Yang Guifei

The Love That Brought Down an Empire

Prologue

Long ago, in the Tang capital of Chang’an, there lived a woman who could seize everything—and enchant everyone.
Her skin was as pale as falling snow, her fragrance drifted like the blossoms of spring, and with a single, faint smile, she could intoxicate the hearts of all who beheld her.

Her name was Yang Yuhuan, later known as Yang Guifei.
She was the woman who received the full devotion of Emperor Xuanzong and reigned at the height of imperial splendor.
Yet that very love would one day upset the balance of the empire, stir the anger of the people, spill the blood of loyal ministers, and shake the dynasty to its core.

This is the story of a woman whose beauty moved history and brought an empire to its knees.
What is love?
What is sin?
And at the end of glory, what does a person truly behold?

Everything begins in the rising steam of Huaqing Pool
and ends in the winds of Mawei Slope.

Chapter 1: Born Like a Flower

Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an), during the Kaiyuan era.

The Tang Empire had reached the height of its culture and prosperity. Travelers and merchants from every corner of the world gathered in the capital, filling the city with life and energy.

From beyond the grand walls glowing in the setting sun, the scent of tea mingled with the bustle of the crowds, making the city appear like a dreamlike metropolis.

In a noble estate nestled within a corner of Chang’an,

there was born a girl who would one day be known as Yang Yuhuan.

Her family belonged to a distinguished line of high officials, and she grew up in a life of comfort and privilege.

Yuhuan’s mother:

“Oh my, how lovely she is. Her eyes shine like the stars in the night sky.”

Yuhuan’s father:

“Our daughter will surely enchant the entire nation when she grows up. Yes, let us name her Yuhuan—may she be as precious as jade and destined to bring harmony like a perfect circle.”

The young girl smiled with innocent delight.

Yet no one could have imagined that this child would one day become a figure who would alter the course of Tang dynasty history.

Chapter 2: Blossoming Talent, Signs of Fate

As time passed, Yuhuan blossomed into a beautiful young woman in her teens.

Her beauty and intelligence astonished those around her, and her talents—especially in music and dance—were unmatched.

One spring day, during a family gathering, Yuhuan played the pipa and began to dance with graceful lightness.

Guest:

“What a sight… She looks as though a celestial maiden has descended to earth.”

Yuhuan’s father:

“This is our daughter, Yuhuan. She loves music and dance, and practices diligently every day.”

Word of her performance soon spread, reaching even the imperial court.

Thus, the path leading Yuhuan into palace service quietly opened before her.

Chapter 3: The Emperor Xuanzong Encounter

The imperial court.

Not long after Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, the Tang dynasty entered its golden age, later called the “Reign of Kaiyuan.”

Xuanzong loved culture and the arts; poets and musicians gathered within the palace, and banquets were held one after another.

One evening, hearing that a dance performance would be given in a corner of the inner palace, Xuanzong’s interest was piqued.

There, Yuhuan appeared.

Clad in white garments, she moved with graceful fluidity—and Xuanzong’s gaze was instantly captured by her.

Xuanzong:

“…Who is that?”

Attendant:

“She is a young court lady named Yang Yuhuan, Your Majesty. She has recently gained a reputation for her exceptional talent in the arts.”

When the dance ended, and Yuhuan bowed her head, Xuanzong quietly stepped forward and spoke to her.

Xuanzong:

“So your name is Yuhuan. Your dance was like a blossom swaying in the spring breeze. It cleansed the heart.”

Yuhuan bowed deeply.

Yet her heart was pounding.

She had heard tales of what the emperor was like, but the man before her—radiating both dignity and kindness—surpassed every rumor she had been told.

Chapter 4: Love, Jealousy, and Ripples Through the Court

Yang Yuhuan’s brother, Yang Guozhong, rapidly expanded his political power by relying on his sister’s imperial favor.
Yet this soon began to stir growing resentment within the court.

Yang Guozhong:

“My sister is irreplaceable to His Majesty. To insult her is, in effect, to insult the emperor himself.”

