Records of Wu 5: Biographies of Consorts

Records of Wu 5: Biographies of Consorts

Lady Wu

吳夫人

Lady Wu, wife of Sun the General Who Smashes Caitiffs (Sun Jian), was the mother of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu. She was originally a native of Wu, moved to Qiantang, and lost her father and mother early. She lived with her younger brother Wu Jing. Sun Jian heard of her talent and beauty and wished to marry her. Her relatives in the Wu family disliked Sun Jian as frivolous and cunning and were about to refuse him, and Sun Jian was deeply ashamed and resentful. The lady said to her relatives, “Why cling to one girl and so bring disaster on yourselves? If it turns out that I have not met a good match, that is my fate.” So the marriage was at last agreed to, and she bore four sons and a daughter.

孫破虜吳夫人，吳主權母也。本吳人，徙錢唐，早失父母。與弟景居。孫堅聞其才貌，欲娶之。吳氏親戚嫌堅輕狡，將拒焉，堅甚以慚恨。夫人謂親戚曰：「何愛一女以取禍乎？如有不遇，命也。」於是遂許為婚，生四男一女。¹

Wu Jing constantly followed Sun Jian on campaign and won merit, and was appointed Chief Commandant of Cavalry. Yuan Shu memorialized that Wu Jing should serve as acting Prefect of Danyang; Wu Jing attacked the former prefect Zhou Xin and so took possession of the commandery. Sun Ce, with Sun He and Lü Fan, relied on Wu Jing, and they joined forces to attack the mountain bandit Zu Lang of Jing County. Zu Lang was defeated and fled. Then, being pressed by Liu Yao, Wu Jing went north again to rely on Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu made him General of the Household Supervising the Army, and together with Sun Ben he attacked Fan Neng and Yu Mi at Hengjiang, and he also struck Ze Rong and Xue Li at Moling.

景常隨堅征伐有功，拜騎都尉。袁術上景領丹楊太守，討故太守周昕，遂據其郡。孫策與孫河、呂範依景，合眾共討涇縣山賊祖郎。郎敗走。會為劉繇所迫，景復北依術，術以為督軍中郎將，與孫賁共討樊能、於麋於橫江，又擊笮融、薛禮於秣陵。

At that time Sun Ce had been wounded at Niuzhu, and bandits who had surrendered rebelled again; Wu Jing attacked them and captured them all. He followed Sun Ce in attacking Liu Yao, and when Liu Yao fled to Yuzhang, Sun Ce sent Wu Jing and Sun Ben to Shouchun to report to Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu was then contending with Liu Bei for Xu Province, and he made Wu Jing Prefect of Guangling. Yuan Shu later usurped the imperial title. Sun Ce admonished him by letter, but Yuan Shu would not listen, so Sun Ce cut off the crossings of the Yangzi and broke off contact with him, and sent someone to inform Wu Jing. Wu Jing at once abandoned his commandery and returned east, and Sun Ce again made him Prefect of Danyang.

時策被創牛渚，降賊復反，景攻討，盡禽之。從討劉繇，繇奔豫章，策遣景、賁到壽春報術。術方與劉備爭徐州，以景為廣陵太守。術後僭號。策以書喻術，術不納，便絕江津，不與通，使人告景。景即委郡東歸，策復以景為丹揚太守。

The Han court sent the Court Consultant Wang Pu south bearing its commands, and he memorialized that Wu Jing be made General Who Spreads Martial Might, continuing to govern the commandery as before.

漢遣議郎王誧¹銜命南行，表景為揚武將軍，領郡如故。

When Sun Quan took charge of the enterprise as a youth, the lady helped him govern military and state affairs, and was of great benefit. In the seventh year of Jian'an, as she was about to die, she summoned Zhang Zhao and others and entrusted them with what was to follow. She was buried together with Sun Jian at Gaoling.

