Lü Shi

Biodata

Background / History

Elevation to Crown Princess

Lü Shi was originally Zhu Biao’s concubine and bore Zhu Yunwen. Zhu Yuanzhang later elevated her to principal wife, but Zhu Yuntong continued to distinguish her position from that of Chang Shi, Zhu Biao’s original principal wife married with the proper rites. This distinction became central to the competing grandsons’ succession claims 1.

After Chang Shi’s death, Lü Shi raised Zhu Yuntong and his two elder sisters. Zhu Yuanzhang initially regarded her as gentle, virtuous, and dutiful. Her private motive for raising Zhu Yuntong was to cultivate the reputation of a loving mother and win the emperor’s regard 2 5.

Her mistreatment of the children began while Zhu Biao was still alive. Zhu Gang later recalled finding Zhu Yuntong, Zhu Lingyue, and Zhu Lingyi inadequately clothed during a snowy winter, while Zhu Yunwen wore warm, splendid clothing. Following Zhu Biao’s death, Lü Shi’s treatment of the children worsened 16 46.

Succession Conflict

When Zhu Yuntong disrupted Zhu Yunwen’s investiture, Lü Shi believed he had concealed his abilities for years to deceive her. She regretted allowing him to grow up and reassured Zhu Yunwen that her elevation to Crown Princess made him a legitimate son with the support of the civil officials 5.

Lü Shi then visited Zhu Yuanzhang, accepted blame for Zhu Yuntong’s conduct, and ostensibly asked him to choose Zhu Yuntong instead of Zhu Yunwen. The gesture was calculated to preserve her virtuous image and appeal to the emperor’s attachment to family affection. Zhu Yuntong recognized it as an act, while Zhu Yuanzhang tolerated her maneuvering within limits 7.

After recognizing that the emperor’s attitude had shifted, she tightened surveillance of Zhu Yuntong and arranged for incense once used by Chang Shi to be sent to his quarters. Her stated private objective was a gradual, apparently inexplicable death that would remove Zhu Yunwen’s rival 8 9 23.

Exposure and Punishment

Lü Shi kept Zhu Yuntong and his sisters on insufficient meals, then ordered their food reduced by another half after he took food from Zhu Yunwen’s quarters. Zhu Yuntong brought his sisters before Zhu Yuanzhang, where their thinness and hunger exposed their treatment 10 13 14.

Zhu Yuanzhang entrusted the four girls to Consort Guo and ordered Lü Shi punished. Lü Shi tried to blame Dongqing for misrepresenting her instructions, but Consort Guo rejected the excuse and imposed ten strokes of the rod. Lü Shi retained her title and interpreted that as proof that the succession struggle was not over 17 18.

She continued directing Zhu Yunwen’s campaign after Lan Yu escaped execution. She urged her son to maintain his benevolent, filial image and later told him that he must also be willing to kill if given an opportunity to establish imperial authority 36 39.

Poisoning Investigation

Zhu Yuntong’s diagnosis of lead and mercury poisoning prompted an imperial lockdown and search of the Eastern Palace. Lü Shi had learned of his visit to the Imperial Medical Bureau and made preparations beforehand. During the search, she feigned concern and actively requested that her own room be searched 45 48.

The guards found no evidence, and the suspicious incense disappeared from Zhu Yuntong’s quarters. A cook subsequently confessed to poisoning him, leaving Lü Shi’s wider involvement unresolved. Zhu Yuanzhang chose to believe her for the time being, while Zhu Yuntong remained determined to obtain evidence 48 49 50.

Personality

Lü Shi carefully separates her public manner from her private intentions. Before Zhu Yuanzhang, she presents herself as a self-sacrificing stepmother concerned with family harmony. In private, she resents Zhu Yuntong, calls his sisters money-losing burdens, and treats the removal of her son’s rival as an acceptable means of securing the succession 5 7 16 23.

She is demanding toward Zhu Yunwen, repeatedly rebuking his crying and indecision. Her ambition survives both corporal punishment and political setbacks: she treats the retention of her title as an opportunity to recover rather than a reason to withdraw. Nevertheless, Zhu Yuntong’s unexpected assertiveness repeatedly unsettles her and exposes her overconfidence in controlling the Eastern Palace 8 18 23 29.

Abilities & Skills

Courtly Performance

Lü Shi uses deference, apparent generosity, and admissions of responsibility to influence Zhu Yuanzhang’s judgment 7.

• Appeals to his preference for family affection by publicly offering to yield Zhu Yunwen’s succession opportunity 7.
• Maintains an appearance of concern during the poisoning investigation despite having anticipated trouble 48.
• Her performance loses credibility once the children’s deprivation is exposed 14 17.

Household Control and Surveillance

Her authority over the Eastern Palace allows her to control servants, information, and the children’s daily treatment 9 10.

• Bribes palace maids and eunuchs to obtain reports about court events 5.
• Orders Dongqing to replace Zhu Yuntong’s attendants and report his activities before sunset, with immediate notice of unusual plans 9.
• Restricts sensitive knowledge: Dongqing knows far more about her affairs than servants such as Liu Liu 44.
• Her control weakens when Xu Xingzu stops obeying her and Zhu Yuanzhang orders the palace servants replaced 16 49.

Succession Strategy

Lü Shi directs Zhu Yunwen’s conduct to preserve his standing with the emperor and his supporters 8 11 36.

• Instructs him to imitate Zhu Biao after Zhu Xiongying’s death 8.
• Pushes him to seek his imperial uncles’ goodwill and consult Huang Zicheng 11 18.
• Warns him to let civil officials make accusations against Lan Yu, avoiding personal responsibility if their attack fails 29.

Relationships

• Zhu Biao — Husband. Originally his concubine, she later became his principal wife and survived his burial as Crown Princess 1 9.
• Zhu Yunwen — Son and intended beneficiary of her political maneuvering. He relies heavily on her judgment, while she is frustrated by his timidity 5 9 36.
• Zhu Yuntong — Stepson and principal succession opponent. She attempts to control his household and secretly arranges incense intended to kill him 5 9 23.
• Chang Shi — Zhu Biao’s original principal wife and Zhu Yuntong’s mother. Lü Shi invokes respect for “Sister Chang” publicly while remaining under suspicion concerning her death 7 17.
• Zhu Lingyue, Zhu Lingyi, Zhu Linghua, and Zhu Lingxiu — Zhu Biao’s daughters, whom she mistreats. Their removal to Consort Guo’s care ends her direct authority over them 10 16 18.
• Zhu Yuanzhang — Father-in-law and the source of her elevated position. His initial trust deteriorates after the children’s treatment becomes known, although he does not accept the poisoning accusation without evidence 1 17 50.
• Dongqing — Trusted maid who organizes surveillance and delivers her instructions. Lü Shi nevertheless attempts to make her take responsibility for the food restrictions 9 18.
• Consort Guo — Senior imperial consort who removes the girls from her care and administers her punishment 18.
• Liu Liu — Eunuch placed beside Zhu Yuntong. Lü Shi assumes his loyalty is secure, but Zhu Yuntong’s respectful treatment begins undermining it 10 22 23 29.

Notable Quotes

“I am the Crown Princess. As long as he still returns to the Eastern Palace, I can keep him under control and in the palm of my hand.” 5

“You mustn't speak carelessly. If anything unexpected happens, it will be those civil officials' problem. But if you open your mouth, it becomes your problem.” 29