Know all about the secrets of the harem

Chapter 46 Absurd, helpless and always impermanent (6)
A few months passed, and Ji gave birth to a boy.For such a happy event, Ji was extremely worried, she knew that her son would not be able to escape the clutches of Concubine Wan Gui, and if she didn't try to kill her, she was afraid that her own life would also be in danger.Ji gritted her teeth, wrapped up the child, and ordered the gate supervisor Zhang Min to take the prince out of the palace to drown.

Zhang Min couldn't bear to take over the prince. He thought that the emperor was getting older and his sons were either stillborn or died of sudden illness. They have no heirs so far. How could I do such a thing that is sorry for the country and the royal family? Woolen cloth?At the risk of beheading, Zhang Min secretly hid the prince in a secret room, and fed him with some food such as honey and powder bait.Because Zhang Min acted cautiously, he escaped the eyes and ears of Concubine Wan Gui time and time again.Soon, the deposed empress Wu knew about this, so she took the prince to Xi Nei, where she lived, and took good care of her, so that the prince survived safely.

Therefore, when Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen learned about his son Zhu Youtang from the eunuch Zhang Min, he was very happy.A few months later, he became the prince.However, Concubine Wan Gui harbored deep resentment.It is said that after Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen recognized her son, Concubine Wan Gui cried day and night and said: "How dare the slaves deceive me!" In June of this year, the good-looking Concubine Ji fell ill and died.Whether he was poisoned to death or strangled to death, no one dared to ask, but everyone knew.Zhu Jianshen, Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty, did not pursue the matter, but ordered a generous burial, and posthumously concubine Ji as "Concubine Gongke Zhuang Xishu".Seeing Concubine Ji was killed by Concubine Wan Gui, Zhang Min thought that he would not escape the murderer, so he committed suicide by swallowing gold.This incident naturally had a profound impact on Concubine Wan Gui.The matter of waste storage may have been foreshadowed since then.

After Ji's son was established as the crown prince, Ming Xianzong's biological mother, the Empress Dowager Sun, raised the grandson herself.The old grandma kept the child in her house every day, for fear of being poisoned by the concubine Wan Gui.Once, Concubine Wan Gui called the crown prince to "play" in her official residence. Grandma told her grandson, "Go there and don't eat anything!" Eat food.The child shook his head and said he was not hungry.In fact, Concubine Wan Gui wanted to curry favor with the "quasi-emperor", and at this moment she did not dare to poison openly.

Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen found that all the gold and silver in the inner treasury had been spent, so he said to Liang Fang and Wei Xing, the great eunuchs at that time:

"It's up to you two to spend extravagant money!" Then, the emperor said, "I won't hold you accountable, and future generations will blame you."

The two were very worried after hearing this, so they urged Concubine Wan Gui to abolish Zhu Youtang, who she was not satisfied with, and replaced Concubine Shao's son.

In March of this year, Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen heard the slander of Wan Guifei and wanted to abolish the crown prince Zhu Youtang.The eunuch Huai En bitterly remonstrated, but was demoted to Fengyang to guard the mausoleum.At that time, there were continuous earthquakes in Mount Tai.The people of Qin Tianjian said that it should be on the prince of the East Palace.Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen believed that Zhu Youtang was the legal heir of Tianming, so he dispelled the idea of ​​abolishing the reserve.

The noble concubine could not shake the position of the prince despite all her efforts, and she couldn't help being angry. Soon she got liver disease and died in the spring of the 23rd year of Chenghua (1487).When Concubine Wan died, Xianzong seemed to have lost his heart, and said sadly: "As soon as Concubine Concubine is gone, I will die soon!" He presided over the funeral of Concubine Concubine, just like the empress, and stopped court for seven days. Su Duan Shen Rong Jing Huang noble concubine ".In August of this year, the depressed Emperor Xianzong also fell seriously ill, and followed Concubine Wan Gui.

Wan Zhen'er, as a humble court lady and a half-mature lady, unexpectedly won the favor in one fell swoop, favored the crown of the empress, and became an unknown queen for more than 20 years.No one knows why.As for Xianzong's two queens, Wu and Wang, one was a widow at the beginning of their marriage, and the other was a puppet for a lifetime.

