Shouwang Li Mao, this name, I believe many people will feel familiar with it, as if they have seen it somewhere, but it seems like they have never heard of it. In fact, the appearance rate of this name is not low, but the limelight has been taken away by others, and the ones who stole the limelight are his father Li Longji and wife Yang Yuhuan. Li Mao may never have imagined that the story of Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan would continue to be passed down in later generations, while he himself became a green leaf character, not only a supporting figure, but also so brightly colored. So, what was Li Mao’s state of mind after losing Yang Yuhuan? What was his ultimate outcome?
The greatest sorrow for a man is when his wife becomes his mother, while he suddenly transforms from the role of a husband to that of a son.
Li Mao, the 18th son of Li Longji, is such a sorrowful man. My wife, who used to be in the same room with me, respected each other as guests, and lived together for five years, suddenly fell asleep next to my father. In the future, when I see my former wife, I will still bow to my elders and witness my father-in-law and daughter-in-law chatting, laughing, and being affectionate with each other. We will also eat lychee and soak in hot springs together. Li Zhi appointed his father Li Shimin’s concubine Wu Meiniang as his empress, while Li Longji appointed his daughter-in-law as his noble concubine. This bizarre thing, perhaps only the Tang royal family can do it. (Old man, poverty really limits my imagination. What did the Tang Dynasty do in one day?)
Li Mao’s mother was Wu Huifei, the beloved concubine of Li Longji. Li Longji doted on her and treated her son Li Mao well. After the death of Empress Wu Hui, Li Longji began to think of his daughter-in-law Yang Yuhuan, who was round and plump. According to the “Old Book of Tang”, Li Longji summoned Yang Yuhuan to accompany him at the Lishan Hot Springs, but Yang Yuhuan did not refuse and ran to Lishan excitedly to wash the hot springs together. Does Li Mao know about this? Of course I know. When Yang Yuhuan was summoned, he was at home, and he personally arranged a carriage to take his wife there.
At first, Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan were somewhat reserved, but soon they openly paired up. Li Mao saw it in his eyes and felt sad in his heart. Since the father likes it, the son can only give up. So, Li Mao personally gave Yang Yuhuan to his father. Then, in extreme grievance and helplessness, Luan Gufeng lived a single life for four and a half years. The most unbearable thing is that during the royal ceremony, Li Mao still had to bow down to Yang Yuhuan and Li Longji in front of civil and military officials, like a son bowing to his parents. What a heartbreaking feeling! I really don’t know how Li Mao endured it.
Li Longji may feel a little indebted to his own son, after all, it’s taking away someone’s love. So he personally chose a marriage for him and betrothed Wei Shi to Li Mao as the queen. Li Mao has been a bachelor for over 4 years and no longer has much temper, so he naturally agreed. Regarding their wedding, Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan, as in laws of their husband’s family, were worshipped by Li Mao and Wei Shi. Yang Yuhuan probably felt happy when she saw her former husband marry her. Originally, I should be sisters with Weishi, but now I am Weishi’s mother-in-law.
Just 10 days after Li Mao’s wedding, Li Longji officially conferred the title of Noble Consort on Yang Yuhuan, thus giving rise to the name ‘Yang Noble Consort’. After marrying Li Mao, Wei Shi and Li Mao were deeply in love and had five children together, which can be considered as God’s great love for him. From then on, Li Mao did not achieve much and gradually became estranged from his father. He passed away peacefully on the 12th day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of the Dali era (775 AD). From then on, he ended his strange and tragic life.
Finally, let’s talk about a small unofficial history. Of course, many unofficial histories are eventually discovered to be real. It is said that during the Ma Weiyi Mutiny, Yang Yuhuan was not actually executed by Li Longji, but escaped with the help of Chen Xuanli and Gao Lishi, and died in his place with a maid. Chen Xuanli was responsible for examining the body, so he could easily release Yang Yuhuan and have her disguised as a Hu person board the large ship of the Tang envoy. The Tang envoy secretly brought her to Japan and eventually arrived in the Jiujin area, where she would spend her whole life.
Nowadays, Jiujin still preserves the tomb of Yang Guifei and the statue of Yang Guifei Bodhisattva, and some local Japanese people claim to be descendants of Yang. Because Yang Guozhong’s daughter-in-law and grandson Yang Huan also escaped together. And it was her ex husband Li Mao and nephew Yang Xuan who helped Yang Yuhuan escape.
