Consort Wu

Consort Wu, imperial consort rank Huifei (武惠妃) (d. 737), posthumously Empress Zhenshun (貞順皇后, literally "the virtuous and serene empress"), was an imperial consort of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. She was Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine during her lifetime, and after the death of his wife Empress Wang in 724, she became honored like an empress inside the palace, court, by the emperor and among the public until her death; Thus, she was the undisputed mistress of the palace, and wielded political power in the court and influence over the decisions of Emperor Xuanzong. She never formally became empress on account of her father Wu Youzhi (武攸止) being a nephew of Emperor Xuanzong's grandmother Wu Zetian, the memory about whose takeover of the Tang throne terrified the officials. But the power she gained within the palace and the political circles of the court, and the love of Emperor Xuanzong for her, made her authority and respect equal to the authority and respect of the empress. Background The future Consort Wu was a daughter of Wu Youzhi, who was a grandson of Wu Zetian's uncle Wu Shirang (武士讓). After Wu Zetian became "emperor" in 690 after having been empress dowager over her sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, Wu Youzhi was created the Prince of Heng'an. The future Consort Wu was born sometime between 688 and 697. It was said that Wu Youzhi died when she was still young, and she entered the palace afterwards. As imperial consort Before Empress Wang's removal Sometime after Wu Zetian's grandson Emperor Xuanzong (Emperor Ruizong's son) became emperor in 712, Consort Wu became an imperial consort and was favored by him. Early in his Kaiyuan era (713-741), she successively gave birth to two sons, Li Yi (李一, posthumously honored Prince Dao of Xia) and Li Min (李敏, posthumously honored Prince Ai of Huai), and one daughter (posthumously honored Princess Shangxian), all of whom were described to be beautiful but all of whom died in their childhood (Li Yi in 717, Li Min in 720, and Princess Shangxian's death date is unknown). After she later gave birth to another son, Li Qing (李清), Emperor Xuanzong asked his brother Li Xian the Prince of Ning to raise the child, and Li Xian and his wife Princess Yuan raised the child personally.