及權少年統業，夫人助治軍國，甚有補益。¹建安七年，臨薨，引見張昭等，屬以後事，合葬高陵。²

In the eighth year, Wu Jing died in office. His son Wu Fen was given troops and made a general, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinting, and died. His son Wu An succeeded him, but Wu An was put to death for belonging to the faction of Sun Ba, King of Lu. Wu Fen's younger brother Wu Qi succeeded, was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief District, and died. His son Wu Zuan succeeded him. Wu Zuan's wife was a daughter of Teng Yin, and when Teng Yin was executed, both of them were killed.

八年，景卒官，子奮授兵為將，封新亭侯，卒。¹子安嗣，安坐黨魯王霸死。奮弟祺嗣，封都亭侯，卒。子纂嗣。纂妻即滕胤女也，胤被誅，竝遇害。

Lady Xie

謝夫人

Lady Xie, consort of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, was a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji. Her father, Xie Jiong, had been a Gentleman of the Masters of Writing and Magistrate of Xu under the Han. Sun Quan's mother, Lady Wu, took her as a consort for Sun Quan, and she was loved and favored. Later Sun Quan took in Lady Xu, granddaughter of his father's sister, and wished to place Lady Xie beneath her; Lady Xie refused, and because of this she lost favor. She died early. More than ten years later her younger brother Xie Cheng was appointed Gentleman of the Palace of the Five Offices, was gradually promoted to Commandant of the Eastern Division of Changsha and Prefect of Wuling, and wrote a History of the Later Han in more than a hundred scrolls.

吳主權謝夫人，會稽山陰人也。父煚，漢尚書郎、徐令。¹權母吳，為權聘以為妃，愛幸有寵。後權納姑孫徐氏，欲令謝下之，謝不肯，由是失志。早卒。後十餘年，弟承拜五官郎中，稍遷長沙東部都尉、武陵太守，撰《後漢書》百餘卷。²

Lady Xu

徐夫人

Lady Xu, consort of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, was a native of Fuchun in Wu Commandery. Her grandfather Xu Zhen was on close terms with Sun Quan's father, Sun Jian, and Sun Jian gave him his younger sister in marriage; she bore Xu Kun. Xu Kun served in the province and commandery when young, but when the Han fell into disorder at its end he left his post, followed Sun Jian on campaign, won merit, and was appointed Lieutenant General. After Sun Jian died, he followed Sun Ce in attacking Fan Neng, Yu Mi and others at Hengjiang, and struck Zhang Ying at Dangli Estuary. But their boats were few, and they meant to halt the army while seeking more. Xu Kun's mother was with the army at the time, and she said to him, “I fear the provincial authorities will send out a large naval force to meet us, and then things will go badly. How can you halt here?”

吳主權徐夫人，吳郡富春人也。祖父真，與權父堅相親，堅以妹妻真，生琨。琨少仕州郡，漢末擾亂，去吏，隨堅征伐有功，拜偏將軍。堅薨，隨孫策討樊能、於糜等於橫江，擊張英於當利口。而船少，欲駐軍更求。琨母時在軍中，謂琨曰：「恐州家多發水軍來逆人，則不利矣，如何可駐邪？

“You should cut reeds to make rafts and help the boats carry the army across.” Xu Kun reported this in full to Sun Ce, who at once put it into effect. The whole host crossed together, and they went on to defeat Zhang Ying and drive off Ze Rong and Liu Yao, and the enterprise was securely established. Sun Ce memorialized that Xu Kun be acting Prefect of Danyang, but just then Wu Jing abandoned Guangling and came east, and he was again made Prefect of Danyang. Xu Kun, as General of the Household Supervising the Army, led troops and followed in defeating Li Shu, Prefect of Lujiang; he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Guangde and promoted to General Who Pacifies Caitiffs. Later he followed the campaign against Huang Zu, was struck by a stray arrow, and died.

