1
夫左賢右戚，尚德尊功，有國者所以禦天下也。 殷肇王基，不藉莘氏為佐； 周成王業，未聞姒姓為輔。 然曆觀累代外戚之家，乘母后之權以取高位厚秩者，多矣！ 而鮮能有克終之美，必罹顛覆之患，何哉？ 皆由乎居上不以至公任物，在下徒用私寵要榮。 繭犢引大車，升質任厚棟，無德而尊，不知紀極，忽于滿盈之戒，罔念高危之咎。 故鬼瞰其室，憂必及之，所以殺身傾族相繼於西京也。 夫誠著艱難，功宣社稷，不以謙沖自牧，未免顛蹶之禍； 而況道不足以濟時，仁不足以利物，自矜於己，以富貴驕人者乎！
A ruler governs the realm by placing worthy men on the left and consort kin on the right, honoring virtue and esteeming merit. When the Yin first laid their royal foundation, they did not rely on the Shen clan as helpers. King Cheng of Zhou's achievement owed nothing to Si-clan aides either. Yet down through the ages, countless consort families seized lofty posts and lavish salaries by exploiting the empress dowager's authority. Yet few ever finished well; most met ruin. Why? Because those above failed to appoint people with perfect fairness, and those below pursued rank through private favor alone. They were like silkworms pulling great carts, or crude timber propped up as main beams—ennobled without merit, heedless of limits, forgetting the warning against overfullness and the peril of lofty place. Spirits looked into their homes, and ruin was inevitable—which is why loss of life and destruction of clans recurred one after another in the Western Capital. Even those who proved loyal through hardship and whose deeds upheld the state, if they did not cultivate modest restraint, still could not escape disaster; How much less those whose virtue could not save the times, whose kindness could not help others, yet who flaunted themselves and lorded their wealth and rank over everyone!
2
魏道武初，賀訥有部眾之業，翼成皇祚，其餘或以勞勤，或緣恩澤。 齊氏后妃之族，多自保全。 胡長仁以譖訴貽禍，斛律光以地勢被戮，俱非女謁盛衰之所致也。 婁昭自以佐命之功，崇其名器，且霸業權輿，時方同德，陵暴之釁，因茲而起。 其靖德、昭訓二門，並良家遺孽，守死無暇，固不足涉言。 又子非繼世，權難妄假。 昭信非惟素門履道，訖構廢辱，威望之地，自致無由。 有周禦曆，後門初無與政，既而末跡竊權，竟移鼎璽，斯乃西漢覆車之轍，魏文所以深誡。 隋文潛躍之初，獻後便相推轂； 煬帝大橫方兆，蕭妃密勿經綸。 是以恩禮綢繆，始終不易。 然外內親戚，莫預朝權，昆弟在位，亦無殊寵。 至於居擅玉堂，家稱金穴，暉光戚裏，熏灼四方，將三司以比儀，命五侯而同拜者，終始一代，寂無聞焉。 考之前王，可謂矯其弊矣。 故雖時經擾攘，無有陷於不義，市朝遷貿，而皆得以保全。 比夫憑藉寵私，階緣恩澤，乘其非據，旋就顛隕者，豈可同日而言哉！ 此所謂愛之以禮者也。
In the early reign of Emperor Daowu of Wei, He Ne commanded tribal forces and helped found the dynasty; the others owed their standing to hard service or imperial favor. Most of the Northern Qi empresses' kin managed to survive intact. Hu Changren was destroyed by false accusations, and Hulu Guang was killed because of his territorial base—neither case stemmed from consort power waxing or waning. Lou Zhao, crediting himself with helping establish the dynasty, inflated his rank and honors; at a time when the state was still being built and unity was needed, the impulse toward domineering conduct took root here. The Jingde and Zhaoxun lines were both scions of respectable houses, too busy merely surviving to matter here. Besides, when a man was not the legitimate heir, power could not be casually bestowed. Zhaoxin was from a humble house and kept to the right path, yet still met disgrace and downfall; in a position of power and renown, he could not secure his own rise. Under Northern Zhou, consort kin initially stayed out of politics; in the dynasty's last days they seized power and finally moved the throne—repeating Western Han's fatal precedent, which is why Emperor Wen of Wei warned so sternly against it. When Emperor Wen of Sui was still rising in obscurity, Empress Xian was already driving his cause forward; When Emperor Yang's imperial destiny was taking shape, Consort Xiao shared closely in statecraft behind the scenes. Their bond of favor and courtesy remained close and unchanging from start to finish. Yet neither inner nor outer consort relatives held court power, and brothers who served in office received no extraordinary indulgence. No one in that entire age monopolized the court like a jade hall, amassed wealth like a house of gold, blazed with empress-kin splendor across the realm, ranked alongside the Three Excellencies, or had the Five Marquises bow as equals. Measured against earlier rulers, the Sui emperors may be said to have corrected this abuse. Thus even through turbulent times, none were drawn into injustice; as power changed hands in court and market, they all survived. Compared with those who traded on private favor, rode imperial grace to power, seized what they had no right to hold, and quickly fell—there is no comparison! This is what is meant by loving them with proper restraint.
3
案外戚，《魏書》有賀訥、劉羅辰、姚黃眉、杜超、賀迷、閭毗、馮熙、李峻、李惠、高肇、于勁、胡國珍、李延實，《齊書》有趙猛、婁睿、爾硃文暢、鄭仲禮、李祖升、元蠻、胡長仁，《周書》不立此篇，《隋書》有獨孤羅、蕭巋。 今以劉羅辰、李峻、于勁、李延實、婁睿、爾硃文暢、鄭仲禮、李祖升、元蠻、獨孤羅、蕭巋各附其家傳，其餘併入此篇。 又檢楊騰、乙弗繪附之魏末，以備《外戚傳》。
On consort families: the Book of Wei includes He Ne, Liu Luochen, Yao Huangmei, Du Chao, He Mi, Lü Pi, Feng Xi, Li Jun, Li Hui, Gao Zhao, Yu Jin, Hu Guozhen, and Li Yanshi; the Book of Qi includes Zhao Meng, Lou Rui, Erzhu Wenchang, Zheng Zhongli, Li Zusheng, Yuan Man, and Hu Changren; the Book of Zhou has no such chapter; the Book of Sui has Dugu Luo and Xiao Kui. Liu Luochen, Li Jun, Yu Jin, Li Yanshi, Lou Rui, Erzhu Wenchang, Zheng Zhongli, Li Zusheng, Yuan Man, Dugu Luo, and Xiao Kui are now placed in their respective family accounts; the remainder are gathered in this chapter. Yang Teng and Yifu Hui are likewise appended at the close of the Wei section to round out the Consort Kin Biographies.
4
賀訥姚黃眉杜超賀迷閭毗馮熙李惠高肇胡國珍從曾孫長粲楊騰乙弗繪趙猛胡長仁隋文帝外家呂氏
He Ne; Yao Huangmei; Du Chao; He Mi; Lü Pi; Feng Xi; Li Hui; Gao Zhao; Hu Guozhen; his great-grandson Chang Can; Yang Teng; Yifu Hui; Zhao Meng; Hu Changren; and the Lü clan, maternal relatives of Emperor Wen of Sui.
5
賀訥，代人，魏道武皇帝之舅，獻明後之兄也。 其先世為君長。 祖紇，尚平文女。 父野幹，尚昭成女遼西公主。 昭成崩，諸部乖亂，獻明後與道武及衛、秦二王依訥。 會苻堅使劉庫仁分攝國事，道武還居獨孤。 訥總攝東部為大人，遷居大寧，行其恩信，眾多歸之，侔於庫仁。 苻堅假訥鷹揚將軍。 後劉顯謀逆，道武輕騎歸訥，訥驚拜曰：「官家復國，當念老臣。」 帝笑答曰「誠如舅言，要不亡也。」 訥中弟染幹粗暴，忌帝，常圖為逆。 每為皇姑遼西公主擁護，故染幹不得肆共禍心。 諸部大人請訥兄弟，求舉道武為主，染幹不從。 遂與諸大人勸進，道武登代王位于牛川。 及帝討吐突鄰部，訥兄弟遂懷異圖，率諸部救之。 帝擊之，大潰，訥西遁。 衛辰遣子直力鞮征訥，告急請降。 道武簡精騎二十萬救之，遂徙訥部落及諸弟，處之東界。 訥又通于慕容垂，垂以訥為歸善王。 染幹謀殺訥而代立，訥遂與染幹相攻。 垂遣子麟討之，敗染幹于牛都，破訥於赤城。 道武遣師救訥，麟乃引退。 訥從道武平中原，拜安遠將軍。 其後離散諸部，分土定居，不聽遷徙。 其君長大人，皆同編戶。 訥以元舅，甚見尊重，然無統領，以壽終於家。
He Ne was from Dai, maternal uncle to Emperor Daowu of Wei and elder brother of Empress Xianming. His ancestors had been tribal chiefs for generations. His grandfather He married a daughter of Emperor Pingwen. His father Yegan married the Princess of Liaoxi, daughter of Emperor Zhaocheng. After Zhaocheng's death the tribes fell into chaos; Empress Xianming, Daowu, and the Princes of Wei and Qin took refuge with Ne. Fu Jian then sent Liu Kuren to share control of the realm, and Daowu withdrew to Dugu. Ne became great chief over the eastern tribes, moved to Daning, won people through kindness and trust, and drew so many followers that he rivaled Kuren. Fu Jian appointed Ne acting General of Soaring Hawk. When Liu Xian rebelled, Daowu rode lightly to Ne. Ne bowed in alarm and said, "When Your Majesty restores the realm, remember this old servant. The emperor smiled and replied, "Just as you say, Uncle—I was not destined to die after all." Ne's younger brother Rangan was violent and hostile to the emperor and often plotted treason. Each time the imperial aunt, the Princess of Liaoxi, protected Daowu, so Rangan could not carry out his designs. The tribal chiefs asked Ne and his brothers to raise Daowu as ruler; Rangan refused. They then joined the great chiefs in urging him forward, and Daowu took the throne of Prince of Dai at Niuchuan. When the emperor attacked the Tujiuli tribe, Ne and his brothers turned disloyal and led the tribes to their rescue. The emperor defeated them utterly and Ne fled west. Weichen sent his son Zhilidi against Ne, who in distress appealed for surrender. Daowu marched two hundred thousand picked horsemen to his aid, then relocated Ne's tribe and his brothers to the eastern border. Ne also allied with Murong Chui, who made him Prince of Returning Goodness. Rangan plotted to kill Ne and replace him, and Ne fought back. Chui sent his son Lin against them, defeating Rangan at Niudu and Ne at Chicheng. Daowu sent troops to rescue Ne, and Lin withdrew. Ne followed Daowu in conquering the Central Plains and was made General Who Pacifies the Distant. Later the tribes were broken up, assigned land, and forbidden to migrate. Their chiefs and elders were all enrolled as ordinary households. As the emperor's chief maternal uncle, Ne was greatly honored but held no command and died at home in old age.
6
訥弟盧，亦從平中原，以功賜爵遼西公。 帝遣盧會衛王儀伐鄴，而盧自以帝之季舅，不肯受儀節度。 帝遣使切責之，盧遂忿恨，與儀司馬丁建構成其嫌，彌加猜忌。 會道武敕儀去鄴，盧亦引歸。 道武以盧為廣川太守。 盧性雄豪，恥居冀州刺史王輔下，襲殺輔，奔慕容德。 德以為并州刺史、廣甯王。 廣固敗，盧亦沒。
Ne's younger brother Lu also helped pacify the Central Plains and was enfeoffed Duke of Liaoxi for his service. The emperor sent Lu to join Prince Wei of the Guard against Ye, but Lu, as the emperor's junior maternal uncle, refused to obey the prince. The emperor sharply rebuked him; Lu grew angry, and with the prince's marshal Ding Jian he deepened their mutual distrust. When Daowu ordered the prince away from Ye, Lu withdrew as well. Daowu appointed Lu Administrator of Guangchuan. Lu was proud and violent, ashamed to rank below Jizhou governor Wang Fu; he killed Fu and fled to Murong De. De made him Governor of Bingzhou and Prince of Guangning. When Guanggu fell, Lu was captured as well.
