Lady Liu (劉夫人) was a Chinese noblewoman who lived during the Han dynasty.
In early 199, Yuan Shao had decisively defeated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Yijing and held absolute power over the four provinces north of the Yellow River.
It was during this internal crisis created by the conflict over succession that Lady Liu entered the scene.
Lady Li's plans were put into effect, with the five 5 concubines of her late husband being executed and then disfigured.
She was responsible for killing the entire families of these concubines to prevent them from seeking revenge in the future.
By the time Yuan Tan returned to the capital, he could not reverse the situation; the only thing he could do was proclaim himself "General of Carriages and Cavalry" (車騎 將軍), a former title of his father's.
When Cao Pi asked, Lady Liu told him the woman behind her was Yuan Xi's wife.
Lady Liu first appears in Chapter 32 of the novel where she sends for Shen Pei and Pang Ji during Yuan Shao's final moments.
Her son followed suit by executing the relatives of these concubines to prevent them from avenging their dead kin.
Afterwards, she and Lady Zhen find refuge in the palace of the Yuans before being discovered by Cao Pi.
Attracted by Lady Zhen's beauty, he decides against killing the women and places her under his care.