Everyone knows that He Shen is the most famous corrupt official in the Qing Dynasty, but they don't know that he is also a graceful and beautiful man. Emperor Qianlong favored this capable minister, and even married the pearl Gulun and Princess Xiao to Fengshen Yinde, the son of Heshen. However, there are unforeseen circumstances in the sky, and people have good and bad luck. After Emperor Jiaqing ascended the throne, He Shen was given white silk to hang himself, and although Feng Shen Yinde was spared death because of his wife's intercession, he resented the royal family from then on. How did he take revenge on his once-beloved wife? And why is there such an amazing move? How do Gu Lun and Princess Xiao feel about their husband's various behaviors? Let's uncover the inside story of this little-known history and see how this formerly loving couple came to a tragic end.
In the 60th year of Qianlong (1795), the elderly Qianlong Emperor ceded the throne to his fifteenth son, Yongyan, who later became Emperor Jiaqing. Everyone in the world knows that Jiaqing began to rectify the government at the beginning of his succession, but he did not know that he had a long-standing grudge against He Shen.
He Shen was a very popular minister in the Qianlong Dynasty, and he was the minister of military aircraft, the secretary of the ministry, and the scholar of the East Pavilion University. He not only won the trust of Emperor Qianlong, but also accumulated an astonishing wealth through various means. It is rumored that He Shen's family property is even more abundant than the national treasury, which can't help but make people sigh: how amazing it is that one person's wealth can rival the wealth of the country!
Only three days after Emperor Jiaqing ascended the throne, he ordered the arrest of He Shen. When the ministers of the DPRK and China heard the news, they were all shocked. You must know that He Shen is a confidant of Emperor Qianlong, and he is also the ruler of the court. Emperor Jiaqing's move is tantamount to announcing to the government and the opposition: The new dynasty has been established, and the old party should be eliminated!
When He Shen was taken to the prison of the Criminal Department, the streets were surrounded by people watching the excitement. He Shen, who had infinite scenery in the past, has now become a prisoner, which can't help but make people sigh. However, what is even more shocking is that Emperor Jiaqing did not immediately execute He Shen, but ordered a strict interrogation to find out He Shen's crimes one by one.
During the interrogation, He Shen's crimes were revealed one by one. Corruption and bribery, forming parties for personal gain, deceiving superiors and subordinates, and doing everything. Emperor Jiaqing looked at this pile and one crime after another, and was furious. He knew very well that if the tumor of Heshen was not removed, it would be difficult for the government to be eliminated.
Just when everyone was looking forward to it, Emperor Jiaqing finally issued the final verdict: although He Shen was extremely evil, he made great contributions to the country, exempted him from capital crimes, and gave him white silk instead. This decision not only shows the benevolence of Emperor Jiaqing, but also does not lose the thunderous means.
He Shen was escorted back to the house and hanged himself with hatred in the company of his family. A generation of powerful ministers has fallen. However, the death of He Shen is not the end of the story, but the beginning of another tragedy.
He Shen's son, Feng Shen Yinde, should have been implicated for his father's sin. However, his wife, Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, stepped forward at this time to intercede for their husbands. You must know that Gulun and Princess Xiao are not only the pearls of Emperor Qianlong, but also the sister of Emperor Jiaqing. She has a deep affection for her brother, how can Emperor Jiaqing not be able to intercede this time?
Under the bitter pleading of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, Emperor Jiaqing finally relented and exempted Feng Shen Yinde from the death penalty. However, Feng Shen Yinde's titles and official positions were all stripped and reduced to commoners. This is undoubtedly a great blow to the well-born Fengshen Yinde.
Everyone in the world said that Gulun and Princess Xiao had meritorious service in saving her husband, and Fengshen Yinde would definitely be grateful to Dade. However, things turned out unexpectedly. Instead of being grateful to his wife, Fengshen Yinde took his resentment against Emperor Jiaqing out of her. This can't help but make people wonder: why did Fengshen Yinde have such a big change? And how will he treat this once beloved wife?
Feng Shen Yinde's marriage to Gu Lun and Princess Xiao was originally an enviable story. As the son of Heshen, Fengshen Yinde has received a good education since he was a child, and is not only talented, but also dignified. And Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, as the pearls of Emperor Qianlong, are even more loved by thousands of people. The combination of the two can be described as a perfect match.
