Lady Bian

empress dowager noblewoman

Cao Wei (primary)

• Chapter 68 — Gan Ning's Hundred Horsemen Raid The Northern Camp; Zuo Ci's Flung-Down Cup Fools Cao Cao.
  Mother of Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Xiong — elevated from concubine to Queen of Wei in place of the childless Lady Ding.
• Chapter 78 — Treating A Headache, A Famous Physician Dies; Giving The Last Words, The Crafty Hero Departs.
  Named in the will as mother of the four sons — and at Yejun the officers wait on her word, as Princess-Mother, before daring the investiture.
• Chapter 79 — Brother Oppressing Brother: Cao Zhi Composes Poems; Nephew Harming Uncle: Liu Feng Receives Punishment.
  Twice her sons' shield: comes weeping from her palace to beg Cao Zhi's life — 'spare his life that I may close my eyes in peace' — and emerges again at the poem's end: 'should the elder brother thus oppress the younger?'