Lady Cai 蔡夫人

In Chapter 34 of the Romance, when Liu Bei proposes having his three generals guard the outer reaches of Jing Province, Cai Mao tells his sister Lady Cai that in time this will surely bring disaster. At night Lady Cai tells Liu Biao that the people of Jing Province have many dealings with Liu Bei and that he should be sent elsewhere, and when Liu Biao says that Xuande is a benevolent man, she replies that she only fears others are not of the same mind as he. Romance, Ch. 34 §8–9

Later Liu Biao confides to Liu Bei that his eldest son Liu Qi, born of his first wife Lady Chen, is worthy but weak, while his young son Liu Cong, born of his second wife Lady Cai, is quite clever, but that if he makes the eldest heir he fears an uprising, since the Cai clan holds military affairs in its hands. Eavesdropping from behind the screen, Lady Cai inwardly resents Liu Bei bitterly when he says that setting aside the eldest to raise the younger is the road to disorder. When Liu Bei lets slip that if he only had a base, he would have nothing to fear from the mediocre men of the realm, Lady Cai tells Liu Biao that Liu Bei means to swallow Jing Province and must be removed now. When Liu Biao shakes his head, she secretly summons Cai Mao to consult, and approves Cai Mao's plan to go to Liu Bei's lodging and kill him first, then inform their lord. Romance, Ch. 34 §17–19 · 21 · 23–24

After Liu Bei, tipped off by Yi Ji, flees to Xinye by night, Cai Mao again consults secretly with Lady Cai, and they decide to gather the officials at Xiangyang and carry out the plot there. In Chapter 35, when Sun Qian reports that Liu Bei escaped by leaping across the Tan Stream, Liu Biao orders Cai Mao dragged out and beheaded, and Lady Cai comes out weeping and begs that his life be spared. Only after also hearing Sun Qian out does Liu Biao rebuke Cai Mao and release him. Romance, Ch. 34 §25–26 · 30Romance, Ch. 35 §20–21

In Chapter 39, Liu Qi says that his stepmother will not tolerate him and that his life hangs by a thread from morning to night, and begs Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang for a way to survive. In Chapter 40, when the ailing Liu Biao writes a will charging Liu Bei to assist Liu Qi and make him master of Jing Province, Lady Cai flies into a rage, has the inner gates shut and barred, and sets Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to guard the outer gates. Liu Qi, who has come from Jiangxia to visit his sick father, is turned back by Cai Mao and leaves in tears, and Liu Biao dies on the wushen day of the 8th month, waiting for Liu Qi. The Romance laments Liu Biao with a later poet's verse saying that both the Yuan clan and Lord Liu brought ruin on their houses because the hen crowed at dawn. Romance, Ch. 39 §13 · 17Romance, Ch. 40 §13–15

When Liu Biao dies, Lady Cai consults with Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, forges his will to make his second son Liu Cong master of Jing Province, and only then announces the death. She then goes in person with Liu Cong to Xiangyang to guard against Liu Qi and Liu Bei, and has Liu Biao's coffin buried without ever sending word of his death to the two of them. When news comes that Cao Cao's great army is approaching and Fu Xun, Kuai Yue and Wang Can urge surrender, Liu Cong says he must consult his mother, and Lady Cai comes out from behind the screen and says that if the three men are of one mind, there is no need even to tell her. Liu Cong then has Song Zhong carry a letter of surrender to Cao Cao. Romance, Ch. 40 §16 · 18–20 · 22 · 24–25

In Chapter 41, Lady Cai and Liu Cong, bearing the seals and the military tallies, cross the river and bow in welcome to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao makes Liu Cong Inspector of Qing Province and sends him off, Liu Cong goes to Qing Province with his mother, and Cao Cao orders Yu Jin to pursue Liu Cong and his mother and kill them, to forestall future trouble. When Yu Jin arrives, Lady Cai clasps Liu Cong and wails, and after the old general Wang Wei, who has followed them, fights back and is killed, the soldiers kill Liu Cong and Lady Cai. Cao Cao richly rewards Yu Jin. Romance, Ch. 41 §25–28