Do you know what the truth of the death of Zhenfei and the history of a hundred years of dust is?
Photo of Zhenfei recovered according to the data AI
The concubine of the Guangxu Emperor, Zhenfei, became the protagonist of the novel shortly after her death, and a "Secret History of the Qing Palace" that was criticized at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China made her famous. People gave her beautiful and even great praise and praise words, and Princess Zhenfei was not only beautiful as a flower, and loved the Guangxu Emperor, but also understood the great righteousness, had lofty political ideals and ambitions, and was the high counselor of the Guangxu Emperor's enclosure, supporting his transformation and strength. However, under the counterattack of the conservative snobbery represented by Empress Dowager Cixi, the change of law failed, and she also paid her life for it. Since the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", which is known as "seven points of historical facts and three points of fiction", the Chinese people have become accustomed to learning history in literary and artistic works. However, literature and art are not history after all, fiction will evolve into jokes if you are not careful, and although the historical stories in movies and novels are vivid and romantic, and the loyalties and traitors are clear, they are often far away from the real history.
So is the truth of Zhenfei's death really as described in the Secret History of the Qing Palace? Let's take a look at the historical concubines.
Princess Jane (infographic)
ZhenFei (珍妃), a member of the Red Banner clan of the Tatar clan, was born on the third day of the first month of February in the second year of Guangxu, and was the daughter of Changshu, the left attendant of the Rebbe. On the fifth day of the first month of the fourteenth year of Guangxu (1888), Empress Dowager Cixi elected her brother Yehenara, the daughter of the vice-governor Guixiang, as empress of the Guangxu Emperor, and at the same time made Zhenfei and her sister Concubine Jin as concubines, who were 15 years old and Zhen Concubines 13 years old. In the twenty years of Guangxu, the two were promoted to concubines at the same time. In early August of the 26th year of Guangxu (1900), the Eight-Nation Alliance gathered forces to attack Beijing, and Empress Dowager Cixi held the Guangxu Emperor hostage and fled in a hurry. Before leaving, the eunuch called out Zhenfei, who was imprisoned in the Shou Pharmacy in the North Three Houses, and pushed her into the well located in the Zhenshun Gate behind the Cining Palace and drowned. At that time, Zhenfei was only 25 years old. In some literary and artistic works, Zhenfei was depicted as a beautiful woman, and the Guangxu Emperor was attracted to her at first sight. In the widely circulated De Ling novel "Yingtai Weeping Blood", Zhenfei's entry into the palace is even more legendary. According to the book, Emperor Guangxu's teacher, Weng Tonghe, went around selecting suitable candidates for the emperor in order to give birth to heirs early. Later, he met the manchurian nobleman Changshu, who was also loyal and ambitious, and learned that he had two good-looking daughters, so he recommended him to the palace. When the Guangxu Emperor saw it, he immediately fell in love with his second daughter, who was generous and more beautiful.
But what is the real situation?
When the Tongzhi Emperor died in 1874, Cixi, in order to control the government, chose his nephew Zai Xiang to inherit the throne (Cixi's sister married the Xianfeng Emperor's younger brother Prince Shuo), who later became the Guangxu Emperor. By 1890, the Guangxu Emperor had grown up and should marry and have children, and once Guangxu was established, it meant that he had grown up, so Cixi had to give power to Guangxu, which was unacceptable to Cixi in any way, so choosing a good empress for the Guangxu Emperor (for Cixi, it was good to be able to help her control Guangxu so that she could still control Guangxu) became Cixi's top priority. In this regard, she has a lesson from the past, more than ten years ago, when she was elected for her own son, the Tongzhi Emperor, she was originally a concubine, but the Tongzhi Emperor gave the symbol of the empress "jade ruyi" to Chongqi's daughter, so that later there were many very unbearable things between mother and son and mother-in-law. Therefore, after choosing Guangxu this time, she had already made up her mind, the deputy capital Guixiang was the brother of Empress Dowager Cixi, and his daughter Jingfen was her own niece, and marrying Guangxu was equivalent to marrying her cousin. What's more, Jing Fen still doesn't read much, and she has no insight to continue to use herself selfishly and monopolize power in the future. At that time, the princes and ministers had heard about Cixi's wishful thinking, and at that time there were poems in Beijing that satirized Cixi's choice for Guangxu:
However, the Jimen lintel belongs to the foreign family
What a bell and drum for a good couple
Originally, once the daughter of the prince and chancellor was elected as a concubine, it was a good thing for The Emperor to honor the ancestors, but after Cixi issued an edict for Guangxu, a popular event that was originally squeezed out of the head was cold and cold, and only five young girls applied. In addition to Jing Fen, the daughter of the vice-governor Guixiang, there are the two daughters of Jiangxi Governor Dexin, Luan and Feng Sisters, and the daughters of The Rebbe Lang Changxu, Jin and Zhen Sisters, many qualified people hide their daughters, everyone thinks, although there are endless glory and wealth in the palace, but the palace rules are strict, living is not free, not to mention that there is also a Lafayette Cixi in the palace, if you are not satisfied, there will be the disaster of killing, and the empress may have already been determined?