7
訥從父弟悅。 初，道武居賀蘭部下，人情未甚附，唯悅舉部隨從。 又密為帝祈禱天神，請成大業，出於誠至。 帝嘉之，甚見寵待。 後平中原，以功賜爵钜鹿侯，進爵北新，卒。
Ne's paternal cousin Yue. Early on, when Daowu lived among the Helan, few were loyal to him; only Yue brought his tribe to follow. He also secretly prayed to Heaven on the emperor's behalf for success, out of pure devotion. The emperor valued this and treated him with exceptional favor. After the Central Plains were pacified he was made Marquis of Julu, then advanced to Beixin, and died.
8
子泥襲爵，後降為肥如侯。 道武崩，京師草草，泥出，舉烽於安陽城北，賀蘭部人皆往赴之。 明元即位，乃罷。 詔泥與元渾等八人拾遺左右。 與北新侯安同持節行並、定二州，劾奏并州刺史元六頭等，皆伏罪，州郡肅然。 後從太武征赫連昌，以功進爵為琅邪公，軍國大議，每參豫焉。 又征蠕蠕，為別道將，坐逐賊不進，詐增虜，當斬。 贖為庶人。 久之，拜光祿勳，為外都大官，復本爵。 卒官，子醜建襲。
His son Ni inherited the title and was later reduced to Marquis of Feiru. At Daowu's death the capital was unsettled; Ni raised beacon fires north of Anyang, and Helan tribesmen flocked to him. When Mingyuan succeeded, the movement ended. Ni was ordered, with Yuan Hun and seven others, to advise the throne at close hand. With Beixin Marquis An Tong he inspected Bing and Ding, impeached Bingzhou governor Yuan Liutou and others, secured their convictions, and restored order in the provinces. He later followed Taiwu against Helian Chang, was made Duke of Langye for merit, and joined deliberations on army and state. On another Rouran campaign he commanded a separate column; for failing to pursue the enemy and falsifying captive counts, he was sentenced to death. He was ransomed down to commoner status. Long afterward he was made Director of the Imperial Household and Grand Official of the Outer Court, and regained his former title. He died in office; his son Choujian succeeded.
9
姚黃眉，姚興之子，明元昭哀皇后之弟也。 姚泓滅，黃眉間來歸魏。 明元厚禮待之，賜爵隴西公。 尚陽翟公主，拜附馬都尉，隸戶二百。 太武即位，遷內都大官，後拜太常卿，卒。 贈雍州刺史、隴西王，諡曰獻，陪葬金陵。 黃眉寬和溫厚，希言得失，太武悼惜之，故贈禮有加。
Yao Huangmei was a son of Yao Xing and younger brother of Mingyuan's Empress Zhaoguangai. After Yao Hong's fall Huangmei made his way to Wei. Mingyuan received him with great courtesy and enfeoffed him Duke of Longxi. He married the Princess of Yangzhai, became Commandant of the Horse Guards, and received two hundred dependent households. Under Taiwu he became Grand Official of the Inner Court, later Minister of Ceremonies, and died. Posthumously he was made Governor of Yongzhou and Prince of Longxi, titled Xian, and buried with honor at Jinling. Huangmei was open, gentle, and temperate, and seldom spoke of advantage or harm. Taiwu grieved for him and added to his funeral honors.
10
杜超，字祖仁，魏郡鄴人，密皇后之兄也。 少有節操。 泰常中，為相州別駕。 始光中，太武思念舅氏，以超為陽平公，尚南安長公主，拜附馬都尉，位大鴻臚卿，車駕幸其第，賞賜巨萬。 神抅三年，以超行征南大將軍、太宰，進爵為王，鎮鄴。 追加超父豹鎮東大將軍、陽平景王，母曰钜鹿惠君。 真君五年，超為帳下所害，太武臨其喪，哀慟者久之。 諡曰威王。 長子道生賜爵城陽侯，後為秦州刺史，進爵河東公。 道生弟鳳凰襲爵，加侍中、特進。 太武追思超不已，欲以鳳凰為定州刺史。 鳳凰不願違離闕庭，乃止。 鳳凰弟道俊賜爵發幹侯，鎮枋頭，除兗州刺史。
Du Chao, style Zuren, was from Ye in Wei Commandery and elder brother of Empress Mi. From youth he showed moral integrity. During Taichang he served as Registrar of Xiangzhou. In Shiguang, Taiwu, remembering his mother's kin, made Chao Duke of Yangping, married him to the Princess of Nan'an, appointed him Commandant of the Horse Guards and Grand Minister of the Imperial Clan; the emperor visited his home and lavished tens of thousands in gifts. In the third year of Shenqi, Chao was made acting General Who Conquers the South and Grand Preceptor, raised to prince, and stationed at Ye. Chao's father Bao was posthumously made General Who Guards the East and Prince Jing of Yangping; his mother was titled Lady Hui of Julu. In the fifth year of Zhenjun, Chao was killed by his attendants; Taiwu came to the funeral and mourned for a long while. His posthumous title was Prince Wei. His eldest son Daosheng was made Marquis of Chengyang, later Governor of Qinzhou, then Duke of Hedong. Daosheng's younger brother Fenghuang inherited the title and was made Palace Attendant and Special Grand Master. Taiwu still missed Chao and wanted to make Fenghuang Governor of Dingzhou. Fenghuang did not want to leave court and the appointment was dropped. Fenghuang's younger brother Daojun was made Marquis of Fagan, stationed at Fangtou, and appointed Governor of Yanzhou.
11
超既薨，復授超從弟遺侍中、安南將軍、開府、相州刺史，入為內都大官，進爵廣平王。 遺性忠厚，頻曆州郡，所在著稱。 薨，贈太傅，諡曰宣王。
When Chao died, his younger cousin Yi was made Palace Attendant and General Who Pacifies the South, given an established staff, and named Governor of Xiangzhou; he then became Grand Official of the Inner Court and was raised to Prince of Guangping. Yi was loyal and steadfast by nature; he held many provincial posts and earned a fine reputation in each. On his death he was posthumously made Grand Tutor and titled Prince Xuan.
12
長子元寶，位司空。 元寶弟胤寶，司隸校尉。 元寶又進爵京兆王。 及歸而父遺喪。 明當入謝，元寶欲以表聞。 文成未知遺薨，怪其遲，召之。 元寶將入，時人止之曰：「宜以家憂自辭。」 元寶欲見其寵，不從，遂冒哀而入。 未幾，以謀反伏誅，親從皆斬，唯元寶子世沖逃免。 時朝議欲追削超爵位，中書令高允上表理之。 後兗州故吏汲宗等，以道俊遺惠在人，前從坐爵受誅，委骸土壤，求得收葬。 書奏，詔義而聽之。 贈散騎常侍、安南將軍、南康公，諡曰昭。 世沖襲遺公爵。
His eldest son Yuanbao served as Minister of Works. Yuanbao's younger brother Yinbao was Commandant of the Metropolitan Region. Yuanbao was further enfeoffed as Prince of Jingzhao. By the time he returned, his father Yi was dead. On the day he was to enter court to give thanks, Yuanbao meant to announce it by memorial. Emperor Wencheng did not yet know Yi had died; finding the delay strange, he summoned him. As Yuanbao was about to go in, others urged him: "You should beg off because of your father's death." Yuanbao wanted to display imperial favor and refused; he went in while still in mourning. Soon he was executed for treason; his kin were all put to death, and only Yuanbao's son Shichong escaped. The court then wished to revoke Chao's titles; Director of the Secretariat Gao Yun memorialized in his defense. Later Ji Zong and other former officials of Yanzhou said Daojun's kindness still lived in people's hearts; though kin implicated in the crime had been enfeoffed and slain and their bones lay in the earth, they asked to collect and bury them. The memorial was approved by edict as an act of justice. Posthumously he was made Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, General Who Pacifies the South, and Duke of Nankang, titled Zhao. Shichong inherited his grandfather Yi's ducal title.
13
賀迷，代人，太武敬哀皇后之從父也。 皇后生景穆。 初，後少孤，父兄近親唯迷，故蒙賜爵長鄉子。 卒，贈光祿大夫、五原公。
He Mi, a native of Dai, was maternal uncle to Emperor Taiwu's Empress Jing'ai. The empress bore Emperor Jingmu. In her youth she was orphaned, and Mi alone among her father's and brothers' kin remained near; for this he was enfeoffed Marquis of Changxiang. On his death he was posthumously made Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Duke of Wuyuan.
14
閭毗，代人，蠕蠕主大檀之親屬，太武時自其國來降。 毗即恭皇后之兄也。 後生文成。 文成太安二年，以毗為平北將軍，賜爵河東公。 弟紇為甯北將軍，賜爵零陵公。 其年，並加侍中，進爵為王。 毗，征東將軍，評尚書事； 紇，征西將軍、中都大官。 自余子弟賜爵為王者二人，公五人，侯六人，子三人，同時受拜，所以隆崇舅氏。 和平二年，追諡後祖父延襄康公，父辰定襄懿王。 毗薨，贈太尉，追贈毗妻河東王妃。 子惠襲。 紇薨，贈司空。 子豆，後賜名莊。 太和中，初立三長，以莊為定戶籍大使，甚有時譽。 十六年，例降爵。 後為七兵尚書，卒。
Lü Pi of Dai was kin to the Rouran ruler Datan; under Taiwu he came from that realm and submitted. Pi was the elder brother of Empress Gong. The empress bore Emperor Wencheng. In Wencheng's second Tai'an year, Pi was made General Who Pacifies the North and enfeoffed Duke of Hedong. His younger brother He was made General Who Guards the North and enfeoffed Duke of Lingling. That year both were also made Palace Attendants and raised to princes. Pi became General Who Conquers the East and Reviewer of Affairs of the Masters of Writing; He was General Who Conquers the West and Grand Official of the Central Court. Other sons and younger brothers were enfeoffed as two princes, five dukes, six marquises, and three viscounts, all invested together to honor the empress's kin. In the second Heping year the empress's grandfather Yan was posthumously titled Duke Kang of Xiang and her father Chen Duke Yi of Dingxiang. When Pi died he was posthumously made Grand Commandant, and his wife was posthumously made Princess of Hedong. His son Hui inherited the title. When He died he was posthumously made Minister of Works. His son Dou was later granted the name Zhuang. During Taihe, when the Three Chiefs were first established, Zhuang was made Grand Ambassador for Fixing Household Registers and earned wide praise. In the sixteenth year his noble rank was lowered by precedent. Later he served as Minister of the Seven Armies and died.
15
紇弟染，位外都大官、冀州刺史、江夏公，卒。
He's younger brother Ran was Grand Official of the Outer Court, Governor of Jizhou, and Duke of Jiangxia, and died.
16
先是，文成以乳母常氏有保護功，既即位，尊為保太后，後尊為皇太后。 興安二年，太后前兄英，字世華，自肥如令超為散騎常侍、鎮軍大將軍，賜爵遼西公； 弟喜，鎮軍大將軍、祠曹尚書、帶方公； 三妹皆封縣君； 妹夫王暏為平州刺史，遼東公。 追贈英祖父苻堅扶風太守亥為鎮西將軍、遼西蘭公； 勃海太守澄為侍中、征東大將軍、太宰、遼西獻王； 英母許氏博陵郡君。 遣兼太常盧度世持節改葬獻王於遼西，樹碑立廟，置守塚百家。 太安初，英為侍中、征東大將軍、太宰，進爵為王； 喜左光祿大夫，改封燕郡； 從兄泰為安東將軍、朝鮮侯； 䐶子伯夫，散騎常侍、選部尚書； 次子員，金部尚書； 喜子振，太子庶子。 三年，英領太師，評尚書事，內都大官、伏寶泰等州刺史。 五年，詔乙太后母宋氏為遼西王太妃。 和平元年，喜為洛州刺史。
Earlier, because Wencheng's wet-nurse Lady Chang had protected him, once he reigned he honored her as Dowager Protector and later as Empress Dowager. In the second Xing'an year the dowager's elder brother Ying, style Shihua, rose from Magistrate of Feiru to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and General Who Guards the Army and was enfeoffed Duke of Liaoxi; his younger brother Xi, General Who Guards the Army, Director of the Directorate of Sacrifices, and Duke of Daifang; all three younger sisters were made Ladies of a district; their brother-in-law Wang Zhao was Governor of Pingzhou and Duke of Liaodong. Ying's grandfather Hai, Fufeng Administrator under Fu Jian, was posthumously made General Who Guards the West and Duke Lan of Liaoxi; Cheng, Bohai Administrator, was posthumously made Palace Attendant, General Who Conquers the East, Grand Preceptor, and Duke Xian of Liaoxi; Ying's mother Lady Xu was made Lady of Boling Commandery. Lu Dushi, Concurrent Minister of Ceremonies, was dispatched with credentials to reinter Duke Xian in Liaoxi, set up stele and temple, and assign a hundred tomb-guard households. At the start of Tai'an, Ying was Palace Attendant, General Who Conquers the East, and Grand Preceptor, and was raised to prince; Xi was made Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and his fief changed to Yan Commandery; his cousin Tai was General Who Pacifies the East and Marquis of Chaoxian; Gu's son Bofu, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Ministry of Personnel; his second son Yuan, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue; Xi's son Zhen, Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent. In the third year Ying was Grand Preceptor, reviewed Masters of Writing affairs, and served as Grand Official of the Inner Court and regional inspector over Fubao, Tai, and other provinces. In the fifth year an edict made Empress Dowager Yi's mother Lady Song Princess Dowager of Liaoxi. In the first Heping year Xi became Governor of Luozhou.