宜伐蘆葦以為泭，佐船渡軍。」¹琨具啟策，策即行之。眾悉俱濟，遂破英，擊走笮融、劉繇，事業克定。策表琨領丹楊太守，會吳景委廣陵來東，復為丹楊守。²琨以督軍中郎將領兵，從破廬江太守李術，封廣德侯，遷平虜將軍。後從討黃祖，中流矢卒。

Xu Kun fathered the lady, who was first married to Lu Shang of the same commandery. When Lu Shang died, Sun Quan, who was then General Who Punishes Caitiffs and residing at Wu, took her as his consort and had her raise his son Sun Deng as a mother. Later, when Sun Quan moved his seat, he set her aside for her jealousy and left her at Wu. After more than ten years, when Sun Quan had become King of Wu and then assumed the imperial title, and Sun Deng was Heir Apparent, the ministers asked that the lady be made empress, but Sun Quan's intention lay with Lady Bu, and in the end he did not allow it. She later died of illness. Her elder brother Xu Jiao inherited their father Xu Kun's marquisate, attacked and pacified the Shanyue, and was appointed Lieutenant General; he died before the lady, without a son. Her younger brother Xu Zuo inherited the fief, and he too, by merit in battle, rose to Area Commander of Wuhu and General Who Pacifies Wei.

琨生夫人，初適同郡陸尚。尚卒，權為討虜將軍在吳，聘以為妃，使母養子登。後權遷移，以夫人妒忌，廢處吳。積十餘年，權為吳王及即尊號，登為太子，群臣請立夫人為后，權意在步氏，卒不許。後以疾卒。兄矯，嗣父琨侯，討平山越，拜偏將軍，先夫人卒，無子。弟祚襲封，亦以戰功至蕪湖督、平魏將軍。

Lady Bu

步夫人

Lady Bu, consort of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, was a native of Huaiyin in Linhuai. She was of the same clan as the Chancellor Bu Zhi. At the end of the Han, her mother took her and moved to Lujiang, and when Lujiang was taken by Sun Ce, they all crossed the Yangzi to the east. Through her beauty she won Sun Quan's favor, and the favor shown her was the highest in the inner palace. She bore two daughters. The elder was named Luban, courtesy name Dahu; she was first married to Zhou Xun, son of Zhou Yu, and later to Quan Cong. The younger was named Luyu, courtesy name Xiaohu; she was first married to Zhu Ju, and later to Liu Zuan.

吳主權步夫人，臨淮淮陰人也。與丞相騭同族。漢末，其母攜將徙廬江，廬江為孫策所破，皆東渡江，以美麗得幸於權，寵冠後庭。生二女，長曰魯班，字大虎，前配周瑜子循，後配全琮。少曰魯育，字小虎，前配朱據，後配劉纂。¹

The lady was not jealous by nature, and she recommended many others to his favor, so she long enjoyed his love and regard. When Sun Quan became king and then emperor, he wished to make her empress, but the ministers' deliberations favored Lady Xu, and Sun Quan wavered for more than ten years. Yet within the palace everyone called her Empress, and her relatives, when submitting memorials, called her the Central Palace. When she died, the ministers, following Sun Quan's wishes, asked that her title be posthumously set right. He therefore bestowed a seal and ribbon on her, and the patent of appointment read: “On the day wuzi of the intercalary month of the first year of Chiwu, the Emperor says: Alas, Empress! You assisted in the mandate and together we received Heaven and Earth.”

夫人性不妒忌，多所推近，故久見愛待。權為王及帝，意欲以為后，而群臣議在徐氏，權依違者十餘年，然宮內皆稱皇后，親戚上疏稱中宮。及薨，臣下緣權指，請追正名號，乃贈印綬，策命曰：惟赤烏元年閏月戊子，皇帝曰：嗚呼皇后，惟后佐命，共承天地。

“Reverent and respectful morning and night, you shared equally in my labors. You kept the teaching of the inner palace in good order and never erred in ritual or righteousness. Tolerant, loving and kind, you had the virtue of gentle excellence. People and ministers looked up to you in hope, and near and far gave you their hearts. Because the troubles of the age were not yet quelled and the great succession was not yet unified, I followed your refined wishes and always held to modesty and restraint. That is why no title was conferred at the time; I also thought that the years Heaven granted you would be long, and that you would forever join with me in proclaiming Heaven's blessings. I did not realize that suddenly your great mandate would come to its end.”

