Portrait of Zhao Xuan of Song Xiaozong
In February of the seventh year of Qiandao (1171 CE), Emperor Xiaozong of Song made his third son Zhao Xuan crown prince.
At first, Zhao Huan was able to serve his father and emperor carefully, showing the patience of filial piety, and paying tribute to his father, only obeying his orders.
Portrait of Emperor Gaozong of Song
In October of the fourteenth year of Chunxi (1187), Emperor Zhao died of illness at Deoksugung Palace, and Emperor Xiaozong of Song was extremely sad and did not eat for two days, when he said that he would serve the emperor for three years of mourning, so he ordered the crown prince Zhao Huan to participate in the preparation of military affairs.
On the second day of February in the sixteenth year of Chunxi (1189), Emperor Xiaozong of Song proclaimed the crown prince of Zen, becoming the second Emperor Taishang in the history of the Southern Song Dynasty, and retired to Cifu Palace (later renamed Chonghua Palace).
Portrait of Song Guangzong Zhao
The forty-three-year-old crown prince Zhao Huan ascended the throne, and was known as Song Guangzong.
Perhaps it was suppressed for too long, after Song Guangzong came to power, he was unusual and no longer often visited his father.
The Records of the Four Dynasties records that one day, Emperor Zhao Xuan accompanied his mother, Empress Dowager Wu, to visit the East Garden.
According to the past practice, Song Guangzong Zhao Huan should accompany his father and grandmother, be responsible for arranging banquets and drinks, and serve his father and grandmother.
However, when it was time for lunch, Song Guangzong did not show up for a long time.
Emperor Zhao Xuan and Empress Dowager Wu had not yet said anything, but the eunuchs around them could not stand it and began to complain.
Several eunuchs deliberately released a flock of chickens in the East Garden, and ordered their men to go down to catch the chickens, and the chickens flew and jumped, and they could not catch them at all.
Some people who like to manipulate right and wrong shouted: "Today is what, this chicken can't catch ah!" ”
At that time, the local language "catching chickens" in Lin'an City (Hangzhou, Zhejiang) meant waiting for others to set up a feast.
These eunuchs deliberately said this to ridicule The delay of Emperor Guangzong of Song's arrival and to allude to the embarrassing situation of Emperor Zhao Xuan under the fence.
Emperor Zhao Xuan could only pretend to be confused, but his heart was full of pain and anger, but there was nowhere to solve it.
When the news spread outside the palace, the people of the time gave Song Guangzong a nickname - "Catch the Chicken Man".
In June of the fifth year of Shaoxi (1194), Emperor Zhao died of illness.
In July, with the direct intervention of Empress Dowager Wu, the chancellors Zhao Ruyu and Han Nongxu and others proclaimed Zhao Kuo the Prince of Jia as emperor, i.e., Emperor Ningzong of Song.
Portrait of Zhao Kuo of Emperor Ningzong of Song
Emperor Guangzong of Song became the third Emperor Taishang of the Southern Song Dynasty very passively, ordered him to move to Tai'an Palace, and began to taste the feeling of not being able to catch a chicken.
Emperor Zhao was extremely annoyed and refused to move out of the palace, and refused to be seen by Emperor Ningzong of Song.
In August of the sixth year of Qingyuan (1200), Emperor Taishang died of illness at the age of fifty-four.
These emperors of the Southern Song Dynasty were very desolate in the evening, and posterity ridiculed them as "father is too emperor, son is too emperor, one emperor is not as good as one emperor." ”