The Shiji says a physician with five daughters and no son was sentenced to mutilation, and his youngest daughter's petition ended the punishment

The Shiji of Sima Qian puts two physicians in one chapter, and both stories turn on secret prescriptions passed outside the family. It says the old master Changsang Jun told Bian Que, "I have secret prescriptions; I am old and want to pass them to you; do not leak them," and gave him all his books. Later Li Xi, chief physician of the state of Qin, knew his own skill was less and had Bian Que assassinated. The second physician, Chunyu Yi, known as Cang Gong, was granary chief of Qi. His teacher Yang Qing, over seventy and without sons, made him throw out his old methods, gave him all his secret prescriptions, and warned him never to let Yang Qing's own descendants know. In the fourth year of Emperor Wen someone accused Cang Gong, and he was sentenced to be sent west to Chang'an for punishment. His five daughters followed him, weeping. He cursed that he had daughters and no son to help him in trouble. His youngest daughter, Tiying, went west with him and petitioned the emperor. She offered to become a government slave to redeem her father's punishment. The Shiji says the emperor was moved and that in the same year the law of mutilating punishments was abolished.