Career
After her death, another son Emperor Taizong succeeded Emperor Taizu, claiming legitimacy on grounds of their mother"s will, alleged sealed in a golden shelf at her death. Many historians believe that this was actually a fabrication by Emperor Taizong. Zhao Kuangji (趙匡濟), 1st son, died young
Zhao Kuangyin (趙匡胤), 2nd son, born in 927
Zhao Kuangyi (趙匡乂), later called Zhao Guangyi (趙光義) and eventually Zhao Jiong (趙炅), 3rd son, born in 939
Zhao Kuangmei (趙匡美), later called Zhao Guangmei (趙光美) and eventually Zhao Tingmei (趙廷美), 4th son, born in 947
Zhao Kuangzan (趙匡贊), 5th son, died young
A daughter, originally married to Mi Fude (米福德), later married Gao Huaide after Mi"s death
Another daughter who died young
Lady Du was a strict mother who taught the children to follow rules and traditions.
Her husband Zhao Hongyin died in 956.
In 960, her eldest surviving son Zhao Kuangyin staged a coup d"état to end the Later Zhou, forcing the 7-year-old Emperor Gong of Later Zhou to abdicate power and declaring himself the emperor of the new Song Dynasty. Upon hearing the news, Lady Du was not surprised and merely stated: "My son has always been ambitious." She was honored as the empress dowager in a grand ceremony before all ministers but did not appear happy.
When asked why, she replied: "I heard it is very difficult to be a ruler. Being above all commoners, if an emperor governs according to the ethics, then he deserves all their respect.
However, if he mismanages the sovereign, he can no longer be a commoner even if he begs.
This is why I am worried." Emperor Taizu bowed and promised to remember that. Just a year later, Empress Dowager Du fell sick, and Emperor Taizu personally federal her medicine and attended her by her bed. When the illness worsened, minister Zhao Pu was summoned to record the will.
The mother asked again, and Emperor Taizu responded that it was all due to the blessings of her and the ancestors.
"Wrong", the mother said, "lieutenant was because Emperor Shizong of (Later) Zhou made his young kid succeed him as the emperor. Had (Later) Zhou had an older emperor, how could you become one? The country is wide, the population is large, an older emperor is the blessing of the dynasty." Emperor Taizu cried and nodded his head
Empress Dowager Du also told Zhao Pu: "You shall also remember and follow my words." This conversation was recorded by Zhao Pu with his signature at the end and sealed in a golden shelf to be kept by reliable palace attendants.
