#lady ding

[vonnaeaa]

Midnight sanguozhi #15:

maybe im into broken relationships recently?

so... today's for Cao Cao and Lady Ding.

《魏略》曰：太祖始有丁夫人，又劉夫人生子脩及清河長公主。劉早終，丁養子脩。子脩亡於穰，丁常言：「將我兒殺之，都不復念！」遂哭泣無節。太祖忿之，遣歸家，欲其意折。後太祖就見之，夫人方織，外人傳云「公至」，夫人踞機如故。太祖到，撫其背曰：「顧我共載歸乎！」夫人不顧，又不應。太祖却行，立於戶外，復云：「得無尚可邪！」遂不應，太祖曰：「真訣矣。」遂與絕，欲其家嫁之，其家不敢。

*Weilue* states: Emperor Taizu had Lady Ding, and later Lady Liu bore him a son, Zixiu (Cao Ang), and the Princess of Qinghe. (Lady) Liu died young, and Ding raised Zixiu. Zixiu died in Rang, and Ding often said, "You are the cause of my son's death, you wouldn't care about that?" She then wept uncontrollably. Emperor Taizu was angered and sent her home, hoping to break her spirit. Later, Emperor Taizu went to see her. Lady Ding was weaving when someone outside announced, "Gong has arrived!" She still remained seated at her loom. When Emperor Taizu arrived, he patted her back and said, "Look at me, shall we go home together?" She did not look at him and did not respond. Emperor Taizu walked away, stood outside the door, and said again, "Is there still hope?" She still did not respond. Emperor Taizu said, "(She) already decided!" He then severed ties with her and wanted her family to remarry her, but her family dared not.

後太祖病困，自慮不起，歎曰：「我前後行意，於心未曾有所負也。假令死而有靈，子脩若問『我母所在』，我將何辭以荅！」

Later, when Emperor Taizu was seriously ill and worried he would not recover, he sighed, "My actions before and after are my own conscience, I have no regrets. But if there is a spirit after my death, and my son Zixiu asks, 'Where is my mother?', what could I say?"

- Just because Cao Cao was into Zhang Xiu's aunt and acted like a disrespectful tyrant towards Zhang Xiu in Wancheng, his eldest son, his nephew and Dian Wei died. Lady Ding, who received the wish from Lady Liu before her death to raise her son and daughter, could never forgive Cao for that. Cao still loved her but he also knew that regardless of his sincerity to reconcile, she would not accept, and he keep his only regret until the day of his death.

[zl181]

Comprehensive Biography of Cao Ang

Cao Ang (曹昂字子脩; d. Spring 197) was a noble during the Late Han dynasty. He was the eldest son of Cao Cao, and would sacrifice his life for him after Zhang Xiu ambushed them.

Life

Cao Ang was born to Lady Liu, the eldest of Cao Cao's sons. He had a full sister, the Princess of Qinghe, and a full brother, Cao Shuo.[1][2] However, Lady Liu died young, so Cao Cao's main wife, Lady Ding, raised Cao Ang as if he were her own son.[1]

He was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt.[2] Around Spring 197, Cao Cao was tricked by Zhang Xiu at Wan, in an ambush. His steed, Absolute Shadow, was hit in the legs and cheek, rendering it incapable of running. Cao Ang saw this and knowing he himself could not ride horses well, gave his own horse to Cao Cao in order for him to escape. Cao Ang died, probably from the barrage of arrows.[3]

Postmortem events

When Cao Cao was seriously ill and bed-ridden, he allegedly sighed and said,

"I have always followed my intentions, and my heart never felt troubled. But supposing that I died and became a spirit, if Zixiu asks, 'Where is my mother,' what would I reply with?"[1]

After Cao Pi succeeded Cao Cao and became Emperor shortly after, he was recorded saying,

"My Filial and Incorrupt elder brother would certainly have his share [of land if he was still here]."

