Imagine that you are a young and beautiful palace maid, and suddenly one day you are ordered to marry an old eunuch who is over the age of six, which is almost like the plot of the script. However, this is not a TV series, but a real story that happened in 1903. The power play and scheming hidden behind this marriage are enough to make people staggered. What made Cixi make such a decision? What is the unusual story of the newlyweds' candle night in the cave room?
In that feudal era, although the court maids and eunuchs in the court were vassals of the imperial power, their fates were very different. The palace maid He Rong'er is a typical example. Her cleverness not only won the love of the Empress Dowager Cixi, but also inadvertently attracted the covetousness of the powerful eunuchs in the palace.
He Rong'er's beauty is well-known in the deep palace, and her presence is both an opportunity and a threat to the people around her. Li Lianying, as a big celebrity around Cixi, his status depends partly on Cixi's trust and dependence on him. He Rong'er's favor undoubtedly made Li Lianying feel threatened. However, Li Lianying is an old man, and he knows how to navigate the forest of the palace without mistakes.
Liu Xiang, an elderly eunuch, saw that his life was entering his twilight years, but he had a whim and wanted to find a young palace maid to accompany him. He Rong'er is undoubtedly the best candidate in his heart. It's a pity that as a eunuch, he doesn't have much weight to fulfill his wishes. But no, opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. An inadvertent mistake, He Rong'er spilled hot tea on the Empress Dowager Cixi, and this scene completely angered Cixi.
Cixi's anger was like a double-edged sword, allowing Li Lianying to seize the opportunity. He began to blow wind in Cixi's ears, exaggerating He Rong'er's mistakes, suggesting that such a palace maid was no longer suitable to stay with the Queen Mother. Cixi, this powerful woman, although she loves He Rong'er for a while, no one can get special treatment in the face of Game of Thrones.
An unequal marriage began in 1903. He Rong'er entered the palace of marriage in desperation, and Liu Xiang married this beautiful palace maid with complicated feelings. Liu Xiang is well aware of his limitations, and his mood is extremely complicated. On the night of the candles in the cave room, he did not spend the night with the bride as the usual groom, but went to the corridor alone to rest and meditate. And the smart He Rong'er also knew her situation, she took Liu Xiang's hand and said softly: "I will serve you." ”
He Rong'er's situation makes people sigh that the fate of women in the court, especially palace maids like her, has been decided almost from the moment they are born. They may be able to gain a temporary favor in the court through their wits and resourcefulness, but in the end, they will not escape the fate of being manipulated by power. Is this marriage a relief for He Rong'er, or is it another form of cage?
And for Liu Xiang, this marriage may be part of his power game, or maybe it is just a desire for companionship among the elderly. In any case, his choice is partly a reflection of the complex interweaving of humanity and power in the court. It is undoubtedly unfair for old cows to eat young grass today, but in that environment at that time, such things were not uncommon.
What is the married life of this peculiar couple, and can they find a trace of true emotion that does not depend on power? These questions may never be answered. But what is certain is that this marriage and their story provide a window into the court life of that era for future generations.
The story of He Ronger and Liu Xiang is not just a simple love story, it is also a story about power, strategy and human nature. In this story, each character is not simply black and white, and every choice they make is full of the imprint of the times and personal helplessness.
Through the stories of He Rong'er and Liu Xiang, we can deeply feel the complex interpersonal relationships and profound human struggles in the court of that era. This is not just a story about love, but also a story of survival and struggle. The implications of such stories are profound, and they make us wonder if we can learn from history how to better understand the relationship between human nature and power. Although He Rong'er's fate is a piece of history, its influence and enlightenment transcend the times.