the throne, this did not stop the other five from plotting their own rise to power. According to the Guanzi, the elderly duke had also to deal with four powerful officials: Tang Wu, the court sorcerer; Yiya, the chief cook; Shu Diao, the chief of the eunuchs; and Gongzi Kaifang, a leading courtier. Shortly before his death, Guan Zhong had advised that they should be sent into exile. Duke Huan did so, but he found himself missing their particular talents at the court and allowed them to return. They then conspired against him, and locked him in his room, secretly starving him to death. Other notable sources for these events, such as the Zuo Zhuan and the Records of the Grand Historian do not mention this purported assassination. Duke Huan of Qi finally died in late 643 BC, and the capital Linzi quickly descended into violence. His six sons, supported by various officials, took up arms against each other in order to size the throne, starting a war of succession. In this chaos, Duke Huan could not be buried and his corpse was left unattended in his bedchamber for between seven days and three months. By the time he was finally encoffined, the corpse had begun to rot. With Duke Huan's sons fighting for the throne, Qi was severely weakened and lost its status as China's predominant state. Although Zhao, by then ruling as Duke Xiao of Qi, eventually attempted to regain his father's hegemony, he failed and Duke Wen of Jin became the next hegemon. Family Wives: Wang Ji, of the Ji clan of Zhou (), a princess of Zhou by birth Xu Ying, of the Ying clan of Xu () Cai Ji, of the Ji clan of Cai () Concubines: Wey Gong Ji, of the Ji clan of Wey (), the mother of Prince Wukui Shao Wey Ji, of the Ji clan of Wey (), the mother of Prince Yuan Zheng Ji, of the Ji clan of Zheng (), the mother of Crown Prince Zhao Ge Ying, of the Ying clan of Ge (), the mother of Prince Pan Mi Ji, of the Ji clan of Mi (), the mother of Prince Shangren Song Hua Zi, of the Zi clan of Song (), the mother of Prince Yong Sons: Prince Wukui (; d. 642 BC), ruled as the Duke of Qi in 642 BC Prince Yuan (; d.