Yongzheng's death was listed as one of the qing palace cases, and for many years there have been many opinions. Looking at the academic circles and folklore, the theory of the cause of Yongzheng's death can be roughly divided into three types: assassination theory, poisoning theory and disease theory, and after Yongzheng's death, Qianlong expelled zhang Taixuan, a Taoist priest who was provided by the former emperor, which attracted the speculation of posterity. Today, we will talk about this problem.
First, let's look at the assassination theory.
This is one of the most common sayings that circulate in the folk, and it is really a rumor. In fact, guan Yongzheng's statement that he was stabbed is also more confusing:
The first is the rumor that Lü Siniang assassinated him. It is said that Lü Siniang was a descendant of Lü Liuliang (one said to be Lü Liuliang's daughter, the other said to be a descendant of Lü Liuliang's son), because he escaped during the Qing court's arrest, Xi Wu entered the palace and killed Yongzheng. Lü Liuliang was convicted of writing prison, and the whole family was sent to Ninguta for it. At that time, the executive officer was Li Wei, and Li Wei was known for his arrests, so this problem would not occur. Moreover, historians have studied in many ways, and this theory is difficult to establish;
Second, in the ninth year of Yongzheng, a thief sneaked into the palace and strangled the Yongzheng Emperor to death while the palace eunuch was asleep. This statement is even more absurd, and it is only a matter of Placing the matter of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty on the Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty;
Third, Yongzheng was killed by the Lu woman. Because Zeng Jing was a native of Hunan, there is such a saying. But none of the above claims can be believed to be true.
Next, let's look at the elixir poisoning theory.
This is also a popular saying in the field of historiography. The Yongzheng Emperor's belief in Buddhism is well known to the world, not only that, Yongzheng is also very enthusiastic about the alchemy of Dan, and when he was in the mansion, he wrote the poem "Burning Dan". Not only that, but he often rewarded his favored vassals and feudal officials with Dan Yao, calling them "Peace Pills", which can be seen repeatedly in the archives.
Therefore, it is difficult for Yongzheng to conceal the fact that he took Dan medicine. Although on the third day of the Yongzheng Emperor's death, the Qianlong Emperor had ordered the expulsion of the Daoist priest Zhang Taixuan, and explained in the edict that he had never taken dan medicine, but this was indeed concealed for it, which had the meaning of no silver three hundred taels here. Some scholars have also pointed out that the Yongzheng Emperor died of Poisoning due to Dan Yao, although it is not completely certain, but it can be said that dan Yao had a certain accelerating effect on the death of the Yongzheng Emperor.
Finally, let's look at the analysis of disease theory.
The Yongzheng Emperor's body would have been very healthy, otherwise he would not have made so many achievements in just thirteen years. But yongzheng's seventh year was a turning point for his body. According to relevant archives, this winter, the Yongzheng Emperor was infected with wind and cold. And it lasted until nine years before it got better.
Of course, around the seventh year of Yongzheng, there were indeed many things that made his heart exhausted. First, his most trusted and powerful assistant Prince Yunxiang died, and second, eight years later, Empress Xiaojingxian, a married couple who had accompanied him for forty years, also died, which was a double blow for him, and indeed made his illness worse. Although in nine years, the body improved and added a son, but with the increase of age, the body is not as good as before. But why did the Yongzheng Emperor suddenly have such a strong turn in his body? The death of a loved one is indeed one cause, but not the main cause.
In fact, the Yongzheng Emperor's health was not as good as he claimed.
Although the Yongzheng Emperor often told his favored ministers or military ministers that he was in good health, such as saying in the recital that he was in good health, and that he was the only one who often mentioned that he was in good health, other emperors had also said it, but he had not emphasized it so much, which could not help but make people suspicious. As the saying goes, what is missing will be advocated. It can be seen that when the Yongzheng Emperor told the people around him that he was in good health, he actually showed that his body was not as good as he said.
As he grew older, his health deteriorated. The emperor of the Aixin Jueluo family, except for Qianlong, the others did not live very old, so the Yongzheng Emperor grew older and older, coupled with the daily rational opportunities, his physical condition was also normal.
More importantly, Yong was the most diligent emperor. Unlike Kangxi and Qianlong, Yongzheng seems to have rarely left the court to go hunting and playing in Jiangnan, and the music he approved was done by himself and was tirade. It can be said that his diligence is unparalleled. Being so tired for a long time is not conducive to his condition getting better.
To sum up, I personally prefer the yongzheng Emperor's illness, and there must have been an intensification effect of dan yao during this period.
The Qianlong Emperor was originally the yongzheng emperor's secret candidate for the establishment of the reserve, and his ascension to the throne was logical, so the Qianlong emperor's concealment of the cause of the Yongzheng Emperor's death did not have a murder theory, and so on. Moreover, the Yongzheng Emperor died suddenly and violently, and zhang Tingyu and Ortai and other close ministers did not expect it, so that the court was in chaos.
The reason why the Qianlong Emperor concealed the cause of the Yongzheng Emperor's death, especially the expulsion of Zhang Taixuan, a Taoist priest, was nothing more than for the sake of the royal face. In Qianlong's view, the death of the Yongzheng Emperor was inseparable from the alchemy, but the emperor's alchemy was not a glorious thing, so the cause of the Yongzheng Emperor's death would be concealed. Moreover, for the sake of the dead, for the elderly, for the king, it was also decided that Qianlong would not publicize the cause of Yongzheng's death. But he did not expect that this incident would become a legend for posterity.