Preface
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, Prince Yixun, as the fifth grandson of the Kangxi Emperor, carried the heavy mission of the family. However, his untimely death left a confusing history for the Qing dynasty's imperial family.
This article will delve into the life of Prince Yixun, especially the far-reaching impact of his short time on earth. Through the tracing of history, we will restore the life picture of the fifth grandson of Kangxi, and deeply analyze the twists and turns of fate of the seven sons left behind after his early death in the subsequent historical evolution.
We will feel the intrigue and struggle inside and outside the court, and explore how the blood of the fifth grandson of Kangxi has flowed in the long river of history. Through in-depth interpretation, we may be able to more fully understand the unique position of Prince Yixun and his descendants in the history of the Qing Dynasty, as well as the changes they experienced in the changing times.
The hasty death of a father
In 1793, at the end of the Qianlong Dynasty, Yixun was born in the family of the prince with the iron hat. At that time, the heyday of the Qianlong Dynasty had passed, the internal contradictions within the royal family were deepening, and the princes were also worried and undercurrents were surging.
When Yixun was born, his biological mother left him, and he was raised by a widowed mother. The widowed mother is gentle and considerate, but she has never been able to replace her biological mother, and Yixun has been withdrawn since he was a child. When he was 7 years old, Yixun's grandfather Yonglang and father Mianbiao both died in the same year, which was undoubtedly a double trauma to Yixun's body and mind.
At a young age, Yixun was designated as the next Prince Yi in his grandfather's will, inheriting this glory and shackles. When the royal family and friends came to mourn, Yixun felt an inexplicable chill in the face of their sympathetic or inquiring eyes. He could not afford this much-anticipated responsibility, so he could only seek refuge in the arms of his widowed mother.
In order to stabilize the inheritance of Yixun's lineage, Emperor Jiaqing posthumously named his father Prince Yi three years later. Although it is only a false name, Yixun understands the intention of the emperor's mighty grace. He must stand up this thin back, carry this burden, and live up to his expectations and those of this ancestor.
A brief chapter of a prince
At the age of 14, Yixun was officially awarded the title of third-class general of Zhenguo. This should have been the beginning of glory, but he felt more lost and lonely than ever. Power and status did not make him feel substantially gained, but the burden that followed him was even more unbearable.
When meeting Emperor Jiaqing, Yixun cautiously talked and laughed implicitly, fearing that his inappropriate words would anger his elders. Once he left the court, he was relieved, but he also realized his insignificance more clearly.
The palace was empty and cold, and he read a book alone in the corner, looking for his own spiritual sustenance. The words on the paper became his only reliance, and he felt the same as the experiences of those ancients.
Until the age of 20, the imperial court chose a concubine for Yixun. A concubine from a prestigious family, a side concubine with a beautiful posture and four concubines with different identities. However, this marriage did not bring Yixun happiness, but deepened his sense of alienation.
He maintains a superficial intimacy with several concubines, which may be one of the few reliefs that Yixun has. In their arms, Yixun found a trace of warmth, but he also understood the fragility of this feeling.
Three years after marriage, Yixun gave birth to a total of 7 sons. seems to be vigorous fertility, but it hides the secret of his discord with his wife. At the age of 26, Yixun died in a hurry. On his deathbed, he felt a sense of relief. He can finally unload the burden given to him by the royal family and free himself from the shackles of his closed heart. He looked forward to reincarnating as a commoner in the next life and living a simple life.
The precarious fate of the seven sons
Yixun's eldest son, Zaifang, inherited the title of Prince Yi at the age of 6. Carrying the glory of the royal family at a young age, he cried incessantly, and his widowed mother and retainers had nothing to do. The doctor prescribed him a sedative drug, but the medicine was cured, and the person was gone.
Such a major change made Yixun's surviving people (Chang Fujin and side concubines) deeply uneasy. They fear the severance of their lineage and the loss of their status. So they worked together to do what they liked, and finally became pregnant with flesh and blood. is to give birth, but they are all daughters, and they cannot inherit the prince.
At this time, Yixun's second son Jae-won was 8 years old. He has a lively personality and is deeply loved by his family. The surviving people decided to support him to inherit the prince, and he became a "concubine" and "mother".
Under their operation, Zaiyuan gained the trust of his uncle Daoguang Emperor, and gradually emerged in the court. He first entered the Forbidden City and was deeply appreciated by the royal family. At the age of 29, he married a royal woman and formed a deep political marriage.
Until the death of Emperor Xianfeng, the 6-year-old Emperor Tongzhi ascended the throne. At the age of 35, Jaeyuan jumped to become the minister of life, and his power leaned towards the government and the opposition. He had finally waited for the highest glory of the Iron Hat Lord.
However, the good times did not last long, and the Taiping Rebellion swept across the country, and the survival of the Qing Dynasty was in jeopardy. Emperor Tongzhi was naïve, and the minister's power caused drawbacks. So under the operation of the Empress Dowager Cixi, the Qixiang coup broke out, and Zaiyuan was defeated in the political struggle and was given to die at home.
At this point, the seeds of glory promised in Yixun's vein have withered away. The seventh son, who could have continued the glory of the prince, also had a bad fate and was uncertain. In the end, the title of the Iron Hat Prince came to an end in the storm.
epilogue
The glory of the prince is just a fame, as empty as a mayfly, and it is difficult to escape the fate of himself and the times after his success. As for the past incident of Yixun and Concubine Zheng's discord, it reveals the hypocrisy and indifference under the halo of the prince. As for the ups and downs of the fate of Yixun's sons, the sadness and sorrow among them highlights the impermanence of history. We should not be deceived by the appearance of the glory of this prince. Because history has long proven that it will eventually disappear with the wind.