Empress Zhenshun

However, this drew petitions of protest from his officials, the most famous of which stated, in fairly blunt language: The Wus have an unbreakable enmity with the imperial clan.

She had one more son, Li Qi (李琦) the Prince of Sheng, and two daughters, the Princesses Xianyi and Taihua.

Meanwhile, Consort Wu had designs to have her oldest son Li Qing, whose name was by then changed to Li Mao (李瑁) and who had been created the Prince of Shou, named crown prince.

Princess Xianyi's husband Yang Hui (楊洄) reported this to Consort Wu, and she tearfully accused Li Ying of defaming her and Emperor Xuanzong.

Emperor Xuanzong, in anger, discussed the possibility of deposing Li Ying with the chancellors.

The senior chancellor Zhang Jiuling firmly opposed this, and when Consort Wu sent her servant Niu Gui'er (牛貴兒) to try to lobby him, he refused and reported this to Emperor Xuanzong.

Emperor Xuanzong had his eunuchs check out the situation, and the three princes were seen in full armour.

When Emperor Xuanzong discussed this with the chancellors, Li Linfu, by now the most powerful official at court, stated that, "This is Your Imperial Majesty's family matter.

However, due to her significant and widely known offence on three princes, her son did not succeed "crown-prince" title, and her "empress" title and all other honours was divested by the succeeding emperor, Suzong, who was also the foster son of Empress Wang.