Preface
In history, there are many stories that are endlessly evocative, one of which is the scene between Emperor Qianlong and Ji Xiaolan. When Emperor Qianlong handed a blank piece of paper to Ji Xiaolan to read out, as soon as Ji Xiaolan spoke, Qianlong was instantly happy.
So, in that dazzling and intriguing Qing court, how did a scholar from a scholarly family reach the peak step by step in the whirlpool of power? Today, let us walk into Ji Xiaolan's legendary life.
1. Young talents
Ji Xiaolan was born in a scholarly family, and her ancestors were all officials of the Qing Dynasty for several generations. In such a family environment, he received a good education from an early age. His father Ji Rongshu attached great importance to his education, not only invited famous teachers in various fields to teach, but also set an example for him, teaching him "even if you are poor, don't stop studying".
Ji Xiaolan has shown extraordinary intelligence and studious spirit since she was a child. At the age of seven, he participated in the children's examination, and his outstanding performance was amazing, and he was known as the "prodigy of the world". Since the age of four, he has never left the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and has been accompanied by books all day long, and it has become his habit to write and write.
This diligent and studious quality allowed Ji Xiaolan to successfully pass the imperial examination later and enter the Hanlin Academy as a scholar. In the Hanlin Academy, a place where literati gathered, he was like a fish in water, and quickly adapted to the rhythm of being an official.
Ji Xiaolan's father, Ji Rongshu, can be described as extremely strict with his education. He not only asked Ji Xiaolan to study hard, but also asked him to learn various skills, including calligraphy and painting. Ji Rongshu knows that in order to gain a foothold in this era, it is not enough to rely only on book knowledge, but also to have a variety of talents.
It is under the influence of such education that Ji Xiaolan has developed the excellent quality of diligence and studiousness since she was a child. Not only did he excel in his studies, but he also excelled in various crafts. This all-round development has laid a solid foundation for his future career.
Second, Qianlong appreciation
Ji Xiaolan's opportunity came from a chance opportunity. When guessing the lantern riddle on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he created a pair of wonderful lantern riddles with "guessing the riddle" as the riddle, which made Emperor Qianlong unable to guess the riddle. Qianlong was greatly appreciative, and from then on he looked at this talented official of the Hanlin Academy differently.
Emperor Qianlong has always been fond of poetry and has studied literary attainments. When he saw the pair of lantern riddles created by Ji Xiaolan, he couldn't help but be shocked. This is not only because of the ingenuity of the puzzle itself, but also because of the profound literary cultivation contained in it. Qianlong realized that there was such a literary talent hidden in the Hanlin Academy, and immediately became interested in him.
Since then, Ji Xiaolan has been favored by Qianlong. Qianlong often gave him some problems to test his talents, and Ji Xiaolan always amazed Qianlong with his outstanding performance. In Qianlong's eyes, this young official of the Hanlin Academy is not only brilliant in literature, but also unchaotic and cautious in the face of danger, which can be called a rare talent.
With her outstanding literary talent and ability to respond to crises, Ji Xiaolan gradually won Qianlong's appreciation and was promoted step by step to the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. As one of the six ministries of the Ministry of Rites, he was in charge of important affairs such as sacrificial rites and had a very high status. This is undoubtedly the best proof of his talent.
The reason why Qianlong appreciates Ji Xiaolan so much is not only because of his talent, but also because of Ji Xiaolan's personality. Ji Xiaolan is humble and polite, never publicizing herself, and this humble character also makes Qianlong appreciate it very much. In Qianlong's view, Ji Xiaolan is not only an outstanding literary talent, but also a trustworthy courtier.
3. Peer conspiracy
However, just when Ji Xiaolan's career was taking off, he encountered a conspiracy from his colleagues. During a drought, Qianlong decided to go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain. According to the rules, the prayer should be written by Taichang Siqing, and Ji Xiaolan, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, should be responsible for reading it aloud.
But Hu Muting, who was the secretary of Taichang Temple at the time, was jealous, and he deliberately handed a blank piece of paper to Ji Xiaolan to see if he could handle it comfortably in such an occasion. Hu Muting secretly also brought the prayer he had written, ready to rush forward to save the scene at any time.
There are two main reasons why Hu Muting designed it this way: one is jealous of Ji Xiaolan's status in front of Qianlong, and the other is that he is worried that if this prayer for rain is successful, Qianlong will inevitably reward the Ministry of Rites, but they will not get any benefits from Taichang Temple.