Concubine Wan Gui has been somewhat belittled in history, which is naturally because of her jealousy and possessiveness!
But Concubine Wan Gui is not a woman who is seductive and seductive. The reason why Zhu Jianshen favors this woman who is 17 years older than her is too much.In the lonely and helpless years of his childhood, only Wan Zhen'er was by his side and accompanied him, through countless wind and rain, he was always the same, never leaving.Zhu Jianshen, who was originally weak, has a strong dependence and love for Wan Zhen'er.This is a feeling that those officials who wrote history can't understand!
Empress Zhang: Wife of Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youtang of the Ming Dynasty

Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang's post-official life was completely different from his father Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen.Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youtang not only didn't favor his concubine, he didn't even register a concubine, he just lived a life of loving husband and wife with Empress Zhang.Of course, this does not mean that Ming Xiaozong Zhu Jutang only had sexual relations with Empress Zhang. There are rumors that the biological mother of Emperor Zhengde Zhu Houzhao was not Empress Zhang, but probably the court lady Zheng Jinlian.These practices of Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang obviously proved to people that he was an emperor who strictly abided by moral norms.

Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, experienced ups and downs since he was a child, and escaped death.Therefore, after Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang came to the throne, he was honest and virtuous, especially in terms of private life, he had only Empress Zhang and no concubine by his side throughout his life.Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youtang and Empress Zhang were friends in need, a loving couple.The two must rise and lie together every day, read poems and paint pictures, listen to the piano and watch dances, talk about the past and the present, and share day and night.This inadvertent action created a special record throughout the ages: Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang had only one queen in his life, and no other concubines.

Empress Zhang was born in Xingji (now north of Cangzhou City, Hebei Province).According to the post-election system after the mid-Ming Dynasty, queens were generally born in common people.Zhang Luan, Zhang's father, was originally a scholar. He entered the Imperial College in the name of a tribute, that is to say, he was recommended to study in the highest national institution from a local school and became a student of the Imperial College.Zhang was born in such a family of scholars, so the family education is naturally okay.

On the sixth day of February in the 23rd year of Ming Xianzong Chenghua (1487), Mrs. Zhang married Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang, who was the crown prince at that time.In September of the same year, Zhang was formally established as queen.Empress Zhang gave birth to the emperor's eldest son Zhu Houzhao on September 1491, the fourth year of Ming Xiaozong Hongzhi (24), who later became Ming Wuzong.Ming Wu Zhu Houzhao was born with a very handsome appearance, "the pure quality is better than ice jade, and his spirit is radiant", and his manners are extraordinary.Therefore, Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang loved this son very much, and naturally he loved Empress Zhang even more.Huang Jingfang, a scholar in the late Ming Dynasty, said: "At that time, Zhang Hou loved the most, and lived in the same way as a folk couple." The emperor and empress lived together every day like a folk couple, which was really rare in the private life of feudal emperors.

Living in the harem surrounded by pinks and daisies, Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang's situation is really puzzling.The reason may be that Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, had a mild personality and was deeply influenced by Confucianism, so he did not have a particularly strong interest in matters between men and women.Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, avoided the persecution of Concubine Wan Gui when he was young. Before the age of 6, he was secretly raised in the An Le Tang in the palace.Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, had a deep understanding of the jealousy among concubines and the ensuing official struggle.Therefore, this may be another reason why Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang did not want to have too many concubines.

Empress Zhang "jealous"

Zhang Hou's personality may be more lively, and he has enough attraction and restraint for Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang.History calls Empress Zhang "arrogant and jealous". Judging from the role she played in the political struggle later, Empress Zhang is indeed by no means a mediocre person.

Originally, it was very normal for the emperor to accept concubines, and under normal circumstances ministers would not object.In February of the first year of Hongzhi (1488) of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, Guo Yong, the left young supervisor of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, asked for a pre-selection of ladies.At that time, Xie Qian, Zuo Shuzi of Zuochunfang and the attendant of the Hanlin Academy, said: "The system of the six officials should be prepared. But the worries of three years can't be forgotten. Now that the mountain mausoleum is not completed, the shadow is still fresh, but what can I do?" Is this happening all of a sudden?" It means that it is natural for the emperor to choose a concubine.However, the mausoleum of Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen has not yet been completed, and the thatched hut where the emperor lives is still new, so why are we talking about choosing a concubine?Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang claimed to rule the world with filial piety, and once established a three-year system for Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen to observe filial piety-"three years without ringing bells and drums, not receiving court congratulations, and plain clothes in the palace".Therefore, since Xie Qian said so, the matter of choosing a lady for concubine selection was shelved.