虔恭夙夜，與朕均勞。內教修整，禮義不愆。寬容慈惠，有淑懿之德。民臣懸望，遠近歸心。朕以世難未夷，大統未一，緣后雅志，每懷謙損。是以於時未授名號，亦必謂后降年有永，永與朕躬對揚天休。不寤奄忽，大命近止。

“I regret that my true intent was not made manifest earlier, and I grieve that you have passed away without enjoying to the full the blessings of Heaven. My sorrow and mourning are extreme, and my heart is pained. I now send the Chancellor, bearing the imperial staff, to present the patent and confer the title, and to have you share in the sacrifices to the former sovereigns. If your spirit has awareness, may it take delight in this favor and glory. Alas, how sad!”

朕恨本意不早昭顯，傷后殂逝，不終天祿。愍悼之至，痛於厥心。今使使持節丞相奉策授號，配食先后。魂而有靈，嘉其寵榮。嗚呼哀哉！

She was buried at the Jiang Mausoleum.

葬於蔣陵。

Lady Wang of Langye

琅邪王夫人

Lady Wang, consort of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, was a native of Langye. She entered the palace by selection, won favor during the Huangwu era, and bore Sun He; the favor shown her was second only to Lady Bu's. After Lady Bu died, Sun He was made Heir Apparent, and Sun Quan intended to make the lady empress. But Princess Quan had long hated her and little by little slandered her. When Sun Quan lay ill, the princess said that the lady looked pleased, and because of this Sun Quan reproached her severely in his anger, and she died of grief. When Sun He's son Sun Hao came to the throne, he posthumously honored her as Empress Dayi, and enfeoffed her three younger brothers all as full marquises.

吳主權王夫人，琅邪人也。¹夫人以選入宮，黃武中得幸，生和，寵次步氏。步氏薨後，和立為太子，權將立夫人為后，而全公主素憎夫人，稍稍譖毀。及權寢疾，言有喜色，由是權深責怒，以憂死。和子皓立，追尊夫人曰大懿皇后，封三弟皆列侯。

Lady Wang of Nanyang

南陽王夫人

Lady Wang, consort of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, was a native of Nanyang. She entered the palace by selection, won favor during the Jiahe era, and bore Sun Xiu. When Sun He became Heir Apparent, his mother was honored and esteemed, and the other favored concubines were all sent to live outside the palace. The lady was sent out to Gong'an, died there, and was buried there. When Sun Xiu came to the throne, he sent an envoy to honor her posthumously as Empress Jinghuai, and reburied her at the Jing Mausoleum. As the Wang family had no heir, her younger brother by the same mother, Wang Wenyong, was enfeoffed as Marquis of a District.

吳主權王夫人，南陽人也。以選入宮，嘉禾中得幸，生休。及和為太子，和母貴重，諸姬有寵者，皆出居外。夫人出公安，卒，因葬焉。休即位，遣使追尊曰敬懷皇后，改葬敬陵。王氏無後，封同母弟文雍為亭侯。

Lady Pan

潘夫人

Lady Pan, consort of Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, was a native of Gouzhang in Kuaiji. Her father was a clerk who was put to death for breaking the law. The lady and her elder sister were both sent to the Weaving House, where Sun Quan saw her, thought her remarkable, and summoned her into the inner palace. She won his favor and became pregnant, and she dreamed that someone handed her a dragon's head, which she received in her apron; she then gave birth to Sun Liang. In the thirteenth year of Chiwu, when Sun Liang was made Heir Apparent, she asked that her elder sister be released to marry, and Sun Quan granted it. The following year he made her empress.