17
後員與伯夫子禽可共為飛書，誣謗朝政。 事發，有司執憲，刑及五族。 孝文以明太后故，罪止一門。 䐶年老，赦免歸家，恕其孫一人扶養之，經奴婢田宅。 其家僮入者百人，金錦布帛數萬計，賜尚書已下宿衛已上。 其女婿及親從在朝，皆免官歸本鄉。 十一年，孝文、文明太后以文昭太后故，悉出其家前後沒入婦女，以喜子振試守正平郡，卒。
Later Yuan and Bofu's son Qinke together drafted an anonymous letter defaming court policy. When the plot was exposed, the law officers prosecuted it, and punishment extended to five clans. For Empress Dowager Ming's sake, Emperor Xiaowen confined punishment to a single household. Gu was elderly and pardoned to go home; one grandson was spared to support him, with slaves, servants, land, and dwellings. Confiscated household slaves numbered a hundred, with gold, brocade, and cloth in the tens of thousands given to officials from Director of the Secretariat down through the palace guard. Sons-in-law and kin in court office were all removed and sent home. In the eleventh year, for Empress Dowager Wenming's sake, Emperor Xiaowen and Empress Dowager Wenming released all confiscated women of the clan; Xi's son Zhen was made acting Administrator of Zhengping Commandery and died.
18
馮熙，字晉國，長樂信都人，文明太后之兄也。 祖弘，北燕王。 太武平遼海，熙父朗內徙，官至秦雍二州刺史、遼西郡公，坐事誅。 文明太后臨朝，追贈假黃鉞、太宰、燕宣王，立廟長安。
Feng Xi, style Jinguo, was from Xindu in Changle and elder brother to Empress Dowager Wenming. His grandfather Hong was king of Northern Yan. When Taiwu pacified Liaohai, Xi's father Lang was resettled inland, rose to Governor of Qin and Yong and Duke of Liaoxi, and was executed for a crime. When Empress Dowager Wenming ruled, Lang was posthumously given the Golden Axe and Grand Preceptor, titled Prince Xuan of Yan, with a temple in Chang'an.
19
熙生於長安，為姚氏魏母所養。 以叔父樂陵公邈因戰入蠕蠕，魏母攜熙逃避至氐羌中撫育。 年十二，好弓馬，有勇幹，氐羌皆歸附之。 魏母惡其如此，將還長安，始就博士學問。 從師受《孝經》、《論語》，好陰陽兵法事。 及長，游華陰、河東二郡間。 性泛愛，不拘小節，人無士庶，來則納之。
Xi was born in Chang'an and raised by his foster mother Lady Wei. When his uncle, Duke Yao of Leling, was captured into Rouran in battle, Lady Wei fled with Xi among the Di and Qiang and raised him there. At twelve he loved archery and horsemanship, showed courage and talent, and Di and Qiang alike rallied to him. Lady Wei disapproved and took him back to Chang'an, where he first studied under a Erudite. He studied the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects and took to yin-yang lore and military strategy. When grown he wandered between Huayin and the two Hedong commanderies. He was open-handed and careless of small proprieties; gentry or commoner, all were welcomed if they came.
20
熙姑先入掖庭，為太武左昭儀。 妹為文成帝后，即文明太后也。 使人外訪，知熙所在，征赴京師，拜冠軍將軍，賜爵肥如侯，尚景穆女博陵長公主，拜駙馬都尉。 出為定州刺史，進爵昌黎王。 獻文即位，為太傅，累拜內都大官。 孝文即位，文明太后臨朝，帝乃承旨以熙為侍中、太師、中書監，領秘書事。 熙以頻履師傅，又中宮之寵，為群情所駭，心不自安，乞轉外任。 文明太后亦以為然，除都督、洛州刺史，侍中、太師如故。
Xi's aunt had earlier entered the rear palace as Taiwu's Left Lady of Bright Deportment. His younger sister became Emperor Wencheng's empress, namely Empress Dowager Wenming. Agents sought him out; once found he was summoned to the capital, made General Who Conquers All Challengers, enfeoffed Marquis of Feiru, married Princess Boling, daughter of Jingmu, and appointed Commandant of the Horse Guards. He went out as Governor of Dingzhou and was raised to Prince of Changli. Under Xianwen he became Grand Tutor and repeatedly served as Grand Official of the Inner Court. When Xiaowen reigned and Empress Dowager Wenming governed, the emperor followed her will and made Xi Palace Attendant, Grand Preceptor, and Director of the Secretariat, in charge of the Imperial Library. Having often been imperial tutor and favored within the palace, he alarmed public opinion, grew uneasy, and asked for an outside appointment. The empress dowager agreed; he was made area commander and Governor of Luozhou, retaining Palace Attendant and Grand Preceptor.
21
洛陽雖經破亂，而舊《三字石經》宛然猶在。 至熙與常伯夫相繼為州，廢毀分用，大至頹落。 熙為政不能仁厚，而信佛法。 自出家財在諸州鎮建佛圖精舍，合七十二處。 寫十六部一切經，延致名德沙門，日與講論，精勤不倦，所費亦不貲。 而營塔寺多在高山秀阜，傷殺人牛。 有沙門勸止之，熙曰：「成就後，人唯見佛圖，焉知殺人牛也。」 其北芒寺碑文，中書侍郎賈元壽詞。 孝文頻登北芒寺，親讀碑文，稱為佳作。 熙為州，因取人子女為奴婢，有容色者幸之為妾，有子女數十人，號為貪縱。
Though Luoyang had been ravaged, the old Three-Character Stone Classics still stood intact. Under Xi and Chang Bofu, serving as governors in turn, the stones were broken up for reuse and largely ruined. Xi could not govern with humane breadth, but he trusted in the Buddhist dharma. From private means he built pagodas and monasteries at seventy-two garrisons and provinces. He had the full canon copied in sixteen parts, invited famous monks for daily disputation, and spent incalculable sums. Yet his temples stood on high hills and fine peaks, and oxen were killed in the work. A monk tried to dissuade him; Xi said, "When it is done people will see only the pagoda—who will know oxen died? The Beimang Temple inscription was written by Vice Director of the Secretariat Jia Yuanshou. Emperor Xiaowen often visited Beimang Temple, read the inscription himself, and praised it as fine writing. In office he seized people's children as slaves; the comely he took as concubines and fathered dozens of children, earning a name for greed and license.
22
後授內都大官，太師如故。 熙事魏母孝謹，如事所生。 魏母卒，乃散發徒跣，水漿不入口三日。 詔不聽服，熙表求依趙氏之孤。 帝以熙情難奪，聽服齊衰期。 後以例降，改封京兆郡公。
Later he was made Grand Official of the Inner Court, retaining Grand Preceptor. Xi tended Lady Wei with filial devotion, as to his own mother. When Lady Wei died he unbound his hair and went barefoot, refusing food and drink for three days. The throne forbade mourning garb, but Xi memorialized to follow the Zhao orphan precedent. The emperor, unable to sway him, let him observe one-year mourning. Later, by precedent, his rank was lowered and his fief changed to Duke of Jingzhao Commandery.
23
帝納其女為後，曰：「《白武通》云：王所不臣，數有三焉。 妻之父母，抑言其一。 此所謂供承宗廟，不欲奪私心。 然吾季著於《春秋》，無臣證於往牒，既許通體之一，用開至尊之敬。 比長秋配極，陰政既敷，未聞有司，陳奏斯式。 可詔太師，輟臣從禮。」 又勒集書造儀付外。 孝文前後納熙三女，二為後，一為左昭儀。 由是馮氏寵貴益隆，賞賜累巨萬。 帝每詔熙上書不臣，入朝不拜，熙上書如舊。
The emperor made his daughter empress and said, "The Baihu tong states: 'There are three whom the king does not treat as subjects. In speaking of a wife's parents, custom allows naming only one of them. That is the rule of honoring the ancestral temple without letting private affection override it. Yet our younger sister is recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals, and no earlier text proves she was a subject; once the whole person is acknowledged, the highest reverence may follow. Now that the empress stood as Heaven's counterpart and the inner court held sway, no office had yet submitted this rite for approval. Let an edict tell the Grand Preceptor to stop observing the rites owed a minister." The emperor also charged the Masters of Writing to draw up the ritual and publish it. Emperor Xiaowen took three of Feng Xi's daughters in succession—two as empress, one as Left Lady of Bright Deportment. The Fengs rose still higher in favor and rank, with gifts running into the tens of millions. Though the emperor repeatedly excused Xi from calling himself a subject in memorials or bowing at court, Xi kept to the old forms.
24
主生二子，誕、脩。
His chief wife bore two sons: Dan and Xiu.
25
誕字思正，脩字寶業，皆姿質妍麗。 年才十餘，文明太后俱引入禁中，申以教誡。 然不能習讀經史，兄弟並無學術，徒整飾容儀，寬雅恭謹而已。 誕與孝文同歲，幼侍書學，仍蒙親待，尚帝妹樂安長公主，拜駙馬都尉、侍中、征西大將軍、南平王。 脩侍中、鎮北大將軍、尚書、東平公。 又除誕儀曹尚書，知殿中事。 及罷庶姓王，誕為侍中、都督中外諸軍事、中軍將軍、特進，改封長樂郡公。 誕拜官，孝文立於庭，遙受其拜，既訖還室。 脩降為侯。
Dan, styled Sizheng, and Xiu, styled Baoye, were both striking in looks. Before they were fifteen, Empress Dowager Wenming had both brought into the palace and tutored them herself. Neither could master the classics; the brothers had no real scholarship and only cultivated appearance—polite, easy, and correct. Dan, Xiaowen's age-mate, had studied at his side as a boy and remained a favorite; he married the Princess of Le'an, became Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, Palace Attendant, General Who Conquers the West, and Prince of Nanping. Xiu served as Palace Attendant, General Who Pacifies the North, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Duke of Dongping. Dan was further named Director of the Bureau of Appointments and overseer of palace business. After non-imperial surnames were stripped of kingship, Dan became Palace Attendant, supreme commander, General of the Central Army, and Special Grand Master, enfeoffed as Duke of Changle Commandery. At Dan's investiture Xiaowen stood in the courtyard and took his bow at a distance, then withdrew. Xiu was demoted to marquis.
26
誕、脩雖並長宮禁，而性趣乖別。 誕性淳篤，脩乃浮競。 誕亦未能誨督其過，然時言于太后。 孝文嚴責之，至於楚捶。 由是陰懷毒恨，遂結左右有憾於誕者，求藥，欲因食害誕。 事覺，帝自詰之，具得情狀。 誕引過謝，乞全脩命。 帝以誕父老，又重其意，不致於法，撻之百餘，黜為平城百姓。 脩妻，司空穆亮女也，求離婚，請免官。 帝引管、蔡事，皆不許。
Though both were raised in the inner palace, Dan and Xiu were utterly unlike in character. Dan was plain and loyal; Xiu was flashy and ambitious. Dan could not discipline him, but he did report Xiu's conduct to the empress dowager. Emperor Xiaowen rebuked him harshly and had him beaten. Xiu brooded on revenge and, with palace men who hated Dan, procured poison meant for Dan's meal. The plot came to light; the emperor interrogated him personally and learned every detail. Dan accepted guilt on his own account and pleaded that Xiu be allowed to live. Mindful of Dan's age and his plea, the emperor spared the death penalty, gave Xiu a hundred-odd lashes, and banished him to common life at Pingcheng. Xiu's wife, daughter of Mu Liang, Minister of Works, asked for divorce and for his dismissal. The emperor invoked Guan Zhong and Duke Cai and refused both requests.