The ministers whisper:
“Yang Guozhong’s power has grown far too great… Even His Majesty seems to be bending to his will.”

Meanwhile, there were those who sensed danger in this unfolding situation.

An Lushan.
Though he had devoted himself loyally to Emperor Xuanzong, a growing sense of anxiety had begun to take hold of him.

An Lushan:

“Yang Guozhong seeks to remove me and silence anyone who refuses to bend to his will. If this continues, not only my position, but the very future of the realm will be in danger…”

Yang Guifei’s beauty adorned the Tang court, yet at the same time, it began to stir whirlpools of intrigue and power struggles.

Yuhuan was eventually granted the rank of Guifei, taking the name Yang Guifei.

Her presence soon came to wield extraordinary influence within the inner palace.

Xuanzong’s gaze was always fixed upon Yang Guifei, and simply to see her smile, he commissioned new melodies, arranged splendid performances, and spared no expense in showering her with gifts.

Xuanzong:

“Guifei, when you smile, I feel as though I hold the entire realm in my hands. Everything seems to shine.”

Yang Guifei:

“Your Majesty, I am merely a woman whose only talent is to dance before you. Yet I pray that this happiness may last forever.”

But behind that happiness, the other consorts and nobles of the inner palace had begun to harbor deep jealousy and growing suspicion.

And Yang Guifei’s family, too, quickly gained power under the shelter of Xuanzong’s favor.

Her brother, Yang Guozhong, in particular, rose to the rank of minister and came to wield immense political authority.

Chapter 5: Love, Jealousy, and Turmoil Within the Court

In the palace of Chang’an, within the splendid inner chambers—

Peonies of every color were in full bloom throughout the imperial garden, their elegant fragrance carried gently on the spring breeze.

Moonlight shimmered softly upon the water’s surface, and from afar came the faint sound of a pipa.

There stood Yang Guifei and Emperor Xuanzong.

The two of them spent this beautiful night together, undisturbed by anyone.

Xuanzong:

“Guifei, the time I spend with you is my greatest bliss.”

Yang Guifei:

“Your Majesty, I feel the same. But… I wonder what the ministers think of these extravagant days we share.”

Xuanzong:

“There is no need to concern yourself with what they say. If you are happy, that is enough.”

Saying this, Xuanzong softly drew her close.

Yet behind this moment of happiness, discontent within the palace was growing day by day.

Chapter 6: Xuanzong’s Devotion

As Xuanzong began to neglect his duties and spent more and more time with Yang Guifei in the inner palace, the atmosphere within the court gradually grew tense and uneasy.

The ministers whispered:

“Does His Majesty still intend to fulfill his duties as emperor…?”

“They say he neglected state affairs again last night and spent the night with Yang Guifei at Huaqing Pool…”

One of the ministers:

“For an emperor to lose himself in a single consort… History has rarely seen such a path end well.”

“His Majesty is no longer fitting of his station. He uses his position for personal pleasure. At this rate, the nation will fall into chaos…”

Around this time, a growing unease spread through the court—
a fear that the helm of the nation was beginning to waver.

Chapter 7: Huaqing Pool — The Height of Luxury

When the construction of Huaqing Pool was decided, voices of opposition had already begun to rise within the court.

One of the ministers:
“Does His Majesty understand how much it will cost to construct this palace? This will drain the empire’s treasury.”

Another minister:
“Perhaps this is a beauty capable of toppling a nation…”

Then one of the senior officials:
“Your Majesty, this is extravagance that could destroy the realm! What we need now is stability above all else. I beg you to reconsider.”

However, Xuanzong paid no heed, and construction moved forward.

Huaqing Pool became a lavish hot-spring palace, a place where Yang Guifei and the emperor spent dreamlike days together.

Yet beneath that splendor, resentment continued to smolder…

When the decision to build Huaqing Pool was first made, voices of opposition had already begun to rise within the court.

One day, Xuanzong took Yang Guifei with him to Huaqing Pool.

It was a hot-spring palace built especially for her.

