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Yang Guifei - Her story resembles star-crossed lovers of Western plays. As wife to the son of the emperor in the Tang Dynasty, she came in contact with Emperor Xuanzong. Now, it should be noted that it was not unusual for Chinese custom to have a very young son, especially a Prince, marry a woman several years his senior as his first wife. The Emperor fell in love with Yang but could not technically show affection for his daughter-in-law. So instead, he declared she becomes a nun and through his right as Emperor, he brought her into his court and eventually made her his top concubine. Unfortunately, there was unrest in the country and while the Emperor spent his time thinking about Yang Guifei, his empire was falling apart. Yang was blamed for his downfall and the Emperor's men and advisors demanded she be killed or they would no longer protect him. He gave into the demands and Yang Guifei sacrificed her life so that the Emperor and the empire might continue. Source: Caroline Baker www.bellaonline.com |