Let's start with the canonical history.
The First Column of the Song History Volume 242: After the empress dowager collapsed, the King of Yan said for Emperor Renzong: "Your Majesty is Li Chen's concubine, and the concubine dies in order to die." "Emperor Renzong mourned and destroyed, did not look at the day, and issued an edict of mourning to blame himself. Concubine Zun chen was made empress dowager, and Yu Zhuangyi was honored.
Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was the fourth emperor of the Song Dynasty, and the Yan King mentioned here should be Zhao Yuanyu, after Song Renzong ascended the throne, he was crowned king of Zhen and king of Jing, and then died and was posthumously given to the king of Yan. He told Song Renzong that Your Majesty you were born to Concubine Li Chen, and Concubine Li Chenfei was killed. Killed by whom? This has another heroine of the folklore "Tanuki Cat for Prince" - Liu E.
"Tanuki For Prince" is well-known in the book: after the death of Empress Zhenzong of Song, when Both Concubine Liu (Liu E) and Concubine Li were pregnant, it is clear that whoever gave birth to a son could be established as the main palace. Therefore, the scheming Concubine Liu replaced the son born to Concubine Li with a skinned tanuki cat, slandering Concubine Li for giving birth to a demon. Emperor Zhenzong of Song blamed her, Concubine Li fled to the people, and Concubine Liu was made empress. Later, the baby boy born to Concubine Li took the throne as Emperor Renzong of Song. With the help of Bao Zheng, Song Renzong learned the truth and met with his blind birth mother, Concubine Li, while Liu Shi, as the empress dowager, committed suicide in fear of sin.
First, the ending: the history is very positive
This fabricated legend and story has seen generations of people crying, Zhao Zhen took the throne in 1022, when he was only 13 years old, and the empress Dowager Liu E of Zhang Xianmingsu bowed to the government and began to pro-government in 1033. Counting up, the story of "Tanuki for Prince" has been more than 1,000 years since we are now, but it still has its own market for a long time.
Song Renzong listened to the words of The King of Yan, cried loudly, did not go to work for several days, and wanted to personally go to The burial place of Concubine Li Chen. At the same time, troops were sent to besiege Liu Mansion and prepare to take revenge on the Liu family. But when they arrived at the burial ground, under the crowd of people, they opened The coffin of Concubine Li Chenfei, only to see that it was filled with mercury to keep the body from being damaged, and Concubine Li Chenfei looked like a life, looked serene, and was wearing the costume of the empress. The original text of the "History of Song": Xinghong Fuyuan Sacrifice, Yi Zi Palace, personally weeping and looking at it, concubines and jade colors like life, crown clothes like the empress dowager, with mercury to raise it, so it is not bad.
Subsequently, the tearful Song Renzong said: "People say that it is credible!" This means that the rumors are all false and not credible. This is the historical ending of "Tanuki Cat for Prince", but what is more positive than this ending is that Liu E cultivated a very good emperor for the Song Dynasty.
Sima Guang's "Records of Shuishui": Shangyou Chong took the throne, Zhang Xian was strict, and the covenant was forbidden by etiquette, and zhang Hui was caressed with grace. On the bitter wind phlegm, Zhang Xian forbade shrimp and crab seafood not to enter the imperial palace, Zhang Hui often hid it to eat, knowing: "Empress Dowager He bitterly abused Wu'er like this." "Shangyu is complaining about Zhang Hui and kissing Zhang Hui.
Meaning: When Emperor Renzong of Song ascended the throne, he was still young. Empress Zhang Xian (Liu E) was strict with Emperor Renzong and was always bound by etiquette, while Concubine Yang Shufei was kind and diligent to Emperor Renzong of Song. Song Renzong was often plagued by the disease of phlegm, liu e ordered that the little emperor shrimp and crabs and other seafood be eaten, and Yang Shufei privately asked people to eat it for Renzong, saying, "Why does the empress dowager treat children like this?" Song Renzong was therefore close to Yang Shufei and somewhat resented Liu E.
What is even more positive is that later, Song Renzong once said to his subordinates that in the past, "the empress dowager came to the dynasty, the courtiers were evil and righteous, and they all knew it silently" (Song Shi Liechuan, vol. 70). This means that in the past, when the empress dowager came to the court, the behavior of the ministers was evil and righteous, and I silently wrote it down. The fact is also that after Liu E's cultivation, as a prince with a weak temperament and gentle temperament, Zhao Zhen was able to abide by the ancestral law, and knew people well, and had the heart to solve the old ills of society, so during his reign, famous courtiers came out of nowhere, and was known as the Ruler of the Taiping Dynasty. Therefore, some people say, "To be a king, stop at benevolence", and "benevolence" is the highest evaluation of him (Zhao Zhen).