In the early days of marriage, Feng Shen Yinde took care of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao in every way. According to the memories of the former ministers in the palace, Fengshen Yinde often personally dressed the princess, poured tea, and even condescended to cook for the princess. This kind of behavior was unheard of in the aristocratic circles at that time and caused quite a stir.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for the couple's married life. Due to the fact that Gulun and Princess Xiao have not been able to have children for many years, there are many people in the court who persuade Fengshen Yinde to take concubines to continue the incense. In the face of these suggestions, Feng Shen Yinde resolutely refused, and publicly said: "My wife is a royal noble, how can I allow others to fight against each other? These words not only moved Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, but also won the praise of the Manchu Dynasty.
Just when everyone thought that the couple would always be in love, the sudden downfall of He Shen was like a thunderbolt, which completely changed the trajectory of Feng Shen Yinde's life. When the news of He Shen's death came, Feng Shen Yinde was visiting the garden with Gu Lun and Princess Xiao to enjoy the flowers. According to the memories of the maid at the time, Feng Shen Yinde's face changed suddenly after hearing the news, and the whole person stood on the spot as if he had been struck by lightning.
From that moment on, Fengshen Yinde seemed to be a different person. He no longer had the same subtleties to Gu Lun and Xiaogong as before, but began to snub her, and even the most basic greetings were missing. At first, Gu Lun and Princess Xiao thought that their husband was too sad because of their father's affairs, so they tried to comfort him. However, Feng Shen Yinde turned a blind eye to his wife's concern, and sometimes even showed obvious boredom.
This change in attitude of Feng Shen Yinde not only confused Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, but also attracted the attention of the ministers of the court. Some people speculate that Feng Shen Yinde may be resentful because of the loss of glory and wealth. After all, he went from being the son of a high-ranking ruler to a powerless commoner overnight. This huge gap is indeed enough to make anyone feel lost and angry.
However, Feng Shen Yinde's resentment is not just directed at his own situation. He seemed to project all his dissatisfaction onto Emperor Jiaqing. In his opinion, it was Emperor Jiaqing's thunderous means that led to the death of his father and the decline of the family. This resentment towards Emperor Jiaqing also indirectly affected his relationship with Gu Lun and Princess Xiao.
Interestingly, although Feng Shen Yinde had a grudge against Emperor Jiaqing, he did not dare to show this emotion directly. After all, in those days, any disrespect to the emperor could lead to ruin. So, he chose a more subtle way to vent his frustration - to transfer his resentment to Gu Lun and Princess Xiao.
In Fengshen Yinde's view, Gulun and Princess Xiao, as the younger sisters of Emperor Jiaqing, should stand on their side and fight for more for their father and family. However, the performance of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao throughout the incident disappointed Feng Shen Yinde. Although she succeeded in getting a life for Fengshen Yinde, in Fengshen Yinde's opinion, it was far from enough.
As time passed, Feng Shen Yinde's attitude towards Gu Lun and Princess Xiao became more and more cold. He began to frequently go in and out of the Qinglou Hook Fence, and even openly flirted with other women. These actions undoubtedly caused great harm to Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, and also made many ministers in the court and central government feel dissatisfied. However, due to the identity of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, no one dared to directly accuse Feng Shen Yinde's behavior.
In this way, the once loving husband and wife, because of a sudden political storm, gradually moved towards confrontation. Feng Shen Yinde's resentment accumulates, while Gu Lun and Princess Xiao fall into deep pain. This marriage seems to have irretrievably come to a tragic end.
Feng Shen Yinde's revenge on Gu Lun and Princess Xiao was not an overnight thing, but a gradual process. The process progressed from initial snubbing, to verbal humiliation, and finally to physical abuse. This series of behaviors not only caused Gu Lun and Princess Xiao to suffer, but also caused an uproar inside and outside the government and the opposition.
Initially, Feng Shen Yinde's revenge was mainly manifested in the snub of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao. He was no longer as inseparable from his wife as before, but began to frequently go in and out of the Qinglou Goulan. According to the recollections of the palace maids at the time, Feng Shen Yinde sometimes did not return home for several days, while Gu Lun and Princess Xiao waited in the palace every day, washing their faces with tears.
