Lady Cai

Historical Record

The Records of the Three Kingdoms states that Lady Cai was Liu Biao’s wife. When Liu Biao wanted to kill Han Song, she intervened to remonstrate, saying that Han Song was “a pillar of the state of Chu,” that his words were upright, and that there was no reason to kill him. Liu Biao therefore spared Han Song but imprisoned him. This episode shows her taking part in political counsel alongside Liu Biao, and also indicates that she did not appear only in domestic affairs.^[1]

Liu Biao and his wife favored their younger son Liu Cong and wanted to make him heir. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun became supporters of Liu Cong, and Liu Biao consequently appointed his eldest son Liu Qi as Administrator of Jiangxia, while the others supported Liu Cong as heir. The Dianlun, cited in Pei Songzhi’s commentary, also records that when Liu Qi returned to Xiangyang while ill to visit his father, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun feared that Liu Biao might change his mind after seeing his son. Citing their duties and filial piety, they stopped Liu Qi from entering. Another account says that Liu Biao “heeded the words of his second wife, favored his younger son Cong, and was displeased with Qi,” indicating that his second wife’s views were connected with his favoring Liu Cong and neglecting Liu Qi. The sources, however, do not elaborate on what Lady Cai specifically said, nor do they directly attribute the obstruction of Liu Qi to her.^[2][3]

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms portrays Lady Cai as scheming, suspicious, and actively involved in Jing Province’s power arrangements. She is Liu Biao’s second wife, Liu Cong’s mother, and Cai Mao’s sister. The novel says that she listened to Cai Mao’s suspicions of Liu Bei and urged Liu Biao at night to be on his guard against him. She also often hid behind a screen to eavesdrop on conversations between Liu Bei and Liu Biao. When Liu Bei advised Liu Biao not to discard the elder son in favor of the younger, she bore a grudge, convinced that Liu Bei intended to seize Jing Province, and secretly summoned Cai Mao to discuss eliminating him.^[4][5][6]

The plot to harm Liu Bei unfolds through a series of episodes in the novel: Cai Mao arranges a nighttime attack at the guesthouse, but Liu Bei escapes after Yi Ji warns him. Later, a banquet at Xiangyang also becomes an opportunity to harm Liu Bei. When Liu Biao learns that Cai Mao had plotted against Liu Bei, he orders Cai Mao’s execution, but Lady Cai weeps and begs for his life to be spared. These specific plots against Liu Bei and his rescues are inventions of the novel; the historical accounts do not record them.^[7][8][9]

When Liu Biao becomes gravely ill, the novel further makes Lady Cai’s choices pivotal to the struggle over Jing Province’s succession. On hearing that Liu Biao intends to entrust Liu Bei with assisting Liu Qi, she flies into a rage and joins Cai Mao and Zhang Yun in preventing Liu Qi from seeing his father. After Liu Biao dies, she and Cai Mao and Zhang Yun forge a testament naming Liu Cong ruler of Jing Province. She then goes with Liu Cong to Xiangyang to guard against Liu Qi and Liu Bei, without informing either of them of Liu Biao’s death. After Cao Cao marches south, she appears from behind a screen and urges Liu Cong to accept the ministers’ proposal to surrender Jing Province to Cao Cao. She then carries the seals, ribbons of office, and military tallies with Liu Cong to welcome Cao Cao. The novel ends by saying that as she travels with Liu Cong to Qing Province, they are pursued and killed by Yu Jin’s forces. Clutching Liu Cong, she weeps, and both are killed. The forged testament, surrender, and account of their deaths are all plot elements from the novel and should not be conflated with the historical record.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15]}

Key Relationships

Liu Biao: In the historical accounts, Lady Cai is Liu Biao’s wife and once remonstrated with him when he wanted to kill Han Song. The accounts say that Liu Biao favored Liu Cong and distanced himself from Liu Qi, and also record that he “heeded the words of his second wife,” but do not specify how she influenced him.^[1][3]

Liu Cong and Liu Qi: The historical accounts say that Liu Biao and his wife wanted to make Liu Cong their heir, that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun supported Liu Cong, and that Liu Qi was sent out to serve as Administrator of Jiangxia. The novel goes further, portraying Lady Cai as personally plotting to discard the elder son in favor of the younger and forging a testament to install Liu Cong. (The forged testament and its specific execution appear only in the novel.)^[2][11]

Cai Mao: Both types of source place Cai Mao within the power network supporting Liu Cong. The novel specifically identifies Lady Cai as Cai Mao’s sister and depicts them plotting together against Liu Bei and manipulating the succession. (Their sibling relationship and their conspiracy against Liu Bei appear only in the novel.)^[2][6]

Liu Bei: In the novel, Lady Cai sees Liu Bei as a threat and repeatedly urges that he be eliminated or guarded against; the historical accounts do not record a conflict between her and Liu Bei.^[6][16]

Notable Scenes

Saving Han Song through frank remonstrance: Liu Biao is furious and wants to execute Han Song. Lady Cai points out that Han Song is a man of standing in the state of Chu and speaks uprightly, and that he should not be put to death without cause. Liu Biao ultimately imprisons Han Song instead. This is the clearest scene in the historical accounts showing her own words and actions.^[1]

Eavesdropping behind a screen and plotting against Liu Bei at night (unique to the novel): Liu Bei advises Liu Biao not to discard the elder son in favor of the younger. After hearing this from behind a screen, Lady Cai grows resentful, claims that Liu Bei intends to seize Jing Province, and secretly summons Cai Mao to plot an attack on him. This scene brings together her wariness, political maneuvering, and hostility toward Liu Bei; it does not appear in the historical accounts.^[5][6]

Installing Liu Cong and welcoming Cao Cao’s surrender (unique to the novel): After Liu Biao’s death, Lady Cai and Cai Mao and Zhang Yun forge a testament and install Liu Cong. When Cao Cao marches south, she then persuades Liu Cong to surrender and personally brings the seals, ribbons of office, and military tallies to welcome Cao Cao. The novel portrays her as an active decision-maker in the transfer of Jing Province, whereas the historical accounts record Liu Cong’s succession and surrender to Cao Cao but not these specific actions by Lady Cai.^{[2][11][12][13]}