Second, the process: in essence, it is to give birth to a child through the belly
The process of "Tanuki For Prince" is not as terrifying as the song in the opera. Regarding "change", the "History of Song" says: In the beginning, Emperor Renzong was in his infancy, and Zhang Xian thought that he was his own son, so that Yang Shufei could protect it. This means that when Emperor Renzong of Song was still in his infancy, Liu E took this prince of Emperor Zhenzong of Song as his own son and asked Concubine Yang Shu to raise him on his behalf. Obviously, there is only "appropriation for oneself", there is no "change", Song Renzong is still raised by Yang Shufei, Liu E did not completely cut off the family relationship between Song Renzong's birth mother Yang clan. The prelude to "appropriation for oneself" is more interesting than "appropriation for oneself" itself.
Princess Li Chen, a native of Hangzhou, cut her hair as a nun after her father's death and her stepmother and son remarried. Later, Liu E found her beautiful in the temple, so he took her into the palace and became Liu E's maid. At that time, Song Zhenzong favored Liu E and wanted to make Liu E empress, but Liu E was born a commoner and did not give birth to a son for Song Zhenzong, and the ministers were very opposed, and things were a bit difficult to handle. Subsequently, a plan to "borrow the womb to have a child" naturally arose.
In the ancient court, whether a woman can become an empress or not, the key lies in whether she can give birth to a son for the emperor, and birth is a problem, but in the end it is not a big problem. If Liu E wanted to become empress, she had to have the hardware to give birth to a son for the emperor, but at that time, she was already in her 40s, and she clearly did not have this ability. One day, Liu E dreamed that there were immortals who bore her a son, but where were the immortals? She couldn't see it. Intentionally or unintentionally, she began to search, and this search found Li Chenfei.
According to the History of the Song Dynasty, Concubine Li Chen was "strong and taciturn, and Zhenzong thought that she was a priest." Of course, this matter was carried out under the arrangement of Liu E, and after a while, Concubine Li Chen became pregnant, and the History of Song: both concubines, from the emperor to the platform, jade pendant, concubine evil. Di Xin Bu: After the plutonium is finished, be a man. Take left and right, and the fruit will not be destroyed, and the emperor is very happy. Meaning: After Concubine Li Chen became pregnant, she accompanied Song Zhenzong to build a platform, and the jade noodles on her sideburns accidentally fell. Song Zhenzong secretly prayed in his heart: If the jade is intact, it will be a boy. The attendant picked up the plutonium and it was intact. Song Zhenzong was very happy.
It can be seen that Song Zhenzong knew that Concubine Li Chen was pregnant, and he agreed or acquiesced to Liu E's plan to "borrow her belly to give birth". Later, the results were also clear to everyone - Concubine Li Gave Birth to Song Renzong. "History of Song": Renzong was born, feng Chongyang County Jun; revived a daughter, infertile. Enter the talent, and then be a gentle person. Meaning: Concubine Li Chen gave birth to Emperor Renzong of Song and was given the title of Prince of Chongyang County, and later she gave birth to a daughter (this daughter died prematurely) and never gave birth again. Later, she was promoted to the title of Talented and Graceful.
With a son, Emperor Zhenzong of Song claimed to be born to Liu E, and gave the child the most interesting name, Zhao Hui (later Song Renzong). Who benefits? Liu E! She was given the title of Princess De for giving birth to a son to the Emperor, and was made empress when Zhao Was two years old. The year was 1012, and Liu E was approaching the age of 43. Although the ministers were still opposed, Song Zhenzong did not care about their set, and he held in his hands a core hardware of ancient society--mother and son.
The plan of "borrowing the belly to give birth to a child" was perfectly realized, and what was even more perfect was that the word given to Concubine Li Chenfei in the history books- "strong and reticent" - this matter, she herself did not say, naturally no one knew. "History of Song": "People fear the empress dowager (Liu E), and there is no one who dares to speak." In the last life of the empress, Emperor Renzong did not know that he was born of a concubine. ”
Of course, the whole incident is not as terrible as in "Tanuki For Prince", in her Jinfeng, people can see that Song Zhenzong is good to her, and Liu E also tries to give her some "compensation" - the "History of Song" says that Empress Zhang Xian (Liu E) made Liu Mei and Zhang Huaide visit her relatives, get her brother to use peace, and make up the third class. Liu E also gave her "mother's family" an official and a half-job. In 1032, Liu E made her a concubine, but on the day of the jin, she died, living to be 46 years old.
Iii. Conclusion: There is a kind of behavior called deflation
This is the story of Masashi's "Tanuki For Prince", but why was it sung or hyped up like that? Now let's start with Liu E's origin.
Liu E's ancestral home was Taiyuan, and it is said that her ancestors were once prominent, and her father was a great general of the Right Xiao Wei in the Later Han Dynasty, but this can only be "said". Later, Liu E's family moved to Huayang, Chengdu. Soon after Liu E's birth, her parents died, and Liu E, who was in her infancy, became an orphan daughter and was fostered in her mother Pang's mother's mother's house. When she grew up a little, Liu E became a singer, not only singing softly, but also good at playing the shrew (an instrument similar to a rattle). However, none of these things could be eaten as food, and her mother's family soon married her, a silversmith named Gong Mei.
