Emperor Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji was only 36 years old when he died, and Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen was only 9 years old. Due to his premature death, Ming Xuanzong did not have the opportunity to raise his son well. In order to make Zhu Qizhen a qualified emperor as soon as possible, Zhu Zhanji asked his mother Empress Zhang, his wife Empress Sun, and the "Three Yangs" to jointly assist in the government before his death.
Empress Zhang and "Sanyang" gradually grew older and died one after another during the orthodox years, leaving only Empress Sun to teach Zhu Qizhen. At this time, the eunuch Wang Zhen, because he was deeply trusted by Zhu Qizhen, gradually extended his hand to the court, and the entire government was controlled by him.
In the fourteenth year of orthodoxy, Wang Zhen instigated Zhu Qizhen to march in person, which resulted in Zhu Qizhen being captured and Wang Zhen also being killed in the rebel army. In order to maintain national stability and appease people's hearts, Yu Qian and other ministers suggested to Sun Shi that Zhu Qiyu, the prince of Qi, be made emperor.
Of course, at this time, Sun Shi was already the empress dowager. In fact, in her heart, she did not want Zhu Qiyu to ascend the throne at all, after all, this was not her own son. Besides, Zhu Qizhen already had a son, even if he wanted to support li, he should also support the prince, and no matter what his grandson said, he would have to kiss Zhu Qiyu.
However, the crown prince at that time, Zhu Jianshen, was only two years old, and he could not preside over the overall situation at all, and even if he was put on the throne, it would not play much role. Empress Sun knew that she could not persuade her subjects, so she had to accede to their request, and at the same time proposed to make Zhu Mishen crown prince, in order to keep The throne of Zhu Qizhen.
A year later, Zhu Qizhen was released by Vala, but Zhu Qiyu was not reconciled, so he imprisoned the imperial brother's family. Since her son had already returned, why didn't Empress Sun ask Zhu Qiyu to return to Zhu Qizhen? After all, it was Empress Sun who originally put the king of Hao on the throne.
First, Empress Sun was not bold enough
When Emperor Xuanzong of Ming died, Zhu Qizhen was only 9 years old, and at that time, the Qunchen were very worried about the suspicion of the lord and the country, and even rumors spread that they wanted to support the King of Xiang. King Xiang was Emperor Xuanzong's younger brother Zhu Zhancheng. At that time, Empress Zhang, the mother of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, learned of this, and pointed to Zhu Qizhen and said, "This is the new Tianziye." ”
Empress Zhang's boldness impressed the crowd, and the crowd immediately shouted long live, and in this way, Zhu Qizhen was able to ascend the throne smoothly. However, Empress Sun was far less courageous than her mother-in-law, and she could not stand up and point at Zhu Jianshen and say, "This is the new Heavenly Son." Even if she stood up and said it, she would not be able to play the role of Empress Zhang at the beginning.
Second, Empress Sun was not prestigious enough
In the testament of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, it is written: "All important state affairs are carried out by the White Emperor and Empress Dowager, and then carried out." Among them, the empress dowager refers to Empress Zhang, the mother of Xuanzong, and the empress refers to Empress Sun, the mother of Zhu Qizhen. Even so, Empress Sun's prestige in the court was not enough.
Empress Zhang was the wife of Emperor Akihito Zhu Gaozi, and during the Yongle years, she helped her husband, who was already the crown prince, with his affairs. Later, when Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, Empress Zhang did not forget to teach her son from time to time to be a benevolent prince. In the hearts of the courtiers, Empress Zhang was truly virtuous and respected.
Empress Sun was the successor of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, and within a few years of her becoming empress, her husband died and her son took the throne at a young age. For her, there was not much experience in assisting the government, and besides, there was still a mother-in-law sitting on the top, and Empress Sun's prestige was much less.
3. The harem shall not interfere in politics
When Zhu Qizhen first ascended the throne, due to his young age and the edict of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, all the courtiers asked Empress Zhang to bow to the government. Empress Zhang, on the other hand, said, "There is no need to destroy the ancestral law." The first thing is not urgent. The ancestral law in her mouth means that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics.
Therefore, Empress Zhang stipulated that everything must be discussed by the "Three Yangs" before a final ruling could be made. Empress Zhang's practice in this way was undoubtedly praised by the courtiers. Since Empress Zhang had taken the initiative not to interfere in politics at the beginning, now Empress Sun naturally could not interfere in politics.
First of all, Zhu Qizhen was already pro-government, and Empress Sun could not find a reason to interfere in politics anymore. Secondly, the king of Qi was not her own son, and if she proposed to let her return to power, Zhu Qiyu would not be able to listen, but she could still buckle her hat as a "harem official".
Finally, in the eyes of the civil officials, Empress Sun was only the mother of the Son of Heaven who must be respected, and for political affairs, she was inconvenient for a woman to participate. Therefore, when the Qunchen first suggested supporting Zhu Qiyu, it was just a process, saying that Empress Sun would support the king of Qi to the throne, but in fact the situation forced it.
To sum up, Empress Sun did not have the courage and prestige of Empress Zhang, and she could not convince everyone at all. Coupled with the fact that Zhu Qiyu was in danger of being ordered to repulse the Wallachians, save the Ming Dynasty, and stabilize the people's hearts, the position was already quite stable, and Empress Sun could not shake it at all.
Therefore, even if Zhu Qizhen was released, Empress Sun could not ask Zhu Qiyu to return the government to her son. Including later Zhu Qiyu wanted Yi Chu, Empress Sun was also powerless. But after all, it was her own son, and Empress Sun could not help him reset, so she had to visit him often and send some winter clothes for her son.
Until the eighth year of Jingtai, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and others plotted to seize the door, and they informed Empress Sun in advance. In fact, this is just a process, Shi Heng they naturally know that Empress Sun will definitely agree to this matter, but in advance to obtain consent, in case something goes wrong in the future, it is better to have someone to maintain.
When Zhu Qizhen was restored to the throne, he learned that his mother had also contributed, so he quickly gave his mother a honorific title. It can only be said that Empress Sun's luck is still very good, she lived to the time when her son was reinstated, although there was no role in the middle, but after living for a long time, anything could happen.
(References "History of Ming", "Ming Shilu")