1
古者天子娶后，三國來媵，皆有娣侄，凡十二女。 諸侯一娶九女。 所以正嫡妾，廣繼嗣，息妒忌，防淫慝，塞禍亂也。 后亡，則媵為繼室，各以其敘。 無三媵，則娣侄繼室，亦各以其敘。 繼室者，治其內政，不敢正其位號。 禮，廟無兩祔，不並尊也。 魯成風始兩祔，宋國三媵，齊管氏三歸，《春秋》皆譏之。 《周禮》內宰，其屬則內小臣、閽人、寺人次之，九嬪、世婦、女御、女祝、女史、典婦功、典絲、典枲、內司服又次之。 《昏義》稱「后立六宮、三夫人、九嬪、二十七世婦、八十一御妻」，不與《春秋》、《周禮》合，后世因仍其說，后宮遂至數千。
In ancient times, when the Son of Heaven took a primary consort, three allied states would each send a ying bride, each accompanied by younger sisters and nieces—twelve women in all. A feudal lord would take nine wives in a single marriage alliance. The purpose was to fix the hierarchy between primary wife and subordinates, broaden the pool of heirs, calm jealousy, guard against licentious conduct, and forestall disaster and unrest. When the primary consort died, the ying brides would become successor wives in order of seniority. If there were no three ying brides, younger sisters and nieces would fill the role as successor wives, again in order of precedence. A successor wife would run the inner household but would not presume to claim the principal title and rank. According to ritual, a temple did not enshrine two consorts of equal standing side by side—dual enshrinement meant treating them as equals. When Cheng Feng of Lu pioneered double enshrinement, when Song took three ying brides, and when the Guan clan of Qi received the "Three Returns," the Spring and Autumn Annals censured them all. In the Rites of Zhou, the Chief Palace Steward heads the inner administration; beneath her come the Inner Chamberlain, gatekeepers, and eunuchs, and below them the Nine Consorts, palace matrons, inner attendants, sacrificial maidens, palace scribes, directors of women's crafts, silk, and hemp, and the inner director of garments. The Meaning of Marriage speaks of the queen establishing the Six Palaces, three Ladies, nine Consorts, twenty-seven palace matrons, and eighty-one inner wives—a scheme that does not match the Spring and Autumn Annals or the Rites of Zhou. Later dynasties kept to this account, and the inner palace eventually swelled to thousands.
2
金代，后不娶庶族，甥舅之家有周姬、齊薑之義。 國初諸妃皆無位號，熙宗始有貴妃、賢妃、德妃之號。 海陵淫嬖，后宮浸多，元妃、姝妃、惠妃、貴妃、賢妃、宸妃、麗妃、淑妃、德妃、昭妃、溫妃、柔妃凡十二位。 大定后宮簡少，明昌以后大備。
Under the Jin, primary consorts were not chosen from humble clans; unions with maternal-uncle and paternal-aunt houses carried the same significance as the Zhou princesses and Qi ladies of old. In the dynasty's early years consorts bore no formal titles; Emperor Xizong was the first to institute Noble, Worthy, and Virtuous Consort ranks. Emperor Hailing's indulgence swelled the inner palace to twelve ranks: Primary, Beautiful, Kind, Noble, Worthy, Imperial, Lovely, Pure, Virtuous, Bright, Gentle, and Soft Consort. During the Dading era the inner palace was kept lean; from the Mingchang reign onward it was brought to full establishment.
3
內官制度：諸妃視正一品，比三夫人。 昭儀、昭容、昭媛、修儀、修容、修媛、充儀、充容充媛視正二品，比九嬪。 婕妤九人視正三品。 美人九人視正四品，才人九人視正五品，比二十七世婦。 寶林二十七人視正六品，御女二十七人視正七品，采女二十七人視正八品，比八十一御妻。 又有尚宮、尚儀、尚服、尚食、尚寢、尚功，皆內官也。
Inner-palace regulations ranked all consorts at first grade, equivalent to the three Ladies of Zhou ritual. The Bright, Cultivated, and Fulfilling Ladies of Ceremony, Countenance, and Grace held second rank, equivalent to the Nine Consorts. Nine Fair Ladies held third rank. Nine Beauties held fourth rank and nine Talented Ladies fifth, equivalent to the twenty-seven palace matrons. Twenty-seven Treasured Forest Ladies held sixth rank, twenty-seven Inner Maidens seventh, and twenty-seven Selected Maidens eighth—equivalent to the eighty-one inner wives. There were also the Chiefs of Palace, Ceremonies, Wardrobe, Provisions, Quarters, and Works—all inner-palace offices.
4
太祖嫡后聖穆生景宣，光懿生宗幹，有定策功，欽憲有保佑之功，故自熙宗時聖穆、光懿、欽憲皆祔。 宣獻生睿宗，大定祔焉。 故太祖廟祔四后，睿、世、顯、宣皆祔兩后，惟太宗、景宣、熙宗、章宗室祔一后。 貞、慈、光獻、昭聖雖庶姓，皆以子貴。 宣宗冊溫敦氏，乃賜姓，變古甚矣。 故自初起至於國亡，列其世次，著其族裏，可考鑒焉。 其無與于世道者，置不錄。
Taizu's primary consort Shengmu bore Jingxuan; Guangyi bore Zonggan, who had settled the succession; Qinxian had protected the house—so from Emperor Xizong onward Shengmu, Guangyi, and Qinxian were all enshrined in Taizu's temple. Xuanxian bore Emperor Ruizong and was enshrined in his temple during the Dading reign. Taizu's temple thus enshrined four consorts; the temples of Ruizong, Shizong, Xianzong, and Xuanzong each enshrined two, while only Taizong, Jingxuan, Xizong, and Zhangzong enshrined a single consort. Consorts Zhen, Ci, Guangxian, and Zhaosheng were of humble birth, yet each was elevated through her son's eminence. Emperor Xuanzong ennobled the Wendun clan—a bestowed surname and a striking break with ancient custom. From the dynasty's rise to its fall, their generations, clans, and homelands are set forth here for examination and reflection. Those who had no bearing on affairs of state are omitted.
5
始祖明懿皇后
Empress Mingyi, Consort of the Founding Ancestor
6
始祖明懿皇后，完顏部人。 年六十餘嫁始祖。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Mingyi of the Founding Ancestor was a woman of the Wanyan clan. She was over sixty when she married the Founding Ancestor. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
7
德帝思皇后
Empress Si, Consort of Emperor De
8
德帝思皇后，不知何部人。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Si, consort of Emperor De—her clan is unknown. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
9
安帝節皇后
Empress Jie, Consort of Emperor An
10
安帝節皇后，不知何部人。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Jie, consort of Emperor An—her clan is unknown. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
11
獻祖恭靖皇后
Empress Gongjing, Consort of Xianzu
12
獻祖恭靖皇后，不知何部人。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Gongjing, consort of Xianzu—her clan is unknown. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
13
昭祖威順皇后
Empress Weishun, Consort of Zhaozu
14
昭祖威順皇后徒單氏，諱烏古論都葛，活刺渾水敵魯鄉徒單部人。 其父拔炭都魯海。 后性剛毅，人莫敢以為室。 獻祖將為昭祖娶婦，曰：「此子勇斷異常，柔弱之女不可以為配。」 乃為昭祖娶焉。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Weishun of Zhaozu, née Tudian, taboo name Wugulun Duge, came from the Tudian clan of Dielu village on the Huocihun River. Her father was Batanduluhai. She was so firm and resolute in character that no man dared marry her. When Xianzu was choosing a wife for Zhaozu, he said, "This son is unusually bold and decisive—a timid, yielding woman would not suit him." He therefore gave her to Zhaozu in marriage. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
15
景祖昭肅皇后
Empress Zhaosu, Consort of Jingzu
16
景祖昭肅皇后，唐括氏，帥水隈鴉村唐括部人，諱多保真。 父石批德撒骨只，巫者也。 后有識度，在父母家好待賓客，父母出，則多置酒饌享鄰里，迨於行旅。 景祖飲食過人，時人名之「活羅」，解在《景祖紀》。 昭祖曰：「儉嗇之女吝惜酒食，不可以配。」 烏古乃聞后性度如是，乃娶焉。
Empress Zhaosu of Jingzu, née Tangkuo, came from the Tangkuo clan of Yacun on the Shuai River; her taboo name was Duobaozhen. Her father Shipide Saguji was a shaman. The consort was discerning and magnanimous. In her parents' home she delighted in receiving guests; when they were away she would lay out food and drink for neighbors and travelers alike. Jingzu ate and drank more than other men; people of the time nicknamed him "Huoluo"—the explanation appears in his Basic Annals. Zhaozu said, "A miserly woman who grudges food and drink would not suit him." When Wugunai heard that the consort's character matched this need, he took her in marriage.
