A person from Yongle, Puzhou in the Tang Dynasty (now Yijin in Shanxi). Entered the palace in the fourth year of Tianbao (745), was favored by Emperor Xuanzong, and was enfeoffed as a concubine. (At that time, Emperor Xuanzong was 61 years old, and the concubine was 27.) Her father and brothers thus gained great power. Every time the concubine rode a horse, the eunuch Gao Lishi personally held her whip. She had 700 weavers for her clothes, and many people vied to present precious treasures. Zhang Jiu Zhang, the military governor of Lingnan, and Wang Yi, the prefect of Guangling, were promoted because they presented exquisite gifts. Thus, officials throughout the court imitated this behavior. Yang Guifei loved lychees from Lingnan, so people went to great lengths to transport fresh lychees to Chang'an.

"Shameful flower" refers to Yang Guifei. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Minghuang was indulgent and luxurious, sending people to search everywhere for beautiful women. At that time, Yang Yuanyan of Hongnong County in Shudi had a beautiful daughter named Yang Yuhuan, who was selected to enter the palace. After entering the palace, Yang Yuhuan missed her hometown. One day, she went to the garden to enjoy the flowers and relieve her mind, seeing blooming peonies and roses... thinking about being locked up in the palace, wasting her youth, she sighed deeply, saying to the blooming flowers: "Flower, flower! You have the chance to bloom every year, but when will I have my day?" She cried while speaking, and as soon as she touched the flower, its petals immediately closed, and the green leaves curled down. She had touched a sensitive plant. A palace maid saw this and spread the word that Yang Yuhuan was more beautiful than the flowers, causing them to bow their heads in shame. This story reached the ears of Emperor Minghuang, who was very happy. He immediately summoned Yang Yuhuan to appear before him. After dressing up and washing herself, Yang Yuhuan entered the court. Emperor Minghuang saw her and found her extremely beautiful, so he kept her by his side. Because Yang Yuhuan was good at flattering and winning favor, she won the Emperor's favor greatly, and soon she was promoted to concubine. After becoming powerful, Yang Guifei conspired with her brother Yang Guozhong, manipulating power and plotting against loyal ministers. When the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, Emperor Minghuang fled west with Yang Guifei and the ministers. An Lushan pursued them, not only wanting the country of Tang but also the beauty Yang Guifei. On the way of fleeing, the ministers questioned Emperor Minghuang, saying that the country was destroyed and the family was ruined, the state could not survive, whether he wanted the country or Yang Guifei, if Yang Guifei did not die, they would all go their separate ways. In desperation, Emperor Minghuang ordered Yang Guifei to die, and she was hanged under a pear tree in the orchard. Later, the great poet Bai Juyi wrote a poem called "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow," which records this history.

After the An Lushan Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong fled Chang'an. On the way to Ma嵬po, the six armies refused to move forward, claiming that it was because Yang Guozhong (the maternal uncle of the concubine) had connections with the Hu people, which led to An Lushan's rebellion. To calm the soldiers' hearts, Emperor Xuanzong had Yang Guozhong killed. The six armies still refused to move forward, claiming that since Yang Guozhong was the maternal uncle of the concubine, the concubine was also guilty. Therefore, the concubine was also hanged to death at a roadside shrine. The An Lushan Rebellion had nothing to do with Yang Guifei; she became a scapegoat for Emperor Xuanzong.