In the harem of the Qing court, especially in the harem of Qianlong, the competition was very fierce. This was because Qianlong's concubines were numerous and endless, and the emperor was so weak that he could not even wet the rain and dew. Therefore, some women, although married into the palace, may not have seen the emperor several times a year and become the white-headed palace. But the concubine I want to talk about today is even more lamentable, and after more than twenty years of suffering, she just had hope, and was sentenced to death by the god of fate.
This concubine was the Cheng Concubine Niu Hulu clan, who entered the palace in the twenty-second year of Qianlong. Her father was a second-class bodyguard and a leader of the Zoe Mukden, and his status was not very high, so the initial title was only Lan Guiren. This title is exactly the same as the title of the later Empress Dowager Cixi entering the palace. However, the Niu Hulu clan did not have cixi's good luck at all, and she was soon demoted to a permanent presence.
The reason for Lan Gui's demotion to the throne is not recorded in the history books, presumably it was not long after entering the palace, and he did not know any rules, which angered Qianlong. If it's a pet princess, it won't be long before you climb up again. However, Lan Guiren's demotion lasted for more than ten years, until Qianlong thirty-three years later, when he was reinstated as Lan Guiren.
These were actually just two small ranks, but Lan Guiren had spent eleven years, which showed that she was very unfavored. Not only that, she had not yet been able to give birth to Qianlong, which also had no say and no hope in the palace. Therefore, after another eight years, in the forty-first year of Qianlong, she was named a concubine.
At this time, Makoto's concubine Niu Hulu found that the days seemed to have changed for the better. Because Qianlong is already an old man in his sixties, he has little interest in young and beautiful women. Since then, the number of concubines selected for the palace has indeed been greatly reduced. On the contrary, the aging emperor gradually became more attached to the women who entered the palace in the early stages.
Because over time, many women left him. People are not grass and trees, who can be ruthless, the elderly Qianlong deeply realized that we must cherish the pillow people. As a result, Cheng Concubine received more attention and often accompanied Qianlong on inspections.
For Makoto, this is also her time to run. Although she still did not give birth to an heir for the emperor, she enjoyed more conjugal love after all. For a harem woman, this is the minimum requirement, and it is finally met. However, seeing the end of the struggle, an accident completely disrupted the overall deployment.
It was in the forty-ninth year of Qianlong, and Cheng's concubine Niu Hulu accompanied him on a tour of the south. Qianlong attached great importance to this southern tour, because he had already said that he was also too old to be old, and his energy was not as good as before, and this was also his last southern tour. Therefore, whether it is the arrangement of the court or the reception of the locality, it is the most solemn.
The fact that Concubine Cheng can drive with her shows that her health is not a big problem. After a few months of extensive fun in Jiangnan, they also returned to Beijing by boat according to the planned time. However, on April 11, Cheng Concubine spent the last night in Jiangnan and the last journey of her life.
That night, Makoto was originally in the cabin of the Imperial Boat. She felt a little uncomfortable and came out to breathe. In that era when there were no electric lights, even the Imperial Boat was dark. Concubine Cheng was ready to take a walk on the boat, but she did not expect that because of the dim light, she actually stepped on the air and fell into the water.
Cheng Concubine shouted desperately in the water, but the Royal Boat was already big, plus Qianlong was looking for fun, and the sound of silk and bamboo was incessant, and no one even found Cheng Concubine. Until Qianlong heard the news and hurried to come, he also saw Cheng Concubine struggling in the water. Qianlong was furious and asked the water guards to rush to the rescue, and when the crowd returned to God and rescued Concubine Cheng with seven hands and eight feet, he found that she had no breath.
Qianlong recalled that this was the second woman who died while on a tour outside. The last one was the Empress Xiaoxian, whom he had been obsessed with all his life, and although this one was not favored, he had accompanied him for more than twenty years. Thinking of this, Qianlong ordered people to buy a colored coffin, and to bring back the body of Concubine Cheng and bury it in the concubine's bedchamber. However, this wisp of Cheng Concubine's soul remained in Jiangnan forever.