Wax Goose Incident

The fate played tricks on people, and a ridiculous behavior led to the downfall of the Southern Liang Crown Prince, which is known as the Wax Goose Incident. In the seventh year of the Common Era (526), the birth mother of Crown Prince Xiao Tong, Ding Guipin, passed away. He sent people to search everywhere and purchased a cemetery. At this moment, someone bribed eunuch Yu Sanfu to help sell their land. Vice Minister Yu San secretly explained to Emperor Wu of Liang, "The land obtained by the Crown Prince is not now in the imperial good." Emperor Wu of Liang then sent someone to buy this land and buried Ding Guipin. After the burial, a Taoist said to the Crown Prince, "The land is not favorable for the eldest son. If he is unwilling to surrender, he may apply for extension." The Crown Prince then buried the wax goose and other prayer items in the position of the eldest son. A eunuch beside the Crown Prince, due to falling out of favor, secretly reported this matter to Emperor Wu of Liang. Emperor Wu was furious and wanted to investigate. Xu Mian tried his best to advise, but Emperor Wu gave up and ordered the execution of the Taoist priest. From then on, the Crown Prince felt ashamed, worried, and angry, unable to understand himself, and passed away two years later.