Around 202, Cao Pi would later posthumously promote Cao Ang to the rank of Duke of Feng, and in 203, had the Duke of Fan; Cao Jun's son, Wan, adopted into Cao Ang's line, as Cao Ang had no sons, and enfeoffed him as a duke.[4] Around 205, Cao Ang was later posthumously promoted to Prince of Feng.[5]

Family

Cao Ang had no sons of his own. Cao Wan was adopted into his line.[4]

Personal info

Name: Cao Ang

Style name: Zixiu[4]

Death date: Spring 197 (1st lunar month)[3]

References

[1] - 【（《魏略》曰：太祖始有丁夫人，又劉夫人生子脩及清河長公主。劉早終，丁養子脩。子脩亡於穰，丁常言：「將我兒殺之，都不復念！」遂哭泣無節。...後太祖病困，自慮不起，歎曰：「我前後行意，於心未曾有所負也。假令死而有靈，子脩若問『我母所在』，我將何辭以荅！」）】《三國志注•卷五》

[2] - 【劉夫人生豐愍王昂、相殤王鑠，】《三國志注•卷二十》

[3] - 【二年春正月，公到宛。張繡降，旣而悔之，復反。公與戰，軍敗，為流矢所中，長子昂、弟子安民遇害。（《魏書》曰：公所乘馬名絕影，為流矢所中，傷頰及足，并中公右臂。《世語》曰：昂不能騎，進馬於公，公故免，而昂遇害。）】《三國志注•卷一》

[4] - 【豐愍王昂字子脩。弱冠舉孝廉。隨太祖南征，為張繡所害。無子。黃初二年追封，謚曰豐悼公。三年，以樊安公均子琬奉昂後，封中都公。其年徙封長子公。五年，追加昂號曰豐悼王。太和三年改昂謚曰愍王。嘉平六年，以琬襲昂爵為豐王。正元、景元中，累增邑，并前二千七百戶。琬薨，謚曰恭王。子廉嗣。】《三國志注•卷二十》

[5] - 【《魏略》曰：文帝常言：「家兄孝廉，自其分也。若使倉舒在，我亦無天下。」】《三國志注•卷二十》

[ttoca]

Cao Miaoji, Zhang Chunhua and Ding Lushi Character Design

Cao Miaoji is Cao Cao's younger sister and the youngest child of Cao Song. Far more quiet and gentle than her older sister, Boshi, Miaoji is someone all her siblings band together to protect when the time comes. For as she matures, she presents a prospect to the family and her father's eyes turn to the power of the consort clans and in Miaoji he sees an opportunity to attach his household as directly to the Imperial family as will allow, a position that comes with endless privileges...and just as many risks.

Zhang Chunhua, the daughter of a Magistrate in Weijun, finds herself thrust into the chaos of the Yellow Scarf Rebellion when her father's seat is surrounded and swarmed. With a cadre of her father's finest guards, she's sent to the Imperial Task Force garrison in the capital region where she fast proves a young spitfire, declaring her father gave her the authority to act as Weijun's voice and any who can't muster the spirit and forces necessary to save her father's hold from the rebellion has no right calling himself an officer or even a human being. Her abrasive and somewhat pompous personality grates on others and not even Cao Cao is safe from her dressing down and dreaded 'pointy-finger'. Young Sima Yi, however, shows unusual shyness and inelegance around the young lady, a fact that goes unnoticed by her but not, by any means, by his fellows.

Ding Lushi, daughter of Ding Gong, brother of Ding Chong and child of the second most influential clan in Pei, finds herself married to the already infamous Cao Cao in order to unite their previously warring clans. This arrangement pleases neither husband nor wife. Around Cao Cao, she is cold, aloof and will point out his shortcomings as often as she can. Cao Cao in response will call her out in turn. Yet somehow, they seem more at home insulting each other behind closed doors than feigning affection in public. While the two would never admit to loving each other, there emerges, to some extent, a certain respect the two have for each other's wit and sense of endurance in each other's company. Despite how much he loathes living with her, Cao Cao would never call Ding Lushi a hateful woman. She is simply how she's been raised, largely neglected by her father and taught to hate the Cao who always plotted against the Ding clan. Never having been taught social skills beyond female etiquette, she finds it impossible to make friends in Pei, particularly among Cao Cao's laid-back colleagues. The only one she gets along with in the Cao household is Cao Cao's first wife, married to him on the same day as Ding Lushi was, Lady Liu Kuaihe.

With Miaoji and Lushi, I hope to examine how cutthroat and materialist marriage culture was at the time.

With Zhang Chunhua, I just hope to make everyone laugh as she yells at anyone and everyone. I’m taking heavy inspiration from Veronica from Dragon Quest XI.