Guangxu Emperor (infographic)
The ceremony after the election was carried out in the Taihe Hall, the Empress Dowager Cixi sat on the top, the Guangxu Emperor stood next to her, Princess Rongshou Gulun stood behind Empress Dowager Cixi, and in front of Cixi's throne there was a jade ruyi handle, a pair of large red embroidered lotus bags, and those selected as empresses were given to Ruyi, and those who were selected as concubines were given a purse. The five alternate maidens were lined up in the main hall, guixiang's daughter Jingfen was fat and short, and her face was still upright, two years older than Guangxu, and cixi was ranked on the far left, followed by Dexin's two daughters, Changshu's daughter Jin, and Zhen's two sisters. Dexin's two daughters are bright and radiant, and they have some feminine charm. Chang Shu's two daughters, on the other hand, looked average. Empress Dowager Cixi slowly began to speak in her seat, which meant that the choice of the empress dowager was related to the national pulse and people's movement of the Qing Dynasty, and to the emperor's lifelong happiness. The Guangxu Emperor heard Cixi say this and walked up to Dexin's two daughters with Ruyi, meaning that he wanted to choose one of them as empress. At this moment, Empress Dowager Cixi shouted loudly, "Emperor! Guangxu had been frightened by her evil words since childhood, and at this moment, he was stunned, and the two sisters of Jinzhen were approached in a hurry, and Empress Dowager Cixi, with an angry face, rushed forward, grabbed Ruyi, handed it to Jingfen's hands, and at the same time signaled that a pair of purses was handed over to the two sisters Jin and Zhen, and the ceremony was hastily completed.
It can be seen that, in fact, the love at first sight, which was affectionately praised by the novelist, was actually a fabrication, and Zhenfei was actually only an "alternate member" when Guangxu selected the empress, and it was under the intervention of Empress Dowager Cixi that she became an imperial concubine. The appearance of the ancients cannot be witnessed by posterity, and can only be imagined according to portraits and text descriptions. Fortunately, in the time of Zhenfei, photographic technology had been introduced to the mainland and began to be accepted by the concubines in the palace, and both Cixi and Zhenfei had photos preserved. Judging from the photos of Zhenfei and her sister Jinfei that have been found now, these two sisters have a round face, which can barely be called "upright", but no matter what aesthetic point of view, they are not absolutely beautiful. Therefore, the beautiful Princess Zhenfei is nothing more than the wishful thinking and attachment of outsiders and posterity.
Regarding Zhenfei, another widely circulated history is her support for the change of the law, and many literary and artistic works and propaganda materials say that it was under her enthusiastic encouragement that the Guangxu Emperor strengthened his determination to change the law. As a result, Zhenfei became a thorn in Cixi's eye, first being beaten into the Cold Palace and then brutally killed. Princess Zhenfei was simply a reformer who dedicated her life to the country. Again, this is just a beautiful legend.
In fact, Princess Zhen was beaten into the Cold Palace and even finally killed, which had a lot to do with the Guangxu Emperor's favor for her and his snub for the empress. The Guangxu Emperor was forced to choose a concubine, but later he did not like his empress, cixi's niece. And Zhenfei's sister Concubine Jin is loyal in temperament, that is, a person with a rigid personality. In contrast, Zhenfei, who had just turned thirteen, was closer to the emperor in terms of age and personality, so Zhenfei became the favorite concubine of the Guangxu Emperor. Although Princess Zhen is plain-looking, she has a lively personality and is clever and clever. When Princess Zhen entered the palace, she was only thirteen years old, just at the age of the beginning of her love, and began to know how to use her enthusiasm, cleverness, innocence and other charms to win the love of her husband and master. It can be imagined how lonely the emperor who grew up in the Forbidden City and has been trembling and living under the majesty of Cixi is in his heart, and Zhenfei just acts as his long-desired playmate and friend, filling the spiritual emptiness. This kind of companionship and exchange that is almost friendship can be said to attract the lonely Guangxu more than the love between men and women. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that Guangxu loves the general-looking Zhenfei.
