In the history of the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty, there was a woman who became the last empress dowager of the Song Dynasty with her unique fate and extraordinary life experience - Xie Daoqing.
She went from an ugly girl to a queen and a queen mother, and her story is full of legends.
How did she do it? In order to strive for the top, what kind of hardships and inner struggles have you experienced?
Xie Daoqing's background and early life
Xie Daoqing's childhood was not as glamorous as his family background. The early death of her parents brought darkness to her world. Her grandfather, Xie Shenfu, was not only the right prime minister of the Song Dynasty, but also a well-known virtuous minister in the imperial court, and his political achievements won the trust of Song Ningzong and Empress Yang.
Xie Daoqing's beautiful life disappeared overnight, and Xie Daoqing had to leave her familiar home and live in her uncle's house, and began her difficult life.
There, she was no longer a woman from a wealthy family, but an ordinary woman, working hard every day, washing and cooking in the fields, planting silkworms, and the hardships of life did not wear down her intelligence, but shaped her tenacious character.
In the legend about Xie Daoqing, it is said that she was born with ugly appearance and dark skin, and there is a skin lesion on her face, which makes her stand out from the crowd.
However, these outward flaws did not hide her inner cleverness. Xie Daoqing's wisdom and upbringing gave her a unique position in her uncle's family, she was not only diligent and studious, but also a good listener, and no matter what kind of difficulties she faced, she was able to maintain inner peace, and this inner beauty spread throughout the family.
Xie Daoqing's childhood, although life was difficult, was also full of fun to learn and explore. She often read poetry alone in her uncle's study.
At night, she sewed clothes, and during the day she began to help with household chores, and her rough hands were both a sign of labor and a symbol of wisdom.
Despite her simple life, Xie Daoqing has always maintained an optimistic attitude, believing that the true value lies not in appearance, but in inner strength.
Xie Daoqing's fame gradually spread to the palace in Lin'an. Her story made Empress Yang of the royal family listen to it, and the woman who had been strongly recommended by Xie Shenfu was grateful for the kindness of the Xie family, and was also moved by Xie Daoqing's talent.
She saw Xie Daoqing's potential and thought that this woman from a poor background but with a dignified character was an ideal candidate for the position of queen.
As a result, Xie Daoqing's fate has changed dramatically. From the countryside of Taizhou to the gorgeous palace, Xie Daoqing was incredible and became the queen of Song Lizong.
The fate of Empress Dowager Yang and the Xie family
Xie Shenfu once helped Empress Yang, and he always remembered that kindness in his heart. When Song Lizong's queen selection was put on the agenda, she saw an opportunity, an opportunity to repay the Xie family.
Empress Dowager Yang knew that the position of the queen was not only a symbol of personal glory and wealth, but also the glory of the family. Therefore, she firmly chose Xie Daoqing, although this decision caused a lot of controversy at the time.
Xie Daoqing's uncle and uncle, the elders of the family, had reservations about her entry into the palace. They were worried that Xie Daoqing's appearance, with her dark skin and obvious skin diseases, might become an obstacle to her ascension to the queen.
They tried to dissuade Empress Dowager Yang, believing that Xie Daoqing's appearance did not meet the standards of the court, and she was afraid that she would not be able to perform the noble role of empress. However, Empress Dowager Yang firmly believes that true beauty comes from the heart, not from the appearance.
At this critical moment, a miraculous transformation struck. On the night of the Lantern Festival, Lin'an City is lit up with lights and laughter.
Xie Daoqing was alone in the courtyard, looking up at the stars in the sky, his heart full of anxiety about the future. Suddenly, a flock of magpies are busy in the treetops of the courtyard, and they seem to be building their nests, signifying good luck and good luck.
This scene caused a sensation in the palace and was seen as a sign from heaven that Xie Daoqing would be the queen who would bring happiness.
What's even more surprising is that Xie Daoqing's skin disease was miraculously cured at this time. Her skin became as white as jade, and the original blemishes disappeared, as if overnight, the ugly duckling had become a white swan.
This change amazed everyone, and even the family members who questioned her had to admit that Xie Daoqing seemed to be really favored by God.
As the story of the magpie nesting during the Lantern Festival spread throughout the palace, Xie Daoqing's fame spread rapidly. When Song Lizong heard the news, he became interested in Xie Daoqing.
He summoned her personally and was attracted by Xie Daoqing's dignified temperament and intelligence. Although her appearance had been questioned, Xie Daoqing at this moment, with her inner beauty and mysterious transformation, won the favor of Li Zong.
At the insistence of Empress Dowager Yang and the approval of Emperor Lizong, Xie Daoqing was officially canonized as empress. This turmoil caused by physiognomy finally ended with Xie Daoqing.
