Lady Nanzi

Because her spouse lacked interest in government issues and effectively retired from politics, he left her to conduct the affairs of state for him with his approval.

[2] Alongside Fu Hao, Yi Jiang and Queen Dowager Xuan, she is one of only four women noted as influential political players in China prior to Empress Lü, and perhaps the first woman to have ruled a Chinese state.

[2] In 497 BC, Gongshu Shu (公叔戌), a minister of Wey, wanted to send away Nanzi's supporters in the court.

Duke Ling's eldest son Kuaikui heard a song that mocked the affair ("Since you have allayed the heat of your sow, why not send back our old boar?")

[9] Nanzi is depicted in the Depraved Favorites section of the Biographies of Eminent women (Lienü zhuan) alongside Kong Bo Ji and described as "deceitful and lustful", blamed for the succession crisis and accused of having caused the "disorder of five generations".

[1][10] One separate story in the Benevolence and Wise section is about an unnamed wife of Duke Ling of Wey, who is praised for her wisdom.