The Fake Queen Who Seized the Throne
During the Great Xia Dynasty, Su Qingqing, a merchant’s daughter, lost both parents. Her bankrupt uncle forced her to become a wealthy merchant’s concubine. Desperate to escape the arranged marriage, she accidentally charged into the imperial procession of Emperor Xiao He, who was traveling south. Moved by her plight and reminded of his beloved Shen Min’s misfortune, Xiao He saved her. He gave her a personal jade pendant and told her to enter the palace as a maid once her mourning period ended. Yet Su Qingqing misunderstood, convinced the emperor favored her and planned to make her empress. Three years of mourning passed. Su Qingqing brought her best friends Zhao Jiaojiao and Fang Yuanyuan to the palace with the jade pendant. Eunuch Xia recognized the emperor’s personal token and mistakenly took her as the empress the emperor intended to appoint, welcoming her with great deference. Seizing the chance, Su Qingqing pretended to be empress and acted recklessly in the harem. She slapped palace maids, stripped and expelled servants to build an arrogant reputation. Later, she stormed into the Golden Throne Hall, sat on the imperial dragon chair and presided over state affairs. She arbitrarily executed ministers and dismissed loyal officials. She appointed Zhao Jiaojiao Minister of Revenue and Fang Yuanyuan Minister of War, treating the imperial court like a game. When the Crown Prince of Great Liang came to negotiate an alliance, she outrageously ordered the prince to be castrated, publicly tore up the treaty, and declared war on four neighboring kingdoms. Upon hearing the news, Emperor Xiao He was consumed by rage, spat blood and fell into a coma.
