Know all about the secrets of the harem

Chapter 40
In order to eliminate the possible negative political impact of this move, Xiao Zhuang chose the Borjijin family, the daughter of Horqin Dorobele in Mongolia, to enter the palace as his concubine.But Fulin was also not interested in this beautiful girl who came out of the yurt. Instead, she fell in love with Fujin Dong'e, a half-brother of Bomu Boguer.Dong E's family belonged to Zhengbai Banner in Manchuria. His father, E Shuo, served as an internal minister and was granted the title of third-class uncle (the same rank).Dong E's family is not only proficient in poetry, but also has a docile personality, a dignified appearance, and a very elegant demeanor.In the [-]th year of Shunzhi, she was selected as a beautiful woman (Qing Dynasty: Manchu women must make a book and report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the year of application, and they will be selected every three years to enrich the harem or assign the emperor's son) and betrothed to Bomu Boguoer, the last son of Huang Taiji.Bomuboguoer often went out to the army, and Dong E's family went to the palace to serve the concubine, met and fell in love with Fulin.Aware of this dangerous seedling, Xiaozhuang immediately took measures, announcing that he would stop the old practice of ordering women to serve him, to "strictly guard the body and eliminate suspicion", and at the same time quickly married his son, and the Borzijin family became the second queen.

But all this can't stop Fulin's fascination with Dong E's.In order to get more opportunities to get close to Dong E's family, in February of the 12th year of Shunzhi (1655), Fulin named Bomu Boguoer as Prince Heshuoxiang to show his favor.Later, Bomu Bogor learned the inside story and reprimanded Dong E angrily.Knowing about this, Fulin slapped his younger brother, and Bomuboguer committed suicide in shame and indignation—this happened in July of the 13th year of Shunzhi (1656).This matter is also speculation, without any historical data to support it.

This kind of thing happened in the palace, and it would be disgraceful to spread it out. Xiaozhuang quietly dealt with this matter: Bomuboguer mourned according to the prince's style, and when the 27-day mourning period expired, Dong E was taken into the palace , made her a virtuous concubine, and a month later, according to her son's wish, she was promoted to be an imperial concubine.

The imperial concubine's status in the harem is second only to the empress, but Fulin's affection for Dong E's family has reached the point where it cannot be increased.He believed that Dong E's family was virtuous and talented, and he was the ideal candidate for the queen, so he planned to abolish the queen for the second time.If Fulin is abolished again and the Dong E family is established, the Mongolian woman loses the position of the master of the middle palace, which will definitely affect the relationship between Manchu and Mongolia, and shake the foundation of the Qing Empire. Xiaozhuang did not hesitate to restrain his son's actions .As a result, a estrangement appeared between mother and child. Emperor Shunzhi even blatantly ordered the removal of the Mongolian characters on the plaque of the Taimiao. The Mongolian queen who lived in the emotional desert was not at all grateful to her mother-in-law who arranged her own destiny. , All were collected on the queen mother, and even the queen mother fell ill, and did not go to greet her.For all this, Xiaozhuang endured.Tolerance and understanding is her principle.This delicate and tense relationship between mother-son-mother-in-law and daughter-in-law lasted for five or six years. Fortunately, she had many years of political experience and a resolute character, so that the foundation of the Qing Empire would not be shaken by the turmoil of the harem.

Fulin and the Empress may not understand Xiaozhuang's painstaking efforts, but Dong E, who is understanding and humane, can understand Xiaozhuang's difficulties. unattainable effect.Only in this way, Xiaozhuang always consulted Dong E's for anything, and always talked to his daughter-in-law if he had anything to say, so that in the end, the mother-in-law almost couldn't leave her daughter-in-law.

In October of the 14th year of Shunzhi (1657), Dong E gave birth to a son, who unfortunately died four months later. The grief of losing her son made her depressed and ill, and the mental burden of the court conflicts made her sick body even more debilitated. win weak.In August of the 17th year of Shunzhi (1660), Dong Eshi died of illness.The emperor was hit by this, and his spirit was slumped. He was sick and lifeless, and died of pox within half a year.