27
帝寵誕，仍作同輿而載，同案而食，同席坐臥。 彭城王勰、北海王詳雖直禁中，然親近不及。 十六年，以誕為司徒。 帝既愛誕，除官日，親為制三讓表，並啟。 將拜，又為其章謝。 尋加車騎大將軍、太子太師。 十八年，帝謂其無師傅獎導風，誕深自誨責。 從駕南伐，十九年，至鐘離。 誕遇疾，不能侍從，帝日省問，醫藥備加。 帝銳意臨江，乃命六軍發鐘離南轅，與誕泣訣。 左右皆入，無不掩涕。 時誕已惙然，強坐視帝，悲而淚不能下，言「夢太后來呼臣「。 帝嗚咽，執手而出，遂行。 是日，去鐘離五十里許，昏時，告誕薨問，帝哀不自勝。 時崔慧景、裴叔業軍在中淮，去所次不過百里，帝乃輕駕西還，從者數千人，夜至誕薨所。 拊屍哀慟，若喪至戚，達旦聲淚不絕。 從者亦迭舉音。 帝以所服衣幍充襚，親自臨視，徹樂去膳，宣敕六軍，止臨江之駕。 帝親北度，慟哭極哀。 喪至洛陽，車駕猶在鐘離。 詔留守賜賻物布帛五千匹、穀五千斛，以供葬事。 贈假黃鉞、使持節、大司馬，領司徒、侍中、都督，太師、駙馬、公如故。 加以殊禮，備錫九命，依晉大司馬、齊王攸故事。 有司奏諡，詔曰：「案諡法，主善行德曰元，柔克有光曰懿。 昔貞惠兼美，受三諡之榮； 忠武雙徽，錫兩號之茂。 式准前訓，宜契具瞻。 既自少綢繆，知之惟朕，案行定名，諡曰元懿。」 帝又親為作碑文及輓歌詞，皆窮美盡哀，事過其厚。 車駕還京，遂親至誕墓，停車而哭。 使彭城王勰詔群官脫硃衣，服單衣介幘而哭司徒，貴者示以朋友，微者示如僚佐。 公主貞厚有禮度，產二男。
The emperor doted on Dan—they shared carriage, table, and couch alike. Princes Pengcheng and Beihai were in the inner precincts, yet none were as near to him as Dan. In year sixteen Dan was appointed Minister of Works. On the day Dan took office the emperor, out of affection, wrote the threefold declination and the petition himself. At the ceremony of appointment he again wrote Dan's letter of thanks. He was soon added General of Chariots and Cavalry and Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. In year eighteen the emperor said Dan had failed as a moral guide; Dan blamed himself bitterly. He accompanied the southern campaign; in year nineteen the army reached Zhongli. Dan grew too ill to attend; the emperor inquired each day and saw that he had every remedy. Intent on the Yangzi crossing, he set the six armies moving south from Zhongli and parted from Dan in tears. Every attendant who went in came out weeping. Dan was near death; he sat up to gaze at the emperor, too stricken to cry, and murmured, "I dreamed the empress dowager summoning me— The emperor wept, clasped his hand, left, and marched on. That same day, some fifty li from Zhongli, at dusk came news of Dan's death; the emperor was overcome. Cui Huijing and Pei Shuye were encamped on the central Huai, less than a hundred li away; the emperor turned west with a few thousand riders and reached Dan before dawn. He embraced the body and mourned as for kin, weeping without pause until daylight. His attendants too broke into lament in turn. He gave his own garments for the shroud, oversaw the laying-out himself, banned music and rich food, and ordered the six armies to abandon the river campaign. He crossed the river north himself and wept with desperate grief. The bier reached Luoyang while the emperor remained at Zhongli. The capital garrison was ordered to send five thousand bolts of silk and cloth and five thousand hu of grain for the burial. Posthumously he received the Acting Yellow Battle-Ax, credentials as envoy, Grand Marshal, and kept Minister of Works, Palace Attendant, command authority, Grand Preceptor, Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, and his ducal title. Special honors and the full Nine Bestowals followed the precedents of Jin's Grand Marshal and Prince Xian of Qi, Sima You. When the offices proposed a posthumous name, the edict read: "By the rules of posthumous naming, he who chiefly embodies virtue is Yuan, and he who is gentle yet radiant is Yi. Of old, steadfast grace and beauty together won three posthumous epithets; loyalty and martial fame paired won two glorious names. We follow those examples; the name should command universal regard. We were close from boyhood and I alone knew him truly; weighing his deeds, his posthumous title shall be Yuan Yi. The emperor himself wrote the epitaph and dirges—every line strained for beauty and sorrow, beyond what custom required. On returning to the capital he visited Dan's tomb in person, stopped his carriage, and wept. Prince Pengcheng was sent to tell officials to shed vermilion robes, dress in plain clothes and simple caps, and mourn the Minister of Works—friends for the great, subordinates for the low. The princess was steady, courteous, and bore two sons.
28
長子穆，字孝和，襲熙爵，避皇子愉封，改封扶風郡公。 尚孝文女順陽長公主，拜駙馬都尉，曆員外通直散騎常侍。 穆與叔輔興不和。 輔興亡，贈相州刺史，祖載在庭，而穆方高車良馬，恭受職命，言宴滿堂，忻笑自若，為御史中尉、東平王匡所劾。 後位金紫光祿大夫，遇害河陰，贈司空、雍州刺史。 子冏，字景昭，襲爵昌黎王。 尋以庶姓罷王，仍襲扶風郡公。 子峭，字子漢，齊受禪，例降。
The eldest, Mu, styled Xiaohe, inherited Xi's rank; when Prince Yu was enfeoffed, Mu's fief was changed to Duke of Fufeng Commandery. He married the Princess of Shunyang, became Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, and rose through supernumerary and regular attendant posts. Mu quarreled with his uncle Fuxing. When Fuxing died, posthumously named Governor of Xiangzhou, the grandfather's coffin was in the hall while Mu, in splendid equipage, took up his commission, feasted, and laughed openly—Prince Dongping Kuang, as Censor-in-Chief, impeached him. He later became Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Tassel, died at Heyin, and was posthumously Minister of Works and Governor of Yongzhou. His son Jiong, styled Jingzhao, inherited as Prince of Changli. When non-imperial surnames lost princely rank he remained Duke of Fufeng Commandery. His son Qiao, styled Zihan, was demoted under Qi by the usual rule.
29
穆弟顥，襲父誕長樂郡公。
Mu's younger brother Hao inherited Dan's duchy of Changle Commandery.
30
脩弟聿，字寶興，廢後同產兄也。 位黃門郎、信都伯。 後坐妹廢，免為長樂百姓。 宣武時，卒于河南尹。
Xiu's younger brother Yu, styled Baoxing, shared the womb with the deposed empress. He was Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and Baron of Xindu. After his sister's deposition he was stripped of office and reduced to a Changle commoner. Under Emperor Xuanwu he died while serving as Governor of Henan.
31
聿同產弟風，幼養于宮，文明太后特加愛念。 數歲賜爵至北平王，拜太子中庶子，出入禁闥，寵侔二兄。 孝文親政後，恩寵稍衰，降爵為侯。 幽後立，乃復敘用。 後死，亦冗散。 卒，贈青州刺史。
Yu's full brother Feng was raised in the palace from infancy and was specially cherished by Empress Dowager Wenming. While still a child he was enfeoffed as high as Prince of Beiping and made Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent, passing freely through the inner gates with favor matching his brothers. Once Xiaowen ruled in his own right, Feng's grace faded and he was demoted to marquis. When the Deposed Empress came to power he was restored to office. After her death he too was cast aside without post. He died and was posthumously named Governor of Qingzhou.
32
崔光之兼黃門也，與聿俱直。 光每謂之曰：「君家富貴大盛，終必衰敗。」 聿云：「我家何負四海，乃咒我也！」 光云：「以古推之，不可不慎。」 時熙為太保，誕司徒、太子太傅，脩侍中、尚書，聿黃門，廢後在位，禮愛未弛。 是後歲餘，脩以罪棄，熙、誕喪亡，後廢，聿退。 時人以為盛必衰也。
When Cui Guang held the Yellow Gate concurrently, he and Yu shared the watch. Guang would tell him, "Your clan's wealth and power are at their peak—you must fall in the end. Yu replied, "What wrong have we done the empire, that you curse us?" Guang said, "History says you cannot be careless." Then Xi was Grand Preceptor, Dan Minister of Works and Heir Apparent's tutor, Xiu Palace Attendant and Director of the Secretariat, Yu at the Yellow Gate, and the empress still on the throne—honor had not yet broken. Within a year Xiu was disgraced, Xi and Dan were dead, the empress deposed, and Yu dismissed. People then said it proved that the peak must fall.
33
李惠，中山人，思皇后之父也。 父蓋，少知名，歷位殿中都官二尚書、左將軍、南郡公。 初，太武妹武威長公主，故涼王沮渠牧犍之妻。 太武平涼州，頗以公主通密計之助，故寵遇差隆，詔蓋尚焉。 蓋妻與氏以是出。 後蓋加侍中、駙馬都尉、殿中都官尚書、右僕射。 卒官，贈征南大將軍、定州刺史、中山王，諡曰莊。
Li Hui of Zhongshan was father of the Reflective Empress. His father Gai won early renown and rose through Director of Palace Offices, Second Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Left General, and Duke of Nan. Earlier, Emperor Taiwu's sister the Princess of Wuwei had been wife to Juqu Mujian of Northern Liang. When Taiwu conquered Liangzhou he favored her for the princess's secret help in his designs and ordered Gai to marry her. From this union came Gai's wife, Lady Yu. Gai was later made Palace Attendant, Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, Director of Palace Offices, and Right Vice Director of the Secretariat. He died in office, posthumously General Who Conquers the South, Governor of Dingzhou, Prince of Zhongshan, titled Zhuang.
34
惠弱冠襲父爵，妻襄城王韓頹女，生二女，長即後也。 惠歷位散騎常侍、侍中，征西大將軍、秦益二州刺史，進爵為王。 轉雍州刺史、征南大將軍，加長安鎮大將。
Hui at twenty succeeded his father, married Prince Xiangcheng's daughter Han Tui, and had two daughters; the elder became empress. He served as Regular Attendant, Palace Attendant, General Who Conquers the West, and Governor of Qin and Yi, and was raised to prince. He became Governor of Yongzhou and General Who Conquers the South, with the added title Grand General Who Guards Chang'an.
35
惠長於思察。 雍州査事，有燕爭巢，鬥已累日，惠令人掩獲，試命綱紀斷之，並辭。 惠乃使卒以弱竹彈兩燕，既而一去一留，惠笑謂吏屬曰：「此留者自計為巢功重，彼去者既經楚痛，理無固心。」 群下伏其深察。 人有負鹽負薪者，同釋重簷息樹陰。 二人將行，爭一羊皮，各言藉背之物。 惠遣爭者出，顧州綱紀曰：「此羊皮可拷知主乎？」 群下咸無答者。 惠令人置羊皮席上，以杖擊之，見少鹽屑，「得其實矣。」 使爭者視之，負薪者乃伏而就罪。 凡所察究，多如此類，由是吏人莫敢欺犯。 後為開府儀同三司、青州刺史，王如故。 曆政有美績。
Hui had a gift for shrewd observation. At Yongzhou two swallows had fought over a nest for days; Hui had them captured quietly, asked his clerks to judge, and all refused. Hui had soldiers tap both birds with a light bamboo switch; one flew off, one remained. He smiled at his staff: "The stayer counts its nest-work the greater stake; the leaver, already hurt, has no heart to stay— His officers marveled at how keenly he had read the case. A salt-porter and a woodcutter set down their burdens under the eaves and rested together in the shade of a tree. As they prepared to go, they fought over one sheepskin, each insisting it was his own. Hui dismissed the quarrelers, then asked his staff, "Can we beat this hide and learn who owns it? No one below knew what to say. He had the hide spread on a mat and beaten with a rod until a few grains of salt showed. "There is our proof," he said. When he made them look, the woodcutter knelt and accepted punishment. Most of his inquiries went this way, and afterward no clerk dared cheat him. He was later made Commissioner Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies and Governor of Qingzhou, while keeping his royal title. Term after term he left a record of good governance.
