Monogamy is a system in today's society, but it is rare in ancient times, especially in imperial homes. As emperor, Ming Xiaozong only married one wife of Empress Zhang, and the two husband and wife were like ordinary people, and after marriage, they jointly gave birth to two sons and a daughter.
Ming Xiaozong was extremely fond of Empress Zhang, and also attached great importance to Empress Zhang's family. Making an exception to posthumously crown Empress Zhang's father as the Duke of Changguo, her two younger brothers were also honored and favored, Zhang Heling was made Marquis of Shouning, and Zhang Yanling was named Jianchangbo. Because of Empress Zhang, even if the Zhang family was unscrupulous, he never cared about it. This caused the Zhang brothers' domineering personalities, who oppressed the people, encroached on the fields, and killed people. Officials in the dynasty often went to impeachment, but they were suppressed by Empress Zhang.
What's more, during a family gathering, the Zhang brothers took a crown and put it on their heads, and the eunuch He Ding stopped it, and He Ding died within a few days. With Empress Zhang's protection, the Zhang Shi brothers were naturally not afraid of anything. However, the honor and favor of the Zhang family also disappeared with the accession of the Jiajing Emperor to the throne. Empress Zhang's son Emperor Wuzong Ming had no sons under his knees, and after his death, he could only make Jiajing emperor, and Jiajing's mother was also canonized as Empress Dowager Jiang. However, at this time, Empress Dowager Zhang had no respect for Empress Dowager Jiang, knowing that Jiajing was a well-known filial son, and naturally could not see her mother being humiliated. Coupled with Empress Dowager Zhang's two younger brothers, he arrested the Zhang brothers for treason. Empress Zhang could only kneel in front of Jiaqing in shabby clothes to beg for mercy for her two younger brothers, but Jia Jiajing was unmoved.
I think that if there were more sisters in the harem of Ming Xiaozong, they would definitely not favor Empress Zhang alone. Then the Zhang brothers can also converge a little, which has also become a stain on Ming Xiaozong. And Ming Xiaozong's two sons, one of them died early, as for Ming Wuzong did not leave a son and a half daughter, according to historical records, he even recruited pregnant women into the palace, but still had no children, should be infertile, is also regrettable.