吳主權潘夫人，會稽句章人也。父為吏，坐法死。夫人與姊俱輸織室，權見而異之，召充後宮。得幸有娠，夢有以龍頭授己者，己以蔽膝受之，遂生亮。赤烏十三年，亮立為太子，請出嫁夫人之姊，權聽許之。明年，立夫人為皇后。

She was treacherous and jealous by nature and ingratiating in manner, and from first to last she slandered and harmed a great many, Lady Yuan among them. When Sun Quan fell ill, she sent someone to ask Sun Hong, Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, about the precedent of Empress Lü's seizing sole power. Worn out from nursing him, she became weak and ill herself, and the palace women waited until she lay in a stupor and together strangled her, giving out that she had been struck by a sudden malignant affliction. Later the matter came to light, and six or seven people were put to death for it. Sun Quan died soon afterward and was buried together with her at the Jiang Mausoleum. When Sun Liang came to the throne, he made Tan Shao, husband of the lady's elder sister, Chief Commandant of Cavalry and gave him troops. When Sun Liang was deposed, Tan Shao and his household were sent back to his home region of Luling.

性險妒容媚，自始至卒，譖害袁夫人等甚眾。¹權不豫，夫人使問中書令孫弘呂后專制故事。侍疾疲勞，因以羸疾，諸宮人伺其昏臥，共縊殺之，託言中惡。後事洩，坐死者六七人。權尋薨，合葬蔣陵。孫亮即位，以夫人姊婿譚紹為騎都尉，授兵。亮廢，紹與家屬送本部廬陵。

Lady Quan

全夫人

Lady Quan, consort of Sun Liang, was the daughter of Quan Shang. Her great-aunt the princess (Princess Quan) was fond of her and always took her along whenever she went to court. When Lady Pan and her son came into favor, Princess Quan, since she herself was at odds with Sun He's mother, urged Sun Quan to take the lady as a wife for Lady Pan's son Sun Liang, and Sun Liang in the end became the heir. When the lady was made empress, Quan Shang was made Colonel of the City Gates and enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief District; he replaced Teng Yin as Minister of Ceremonies and General of the Guards, was advanced in fief to Marquis of Yongping, and was made Intendant of the Masters of Writing.

孫亮全夫人，全尚女也。從祖母公主愛之，每進見輒與俱。及潘夫人母子有寵，全主自以與孫和母有隙，乃勸權為潘氏男亮納夫人，亮遂為嗣。夫人立為皇后，以尚為城門校尉，封都亭侯，代滕胤為太常、衛將軍，進封永平侯，錄尚書事。

At that time there were five men of the Quan family who were marquises, all of them in command of troops and horses. The rest served as Attendant Gentlemen and Chief Commandants of Cavalry, standing guard at the ruler's side; since the rise of Wu no imperial in-laws had equaled them in rank and prosperity. Then, when Zhuge Dan, a great general of Wei, came over with Shouchun, Quan Yi, Quan Duan, Quan Yi (全禕), Quan Yi (全儀) and others all took the opportunity to surrender to Wei. Quan Xi's plot leaked out and he was killed, and from then on the Quans declined. It happened that Sun Chen deposed Sun Liang as King of Kuaiji and later degraded him further to Marquis of Houguan. The lady went with him to his fief and lived at Houguan; Quan Shang was moved with his household to Lingling, and was pursued and killed.

時全氏侯有五人，並典兵馬。其餘為侍郎、騎都尉，宿衛左右，自吳興，外戚貴盛莫及。及魏大將諸葛誕以壽春來附，而全懌、全端、全禕、全儀等並因此際降魏。全熙謀洩見殺，由是諸全衰弱。會孫綝廢亮為會稽王，後又黜為候官侯。夫人隨之國，居候官，尚將家屬徙零陵，追見殺。¹

Lady Zhu

朱夫人

Lady Zhu, consort of Sun Xiu, was the daughter of Zhu Ju, born to the princess who was Sun Xiu's elder sister (Princess Zhu). At the end of the Chiwu era, Sun Quan took her as a consort for Sun Xiu. When Sun Xiu became King of Langye, she went with him to live in Danyang. In the Jianxing era, Sun Jun monopolized the government, and the members of the ruling house all dreaded him. Quan Shang's wife was Sun Jun's elder sister, so only Princess Quan enjoyed his protection. Earlier, when Sun He was Heir Apparent, Princess Quan had slandered and harmed Lady Wang and wished to depose the Heir Apparent and set up the King of Lu, but Princess Zhu would not go along, and from this there was a rift between them.