At the beginning of Zhenfei's entry into the palace, she was still very pleasing to Cixi Lafayette. However, with Guangxu's favor for Zhenfei and his alienation from the empress, Cixi began to gradually dislike Zhenfei. At first, Cixi was afraid that the emperor would covet beauty and snubbed his niece, so he did not allow Guangxu to choose the daughter of the beautiful Dexin family, which made the ordinary-looking Sisters Jin and Zhen become the emperor's concubines. But she never expected that although Princess Zhenfei looked average, she still attracted Guangxu, but she snubbed the empress even more. For Cixi, Zhenfei is equivalent to ruining Cixi's good deeds.
It was Guangxu's favor for Zhenfei that laid the groundwork for her future debasement and murder. In april 1894, the twentieth year of Guangxu, Zhenfei was demoted to a nobleman. At this time, there were still four years before the 1898 year of the Penghu Reform, and the real reason for Zhenfei's punishment was not so glorious.
In all the information about Zhenfei, regardless of whether the author's position is positive or negative for Zhenfei, most of them invariably say that Zhenfei is generous by nature, loves luxury, and pursues enjoyment. Princess Zhen was rewarded with eunuchs in the palace. The eunuchs received some small favors and favors, and they all tried their best to flatter her, calling her "little master", called "little master" generous. The generous "little master" Zhenfei also planted a heel on the money and created a scandal of selling officials for money.
Princess Zhen was led by her brother Zhi Kun , and colluded with the eunuchs of the Music Office to lead the officials to use the Music Office in the South of Yuehua Gate as an organ. The SongShi Office is the communication office between eunuchs and internal and external officials, and the most powerful eunuchs are Guo Mou, the eunuch Wen Lanting, and the eunuch Wang Junru of Cixi. Princess Zhen lived in Gyeongin Palace, and the chief eunuch of Gyeongin Palace was also among them. Part of the money obtained was given to Zhenfei, and the rest was shared among the people. Soon after, Cixi heard about it and ordered Guangxu to issue an edict on October 29 of that year: "Emperor Xi Qin obeys the will of Empress Dowager Cixi, and the family law of this dynasty is strict, and anyone in the palace never dares to interfere in the affairs of the dynasty." Concubine Zhen undertook to serve the court and called Shu Shen ,...... Recently, Xi Shang was still flashy, and there were many begging things, and the emperor's deep concern was gradually not long. According to the facts. If you do not measure the precepts, you are afraid that the near attendants will suffer from invincible defenses by taking advantage of the ranks of the yellow edge to be blinded. Concubine Jin and Concubine Zhen were both demoted to nobles to show leniency and to suppress internal affairs. At that time, although Concubine Jin and Concubine Zhen were mentioned together, in fact, it was heavy on Concubine Zhen, and the Concubine Was handed over to the Empress for strict control, and the chief eunuch was appointed to take care of it, and from then on she was isolated from Guangxu and could not meet. Although Zhen and Jin reverted to their status as concubines a year later, the impression of power and favor left by Zhenfei in Cixi's mind may no longer be able to change. As for the rumors of Zhenfei's support for changing the law and trying to be strong, the real historical data has not found conclusive and credible evidence. Most of the relevant materials generally said that Zhenfei supported the reform of the law and actively encouraged and helped the Guangxu Emperor to promote the change of law. As for the specific circumstances, the language is vague and vague. The only thing that can be associated with Zhenfei and the change of law is that the main figure of the Restoration School, Wen Tingshi, is the gentleman who studied before Zhenfei got married. That's all, and as for the rest, it's just the imagination of the world.