However, Feng Shen Yinde was not satisfied with just snubbing his wife. As time passed, he began to verbally humiliate Gulun and Princess Hyo. Once, at a palace banquet, Feng Shen Yinde openly said to the other guests: "The daughter of the royal family, that's it. These words not only made Gu Lun and Princess Xiao cry on the spot, but also caused dissatisfaction among everyone present. However, due to the identity of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, no one dared to directly accuse Feng Shen Yinde's behavior.
Feng Shen Yinde's verbal humiliation did not stop there. It is also said that he often insulted Princess Gu Lun and Xiao at home, calling her "a waste of the royal family", "a waste of not being able to have children", and so on. These mean words undoubtedly caused great mental damage to Gu Lun and Princess Xiao.
As time passed, Feng Shen Yinde's retaliation escalated. He began to openly take concubines in the palace, and deliberately chose some women from low backgrounds. These concubines acted recklessly in the house, and even dared to directly contradict Gu Lun and Princess Xiao. Faced with this situation, although Gu Lun and Princess Xiao are the main family, they are powerless to change the status quo.
What's even more shocking is that Feng Shen Yinde even began to physically abuse Gu Lun and Princess Xiao. According to the servants in the palace, Feng Shen Yinde often punched and kicked Gu Lun and Princess Xiao after drinking. At one point, he even burned the arms of Gu Lun and Princess Hyo with a red-hot soldering iron, leaving permanent scars.
These abuses quickly caught the attention of the ministers of the DPRK and China. Someone made a statement to Emperor Jiaqing, pointing out that Feng Shen Yinde's behavior had seriously violated the law of etiquette. However, Emperor Jiaqing did not take immediate action. Some people speculate that this may be because Emperor Jiaqing does not want to cause turmoil in the government and the opposition again because of his sister's private affairs.
However, Feng Shen Yinde's behavior did not restrain from this. On the contrary, he became more unscrupulous. Once, he even pushed Gu Lun and Princess Xiao to the ground in full view of everyone and slapped her several times in public. The incident caused an uproar in the capital, and many people felt anger and sympathy for Gu Lun and Princess Xiao.
In the face of all kinds of abuse by their husbands, Gu Lun and Princess Xiao have always remained silent. She never reported Feng Shen Yinde's behavior to Emperor Jiaqing, nor did she tell anyone about her pain. Some people say that this is because she is still deeply in love with Feng Shen Yinde; Others say it's because she doesn't want to disgrace the royal family. In any case, the patience of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao made many people feel heartache.
As time passed, Feng Shen Yinde's retaliation escalated. He began to restrict the freedom of Gu Lun and Princess Hyo, forbidding her from contact with the outside world. It is said that he even ordered Gu Lun and Princess Xiao to be locked in a dark and damp hut and given her only one meal a day. This life of near captivity caused the physical condition of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao to deteriorate rapidly.
Just when everyone thought that Gu Lun and Princess Xiao would end up depressed, an unexpected event changed everything. One day, Fengshen Yinde lost his temper after drinking, and even scolded Emperor Jiaqing on the street for being a faint monarch. This act was immediately reported to Emperor Jiaqing. Enraged, Emperor Jiaqing finally decided to take action to completely solve the problem of Fengshen Yinde.
Emperor Jiaqing's abuse of Gulun and Princess Xiao by Fengshen Yinde went through a process from acquiescence to final disposal. This process reflects not only Emperor Jiaqing's ruling strategy as emperor, but also his complex emotions as an elder brother.
At first, Emperor Jiaqing took a tacit attitude towards Feng Shen Yinde's behavior. This acquiescence does not stem from indifference to the younger sister, but from a number of considerations. First of all, as the newly enthroned emperor, Emperor Jiaqing was facing many political challenges, especially the rectification of the court after the fall of Heshen. In this case, he did not want to cause turmoil in the government and the opposition again because of his sister's private affairs. Second, Emperor Jiaqing may have believed that Feng Shen Yinde's behavior, although inappropriate, was still within the limits of tolerance.