孫休朱夫人，朱據女，休姊公主所生也。¹赤烏末，權為休納以為妃。休為琅邪王，隨居丹楊。建興中，孫峻專政，公族皆患之。全尚妻即峻姊。故惟全主祐焉。初，孫和為太子時，全主譖害王夫人，欲廢太子，立魯王，朱主不聽，由是有隙。

In the Wufeng era, Sun Yi plotted to kill Sun Jun; the plot was discovered and he was executed. Princess Quan took the occasion to say that Princess Zhu had conspired with Sun Yi, and Sun Jun unjustly killed Princess Zhu. Sun Xiu was afraid and sent the lady back to Jianye, taking her hand and weeping as they parted. When she arrived, Sun Jun sent her back to Sun Xiu. In the Taiping era, Sun Liang learned that Princess Zhu had been destroyed by Princess Quan, and asked why Princess Zhu had died. Princess Quan said in fear, “I truly do not know. It was all reported by Zhu Ju's two sons, Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun.” Sun Liang killed Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun.

五鳳中，孫儀謀殺峻，事覺被誅。全主因言朱主與儀同謀，峻枉殺朱主。休懼，遣夫人還建業，執手泣別。既至，峻遣還休。太平中，孫亮知朱主為全主所害，問朱主死意？全主懼曰：「我實不知，皆據二子熊、損所白。」亮殺熊、損。

Zhu Sun's wife was Sun Jun's younger sister, and so Sun Chen grew all the more wary of Sun Liang, and in the end deposed him and set up Sun Xiu. In the fifth year of Yong'an, the lady was made empress. When Sun Xiu died, the ministers honored her as Empress Dowager, but a little more than a month after Sun Hao took the throne he demoted her to Empress Jing, to be styled the Anding Palace. In the seventh month of the first year of Ganlu, she was driven to her death, and was buried together with Sun Xiu at the Ding Mausoleum.

損妻是峻妹也，孫綝益忌亮，遂廢亮，立休。永安五年，立夫人為皇后。休卒，群臣尊夫人為皇太后，孫皓即位月餘，貶為景皇后。稱安定宮。甘露元年七月，見逼薨，合葬定陵。¹

Consort He

何姬

Consort He of Sun He was a native of Jurong in Danyang. Her father, He Sui, had originally been a cavalryman. Sun Quan once made a tour of the camps, and she was watching by the roadside; Sun Quan saw her from a distance, thought her remarkable, ordered a eunuch to summon her in, and bestowed her on his son Sun He. When she bore a son, Sun Quan was delighted and named him Pengzu; this was Sun Hao. After Sun He had been deposed as Heir Apparent, he was later made King of Nanyang and lived at Changsha. When Sun Liang came to the throne, Sun Jun assisted in the government. Sun Jun had always fawned upon and served Princess Quan, and Princess Quan, being at odds with Sun He's mother, urged Sun Jun to move Sun He to live at Xindu and send an envoy to order him to take his own life. His principal consort, Lady Zhang, also killed herself.

孫和何姬，丹楊句容人也。父遂，本騎士。孫權嘗遊幸諸營，而姬觀於道中，權望見異之，命宦者召入，以賜子和。生男，權喜。名之曰彭祖，即皓也。太子和既廢，後為南陽王，居長沙。孫亮即位，孫峻輔政。峻素媚事全主，全主與和母有隙，遂勸峻徙和居新都，遣使賜死，嫡妃張氏亦自殺。

Consort He said, “If we all follow him in death, who will raise the orphans?” So she cared for and brought up Sun Hao and his three younger brothers. When Sun Hao came to the throne, he honored Sun He as Emperor Zhaoxian and Consort He as Empress Zhaoxian, styled the Shengping Palace, and after a little more than a month advanced her to Empress Dowager. Her younger brothers were enfeoffed: He Hong as Marquis of Yongping, He Jiang as Marquis of Liyang, and He Zhi as Marquis of Xuancheng. When He Hong died, his son He Mao succeeded him; he became Army Supervisor of Wuling and was killed by Jin. He Zhi rose in office to Grand Minister over the Masses.

