the Empress Dowager of Zhongshan knows the classics and the law, afraid of the failures of her predecessors and worried about the current troubles, reverent of Heaven's mandate and obedient to sacred words. She saved the country, won Heaven's favor, and ensured the Prince's perpetual worship—the greatest blessing of all! I highly commend her! Rewarding virtue is what a good ruler does, so I'm giving the Empress Dowager seven thousand households from old An in Zhongshan as a fiefdom, also rewarding her and the King of Zhongshan each with one hundred catties of gold, and promoting officials below the Fu minister."
Empress Wei wept incessantly, yearning to see the Emperor, only to find herself under stricter guard by the palace guards. Wang Mang instructed someone to write a letter, requesting her presence in the capital. But the plot was discovered, and Wang Mang killed the people sent by Empress Wei, wiping out the rest of the Wei clan. Wei Bao, Empress Wei's sister and originally the Queen of Zhongshan, was later deposed and sent to Hepu. Only Empress Wei remained alive. Following Wang Mang's usurpation, she was stripped of her title and died within a year, buried next to Emperor Xiaoping's tomb.
Emperor Xiaoping's empress was Wang Mang's daughter, the daughter of Duke Anhan. When Emperor Xiaoping ascended the throne at the age of nine, his mother, the Empress Dowager, ruled, but Wang Mang wielded true power. Wang Mang wanted to emulate Huo Guang by marrying his daughter to the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager refused. Wang Mang employed various schemes to marry his daughter to the Emperor, solidifying his power. The Empress Dowager had no choice but to agree and sent officials to propose the marriage. A lavish ceremony, attended by 49 high-ranking officials, was held to choose an auspicious wedding date, complete with ancestral rites.
In the spring of the second year, Wang Mang sent the Minister of Public Works Ma Gong, the Minister of Defense Zhen Feng, the Left General Sun Jian, the Right General Zhen Han, the Court Official Liu Xin, and others to welcome the Empress into the palace with an imperial procession. They invested the Empress with the imperial seal and sash. Then the Empress boarded the carriage, to the sound of drums and cleared pathways, entering the front hall of the palace through the Yanshou Gate in the Shanglin Garden. All officials were present to offer their congratulations, and Wang Mang also declared a general amnesty. Wang Mang further granted his father-in-law, the Duke of Anhan, more land, expanding his estate to a hundred square miles. He also showered the officials who welcomed the Empress and participated in the ceremony with promotions and gifts of gold, silver, and jewels of varying amounts. Three months after the Empress entered the palace, she performed the ritual worship at the Gaomiao Temple. Wang Mang also elevated his father-in-law to the position of Prime Minister, ranking above the princes, and bestowed the title of Noble Lady on his mother-in-law, granting them a substantial estate. He also enfeoffed his two sons, one named An as the Marquis of Baoxin and the other named Lin as the Marquis of Shangdu.
More than a year later, Emperor Ping died. Wang Mang placed Liu Ying, the great-grandson of Emperor Xiaoxuan, on the throne as Emperor, a young child, with Wang Mang serving as regent and still honoring the Empress as Empress Dowager.
Three years later, Wang Mang officially declared himself Emperor, reducing Liu Ying's status to Duke of Ding'an, and changing the title of the Empress Dowager to Duchess of Ding'an. The eighteen-year-old Duchess was known for her gentle nature and integrity. Since the Liu clan had been deposed, she often pretended to be ill to avoid court. Wang Mang respected and feared her, wanting to marry her off, and thus gave her the title of Head of the Imperial Huang Clan, sending the General of the State, the Duke of Chengxin, Sun Jian's son, with a doctor to visit her. The Duchess flew into a rage and severely punished her attendants. She then took to her bed, and Wang Mang left her alone.
Later, the Han army attacked Wang Mang, and a fire burned down the Weiyang Palace. The Empress Dowager said, "I've got no face left to show the Han!" So she jumped into the fire and committed suicide. The article concluded by saying: The *I Ching* says it all – about luck, bad luck, pride, and humility. From the heavens and earth to the human world, there are no exceptions. Women rising from nothing to the top, living the high life without earning it – that's what Daoism warns against, the root of all their trouble! From the establishment of the Han Dynasty to the reign of Emperor Xiaoping, there were over twenty favored concubines and empresses in the harem, but only Empress Wen, Jing, Wu, and Queen Qiongcheng were able to maintain their status and family. Others, like Shi Liangdi, Wangdao, and Xugongai, died young – a shame. But their families, mindful of past favors, kept their heads down and survived. The big shots got wiped out; the rest were banished. Wow, the ups and downs!