In the gardens of Huaqing Pool—

Yang Guifei stood by the steaming waters, a white silk robe draped over her shoulders, smiling softly.

Yang Guifei:

“Your Majesty… A palace so beautiful, built for me?”

Xuanzong:

“Indeed. So that you will never again be touched by the cold wind. Here, you may rest to your heart’s content.”

Yang Guifei:

“But to build something so extravagant… Surely the ministers will scold you for it…”

Xuanzong:

“It matters not. The ministers may complain, but such things are of no consequence. For you, Guifei, they are insignificant.”

Yet the construction of Huaqing Pool demanded an enormous sum, and the weight of that burden fell heavily upon the common people.

In a corner of the marketplace, an old woman spoke to a young man.

Old woman:
“You’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you? They say His Majesty has built a new palace at Huaqing Pool.”

Young man:
“It’s unfair. We can hardly afford decent food…”
“We work from dawn till dusk, yet why are we still this poor?”

A farmer:
“That’s not all. The taxes have increased again this year… No matter how hard we work, the court’s luxuries only grow.”

Chapter 8: Shadows of Promotion and Jealousy in the Inner Palace

The emperor’s reckless indulgence did not end with the misuse of state funds.

Xuanzong began promoting anyone who pleased Yang Guifei, one after another.

One day, in a secret conversation within the palace—

“Again… His Majesty is favoring yet another person recommended by Yang Guifei.”

“There are countless capable officials in the court, yet promotions are decided not by merit but by her personal whims. Is that not unjust?”

“Especially Yang Guozhong, the chancellor—he holds far too much power simply because he is the Guifei’s brother.”

And within the inner palace, the same dissatisfaction was quietly growing.

One consort lamented:

“Because of that woman, His Majesty no longer even looks our way…”

Another consort lamented:

“It isn’t just that Yang Guifei is excessively favored. Even her family—who have accomplished nothing of note—are gaining power. It’s intolerable.”

Thus, political dissatisfaction and the jealousies of the inner palace intertwined, and Yang Guifei’s very presence intensified the growing conflict within the court.

Chapter 9: The Spark of Power Struggles

What deepened the crisis even further was the strained relationship between Emperor Xuanzong’s trusted general, An Lushan, and Yang Guozhong.

In the palace corridor — a confrontation between An Lushan and Yang Guozhong.

An Lushan:

“Chancellor, it seems you regard me as an enemy.
May I ask why?”

Yang Guozhong:

“The greater your influence grows, the more uneasy those who serve at His Majesty’s side become.
Show loyalty to us, and there will be no trouble.”

An Lushan:

“…Loyalty? You mean I should bow to the Guifei’s family?”

Yang Guozhong:
“Interpret it however you like. But doing so would elevate your position as well.
In truth, it would benefit you more than anyone.”

“And tell me—do you really think you can survive in this court while defying me?
Do not overestimate yourself simply because you are favored by His Majesty.”

An Lushan:

“To wield such power with no real achievements… all because you happen to be the brother of His Majesty’s favored consort. How impressive.”

That night, An Lushan quietly lifted his eyes to the sky and let out a long, heavy sigh.

An Lushan:

“I have sworn my loyalty to Emperor Xuanzong… Yet if Yang Guozhong continues to dominate the court, the nation will surely collapse. But if His Majesty still trusts me…”

Conflict swirled within his heart.
Even so, amid his doubts, he made his decision.

An Lushan:

“I have no desire to bring war upon the land…
But if things continue as they are, the future of the realm is in peril.”

An Lushan drew his sword and glared into the night sky, his resolve hardening.

An Lushan:

“March on Chang’an!
This will be a battle fought for the future of our nation!
Rise—for the sake of our future!”

With that command, the rebel army began its march.

The cries of horses and the clash of weapons echoed through the air—
and thus began the turmoil that would shake the Tang Empire to its core.

A Change in the Court — A Quiet Omen of the Coming Storm

Yang Guifei had begun to sense that such conflict was taking shape.

In the garden at night, she murmured to herself.

Yang Guifei:

“Is it because of me…? Because I entered the palace… that such conflict has arisen?”