何姬曰：「若皆從死，誰當養孤？」遂拊育皓及其三弟。皓即位，尊和為昭獻皇帝，¹何姬為昭獻皇后，稱昇平宮，月餘，進為皇太后。封弟洪永平侯，蔣溧陽侯，植宣城侯。洪卒，子邈嗣，為武陵監軍，為晉所殺。植官至大司徒。

In the benighted disorder of Wu's last years, the He family grew arrogant and overstepped their station, and its sons and younger brothers ran riot, to the misery of the common people. So the people spread a false rumor that “Sun Hao died long ago, and the one on the throne is a son of the He family.”

吳末昏亂，何氏驕僭，子弟橫放，百姓患之。故民訛言「皓久死，立者何氏子」云。¹

Lady Teng

滕夫人

Lady Teng, consort of Sun Hao, was a clanswoman of Teng Yin, the former Minister of Ceremonies. When Teng Yin's clan was exterminated, the lady's father, Teng Mu, being a distant relation, was banished to a frontier commandery. When Sun Xiu came to the throne and proclaimed a general amnesty, he was able to return and was made a Gentleman of the Palace of the Five Offices. After Sun Hao had been enfeoffed as Marquis of Wucheng, he took Teng Mu's daughter as his consort. When Sun Hao came to the throne, he made her empress, enfeoffed Teng Mu as Marquis of Gaomi, appointed him General of the Guards, and made him Intendant of the Masters of Writing. Afterward the court officials, because Teng Mu was an honored in-law, often pushed him forward to remonstrate.

孫皓滕夫人，故太常胤之族女也。胤夷滅，夫人父牧，以疏遠徙邊郡。孫休即位，大赦，得還，以牧為五官中郎。皓既封烏程侯，聘牧女為妃。皓即位，立為皇后，封牧高密侯，拜衛將軍，錄尚書事。後朝士以牧尊戚，頗推令諫爭。

And so the favor shown the lady gradually waned, and Sun Hao grew ever more displeased with her, but his mother, Lady He, always shielded her. Moreover, the Grand Astrologer said that by the calendrical cycles the empress could not be changed, and since Sun Hao believed in shamans and diviners, she escaped being deposed, and she constantly waited upon the Shengping Palace. Teng Mu was sent away to live in Cangwu Commandery; though his rank and title were not taken from him, it was in fact banishment to the border, and he died of grief on the road. The officials of the Changqiu Palace merely filled their posts, though she still received court congratulations, memorials and petitions as before. Yet among the favored concubines of Sun Hao's inner palace, many wore the seal and ribbon of an empress. In the fourth year of Tianji, she went with Sun Hao when he was removed to Luoyang.

而夫人寵漸衰，皓滋不悅，皓母何恆左右之。又太史言，於運歷，后不可易，皓信巫覡，故得不廢，常供養昇平宮。牧見遣居蒼梧郡，雖爵位不奪，其實裔也，遂道路憂死。長秋官僚，備員而已，受朝賀表疏如故。而皓內諸寵姬，佩皇后璽紱者多矣。¹天紀四年，隨皓遷於洛陽。

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: The Book of Changes says, “Set the household right, and the realm will be settled.” The Book of Songs says, “He set an example to his wife, extended it to his brothers, and so governed his house and state.” How true these words are! Looking far back to Duke Huan of Qi and close at hand to Sun Quan, both had the discernment to recognize able men and the ambition of heroes, yet they failed to distinguish between principal and secondary wives and sons, and their inner quarters fell into disorder, leaving them a laughingstock to past and present and bringing calamity down upon their heirs. Judging from this, only one who takes the Way and righteousness to heart and makes fairness and constancy the rule can escape such entanglements!

評曰：《易》稱「正家而天下定」。《詩》云：「刑於寡妻，至於兄弟，以御於家邦」。誠哉，是言也！遠觀齊桓，近察孫權，皆有識士之明，傑人之志，而嫡庶不分，閨庭錯亂，遺笑古今，殃流後嗣。由是論之，惟以道義為心、平一為主者，然後克免斯累邪！