China 400 Later - A Grand View of Chinese History and Culture

Author: Jin Ge
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Lady Zichu (c. 227 BC), mother of Qin Shi Huang. Surnamed Zhao (some say Xue, hence known as Xue Ji), originally from Handan. Posthumously titled "Empress Dowager." Lady Zichu held a significant position in the history of the Qin Dynasty. Although she was merely a pawn in political transactions, her enigmatic background and experiences played a crucial role in politics, connecting and amplifying events.
I. Lu's Plot to Seize Power: Zichu's Arrival
In the 43rd year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin (265 BC), 14-year-old Yiren, as the grandson of King Zhaoxiang and the son of Crown Prince An Guo Jun, was sent to Zhao as a hostage. Handan, the capital of Zhao, was then a prosperous city. At night, taverns and brothels flickered with red lights, where wealthy merchants, high-ranking officials, charming young men, and vagrants mingled. Among these roguish figures was a wealthy merchant from Puyang, Lu Buwei, from the state of Wei. Unlike his father, who accumulated wealth bit by bit, Lu Buwei aspired to make a fortune in a single transaction. Once, he asked his father how many times more profitable farming was compared to tilling the land. His father replied, "About ten times." Lu Buwei then asked how many times more profitable selling pearls and precious stones was. His father said, "About a hundred times." Finally, he asked how many times more profitable it would be to buy and manipulate a ruler with money and then profit from it. His father was stunned.
Lu Buwei came to Handan with such political ambitions. The glittering lights did not dim his resolve. He eventually discovered that the destitute and alienated Yiren was the ideal candidate for his ambitions and thus sought to forge a close friendship with him. Crown Prince An Guo Jun had over 20 sons, and Yiren was among them, making it unlikely he would be chosen as the heir. However, the crown prince's favorite concubine, Lady Hua Yang, had no children. Therefore, among the crown prince's numerous sons, who would become the heir depended heavily on Lady Hua Yang. Lu Buwei understood this well and thus met Lady Hua Yang through her sister. First, he presented her with valuable gifts, then spoke extensively about Yiren's filial piety toward her, and clearly pointed out that as Lady Hua Yang's beauty faded, without an heir to rely on, her future would be terrifying.
Lu Buwei's words clearly struck a chord with Lady Hua Yang and accurately highlighted her shared interests with Yiren. Consequently, Lady Hua Yang quickly recognized Yiren as her son and persuaded the crown prince to make him his heir. Lady Hua Yang was originally from Chu, and at this time, she changed Yiren's name to Zichu, making it possible for him to become the heir to the Qin throne. However, this was merely the first step in Lu Buwei's plot to seize the state. Politically astute, Lu Buwei devised an even more outlandish scheme. It turned out that Lu Buwei had a stunningly beautiful courtesan named Zhao Ji, whom he regarded as a treasure. She was already pregnant. Lu Buwei dressed Zhao Ji in exquisite attire and had her entertain Yiren during a banquet. In his dire circumstances, the destitute Zichu could not resist the allure of such a beauty and, emboldened by wine, asked Lu Buwei to give her to him. This perfectly suited Lu Buwei's plans. But to make the deception more convincing, when he heard this, Lu Buwei immediately frowned, then feigned reluctance and said, "I have already spent my entire fortune for you. How can I spare a woman?" Thus, Zhao Ji became Zichu's wife, and the fact that she was already pregnant was concealed.
To everyone's surprise, Zhao Ji gave birth after "a full term" of 12 months, meaning she did not carry the child for the usual ten months but instead gave birth after 12 months. This child was Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng. As a result, there were many speculations about who was Qin Shi Huang's biological father. Historians mostly believed Lu Buwei was his father, though there was no concrete evidence.
II. Corruption in the Palace: Exiled and Then Pardoned
In the 50th year of King Zhaoxiang's reign (257 BC), with Lu Buwei's strong support, Zichu finally returned to the Qin capital, Xianyang. Six years later, King Zhaoxiang died, and Crown Prince An Guo Jun ascended the throne. However, three days later, An Guo Jun died suddenly. Thus, after years of wandering, Zichu finally had an opportunity to rise to the throne of Qin. During the six years Zichu was away from Handan, Ying Zheng and his mother remained there, living a life of hardship. The relationship between Qin and Zhao fluctuated, and their lives were constantly threatened. However, at this time, Lady Zichu was in the prime of her youth, and her desires could not be restrained. Shortly after Zichu and Lu Buwei left, she secretly engaged in illicit affairs with the charming young man Mao Po.
After Yiren ascended the throne, he immediately sent someone to bring back Ying Zheng and his mother. Upon returning to Qin, Lady Zichu still had Mao Po but rekindled her romance with Lu Buwei, continuing their secret affairs. Three years after Zichu ascended the throne, he died at the age of 13, and Ying Zheng ascended the throne at the tender age of 22. He honored Lu Buwei as "Zhong Fu" (Second Father). In fact, from 246 BC to 237 BC, Lu Buwei held absolute power in Qin. During this time, Lady Zichu had become the de facto empress dowager (though the title did not exist then). With her enduring charm, she could not stand the loneliness of the deep palace and often indulged in lustful affairs with Lu Buwei.
However, as Ying Zheng grew older, Lu Buwei could no longer act without restraint. He feared that his actions would bring him trouble and, to escape the endless of the empress dowager, he turned to Mao Po. Thus, he subjected Mao Po to a false castration and had him serve the empress dowager as an eunuch. To everyone's surprise, Mao Po was skilled in sexual pleasures and managed to make the elderly empress dowager bear two more sons. This, of course, happened in secret.
Once Mao Po arrived at the empress dowager's side, with her encouragement, his power began to grow. Many court officials who sought to curry favor with those in power left Lu Buwei's circle and instead allied themselves with Mao Po. However, the empress dowager's and Mao Po's scandal, as well as Mao Po's arrogance, drew strong resentment from Ying Zheng. At this time, Ying Zheng was 22 years old and had long reached the age of ruling independently. Mao Po, aware of Ying Zheng's hatred, refused to sit idle and decided to rebel by force.
In the fourth month of the ninth year of King Zheng's reign (238 BC), Ying Zheng held his coronation ceremony at the Qiniang Palace in Yongcheng. Mao Po seized the opportunity to seize forged seals of the king and the empress dowager and issue orders to mobilize troops, heading toward Yongcheng. However, he was defeated by Ying Zheng, who was well-prepared. After Mao Po's capture, he was beheaded and displayed publicly.
Still furious, Ying Zheng ordered a search of the empress dowager's quarters, killing the two children she had with Mao Po, and imprisoning her. Lu Buwei was also dismissed for recommending the wrong person. The empress dowager's exile violated filial piety, and court officials naturally debated the matter. One day, a minister requested Ying Zheng to pardon the empress dowager, but Ying Zheng severely reprimanded him. However, soon after, Mao Jiao from Cangzhou in the state of Qi came to advise him, which moved Ying Zheng and led him to pardon the empress dowager.
Nevertheless, Ying Zheng still feared that his mother might rekindle her romance with Lu Buwei, bringing disgrace upon him. Thus, he exiled Lu Buwei from Xianyang and sent him into exile in Shu. Knowing that Ying Zheng would not spare him, Lu Buwei took poison and committed suicide in Shu.
In the 19th year of King Zheng's reign (227 BC), the empress dowager died and was posthumously titled "Empress Dowager." She was buried alongside King Zhuangxiang in Zhiyang.