Yang Guifei tossed a small stone into the garden pool and quietly watched the ripples spread across the surface.

Yang Guifei:
“Like these ripples… perhaps my very presence is what is unsettling the entire court.”

Lady-in-waiting:
“What are you saying, my lady? To be loved by His Majesty is something to be proud of.”

Yang Guifei:
“If I had never come here… my brother might never have gained such power. And His Majesty… might never have neglected his duties.”

Yang Guifei:

“Love alone… cannot protect a nation, can it…?”

From this time onward, a shadow of unease began to fall over Yang Guifei’s heart.

Soon, this quiet struggle within the palace would grow into a conflict that engulfed the entire Tang Empire.

Chapter 10: The Empire in Collapse

Yang Guifei’s presence, while once a pillar of the Tang dynasty’s prosperity, also intensified the power struggles within the court, and in time, she became the spark that set the entire nation trembling.

She was loved as part of the Tang dynasty’s glory, yet at the same time, she became a symbol of its collapse as well…

—The An Lushan Rebellion (755) erupted.

An Lushan and Shi Siming rose in revolt and began their march toward Chang’an.

An Lushan’s forces advanced like a raging tide, breaking through defensive strongholds one after another.

Upon hearing the news, the people of Chang’an were seized with terror, and riots broke out in the streets as crowds fought desperately for food.

Xuanzong ordered the reorganization of the military, but unrest had already begun to spread within the palace.

The officials:

“Your Majesty, Chang’an cannot hold any longer!”
“The rebel forces are already approaching the city gates!”

The city gates were breached, and enemy soldiers poured into Chang’an.

On the battlefield, swords and spears clashed, and arrows rained down like a storm.

Flames engulfed the city gates as the guards made their final stand, but they were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of An Lushan’s troops.

The rebel army plundered the palace, and the streets of Chang’an were stained with blood.

The officials who failed to escape were captured—some were executed, while others bent to the will of their new rulers.

In the chaos, nobles abandoned their estates and fled in desperation, while commoners turned into mobs, fighting one another for food.

Chang’an, once a city of splendor, was swallowed by flames and screams.

The citizens of Chang’an wandered in despair, walking silently between the bodies that lay across the streets.

The city’s former liveliness was gone; only the drifting ashes on the wind whispered of its past prosperity.

The once-glorious capital had fallen to ruin.

Xuanzong was shaken to his core.

Xuanzong:

“Abandon Chang’an. There is no other choice…”

With the rebel army’s unstoppable advance toward the capital, Xuanzong had no choice but to flee.
His ministers followed his decision, and members of the imperial family and high-ranking officials hurriedly departed the palace.

Even Yang Guifei could hear the distant cries of chaos echoing through the air.

Yang Guifei:

“Is this… my fault?”

In Yang Guifei’s mind, the quiet days she had spent with Xuanzong at Huaqing Pool rose back to the surface.

The carriage creaked as it pushed through the darkness of the wilderness.
Outside, sand swirled in violent gusts, and the wind lashed against the curtains.

With trembling fingers, Yang Guifei gently lifted the edge of the curtain and looked toward the sky behind them.
The direction of Chang’an glowed red—like an enormous blossom of fire blooming in the night.

The sight tightened her chest with unbearable sorrow.

Yang Guifei:

“—Was it our indulgence… that provoked the people’s anger…?”

The tranquil days at Huaqing Pool returned to her mind.
The fragrances the emperor had commissioned for her, the jewels adorning her chambers, the music, the feasts.
Each time Xuanzong smiled, it had seemed as if the world itself was blessing her.

But now, all of that felt painfully distant.

Yang Guifei:

“His Majesty loved me…
But was that… a love that doomed the empire…?”

The moment she spoke the words aloud, something twisted deep in her chest.
With every jolt of the carriage, waves of regret crashed over her.

Thunder rumbled in the distance.
No—perhaps it was the sound of gunpowder.
A cold wind swept into the carriage, making the sleeves of her robe tremble.

