Once the concubines stepped on the palace gate, the red walls were all pink. Whoever insults and competes for favor today, the three thousand old kings hate.
Today's laughter may be a harbinger of tomorrow's fall from grace, and those women who were once charming will only be exchanged for the indifference and oblivion of the king.
A poem expresses the sad tears of the cold palace.
Rumor has it that eunuchs flock to this place, why are they so enthusiastic about the concubines of the cold palace? Today, let's unveil the mystery of the cold palace together.
Cold Palace
In the shadow of ancient feudal society, the term "cold palace" was shrouded in a heavy haze, which not only represented the bleak situation of the concubines who had lost their favor, but also symbolized the ruthless banishment they suffered in the splendid harem.
When the emperor's grace turned into indifference and abandonment, the former favorite concubine fell from the clouds to the cold and dull abyss.
The concubines who were exiled to the cold palace changed their living circumstances abruptly, and since then they have been in the company of loneliness, dependent on poverty, and danced with despair.
They lost the emperor's favor, lost their life of fine clothes and food, and did not have the careful service of palace maids and eunuchs, replaced by endless loneliness and depression.
Reason 1: The revenge of the eunuchs
In the intricate web of power of the ancient court, although the eunuchs were loyal servants of the royal family, they were often at the bottom of society, and were treated harshly by the concubines.
But the wheel of fate turns unpredictable, once these high-ranking concubines fall out of favor and are abandoned to the cold palace, the eunuchs who endure silently on weekdays quietly get the opportunity to take revenge.
Out of the emperor's sight, they can take the opportunity to create all kinds of problems for the former oppressors, and even take extreme measures to "rectify" them, because they know that it will be difficult for the concubines who have fallen out of favor to return to the sun of grace.
And their sufferings cannot reach heaven. This is not only the moment when the eunuchs turn over, but also become a source of inner satisfaction for them.
Although the eunuchs played an indispensable role in the palace, they could not escape the harsh surveillance and arrogance of the concubines. Living in the shadow of concubines, eunuchs often suffered from both physical and mental pressure.
However, as soon as the seesaw of power tilted, the concubines who had fallen out of favor quickly fell to the bottom, and the eunuchs were able to seize the opportunity and do the opposite.
What's more, the secrets of the concubines will be leaked, and they will face heavier punishments. Through these means, the eunuchs not only reversed the passive situation, but also gained a psychological sense of victory against the former oppressor.
Reason 2: The cold palace is safer
In the harem, although the beauty is like a cloud, there is only one queen. The concubines surged underneath the apparent tranquility, and they did whatever it took to compete for the emperor's favor.
In this power struggle, the eunuchs often become pawns in control, and they are often caught in a dilemma.
The emperor relied on eunuchs to handle the complicated affairs of the harem because they were unable to have children and would not cause chaos in the harem of the past. The eunuch entered the palace since he was a child, and there was no entanglement of external interests and no concern for future generations.
Even if there is an internal rebellion, it is short-lived and dependent on the emperor's grace. This dependence translates into absolute loyalty to the emperor.
However, once the eunuch is involved in the palace fight, the slightest carelessness will put his life in jeopardy. In contrast, serving a disgraced concubine is safe and worry-free. Those concubines who were once arrogant and domineering, once they were relegated to the cold palace, their edges would instantly dim.
Reason 3: If you are ambitious, it is an excellent opportunity for the concubines of the cold palace to buy the bottom
Although many harem concubines were relegated to the cold palace, they still had the hope of returning to the emperor's side.
Novels and plays often depict them walking into this cold place with their belongings, surrounded by an atmosphere of loss, as if the wheel of fortune had crushed their hopes to ashes.
Usually, the cold palace is chosen in a remote and deserted place of the palace, and in the case of a benevolent monarch, the concubine is sometimes placed under house arrest in his original residence.
Only to block the door, the right to be used for cold use. The emperor is unpredictable, and perhaps on a whim, he will remember a certain concubine and love her again. Then he took off directly.
Reason 4: There is "oil and water" to fish
In ancient royal palaces, there was a saying that revealed the untold truth: "A skinny camel is bigger than a horse". The same applies to those concubines who were once favored by the emperor and later abandoned in the cold palace.
Despite their ill-fated fate, they still secretly keep some precious jewelry and jewelry, which are not only a testimony to their past glory, but also an important bargaining chip for them to survive in the cold palace.
In the eyes of these concubines who have fallen out of favor, money is the key to maintaining their lives, and it is also a means for them to seek a trace of warmth and care in the cold palace. They know that if they want to survive in this cold world, they must use money to pave the way, so as to open up relationships and exchange for necessary daily necessities.
In this transaction chain, the eunuchs in the cold palace play a crucial role. They became a bridge between the concubines and the outside world, smuggling their jewelry out of the palace in exchange for daily necessities.
However, these eunuchs did not serve for free, and they would receive a large "errand fee" and take the opportunity to embezzle some of their wealth for their own personal gain.
What's more complicated is that some concubines are not from ordinary backgrounds, their family backgrounds are prominent, and the family naturally does not want to see their daughters suffer in the cold palace.
So, they did not hesitate to bribe the eunuchs, hoping that they would take good care of their daughters, and even dreamed that they would one day regain the emperor's favor.
Under such temptation, the eunuchs were naturally happy to accept these "uninvited" benefits.
summary
Behind the gorgeous imperial power, there is a dark side that no one knows. Those splendid palaces are actually battlefields where power and desire are intertwined. For the women in the palace, every step is like walking on thin ice, and every sentence needs to be carefully considered.
They know that in this seemingly brilliant court, if they want to get a place, it is no less difficult than climbing the sky.
If you were in ancient times, would you go to the cold palace? What would you do?