Cao Jie

Cao Jie (曹節), formally known as Empress Xianmu (獻穆皇后), is one of Cao Cao's daughters and one of the imperial consorts for Emperor Xian.

Historical Information
Cao Jie (?-260) was Cao Cao's fourth daughter. Her mother is unknown, but most people speculate that she could have been Lady Bian. In 213, she and her sisters, Cao Xian and Cao Hua, became consorts to Emperor Xian. After Cao Cao had angrily executed Empress Fu Shou for conspiring against him, Cao Jie was gradually escalated to empress to replace her and became known as Empress Xianmu.

When Cao Pi abdicated the emperor in 220, he demanded her imperial seal as well. She refused many times, but after several days of persistence, she obeyed. As she did, tears poured down her cheeks as she cried, "Have I been robbed of heaven's fortune?!", which made all observers bow their heads with sympathy. She followed Emperor Xian to Shanyang and was then known as Duchess of Shanyang. By the time of her death, the prestige of the Cao family was nearly absolute.