The Qing Dynasty existed for more than 200 years, which was about the same time as the Ming Dynasty, and there were many mystery cases. The more famous ones are Shunzhi's monk, the queen mother's marriage, Yongzheng's assassination and so on. Like the mystery of Daoguang's succession, it is basically not well-known, but it does have a lot of things that are not easy to explain.
道光继位之谜
(Image of Emperor Jiajia)
In 1820, that is, the twenty-fifth year of Jiaqing, the Jiaqing Emperor was already sixty years old. Although he is old, Emperor Jiaqing's mental state is still relatively good, the only drawback is that he is relatively obese, and his body is not as flexible as when he was young. In the summer of this year, Emperor Jiaqing prepared to conduct a Mulan hunt, which was also Emperor Jiaqing's hobby. Many of the ministers objected, saying that the distance was too long for a long journey, but the Jiaqing Emperor insisted, and finally set off on July 18.
On July 18, Emperor Jiaqing set off from the Old Summer Palace to Chengde Qiuqiu, accompanied by the second son of the emperor, Prince Zhi Mianning (later Daoguang Emperor Minning) and the fourth son of the emperor, Prince Rui Mianxin. On July 24, they arrived at the Rehe Palace. After arriving at the palace, Emperor Jiaqing already felt unwell, but he still carried out a series of ceremonial activities, went to the local Chenghuang Temple to make incense, and went to Yongyou Palace to salute. On the 25th, Emperor Jiaqing could also meet with the Minister of Military Aircraft and review the folds, but in the evening, Emperor Jiaqing's condition worsened, and he fell asleep, so he couldn't wake up and died at about eight o'clock.
According to the official history, the reason for the death of Emperor Jiaqing should be that he died of cerebrovascular disease, which was a sudden death, and it may indeed be because Emperor Jiaqing was obese, coupled with his advanced age, he may indeed die suddenly due to cerebral hemorrhage and other diseases. As for the folk saying that Emperor Jiaqing was killed by lightning, it is very popular, but there is no basis.
No matter how Emperor Jiaqing died, he died suddenly anyway, and he died in the Rehe Palace. When the emperor dies, the country cannot be left without an owner for a day, and a new emperor must be determined. However, Emperor Jiaqing died suddenly, and he fell asleep directly without leaving any last words, which is troublesome.
(Stills of Emperor Jiaqing)
Although Min Ning, who later became Emperor Daoguang, he was the eldest son of Emperor Jiaqing, and Qianlong liked this grandson very much when he was alive. In the eighteenth year of Jiaqing, the Tianli disciples attacked the Forbidden City, and he killed two thieves with a shotgun, making great contributions, and has always been highly valued by the Jiaqing Emperor. Basically, Min Ning's succession to the throne is inevitable, and everyone knows that the throne belongs to him, but even so, the necessary procedures have to be followed.
According to the record of "Qing Shilu", it is very simple, that is, Emperor Jiaqing held ministers and clan relatives before he died, and then everyone opened a box with secret edicts in Emperor Jiaqing. The public read out the edict of Emperor Jiaqing as early as the fourth year of Jiaqing to set up Min Ning as the crown prince, and after the death of Renzong, everyone let Min Ning succeed him.
Although there is no problem according to the record of "Qing Shilu", but according to the "Biography of Xi'en" in the history of the Qing Dynasty, it is recorded that after the death of Emperor Jiaqing, people made a mess and looked for things during the lifetime of Emperor Jiaqing, and found nothing. This is obviously inconsistent with what is in the Qing Shilu, and according to the ministers' later statements, Emperor Jiaqing did not have time to say any last words, so the Qing Shilu lied, after all, the Qing Shilu was compiled during the reign of Emperor Daoguang.
Renzong collapsed in the Rehe Summer Resort, and the matter was in a hurry, and Xi'en obeyed the inner court, suggesting that Xuanzong should have a fixed rebellion and succeed to the throne. The cardinal Tozin and Dai Junyuan hesitated. Xien resisted, and the crowd could not take it. will get the secret Zhu edict, which is to accompany the ministers and enthrone Xuanzong. Manuscript of Qing History: The Biography of the Clan's Xi'en
In any case, according to the records of Xi'en Biography, Emperor Jiaqing absolutely did not leave a last word, nor did he open the box in front of everyone to let Emperor Daoguang succeed him. And a few days after the death of Emperor Jiaqing, Emperor Jiaqing's Empress Xiao and Empress Rui also issued a decree in the name of the Empress Dowager, roughly speaking, the first emperor died suddenly, afraid that there was no edict, she thought that Min Ning was the most qualified to succeed to the throne, so she ordered Min Ning to inherit the unification.
