In 745 AD, at the age of 60, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang summoned Li Mao, the former husband of Yang Yuhuan and his 18th son, and said, “Son, you have been single for 5 years. I have found a new wife for you, and I will keep your ex-wife.
Li Mao’s mother, Wu Huifei, the beloved concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, probably never expected that she had worked hard to plan for her son for most of his life, risking her own life. In the end, her son did not get the crown prince’s position, and even his wife was taken by her husband. But if it weren’t for his divine operation, his son wouldn’t have been able to “stand out” among the 30 brothers and become famous (although this name was a bit sad). Although he did not become the emperor, he had a family full of children and grandchildren. Although he did not have a good beginning, he ended up with a good ending.
After the death of his mother Wu Huifei, Li Mao lost his qualification to compete for the crown prince
It is said that a mother is valued by her son, but Li Mao is actually valued by her mother. Li Mao’s birth mother, Empress Wu Huifei, was the niece of Empress Wu Zetian. Due to the early death of her father, Prince Heng’an, she was adopted by Empress Wu Zetian and kept in the palace. When Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, Empress Wu Huifei was already graceful and elegant, and was immediately favored by Emperor Xuanzong. Due to her well behaved personality and ability to please others, she quickly gained Emperor Xuanzong’s favor, as evidenced by the fact that she gave birth to four sons and three daughters in succession.
Unfortunately, both of Wu Huifei’s previous sons died at the age of one or two. Therefore, when she gave birth to her third son, Li Mao, Wu Huifei was worried that this son would not survive like her previous two sons, so she sent him to the residence of Prince Ning, Li Xian, to be raised.
Li Xian was the older brother of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and it was he who assisted him in ascending to the throne. Under the careful care of Prince Ning and Princess Ning, Li Mao grew up peacefully and was not admitted to the palace until she was in her teens.
As Li Mao grew older, Empress Wu Huifei also grew older. She knew too well that a woman’s appearance alone could not keep a man’s heart, because there would always be younger and more beautiful women than you, and she was the favor she had taken from Consort Zhao Li and Emperor Fu Deyi.
The only way is to try to seize the position of empress like Wu Zhaoyi did back then. Although Empress Wang had been dead for many years, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang also had the intention of making her his successor. However, as Empress Wu Huifei was the niece of Wu Sansi, the nephew of Empress Wu Zetian, the courtiers were worried that the newly regained territory from the Wu family would return to their hands, so they unanimously opposed it. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang could only give up.
The road to the empress is blocked, so we can only hope that our son will take over the Eastern Palace and become the crown prince. However, since ancient times, the crown prince has been known for his longevity and virtue. No matter how Tang Xuanzong doted on Li Mao, he was only the 18th son, and the position of crown prince could never be reached by him. Unless The sons in front have all died. In this way, under the design of Empress Wu Huifei, Crown Prince Li Ying (second son), Prince E Li Yao (fifth son), and Prince Guang Li Ju (eighth son) were deposed and executed on the same day.
The most ruthless imperial family, if it were an ordinary citizen, who would be willing to kill their own biological son? Tang Xuanzong killed three people in one day. But after all, Empress Wu Huifei was not Wu Zhaoyi, she killed someone herself. She began to have nightmares every day, dreaming of three people coming to take her life, and soon she was scared to death.
After the death of Empress Wu Huifei, Li Linfu, who had been on her side, repeatedly urged Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to appoint Prince Shou Li Mao as the crown prince, but Emperor Xuanzong could not make up his mind. On the one hand, according to the principle of establishing the legitimate heir and the chief, the successor to the Eastern Palace should be the third son, Prince Zhongwang Li Di (later renamed Li Heng, later known as Tang Suzong), and not the 18th son, Li Mao. On the other hand, if one kills three sons in anger, they will also feel regret and sadness when they calm down. Gao Lishi’s words woke him up: ‘Standing tall, who dares to argue again.’ And so, Li Mao lost his qualification as the crown prince.
