In the prosperous era of Kangxi, a princess from a prominent background lived a carefree life and was loved by thousands of people. However, fate is often merciless, and the princess died mysteriously only two years after marriage at the age of 20. What happened to her? What kind of legendary experience does her short life contain? What kind of trauma did her death bring to her living relatives? Who is this princess and why did she get this special award? With these questions in mind, let's explore the causes and consequences of this good story.
1. Emperor Yongzheng's favorite sister is crazy, and he regards Princess Wenxian as a pearl in his palm
The healthy and intelligent Princess Wen Xian has been greatly favored by the Kangxi family since she was a child. Her arrival brought great joy to Emperor Kangxi, after all, before her, the first eight princesses of Emperor Kangxi all died without exception, and there were only three surviving daughters: the third princess, the fifth princess and the sixth princess. Emperor Kangxi naturally loved Princess Wen Xian, the unique surviving princess.
In order to ensure the healthy growth of the princess, Emperor Kangxi entrusted the responsibility of raising Princess Wenxian to his beloved mother-in-law, Empress Dowager Renxian. Empress Dowager Renxian was born noble, she was the granddaughter of Taizu Nurhachi, and she has always loved Emperor Kangxi as her own flesh and blood. She gladly accepted this trust and took care of Princess Wen Xian's daily life. Under the careful cultivation of the Empress Dowager Renxian, Princess Wenxian has been brilliant since she was a child, familiar with poetry and classics, and full of talent.
In addition to Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager Renxian, Emperor Yongzheng is also one of Princess Wenxian's favorite people. Yongzheng has been close to his sister Princess Wenxian since he was a child, and he knows his sister's unique position in the entire royal family, so he loves him very much. For any delicacy, Emperor Yongzheng will think of his sister for the first time, so that she can enjoy the best treatment. In the records of the Kangxi Dynasty, Princess Wen Xian's monthly supply was one chicken and half a goose more than that of other princesses.
In general, during the prosperous era of Kangxi, Princess Wen Xian, as the only surviving princess, was loved by thousands of people. Emperor Kangxi's meticulous care for her, Empress Dowager Renxian's kind education, and Emperor Yongzheng's deep love for his sister have created Princess Wenxian's privileged living environment, making her grow into a good princess with outstanding minds and gentleness and generosity.
Second, the Empress Dowager Renxian left her only love and raised Princess Wenxian to be brilliant
Emperor Kangxi handed over Princess Wenxian to the Empress Dowager Renxian to raise herself, bringing endless joy to the old and lonely Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager Renxian's cultivation of Princess Wenxian is meticulous, and it can be said that she is meticulous. She pinned all her life's desires and expectations on this unique granddaughter.
Empress Dowager Renxian was not Emperor Kangxi's biological mother, but his mother-in-law. When she was young, Emperor Kangxi's biological mother, Cihe and the Empress Dowager, had already died. The Empress Dowager Renxian was forced to separate from her biological mother since she was a child, entered the palace as a concubine, and was later canonized as the empress dowager. She poured all her maternal love into Kangxi alone. And in her later years, the elderly Empress Dowager Renxian no longer expects to have her own flesh and blood. It was at this time that Emperor Kangxi handed over Princess Wenxian to her to raise.
Empress Dowager Renxian's love for Princess Wenxian can be said to be poured. She used all her energy and effort to teach the princess to read and learn to read and write. Princess Wen Xian has been smart and talented since she was a child, coupled with her grandmother's earnest teachings, reading, writing, poetry and songs, all of which have reached the peak. Soon, Wen Xian shocked the entire Forbidden City with his superb writing and talent, and won praise from the literati.
In addition to poems and books, the Empress Dowager Renxian also carefully taught Princess Wen Xian the reserved, generous, obedient and humble way of life that a talented woman should have, reflecting her dignified and beautiful demeanor. So in the palace, whether it was a literati or a eunuch, they were all overflowing with words about this talented princess.
Under the careful cultivation of the Empress Dowager Renxian, Princess Wenxian gradually learned to be a virtuous lady with both ability and integrity. Such a noble and elegant temperament naturally won the admiration and love of everyone. Emperor Kangxi praised his daughter's progress even more and was full of praise. Seeing Princess Wen Xian so outstanding, the elderly Empress Dowager Renxian was overjoyed, she felt as if she had personally given birth to this smart and lovely daughter, and even bred mother-daughter love for the princess. Since then, Princess Wenxian and Empress Dowager Renxian have been as close as mother and daughter and cherish each other.