However, as Feng Shen's behavior continued to deteriorate, different voices began to emerge in the DPRK and China. Some ministers made a statement to Emperor Jiaqing, pointing out that Feng Shen Yinde's behavior had seriously violated the etiquette law, which not only damaged the royal majesty, but also set a bad example for the people. In the face of these advances, Emperor Jiaqing remained silent, but he began to send people to secretly monitor Fengshen Yinde's every move.
In the tenth year of Jiaqing (1805), an unexpected event became a turning point. In the spring of that year, a fire broke out in the capital, destroying hundreds of homes. In the process of fighting the fire, some people saw that Fengshen Yinde not only did not help to fight the fire, but watched the excitement from the sidelines, and loudly laughed at the people who lost their homes. This act immediately aroused the anger of the people and also reached the ears of Emperor Jiaqing.
Enraged, Emperor Jiaqing finally decided to take action. He first ordered a strict investigation of Fengshen Yinde's behavior, and ordered Jinyiwei to secretly investigate the specific circumstances of Fengshen Yinde's abuse of Gulun and Princess Xiao. Emperor Jiaqing was shocked by the results of the investigation: Feng Shen Yinde not only abused Gu Lun and Princess Xiao for a long time, but also had private dealings with some opponents of the imperial court.
Emperor Jiaqing realized that if he did not dispose of Fengshen Yinde, he would not only endanger his sister's safety, but also threaten the stability of the imperial court. So, he began to plan how to deal with this unscrupulous brother-in-law.
In the spring of the eleventh year of Jiaqing (1806), Emperor Jiaqing took the opportunity of the spring court meeting to suddenly announce a holy decree. The decree detailed the crimes committed by the gentry, including mistreatment of members of the royal family, collusion with opposition forces, and contempt of the imperial court. In the end, Emperor Jiaqing announced that Fengshen Yin Dege would be removed from all positions and imprisoned in the Zongren Mansion forever.
As soon as this holy decree came out, the government and the opposition shook. Many people didn't expect that Emperor Jiaqing would deal with his brother-in-law so harshly. However, what is even more surprising is the reaction of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao. It is said that when she heard the news, not only did she not show the slightest joy, but instead knelt down to Emperor Jiaqing and pleaded, hoping to forgive Feng Shen Yinde.
Faced with his sister's request, Emperor Jiaqing was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he couldn't bear to see his sister continue to suffer; On the other hand, as emperor, he must uphold the law and order. Eventually, Emperor Jiaqing made a compromise decision: he agreed not to imprison Fengshen Yinde in the Zongren Mansion, but still stripped him of all his positions and titles, and placed him under house arrest in an estate on the outskirts of the capital.
Although this decision did not fully meet the requests of Gu Lun and Princess Xiao, it also gave Feng Shen Yinde a ray of life. At the same time, Emperor Jiaqing also ordered that officials should go to the manor every month to check on Fengshen Yinde's situation to ensure that he no longer had the opportunity to harm Gulun and Princess Xiao.
This series of measures by Emperor Jiaqing not only solved the plight of Gulun and Princess Xiao, but also conveyed a clear signal to the government and the opposition: even the relatives of the emperor and the country cannot be above the law. This incident also became an important turning point in the Jiaqing Dynasty's rectification of the rule of officials and the strict enforcement of law and order.
However, it doesn't end there. Although Feng Shen Yinde was under house arrest, his resentment was not eliminated. He began to secretly contact some forces dissatisfied with the imperial court in an attempt to make a comeback. Although these behaviors were deliberately hidden, they were still discovered by the officials sent by Emperor Jiaqing to monitor.
After Feng Shen Yinde was placed under house arrest, the situation did not subside as Emperor Jiaqing expected. On the contrary, the incident caused continuous waves inside and outside the government and the opposition, which eventually led to a series of unintended consequences.
At first, Feng Shen Yinde behaved quite calmly during his house arrest. He planted flowers and trees in the manor every day, and occasionally wrote poems and paintings, and seemed to have accepted his fate. However, this is only the appearance. In fact, Fengshen Yinde has been secretly planning a comeback. He used his past connections to secretly contact some forces dissatisfied with the imperial court, including the families of some degraded officials and some local tyrants.
