Although Gao Yang is extremely cruel, he has deep feelings for his wife Li Zu'e. Li Zu'e bore Gao Yang two sons, the eldest son Gao Yin and the second son Gao Shaode. Gao Yin was made crown prince. In 559, Gao Yang, who was full of blood, fell ill and could not eat, and after a few days of hunger, he finally died. On his deathbed, he was worried that the young prince would not be able to cope with the many uncles who were watching the throne, and repeatedly instructed his half-brothers Gao Yan and Gao Zhan to support the prince well, and finally said to Gao Yan: "If you want to take it, take it, but don't kill him." ”
After Gao Yang's death, the crown prince Gao Yin succeeded to the throne, Li Zu'e became the empress dowager, and Gao Yang's mother became the empress dowager. The empress dowager's power in the dynasty was far greater than that of Li Zu'e, and Gao Yin's throne was in jeopardy. Li Zu'e found several close ministers and discussed transferring Gao Yan and Gao Zhan out of the imperial court, and then managed to kill the empress dowager. The news soon reached the empress dowager, and as a result, Gao Yin was deposed as the king of Jinan, expelled from the palace, and Gao Yan became the emperor of Northern Qi. There is no affection in front of the right, the uncle did not spare the nephew in the end, and Gao Yin was quickly killed. Li Zu'e moved to the Cold Palace and tasted the pain of losing her son alone.
Gao Yan had only been emperor for two years, when he fell from a horse during a hunt and was seriously injured, and then died after ineffective medical treatment. Under the auspices of empress dowager, Gao Yang's younger brother Gao Zhan succeeded to the throne and became the new Emperor of Northern Qi.
Gao Zhan's canonization of Hu as empress as an empress showed his grace, but Empress Hu's palace was empty, because Gao Zhan always coveted the beautiful Li Zu'e and slept every day in the Zhaoxin Palace of his sister-in-law Li Zu'e. Originally, Li Zu'e strongly refused Gao Zhan in view of her uncle's name, but Gao Zhan's words made her give up resistance: "Do you still want your son to live?" ”
Li Zu'e only has the last son Gao Shaode left, which is her dependence and hope for the second half of her life, without a son, she has nothing. Li Zu'e became Gao Zhan's de facto concubine. Not long after, Li Zu'e became pregnant and gradually became less mobile. For this nameless child in her belly, Li Zu'e was both shocked and afraid. She couldn't go out all day, and she didn't allow others to step into the Zhaoxin Palace, and even Gao Shaode came to visit, but she was stopped outside the palace gate by the guards.