3. The legend of Princess Wen Xian's untimely death
In the fifty-fifth year of Kangxi (1716), after Yongzheng ascended the throne, he canonized Princess Wenxian as "Princess Gulun and Shuo Wenxian". The following year, the 19-year-old Princess Wen Xian married Adal Zhu, the great-grandson of Tong Jia, the founding prince of the Qing Dynasty. This brought a short and happy married life to Princess Wen Xian.
In the summer of the following year (1718), the temperature gradually rose, and the sun was blazing in Kyoto. In order to escape the summer, Emperor Yongzheng ordered the princes and ministers to travel. Princess Wen Xian and her husband followed Emperor Yongzheng to Rehe. The group toured the scenery along the road and arrived at a cool villa sixty miles away from Shengjing City. With lush forests and clear streams, it is indeed an excellent place to escape the heat.
The princess and her husband lived in a courtyard near the river. The weeping willows under the corridor cover the sun, and the green lotus in the pond is full of green, like a poetic landscape painting. Every morning, the two of them strolled along the stream, watching the lake and fishing. At night, under the porch, listen to the soft whispers of the crickets, and the phoenix fairy echoes in the distance. In this blue sky and white clouds, Princess Wen Xian and her lover spent the best and most carefree days of their lives.
However, the heat eventually became hot and dry, and the temperature continued to soar until it reached a fever pitch in late July. One afternoon, Princess Wen Xian and her husband were enjoying the cool in the courtyard, when suddenly a burst of heat hit, and the symptoms of heat stroke suddenly appeared. Although the palace people sheltered and fanned the princess in time, the heat was difficult to solve after all, and the princess gradually lost her consciousness.
When the imperial physician heard the news, he rushed to administer herbs and acupuncture to the princess, but unfortunately everything was to no avail. Princess Wen Xian's physical condition deteriorated all the way, and she soon became critically ill and died. Her husband and cronies were standing by the dragon foal, anxiously trying to rescue her, but nothing could be done. That night, Princess Wen Xian finally passed away at the age of twenty, and the newlywed Yan'er had only been married for two years.
The sad news of Princess Wen Xian's untimely death instantly spread throughout the Forbidden City. When Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yongzheng learned the bad news, they were all grief-stricken. At the same time, the Empress Dowager Renxian and the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also wept bitterly because of the loss of their beloved granddaughter. The four royal protagonists of the Xixi Palace were deeply stabbed by the death of Princess Wen Xian.
Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager Renxian were undoubtedly the two most traumatized. Emperor Kangxi lost the pearl of his palm, a unique princess who was surrounded by thousands of favors since childhood; And the Empress Dowager Renxian lost her own granddaughter who she regarded as her own, a smart daughter whom she had spent all her life cultivating and who could be taught. The two will never see Princess Wen Xian's face again, and this pain is undoubtedly incomparable.
Fourth, the royal mourning turmoil
Princess Wen Xian, as the sister of Emperor Yongzheng, goes without saying much about her status and identity. Therefore, after her death, the royal family undoubtedly gave the highest level of mourning courtesy, and carried out a grand state funeral for this young princess.
First, Emperor Yongzheng ordered the body of Princess Wen Xian to be transported back to Beijing. From Rehe to the capital, officials accompanied the congregation, and the people wept when they saw it. After arriving in Beijing, Princess Wenxian was buried in Dingling, that is, next to the mausoleum of Emperor Kangxi, the father of Emperor Yongzheng. This is undoubtedly the greatest recognition of Princess Wen Xian's noble identity and status.
Secondly, Emperor Yongzheng set up a rich sacrifice for his sister. At that time, the white flowers and silver were enough to pave a square mile of land. These silver will be used as sacrificial items, engraved with singing jackets, etc., which can be seen in the grand scale of the sacrifice.
Again, Emperor Yongzheng invited the Manchu Dynasty civil and military for his sister, and wore filial piety clothes in Wenyi to collectively mourn. The ministers of the court and the central government gathered together, and they were all touched by what happened to Princess Wen Xian, and they burst into tears. This specification is only true for royal relatives.
In addition to the glorification of the national funeral, Emperor Yongzheng also set a higher title for his sister. When she was first born, Princess Wen Xian was only named a regular "Heshuo" princess. After her death, Emperor Yongzheng posthumously named her "Princess Gulun and Shuo Wenxian".
