This controversial prince in history, who lost his father at a young age and was raised by the Empress Dowager Cixi, not only has a noble bloodline, but also has a status that cannot be underestimated in the Qing court.
In the 80th birthday of Emperor Qianlong, he was named Beizi, and Xianfeng was named a prince. Its mansion is located in the center of the capital, with brick carved dragons and phoenixes, glazed tile roofs, revealing a natural royal style. When it comes to background, he is naturally unbeatable.
In 1899, the Qing Dynasty was already in turmoil, and the great powers coveted the land of China, and internal and external troubles continued. In the summer of 1900, the spectacular and pre-storm tranquility of Beijing seemed calm, but in fact there was an undercurrent.
On the eve of this imminent flood, the Eight-Nation Coalition in the West, in order to so-called "quell the Boxer Rebellion", waved troops eastward and plundered all the way to the capital.
The iron hooves of the Eight-Nation Alliance (including Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and Austria-Hungary) ran over the walls of Beiping, and it can be said that the iron flow is rolling and unstoppable.
Inside and outside Beijing, there are flames and devastation. The flame of revolution and the greed of the invaders tore apart this ancient imperial capital.
Just when all the royal nobles were panicking in fear and panic, secretly looking for a way to escape, the mansion of the prince of Zaiyuan was surprisingly calm.
According to the story, when the Eight-Nation Coalition army poured into Beijing, looted the treasures of the Forbidden City, and burned the dazzling array of the Summer Palace, they did not reach out to Zaiyuan's mansion.
Why did the royal palace, which contained the noblest blood of Manchuria, receive such special treatment?
The truth is far more complex and interesting than the legend. It is said that the prince of Zaigaki established a certain degree of friendly relations with the Western powers, and even provided them with intelligence, which made the coalition forces show him special "respect" when they plundered the capital.
Another is that it was because of the friendship he had with foreign missionaries, which in those turbulent times was enough to save his homeland from the flames of war.
But there is much more to real history than simple legends. Zaiyuan did have contact with the Western powers, he was generally knowledgeable, well-versed in Western studies, and he was able to understand the Western world and the concept of openness better than some old-fashioned and stubborn Qing officials and clans.
His tall figure can even be spotted in foreign opera evenings, where he fostered a deep interest and understanding of Western culture.
However, the truth of history is complicated, and there is no conclusive document that can prove the real reason for the non-invasion of the Zaiyuan Mansion by the Eight-Nation Alliance.
There are conflicting theories, but the only thing that is certain is that during that period of war, Jaegaki's mansion was indeed spared and became an unsolvable mystery.
When the city of Beijing returned to peace, the Qing Dynasty had long since fallen into ashes, and the end of one era meant the beginning of another. The mystery of Zaiyuan has also been sealed in the long river of history, and there are no official records or written mentions.
This amazing anecdote has become a timeless story that has been passed down to this day, and has become an interesting topic for people to discuss after dinner.
And Prince Zaiyuan, whose background is so hard that even foreign invaders have to be afraid of three points of history, has become a highlight that later generations have to mention when commenting on the figures of the late Qing Dynasty.
In the last days of China's feudal society, he showed us a vivid example of surviving in the midst of conflict and integration, and staying alone.