Unlike the monogamy that prevailed in western countries in the Middle Ages, ancient Chinese feudal society has always been monogamous, and men can not only have three wives and four concubines, but also the emperor has a whole harem. This is not just a pleasure, but is determined by the ancient social form.
The low level of medical care in ancient times, coupled with the influence of environmental factors, the rate of child mortality is very large; in ancient China, it was mainly based on the family, or the family as a unit, paying attention to the prosperity of a family and many children. Under the influence of this idea, men's multiple wives and children have become a kind of "political correctness".
Even if she ruled the world together with Emperor Yang Jian of Sui, the lone empress, one of the "two saints", even if she was given the name of "the first jealous woman in the ages" by later generations, Emperor Wen of Sui set up six palaces because of her, and allowed her to personally determine the palace system (the first empress in history to set up the palace system, the other was empress Wu Zetian), but the guarantee given to her was still only "the son of the oathless child", not only her.
But there is another empress in history, which really made the emperor a lifetime of one or two, is the only two empresses in history who can sleep with the emperor in addition to the lone empress, she is Empress Xiaokangjing, Empress Zhang of Ming Xiaozong Zhu You, and she is also the emperor who especially likes to have fun and also named herself a "mighty general", the mother of Emperor Mingwu Zhu Houzhao.
The name Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youfan, in the eyes of some readers, should belong to the kind of emperor who looks a little familiar and can't remember where he appeared. However, it is estimated that everyone can remember a name, that is, Wan Guifei. Yes, his father was the 17-year-old grandmother who spoiled himself, and let him turn the harem upside down, mutilate the imperial heir, and almost cut off the heir of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Jianshen.
If it were not for Empress Wu, who was beaten into the Cold Palace by Zhu Jianshen, and the people in the palace led by the eunuch Zhang Min, and even Empress Zhou, who was involved, and many forces worked together to cover up the Ji clan, the daughter of Guangxi Tusi, who gave birth to Zhu Youxi, the only miao miao of the Ming Dynasty might have been mutilated by Wan Guifei.
Later, Zhu Youfan was discovered, and her mother Ji Shi was unexpectedly killed by Wan Guifei, and Empress Zhou, fearing that Ji Shi would be poisoned, took her to her side and raised her. Zhu Youfan, who has lacked the love of his parents since childhood, longs for love more than anyone, and is more afraid of harem battles than anyone. In order to keep his children from repeating his mistakes, he only married one empress in his life, that is, the above-mentioned Empress Zhang.
To be fair, Empress Zhang was not an empress with great talent, or it could be said that if she were put into the harem of an ordinary emperor, she would definitely be the kind of concubine who would be "cool" before she had lived three episodes, pampered and arrogant. But who let Zhu Youfan's harem be the only one of her? The "Records of the History of The Victorious Dynasty" records: "Lovingly, living together in the palace, having no other favors, like a folk couple." "The two slept together and got up together, like a folk couple who loved each other.
Empress Zhang's family situation was actually average, but she could not stop Zhu Youfan from spoiling her, and all kinds of high-ranking officials Houlu were rewarded to Empress Zhang's family as if they did not want money. Empress Zhang's father, Zhang Luan, was only a talent, but because her daughter became empress, she was given the title of Marquis of Shouning, and was the first foreign relative of the Ming Dynasty to posthumously be crowned duke. Empress Zhang's two younger brothers, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, were also given the titles of Marquis of Shouning and Jianchangbo respectively.
The most unbelievable thing is that Zhu Youfan actually wrote a plaque for Empress Zhang's hometown as "Dragon's Nest"! The "Chronicle of Xingji County" records this incident: "Outside the city of Xingji County, west of the Royal River, the birthplace of Empress Ming Zhaosheng. In The Middle of Koji, the imperial palace was built in Zili, and the imperial plaque said: 'Dragon's Nest. ’”
With such grace, it is no wonder that Empress Zhang's two younger brothers could not help but be mighty and blessed, and in various fish and meat towns, they forcibly occupied the land. The imperial ministers were impeached many times, but because of Empress Zhang's reasons, Zhu Youfan could only ignore it. "Crane Ling, Trillium, and the forbidden palace, indulging in the family's adultery, the Chinese and foreign ministers think that many of them say things, so the emperor will not ask questions in the future."
Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling's arrogant behavior, until Zhu Houzhao, who was even more unscrupulous than them, took the throne and cleaned them up, and the two of them quieted down slightly. Later, the Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houxi ascended to the throne, and because of the contradictions with Empress Zhang, retaliation led to the deaths of Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, and the Zhang family was no longer glorious.