36
惠素為文明太后所忌。 誣惠將南叛，誅之。 惠二弟初、樂與惠諸子同戮。 後妻梁氏亦死青州，盡沒其家財。 惠本無釁故，天下冤惜焉。
Empress Dowager Wenming had long resented him. She accused him of plotting a southern rebellion and put him to death. His brothers Chu and Yue and all his sons were killed with him. His second wife, Lady Liang, died in Qingzhou as well, and the whole household estate was seized. He had done nothing to deserve it, and the realm mourned the wrong done him.
37
惠從弟鳳為定州刺史、安縣王長樂主簿。 後長樂以罪賜死，時卜筮者河間邢瓚辭引鳳，雲長樂不軌，鳳為謀主，伏誅。 唯鳳弟道念與鳳子及兄弟之子皆逃免，後遇赦乃出。 太和十二年，孝文將爵舅氏，詔訪存者。 而惠諸從以再離孥戮，難於應命。 唯道念敢先詣闕，乃申後妹及鳳兄弟子女之存者。 於是賜鳳子屯爵柏人侯，安祖浮陽侯，興祖安喜侯，道念真定侯，從弟寄生高邑子，皆加將軍。 十五年，安祖昆弟四人，以外戚蒙見。 詔謂曰：「卿之先世，內外有犯，得罪于時。 然官必用才，以親非興邦之選。 外氏之寵，超於末葉。 從今已後，自非奇才，不得復外戚謬班抽舉。 既無殊能，今且可還。」 後例降爵，宜祖等改侯為伯，並去軍號。
His cousin Feng was Governor of Dingzhou and chief clerk to Prince Changle of An County. When Prince Changle was condemned to death, the diviner Xing Zan of Hejian named Feng as the ringleader of his treason, and Feng was executed. Only Daonian, Feng's son, and their cousins escaped and emerged after a general pardon. In Taihe year 12, as Emperor Xiaowen prepared to ennoble his mother's kin, he ordered a search for survivors. Hui's kinsmen, twice stripped of wives and children in mass executions, hesitated to come forward. Only Daonian dared present himself at court and name the surviving younger sisters of the empress and the children of Feng's line. Feng's son Tun became Marquis of Boren; Anzu, Marquis of Fuyang; Xingzu, Marquis of Anxi; Daonian, Marquis of Zhending; and cousin Jisheng, Viscount of Gaoyi, each with a general's commission. In year 15, Anzu and his three brothers were summoned as consort kin. The throne told them, "Your ancestors, inside the clan and out, broke the law and paid for it in their day. Yet posts demand ability—blood ties are not how a state is built. Favor shown to consort families has outrun what these times can bear. Henceforth no maternal relative may be lifted out of turn unless he is truly exceptional. You have shown no special gift—go home for now. Later their titles were lowered by precedent: Yizu and the rest became earls instead of marquises, and their general's commissions were stripped.
38
帝奉馮氏過厚，于李氏過薄，舅家了無敘用，朝野人士，所以竊議。 太常高閭，顯言於禁中。 及宣武寵隆外家，並居顯位。 乃惟孝文舅氏，存已不沾恩澤。 景明末，特詔興祖為中山太守。 正始初，詔追崇惠為使持節、驃騎將軍、開府儀同三司、定州刺史、中山公。 太常考行，上言：案諡法，武而不遂曰壯，諡曰壯公。
He favored the Fengs too richly and the Lis too thinly; Li kinsmen were given no proper posts, and gossip ran through court and country. Minister of Ceremonies Gao Lü spoke bluntly inside the palace. Under Emperor Xiaowu the consort families rose to high office. Only Emperor Xiaowen's mother's kin, whether alive or dead, had never tasted imperial favor. Near the end of Jingming, Xingzu was specially appointed Governor of Zhongshan. At the start of Zhengshi, Hui was posthumously made Commissioner with Full Powers, General of Agile Cavalry, Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies, Governor of Dingzhou, and Duke of Zhongshan. The Minister of Ceremonies reviewed his life and reported: by the naming code, "bold but uncompleted" yields Zhuang—thus Duke Zhuang.
39
興祖自中山遷燕州刺史，卒。 以兄安祖子侃晞為後，襲先封南郡王。 後以庶姓罷王，改為博陵郡公。 侃晞為莊帝所親幸，拜散騎常侍、嘗食典禦。 帝之圖爾硃榮，侃晞與魯安等持刃於禁內殺榮。 及莊帝蒙塵，侃晞奔梁。
Xingzu was transferred from Zhongshan to Yanzhou and died there. Anzu's son Kan Xi was adopted as heir and succeeded to the old title, Prince of Nan Commandery. Later the royal title was withdrawn as a non-imperial surname, and he became Duke of Boling Commandery. Kan Xi won Emperor Zhuang's trust and was made Attendant Cavalier and Master of the Imperial Tasters. When the emperor moved against Erzhu Rong, Kan Xi and Lu An killed him inside the palace with drawn swords. When Emperor Zhuang was overthrown, Kan Xi escaped to Liang.
40
高肇，字首文，文昭皇太后之兄也。 自雲本勃海蓚人。 五世祖顧，晉永嘉中，避亂入高麗。 父颺，字法脩。 孝文初，與弟乘信及其鄉人韓內、冀富等入魏，拜厲威將軍、河間子； 乘信明威將軍，俱待以客禮。 遂納颺女，是為文昭皇后，生宣武。 颺卒，景明初，宣武追思舅氏，征肇兄弟等。 錄尚書事、北海王詳等奏，颺宜贈左光祿大夫，賜爵勃海公，諡曰敬。 其妻蓋氏，宜追封清河郡君。 詔可。 又詔颺嫡孫猛襲勃海公爵，封肇平原郡公，肇弟顯澄城郡公，三人同日受封。 始宣武未與舅氏相接，將拜爵，乃賜衣幘，引見肇、顯于華林都亭。 皆甚惶懼，舉動失儀，數日之間，富貴赫奕。 是年，咸陽王禧誅，財物珍寶、奴婢、田宅多入高氏。 未幾，肇為尚書右僕射、冀州大中正，尚宣武姑高平公主，遷尚書令。 肇出自夷土，時望輕之。 及在位居要，留心百揆，孜孜無倦，世咸謂之為能。 宣武初，六輔專政，後以咸陽王禧無事構逆，由是委肇。 肇既無親族，頗結朋黨，附之者旬月超升，背之者陷以大罪。 以北海王詳位居其上，構殺之。 又說宣武防衛諸王，殆同囚禁。 時順皇后暴崩，世議言肇為之。 皇子昌薨，僉謂王顯失於醫療，承肇意旨。 及京兆王愉出為冀州刺史，畏肇恣擅，遂至不軌。 肇又譖殺彭城王勰。 由是朝野側目，咸畏惡之。 因此專權，與奪任己。 又嘗與清河王懌於雲門外廡下，忽忿諍，大至紛紜。 太尉、高陽王雍和止之。 高後既立，逾見寵信。 肇既當衡軸，每事任己，本無學識，動違禮度。 好改先朝舊制，減削封秩，抑黜勳人，由是怨聲盈路矣。
Gao Zhao, courtesy name Shouwen, was the elder brother of Empress Dowager Wenming. From Gao Yun's generation the family was native to Mao in Bohai. His fifth-generation ancestor Gu fled the Yongjia disorders and took refuge in Goguryeo. His father Yang, courtesy name Faxiu. Early in Emperor Xiaowen's reign he entered Wei with his brother Chengxin and townsfolk Han Nei and Ji Fu; he was made General of Stern Might and Viscount of Hejian; Chengxin became General of Bright Might; both were received as honored guests. The emperor married Yang's daughter, who became Empress Wenming and mothered Emperor Xiaowu. After Yang's death, at the start of Jingming Emperor Xiaowu summoned Zhao and his brothers to court. Prince of Beihai Xiang and other recorders proposed posthumous honors for Yang: Left Grand Master of the Palace, Duke of Bohai, posthumous name Jing. His wife Lady Gai should be named Lady of Qinghe Commandery. The edict assented. Meng, Yang's legitimate grandson, inherited Bohai; Zhao became Duke of Pingyuan and Xian Duke of Chengcheng—all three enfeoffed the same day. Before meeting his mother's kin, he gave them robes and caps and received Zhao and Xian at the Hualin Park pavilion. They were terrified and awkward in ceremony, yet within days they blazed with sudden fortune. That year Prince Xianyang Xi was put to death, and most of his wealth, slaves, and estates flowed to the Gaos. Soon Zhao was Vice Director of the Master of Writing and Ji Province's Grand Rectifier; he married the Princess of Gaoping and rose to Director of the Master of Writing. Born beyond the frontier, he was lightly regarded at first. In high office he labored over every branch of government without rest, and many called him able. Early on the six regents ruled; after Prince Xianyang's baseless treason, the emperor leaned on Zhao. Lacking close kin, he built factions—followers vaulted upward in a month, opponents were buried in capital charges. He destroyed Prince of Beihai Xiang, who outranked him. He persuaded the emperor to cage the princes under guard, nearly as captives. When the empress consort died abruptly, rumor blamed Zhao. When Prince Chang died, many said the physician Wang Xian had erred on Zhao's orders. Prince of Jingzhao Yu, sent to Ji Province, feared Zhao's license and nearly rose in revolt. Zhao also brought about the death of Prince of Pengcheng Xie. Court and country watched him with narrowed eyes and shared a common dread. He seized power and gave or took office at will. Once he erupted into a shouting brawl with Prince of Qinghe Yi under the Cloud Gate colonnade. Grand Marshal Prince of Gaoyang Yong forced peace between them. Once the empress dowager reigned, his favor deepened. At the hub of government he ruled by whim; unlearned, he trampled ritual at every turn. He rewrote old institutions, pared fiefs, and humbled men of merit until resentment clogged the highways.
41
延昌初，遷司徒。 雖貴登臺鼎，猶以去要怏怏，眾咸嗤笑之。 父兄封贈雖久，竟不改瘞。 三年，乃詔令還葬。 肇不自臨赴，唯遣其兄子猛改服詣代，遷葬於鄉。 時人以肇無識，哂而不責也。 及大舉征蜀，以肇為大將軍、都督諸軍，為之節度。 與都督甄琛等二十餘人，俱面辭宣武於東堂，親奉規略。 是日，肇所乘駿馬，停於神獸門外，無故驚倒，轉臥渠中，鞍具瓦解，眾咸怪異。 肇出，惡焉。
In early Yanxi he was made Minister of Education. Though raised to the highest ministerial rank, he sulked at losing real power, and everyone mocked him. His father and brother had been ennobled posthumously, yet he left their graves unrestored. Only in the third year did an edict command their reburial. Zhao stayed away and sent his nephew Meng in mourning garb to Dai to bring the coffins home. Contemporaries, judging him witless, laughed but did not reproach him. When the empire marched on Shu, Zhao was named Grand General and supreme commander. He and Commander Zhen Chen and twenty others took leave in the Eastern Hall and received the campaign plan from the emperor himself. That day his stallion fell without cause outside the Divine Beast Gate, tumbling into a ditch with its tack broken—a omen everyone noted. Zhao left troubled by the sign.
42
四年，宣武崩，赦，罷征軍。 明帝與肇及征南將軍元遙等書，稱諱言以告凶問。 肇承變，非唯仰慕，亦憂身禍，朝夕悲泣，至於羸悴。 將至，宿瀍澗驛亭，家人夜迎省之，皆不相視。 直至闕下，縗服號哭，升太極殿，盡哀。 太尉高陽王先居西柏堂，專決庶事，與領軍於忠，密欲除之。 潛備壯士直寢邢豹、伊盆生等十餘人於舍人省下。 肇哭梓宮訖，於百官前引入西廓，清河王懌、任城王澄及諸王等皆竊言目之。 肇入省，壯士扼而拉殺之，下詔暴其罪惡，稱為自盡。 自餘親黨，悉無追問。 削除職爵，葬以士禮。 逮昏，乃於廁門出其屍歸家。 初肇西征，行至函谷，車軸中折，從者皆以為不獲吉還也。 靈太后臨朝，令特贈營州刺史。 永熙二年，孝武帝贈使持節、侍中、中外諸軍事、太師、大丞相、太尉公、錄尚書事、冀州刺史。
In the fourth year Emperor Xiaowu died; amnesty followed and the army was dismissed. Emperor Ming wrote Zhao and Campaign General of the South Yuan Yao, naming the death with the imperial taboo. The news brought him grief and terror alike; he wept day and night until he withered. Near the capital he stopped at Luanjian; his kin met him by night but none could meet the other's eyes. He entered in coarse mourning, crying his way up the Hall of Supreme Ultimate until grief was spent. Grand Marshal Prince of Gaoyang Yong, ruling from the Western Cypress Hall, conspired with Camp Commander Yu Zhong to kill him. They hid a dozen strongmen—Zhi Bao, Yi Pensheng, and others—below the Secretariat. After the coffin rites they drew him into the west corridor before the court; princes exchanged glances and murmured. Inside the office the bravoes throttled him; an edict listed his crimes and called it self-slaughter. His other relatives went unprosecuted. Stripped of rank, he was buried as a commoner. At dusk his body was shoved out the privy gate and carried home. On his western campaign, at Hangu Pass his carriage axle snapped, and followers read it as a vow he would not come back whole. Empress Dowager Ling later posthumously restored him as Governor of Yingzhou. In Yongxi year 2 Emperor Xiaowu posthumously heaped on him every grand title—Commissioner with Full Powers, Palace Attendant, Commander-in-Chief, Grand Preceptor, Grand Chancellor, Grand Marshal, Duke, Recorder of the Master of Writing, and Governor of Ji Province.
