Lady Han Su Mei's Demand for a High Official Post

Zhao Kuang Yin, first Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1127), successfully takes power with the help of his close friend and sworn brother, Zheng En. (For a description of the sworn brothers' oath, please see the entry Zheng En was Executed While I was Drunk in this collection.)

Lady Han Su Mei is a renowned courtesan in Hebei Province, and meets Zhao Kuang Yin during his time there. They are later separated by the turmoil of war. One day at the Bailing Pass, where Zhao Kuang Yin and Zheng En join the army, Zhao Kuang Yin runs into the adopted son of Lady Han Su Mei and the two have a reunion. After Zhao Kuang Yin comes to the throne, he becomes dissipated and decadent. He indulges himself in alcohol and endless banquets, and spends all his time chasing girls, rather than running the government. He builds a palace called Peach Blossom for Han Su Mei, and seals her title as imperial concubine. Han Su Mei has a younger brother named Han Long, who is a local street thug. Zhao Kuang Yin delights in the company of Han Su Mei, and does whatever she asks. At a banquet one night, when she asks that he appoint her brother Han Long to an important official position, he does it without hesitation, just to please her.

One day, while on his way to his office, Zheng En sees Han Long bullying street musicians as usual. Zheng En cannot contain his temper any longer, and gives Han Long a severe beating. Han Long flees to the palace. His sister Han Su Mei immediately complains to the Emperor in tears, and she and her brother make many false accusations against Zheng En. The Emperor is drunk and believes their vicious words. He sentences Zheng En to death and, as an additional punishment and humiliation, orders a public beheading.

Upon hearing the news, Zheng En's wife Tao Sanchun sends a punitive expedition against the Emperor, and demands that he order the execution of Han Su Mei and her brother. Despite the execution of Han Long, Tao Sanchun continues to grieve her husband's death, feeling he should not have been executed on the false testimony of a street criminal. She directs her anger at Emperor Zhao Kuang Yin, and refuses to withdraw her troops. General Gao Huaide eventually comes to the Emperor's rescue and effects a reconciliation with Tao Sanchun. The Emperor takes off his dragon robe, which is a symbol of his imperial power and dignity, and allows Tao Sanchun to chop up the robe as she sees fit.

To close the case, Tao Sanchun also takes ownership of the royal gold sword. This gives her the right to monitor the Emperor's conduct and to execute corrupt officials, based on an agreement made between the Emperor and his 'sworn brothers' — one of whom was Zheng En himself — on the day the Emperor took the throne.

(For another version of this story, please see the entry Zheng En was Executed While I was Drunk in this collection.)