Empress Zhang

Empress Zhang is the name given to a group of characters in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. They are an empresses of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and a wives of Liu Shan. In the Dynasty Warriors series, She is given the fictional name called Xingcai in the games.

Empress Jing'ai
Zhang's father is Shu General Zhang Fei, and her mother is Lady Xiahou, a daughter of Xiahou Yuan. She married Liu Shan in at the request of Liu Bei. When Liu Shan became Crown Prince, she received the title of Crown Princess.

In the same year she lost her father when he was murdered by his subordinates. When Liu Bei died in 223, Liu Shan became emperor and made her empress. Empress Zhang had no children. She is died in 237.

Empress Zhang
Liu Shan's first wife, Empress Jing'ai, was her sister. She was also a daughter of Zhang Fei and Lady Xiahou, a daughter of Xiahou Dun. When her sister died in 237, Liu Shan adopted her as a concubine. The next year, he elevated her to empress.

Empress Zhang, much like her predecessor, but had no children. After the kingdom was lost to Wei, she and her husband were called to the Wei capital, Luoyang. Since her husband was appointed Prince of Anle, she became princess. While her date of death is unknown.

Dynasty Warriors
In this incarnation, Empress Zhang is named Xingcai. She is a daughter of Zhang Fei and Xiahou Ji, a younger sister of Zhang Bao, and the wife of Liu Shan. For it would be shown Xingcai to be a mentally resilient woman who while bears the responsibility of enduring several hardships. While many worry for her safety, but her strong determination prevents her from depending too much on them.

It was known that her relationship with Guan Ping can be interpreted as close comradeship or a budding romance, particularly in the earlier games. Both warriors are the same age, act very respectfully to one another, and that share similar responsibilities to their country. However, after Liu Shan is first appeared in Dynasty Warriors 7, equal, if not greater focus has been given to her role as his closest and most loyal retainer, and possible love interest.

Trivia

 * Xingcai is reminiscent of Aqua from the Kingdom Hearts series.