The word "Gulun" is very allusive. When Kangxi canonized the empress dowager in the forty-fifth year, Emperor Kangxi, who was deeply blessed with education and enlightenment, gave the Empress Dowager Renxian the word "Gulun". This was given the title of Empress Dowager Renxian by Emperor Kangxi himself, and now Emperor Yongzheng has been honorably crowned by Emperor Yongzheng to his sister Princess Wenxian.
This posthumous title is undoubtedly the highest affirmation of Princess Wen Xian's royal favor when she was alive, and it also proves that Princess Wen Xian, as a royal relative, has a transcendent and lofty status and identity.
In addition to Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yongzheng, there are also two imperial grandmothers, the Empress Dowager Renxian and the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. The two undoubtedly have a deep love for Princess Wen Xian.
Empress Dowager Renxian suffered the most. Since Emperor Kangxi handed over Princess Wenxian to her to raise, the old queen mother has put the greatest effort and energy in her life on this smart and clever princess. She hopes to cultivate Princess Wen Xian into a virtuous and virtuous, wise and foolish talented woman, and pass on her hard work and lifelong treasure. Now that Aisun has passed away suddenly, it undoubtedly makes the Empress Dowager Renxian unforgettable and heartbroken. It is said that every time Princess Wenxian is mentioned, the old queen mother cries so much that she almost faints.
As for the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, she is the biological mother of Emperor Yongzheng. As the mother-in-law of Emperor Yongzheng's sister, she naturally also has a close affection for Princess Wenxian. There is no doubt that the death of Princess Wen Xian at a young age brought deep shock and sadness to the elderly Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, so every time she mentions this past, she will burst into tears.
Fifth, Emperor Yongzheng lost his beloved sister
As the unique sister of Emperor Yongzheng, Princess Wenxian has always been loved by Emperor Yongzheng. Therefore, after the death of Princess Wen Xian, Emperor Yongzheng was undoubtedly the most traumatized person.
1) Emperor Yongzheng's deep love for his sister
Since he was a child, Emperor Yongzheng (formerly known as Yinzhen) and his sister Princess Wenxian have been like brothers and sisters, and they have nothing to say to each other. The two grew up together, and Emperor Yongzheng has always loved his sister Wen Xian. Whenever there is any delicious food, Yinzhen will think of her sister as soon as possible, so that she can enjoy the best treatment. According to records, during the Kangxi Dynasty, Princess Wen Xian's monthly supply was one chicken and half a goose more than other princesses.
2) Emperor Yongzheng recalled his sister's death
After the death of Princess Wen Xian, Emperor Yongzheng often remembered the anecdotes of the past with his sister. Emperor Yongzheng once recalled that Princess Wen Xian was brilliant since she was a child, and she wrote poems and lyrics to the peak. Not only that, Princess Wen Xian is also proficient in music and rhythm, and is good at reciting poems, which can be called a must. Emperor Yongzheng has always appreciated his sister's talent.
In addition to her outstanding talents, Princess Wen Xian was also loved by Emperor Yongzheng for her wise and foolish, gentle and generous temperament. Emperor Yongzheng recalled that Princess Wen Xian had been reserved since she was a child, and her demeanor was extremely elegant, which was simply the modern incarnation of a talented woman in ancient times.
3) Emperor Yongzheng was heartbroken for the loss of his loved ones
It is precisely because of such love and love for her sister that the death of Princess Wen Xian brought great trauma to Emperor Yongzheng. When he learned of the bad news, Emperor Yongzheng was grief-stricken and heartbroken. He couldn't help but think of the countless happy times he had with his sister in the past, and now all that was left was regret and mourning.
In order to commemorate his sister, Emperor Yongzheng posthumously awarded Princess Wenxian a very high title of "Gulun", which was originally given by Emperor Kangxi to Emperor Yongzheng's grandmother, Empress Dowager Renxian. Undoubtedly, this title exhausted Emperor Yongzheng's respect and nostalgia for his sister.
When paying tribute to his sister, Emperor Yongzheng ordered the sacrifice to be extremely grand, and the silver of the white flowers was enough to pave a square mile of ground. The court and the public were also summoned by Emperor Yongzheng to collectively wear filial piety to mourn Princess Wenxian. This kind of grand occasion is unprecedented. It can be seen that Emperor Yongzheng is so proud of his sister.