43
肇子植，自中書侍郎為濟州刺史，率州軍討破元愉別將有功，當蒙封賞。 不受。 云：「家荷重恩，為國致效，是其常節，何足以膺進陟之報？」 懇惻發于至誠。 曆青、相、朔、恆四州刺史，卒。 植頻蒞五州，皆清能著稱，當時號為良刺史。 贈安北將軍、冀州刺史。
Zhi, son of Zhao, rose from Secretariat Vice Director to Governor of Jizhou; he led provincial troops to rout a lieutenant of Yuan Yu and earned rewards due him. He refused them. He said, "Our house owes a great debt of grace; serving the state is only our proper duty—what claim have we to advancement and reward? His plea came from the depths of sincerity. He held Qing, Xiang, Shuo, and Heng in turn, then died. Zhi governed five provinces in all, each time earning praise for clean competence; men of the day called him a model governor. On his death he was made General Who Pacifies the North and Governor of Jizhou.
44
肇長兄琨，早卒，襲颺封勃海郡公，贈都督五州諸軍事、鎮東大將軍、冀州刺史。 詔其子猛嗣。
Kun, Zhao's elder brother, died young; he inherited Feng's Bohai dukedom and was posthumously named supervisor of five provinces' military affairs, General Who Pacifies the East, and Governor of Jizhou. An edict had his son Meng succeed.
45
猛字豹兒，尚長樂公主，即宣武同母妹也。 拜駙馬都尉，歷位中書令，出為雍州刺史，有能名。 入為殿中尚書，卒。 贈司空、冀州刺史。 孝武帝時，復贈太師、大丞相、錄尚書事。 公主無子，猛先在外有男，不敢令主知，臨終方言之，年歲三十矣。 乃召為喪主。 尋卒，無後。
Meng, styled Bao'er, married Princess Changle, Xuanwu's uterine younger sister. Made Commandant of the Horse Guards, he rose to Secretariat Director, then served as Governor of Yongzhou with a reputation for competence. Recalled as Director of the Palace Bureau, he died in office. He was posthumously made Minister of Works and Governor of Jizhou. Emperor Xiaowu later added Grand Preceptor, Grand Chancellor, and Supervisor of the Masters of Writing to his posthumous honors. The princess bore no children. Meng had fathered a son in secret and dared not tell her; only on his deathbed did he reveal him—a man of thirty. The son was summoned to head the funeral. He soon died as well, and the line ended.
46
琨弟偃，字仲遊。 太和十年，卒。 正始中，贈安東將軍、都督、青州刺史，諡曰莊侯。 景明四年，宣武納其女為貴嬪，及于順皇后崩，永平元年，立為皇后。 二年，八坐奏封後母王氏為武邑郡君。
Kun's younger brother Yan, styled Zhongyou. He died in the tenth year of Taihe. In Zhengshi he was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the East, supervisor, and Governor of Qingzhou, titled Marquis Zhuang. In Jingming 4 Xuanwu took Yan's daughter as Noble Consort; after Empress Shun's death, Yongping 1 saw her raised to empress. In the second year the Eight Dignitaries asked that the empress's mother, Lady Wang, be made Lady of Wuyi Commandery.
47
偃弟壽，早卒。 壽弟即肇也。 肇弟顯，侍中、高麗國大中正，早卒。
Yan's younger brother Shou also died young. Shou's younger brother was Zhao himself. Zhao's younger brother Xian, Palace Attendant and grand umpire for Goguryeo, likewise died young.
48
胡國珍，字世玉，安定臨涇人也。 祖略，姚興勃海公姚逵平北府諮議參軍。 父深，赫連屈丐給事黃門侍郎。 太武克統萬，深以降款之功，賜爵武始侯。 後拜河州刺史。
Hu Guozhen, styled Shiyu, came from Linting in Anding commandery. His grandfather Lüe had served Yao Kui, Bohai duke under Yao Xing, as consultative aide on the Pacify-the-North staff. His father Shen was an Attendant at the Yellow Gates under Helian Bobo. When Emperor Taiwu captured Tongwan, Shen's timely surrender won him the marquisate of Wushi. He was later made Governor of Hezhou.
49
國珍少好學，雅尚清儉。 太和十五年襲爵，例降為伯。 女以選入掖庭，生明帝，即靈太后也。 孝明帝踐祚，以國珍為光祿大夫。 靈太后臨朝，加侍中，封安定郡公。 追崇國珍妻皇甫氏為京兆郡君，置守塚十戶。 尚書令、任城王澄奏，安定公宜出入禁中，參諮大務。 詔屈公入決萬機。 尋進位中書監、儀同三司，侍中如故。 賜絹，歲八百疋，妻梁四百匹，男女姊妹各有差。 國珍與太師高陽王雍、太傅清河王懌、太保廣平王懷入居門下，同厘庶政。 詔依漢車千秋、晉安平王故事，給步挽一乘，自掖門至於宣光殿，得以出入，並備几杖。 後與侍中崔光，俱授帝經，侍直禁中。 國珍上表陳刑政之宜，詔皆施行。
As a youth Guozhen loved learning and prized austerity. In Taihe 15 he inherited the title, reduced by precedent from duke to marquis. His daughter entered the inner palace and bore Emperor Ming—none other than Empress Dowager Ling. At Ming's accession Guozhen was made Grand Counselor of the Palace. Once the empress dowager ruled, he became Palace Attendant and Duke of Anding. Lady Huangfu, Guozhen's wife, was posthumously made Lady of Jingzhao Commandery; ten households were set to guard the tomb. Director Cheng of Rencheng urged that the Duke of Anding enter the inner palace and counsel on weighty matters. An edict brought the duke in to decide state business. He was soon made Supervisor of the Secretariat and Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies, still Palace Attendant. He received eight hundred bolts of silk a year, his wife Liang four hundred, and each sibling a graded share. Guozhen joined Grand Preceptor Yong of Gaoyang, Grand Tutor Yi of Qinghe, and Grand Guardian Huai of Guangping below the gate to govern together. By edict, on the model of Che Qianqiu of Han and the Prince of Anping of Jin, he received a palanquin from the Rear Gate to Xuanguang Hall and was furnished with table and staff. Later he and Palace Attendant Cui Guang tutored the emperor and kept watch in the inner palace. Guozhen submitted views on law and administration; the throne enacted them all.
50
延和初，加國珍使持節、都督、雍州刺史，驃騎大將軍開府。 靈太后以國珍年老，不欲令其在外，且欲示以方面之榮，竟不行。 遷司徒公，侍中如故。 就宅拜之。 靈太后、明帝率百僚幸其第，宴會極歡。 又追京兆郡君為秦太上君。 太上君景明三年薨于洛陽，於此十六年矣。 太后乙太上君墳瘞卑局，更增廣，為起塋域門闕碑表。 侍中崔光等奏：「按漢高祖母始諡曰昭靈夫人，後為昭靈後； 薄太后母曰靈文夫人，皆置園邑三百家，長丞奉守。 今秦太上君未有尊諡，陵寢孤立，即秦君名，宜上終稱，兼設掃衛，以慰情典。 請上尊諡曰孝穆，權置園邑三十戶，立長丞奉守。」 太后從之。 封國珍繼室梁氏為趙平郡君。 元叉妻拜為女侍中，封新平郡君，又徙封馮翊君。 國珍子祥妻長安縣公主，即清河王懌女也。
Early in Yanhe he was given the staff, made supervisor and Governor of Yongzhou, and opened a staff as General of Agile Cavalry. The empress dowager, deeming him too old for the provinces yet wanting him to enjoy their honor, never let him leave. He was moved to Duke of the Secretariat, still Palace Attendant. He was invested at home. The empress dowager and Emperor Ming led the court to his mansion for a feast of rare splendor. Lady of Jingzhao was further raised posthumously to Grand August Lady of Qin. The Grand August Lady had died at Luoyang in Jingming 3; sixteen years had passed. Finding her mother's grave too mean, the empress dowager widened the mound and added gates, steles, and memorial tablets. Cui Guang and others wrote: "Han Gaozu's grandmother was first Lady Zhaoling, later Lady Zhaoling the Late; Empress Bo's mother was Lady Lingwen; each had three hundred park households with wardens to tend the tomb. The Grand August Lady of Qin lacks a final title and her tomb has no guard; we ask a closing title and caretakers to meet ritual need. We propose the posthumous title Xiaomu and thirty park households with wardens for now. The empress dowager agreed. Guozhen's second wife, Lady Liang, was made Lady of Zhaoping Commandery. Yuan Cha's wife became Lady Attendant Within, Lady of Xinping, then Lady of Fengyi. Xiang's wife was the Princess of Chang'an, daughter of Prince Yi of Qinghe.
51
國珍年雖篤老，而雅敬佛法，時事潔齊，自禮拜。 至於出入侍從，猶能跨馬據鞍。 神龜元年四月七日，步從所建佛像，發第至閶闔門四五里。 八日，又立觀像，晚乃肯坐。 勞熱增甚，因遂寢疾。 靈太后親侍藥膳，十二日薨，年八十。 給東園溫明秘器，五時朝服各一具，衣一襲，贈布五千匹，錢一百萬，蠟千斤。 大鴻臚持節監護喪事。 太后還宮，成服于九龍殿，遂居九龍寢室。 明帝服小功服，舉哀於太極東堂。 又詔，自始薨至七七，皆為設千僧齋，齋令七人出家，百日設萬人齋，二七人出家。 先是巫覡言將有凶，勸令為厭勝法，國珍拒而不從，雲吉凶有定分，唯修德以禳之。 臨死，與太后訣，云「母子善臨天下」，殷勤至於再三。 又及其子祥雲，「我唯有一子，死後勿如比來威抑之」。 靈太后以其好戲，時加威訓，國珍故以為言。
Though aged, Guozhen honored the Dharma, kept his household in ritual order, and bowed with his own hands. Going abroad with attendants, he could still mount and ride. On Shengui 1.4.7 he walked from his mansion beside a Buddha image he had raised four or five li to Changhe Gate. On the eighth he stood again before the image and would not sit until night. Weariness and fever grew; he fell ill. The empress dowager herself tended his medicines; on the twelfth he died at eighty. He received the Eastern Garden coffin, seasonal court robes, a full suit, five thousand bolts of cloth, a million cash, and a thousand jin of wax. The Grand Herald supervised the rites with the staff of authority. The empress dowager returned, mourned in the Hall of Nine Dragons, and lodged in the Nine Dragons chamber. Emperor Ming wore lesser mourning and wept in the east hall of Taiji. Edicts ordered thousand-monk feasts daily until the forty-ninth day, seven tonsured at each, and at a hundred days a feast for ten thousand monks with twenty-seven tonsured. A shaman had foretold ill luck and urged rites of expiation; Guozhen refused, saying fate is fixed and only virtue avails. Dying, he told the empress dowager, "Mother and son must rule the realm well," again and again. Of his son Xiang he said, "I have but one son; do not curb him as you have." The empress dowager, vexed by Xiang's love of sport, had often rebuked him—hence the plea.