Her story became a topic of conversation inside and outside the court, and also paved the way for her to become a queen. Since then, Xie Daoqing has not only won respect in the family, but also occupied an important position in the court of the Southern Song Dynasty, starting a new chapter in her life as the empress.
Jia Guifei and Xie Daoqing's harem fight
After Xie Daoqing entered the palace, she was not greeted by the imaginary honor. Song Lizong's favor fell on Jia Guifei, a beautiful and touching woman who, with her beauty and wit, monopolized the emperor's favor.
Faced with such a situation, Xie Daoqing chose patience and indifference. She understands that life in the palace is far from a simple competition for favor, and that true strength comes from inner wisdom.
Xie Daoqing did not complain about the emperor's neglect, but focused more on his own cultivation. She studied the scriptures and history every day, and won the praise of the imperial court for her virtuous and virtuous qualities.
Under the guidance of Empress Dowager Yang, she learned how to maintain herself in a complex court environment and how to deal with various challenges with wisdom. Empress Dowager Yang was deeply grateful, appreciated Xie Daoqing's forbearance and generosity, and regarded her as a role model for the harem.
The courtiers were also moved by Xie Daoqing's words and deeds, and they saw a queen who was unmoved by the world and always kept a low profile. Her wisdom and noble character made her establish a high image in the hearts of her courtiers, and even when she fell out of favor in front of the emperor, she still enjoyed their respect and support.
During the reign of Li Zong, although Xie Daoqing was not favored by the emperor, her state of mind became more and more calm. She knows that true happiness lies not in outward pampering, but in inner contentment and peace.
Time passed, Song Lizong passed away, and Xie Daoqing was promoted to the empress dowager, and she continued to influence the harem and the court with a more calm attitude. Under her rule, the harem was in order and the country's political situation was stable.
Xie Daoqing's political achievements and national responsibility
At this time, the Southern Song Dynasty was facing an unprecedented crisis. The tyrannical power of the treacherous minister Jia Yidao made the government corrupt and the national strength weakened day by day, and the iron cavalry of the Yuan army was like a beast, approaching the borders of the Southern Song Dynasty step by step.
Xie Daoqing felt a great responsibility, she was no longer satisfied with the peaceful life of the harem, and decided to stand up and participate in the government politics to save the country from danger.
In the face of Jia Yidao's power, Xie Daoqing showed extraordinary decisiveness. She secretly collects Jia Yidao's sins and gradually reveals his true colors.
At a court meeting, Xie Daoqing questioned Jia Yidao in court and listed his various crimes, which shocked the courtiers. However, external threats have not disappeared.
The attack of the Yuan army was even more fierce, and Xie Daoqing knew that it was not enough to rectify the dynasty, she needed to unite the strength of the whole country to resist the foreign enemy.
So, she called on loyal ministers and good generals from all over the country to mobilize King Qin and vowed to protect her family and defend the country. Her appeal and influence stimulated the patriotic enthusiasm of the people, and a diligent Wang army rushed to the front line and fought against the Yuan army.
Xie Daoqing and the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty
The attack of the Yuan army was very ferocious, and the defense line of the Southern Song Dynasty was constantly being disintegrated. Xie Daoqing advocated the fight to the end in the court, but the cruelty of reality forced her to make a difficult choice.
With the Yuan army in the city, she was forced to accept peace in exchange for a brief respite, and at the same time pinned the future of the Southern Song Dynasty on the fugitive young lords Zhao Yu and Zhao Yu, hoping that they could lead the country to rise again one day in the future.
Xie Daoqing's decision to negotiate peace made Xie Daoqing suffer from her heart, but she understood that it was to minimize the sacrifice of innocent people as much as possible. She personally arranged for the escape of the young master, using the last of her power and wisdom to pave a possible path for them to survive.
And she herself, however, could not escape the fate of being captured. The Yuan army broke through the city, and Xie Daoqing was taken to the capital of Yuan, where she was deprived of her dignity and freedom, but the faith in her heart was not shaken.
In Yuan Dadu, Xie Daoqing did not give in. With her cultivation and wisdom, she won the respect of some nobles of the Yuan Dynasty. Her story was passed down in captivity and became an indomitable legend.
Despite living in a foreign country, Xie Daoqing still paid attention to the movements of the Southern Song Dynasty, and every letter and plot she wrote tried to find life for her homeland.
The years are merciless, Xie Daoqing died at the age of seventy-four, her name and deeds are not only a personal fate, but also a microcosm of the history at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty. Xie Daoqing's life is a symbol of female strength, and her wisdom and courage transcend the limitations of gender and the times, and become a good story for future generations.