Stills of Empress Xiao and Rui
It is strange here, because the Qing Dynasty had a secret system of establishing a prince, and behind the plaque of Zhengda Guangming there was an edict written by the previous emperor. So according to common sense, Empress Xiaoherui should have learned of the death of Emperor Jiaqing, and then asked people to go behind the Zhengda Guangming plaque to find the edict. However, Empress Xiaoherui said that she was afraid that the first emperor did not leave an edict, so she directly let Emperor Daoguang succeed to the throne. Is there no edict on the back of the Zhengda Guangming plaque? Or is it not the name of Emperor Daoguang written on the edict?
The biographies of the other two ministers, such as Tuo Jin and Dai Junyuan, both record that after the death of Emperor Jiaqing, the two of them found the box of the edict to release the throne through the little eunuch next to Emperor Jiaqing. Then, Emperor Daoguang succeeded to the throne. So since the box where the edict was put was found, why did Empress Xiao Herui still say that she was afraid that the first emperor did not leave a last word, which shows that Tojin and Dai Junyuan found the box later.
The real situation may be that Emperor Jiaqing died, leaving no last words, and people did not find a box to put the secret decree at that time, Xien wanted to directly let Emperor Daoguang succeed to the throne, but the ministers felt that it did not conform to the rules. After Empress Xiaoherui knew, she issued a decree ordering Emperor Daoguang to succeed to the throne, and then Tuojin and Dai Junyuan found the box and took out the edict, and Emperor Daoguang successfully succeeded to the throne. In fact, no matter whether this box is true or not, Emperor Daoguang succeeded to the throne, and Empress Xiao and Rui can be said to be the most important. The mystery of Emperor Daoguang's succession lies in whether this box is real or fake, and whether Emperor Jiaqing wants Emperor Daoguang to succeed to the throne is really uncertain.
How did Empress Hyo and Rui end up with her biological son?
1, the ending of Empress Xiao and Rui
Emperor Daoguang received the edict of Empress Xiaoherui (who should be regarded as the Empress Dowager at this time), and was naturally grateful, because Emperor Daoguang was not the biological son of the Empress Dowager. Emperor Daoguang was born to Emperor Jiaqing's original partner Empress Xiaoshurui Xitara, who died very early, when Emperor Daoguang was only fifteen years old, but the later Empress Niu Hulu (that is, Empress Xiaoherui) was very good to Emperor Daoguang, and the relationship between mother and son was also very good. But you must know that no matter how good the relationship is, it is not close, Niu Hulu has his own son, and it is not one, it is two, that is, Miankai and Mianxin. So why didn't Niu Hulu, who was the queen mother, make his son the emperor?
Stills of Empress Xiao and Rui
In fact, it is very simple, because Daoguang Emperor Min Ning's ability is indeed very strong, he is deeply valued by Emperor Jiaqing, and he is the son of Emperor Jiaqing's original match, Min Ning's influence in the court is also very large, after all, he has been a prince for so many years. On the other hand, his sons Miankai and Mianxin, although Miankai was twenty-five years old at this time, he was in his prime, but his ability was not good, and Emperor Jiaqing did not like him very much. Mianxin is smart and studious, but after all, he is only fifteen years old, too young, how can the ministers be convinced.
Empress Xiao and Rui are actually the best to do this, anyway, Emperor Daoguang's succession to the throne is expected, and he has made this decree, Daoguang will definitely be grateful and always respect her as the queen mother.
And in fact, this is indeed the case, although Emperor Daoguang and the Queen Mother are not biological mother-child relationships, they are better than biological mother-child relationships. According to historical records, their relationship was very harmonious, and when the Queen Mother was seriously ill, Emperor Daoguang personally went to serve. The Queen Mother died, Emperor Daoguang slept on the ground like his own son, although Daoguang was already an old man in his sixties at this time, but he still insisted on filial piety for the Queen Mother. As a result, more than a month after the death of the Queen Mother, Emperor Daoguang also died, which shows that the relationship between the two is very affectionate.