17
遼使同幹來伐五國浦聶部，景祖使后與劾孫為質于拔乙門，而與同幹襲取之，遼主以景祖為節度使。
When the Liao envoy Tonggan came to attack the Ponie tribe of the Five States, Jingzu sent the consort and Helsun as hostages to Bayimen, then joined Tonggan in a surprise attack to seize the place; the Liao emperor appointed Jingzu military commissioner.
18
后雖喜賓客，而自不飲酒。 景祖與客飲，后專聽之。 翌日，枚數其人所為，無一不中其啟肯。 有醉而喧呶者，輒自歌以釋其忿爭。 軍中有被笞罰者，每以酒食慰諭之。 景祖行部，輒與偕行，政事獄訟皆與決焉。
Though she delighted in entertaining guests, she never drank wine herself. When Jingzu drank with his guests, the consort listened closely to everything said. The next day she would recount each man's words and deeds, and never missed what was truly in his mind. When guests grew drunk and quarrelsome, she would sing herself to calm their anger. Soldiers who had been flogged she would comfort with food and drink. Whenever Jingzu toured his districts she accompanied him, and all government business and lawsuits were decided with her counsel.
19
景祖沒後，世祖兄弟凡用兵，皆稟於后而后行，勝負皆有懲勸。 農月，親課耕耘刈獲，遠則乘馬，近則策杖，勤於事者勉之，晏出早休者訓勵之。
After Jingzu died, Shizu and his brothers would consult the consort before every campaign; whether they won or lost, she rewarded or admonished them accordingly. During the farming season she personally inspected plowing and harvest; she rode for distant fields and walked with a staff for nearby ones, encouraging the diligent and reproving those who started late and quit early.
20
后往邑屯村，世祖、肅宗皆從。 會桓赧、散達偕來，是時已有隙，被酒，語相侵不能平，遂舉刃相向。 后起，兩執其手，謂桓赧、散達曰：「汝等皆吾夫時舊人，奈何一旦遽忘吾夫之恩，與小兒子輩忿爭乎。」 因自作歌，桓赧、散達怒乃解。 其後桓赧兄弟起兵來攻，當是時，肅宗先已再失利矣，世祖已退烏春兵，與桓赧戰於北隘甸。 部人失束寬逃歸，袒甲而至，告曰：「軍敗矣。」 后方憂懣，會康宗來報捷，后乃喜。 既而桓赧、散達皆降。
When the consort visited Yitun village, Shizu and Suzong accompanied her. Huan'an and Sanda arrived together; old grievances still rankled, and once drunk their words turned insulting until neither could yield, and they drew blades on each other. The consort rose and seized both men's hands. "You were all my husband's old companions," she told Huan'an and Sanda. "How can you forget his kindness overnight and quarrel with these young men?" She then sang a song of her own composition, and Huan'an and Sanda's anger subsided. Later Huan'an's brothers raised troops to attack. By then Suzong had already suffered two defeats, while Shizu had repelled Wuchun's forces and was fighting Huan'an at Beiaidian. A tribesman named Shikuang fled back, his armor stripped to the chest, and cried, "The army is defeated!" The consort was stricken with worry until Kangzong arrived with news of victory, and only then did she rejoice. Soon afterward Huan'an and Sanda both submitted.
21
后不妒忌，闊略女工，能輯睦宗族，當時以為有丈夫之度云。 天會十五年追諡。
She was free of jealousy, cared little for women's needlework, and could unite the clan; people of the day said she had the bearing of a man. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
22
世祖翼簡皇后
Empress Yijian, Consort of Shizu
23
世祖翼簡皇后，拿懶氏。 大安元年癸酉歲卒。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Yijian of Shizu was of the Nalan clan. She died in the guiyou year, the first year of the Da'an era. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
24
肅宗靖宣皇后
Empress Jingxuan, Consort of Suzong
25
肅宗靖宣皇后，蒲察氏。 太祖將舉兵，入告於后。 后曰：「汝邦家之長，見可則行。 吾老矣，無貽我憂，汝亦必不至是。」 太祖奉觴為壽，即奉后出門，驩酒禱天。 后命太祖正坐，號令諸將。 自是太祖每出師還，輒率諸將上謁，獻所俘獲。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Jingxuan of Suzong was of the Pucha clan. When Taizu was about to take the field, he went in to tell the consort. The consort said, "You are head of house and state—when you see your chance, act. I am old; do not burden me with worry—and you surely will not bring me to grief." Taizu raised a cup to wish her long life, then led the consort outside, drank in celebration, and prayed to Heaven. The consort had Taizu take the seat of command and issue orders to the generals. From then on, whenever Taizu returned from campaign he would lead the generals to pay his respects and present the spoils of war. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
26
穆宗貞惠皇后
Empress Zhenhui, Consort of Muzong
27
穆宗貞惠皇后，烏古論氏。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Zhenhui of Muzong was of the Wugulun clan. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
28
康宗敬僖皇后
Empress Jingxi, Consort of Kangzong
29
康宗敬僖皇后，唐括氏。 天會十五年追諡。
Empress Jingxi of Kangzong was of the Tangkuo clan. She received her posthumous title in the fifteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
30
太祖聖穆皇后
Empress Shengmu, Consort of Taizu
31
太祖聖穆皇后，唐括氏。 天會十三年追諡。 仍贈后父留速太尉、榮國公，祖迭胡本司徒、英國公，曾禱劾乃司空、溫國公。
Empress Shengmu of Taizu was of the Tangkuo clan. She received her posthumous title in the thirteenth year of the Tianhui reign. Her father Liusu was also enfeoffed as Grand Marshal and Duke of Rong; her grandfather Diehuben as Minister of Works and Duke of Ying; and her great-grandfather Daojienai as Minister of Works and Duke of Wen.
32
太祖光懿皇后
Empress Guangyi, Consort of Taizu
33
太祖光懿皇后，裴滿氏。 天會十三年追諡。
Empress Guangyi of Taizu was of the Peiman clan. She received her posthumous title in the thirteenth year of the Tianhui reign.
34
太祖欽憲皇后
Empress Qinxian, Consort of Taizu
35
太祖欽憲皇后，紇石烈氏。 天會十三年，尊為太皇太后，宮號慶元。 十四年正月己巳朔，熙宗朝于慶元宮，然後御乾元殿，受群臣賀。 是月丁丑，崩于慶元宮。 二月癸卯，祔葬睿陵。
Empress Qinxian of Taizu was of the Hesheli clan. In the thirteenth year of the Tianhui reign she was honored as Grand Empress Dowager, with the palace name Qingyuan. On jisi, the first day of the first month in the fourteenth year, Emperor Xizong paid his respects at Qingyuan Palace, then took the throne at Qianyuan Hall to receive congratulations from the ministers. That same month, on dingchou day, she died at Qingyuan Palace. In the second month, on guimao day, she was enshrined and buried at Ruiling.
36
太祖宣獻皇后
Empress Xuanxian, Consort of Taizu
37
太祖宣獻皇后，僕散氏，睿宗母也。 天會十三年，追冊曰德妃。 大定元年追諡。
Empress Xuanxian of Taizu, née Pusan, was the mother of Emperor Ruizong. In the thirteenth year of the Tianhui reign she was posthumously enfeoffed as Virtuous Consort. She received her posthumous title in the first year of the Dading reign.
38
太祖崇妃蕭氏
Chongfei Xiaoshi, Consort of Taizu
39
崇妃，蕭氏。 熙宗時封貴妃。 天德二年正月，封元妃。 是月，尊封太妃。 海陵母大氏事蕭氏甚謹。 海陵篡立，尊大氏為皇太后，居永甯宮。 每有宴集，太妃坐上坐，大氏執婦禮。 海陵積不能平，及殺宗義等，誣太妃以隱惡，殺之，並殺所生子任王隈喝。
Chongfei was a woman of the Xiao clan. Under Emperor Xizong she was made Noble Consort. In the first month of the second year of the Tiande reign she was made Primary Consort. That same month she was honored as Grand Consort. Hailing's mother, Lady Da, served Chongfei Xiao with scrupulous deference. After Hailing seized the throne, he honored Lady Da as Empress Dowager and installed her at Yongning Palace. At every banquet the Grand Consort took the seat of honor while Lady Da performed the rites due a daughter-in-law. Hailing's resentment festered until, after killing Zongyi and others, he falsely accused the Grand Consort of concealing wrongdoing, put her to death, and killed her son Prince Ren Wuneihe as well.
