When it comes to Cui Shi, what does everyone think of? Below, the History Encyclopedia editor will introduce the historical story of this person to you.
Cui Shi of the Tang Dynasty was a master of soft food. He came from a jinshi background and was known for his beautiful appearance and talent. With high scores and high energy, coupled with a neat appearance, he was very popular. For the sake of his career, Cui Shi pursued the path of socialite and noblewoman, and was eventually taken care of by Shangguan Wan’er. Although his reputation is not good, the political rewards he received are beyond imagination. Not only has his official position repeatedly undergone extraordinary leaps and bounds, but he has also been filled with numerous vacancies.
When he was a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he had a great time selling official positions and couldn’t get too busy, so he asked his father to help him collect money. Once, his father took money from someone, but Cui Shi didn’t know and rejected that person during the interview. The person came to Cui Shi for an explanation, and Cui Shi made a statement, saying, “Which relative of mine took your money? Tell me who it is, and I will beat him to death with a stick!” The person said angrily, “Don’t! If you really beat him to death, you will have to go home and be filial for three years!” Cui Shi then realized that it was his foolish father who did it, feeling very embarrassed. Due to his aggressive sales of official positions, he sold out all three years of official vacancies and was eventually punished by the double regulation. Shangguan Wan’er couldn’t bear to see the old man finish his fun, so she asked Princess Anle to intercede and only demoted Cui Shi to an official in another city.
Shangguan Wan’er, in order to protect Cui Shi, reluctantly became a mother and handed over her lover Cui Shi to the more powerful political elder sister – Princess Taiping. Princess Taiping had long been drooling over handsome Cui and immediately smiled and accepted. With these two powerful ladies guarding him, Cui Shi was once again transferred back to the central government. Later, Cui Shi took advantage of the opportunity to carry out construction projects, embezzled and withheld project funds, and engaged in corruption and bribery. However, as long as Princess Taiping ran up to Tang Zhongzong and acted coquettishly, nothing happened. Cui Shi, in order to repay Shangguan Wan’er’s deep friendship, personally pimped and gave all three brothers to her for enjoyment. He also gave Pan Liangtiaoshun’s wife and daughter to the Crown Prince for sexual services, unwilling to waste any resources.
Due to Cui Shi’s successful career as a woman, his official fortune soared like a rocket. When he became prime minister, he was only 36 years old. Once, Cui Shi walked out of the Dragon Boat Festival gate after work, feeling proud and singing a poem on horseback: “Spring returns to the forest garden, flowers fill the city of Luoyang.” This made his colleagues bite their fingers in envy, jealousy, and hatred, making their mouths water.
Later, Li Longji got rid of his aunt, Princess Taiping. As an old friend of Princess Taiping, Cui Shi was purged and exiled to the wild land of Lingnan. As soon as he arrived, the decree of death landed on his heels. There was no more fierce woman to protect Cui Shi this time, so Cui Shi found a rope and went underground to continue eating soft food.