In the spring of the twelfth year of Jiaqing (1807), an unexpected event revealed the true intentions of Fengshen Yinde. At that time, a petty official in charge of monitoring Fengshen Yinde stumbled upon a secret letter during a routine inspection. The contents of this letter are extremely striking: Feng Shen Yinde is planning a conspiracy against the imperial court.
The petty official immediately reported the matter to Emperor Jiaqing. Emperor Jiaqing was furious when he heard the news and immediately ordered a thorough investigation of the matter. After a detailed investigation, the imperial court found that Feng Shen Yinde not only contacted the opposition forces, but also tried to use his relationship with the imperial family to induce some frontier generals to rebel.
Faced with such a serious crime, Emperor Jiaqing could no longer tolerate it. He convened a court meeting to discuss how to deal with Feng Shen Yinde. After intense discussions, a draconian decision was finally made: Feng Shen Yinde was exiled to Xinjiang and never returned to Beijing.
As soon as this decision was announced, it immediately caused a shock in the government and the public. Many believe that this punishment is too harsh for a former royal relative. However, there are also those who believe that this punishment is already lenient considering Feng Shen Yinde's crime.
When Gu Lun and Princess Xiao learned of the news, they pleaded with Emperor Jiaqing again. She expressed her willingness to go to Xinjiang with Fengshen Yinde and spend the rest of her life together. However, this time Emperor Jiaqing insisted on his decision. He told his sister that Feng Shen Yinde's behavior had violated the law of the land, and there could be no more forgiveness.
In the winter of the twelfth year of Jiaqing, Fengshen Yinde embarked on a long journey to Xinjiang under strict escort. It is said that on the day they left the capital, Gu Lun and Princess Xiao stood on the tower of the city gate, watching their husbands go away until the convoy disappeared on the horizon.
After Feng Shen Yinde was exiled, the imperial court conducted a series of investigations of his related personnel. Some officials implicated with him were demoted or dismissed, and some local tyrants were severely punished. This series of measures not only dealt a blow to the opposition, but also further consolidated the rule of Emperor Jiaqing.
However, the exile of Feng Shen Yinde did not end the story. In the first few years in Xinjiang, Feng Shen Yinde behaved quite depressed. He was placed in a remote town, where his daily life was boring. However, over time, he gradually adapted to his new environment and even began to make some influence locally.
In the fifteenth year of Jiaqing (1810), a small rebellion broke out in Xinjiang. To the surprise of the imperial court, Feng Shen Yinde played an important role in quelling this rebellion. Using his intellect and experience, he succeeded in persuading some of the rebel leaders to surrender and avoid more bloodshed.
This incident attracted the attention of the imperial court. Some ministers began to advise Emperor Jiaqing to reconsider the disposition of Fengshen Yinde. They believe that although Feng Shen Yinde has made mistakes, he still has talents, and if he can make good use of them, he may be able to use them for the imperial court.
Faced with these suggestions, Emperor Jiaqing fell into deep thought. On the one hand, he could not ignore Feng Shen Yinde's past crimes; On the other hand, he also saw Feng Shen Yinde's talent and the possibility of reform. After careful consideration, Emperor Jiaqing finally made a compromise decision: he allowed Feng Shen Yinde to hold a low-ranking official position in Xinjiang, but still did not allow him to return to Beijing.
This decision provoked mixed reactions both inside and outside the government and the opposition. Some people think that this is the emperor's benevolence, which gave Feng Shen Yinde a chance to be a new man; There were also concerns that this could pose a potential threat to the imperial court. In any case, this decision marks the beginning of a new phase in the Fengshen Yinde incident.
Since then, Fengshen Yinde has started a new life in Xinjiang. Although he could not return to Beijing, he found a new value in life in the frontier. He began to devote himself to improving the livelihood of the local people, popularizing advanced agricultural technology, and even compiled a book "Xinjiang Agricultural Journal", which contributed to the development of local agriculture.
In the capital, Gu Lun and Princess Xiao never gave up thinking about their husbands. She repeatedly asked Emperor Jiaqing to go to Xinjiang to visit Fengshen Yinde. Although Emperor Jiaqing did not allow her to stay in Xinjiang for a long time, he allowed her to visit her every few years.