40
大定十九年，詔改葬。 大宗正丞宗安監護葬事，遣使致祭。 上欲復太妃舊號，下禮官議。 「前代稱太妃者皆以子貴。 古者入廟稱『后』係夫，在朝稱『太』係子，與今蕭妃事不同，恐不得稱『太』，止當追封妃號。」 詔從之，乃封崇妃云。
In the nineteenth year of the Dading reign an edict ordered her reburial. Director of the Imperial Clan Bureau Zong'an supervised the burial, and envoys were sent to perform the sacrifices. The emperor wished to restore her former title as Grand Consort and referred the matter to the ritual officials. "In former ages the title Grand Consort was conferred only when a son had risen to eminence. In antiquity 'empress' in the ancestral temple referred to the husband, and 'grand' at court referred to the son—Consort Xiao's case differs, and she probably cannot be called 'grand'; she should receive only a posthumous consort title." The edict followed this advice, and she was posthumously enfeoffed as Chongfei.
41
太宗欽仁皇后
Empress Qinren, Consort of Taizong
42
熙宗悼平皇后
Empress Daoping, Consort of Xizong
43
熙宗悼平皇后，裴滿氏。 熙宗即位，封貴妃。 天眷元年，立為皇后。 父忽達拜太尉，贈曾祖斜也司空，祖鶻沙司徒。 皇統元年，熙宗受尊號，冊為慈明恭孝順德皇后。 二年，太子濟安生。 是歲，熙宗年二十四，喜甚，乃肆赦，告天地宗廟。 彌月，冊為皇太子，未一歲薨。
Empress Daoping of Xizong was of the Peiman clan. When Xizong ascended the throne, she was made Noble Consort. In the first year of the Tianjuan reign she was installed as empress. Her father Huda was appointed Grand Marshal; her great-grandfather Xieye was posthumously made Minister of Works; her grandfather Husha was made Minister of Works. In the first year of the Huangtong reign, when Xizong received his honorific title, she was enfeoffed as Empress Ciming Gongxiao Shunde. In the second year Crown Prince Ji'an was born. That year Xizong was twenty-four; overjoyed, he proclaimed a general amnesty and reported the birth to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples. At his first-month ceremony he was installed as crown prince, but died before he was a year old.
44
久之，熙宗積怒，遂殺后，而納胙王常勝妃撒卯入宮繼之。 又殺德妃烏古論氏，妃夾谷氏、張氏、裴滿氏。 明日，熙宗遇弑。 海陵已弑熙宗，欲收人心，以后死無罪，降熙宗為東昏王，追諡后為悼皇后，封后父忽達為王。 大定間，復熙宗帝號，加諡后為悼平皇后，祔葬思陵。
In time Xizong's anger boiled over; he killed the empress and brought Prince Zuo Changsheng's consort Samao into the palace to take her place. He also killed Virtuous Consort Wugulun and consorts of the Jiagu, Zhang, and Peiman clans. The next day Xizong was assassinated. After assassinating Xizong, Hailing sought to win popular favor: declaring the empress guiltless in death, he demoted Xizong to Prince Donghun, gave the empress the posthumous title Empress Dao, and enfeoffed her father Huda as a prince. During the Dading era Xizong's imperial title was restored, the empress was given the fuller posthumous title Empress Daoping, and she was enshrined at Siling.
45
海陵嫡母徒單氏
Hailing's Primary Mother, Lady Tudian
46
海陵嫡母，徒單氏。 宗幹之正室也。 徒單無子，次室李氏生長子鄭王充，次室大氏生三子，長即海陵庶人也。 徒單氏賢，遇下有恩意，大氏事之甚謹，相得歡甚。 徒單雖養充為己子，充與海陵俱為熙宗宰相，充嗜酒，徒單常責怒之，尤愛海陵。 海陵自以其母大氏與徒單嫡妾之分，心常不安。 及弑熙宗，徒單與太祖妃蕭氏聞之，相顧愕然曰：「帝雖失道，人臣豈可至此。」 徒單入宮見海陵，不曾賀，海陵銜之。
Hailing's primary mother was of the Tudian clan. She was the principal wife of Zonggan. Lady Tudian had no sons of her own; the second wife, Lady Li, bore the eldest son Prince Zheng Chong; the second wife, Lady Da, bore three sons, the eldest being Hailing, born of a secondary wife. Lady Tudian was virtuous and gracious to those below her; Lady Da served her with scrupulous deference, and the two lived together in great harmony. Though Lady Tudian had raised Chong as her own son, both Chong and Hailing served as Xizong's chief ministers; Chong was a heavy drinker and she often scolded him, yet she especially favored Hailing. Hailing himself was constantly uneasy, knowing his mother Lady Da was only a secondary wife while Lady Tudian was the principal consort. When Xizong was assassinated, Lady Tudian and Taizu's consort Xiao looked at each other in shock and said, "The emperor may have lost the Way, but how can a subject go this far?" Lady Tudian went into the palace to see Hailing but offered no congratulations, and Hailing bore a grudge.
47
天德二年正月，徒單與大氏俱尊為皇太后。 徒單居東宮，號永壽宮，大氏居西宮，號永甯宮。 天德二年，太后父蒲帶與大氏父俱贈太尉，封王。 徒單太后生日，酒酣，大氏起為壽。 徒單方與坐客語，大氏跽者久之。 海陵怒而出。 明日，召諸公主宗婦與太后語者皆杖之。 大氏以為不可。 海陵曰：「今日之事，豈能尚如前日邪。」 自是嫌隙愈深。
In the first month of the second year of the Tiande reign, both Lady Tudian and Lady Da were honored as Empress Dowager. Lady Tudian lived in the Eastern Palace, known as Yongshou Palace; Lady Da lived in the Western Palace, known as Yongning Palace. In the second year of the Tiande reign, Empress Dowager Tudian's father Pudai and Lady Da's father were both posthumously made Grand Marshal and enfeoffed as princes. On Empress Dowager Tudian's birthday, when the wine had flowed freely, Lady Da rose to offer a toast for long life. Lady Tudian was talking with the seated guests while Lady Da knelt for a long time. Hailing stormed out in anger. The next day he summoned every princess and clan wife who had spoken with the empress dowager and had them beaten. Lady Da protested that this should not be done. Hailing said, "How can affairs today still be as they were in former days?" From then on the rift between them grew ever deeper.
48
天德四年，海陵遷中都，獨留徒單于上京。 徒單常憂懼，每中使至，必易衣以俟命。 大氏在中都常思念徒單太后，謂海陵曰：「永壽宮待吾母子甚厚，慎毋相忘也。」 十二月十四日，徒單氏生日，海陵使秘書監納合椿年往上京為太后上壽。 貞元元年，大氏病篤，恨不得一見。 臨終，謂海陵曰：「汝以我之故，不令永壽宮偕來中都。 我死，必迎致之，事永壽宮當如事我。」
In the fourth year of the Tiande reign Hailing moved the capital to Zhongdu, leaving Lady Tudian alone at Shangjing. Lady Tudian lived in constant fear; whenever an imperial messenger arrived, she would change her clothes to await his command. At Zhongdu Lady Da often missed Empress Dowager Tudian and told Hailing, "Yongshou Palace treated my son and me with great kindness—be sure you do not forget her." On the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, Lady Tudian's birthday, Hailing sent Secretariat Director Nahan Chunnian to Shangjing to offer her birthday congratulations. In the first year of the Zhenyuan reign Lady Da fell gravely ill and longed bitterly for one last meeting. On her deathbed she told Hailing, "Because of me you would not let Yongshou Palace come to Zhongdu with us. When I die, you must bring her here and serve Yongshou Palace as you would serve me."
49
三年，右丞相僕散師恭、大宗正丞胡拔魯往上京奉遷山陵，海陵因命永壽宮太后與俱來。 繼使平章政事蕭玉迎祭祖宗梓宮于廣寧，海陵謂玉曰：「醫巫閭山多佳致。 祭奠禮畢，可奏太后于山水佳處遊覽。」 及至沙流河，海陵迎謁梓宮，遂謁見太后。 海陵命左右約杖二束自隨，跪于太后前，謝罪曰：「亮不孝，久闕溫靖，願太后痛笞之。 不然，且不安。」 太后親扶起之，叱約杖者使去。 太后曰：「今庶民有克家子，立百金之產，尚且愛之不忍笞。 我有子如此，寧忍笞乎。」 十月，太后至中都，海陵帥百官郊迎，入居壽康宮。 是日，海陵及后宮、宰臣以下奉觴上壽，極歡而罷。
In the third year Right Chancellor Pusan Shigong and Director of the Imperial Clan Bureau Hubalu went to Shangjing to relocate the imperial tombs, and Hailing ordered the Yongshou Palace empress dowager to accompany them. He then sent Grand Councilor Xiao Yu to Guangning to receive and sacrifice before the ancestral coffins. Hailing told Yu, "Mount Yiwulü has many fine vistas. When the sacrifices are finished, invite the empress dowager to tour the finest scenic spots." When they reached the Shaliu River, Hailing went out to receive the coffins and then paid his respects to the empress dowager. Hailing ordered his attendants to bring two bundles of rods, knelt before the empress dowager, and said, "Liang has been unfilial and long neglected you—please beat me severely. Otherwise I cannot rest easy." The empress dowager helped him up herself and ordered the attendants with the rods to leave. The empress dowager said, "Even common folk who have a son who can manage the household and build a fortune of a hundred gold still love him too much to beat him. How could I bear to beat a son such as this?" In the tenth month the empress dowager reached Zhongdu; Hailing led the officials to welcome her outside the city, and she took up residence at Shoukang Palace. That day Hailing, the inner palace, and all the ministers raised cups to wish her long life, feasted to their hearts' content, and then dispersed.