From Cixi's punishment of Zhenfei after the failure of the Penghu Reform Law, it can also be inferred that Zhenfei did not actively participate in the change. In 1898, the Penghu Reform Law introduced a series of reforms and new policies, but the change endangered the interests of the feudal conservative forces and was obstructed by the Qing nobles, mainly Empress Dowager Cixi. The Restoration faction, led by Kang Youwei, Tan Si, and others, secretly planned a mutiny and planned to persuade Yuan Shikai to send troops to surround the Summer Palace and imprison Cixi. In Cixi's view, Guangxu was really ungrateful and rebellious. After the failure of the reform, not only were Tan Si and six others killed, But Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao were wanted, the Guangxu Emperor was imprisoned in Yingtai in the South China Sea, and Zhenfei was once again beaten into the Cold Palace. However, Zhenfei's imprisonment this time was actually a board hit on Zhenfei's body, and the pain was in Guangxu's heart, more to punish Guangxu. This can be seen from the fact that Zhenfei's sister Jinfei is safe and sound. Four years ago, she was demoted just because of "Xi Shang's glitz" and "interference in the government", if Zhenfei really had any support for the change of law, how could Princess Jin escape this disaster? What's more, after the change of the law, Cixi was already plotting to abolish Guangxu and set up a so-called "big brother", but only because he was concerned about the reaction of the outside world, he did not act for a long time.
This photo was forged by Kang Youwei using photo synthesis technology, and Liang Qichao never met Guangxu in his life
Cixi was still not merciful to the king of a country, let alone a small concubine, and wanted Zhenfei's life, so why wait until the change of Gengzi two years later. It can be seen that Zhenfei's imprisonment was actually lost to Cixi because of the struggle for Guangxu's favor, and after being deposed by Guangxu, she herself had no direct connection with the Pengshu Reform Law, and she was not a legendary female reformer with great ambitions.
Various legends about the death of Zhenfei are also different. Some say that she rebuked Cixi's dictatorship in awe of righteousness, and then heroically jumped into the well to die; some said that she still did not forget to change the law when she was dying, and that she was concerned about Guangxu, so that Cixi left Guangxu to negotiate with the foreigners, and she debated with Cixi in a righteous and stern manner, and was pushed into the well by Cixi who was annoyed and angry; others said that Princess Zhenfei was frightened and trembled, collapsed on the ground, knelt down in front of Cixi, and pleaded one after another: "Lafayette, spare the slave's life, and you will not make any more mistakes in the future." Cixi mercilessly had people stuff her into a well. Until this time, Zhenfei was still calling: "Li Anda, Li Anda", hoping that Li Lianying could help her say a word to save her life.
Zhenfei Well (infographic)
The death of Concubine Zhen was indeed committed by Emperor Cixi before he fled, but the real situation at that time, not witnesses at the scene, had no right to speak. Under the circumstances at that time, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded the capital, and the whole capital was in chaos. Moreover, at the scene, in addition to Cixi and Zhenfei, I am afraid that there are only three or five eunuchs such as Cui Yugui and Li Lianying. Therefore, the various versions are likely to be just rumors among the people, and the real situation will never be known to future generations.
We are trying to restore a real concubine in history here, not to deliberately denigrate and subvert the beautiful image in people's minds. When Princess Zhen entered the palace, she was only thirteen years old, so think about what the thirteen-year-old girl is doing today? Maybe he's in middle school and struggling with grades; he may be a trendy teenager who is still an underage and ignorant child anyway. As for Princess Zhen, she has left her parents and gone to the inner courtyard of the deep palace, facing a lonely, weak husband and a cold, heartless, moody and chilling mother-in-law. Therefore, no matter how you say it, Zhenfei is only a victim and victim of the feudal system, and her tragic experience deserves the sympathy of future generations.
Speaking of Zhenfei, no matter from the aspects of appearance, talent, and conduct, there is nothing outstanding, and the reason why her image is so tall and beautiful is really due to Cixi. Princess Zhen's entry into the palace, imprisonment, and murder coincided with the occurrence of several major events in Modern Chinese history, namely, the Sino-Japanese War, the Penghu Reformation, and the Gengzi Revolution, and it was the old demon Cixi who killed her. When people simply attribute the humiliation and backwardness of modern China to Cixi alone, Zhenfei, as the opposite of Cixi, the great villain, has also completed the sublimation of the image in people's minds and become the embodiment of beauty and hope. The reason why this article talks about this bitter concubine is to tell everyone that history is not just the romance of the beauty of the country, nor is it so simple and loyal, and even contains a lot of triviality, ugliness, and complexity. We need to show courage, use reason, and look at history soberly. Only in this way can history truly become a spiritual resource for us to learn from, not just a talking point for chatting after dinner. When we can face history with courage and reason, we will be even more able to face today's life with courage and reason.
Gentlemen, what do you think?