One exception was Concubine Qi, whom Lü Zhi greatly resented because of the dispute over the succession between Liu Ruyi (Qi's son) and Liu Ying.
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In his late years, Emperor Gaozu started favouring one of his younger consorts, Concubine Qi, who bore him a son Liu Ruyi, who was instated as Prince of Zhao in 198 BC, displacing Lü Zhi's son-in-law Zhang Ao (張敖; Princess Yuan of Lu's husband).
He felt that Liu Ying, his heir apparent who was born to the empress, was too weak to be a ruler, so he had the intention of deposing Liu Ying and replacing him with another son, Liu Ruyi, who born to Concubine Qi.