50
海陵侍太后于宮中，外極恭順，太后坐起，自扶腋之，常從輿輦徒行，太后所御物或自執之。 見者以為至孝，太后亦以為誠然。 及謀伐宋，太后諫止之，海陵心中益不悅，每謁太后還，必忿怒，人不知其所以。
Hailing attended the empress dowager in the palace with outward show of utmost deference: when she sat or rose he supported her himself, often walked beside her carriage, and sometimes carried her belongings with his own hands. Onlookers took this for perfect filial piety, and the empress dowager believed it sincere as well. When he planned to attack Song, the empress dowager urged him to desist; Hailing grew ever more resentful and, after each visit to her, returned in a fury for reasons no one could fathom.
51
及至汴京，太后居甯德宮。 太后使侍婢高福娘問海陵起居，海陵幸之，因使伺太后動靜。 凡太后動止，事無大小，福娘夫特末哥教福娘增飾其言以告海陵。 及樞密使僕散師恭征契丹撒八，辭謁太后，太后與師恭語久之。 大概言「國家世居上京，既徙中都，又自中都至汴，今又興兵涉江、淮伐宋，疲弊中國，我嘗諫止之，不見聽。 契丹事復如此，奈何」。 福娘以告海陵。 海陵意謂太后以充為子，充四子皆成立，恐師恭將兵在外，太后或有異圖。 乃召點檢大懷忠、翰林待制斡論、尚衣局使虎特末、武庫直長習失使殺太后于甯德宮，命護衛高福、辭勒、浦速斡以兵士四十人從，且戒之曰：「汝等見太后，但言有詔，令太后跪受，即擊殺之，匆令艱苦。 太后同乳妹安特，多口必妄言，當令速死。」 及指名太后左右數人，皆令殺之。 太后方樗浦，大懷忠等至，令太后跪受詔。 太后愕然，方下跪，虎特末從後擊之，僕而復起者再。 高福等縊殺之，年五十三。 並殺安特及郡君白散、阿魯瓦、叉察，乳母南撒，侍女阿斯、斡裏保，甯德宮護衛溫蒂罕查刺，直長王家奴、撒八，小底忽沙等。 海陵命焚太后于宮中，棄其骨于水。 並殺充之子檀奴、阿裏白、元奴，耶補兒邇匿，歸於世宗。 自軍中召師恭還，殺之。 及殺阿斯子孫、撒八二子、忽沙二子。 封高福娘為鄖國夫人，以特末哥為澤州刺史。 海陵許福娘征南回以為妃，賜銀二千兩。 敕戒特末哥：「無酗酒毆福娘，毆福娘必殺汝。」
When they reached Bianjing, the empress dowager took up residence at Ningde Palace. The empress dowager sent her maid Gaofuniang to inquire after Hailing's health; he took her to his bed and used her to spy on the empress dowager's every move. Whatever the empress dowager did, great or small, Gaofuniang's husband Temuge taught her to embellish her reports to Hailing. When Privy Councilor Pusan Shigong set out against the Khitan rebel Saba, he took leave of the empress dowager, and she spoke with him at length. In substance she said, "Our house has dwelt at Shangjing for generations; we moved to Zhongdu, then from Zhongdu to Bian; now we raise troops to cross the Yangtze and Huai to attack Song and exhaust the realm. I urged him to stop, but he would not listen. Now the Khitan affair is the same again—what can be done?" Gaofuniang reported this to Hailing. Hailing suspected that because the empress dowager regarded Chong as her son and Chong's four sons were all grown, she might plot something while Shigong commanded troops abroad. He summoned Inspector-General Dahuaizhong, Hanlin Attendant-Compiler Wolun, Director of the Wardrobe Bureau Hutemu, and Armory Duty Officer Xishi to kill the empress dowager at Ningde Palace, with guards Gaofu, Cile, and Pusuwo and forty soldiers. He warned them, "When you see the empress dowager, say only that there is an edict; have her kneel to receive it, then strike her dead at once—do not let her suffer. Her milk-sister Ante is talkative and will surely speak out of turn—she must die quickly as well." He also named several of the empress dowager's attendants and ordered them killed. The empress dowager was playing pitch-pot when Dahuaizhong and the others arrived and ordered her to kneel and receive the edict. The empress dowager was startled and had just knelt when Hutemu struck her from behind; she fell and rose twice more before they finished her. Gaofu and the others strangled her. She was fifty-three. They also killed Ante, Ladies Baisan, Aluwa, and Chacha, wet-nurse Nansa, maids Asi and Wolibao, Ningde Palace guard Wendihan Zhaci, duty officers Wangjianu and Saba, and attendants Husha, among others. Hailing ordered her body burned in the palace and her bones thrown into the water. He also killed Chong's sons Tannu, Alibai, and Yuannu; Yebbu'er'erni was hidden away and later came under Emperor Shizong's protection. He recalled Shigong from the field and executed him. He also killed Asi's descendants, Saba's two sons, and Husha's two sons. He enfeoffed Gaofuniang as Lady of Yun and appointed Temuge prefect of Ze. Hailing promised that when she returned from the southern campaign he would make Gaofuniang a consort and gave her two thousand taels of silver. He issued an admonition to Temuge: "Stop drinking to excess and striking Gaofuniang—if you strike her again, I will have you killed."
52
大定間，諡徒單氏曰哀皇后，自澤州械特末哥、福娘至中都誅之。 其後貶海陵為庶人。 宗斡去帝號，復封遼王，徒單氏降封遼王妃云。
During the Dading reign Lady Tudian was posthumously named Empress Ai; Temuge and Gaofuniang were shackled in Ze Prefecture, brought to Zhongdu, and put to death. Afterward Hailing was stripped of his imperial rank and reduced to a commoner. Zonggan gave up the imperial title and was reinstated as Prince of Liao, while Lady Tudian was demoted to Princess of Liao.
53
海陵母大氏
Lady Da, Hailing's Mother
54
海陵母，大氏。 天德二年正月，與徒單氏俱尊為皇太后。 大氏居永甯宮。 曾祖堅嗣贈司空，祖臣寶贈司徒，父昊天贈太尉、國公，兄興國奴贈開府儀同三司、衛國公。 十一月，昊天進封為王。
Hailing's mother was Lady Da. In the first month of the second year of Tiande she and Lady Tudian were both raised to empress dowager. Lady Da lived in Yongning Palace. Her forebears were posthumously ennobled in succession: great-grandfather Jiansi as Grand Minister of Works, grandfather Chenbao as Grand Minister of Education, father Haotian as Grand Minister of War and state duke, and elder brother Xingguonu as Grand Palace Officer of the first rank and Duke of Wei. That November Haotian was promoted to princely rank.
55
三年正月十六日，海陵生日，宴宗室百官于武德殿。 大氏歡甚，飲盡醉。 明日，海陵使中使奏曰：「太后春秋高，常日飲酒不過數杯，昨見飲酒沉醉。 兒為天子，固可樂，若聖體不和，則子心不安，其樂安在。 至樂在心，不在酒也。」 及遷中都，永壽宮獨留上京，大氏常以為言。
On the sixteenth day of the first month of the third year, Hailing's birthday, he held a banquet for the imperial clan and officials in Wude Hall. Lady Da was in high spirits and drank herself into a stupor. The next day Hailing sent a palace messenger to report: "The empress dowager is advanced in years and usually drinks only a few cups, yet yesterday I saw her completely drunk. As Son of Heaven I have reason to rejoice, but if Your Majesty's health suffers, how can I be at ease—what joy is there in that? True joy comes from the heart, not from the cup." After the capital moved to Zhongdu, Yongshou Palace was left behind at Shangjing alone, and Lady Da brought it up again and again.
