Yuchi Jiong
Emperor Xuan died in summer 580, and the official Yang Jian, the father of Emperor Xuan's wife Empress Yang Lihua, seized power as regent. The general Yuchi Jiong, suspicious of Yang's intentions, rose against Yang, and Empress Sima's father Sima Xiaonan and another general, Wang Qian (王謙), rose in support. Sima Xiaonan, then the governor of Xun Province (勛州, roughly modern Xiaogan, Hubei), also offered to submit to Chen dynasty, along with the nine provinces he controlled. Yuchi was soon defeated, however, as was Sima, and Sima fled to Chen. Yang then had Empress Sima deposed and reduced to commoner in rank.