The Story of a Country and a City

Empress the country and the city Mrs. Li was the favored concubine of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. She was from Zhongshan and came from a family of common people who played music and dance. Her elder brother Li Yannian was favored by Emperor Wu because of his good music. In order to recommend his sister, Li Yannian sang in front of Emperor Wu, "There is a beauty in the north, peerless and independent; once you look at the charming city, you will look at the charming country again." Princess Pingyang immediately agreed that her sister was beautiful. After Emperor Wu summoned her, he was impressed by Mrs. Li's beauty and dancing skills and included her in the palace. This is where the idiom "love the country and the city" comes from, which later was used to describe the woman's beautiful appearance. Mrs. Li gave birth to Liu Kun, the Ai Wang of Changyi, for Emperor Wu. Later, she fell ill and was bedridden. Emperor Wu went to visit her in person, but she was refused to see her, unwilling to let Emperor Wu see her haggard appearance. When faced with the blame from her sisters, she bluntly said, "Those who treat others with sex will lose their sex and love." She did not see the emperor just to entrust her brothers. Her foresight and wisdom are admirable. After Mrs. Li passed away from illness, Emperor Wu missed her deeply and ordered alchemists to summon her soul. He also wrote "Song of Mrs. Li" and "Ode to Mrs. Li" in memory of her, and ordered a painter to paint her portrait and hang it in Ganquan Palace. Emperor Wu buried her in Maoling as a queen. Later, Huo Guang honored her as Empress Xiaowu according to his will. She also became the first posthumous queen in Chinese history. Allusions related to her are widely circulated, and her story has been praised throughout the ages because of her beauty and wisdom.