56
貞元元年四月，大氏有疾，詔以錢十萬貫求方藥。 及病篤，遺言海陵，當善事永壽宮。 戊寅，崩。 詔尚書省：「應隨朝官至五月一日方治事。 中都自四月十九日為始，禁樂一月。 外路自詔書到日後，官司三日不治事，禁樂一月，聲鐘七晝夜。」
In the fourth month of the first year of Zhenyuan Lady Da fell ill, and the court offered one hundred thousand strings of cash for remedies. As her illness worsened she left Hailing a dying charge: he must treat Yongshou Palace with kindness. On the wuyin day she died. An edict went to the Department of State Affairs: "Officials who attend court are not to resume business until the first day of the fifth month. In Zhongdu music was banned for one month starting on the nineteenth day of the fourth month. In the provinces, from the day after the edict arrived, offices would suspend business for three days, music would be banned for a month, and bells would toll day and night for seven days."
57
貞元三年，大祥，海陵率後宮奠哭于菆宮。 海陵將遷山陵於大房山，故大氏猶在菆宮也。 九月，太祖、太宗、德宗梓宮至中都。 尊諡曰慈憲皇后。 海陵親行冊禮，與德宗合葬於大房山，升祔太廟。 大定七年，降封海陵太妃，削去皇后諡號。 及宗幹降帝號，封遼王，詔徒童單氏為妃，而大氏與順妃李氏、甯妃蕭氏、文妃徒單氏並追降為遼王夫人。
In the third year of Zhenyuan, at the second-anniversary mourning rites, Hailing led the inner palace to offer libations and weep at the temporary tomb. Hailing was preparing to move the imperial tombs to Mount Dafang, so Lady Da's remains still lay in the temporary tomb. In the ninth month the coffins of Taizu, Taizong, and Dezong reached Zhongdu. She was posthumously titled Empress Cixian, "Kind and Discerning." Hailing himself performed the enshrinement rite; she was buried with Dezong on Mount Dafang and given a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. In the seventh year of Dading she was demoted to Grand Consort of Hailing and stripped of her empress posthumous title. When Zonggan gave up the imperial title and was made Prince of Liao, an edict named Lady Tudian his consort; Lady Da, along with Consorts Shun (Li), Ning (Xiao), and Wen (Tudian), were all retroactively demoted to ladies of the Prince of Liao.
58
海陵后徒單氏
Lady Tudian, Empress of Hailing
59
廢帝海陵后，徒單氏。 太師斜也之女。 初為岐國妃，天德二年封為惠妃，九月，立為皇后。 三年十一月二十一日，后生日，百僚稱賀于武德殿。 久之，海陵后宮浸多，后寵頗衰，希得進見。 沈璋妻張氏嘗為光英保母，耶律徹在北京與海陵遊從，海陵使璋妻及徹妻侯氏入宮侍后。 徹本名神涅，負官錢二千六百餘萬，海陵皆免之。 正隆六年，海陵幸南京。 六月癸亥，左丞相張浩率百官迎謁。 海陵備法駕，乘玉輅，與后及太子光英共載而入。 海陵伐宋，后與光英居守。 海陵遇害，陀滿訛裏也殺光英於汴。 后至中都，居於海陵母大氏故宮。 頃之，世宗憐其無依，詔歸父母家于上京，歲賜錢二千貫，奴婢皆給官廩。 大定十年卒。
Lady Tudian, empress of the deposed emperor Hailing. She was the daughter of Grand Preceptor Xieye. She had first been Consort of Qi; in the second year of Tiande she was made Lady of Grace, and in the ninth month she was installed as empress. On the twenty-first day of the eleventh month of the third year, the empress's birthday, officials gathered at Wude Hall to offer congratulations. In time Hailing's harem grew ever larger; the empress lost much of his favor and seldom saw him. Shen Zhang's wife Lady Zhang had once nursed Guangying; Yelü Che had kept company with Hailing in Beijing, and Hailing sent Zhang's wife and Che's wife Lady Hou into the palace to attend the empress. Che's original name was Shennie; he owed more than twenty-six million in official debts, and Hailing forgave them all. In the sixth year of Zhenglong Hailing traveled to Nanjing. On guihai day in the sixth month Left Chancellor Zhang Hao led the officials out to welcome him. Hailing came in full imperial regalia aboard the jade carriage, sharing it with the empress and Crown Prince Guangying as they entered the city. When Hailing marched against Song, the empress and Guangying stayed behind to hold the capital. After Hailing was assassinated, Tuoman Elie killed Guangying at Bian. The empress returned to Zhongdu and took up residence in the former palace of Hailing's mother, Lady Da. Soon Shizong, pitying her isolation, ordered her home to her parents in Shangjing, granting her two thousand strings of cash each year and provisioning her servants from the state granaries. She died in the tenth year of Dading.
60
海陵諸嬖附
Appendix: Hailing's Favored Consorts
61
海陵為人善飾詐，初為宰相，妾媵不過三數人。 及踐大位，逞欲無厭，后宮諸妃十二位，又有昭儀至充媛九位，婕妤美人才人三位，殿直最下，其他不可舉數。 初即位，封岐國妃徒單氏為惠妃，後為皇后。 第二娘子大氏封貴妃，第三娘子蕭氏封昭容，耶律氏封修容。 其後貴妃大氏進封惠妃，貞元元年，進封姝妃，正隆二年，進封元妃。 昭容蕭氏，天德二年，特封淑妃，貞元二年，進封宸妃。 修容耶律氏，天德四年，進昭媛，貞元元年，進昭儀，三年，進封麗妃。 即位之初，後宮止此三人，尊卑之敘，等威之辨，若有可觀者。 及其侈心既萌淫肆蠱惑，不可復振矣。
Hailing was a master of dissimulation; as chancellor his household held only two or three concubines. Once on the throne he indulged himself without restraint: twelve principal consorts, nine ranks from Lady of Bright Deportment down to Filled Beauty, three ranks of Jieyu, Beautiful Lady, and Talented Lady, and countless palace attendants below them. When he first took the throne he made Consort of Qi Lady Tudian Lady of Grace, and later empress. His second lady, Lady Da, was made Noble Consort; the third, Lady Xiao, was made Lady of Courtly Demeanor; and Lady Yelü was made Lady of Cultivated Demeanor. Lady Da was later promoted from Noble Consort to Lady of Grace, then in the first year of Zhenyuan to Lady of Graceful Beauty, and in the second year of Zhenglong to Primary Consort. Lady Xiao, Lady of Courtly Demeanor, was made Lady of Gentle Grace in the second year of Tiande and promoted to Lady of the Inner Court in the second year of Zhenyuan. Lady Yelü, Lady of Cultivated Demeanor, rose to Bright Beauty in the fourth year of Tiande, to Lady of Bright Deportment in the first year of Zhenyuan, and to Lady of Loveliness in the third year. At the outset his harem held only these three women, and the hierarchy of rank and precedence still had something respectable about it. But once his appetite for excess took hold, debauchery and enticement ran unchecked, and order could never be restored.
62
昭妃阿裏虎，姓蒲察氏，駙馬都尉沒裏野女。 初嫁宗盤子阿虎迭。 阿虎迭誅，再嫁宗室南家。 南家死，是時南家父突葛速為元帥都監，在南京，海陵亦從梁王宗弼在南京，欲取阿裏虎，突葛速不從，遂止。 及篡位方三日，詔遣阿裏虎歸父母家。 閱兩月，以婚禮納之。 數月，特封賢妃，再封昭妃。 阿裏虎嗜酒，海陵責讓之，不聽，由是寵衰。
Lady Aligu, Lady of Brightness, of the Pucha clan, was the daughter of Commandant of Horse-Guards Moliye. She was first married to Ahudie, son of Zongpan. After Ahudie was executed she remarried Nanjia, a member of the imperial clan. After Nanjia died his father Tugesu was marshal director at Nanjing; Hailing was there with Prince of Liang Zongbi and wanted to take Aligu, but Tugesu refused and the matter was dropped. Only three days after seizing the throne he ordered Aligu sent back to her parents. Two months later he took her into the palace with full wedding rites. Within months she was made Lady of Virtue, then Lady of Brightness. Aligu drank heavily; Hailing rebuked her, but she paid no heed, and his favor waned.
63
昭妃初嫁阿虎迭，生女重節。 海陵與重節亂，阿裏虎怒重節，批其頰，頗有詆訾之言。 海陵聞之，愈不悅。 阿裏虎以衣服遺前夫之子，海陵將殺之，徒單后率諸妃嬪求哀，乃得免。
When Lady Aligu first married Ahudie she bore a daughter named Chongjie. Hailing took Chongjie as his lover; Aligu flew into a rage, struck her daughter's face, and hurled bitter insults. Hailing heard of it and grew even angrier. When Aligu gave clothes to her former husband's son, Hailing nearly had her killed; Empress Tudian led the consorts in pleading for her life, and she was spared.