Later, Jiao Fang, who edited "Records of Xiaozong", took this to criticize Xie Qian, thinking that Xie Qian's actions were to please the then Queen Zhang of the Central Palace.However, some people also defended Xie Qian, saying that Xie Qian's admonition to choose ladies was not to prohibit Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang from doing so, but to ask the emperor to do it later, which is actually reasonable.But in any case, because of Xie Qian's behavior, although the matter of choosing a concubine was mentioned repeatedly, he did not get the consent of Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang.Therefore, in the 23rd year of Ming Xianzong's Chenghua (1487), the Zhang family, who became the princess, not only officially became the queen after Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang ascended the throne in the same year, but also collected special favors until Xiaozong's death.

Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang and his wife were deeply affectionate. Although they were enviable, they had some influence on the Hongzhi Dynasty and the later political situation.Judging from Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang's own wishes, these influences should not be what he wanted to see.

Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang and his wife's single-minded affection caused the emperor's relatively few heirs.Empress Zhang gave birth to two sons and three daughters for Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang in her life.However, Zhu Houwei, the second son of the emperor, and Princess Taikang, the eldest daughter of the emperor, died one after another.Therefore, Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang has only Ming Wuzong Zhu Houzhao as his successor.Later, Ming Wuzong Zhu Houzhao had no sons, so Xiaozong's blood was extinct.In the eyes of some ministers in the early 16th century, it was really distressing that such a wise emperor had no offspring.Later, a group of ministers insisted on succeeding Ming Wuzong Zhu Houzhao, Ming Shizong called Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang the "Huang Kao", not without this mentality of being Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang's successor.Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang single biography.Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty had no sons, and Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty succeeded him as a vassal king. This situation triggered a major political event in the middle of the Ming Dynasty - the Dali Discussion, which had a profound impact on the history of the middle and late Ming Dynasty.

Another major disadvantage of Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang’s dynasty is the expansion of the power of foreign relatives. Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang not only likes his queen Zhang very much, but also treats Zhang’s family very well, but Zhang is the kind of greedy and greedy people.Zhang first forced Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang to make his father an earl, and soon he was named a marquis.

Zhang's two younger brothers were also honored.Moreover, the two younger brothers of the Zhang family were more greedy than the elder sister. Relying on their status as relatives, they committed crimes everywhere and annexed a large amount of land, which displaced many farmers and laid the foundation for the subsequent peasant uprising.They also resold official salt. At that time, salt was a national monopoly product and an important source of national tax revenue. The Zhang brothers made profits from this, which greatly affected the revenue of the treasury. Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang had no choice but to let it go for the sake of the empress. .

Perhaps, in Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang's view, although the Zhang brothers had faults, they were the queen's younger brothers after all, so ordinary minor faults could be forgiven as long as they were forgiven.Of course, Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang also knew the consequences of letting the Zhang brothers go, so he hoped to restrain them through his own teaching.Once, Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang visited Xingnan Palace, accompanied by the queen, the prince, the queen's mother, Mrs. Jin, and the Zhang brothers.During the banquet, the queen, the prince and Mrs. Jin left.Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang called the queen's younger brother Zhang Heling alone.People saw Zhang Heling taking off his black gauze hat and bowing to the emperor from a distance.Since then, the Zhang brothers have kept their whereabouts more restrained.Later, during the transition period between the Zhengde dynasty and the Jiajing dynasty, the Zhang brothers were very favored by Ming Shizong because they supported Ming Shizong's ascension to the throne.However, the final fate of the two made people sigh: Zhang Heling was imprisoned and died, and Zhang Yanling was killed in Xishi.Of course, there are factors of Ming Shizong's ungratefulness, but the arrogance and helplessness of the two are undoubtedly giving others a handle.

Zhang's evening scene was bleak, unspeakable: first she lost her husband Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang, then lost her son Wuzong, and then was persecuted by her nephew Ming Shizong, and had to beg Ming Shizong to let her two younger brothers go.However, before Zhang's lifetime, Zhang Heling died in prison.In the fifth year after Zhang's death, Zhang Yanling was killed in Xishi.The dignity and impermanence of the imperial power, Zhang has a keen sense of it!

(End of this chapter)