Lady Hu

Lady Hu (胡氏; 220-234) was a Chinese woman of the Shu Han state during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD). She was the wife of Liu Yan, a Shu Han general. When her alcoholic husband offered her to be assaulted by the servants, she protested to the court, which led to his execution.

Marriage to Liu Yan Little is known of Lady Hu as a person, where she was born, her background, her personality, only that she was described as a very beautiful woman. Her husband Liu Yan was handsome and skilled in debate which, along with his imperial lineage, made him a favoured figure. Liu Yan however struggled with drink, was of limited ability, extravagant and had something of an ego. Liu Yan rowed with a senior general Wei Yan and Zhuge Liang, the Chancellor of Shu-Han, removed Liu Yan from office. After a written apology blaming drink, which he vowed to stop, Liu Yan was restored to his former ranks but sent to the capital Chengdu but with his position now token, he returned to drink and may have not been mentally well.

As Lady Hu had a beautiful appearance, Liu Yan suspected that she had a secret affair with the emperor Liu Shan during the month where she stayed in the palace. He ordered 500 of his soldiers to beat her up, slapped her in the face with a shoe, and then divorced her and expelled her from his home.

Lady Hu reported Liu Yan to the authorities for his abusive behaviour. As a result, Liu Yan was arrested and thrown into prison. The investigative officer commented on the incident as follows: “Soldiers aren't meant to help someone beat up his wife. Shoes aren't meant to be used to hit someone in the face.” Liu Yan was publicly executed. After this embarrassing and considerable scandal, the Shu Han government put an end to the practice of allowing officials' wives and mothers to enter the palace at time of celebrations.