釋氏稽古略 1.595

1.595

Empress Jia was malicious, fierce, and power-hungry; she utterly refused to serve the Empress Dowager according to the way of a wife. She wished to intervene in affairs of state, but was restrained by the Grand Tutor, Yang Jun. In the second month, the Empress secretly conspired with the Palace Gentlemen Meng Guan and Li Zhao, executed Jun, and wiped out his three clans, with thousands dying. The Empress forged an edict sending the Empress Dowager to the Yongning Palace (she eventually died in Jinyong City). She summoned Emperor Xuan's son, Liang, the Prince of Runan, as Grand Chancellor, who along with the Grand Protector Wei Guan both oversaw the affairs of the Department of State Affairs and held the reins of government. Guan detested the General of the Guard Wei, the Prince of Chu (the emperor's younger brother), for being obstinate and fond of killing, so he dissolved his army and ordered him to his princedom. Wei harboured resentment. In the sixth month, the Empress had the emperor issue a personal edict to Wei, removing Liang and Guan from office. Wei then led his own troops, forged an edict, arrested Liang and Guan, and killed them. Zhang Hua, Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, sent Dong Meng to persuade Empress Jia that Wei should be executed for the crime of taking life on his own authority. The Empress also wished to kill Wei. Hua informed the emperor, who sent General of the Palace Wang Gong bearing the Zouyu banner to signal the multitude, saying, "The Prince of Chu has forged an edict; do not obey him!" The troops threw down their weapons and fled; they seized Wei, sent him down to the Commandant of Justice, and beheaded him. Thereupon Empress Jia held sole power at court (Imperial Annals).