Hi, it’s time to meet everyone again. Today, the History Encyclopedia editor has brought an article about the Dugu clan. I hope you like it.
The An Lushan Rebellion was a turning point in the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty, with a significant loss of population and a sharp decline in national strength. It was during the An Lushan Rebellion that a capable emperor gradually rose to power. Li Yu was the eldest son of Li Heng, the grandson of Li Longji and Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty, and the eighth emperor of the Tang Dynasty. In the An Lushan Rebellion, Li Yu successively recaptured Chang’an and Luoyang in the name of the Marshal of the World. In 758, Li Yu was crowned as the Crown Prince, and in 762, he ascended to the throne as the Emperor of Tang Dynasty.
Due to experiencing turmoil, Li Yu deeply understood the suffering of the people. Therefore, during his reign, he reformed transportation, salt prices, grain prices, and implemented measures to stabilize society, develop production, and prioritize the well-being of the people. Tang Dynasty emperors are renowned for their generous and benevolent image, and upon closer examination of the emperors throughout history, this quality of Tang Dynasty emperors is undoubtedly invaluable. Including in dealing with emotions, Li Yu is also a passionate and long-lasting man.
Before the An Lushan Rebellion, when Li Yu was still the King of Guangping, he married his own queen, Shen Shi. Shen Shi was beautiful as a flower, virtuous and pure, and therefore deeply favored by Li Yu. In the first year of Tianbao (742 AD), he gave birth to Li Yu’s eldest son Li Shi (later known as Emperor Dezong of Tang). However, after the outbreak of the An Lushan Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong fled in panic with Yang Guifei and the princes and grandsons. Li Heng, Li Yu, and Li Shi were naturally among them, while the concubines of the princes and grandsons and a large group of imperial relatives were left behind and captured by the rebels. They were plundered from Chang’an in the western capital to Luoyang in the eastern capital, including the Shen family.
Until later when Li Yu recaptured the Eastern Capital, the two were able to reunite, but the good times did not last long. One year later, the Eastern Capital fell again, and the Shen family disappeared and their whereabouts are unknown. Afterwards, Li Yu couldn’t forget the Shen family. After ascending to the throne, Li Yu kept the position of empress for the Shen family and appointed Li Shi, the son of the Shen family, as the crown prince. At the same time, he issued an edict to search for the Shen family. Although people have been searching everywhere for over ten years, they have never found anything.
Although Li Yu had a deep affection for the Shen family, as an emperor, he was still a passionate person. Another beauty who entered Li Yu’s heart was the Dugu family. Dugu was intelligent and wise, graceful and virtuous, with a charming appearance. Since entering the palace, he was deeply favored by Li Yu. After Li Yu ascended the throne, he exclusively favored Dugu. As the most beloved person of Emperor Daizong, Lady Dugu did not become arrogant and relied solely on her favor. She always devoted herself wholeheartedly to sharing his worries and relieving his fatigue, and was gentle and considerate. Daizong spent his days running through various political affairs, and this Dugu clan was undoubtedly the only softness in Daizong’s heart. Therefore, Daizong trusted her even more.
Li Yu had a son and a daughter with the Dugu family. The son was favored by his mother, and Li Jiong was granted the title of King of Han. His daughter, Princess Huayang, was deeply cared for by Li Yu. Unfortunately, Princess Huayang became a Taoist due to a serious illness. When she passed away, Li Yu personally visited her and bit her finger. After the death of Princess Huayang, Li Yu was overwhelmed with grief and refused to eat for several days. He refused to attend court for several days until his courtiers advised him to resume his duties.
However, Dugu was even more unable to accept the departure of her beloved daughter, immersed in grief all day long and unable to extricate herself. She was depressed and passed away a year later. The successive blows made Li Yu extremely sad and mentally dazed. Li Yu posthumously honored Lady Dugu as Empress Zhenyi, but he could not accept the fact that her beauty had passed away. For three whole years, Li Yu did not allow Lady Dugu to leave the palace and be buried.
Later, the ministers couldn’t bear to watch anymore and submitted reports one after another. Li Yu then built the tomb of the Dugu clan in the east of Chang’an City, which happened to be visible from the palace. One year after Dugu’s burial, Li Yu passed away in his longing for Dugu.