64
凡諸妃位皆以侍女服男子衣冠，號「假廝兒」。 有勝哥者，阿裏虎與之同臥起，如夫婦。 廚婢三娘以告海陵，海陵不以為過，惟戒阿裏虎勿笞箠三娘。 阿裏虎榜殺之。 海陵聞昭妃閤有死者，意度是三娘，曰：「若果爾，吾必殺阿裏虎。」 問之，果然。 是月，光英生月，海陵私忌，不行戮。 阿裏虎聞海陵將殺之也，即不食，日焚香禱祝，冀脫死。 逾月，阿裏虎已委頓不知所為，海陵使人縊殺之，並殺侍婢擊三娘者。
Every ranked consort dressed her maids in men's robes and caps, calling them "false lads." One maid named Shengge lived with Aligu as husband and wife, sharing bed and board. The kitchen maid Sanniang told Hailing; he saw no crime in it and merely warned Aligu not to beat Sanniang. Aligu had her beaten to death. Hearing that someone had died in Lady Aligu's quarters, Hailing guessed it was Sanniang and said, "If that is so, I will kill Aligu." When he asked, it proved true. That month was Guangying's birth month, and out of personal taboo Hailing withheld the execution. Learning that Hailing meant to kill her, Aligu stopped eating and burned incense daily, praying to be spared. After a month Aligu was wasted and helpless; Hailing had her strangled and also killed the maid who had beaten Sanniang.
65
貴妃定哥，姓唐括氏。 有容色。 崇義節度使烏帶之妻。 海陵舊嘗有私，侍婢貴哥與知之幔烏帶在鎮，每遇元會生辰，使家奴葛魯、葛溫詣闕上壽，定哥亦使貴哥候問海陵及兩宮太后起居。 海陵因貴哥傳語定哥曰：「自古天子亦有兩后者，能殺汝夫以從我乎？」 貴哥歸，具以海陵言告定哥。 定哥曰：「少時醜惡，事已可恥。 今兒女已成立，豈可為此。」 海陵聞之，使謂定哥：「汝不忍殺汝夫，我將族滅汝家。」 定哥大恐，乃以子烏荅補為辭，曰：「彼常侍其父，不得便。」 海陵即召烏荅補為符寶祗候。 定哥曰：「事不可止矣。」 因烏帶醉酒，令葛溫、葛魯縊殺烏帶，天德四年七月也。 海陵聞烏帶死，詐為哀傷。 已葬烏帶，即納定哥宮中為娘子。 貞元元年，封為貴妃，大愛幸，許以為后。 每同輦游瑤池，諸妃步從之。 海陵嬖寵愈多，定哥希得見。 一日獨居樓上，海陵與他妃同輦從樓下過，定哥望見，號呼求去，詛罵海陵，海陵陽為不聞而去。
Noble Consort Dingge, of the Tangguo clan. She was beautiful. She was the wife of Wudai, military commissioner of Chongyi. Hailing and she had once been lovers, and her maid Guige knew it. While Wudai was away at his post, he sent household slaves Gelu and Gewen to court on holidays and birthdays to offer congratulations; Dingge likewise sent Guige to inquire after Hailing and both empress dowagers. Through Guige Hailing sent Dingge a message: "Even emperors of old had two empresses—will you kill your husband and come to me?" Guige returned and told Dingge everything Hailing had said. Dingge replied, "What happened in our youth was shameful enough as it is. My children are grown now—I cannot do such a thing." When Hailing heard this he sent word: "If you will not kill your husband, I will wipe out your whole family." Terrified, Dingge pleaded that her son Wudabu always attended his father and there was no chance." Hailing immediately summoned Wudabu to court as Keeper of the Seal and Regalia. Dingge said, "There is no turning back now." While Wudai was drunk she had Gewen and Gelu strangle him—it was the seventh month of the fourth year of Tiande. When Hailing learned Wudai was dead he pretended to mourn. After Wudai was buried he brought Dingge into the palace as a lady of rank. In the first year of Zhenyuan he made her Noble Consort, favored her deeply, and promised to make her empress. He often took her out in the imperial carriage to tour Jade Pool while the other consorts walked behind. As Hailing's favorites multiplied, Dingge seldom saw him. One day, alone upstairs, she saw Hailing pass below in his carriage with another consort; she cried out to be taken along and cursed him, but Hailing feigned not to hear and drove on.
66
定哥自其夫時，與家奴閻乞兒通，嘗以衣服遺乞兒。 及為貴妃，乞兒以妃家舊人，給事本位。 定哥既怨海陵疏己，欲復與乞兒通。 有比丘尼三人出入宮中，定哥使比丘尼向乞兒索所遺衣服以調之。 乞兒識其意，笑曰：「妃今日富貴忘我耶。」 定哥欲以計納乞兒宮中，恐閽者索之，乃令侍兒以大篋盛褻衣其中，遣人載之入宮。 閽者索之，見篋中皆褻衣，固已悔懼。 定哥使人詰責閽者曰：「我，天子妃。 親體之衣，爾故玩視，何也？ 我且奏之。」 閽者惶恐曰：「死罪。 請後不敢。」 定哥乃使人以篋盛乞兒載入宮中，閽者果不敢復索。 乞兒入宮十餘日，使衣婦人衣，雜諸宮婢，抵暮遣出。 貴哥以告海陵。 定哥縊死，乞兒及比丘尼三人皆伏誅。 封貴哥莘國夫人。
Even while her husband lived Dingge had carried on with the household slave Yan Qier and had given him clothes. After she became Noble Consort, Qier as a former member of her household was assigned to her service. Angry that Hailing had grown distant, Dingge wanted to renew her affair with Qier. Three Buddhist nuns frequented the palace; Dingge sent them to ask Qier for the clothes she had given him, using the request as a flirtation. Qier saw what she meant and laughed: "My lady—now that you are wealthy and exalted, have you forgotten me? Planning to smuggle Qier into the palace, Dingge feared a search at the gate; she had a maid pack a large chest with underwear and sent it in. When the gatekeepers inspected the chest and found only underwear inside, regret and alarm already seized them. Dingge sent men to upbraid the gatekeepers: "I am the emperor's consort. These are garments that touch my skin—why do you stare at them so brazenly? I will report you for this." The gatekeepers cried in terror, "It is a capital crime. We beg forgiveness and will never dare again." Dingge then had Qier loaded into the chest and brought inside; as expected, the gatekeepers no longer dared to search. For more than ten days Qier remained in the palace dressed as a woman among the maidservants, sent out each evening at dusk. Guige told Hailing what had happened. Dingge hanged herself; Qier and the three nuns were all put to death. Guige was granted the title Lady of Xin State.
67
初，海陵既使定哥殺其夫烏帶，使小底藥師奴傳旨定哥，告以納之之意。 藥師奴知定哥與閻乞兒有奸，定哥以奴婢十八口賂藥師奴使無言與乞兒私事。 定哥敗，杖藥師奴百五十。 先是，藥師奴嘗盜玉帶當死，海陵釋其罪，逐去。 及遷中都，復召為小底。 及藥師奴既以匿定哥奸事被杖，後與秘書監文俱與靈壽縣主有奸，文杖二百除名，藥師奴當斬。 海陵欲杖之，謂近臣曰：「藥師奴于朕有功，再杖之即死矣。」 丞相李睹等執奏藥師奴於法不可恕，遂伏誅。 海陵以葛溫、葛魯為護衛，葛溫累官常安縣令，葛魯累官襄城縣令，大定初，皆除名。
Earlier, after Hailing had compelled Dingge to murder her husband Wudai, he sent the page Yaoshinu to deliver his command and tell her he meant to bring her into the palace. Yaoshinu knew of Dingge's affair with Yan Qier; she paid him off with eighteen household servants to keep quiet about it. When Dingge's scheme collapsed, Yaoshinu received a hundred and fifty strokes of the rod. Yaoshinu had once stolen a jade belt—a capital offense—but Hailing pardoned him and banished him instead. After the court moved to Zhongdu, Hailing recalled him as a page once more. After his beating for covering up Dingge's adultery, Yaoshinu was later caught in an affair with the Princess of Lingshou County, along with Secretary Director Wen; Wen received two hundred strokes and was stripped of rank, while Yaoshinu faced execution. Hailing wanted to beat him instead and told his close advisers, "Yaoshinu has served me well—another beating would kill him." Chancellor Li Du and others pressed their memorial: Yaoshinu was beyond mercy under the law, and he was put to death. Hailing employed Gewen and Gelu as bodyguards; Gewen eventually became magistrate of Chang'an County and Gelu of Xiangcheng County, but in the early Dading era both were struck from the rolls.