Once, she was a woman who enjoyed absolute favor within the splendid palace—
And now she was merely a single, helpless figure driven into flight by a nation in chaos.

That truth cut the deepest of all.

The days when she had been cherished above all others in the dazzling palace now drifted away like a fading dream.

Outside, the wind howled, and sand rose in swirling clouds.

Yang Guifei:
“Your Majesty… I am frightened. Is my family safe?”

Xuanzong:
“Guifei, I will quell this rebellion and reclaim Chang’an. I will restore peaceful days for you once more…”

Yet the situation only continued to worsen.

Chapter 11: The Tragedy at Mawei Slope

Yang Guifei was about to face her destined end at Mawei Slope.

Upon their arrival at Mawei, the soldiers—led by Chen Xuanli, who harbored deep hatred for Yang Guifei’s brother, Yang Guozhong, believing him the true cause of the rebellion—seized Yang Guozhong and the Lady of Han, killing them on the spot.

But it did not end there.

Ahead of them, the sudden roar of enraged soldiers split the air.

A soldier

“Stop!!”

The imperial guards had erupted into unrest.
But this was no ordinary confusion—
within their voices churned a mixture of rage and hatred.

One of Xuanzong’s close attendants hurried to him in panic.

One of Xuanzong’s close attendants:

“Your Majesty… there is unrest spreading among the soldiers…!”

Xuanzong:

“What?”

The moment Xuanzong frowned,
The distant shouts swelled—growing louder and rushing toward them.

Soldiers:

“Yang clan is the cause of the An Lushan Rebellion!!”
“It is Yang Guifei who brought ruin upon the empire!!”
“Our homes burned—because of that woman!!”

—The thud of spear shafts striking the ground.
—The hard scrape of blades being drawn.
—The heavy footsteps of soldiers closing in.

A wave of hatred surged forward, ready to swallow the carriage whole.

Xuanzong’s face drained of color in an instant.

Xuanzong:

“Protect the consort…! What are you doing!!”

But the soldiers’ fury was beyond anyone’s control.
They had lost families, seen their hometowns burned, and watched their nation crumble.
Their anguish demanded a target—
and they could not stop themselves from turning it upon Yang Guifei.

A voice rose above all others.

The soldiers:

“Hand over the consort!!”
“As long as she lives, our hatred will never fade!!”
“The Yang clan is the evil that destroyed the realm!!”

Yang Guifei’s chest tightened painfully.
With trembling fingers, she grasped Xuanzong’s arm and whispered softly.

Yang Guifei:

“…So it has finally come… the price of my sins…”

The wind carried her faint words away.

There was no longer anywhere to run.

The soldiers pressed toward Xuanzong, demanding that he answer for the chaos that had engulfed the realm.

The soldiers:
“All of this began with Yang Guifei. The emperor neglected his duties because of her, and her family seized control of the court—all of it started when she arrived. Therefore, she shares the same guilt. The nation fell into chaos because of her. She deserves death as well.”

Xuanzong’s eyes widened as he fiercely protested.

Xuanzong:

“Are you serious!? What crime has the consort committed? It was Yang Guozhong who committed treason! And when he rebelled, Yang Guifei was in the inner palace, far removed from any scheme. She had nothing to do with his actions whatsoever!”

A soldier:

“We understand what you are saying, Your Majesty. But the men will not accept it. The enemy is nearly upon us. At this rate, our lines will break! If you do not make a decision now, we will all die here!”

Yang Guifei gently tugged at Xuanzong’s sleeve and, with a faint smile, spoke.

Yang Guifei:

“Your Majesty… I understand everything now.
Please… sentence me to death.”

Xuanzong:
“What are you saying!? Do you understand the words you speak!? You were not the one who rebelled!”

Yang Guifei:
“I understand. But the people will not accept that. It is true that I have failed to live up to the nation’s grace. So I will bear no resentment, even in death. And if I do not die… everyone here will.”

Xuanzong:
“Guifei… I could not protect you. Though I am the emperor, I… failed you.”