Gong Mei is also a poor person, marrying a daughter-in-law does not mean that he does not have to worry about eating, like too many people, he wants to make a living, he has to support himself, support his wife, and support his family. In our words today, soon after getting married, this Gong Mei took her wife out to work, and the place of part-time work was at that time in Tokyo. Like our part-time job today, it is not easy, Gong Mei can't find a job, it's very difficult to mix, and even can't mix. What to do? This Gong Mei did not put a lot of effort into finding a job, but raised the attention of her daughter-in-law - planning to sell Liu E and let Liu E remarry.
Liu E's good deeds came from here. Gong Mei sold her to Zhang Qi (張耆), the commander of Zhao Heng (later Song Zhenzong, then known as Zhao Yuanxiu), the third son of Emperor Taizong of Song at the time, and Zhang Qi looked at Liu E's eyes and said, "Hey, yes, still a Chuan sister!" There are good things to think about the leader, the surname Zhang is this kind of person, he patted his head: "Send her to the King of Han!" ”
In this way, Liu E walked into the Han King's Mansion. According to historical records, Zhao Heng was greatly fond of seeing her. The next thing, one can imagine – what happens to a woman who can make a man "happy". However, Zhao Heng in "Daxi" was soon sued - Song Taizong saw that Zhao Heng was emaciated and emaciated, so he asked Zhao Heng's nursing mother, who is around the prince? The nursing mother did not like Liu E, so she told Song Taizong about Liu E's entry into the palace. When Emperor Taizong of Song heard that the crown prince was mixing with a lowly and unknown folk woman, he was furious and ordered Zhao Heng to drive Liu E out of the palace.
Zhao Heng complied, which made Song Taizong feel that the male eldest should be married, and it was time for his son to marry a daughter-in-law, and soon after, he gave Zhao Heng a marriage, and the bride was the daughter of Pan Mei, the founding hero of the Song Dynasty. Zhao Heng did not dare to disobey his father's orders, and although he married Pan Mei's daughter, it was difficult to abandon Liu E, so he secretly sent Liu E back to Zhang Qi's home and held private meetings from time to time.
Zhang Qi was very good at guessing the thoughts of the leader, and saw that Liu E had become Zhao Heng's beloved person, not only serving Liu E carefully and considerately, but even in order to "avoid suspicion", he did not dare to go home to live from then on, and chose another house outside to settle down. In 997, Emperor Taizong of Song died, and Zhao Heng succeeded him as Emperor Zhenzong of Song. After ascending the throne, Emperor Zhenzong of Song sent Liu E into the palace, although at that time the harem already had Empress Guo and other concubines, and Liu E had no name, but she was always Song Zhenzong's "extremely beloved person".
Here, there is one thing worth talking about, that is, Liu E, who entered the palace, found her ex-husband Gong Mei, not only did not blame him, but said to him: "I have lost my parents since then, and there are no relatives in the family, you, from now on, be my brother!" "Song Shi, Vol. 242, Liechuan No. 1: Emperor Taizong collapsed, and Zhenzong ascended the throne and became a beauty. With no clan, he took mei as his brother and changed his surname to Liu. Gong Mei has since changed her surname to Liu Mei and is called Liu Mei.
Later, Liu E walked step by step to the position of empress and empress dowager. The "History of Song" records: "Hou (Liu E) was a sexual vigilance, knew the history of books, heard about the affairs of the imperial court, and could remember its end." Zhenzong withdrew from the dynasty, read the world's seals, as many as the middle of the night, and then all foreheard. The palace asked about things, and The truth was true. After coming to power, Liu E ended the "Book of Heaven" movement, ended party strife, issued jiaozi, built water conservancy, created a court, and established a state school, laying a solid foundation for the "Reign of Renzong Shengzhi" after Emperor Renzong's pro-government. Even Sima Guang, who was later "loyal to the king", had to admit: "Empress Dowager Zhang Xianming (Liu E) protected the Holy Bow, disciplined the four sides, advanced the xian and retired from adultery, and calmed the Chinese and foreign countries, and Yu Zhao really made a great contribution." ”
However, in "Tanuki For Prince", Liu E was frozen as a "generation of adulterous concubines", and the reason may be only this:
You are a common man, why do you get such high power and status! We do not call this "historical blackness", but call it "de-gas mentality", to put it bluntly, it is a very complex hatred of the rich in Chinese folk - the poor cannot drink rice soup. Liu E had obviously encountered this mentality and had been hacked for a thousand years. In the process, we also seem to understand the truth that the barnyard history is more popular than the main history and has lasting vitality - it must be clear that it must be at some time, catering to this psychology of many people. (Wen | Lusheng)