68
麗妃石哥者，定哥之妹，秘書監文之妻也。 海陵私之，欲納宮中。 乃使文庶母按都瓜主文家。 海陵謂按都瓜曰：「必出而婦，不然我將別有所行。」 按都瓜以語文，文難之。 按都瓜曰：「上謂別有所行，是欲殺汝也。 豈以一妻殺其身乎。」 文不得已，與石哥相持慟哭而訣。 是時，海陵遷都至中京，遣石哥至中都，俱納之。 海陵召文至便殿，使石哥穢談戲文以為笑。 定哥死，遣石哥出宮。 不數日復召入，封為修容。 貞元三年，進昭儀。 正隆元年，進封柔妃。 二年，進麗妃。
Lovely Consort Shige was Dingge's sister and the wife of Secretary Director Wen. Hailing had an affair with her and wanted her in the palace. He sent Wen's stepmother Andugua to take charge of the Wen household. Hailing told Andugua, "You must turn your daughter-in-law over to me, or I will take other measures." Andugua relayed this to Wen, who resisted. Andugua said, "When the emperor threatens other measures, he means to kill you. Is one wife worth your life?" Left with no choice, Wen and Shige embraced and wept their farewell. By then Hailing had moved the court to Central Capital; he sent Shige to Zhongdu and took her into the palace. Hailing summoned Wen to the side hall and made Shige taunt him with obscene talk for sport. After Dingge's death, he sent Shige out of the palace. Within days he recalled her and granted her the rank of Gentle Lady. In the third year of Zhenyuan she was promoted to Bright Consort. In the first year of Zhenglong she was raised to Gentle Consort. The next year she was promoted to Lovely Consort.
69
柔妃彌勒，姓耶律氏。 天德二年，使禮部侍郎蕭拱取之於汴。 過燕京，拱父仲恭為燕京留守，見彌勒身形非若處女者，歎曰：「上必以疑殺拱矣。」 及入宮，果非處女，明日遣出宮。 海陵心疑蕭拱，竟致之死。 彌勒出宮數月，復召入，封為充媛，封其母張氏莘國夫人，伯母蘭陵郡君蕭氏為鞏國夫人。 蕭拱妻擇特懶，彌勒女兄也。 海陵既奪文妻石哥，卻以擇特懶妻文。 既而詭以彌勒之召，召擇特懶入宮，亂之。 其後，彌勒進封柔妃云。
Gentle Consort Mile was of the Yelü clan. In the second year of Tiande he sent Vice Minister of Rites Xiao Gong to bring her from Bian. In Yanjing, where Gong's father Zhonggong served as regent, he saw that Mile's figure was not that of a virgin and sighed, "The emperor will kill Gong on suspicion." Once she entered the palace it proved she was no virgin; the next day she was expelled. Hailing's suspicion of Xiao Gong ultimately cost him his life. After months outside the palace Mile was recalled and made Lady of Full Grace; her mother Lady Zhang became Lady of Xin State, and her aunt, Lady Xiao of Lanling Commandery, Lady of Gong State. Xiao Gong's wife Zetelán was Mile's elder half-sister. Having taken Wen's wife Shige, Hailing gave him Zetelán in marriage instead. Later, using Mile's name as a pretext, he summoned Zetelán to the palace and raped her. Mile was later raised to Gentle Consort.
70
修儀高氏，秉德弟糺裏妻也。 海陵殺諸宗室，釋其婦女。 宗本子莎魯刺妻、宗固子胡裏刺妻、胡失來妻及糺裏妻，皆欲納之宮中，諷宰相奏請行之。 使徒單貞諷蕭裕曰：「朕嗣續未廣，此党人婦女有朕中外親，納之宮中何如？」 裕曰：「近殺宗室，中外異議紛紜，奈何復為此邪。」 海陵曰：「吾固知裕不肯從。」 乃使貞自以己意諷裕，必欲裕等請其事。 貞謂裕曰：「上意已有所屬，公固止之，將成疾矣。」 裕曰：「必不肯已，唯上擇焉。」 貞曰：「必欲公等白之。」 裕不得已，乃其奏，遂納之。 未幾，封高氏為修儀，加其父高耶魯瓦輔國上將軍，母完顏氏封密國夫人。 高氏以家事訴於海陵。 海陵自熙宗時悻見悼后幹政，心惡之，故自即位，不使母、后得預政事。 於是，遣高氏還父母家。 詔尚書省，凡后妃有請于宰相者，收其使以聞。
Worthy Lady Gao was the wife of Jiuli, younger brother of Bingde. When Hailing executed members of the imperial clan, he spared their women. He wanted Zongben's daughter-in-law Shaluchi, Zonggu's daughter-in-law Hulici, Husilai's wife, and Jiuli's wife in the palace, and hinted that his chancellors should petition for it. He sent Tudan Zhen to sound out Xiao Yu: "My heirs are still few; some of these women's kin are my relatives—what if I brought them into the palace?" Yu replied, "We have just slaughtered the clan—court and country are in uproar. How can we do this again?" Hailing said, "I knew Yu would refuse." He then had Zhen press Yu in his own words, determined that Yu and the others would petition for it themselves. Zhen told Yu, "The emperor's mind is set; if you keep blocking him, you'll make yourself sick." Yu said, "I won't give in; let the emperor decide as he wills." Zhen said, "You must put it in writing yourselves." At last Yu yielded, they submitted the memorial, and the women were brought into the palace. Soon Lady Gao became Worthy Lady of Cultivation; her father Gao Yelüwa was made Supporter-of-the-State General-in-Chief, and her Wanyan mother Lady of Mi State. Lady Gao appealed to Hailing over a family grievance. Ever since Xizong's reign Hailing had resented Empress Dao's meddling in government; from his own accession he barred mothers and empresses from politics. He sent Lady Gao back to her parents' house. He ordered the Secretariat to intercept and report any messenger sent by a consort to a chancellor.
71
昭媛察八，姓耶律氏。 嘗許嫁奚人蕭堂古帶。 海陵納之，封為昭媛。 堂古帶為護衛，察人使侍女習撚以軟金鵪鶉袋數枚遺之。 事覺。 是時，堂古帶謁告在河間驛，召問之。 堂古帶以實對，海陵釋其罪。 海陵登寶昌門樓，以察八徇諸后妃，手刃擊之，墮門下死，並誅侍女習撚。
Bright Lady Chaba was of the Yelü clan. She had once been promised to the Xiren Xiao Tangguidai. Hailing took her into the palace and made her Bright Lady of Grace. Tangguidai served as a guard; Chaba sent her maid Xinian to give him several pouches of soft gold shaped like quails. The affair came to light. Tangguidai was then on leave at Hejian post station and was summoned for questioning. Tangguidai told the truth, and Hailing pardoned him. Hailing mounted Baochang Gate tower, displayed Chaba before the consorts, cut her down with his own hand, and she fell dead below; maid Xinian was executed too.