Before Fulin's death, he left a will, and the 8-year-old third son Xuan Ye succeeded the emperor and changed his name to Kangxi.In order to avoid a repeat of the tragedy of the regent's dictatorship, the emperor deliberately left aside the royal princes and arranged for four veteran Manchurian ministers loyal to the royal family, Sonny, Ye Bilong, Suke Saha, and Aobai to assist the government.At that time, a scholar named Zhou Nan from Anhui traveled all the way to Beijing and asked the empress dowager to listen to the government behind the curtain, but Xiaozhuang refused.Because at the beginning of the founding of the Qing Dynasty, it summed up the lessons of foreign relatives' meddling in politics that led to the subjugation of the country in history, and stipulated that concubines should not be in charge of the court. Although Xiaozhuang had enough reputation and qualifications to be in the court at that time, once this example is opened, it may affect future generations in the future.Therefore, she insisted on the system of ministers losing power, and entrusted the government to the four ministers, while she devoted herself to training her grandson and cultivating his ability to govern the country so that he could take on the important task of ruling the huge empire after taking charge.Unexpectedly, Shunzhi chose someone who was not human, and the duplicitous Oboi soon revealed his domineering and violent nature, bullying the emperor's youth and ignorance, planting party members, repelling dissidents, and taking over the government, as if he was regent.

Oboi was born in the army, and he was very uncomfortable with the practice of absorbing Han culture and changing the etiquette system during the Shunzhi Dynasty. The ban on enclosing land again, taking advantage of the opportunity of the exchange of flags and land, expanded the enclosure and displaced a large number of farmers.Oboi's perverse behavior aroused dissatisfaction from the government and the public, but most people were frightened by Aoboi's despotic power and did not dare to speak out.Among the auxiliary ministers, Sonny is old and timid, E Bilong is weak and attached to Oboi, and the only one who dares to stand up to Oboi is Suksaha, who has only junior qualifications and has been under pressure.

In the sixth year of Kangxi (1667), Xuan Ye was 14 years old and ruled in person as usual.But Aobai not only did not restrain himself, but intensified it.Because Su Kesaha was oppressed by Oboi, he took advantage of the opportunity of the emperor to be in charge and resigned from Shangzuo.Request to guard the mausoleum of the first emperor, "so that you can survive like a thread, so that you can live a whole life."In fact, he protested to the emperor against Oboi's arbitrariness.Aobai also knew Su Hazak's intentions. Together with his party, he fabricated 24 major crimes against Su Hazak, arrested Su and put him in prison, and sentenced him to death.Suhazak sent a complaint from the prison, and the emperor was informed that he resolutely disagreed, and Aobai competed to "struggle before the emperor, playing hard for days", and finally, Suhazak was hanged, implicated in the nine clans, and lost his family property.The existence of Oboi has become a threat to the emperor's authority, but Oboi's wings are already established, and if he is not handled properly, it may lead to drastic changes.How to solve this problem?Xiaozhuang at this time had considerable experience in these issues.She quietly took care of her impetuous grandson, asking him to bear everything and at the same time arrange it without showing any trace.I don’t know from which day, a group of teenagers appeared in the palace, specializing in Buku (Manchu: wrestling), saying that the emperor liked this kind of Buku play.For a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, this was completely understandable, so no one thought much about it.Just when everyone was accustomed to court operas; one day in May of the eighth year of Kangxi (1669), when Obai entered the palace for an audience, children playing on both sides of the road suddenly rushed up and grabbed him , when Oboi regained his composure, no matter how strong his physical strength is, it will be of no avail.The devil was arrested, his party members dispersed, and the Aobai Group, which threatened the imperial power, was uprooted without a single blow.The emperor regained power.