52
始國珍欲就祖、父，西葬舊鄉。 後緣前世諸胡多在洛葬，有終洛之心。 崔光嘗對太后前問國珍：「國公萬年後，為在此安厝？ 為歸長安？」 國珍言：「當陪葬天子山陵。」 及病危，太后請以後事，竟言還安定。 語遂惛忽。 太后問清河王懌與崔光等，議去留。 懌等皆以病亂，請從先言。 太后猶記崔光昔與國珍言，遂營墓於洛陽。 太后雖外從眾議，而深追臨終之語，云：「我公之遠慕二親，亦吾之思父母也。」 追崇假黃鉞、使持節、侍中、相國、都督中外諸軍事、太師，領太尉公、司州牧，號太上秦公，加九錫，葬以殊禮。 給九旒鑾輅，武賁班劍百人，前後部羽葆鼓吹，巉輬車，諡曰文宣公。 賜物三千段，粟一千五百石。 又詔贈國珍祖父、父，兄下逮從子，皆有封職。 持節就安定監護喪事。 靈太后迎太上君神柩還第，與國珍俱葬，贈襚一與國珍同。 及國珍神主入廟，詔太常權給以軒縣之樂，六佾之舞。
At first he wished to bury his forebears in the western homeland. Later, seeing how many barbarian houses of old lay at Luoyang, he inclined to remain there. Cui Guang once asked him before the empress dowager, "When you are gone, will you rest here or return to Chang'an? Guozhen answered, "I shall share the Son of Heaven's hill tomb." At the crisis the empress dowager asked his will; at last he said Anding. His speech then wandered. The empress dowager asked Yi of Qinghe, Cui Guang, and others whether to stay or go. Yi and the rest, citing his delirium, urged his earlier wish. She recalled Guang's old question and had the tomb built at Luoyang. Outwardly she bowed to the court; inwardly she grieved his last words: "His yearning for his parents is mine for mine. He was posthumously given the yellow axe and staff, made chancellor and supreme commander, Grand Preceptor and Grand Marshal of Sizhou, titled Grand August Lord of Qin with the Nine Bestowals and a burial beyond ordinary measure. He received the nine regalia, imperial equipage, a hundred guards, full honors of march, and the posthumous name Wenxuan. Three thousand bolts of goods and fifteen hundred shi of grain were granted. Edicts enfeoffed his grandfather, father, brother, and cousins as well. A staff-bearer supervised the funeral in Anding. The empress dowager brought her mother's coffin home and buried her with Guozhen, with equal funeral gifts. When his tablet entered the ancestral temple, the Minister of Rites was told to grant xuan music and the six-row dance.
53
僧洗字湛輝，封爰德縣公，位中書監、侍中，改封濮陽郡公。 僧洗自永安後廢棄，不預朝政。 天平四年，薨。 詔給東園秘器，贈太師、太尉公、錄尚書事、雍州刺史，諡曰孝。
Sengxi, styled Zhanhui, was Duke of Aide, then Supervisor of the Secretariat and Palace Attendant, then Duke of Puyang. After Yongan he was set aside from government. He died in Tianping 4. He received the Eastern Garden coffin and posthumous honors as Grand Preceptor, Grand Marshal, supervisor of the Masters of Writing, and Governor of Yongzhou, titled Xiao.
54
真長子甯，字惠歸，襲國珍先爵，改為臨涇伯，後進為公。 曆岐涇二州刺史，卒，諡曰孝穆。 女為清河王亶妃，生孝靜皇帝。 武定初，贈太師、太尉公、錄尚書事，諡曰孝昭。
Zhen's eldest son Ning, styled Huigui, inherited the old title as Marquis of Linjing, later duke. He governed Qi and Jing in turn, died, and was titled Xiaomu. His daughter married Prince Chan of Qinghe and bore Emperor Xiaojing. Early in Wuding he was posthumously made Grand Preceptor, Grand Marshal, and supervisor of the Masters of Writing, titled Xiaozhao.
55
子虔，字僧敬。 元叉之廢靈太后，虔時為千牛備身，與備身張車渠等謀叉。 事發，叉殺車渠等，虔坐遠徙。 靈太后反政，徵為吏部郎中。 太后好以家人禮與親族宴戲，虔常致諫，由是，後宴謔多不預焉。 出為涇州刺史，封安陽縣侯。 興和三年，以帝元舅，超遷司空公。 薨，贈太傅、太尉公、尚書僕射、徐州刺史，諡曰宣。 葬日，百官會葬，乘輿送于郭外。 子長粲。
His son Qian, styled Sengjing. When Yuan Cha ousted the empress dowager, Qian, a Thousand-Ox guardsman, plotted with Zhang Chequ and others to kill him. The plot failed; Cha executed Chequ and the rest and exiled Qian. When the empress dowager regained power he was recalled as a director in the Ministry of Personnel. The empress dowager loved private feasts with kin; Qian's remonstrances kept him from many of them. He became Governor of Jingzhou and Marquis of Anyang. In Xinghe 3, as the emperor's uterine uncle, he leapt to Duke of the Works. On his death he was made Grand Tutor, Grand Marshal, vice director of the Masters of Writing, and Governor of Xuzhou, titled Xuan. At his burial the whole court followed; the emperor's carriage went to the city gate. His son was Changcan.
56
長粲仕齊，累遷章武太守，為政清靜，頗得人和。 除兼併省尚書左丞，當官正色，無所回避。 尚書左僕射趙彥深密勿樞要，中書舍人裴澤便蕃左右，以殿門受拜，皆彈糾之。 彥深等頗有恨言，長粲不以介意。 後主踐祚，長粲被敕，與黃門馮子琮出入禁中，專典敷奏。 武成還鄴，後主在晉陽，長粲仍受委留後。 後主從武成還鄴，仍敕在京省判度支尚書，監議五禮。 武成崩，與領軍婁定遠、錄尚書趙彥深、左僕射和士開、高文遙、領軍綦連猛、高阿那肱、右僕射唐邕，同知朝政，時人號為八貴。 于後定遠、文遙並出，唐邕專典外兵，綦連猛、高阿那肱別總武任，長粲常在左右，兼宣詔令。 從幸晉陽。 後主既富於春秋，庶事皆相歸委。 長粲盡心毗奉，甚得名譽。 又正為侍中。 丁母憂，給假馳驛奔喪。 尋有詔，起復前任。 隴東王長仁心欲入處機要之地，為執政不許。 長仁疑長粲通謀，大以為恨，言于太后，發其陰私，請出為州。 太后為言于後主，不獲已，從焉。 除趙州刺史。 及辭，眷戀流涕，後主亦憫然慰勉之。 至州，存心政事，為人吏所懷。 因沐發，手不得舉，失瘖，卒於州。 後主聞而傷悼，在朝文武嗟歎，咸惜之。 贈司空公、尚書左僕射、瀛州刺史，諡文貞公。
Under Qi he rose to Administrator of Zhangwu; his rule was quiet and fair and won the people. Made acting left director in the combined ministry, he showed a stern face and yielded to none. He impeached Zhao Yanshen, who held the inner pivot, and Pei Ze, favorite at the emperor's side, for bowing at the hall gate. Yanshen and the rest resented it; Changcan did not care. The new emperor ordered Changcan and Feng Ziqiong of the Huangmen to draft memorials within the palace. While Wucheng was at Ye and the heir at Jinyang, Changcan stayed behind with power. Returning to Ye, he was told to judge revenue in the capital and oversee the Five Rites. At Wucheng's death he joined Lou Dingyuan, Zhao Yanshen, He Shiqi, Gao Wenyao, Qilian Meng, Gao Anagong, and Tang Yong in rule—the Eight Dignitaries. Dingyuan and Wenyao left; Tang Yong held the armies; Meng and Anagong held military posts; Changcan stayed at the emperor's side and proclaimed edicts. He accompanied the court to Jinyang. The young emperor entrusted him with daily business. Changcan served with zeal and won praise. He was made full Palace Attendant. On his mother's death he was given leave and relay horses. An edict soon recalled him from mourning. Prince Changren of Longdong sought a share in rule; the ministers refused. Changren thought Changcan blocked him; he told the empress dowager of private faults and asked him out to the provinces. The empress dowager pleaded; the emperor yielded. He was sent as Governor of Zhao. At parting both wept; the emperor comforted him tenderly. In Zhao he minded governance and won officials and people alike. While bathing his arms failed; he lost speech and died in office. The emperor grieved; courtiers sighed and mourned. He was posthumously Duke of the Works, left vice director, and Governor of Yingzhou, titled Wen the Upright.
57
長粲性溫雅，在官清潔。 但始居要密，便為子叔泉取清河王崔德儉女為妻。 在晉陽處分，用妻弟王逖與德儉對為司徒主簿，時論以此譏之。 又性好內。 有一侍婢，其妻王驕妒，手刺殺之，為此忿恨，數年不相見。 親表為之語曰：「自我不見，於今三年。」 後納妾李氏，仍與王氏別宅，亦無朝拜之禮。 嫠婦公孫氏也，已殺三夫，長粲不信，強取之，令與李氏同住，未期而亡。 子仲操，位陳留太守。 次叔泉，通直散騎侍郎。
Changcan was gentle, elegant, and clean in office. Yet once in power he married his nephew Shuiquan to Cui Dejian's daughter of Qinghe. At Jinyang he paired his wife's brother Wang Ti with Dejian as Secretariat clerks, which drew censure. He was also fond of women indoors. A maid he favored was stabbed by his jealous wife Wang; he resented it and did not see her for years. Kin quoted for them, "Since I saw you last, three years have passed. Later he took Lady Li as concubine and lived apart from Wang without ceremony. He also seized the widow Gongsun, who had buried three husbands, and set her with Lady Li; she soon died. His son Zhongcao was Administrator of Chenliu. His second son Shuiquan was regular and cavalier attendant.
58
先是，望氣者上言，太白食昴，法當大赦。 和士開奏聞，詔降罪人以應之。 尚書左僕射徐之才諳練往事，語士開曰：「天垂象，見吉凶，有成災者，有不成災者。 案昴，趙分，或云趙地有災。 古者，王侯各在封邑，故分野有災，當其君長。 今吾等虛名，竟不之國。 刺史專令一境，善惡所歸，比來多以刺史為驗。」 未幾而長粲死焉。
A sky-watcher said the White Planet would eclipse Mao, portending a great amnesty. He Shiqi told the throne; criminals' sentences were eased to match the sign. Xu Zhicai, versed in precedent, told Shiqi, "Heaven's signs show fortune or ill; some fulfill disaster, some do not. Mao is Zhao's field; some say Zhao will suffer. In antiquity lords dwelt in their fiefs; when a field suffered, its lord did. Today we hold empty titles and never rule our lands. A governor alone holds a circuit; merit and fault settle on him—lately men watch governors. Soon after, Changcan died.
59
甯弟盛，字歸興，位左衛將軍，賜爵江陽男。 曆幽、瀛二州刺史，為政清靜，人吏愛之。 轉冀州刺史，卒，賜司徒公、錄尚書事、定州刺史，追封陽平郡公，諡曰懿穆。 明帝后納其女為皇太后。
Ning's younger brother Sheng, styled Guixing, was Left Guards General and Baron of Jiangyang. He governed You and Ying in turn, quietly and fairly, and was loved. Made Governor of Jizhou, he died; honored as duke of the Secretariat, supervisor, and Governor of Dingzhou, enfeoffed posthumously as Duke of Yangping, titled Yimu the Reverent. Under Emperor Ming his daughter was raised to empress and then empress dowager.
60
太后舅皇甫集，字元會，一字文都，安定朝那人。 封涇陽縣公，位儀同三司、雍州刺史、右衛大將軍，贈侍中、司空公，諡曰靜。
The empress dowager's uncle Huangfu Ji, styled Yuanhui and Wendu, came from Zhaoning in Anding. He was Duke of Jingyang, equal to the three excellencies, Governor of Yongzhou, and Right Guards General; posthumously Palace Attendant and Duke of the Works, titled Jing.
