Emperor Mu of Jin, Sima Dan, had ascended the throne at the age of two. His mother, Empress Dowager Chu, had a white gauze curtain set up in Taiji Hall and held the emperor in her arms as she presided over court, beginning a regency that lasted thirteen years. Intelligent and discerning, she maneuvered among the great clans and powerful ministers, skillfully balancing the various factions and preserving the stability of Eastern Jin's imperial authority. She was deeply solicitous of the common people. At the beginning of her regency, she issued an edict: "The people are now exhausted by their burdens. Those who rule should consider how to offer them relief. We hereby proclaim to all under Heaven: henceforth, all annual taxes and levies shall be suspended or reduced, save those urgently required for military and state affairs." Her benevolence and virtue earned the respect of officials, gentry, and commoners alike-
When Sima Dan turned fifteen, Empress Dowager Chu returned power to her son. Only four years later, however, he died, and Emperor Cheng's son Sima Pi was enthroned. Sima Pi believed only in the longevity arts of occult practitioners. Taking mineral elixirs made him ill, leaving him unable to attend to government, and Empress Dowager Chu once again presided over court. Half a year later, Sima Pi died in the West Hall of Taiji Hall, and his younger brother by the same mother, Sima Yi, was enthroned. Since Sima Yi was already an adult, the empress dowager relinquished power once more and returned to Chongde Palace. She spent her time burning incense and worshipping in the Buddhist chapel, no longer concerning herself with government affairs. Thus, she knew nothing of the Lu Clan woman's proposed entry into the palace, which had lately set all Jiankang buzzing. After all, no