72
壽甯縣主什古，宋王宗望女也。 靜樂縣主蒲刺及習撚，梁王宗弼女也。 師姑兒，宗雋女也。 皆從姊妹。 混同郡君莎裏古真及其妹余都，太傅宗本女也，再從姊妹。 郕國夫人重節，宗磐女孫，再從兄之女。 及母大氏表兄張定安妻奈刺忽、麗妃妹蒲魯胡只，皆有夫，唯什古喪夫。 海陵無所忌恥，使高師姑、內哥、阿古等傳達言語，皆與之私。 凡妃主宗婦嘗私之者，皆分屬諸妃，出入位下。 奈刺忽出入元妃位，蒲魯胡只出入麗妃位，莎裏古填、余都出入貴妃位，什古、重節出入昭妃位，蒲刺、師姑兒出入淑妃位。 海陵使內哥召什古。 先於暖位小殿置琴阮其中，然後召之。 什古已色衰，常譏其衰老以為笑。 唯習撚、莎裏古真最寵，恃勢笞決其夫。 海陵使習撚夫稍喝押護衛直宿，莎裏古真夫撒速近侍局直宿。 謂撒速曰：「爾妻年少，遇爾直宿，不可令宿于家，常令宿於妃位。」 每召入，必親伺候廊下，立久，則坐于高師姑膝上。 高師姑曰：「天子何勞苦如此。」 海陵曰：「我固以天子為易得耳。 此等期會難得，乃可貴也。」 每於臥內遍設地衣，倮逐以為戲。 莎裏古真在外為淫泆。 海陵聞之大怒，謂莎裏古真曰：「爾愛貴官，有貴如天子者乎。 爾愛人才，有才兼文武似我者乎。 爾愛娛樂，有豐富偉岸過於我者乎。」 怒甚，氣咽不能言。 少頃，乃撫慰之曰：「無謂我聞知，便爾慚恧。 遇燕會，當行立自如，無為眾所測度也，恐致非笑。」 後亦屢召入焉。 余都，牌印松古刺妻也。 海陵嘗曰：「餘都貌雖不揚，而肌膚潔白可愛。」 蒲刺進封壽康公主，什古進封昭甯公主，莎裏古真進封壽陽縣主，重節進封蓬萊縣主。 重節即昭妃蒲察氏所生，蒲察怒重節與海陵淫，批其頰，海陵怒蒲察氏，終殺之者也。
Princess Shigu of Shouning was daughter of Prince Song Zongwang. Princess Puci of Jingle and Xinian were daughters of Prince Liang Zongbi. Shigu'er was Zongjun's daughter. All were female cousins. Lady Shaliguzhen of Huntong and her sister Yudu, daughters of Grand Tutor Zongben, were second cousins. Lady Chongjie of Cheng State was Zongpan's granddaughter, a daughter of his second cousin. Naicihu, wife of Zhang Ding'an (cousin to Lady Da), and Lovely Consort's sister Puluhuzhi all had husbands; only Shigu was a widow. Hailing was utterly shameless, using Gao Shigu, Neige, Agu, and others as go-betweens; he slept with them all. Every princess and clan wife he had taken was assigned to a consort's household, passing in and out of her quarters. Naicihu attended Primary Consort's quarters; Puluhuzhi, Lovely Consort's; Shaliguzhen and Yudu, Noble Consort's; Shigu and Chongjie, Bright Consort's; Puci and Shigu'er, Pure Consort's. Hailing sent Neige to summon Shigu. He first laid out zithers and ruan in a small warm chamber, then sent for her. Shigu's looks had faded; he often mocked her age for laughs. Only Xinian and Shaliguzhen enjoyed the greatest favor and used their power to beat their husbands. Hailing assigned Xinian's husband Shaoha to night duty in the guard corps and Shaliguzhen's husband Sasu to duty in the close-attendance bureau. He told Sasu, "Your wife is young; when you're on night duty she mustn't sleep at home—keep her at the consort's quarters." Each time he sent for her he waited personally in the corridor; if kept standing long, he would sit on Gao Shigu's lap. Gao Shigu said, "Your Majesty, why exhaust yourself like this?" Hailing said, "Being emperor comes easily to me. These stolen meetings are rare—that is what makes them precious." In the bedchamber he carpeted the floor and played chase games in the nude. Shaliguzhen was conducting affairs outside the palace. Hailing flew into a rage and demanded of Shaliguzhen, "You fancy high officials—is anyone nobler than the emperor? You prize talent—is there anyone with my combined civil and military gifts? You chase pleasure—is anyone richer, grander, or more imposing than I?" His fury choked him speechless. After a moment he soothed her: "Don't be ashamed just because I found out. At feasts act naturally—don't let others read you and invite mockery." He continued to summon her often afterward. Yudu was married to Paiyin Songguci. Hailing once remarked, "Yudu's face is plain, but her skin is fair and lovely." Puci was made Princess Shoukang, Shigu Princess Zhaoning, Shaliguzhen Princess of Shouyang, and Chongjie Princess of Penglai. Chongjie was the daughter of Bright Consort Pucha; when Pucha struck Chongjie on the cheek for her affair with Hailing, Hailing's anger at Pucha ended in her execution.
73
凡宮人在外有夫者，皆分番出入。 海陵欲率意幸之，盡遣其夫往上京，婦人皆不聽出外。 常令教坊番直禁中，每幸婦人，必使奏樂，撤其幃帳，或使人說淫穢語於其前。 嘗幸室女不得遂，使元妃以手左右之。 或妃嬪列坐，輒率意淫亂，使共觀。 或令人效其形狀以為笑。 凡坐中有嬪御，海陵必自擲一物於地，使近侍環視之，他視者殺。 誡宮中給使男子，於妃嬪位舉首者刓其目。 出入不得獨行，便旋，須四人偕往，所司執刀監護，不由路者斬之。 日入後，下階砌行者死，告者賞錢二百萬。 男女倉猝誤相觸，先聲言者賞三品官，後言者死，齊言者皆釋之。
Palace women with husbands outside the palace were allowed in and out only in rotating shifts. Wishing to take them at will, Hailing sent all their husbands to Shangjing and forbade the women to leave the palace. He kept musicians from the Music Bureau on rotating duty inside the palace; whenever he took a woman he ordered music, had her curtains removed, or had attendants speak obscenities in her presence. Once, unable to succeed with a maiden, he had the Primary Consort assist him with her own hands. Sometimes with consorts seated in a row he would indulge in open debauchery and force them all to watch. Sometimes he had attendants mimic their postures for amusement. Whenever consorts were present at a gathering, Hailing would throw something to the floor and order attendants to surround it; anyone who looked away was executed. He decreed that any male servant who raised his eyes toward a consort's seat would have his eyes put out. Women could not go about alone; even to relieve themselves four had to go together under armed guard, and anyone who left the prescribed route was beheaded. After sunset anyone who stepped down the stairs was put to death, and informers were rewarded two million cash. If a man and woman accidentally touched, whoever cried out first was rewarded with a third-rank post, whoever cried out second was killed, and if both cried out together both were spared.
74
女使辟懶有夫在外，海陵封以縣君，欲幸之，惡其有娠，飲以麝香水，躬自揉拉其腹，欲墮其胎。 辟懶乞哀，欲全性命，苟得乳免，當不舉。 海陵不顧，竟墮其胎。
The palace woman Pilan had a husband outside; Hailing made her a commandery lady and wished to take her, but fearing her pregnancy he gave her musk-scented water and personally kneaded her belly to force a miscarriage. Pilan begged for her life, promising that if spared she would nurse but bear no more children. Hailing ignored her pleas and forced the miscarriage.
75
蒲察阿虎迭女叉察，海陵姊慶宜公主所生，嫁秉德之弟特裏。 秉德誅，當連坐，太后使梧桐請於海陵，由是得免。 海陵白太后欲納叉察。 太后曰：「是兒始生，先帝親抱至吾家養之，至於成人。 帝雖舅，猶父也，不可。」 其後，嫁宗至安達海之子乙刺補。 海陵數使人諷乙刺補出之，因而納之。 叉察與完顏守誠有奸，守誠本名遏裏來，事覺，海陵殺守誠，太后為叉察求哀，乃釋之。 叉察家奴告叉察語涉不道，海陵自臨問，責叉察曰：「汝以守誠死詈我邪？」 遂殺之。
Chacha, daughter of Pucha Aohudie and Hailing's elder sister Princess Qingyi, was married to Bingde's younger brother Teli. When Bingde was executed she should have been punished as kin; the empress dowager had Wutong plead with Hailing, and she was spared. Hailing told the empress dowager he wished to take Chacha into the palace. The empress dowager said, "When this child was born, the late emperor himself brought her to my house and raised her to adulthood. Though you are her uncle by marriage, you are still like a father to her—it cannot be done." She was later married to Yicibu, son of Zongzhi Andahai. Hailing repeatedly pressured Yicibu to divorce her, then took her for himself. Chacha had an affair with Wanyan Shoucheng, originally named Elilai; when it was discovered Hailing executed Shoucheng, but the empress dowager pleaded for Chacha and she was spared. A household slave reported that Chacha had spoken treasonously; Hailing interrogated her himself and demanded, "Are you cursing me because Shoucheng is dead?" He then had her killed.
76
同判大宗正阿虎里妻浦速碗，元妃之妹，因入見元妃，海陵逼淫之。 浦速碗自是不復入宮。
Pusuguan, wife of Associate Director of the Imperial Clan Bureau Aohuli and younger sister of the Primary Consort, was raped by Hailing when she came to visit her sister. Pusuguan never entered the palace again.
77
世宗為濟南尹，海陵召夫人烏林荅氏。 夫人謂世宗曰：「我不行，上必殺王。 我當自勉，不以相累也。」 夫人行至良鄉自殺，是以世宗在位二十九年，不復立后焉。
While Shizong was Military Governor of Jinan, Hailing summoned his wife Lady Ulindah to the palace. Lady Ulindah told Shizong, "If I refuse to go, the emperor will surely kill you. I will do my utmost and not let you suffer for it." She killed herself at Liangxiang on the way—which is why, throughout Shizong's twenty-nine-year reign, he never took another empress.