According to historical records, Princess Huyang's name is Liu Huang, and she is Liu Xiu's eldest sister. When Liu Xiu was a child, Princess Huyang took care of Liu Xiu in every possible way, so Liu Xiu and Princess Huyang have deep feelings for each other. This also led to the hubris of Princess Huyang after Liu Xiu became emperor.
Princess Huyang's domestic slave killed and fled, forcing Dong Xuan to arrest her personally, thus offending Princess Huyang. For this reason, Liu Xiu also asked Dong Xuan to apologize to her sister. Of course, Dong Xuanning refused to die. Liu Xiu was a wise gentleman and did not punish Dong Xuan, but she did not punish her sister who sheltered the domestic slave at all. This shows that Princess Huyang is arrogant and domineering.
After her husband died, Princess Huyang became a widow. At that time, there was no such thing as "three obedience and four virtues", and Princess Huyang was free to find new happiness. Therefore, Princess Huyang wants to find a Mr. Right with both talents and looks among the civil and military officials, and spend the rest of her life. Liu Xiu, Guangwu Emperor, also supported her sister's idea, and asked her to choose among the officials at will. After the selection, Liu Xiu would personally go to matchmaking.
After observing the civil and military officials, Princess Huyang took a fancy to Song Hong, a handsome minister, and said, "Song Gongwei's Rong De wares are beyond the reach of all the officials." Song Hong is from Chang 'an, a famous family, and Song Hong's father is Song Shang, who lives in a small government. Song Hong himself is also a very great figure. He is not only handsome, but also honest, affectionate and righteous. He is one of the three officials in the imperial court and has a high position. Princess Huyang has a very good eye for choosing Song Hong as her next husband.
It's a pity that Princess Huyang ignored the most important point. Song Hong had a wife at that time, and Song Hong's wife was his wife. But Princess Huyang ignored this point artificially. Maybe she felt that as long as she had a crush on Song Hong and her brother Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu came forward to match-make, Song Hong must have dared not violate the imperial edict, right? When Liu Xiu learned that her sister liked Song Hong, she found an opportunity to talk to Song Hong euphemistically: "As the saying goes, when people get rich, they will change their friends, and when they get rich, they will change their wives. Isn't this human nature?"
Song Hong is very clever. He has heard the rumor that Princess Huyang wants to be her husband for a long time. Now, when Liu Xiu says this, his heart suddenly understands. When he saw Liu Xiu testing himself so gently, he replied euphemistically, "I can't forget the friendship between the poor and the humble, and the wife of the dross can't leave the court." After listening to Song Hong's words, Liu Xiu knew that Song Hong was a man who attached great importance to feelings and righteousness, and would not abandon his wife and become his brother-in-law.
So Liu Xiu turned around and said to Princess Huyang who was eavesdropping behind the screen, "Sister, this can't be done!" Princess Huyang was very sad about this. Later, she actually didn't get married again, but went to a monastery. Liu Xiu is a great monarch. He didn't force Song Hong to marry Princess Huyang. However, five years later, Song Hong was relieved of his position as a general by Liu Xiu. The apparent reason was Song Hong's unfounded interrogation of Shangdang satrap, but this was not a big fault and he would not be relieved of his post. Is it because Song Hong didn't marry Princess Huyang and hurt Princess Huyang's heart? Liu Xiu was keen for her sister and took the opportunity to retaliate against Song Hong? Very likely!