Yang Guifei:
“It’s all right. Please… take care of yourself. Restore the Tang dynasty. That is all I wish for. My memories with you are enough.”

She did not shed a single tear.
If she cried, Xuanzong would break.

Steadying her faint, trembling breath, she spoke softly—
as if surrendering herself to fate.

Yang Guifei:

“Your Majesty, I was happy.
But… it is time for us to part.”

At those words, Xuanzong could no longer restrain his tears.
The duty of an emperor and the love of a single man clashed violently within his heart.
But history offers no mercy.
The soldiers’ impatience, anger, and fear stripped the emperor of any choice.
To quell the rebellion, only one decision remained.

A gust of wind blew, and the flames of the torches wavered—
as if the light of her life itself were flickering.

She closed her eyes quietly and accepted her fate.

In her final moments, fragments of happiness resurfaced like a lantern-lit procession of memories:

—The spring evening when she took Xuanzong’s hand and danced beside him.
—The casual conversations they shared while soaking in the warm waters of Huaqing Pool.
—The moment she gently lifted a peony petal in the palace garden.
—Yet she knew… those days of happiness would never return.

All of it felt dreamlike—beautiful, and heartbreakingly fleeting.

A rope was placed around Yang Guifei’s neck, and Gao Lishi tightened it in a single, swift motion.

As her consciousness began to fade, Yang Guifei reached out her hand softly.

But her fingertips found nothing—
They grasped only empty air.

A life once beautiful as a blossom
vanished like petals swept away by the wind.

When her life slipped away, a quiet wind passed through—
And above, the sky over Chang’an stretched endlessly blue.

Chapter 12: Xuanzong in Grief, and the Birth of the Song of Everlasting Sorrow

After losing Yang Guifei, Xuanzong sank into deep sorrow—even after returning to Chang’an.

The sounds of banquets, the melodies of music—
Now they echoed only in emptiness.

At night, Xuanzong would sit alone in the dark throne hall and close his eyes.

—Why… why could I not protect her that day?
—Why did I allow such a fate to fall upon her?

Regret seeped deeply into his aging heart,
and the weight of it pressed down upon the shoulders of the man who was supposed to be emperor—
quietly, yet inexorably.

Xuanzong:

“Guifei… I could not protect you…”

His words were swallowed by the hollow walls of the palace.

The regret of failing to shield the woman he loved when it mattered most
tormented him day after day.

The chaos after the rebellion continued, and the splendor of the court faded away.

Xuanzong lost the strength he once possessed, and in time, he passed from this world as the Retired Emperor.

Many poets later wove this tragedy into verse and story.

Among them, Bai Juyi’s poem The Song of Everlasting Sorrow vividly portrayed the deep love between Yang Guifei and Xuanzong, as well as the tragedy that befell them.
It became a masterpiece passed down through the generations.

Final Chapter: The Flower That Blooms Forever

People still say:

“She was the radiant symbol of the Tang Empire.”

And at the same time,

“She was the most tragic beauty of all.”

Even today, visitors come to Mawei Slope to mourn Yang Guifei.

As people recall her dances, her smile, and her fleeting death,
they whisper countless what-ifs:

“What if the rebellion had never begun…?”

“What if the soldiers had spared her that day…?”

But in history, there are no what-ifs.

Yang Guifei, forever dancing in the heavens, continues to captivate, to sadden, and to console all who remember her—
transcending the flow of time itself.

Her life, which shone brightly and vanished alongside the Tang Empire, remains even now a symbol of incomparable beauty and unforgettable tragedy.

Afterword

Viewed as a whole, Yang Guifei’s life becomes a grand tale where love and power, splendor and tragedy intertwine.

・The dazzling life of the imperial court and a profound, devoted love
・Political intrigue and fierce struggles for power
・A sudden outbreak of war, and the heartbreaking decision that cost him the woman he loved

These threads weave together into a story that, even after more than a thousand years, continues to move the hearts of all who hear it.

Her beauty—and the sorrow born from that very beauty—still stirs people’s souls like a deep, inexhaustible river that sweeps all who gaze upon it.