2, the ending of Queen Xiaoherui's biological sons Miankai and Mianxin
When Emperor Daoguang was in power, Miankai repeatedly crossed the line and made mistakes, but Emperor Daoguang looked at the face of the Queen Mother and did not really punish his younger brother.
For example, the first time was the sedan chair of Miankai Fujin, which walked through the middle gate of the Shenwu Gate. The door can not be walked around, the middle gate can only be walked by the emperor and the queen, and others can only walk through the doors on both sides. Emperor Daoguang must have been furious and handed Miankai over to the Zongren Mansion for punishment. Miankai pleaded not guilty, but in front of the evidence, he had nothing to say. Emperor Daoguang removed him from all his posts and was fined five years. Later, because the Queen Mother mediated in the middle, Emperor Daoguang had no choice but to punish him for three years.
In the seventh year of Daoguang, Miankai had a personal relationship with the eunuch Zhang Mingde, and in the royal family, the relationship between the prince and the eunuch was too good, which could easily arouse the emperor's suspicion. And Miankai also took the eunuch to his house to play, the internal affairs office came to ask for someone, he not only did not admit it, but also hid the eunuch in Qinghe, after being captured, Miankai was demoted to the king of the county, but later Emperor Daoguang saw the face of the queen mother, and restored the title of prince.
In the thirteenth year of Daoguang, Emperor Daoguang's stepwife Xiao Shencheng died of illness, and Emperor Daoguang handed over the arrangement of the queen's funeral to Prince Miankai, however, in order to please his brother, Miankai actually made the queen's funeral very grand, and the people were like mourning farts, Emperor Daoguang was angry again and punished Miankai for ten years.
In May of the eighteenth year of Daoguang, Miankai imprisoned a woman's husband again, and the woman sued him, and after Daoguang was verified, Emperor Daoguang once again taught this unsuccessful younger brother a lesson, not only demoted him to the king of the county, but also removed him from all positions. Later, Miankai died not long after, but Emperor Daoguang still paid tribute in person, restored his princely title, and was buried with a princely ceremony. Miankai's son Yizhang died very early, and he was just this one son, and Emperor Daoguang passed his fifth son Yicheng to him as his successor. It shows that Emperor Daoguang still feels sorry for this younger brother.
Mianxin's ending is relatively simple, because he died relatively early. In the third year of Daoguang, Emperor Daoguang appointed him to walk for the inner court. In July of the eighth year of Daoguang, he had a son and a daughter.
There are relatively few historical records of Mianxin, according to the book written by the Korean envoy Park Qishou, the sons of Emperor Jiaqing at that time, the eldest was the sharp-beaked monkey gills of Emperor Daoguang, and he was also very mediocre. The second child, that is, Miankai, has wide cheeks and plump ears, and people are also broad. The third child, that is, Mianxin is the smartest and has a good understanding, is knowledgeable, and is also very capable of doing things, and the emperor likes it very much.
In fact, through the statement of the Korean envoys, it is indeed possible that Emperor Jiaqing may really regret passing the throne to Emperor Daoguang, and then through the Zhengda Guangming plaque There is no edict behind the throne, and Emperor Jiaqing may really have other thoughts in his heart, and it is not known. This is why I always suspect that it is really possible that Emperor Daoguang's succession to the throne is not Emperor Jiaqing's original intention. It's just that Emperor Jiaqing died suddenly, and Emperor Daoguang basically succeeded to the throne with the support of the empress dowager and clan ministers. But even if the throne was passed on to Mianxin, it was useless, he died at the age of twenty-three, and he couldn't change the fate of the Qing Dynasty.
To sum up, Empress Xiaohe Rui is still relatively smart, she knows that although Emperor Jiaqing may not have left a last word to designate Emperor Daoguang to succeed to the throne, but with Emperor Daoguang's power in the court, it is not at all something that she and her two sons can compete with. In this case, she made a decision to support Emperor Daoguang to succeed to the throne, not only preserving herself and making herself be honored for a lifetime, but also protecting her son. The attitude of Empress Xiao and Rui also made a peaceful transition to the throne and made a great contribution to the stability of the Qing Dynasty.