A woman who has just turned 30 years old and should be in her prime, but her life hangs by a thread because of the court's deceit, isn't this the true portrayal of Jia Yuanchun in "Dream of Red Mansions"? Jia Yuanchun, as the flower of Jiafu, fell victim to the political struggle in the end. Why did a high-ranking royal concubine have such a tragic end?
Jia Yuanchun, as Jia Baoyu's sister, has enjoyed the most superior living conditions in Jiafu since she was a child. At the age of 15, she was elected to the palace and became a court maid, which is undoubtedly a great honor for an ordinary family. For Jiafu, whose status is not prominent enough, this move has some gambling elements. Yuan Chun's life in the palace is not as beautiful as everyone imagined, she has been in a state of no one for a long time, until Jia Zheng's birthday, the sudden news of the concubine made the entire Jia Mansion feel incredible.
After being crowned as a concubine, Yuan Chun was canonized as the Shangshu of Fengzao Palace, and was crowned a virtuous concubine, which is a great honor in the eyes of outsiders, but behind this is a kind of pressure from the Emperor Taishang to the new emperor. It turned out that the two fathers-in-law of Jiafu, Rong Guo Gong and Ning Guo Gong, were both old subordinates of the Emperor Taishang and were loyal to the Emperor. Through this relationship, Emperor Taishang won the position of concubine for Yuan Chun. But this reluctant promotion made Yuan Chun's life in the palace not easy.
Despite the name of concubine, Yuan Chun's position in the palace was not stable. Her promotion was not based on the new emperor's sincere promotion, but more out of political calculations and power plays. In the palace, there may be a calculation hidden behind every smile, and every favor may be a trap. Yuan Chun's emotional world and personal will are almost completely ignored, and her existence is more of a political symbol than a flesh-and-blood person.
Jia Yuanchun's provincial trip revealed a lot of unknown suffering. Despite her glamorous appearance, her life in the palace is far from as happy as she imagined. During the provincial period, she actually cried six times in just a few hours, and this abnormal expression of emotion undoubtedly hinted at the helplessness and sadness in her heart. And the hints in the play "The Palace of Eternal Life" are even more chilling - even Yang Guifei, who is loved by thousands of people, will inevitably die in the end, how can Yuan Chun's fate be left alone?
Although the specific reason for Yuan Chun's death is not specified in "Dream of Red Mansions", from the perspective of her career, her death is inseparable from the power struggle in the court. The battle in the palace was cruel, and she was such a pawn that was finally swallowed up by the tide of power. Her death may have been due to her inability to have children, or because she had made too many enemies in the palace. In that era of the supremacy of imperial power, the emperor's thought could decide a person's life and death.
Jiafu's attitude towards Yuan Chun is also quite complicated. On the one hand, her promotion undoubtedly brought great glory to Jiafu, but on the other hand, the people of Jiafu also knew that Yuan Chun's position in the palace was not stable. Although Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang frequently entered the palace, on the surface to thank him, in fact, they were more to inquire about the situation and seek safety for their daughter in the tiger's den in Longtan at home. Jia Zheng had to find a delicate balance between imperial power and family.
Jia Yuanchun's life can be said to be the epitome of the glory and tragedy of Jiafu. Although her promotion brought a short-lived glory to Jiafu, her personal happiness was like flowing water, fleeting. On the big stage of the court, every character has to fight for their own survival, and the tragedy of Yuan Chun is also a victim of this struggle.
The story of Yuan Chun is a portrayal of the fate of women in that era. They may have had a moment of glory, but more often than not, there are endless tears and powerless laments behind them. In the game of thrones, they are often the most vulnerable. Yuan Chun's life is full of too much helplessness and sorrow, and her fate is not only her personal tragedy, but also the epitome of the entire feudal society.
Jia Yuanchun's story is not only a plot in "Dream of Red Mansions", it is also a profound reflection on the fate of women in that era. Her rise and fall are not just personal joys and sorrows, but a microcosm of an era. Behind that golden and jade relationship, there are endless tears and unknown suffering.