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She was later regarded as one of the Five Great Beauties and is also known as a queen who suffered misfortune throughout history.
Though called a beauty, the chaotic times she lived in truly reflect her reality. Not only was she teased by her husband's brother, but she was also forcibly taken by her husband's younger brother, and she even killed her own daughter with her own hands.
She is Queen Li Zuo'e of Northern Qi.
How did she, once known as the Most Beautiful Woman of Eastern Wei, become a queen? Was it a fate filled with misfortunes or a willing descent into degradation?
Regarding her appearance, her biography describes her as "extremely beautiful," which not only praises her looks but also affirms her character. The addition of the word "beautiful" indicates a very high evaluation of her.
Li Zuo'e was born into the Zhao Jun Li family, a prominent family in the north.
At the age of 17, she had blossomed into a stunning beauty and was known as the Most Beautiful Woman of Eastern Wei, cherished by her father Li Xizong. Later, she caught the attention of Prime Minister Gao Huan, who arranged for her to marry Gao Yang, who was then still known as the Duke of Taiyuan.
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Gao Yang was ugly, had severe skin diseases, and even had a limp.
I believe most women would find this unappealing, especially someone like Li Zuo'e from a well-off family. However, fate is often beyond one's control. Under pressure from the Gao family's influence, Li Zuo'e had no choice but to accept this marriage, and her tragic life began with marrying Gao Yang.
After marrying Gao Yang, at first they were affectionate; Li Zuo'e bore him two sons, Gao Yin and Gao Shaode.
At that time, Prime Minister Gao Huan was preparing for a coup and was keen on winning over talented individuals. Families such as Zhao Jun Li, Fan Yang Lu, and Bohai Feng were all within his sphere of influence.
Gao Huan valued the Zhao Jun Li family highly, and Li Zuo'e received much favor. This was during a time when Gao Yang was still relatively restrained. However, Gao Yang's brother Gao Cheng had already developed an interest in his sister-in-law; whenever he saw Li Zuo'e, he would tease her.
Gao Yang witnessed this but felt powerless and could only bury his resentment deep within.
Later, after Gao Huan's death, Gao Cheng ascended to power. Li Zuo'e found herself in danger of being bullied again; however, an unexpected event occurred that caused Gao Cheng to lose his throne.
This event was when Gao Yang was supported by many to take power. In May 550 AD, he forced Eastern Wei Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shan Jian to abdicate and established Northern Qi.
Gao Yang's reign as emperor started off strong but quickly declined. Just after becoming emperor and still riding high on excitement, he managed to bring political clarity and economic recovery to Northern Qi, giving it an impressive presence among the Three Kingdoms.
He also held deep feelings for his first wife Li Zuo'e and insisted on crowning her as empress. Perhaps he felt guilty for all the humiliation she endured at the hands of his older brother.
As Empress Li Zuo'e basked in glory—her tormentors dead and her husband now emperor—she thought she could finally live a good life. However, the heroic emperor soon vanished, replaced by the madman Gao Yang whose atrocities left everyone stunned.
First, he conferred the title of Consort on his sister-in-law Yuan Zhonghua, and then he forcibly took Li Zuyi, who was already married (Li Zuyi is the elder sister of Li Zuo'e), and even dealt with her husband, Wrongful Death. He would occasionally argue with Li Zuo'e and beat her mother, the Zhu, which terrified the Crown Prince and gave him a phobia.
But that was not all; Gao Yang's life of hysteria was itself a legend.
In the year 559, Gao Yang fell ill with a strange disease that could not be cured. After starving for several days, he finally passed away. His biological brother Gao Yan usurped the throne, and before dying, Gao Yang told Gao Yan to take good care of his son.
However, events did not unfold according to his personal wishes. For many people, the departure of this tyrant Gao Yang was perhaps a stroke of luck.
But for Li Zuo'e, it might have marked the beginning of an even more tragic chapter. Not being cherished and protected as beauty was a kind of sin.
Gao Yan ultimately killed his nephew Gao Yin. After killing Gao Yin, Gao Yan was tormented by inner demons, believing that the souls of his brother and nephew were haunting him, which led to his declining health. He ruled for two years before passing away.
Li Zuo'e thought of her son, who was as young as Gao Yin. In the future, Gao Zhan might very well usurp power like Gao Yan. Thus, before dying, Gao Yan did not pass the throne to his son Gao Bainian but instead to his brother Gao Zhan.
Gao Zhan had long coveted Li Zuo'e's beauty. On the night of the coronation ceremony after inheriting the throne, he impatiently went to Li Zuo'e's palace to engage in illicit acts.
To preserve her dignity, Li Zuo'e vehemently refused Gao Zhan's inappropriate demands. However, one sentence from him made her give up resisting: "Do you still want your son to live?"
Li Zuo'e had only one son left, Gao Shaode; he was her last source of emotional support. Without her son, she would have nothing. Thus, she was forced to comply with Gao Zhan and became his concubine.
Afterward, Gao Zhan almost stayed overnight at Li Zuo'e's place every night, which also indicated that Li Zuo'e was indeed beautiful.
Gao Zhan's actions caused quite a stir in the city. Now that Li Zuo'e was pregnant with her brother-in-law's child, she felt immense shame and was even less willing to see anyone with her growing belly. She simply closed the palace doors and did not allow anyone to enter her chambers.
However, there is no wall in this world that does not let wind through.
Her son Gao Shaode heard rumors and came to seek an audience with his mother but was blocked outside the door. He shouted from outside: "Don't you know? You won't see me?"
His words pierced through Li Zuo'e's heart like needles, filling her with even more shame. Overwhelmed by various conflicting emotions, she became somewhat frantic; as a result, the child died shortly after birth.
Historical records noted this with four words: "Daughter born but not raised."
In ancient times, infant mortality rates were very high due to poor medical conditions; however, these four words recorded in history indeed stirred up great waves for Li Zuo'e.
What does "not raised" mean?
Many in later generations speculated that Li Zuo'e was strangled to death.
When Gao Zhan heard this news, he was furious like a lion. Not only did he kill Gao Shaode in front of Li Zuo'e with a single blow, but he also subjected her to brutal torture.
As a result of this incident, Li Zuo'e suffered a tremendous psychological blow.
She was beaten to a pulp by Gao Zhan, and the humiliation she endured mentally, along with the physical torment, caused her to faint.
Afterward, she was taken by carriage to a temple, and for over a decade, as Northern Qi fell, Northern Zhou rose and fell, leading to the establishment of the Sui Dynasty. After the Sui Dynasty was founded, she returned to her hometown Zhao Jun.
From then on, Li Zuo'e vanished without a trace, quietly submerged in the river of history.
The peculiar dynasty of Northern Qi was replaced by the Sui Dynasty.
Looking back at Li Zuo'e's life, her natural beauty and stunning appearance did not bring her happiness; instead, they led her through national turmoil and severe humiliation.
Like shattered jade and withered flowers, Li Zuo'e's fate exemplifies the saying: "Beauty is often met with misfortune," which is both tragic and lamentable.
I believe this is also a reason why feudal dynasties fade away in the passage of time.
Li Zuo'e's tragedy is a product of the system; it is not just a personal tragedy but also a profound reflection on society and human relationships. Today, people enjoy freedom and the right to pursue everything; it is this pursuit that has led to our modern society.
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