Xiao Zhengde (- 549) was a Liang dynasty imperial clansman and usurper. He had an affair with his sister, the Princess Changle. When her husband died, they hatched a plan together. Zhengde killed a maidservant and dressed her in his sister's clothing and jewelry. He then burned the maid's corpse to a crisp and set fire to the princess' mansion, announcing to everyone that Changle has died in the fire. Changle then called herself "Lady Liu" and openly married her brother. Their son, Xiao Jianli, was even recognized as his father's heir.
The servants in the household obviously recognized who "Lady Liu" is and soon the matter became known to everyone in the capital save the emperor. No one dared denouncing Zhengde because the scandal will bring the imperial family to disrepute. Once, Zhengde took a prized pheasant from an official named Zhang Zhun. The indignant Zhang Zhun, during a court ceremony, openly confronted Zhengde, screaming, "My pheasant is not the mistress Changle, why do you covet it so?" The crown prince, who already knew what was going on, ordered the matter to be settled before it reaches the emperor. Zhang Zhun got back his pheasant.
by vnth93