The Empress of Heshun Sheng, Zhao Shi (? -675 AD), was the first wife of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian. Her age should be around the same as Li Xian’s. Based on Li Xian’s age of 20 at that time, it can be inferred that Zhao Shi was only around 20 years old when she was killed.
Zhao was born into a noble family, and her mother was Princess Changle, the 19th daughter of Tang Gaozu. In terms of seniority, Zhao was still Li Xian’s cousin. After Li Yuan rose up in Taiyuan, Zhao Kui, the son of Zhao Chuo, was highly appreciated by Li Shimin and selected as his brother-in-law. After marriage, the couple showed great affection and gave birth to a daughter named Zhao. When Li Xian was still serving as the King of England, Lady Zhao was adopted as the queen. Although she did not have a son and a daughter after marriage, her relationship with her husband was very sweet. Emperor Gaozong of Tang treated his aunt, Princess Changle, who was also his in laws, with great affection and care for his cousin and daughter-in-law, Lady Zhao.
As Li Xian’s mother, this marriage should have been exaggerated by Wu Zetian, but afterwards she became increasingly dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law Zhao. As Empress Wu’s power grew, it also meant that Zhao’s life became increasingly difficult. On the seventh day of the fourth month in the second year of the Shangyuan era (675 AD), Wu Zetian, in order to vent her jealousy, would occasionally vent her anger on her daughter-in-law Zhao Shi. She even ordered her to be deposed on the grounds that the queen Zhao Shi was not respectful enough to her, and even imprisoned her in the women’s prison of the Imperial Household Department, where she was given raw food.
A few days later, Zhao’s body was discovered by the prisoners in the prison. This pampered queen was actually starving to death in prison, and the murderer of her was her mother-in-law. Later, Wu Zetian instructed someone to falsely accuse Zhao Gui, the father of the Zhao family, and then demoted him to the position of Governor of Kuozhou.
After their beloved daughter was brutally murdered, Princess Changle and her husband hated Wu Zetian to the bone. Later, Princess Changle followed King Li Zhen of Yue to rise up in rebellion against Wu. After the defeat of King Yue, Princess Changle and her husband committed suicide in prison. Li Zhuoyan watched as his wife was killed and his family was annihilated. Although he was in excruciating pain, he dared not speak out in anger in the face of Wu Zetian’s power.
In the first year of the Shenlong era (705 AD), Emperor Zhongzong of Tang successfully restored the throne and rehabilitated the royal relatives who had previously been under Wu Zetian. He also posthumously honored Zhao as the “Empress Gong”. After the restoration of Emperor Ruizong Li Dan, he posthumously honored his sister-in-law Zhao Shi as the “Empress of Hesi” and performed the ritual of summoning souls. The Empress’s Yi robe was used to summon the soul in the palace where he was sleeping, and it was placed on the right side of Emperor Zhongzong’s coffin. He was buried together with Emperor Zhongzong in Dingling.