When Emperor Shunzhi was dying, he originally belonged to Prince Yue Le to prevent the incident like Dorgon from happening again.But Xiao Zhuang took a fancy to Xuan Ye, and through the advice of Tang Ruowang, a missionary trusted by the emperor, he changed Xuan Ye, so it is said that Xuan Ye was established by Xiao Zhuang.

Xuanye came to the throne at the age of 8, and his biological mother Tong Jia died when he was 10 years old. His grandmother, the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, took care of him, so the relationship between the grandparent and grandson was very harmonious.Xiaozhuang not only cared about his daily life, but also set rules for his words and actions, strict requirements, and severe criticism for any overstepping, without any leniency or false loans.Under her guidance, Xuan Ye grew up healthily, and the traits and talents of a future outstanding emperor laid the foundation in his youth.After the Obai Group was eradicated, Xiao Zhuang let Xuan Ye manage the government, let him get tempered in practice, and reminded him again and again to be cautious in employing people, not to forget danger, and to practice military equipment diligently, etc.Xuanye respects her grandmother's teachings very much, and always asks for opinions on important matters before implementing them.With their joint efforts, the Qing Dynasty turned from turmoil to stability, and its economy turned from depression to prosperity, laying a material foundation for large-scale wars such as the pacification of San Francisco, the unification of Taiwan, and the use of troops on the frontier.The Qing Dynasty formed the first golden age in the Kangxi Dynasty, which included a contribution and hard work of Xiaozhuang.

Xiaozhuang lived a frugal life and did not do luxury. When the San Francisco was pacified, he donated the silver saved by the court to reward the soldiers who went to war.Whenever there is a bad year and a bad year, she always takes out the savings in the palace for relief, and fully cooperates and supports her grandson's career.

Her exemplary behavior made the emperor even more respectful.In the spring of the 21st year of Kangxi (1682), the emperor went on a tour of Shengjing. Along the way, he sent people to write letters almost every day to greet his daily life and report his whereabouts. In the autumn of the 22nd year of Kangxi (1683), Kangxi accompanied his grandmother on a tour of Wutai Mountain. When he reached the uphill place, the emperor often got off the sedan chair and personally helped his grandmother to protect her.The close and harmonious relationship between Xiaozhuang and the emperor reflects her personality, which is completely different from the Empress Dowager Cixi who also experienced three dynasties 200 years later and had a major impact on Chinese politics.

In the 26th year of Kangxi (1687), Xiaozhuang finally fell ill due to his advanced age.When Emperor Kangxi saw that his grandmother was seriously ill, he was very anxious. He stayed in the Cining Palace day and night, with his clothes untied and sleepless. He prepared all the medicines and food himself and delivered them to his grandmother.When his grandmother was sleeping peacefully, he refused to leave, and waited quietly through the curtain, sitting on the ground. As soon as he heard the voice of the empress dowager, he immediately stepped forward to the couch, and personally offered whatever grandmother needed.During Xiaozhuang's serious illness for more than a month, Kangxi never left his grandmother's sickbed, and Xiaozhuang loved his grandson very much, and often persuaded him to return to the government to rest, but Emperor Kangxi refused to leave.Seeing that his grandmother's condition was getting worse, Kangxi went to the Buddhist hall to pray every day. He made a wish in front of the Buddha. If his grandmother could recover physically, he would trade his own lifespan for his grandmother's positive life.Its emotion and scene are tear-jerking.

However, the laws of nature are irresistible. On the twenty-fifth day of that month, Xiaozhuang completed her life journey and passed away peacefully at the age of 75.Emperor Kangxi gave his grandmother a revered posthumous title—Xiaozhuang Renxuan Chengxian Gongyi Zhidechun Huiyi Tianqi Shengwen Queen.

Looking at the life of Empress Xiaozhuang Wen, she has gone through three dynasties and assisted two young emperors to make contributions.She made outstanding contributions to the establishment of the Qing Dynasty and the consolidation of the country. She is a great woman and a great mother.

(End of this chapter)