61
集弟度，字文亮，封安縣公，累遷尚書左僕射，領左衛將軍。 度頑蔽，每與人言，自稱僕射，時人方之毛嘉。 正光初，元叉出之為都督、瀛州刺史。 度不願出，頻表固辭，乃除右光祿大夫。 孝昌元年，為司空、領軍將軍，加侍中。 元叉之見出也，恐朝夕誅滅，度與妻陳氏，多納其貨，為之左右。 度無子，養兄集子子熙為子。 子熙嫂趙郡太守裴佗女。 佗還京師，度問佗外何消息，佗曰：「行路所聞，唯道明公多取元叉金帛，遠近無不慨歎。 公宜戮此罪人，以謝天下。」 陳氏聞而惡之。 又攝吏部事，遷司徒，兼尚書令，不拜。 尋轉太尉，孜孜營利，老而彌甚。 遷授之際，皆自請乞。 靈太后知其無用。 以舅氏，難違之。 然所曆官，最為貪蠹。 爾硃榮入洛，西奔兄子華州刺史邕，尋與邕為人所殺。
Ji's younger brother Du, styled Wenliang, was Duke of An and rose to left vice director and commander of the left guards. Du was obtuse; in conversation he called himself Vice Director—men compared him to Mao Jia. Early in Zhenguang Yuan Cha sent him out as supervisor and Governor of Yingzhou. Du refused and memorialized again and again; he was made Right Counselor of the Palace instead. In Xiaochang 1 he was Minister of Works, commander-in-chief, and Palace Attendant. When Yuan Cha fell, Du and his wife Chen took his bribes and pleaded for him. Childless, Du adopted Ji's son Zixi. Zixi's wife was Pei Tuo's daughter, Zhao's administrator. Tuo returning, Du asked the news abroad; Tuo said, "Travelers say the Illustrious Duke took Yuan Cha's gold and silk—everyone sighs. You should slay that villain to appease the realm. Lady Chen heard and hated Tuo. He also acted in Personnel, then Grand Marshal and director of the Masters of Writing, which he refused. Soon Grand Preceptor, he grasped for gain ever more in age. At every promotion he begged the office. The empress dowager knew him worthless. As her uncle she could not refuse. Yet of all offices his was the greediest. When Erzhu Rong took Luoyang he fled to his nephew Yong, Governor of Huazhou, and both were killed.
62
楊騰，弘農人，文帝之舅也。 父貴，琅邪郡守，封華陰男。 騰妹為京兆王愉妃，故騰得處貴遊。 景明初，襲爵。 後為襄城太守，甚有聲稱。 文帝即位，位開府儀同三司，出鎮河東。 薨，贈司空、雍州刺史，諡曰貞襄。 子盛。
Yang Teng of Hongnong was Emperor Wen's uncle. His father Gui was Langye's administrator and Baron of Huayin. His sister was Prince Yu of Jingzhao's consort, and Teng rose among the great. In Jingming he inherited the title. Later he governed Xiangcheng with a fine name. At Wen's accession he was equal to the three excellencies with a staff and held Hedong. He died posthumously Minister of Works and Governor of Yongzhou, titled Zhenxiang. His son was Sheng.
63
乙弗繪，河南洛陽人，文帝皇后之兄也。 文帝即位，位開府儀同三司、侍中、中書監、魏昌縣公。 又為吏部尚書。
Yifu Hui of Luoyang in Henan was the empress's elder brother. At Wen's accession he was equal to the three excellencies, Palace Attendant, supervisor of the Secretariat, and Duke of Weichang. He also directed the Masters of Writing.
64
趙猛，太安狄那人也。 姊為齊文穆皇帝繼室，生趙郡公琛。 猛性方直，頗有器幹。 齊神武舉義，以預義勳，封信都縣伯。 累遷南營州刺史。 卒，贈司空公。
Zhao Meng came from Dina in Tai'an. His sister was Qi Wenmu's successor consort and bore Duke Chen of Zhao. Meng was upright and capable. When Shenwu raised the banner of revolt, Meng was enfeoffed Baron of Xindu for his part. He rose to Governor of Southern Camp. He died posthumously Duke of the Works.
65
胡長仁，字孝隆，安定臨涇人，齊武成皇后長兄也。 父延之，魏中書令、兗州刺史。 大寧中，贈司空公。
Hu Changren of Linting in Anding, styled Xiaolong, was Empress Wu's elder brother. His father Yanzhi had been Wei's Secretariat Director and Governor of Yanzhou. In Daning his father was posthumously Duke of the Works.
66
長仁以內戚，歷位尚書左僕射、尚書令。 及武成崩，預參朝政，封隴東郡王。 左丞酈孝裕、郎中陸仁惠、盧元亮厚相結讬。 長仁每上省，孝裕必方駕而來。 省務既繁，簿案堆積，令史欲諮都坐者，日有百數。 孝裕屏人私話，朝退亦相隨。 仁惠、元亮又伺閑而往，停斷公事，人號為三佞。 長仁私遊仄密，處處追尋。 孝裕勸其求進，和士開深疾之，於是奏除孝裕為章武郡守，元亮為淮南郡守，仁惠為幽州長史。 孝裕又說長仁曰：「王陽臥疾，和士開必來，因而殺之。 入見太后，不過百日失官，便代其處。」 士開知其謀，更徙孝裕為北營州建德郡守。 長仁每幹執事，求為領軍。 將相文武以主上富於春秋，母后家不可專政，故抑而不許。 以本官攝選。 長仁性好威福，意猶未盡。 先是尚書胡長粲奏事內省，長仁疑粲間己，苦請太后出之。
As imperial kin he became left vice director and director of the Masters of Writing. At Wucheng's death he shared in rule and was made Prince of Longdong. Left assistant Li Xiaoyu, director Li Renhui, and Lu Yuanliang clung to him. Whenever Changren entered the ministry, Xiaoyu came in paired carriages. Paperwork piled high; a hundred clerks a day sought the chief seat. Xiaoyu dismissed others for private talk and followed him after court. Renhui and Yuanliang seized his idle hours and halted business—men called them the Three Sycophants. Changren pursued secret pleasures and tracked him everywhere. Xiaoyu urged his rise; He Shiqi hated it and had Xiaoyu sent to Zhangwu, Yuanliang to Huainan, Renhui to You as chief clerk. Xiaoyu also told Changren, "When Wang Yang feigns illness, He Shiqi will come—kill him then. See the empress dowager; within a hundred days you will lose office and take his. Shiqi learned the plot and sent Xiaoyu to Jiande in Northern Campzhou. Changren often pressed those in power for the commander-in-chief's post. Ministers, saying the emperor was young and maternal kin must not rule alone, refused. He held selection in his regular office. Changren loved power; his wish was still unsated. Earlier Hu Changcan had reported within the palace; Changren thought him hostile and begged the empress dowager to send him out.
67
天統五年，從駕自並還鄴，夜發滏口，帝以夜漏尚早，停于路傍。 長仁後來，謂是從行諸貴，遂遣門客程牙馳騎呼問。 帝遣中尚食陳德信問是何人，牙不答而走。 帝命左右追射之。 既而捉獲，因令壯士撲之，決馬鞭二百，牙一宿便死。 士開因此，遂令德信列長仁倚親驕豪無畏憚。 由是，除齊州刺史。 及辭于昭陽，列仗引見，長仁不敢發語，唯泣涕橫流。 到任，啟求暫歸，所司不為奏。 怨憤，謀令冀州人李揩牆刺和士開，其弟長咸告之。 士開密與祖孝徵議之，孝徵引漢文帝殺薄昭為故事，於是敕遣張固、劉桃枝馳驛詣齊州，責長仁謀害宰輔，遂賜死。
In Tiantong 5, returning from Bing to Ye, they left Fukou at night; the emperor halted early on the road. Changren came after, mistook them for the following nobles, and sent Cheng Ya to gallop and call. The emperor sent Chen Dexin to ask who it was; Ya fled without answer. The emperor ordered pursuit and arrows. Seized, stout men beat him two hundred strokes with the horsewhip; Ya died overnight. Shiqi had Dexin list Changren's arrogance as kin. He was sent out as Governor of Qi. At farewell in Zhaoyang, guards led him in; he only wept. In Qi he asked brief leave; the office ignored it. In resentment he had Li Kai of Jizhou stab Shiqi on the wall; his brother Changxian informed. Shiqi and Zu Xiaozheng cited Han Wendi's killing of Bo Zhao; Zhang Gu and Liu Taozhi rode post-horses to Qi, charged murder of the chief minister, and granted death.
68
先是，太白食昴，占者曰：「昴為趙分，不利胡王。」 長仁未幾死。 長仁性好歌舞，飲酒至數斗不亂。 自至齊州，每進酒後，必長歎欷歔，流涕不自勝，左右莫不怪之。
Earlier the White Planet had eclipsed Mao; diviners said, "Mao is Zhao's field—ill for the Hu king. Soon Changren died. Changren loved song, dance, and drinking several dou without failing. In Qi, after each cup he sighed and wept beyond control—attendants marveled.
69
尋而後主納長仁女為後，重加贈。 長仁子君璧，襲爵隴東王。 君璧弟君璋，及長仁弟長雍等，前後七人並賜爵，合門貴盛。 後廢後，稍稍黜退焉。
Soon the emperor took his daughter as empress and raised his honors. His son Junbi inherited Longdong. Junzhang, Changyong, and others—seven in all—were enfeoffed; the house flourished. After her deposition they were slowly pushed down.
70
隋文帝外家呂氏，其族蓋微。 平齊後求訪，不知所在。 開皇初，濟南郡上言，有男子呂永吉，自稱有姑字苦桃，嫁為楊諱妻。 勘驗，知是舅子。 始追贈外祖雙周為上柱國、太尉、八州諸軍事、青州刺史，封齊郡公，諡曰敬。 外祖母姚氏為齊敬公夫人。 詔並改葬，于齊州立廟，置守塚十家，以永吉襲爵，留在京師。 及大業中，授上党郡太守。 性識庸劣，職務不理。 後去官，不知所終。
Emperor Wen's Lü kin were of humble stock. After Qi fell they searched in vain. In Kaihuang, Jinan reported Lü Yongji, who said an aunt Kutao had married a Yang. Inquiry proved him the empress's nephew. Then maternal grandfather Shuangzhou was posthumously Pillar of State, Grand Marshal, commander of eight provinces, Governor of Qingzhou, Duke of Qi, titled Jing. Grandmother Lady Yao was Lady of Duke Jing of Qi. Edicts ordered reburial, a temple in Qi with ten guardians; Yongji inherited and stayed at court. In Daye he was Administrator of Shangdang. He was dull and neglected office. Later he left office; his end is unknown.
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從父道貴，性尤頑騃，言詞鄙陋。 初自鄉里徵入長安，上見之悲泣。 道貴略無戚容，但連呼帝名云：「種未定不可偷，大似苦桃姊。」 後數犯忌諱，動致違忤。 上甚恥之，乃命高熲厚加供給，不許接對朝士。 拜上儀同三司，出為濟南太守，令即之任，斷其入朝。 道貴還至本郡，高自崇重，每與人言，自稱皇舅。 數將儀衛，出入閭里，從故人游宴，庶僚鹹苦之。 後郡廢，終於家，子孫無聞焉。
His uncle Daogui was brutish and spoke coarsely. First summoned from the village, the emperor wept at sight of him. Daogui showed no grief but cried the emperor's name: "The seed is unsettled—do not steal; you look like Sister Kutao. Later he broke taboo and often gave offense. Ashamed, the emperor had Gao Jiong supply him richly and barred court access. He was made equal to the three excellencies, sent to Jinan, and barred from court. Back home, Daogui gloried himself as the emperor's uncle. He paraded guards through the lanes and feasted with old friends; officials suffered it. When the commandery was abolished he died at home; no descendants are known.
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論曰：三五哲王，防深慮遠； 舅甥之國，罕執鈞衡； 母后之家，無聞傾敗。 爰及漢晉，顛覆繼軌，皆由乎進不以禮，故其斃亦速。 自魏至隋，時移四代，得失之跡，斯文可睹。 苟不傾宗，終致亡國，周隋之際，可為鑒焉。 若使開皇創業，不取懲於已往，獨孤權侔呂、霍，必敗于仁壽之前； 蕭氏勢均梁、竇，豈全于大業之後。 今或不隕舊基，或更隆先構，豈非處之以道，遠權之所致乎？
The historian concludes: The sage kings of the Three and Five looked far and guarded deep; among uncle-and-nephew realms, few kin ever held the balance; in empresses' clans, collapse was scarcely heard of. Come Han and Jin, ruin came in succession, for promotion without ritual brings swift destruction. From Wei through Sui, four ages turned; their gains and losses are plain to read here. Even houses that did not fall by violence still lost the realm; the Zhou-Sui years are a mirror. Had Wen of Sui not heeded the past, and Dugu Xin matched Lü and Huo in power, he would have perished before Renshou; had the Xiao house rivaled Liang Ji and Dou Xian, could it have outlasted Daye? That some kin still stand, or rise again, comes of ruling by the Way and holding power at arm's length.