In Hu Muting's view, this is an excellent opportunity to not only blow Ji Xiaolan's reputation, but also to make himself appear loyal and reliable in front of Qianlong. He even secretly prepared a prayer he had written, just in case the matter was revealed, he could rush forward in time to save the scene.
As the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, he was responsible for presiding over this important rain prayer ceremony, and if anything went wrong, it would not only damage his reputation, but also be severely punished by Qianlong.
Under this kind of high pressure, although Ji Xiaolan was flustered in her heart, she was calm on the surface. He knew that if he lost his temper on such an occasion, he would not only ruin the rain prayer ceremony, but also lose his life. So he had to find a way to defuse this crisis.
Fourth, there is no chaos in the face of danger
When Ji Xiaolan stood on the altar and unfolded the "prayer" in his hand, he found that it was just a blank piece of paper, he did not lose his temper, but immediately made a decision and recited a short and philosophical sentence: "The emperor said: 'Shierlong, the year is in great drought, use you to do sweet rain, you go to it, admire!"
Although this sentence is short, it is concise and to the point, and expresses Qianlong's mind vividly. Qianlong praised Ji Xiaolan's instability and export chapters, and Hu Muting's conspiracy failed.
The reason why Ji Xiaolan was able to maintain his composure in such a time of crisis was his accumulation over the years. As a scholar from a scholarly family, he not only has profound attainments in literary accomplishment, but also has considerable experience in dealing with things.
As an official in the court, Ji Xiaolan has long been accustomed to all kinds of intrigues and tricks, and he understands that only by staying calm and wise can he turn danger into a disaster. So when faced with this sudden crisis, he did not panic, but quickly made the right judgment and response.
This kind of quality of being unchaotic in the face of danger made Qianlong impressed. As an emperor who attached great importance to the rule of culture, Qianlong admired Ji Xiaolan's talent and courage very much. In his opinion, Ji Xiaolan is not only an outstanding literati, but also a trustworthy courtier.
The failure of Hu Muting's conspiracy also made Qianlong realize that there was indeed some jealousy and conspiracy in the court. But at the same time, he also saw that a talent like Ji Xiaolan was exactly what he needed. So after this incident, Qianlong's trust in Ji Xiaolan became even deeper.
Fifth, it has been tested repeatedly
Although this crisis was resolved, Ji Xiaolan was still repeatedly tested in her later career. Once, he was even relegated by Qianlong to the barren land of Xinjiang. There, he suffered hardships, but still maintained his loyalty to Qianlong.
Being relegated to Xinjiang is also a huge blow to Ji Xiaolan. At that time, Xinjiang was still a desolate border area, and the living conditions were very difficult, and many people were reluctant to go there. And as a minister with a high reputation in the capital, being demoted to such a place is a kind of humiliation and punishment for him.
But Ji Xiaolan did not lose her fighting spirit because of this, but strengthened her belief. He understood that as a courtier, even if he suffered a great setback, he must remain loyal to the emperor. So during his days in Xinjiang, he worked diligently as always, and did not relax at all.
This tenacious character finally moved Qianlong. After spending several difficult years in Xinjiang, Ji Xiaolan regained Qianlong's trust and was able to return to the capital. However, he is no longer a core official, but has devoted himself to the compilation of the "Siku Quanshu".
For Ji Xiaolan, this is undoubtedly a kind of downgrade. But instead of being discouraged, he devoted all his energy to this important cultural project. In his opinion, it is also an honor to be able to contribute to the country's cultural cause.
Ji Xiaolan's tenacity and perseverance undoubtedly impressed Qianlong. As an emperor who attaches great importance to culture, Qianlong naturally appreciates Ji Xiaolan's contribution in this regard. Although he is no longer a core official, in Qianlong's eyes, he is still a trusted and reused courtier.
epilogue
Ji Xiaolan's life can be described as full of ups and downs, ups and downs. With his talent and hard work, he rose to the pinnacle of power, but at the same time, he had to face the jealousy of his colleagues and the test of the emperor.
It was his ability to stay in danger and make a statement, as well as his loyalty to the emperor, that allowed him to finally turn danger into a disaster and become a capable minister appreciated by Emperor Qianlong.
Ji Xiaolan's legendary life is not only a wonderful personal biography, but also a vivid footnote to that turbulent era. His story gives us a glimpse of the true nature of the power struggle of the Qing Dynasty and the complexity and sinister nature of that era.
This is undoubtedly a historical figure worthy of our in-depth exploration, and his story will surely become an important window for us to understand that era.