Overview
Empress Dowager Xiansheng was a consort and Royal Family Member.
IdentityHistorical · Female
Life and dates
Attested activity
Career and standing
sage / Your Majesty 聖人
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- Polity Song 宋 · Relation Affiliated with
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History of Song, Chapter 392Volume 392 Biographies 151: Zhao Ruyu and Son: Chongxian · 18 passages
自吳琚之議不諧，汝愚與徐誼、葉適謀可以白意于慈福宮者，乃遣韓侂胄以內禪之意請於憲聖。
When Wu Ju's plan failed, Ruyu, Xu Yi, and Ye Shi looked for someone who could present their case at Cifu Palace and sent Han Tuozhou to ask Empress Dowager Xiansheng for an inner abdication.
禮令少俟，入見憲聖而泣。
Li told him to wait, went in to see Xiansheng, and wept.
憲聖問故，禮曰：「聖人讀書萬卷，亦嘗見有如此時而保無亂者乎？」
When she asked why, Li said, "Your Majesty has read ten thousand books—has any age like this ever stayed free of chaos?"
憲聖曰：「此非汝所知。」
She said, "That is not your affair to judge."
憲聖驚曰：「知院同姓，事體與他人異，乃亦去乎？」
Alarmed, she said, "The controller is of our own clan—his case is not like others'. He is leaving too?"
禮曰：「知院未去，非但以同姓故，以太皇太后爲可恃耳。
Li said, "He has not left yet only because he still trusts the Grand Empress Dowager—not merely because he shares your surname.
願聖人三思。」
I beg Your Majesty to think again."
憲聖問侂胄安在，禮曰：「臣已留其俟命。」
She asked where Tuozhou was. Li said, "I have kept him waiting outside for your word."
憲聖曰：「事順則可，令諭好爲之。」
She said, "If the matter is proper, let it proceed. Tell him to see it done well."
禮報侂胄，且云：「來早太皇太后于壽皇梓宮前垂簾引執政。」
Li reported to Tuozhou and added, "Tomorrow morning the Grand Empress Dowager will draw the curtain before Xiaozong's coffin and receive the chief ministers."
汝愚率百官詣大行前，憲聖垂簾，汝愚率同列再拜，奏：「皇帝疾，未能執喪，臣等乞立皇子嘉王爲太子，以繫人心。
Ruyu led the officials before the late emperor's bier while Xiansheng drew the curtain. He and his colleagues bowed twice and said, "The emperor is ill and cannot mourn. We beg that Prince Jia be made heir apparent to steady the people's hearts.
皇帝批出有『甚好』二字，繼有『念欲退閑』之語，取太皇太后處分。」
The emperor's rescript said 'very good,' then spoke of wishing to retire. We ask the Grand Empress Dowager to decide."
憲聖曰：「既有御筆，相公當奉行。」
She said, "Since there is an imperial note, the chief minister should obey it."
憲聖允諾。
She agreed.
汝愚袖出所擬太皇太后指揮以進，云：「皇帝以疾至今未能執喪，曾有御筆，欲自退閑。
Ruyu produced from his sleeve the draft order he had prepared: "Because of illness the emperor has been unable to mourn. He once wrote that he wished to retire.
憲聖覽畢曰：「甚善。」
After reading it she said, "Excellent."
然恐兩宮父子間有難處者，須煩太皇太后主張。」
But we fear difficulties between father and son at the two palaces and ask the Grand Empress Dowager to preside."
憲聖乃命皇子即位，皇子固辭曰：「恐負不孝名。」
Xiansheng then ordered the prince to ascend. He firmly refused: "I fear the charge of unfiliality."