Empress Zhangxian Mingsu

Empress Zhangxian Mingsu (969-1033 AD) was an orphan who learned to sing and play the hand drum. Later she became one of the palace musicians who played for the emperor. The young prince (who later became Emperor Zhen Zhong) fell in love with her and later on married her. The last two years of his life, he was very sick and she helped lead the country. After he died she led the country until her son was old enough to become the emperor. She's one of a very few ladies who became empress and ruled the country.