Everyone in the world knows that Jiang Yuanbai is the teacher of Emperor Hongxiao Zhao Ye, but they don't know that he is the culprit of the decline of the Jiang family. In the Jinluan Palace, Jiang Yuanbai knew that his biological daughter might have died, but he still spoke back to protect Xue Fangfei, an impostor, just because he understood Xue Fangfei's subtext. The situation between the DPRK and China is changing, and Jiang Yuanbai is swaying from side to side, neither wanting to offend Zhao Ye nor daring to offend King Cheng. On the surface, he was-for-tat with Li Zhongnan and acted like a loyal minister, but in fact, he was very reluctant to provoke the Li family by Xue Fangfei in private. Jiang Yuanbai's approach, is it to protect himself or dig his own grave? Why did he make such a choice? Is the decline of the Jiang family really inevitable?
Jiang Yuanbai's family background and status
The Jiang family's roots in Huai'an can be described as deep-rooted. Since the Song Dynasty, the Jiang family has lived here for generations, doing business and studying. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the Jiang family gradually became a local noble family, not only having a pivotal position in the business world, but also cultivating many scholars and officials.
Jiang Yuanbai's great-grandfather, Jiang Shichang, was a jinshi in the Jiajing period and served as a waiter in the Ministry of Rites. His grandfather, Jiang Tingyu, was the champion in the Wanli period, and the official was the secretary of the Criminal Department. By Jiang Yuanbai's generation, the prestige of the Jiang family had reached its peak.
Jiang Yuanbai has been brilliant since childhood, able to write poetry at the age of seven, and read the "Four Books and Five Classics" at the age of ten. At the age of sixteen, he participated in the township examination as Xie Yuan of Huai'an Prefecture and won the township examination in one fell swoop. The following year, he came out on top in the general examination, and finally won the first place in the palace examination.
It was with this outstanding talent that Jiang Yuanbai was appreciated by the emperor at the time. The emperor made an exception for the young champion to go directly to the Hanlin Academy to study history, and assigned him to be the teacher of the then eight-year-old prince Zhao Ye.
In the process of teaching Zhao Ye, Jiang Yuanbai showed outstanding talent. He not only taught Zhao Ye poetry, calligraphy, etiquette and music, but also focused on cultivating his political acumen and way of government. Under Jiang Yuanbai's careful teaching, Zhao Ye gradually grew into a talented and politically far-sighted prince.
However, Jiang Yuanbai's status was not all smooth sailing. At that time, there was a force in the court that was quite jealous of this young and promising champion. They believed that Jiang Yuanbai had mastered such an important position at a young age, and that it would definitely pose a threat to their interests in the future.
In order to crack down on Jiang Yuanbai, these people began to secretly spread rumors that Jiang Yuanbai was having an affair with a palace maid. This rumor soon reached the ears of the emperor. The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
At this critical moment, it was Zhao Ye who stepped forward to defend his teacher. He told his father in detail about Jiang Yuanbai's usual behavior and teaching, and pointed out that those rumors were spread by people with ulterior motives. In the end, the emperor believed Zhao Ye's words, and not only did not condemn Jiang Yuanbai, but promoted him to be the waiter of the Ministry of Rites.
This incident not only consolidated Jiang Yuanbai's position, but also deepened the teacher-student friendship between him and Zhao Ye. In the following years, Jiang Yuanbai continued to assist Zhao Ye, laying a solid foundation for his future accession to the throne.
When Zhao Ye ascended the throne as Emperor Hongxiao, Jiang Yuanbai was appointed as one of the ministers of Gu Ming. As a minister, Jiang Yuanbai shouldered the important task of assisting the new emperor and stabilizing the situation. He needed to balance the forces in the complex struggle of the court to ensure that the new emperor's rule was not threatened.
However, as time passed, Jiang Yuanbai gradually found himself in a dilemma. On the one hand, he has a deep teacher-student relationship with Zhao Ye and loyalty to his courtiers; On the other hand, he had to consider the long-term interests of the Jiang family. This contradictory mentality eventually led to his indecision in the court, laying the groundwork for the decline of the Jiang family in the future.
The complexity of the situation between the DPRK and China
Zhao Ye's path to the throne was fraught with controversy. The first emperor had a total of three sons under his knees, the eldest son died young, and the second son became the king and the third son Zhao Ye. According to the tradition of establishing a successor, the throne should have been inherited by King Cheng. However, a court upheaval changed all that.
Zhao Ye's biological mother, a palace concubine from an inconspicuous background, was tragically killed in a palace struggle. This incident aroused the pity of the first emperor. In order to make up for the pain of Zhao Ye losing his mother, the first emperor handed over the young Zhao Ye to the queen to raise. This decision not only allowed Zhao Ye to obtain a higher status, but also laid the groundwork for him to inherit the throne in the future.
The queen treats Zhao Ye as her own and cultivates her carefully. Under her influence, the first emperor gradually tended to make Zhao Ye the crown prince. This tendency provoked a heated discussion among the ministers of the DPRK and China. The pro-Cheng faction believed that this was contrary to the ancestral system and could cause turmoil in the court. The faction that agrees with Zhao Ye emphasizes that although Zhao Ye is young, he is very intelligent and more suitable for inheriting the unification.
After some consideration, the first emperor finally decided to make Zhao Ye the crown prince. Although this decision calmed down the controversy for a while, it also planted the seeds of turmoil in the future.
After Zhao Ye ascended the throne, King Cheng was named the general of the northern realm, far away from the capital. On the surface, this is an important military appointment, but in fact it is a disguised exile. The dissatisfaction and ambition in King Cheng's heart did not diminish because of this, but became more and more intense.
In the north, King Cheng secretly amassed strength. He used the military salary allocated by the imperial court to secretly train private soldiers in preparation for possible counterattacks in the future. At the same time, he often created the illusion of invasion on behalf of the country, and used this as an excuse to ask the imperial court for more military resources.
King Cheng's younger sister, Princess Wanning, stayed in the capital and became his eyeliner and help in the court. Princess Wanning is deferential and gentle on the surface, but in fact she is scheming. She used her identity and influence to secretly support the right minister, Lee Zhongnan.
Li Zhongnan, as an important minister in the court, was loyal to Zhao Ye on the surface, but in fact colluded with King Cheng. He raised funds for King Cheng through various means, such as selling illicit salt, seizing the property of wealthy merchants, and illegally mining gold mines. These actions not only harmed national interests, but also accumulated a material basis for future coups.
At the same time, Zhao Ye's situation is not optimistic. Although he was rightfully an emperor, his actual power was very limited. His main supporters are the Xiao family, but the strength of the Xiao family has been greatly weakened in a major war more than ten years ago.
As Zhao Ye's right-hand man, Xiao Yu inherited some of his father's old subordinates, but these forces were far from enough to compete with King Cheng. Zhao Ye was well aware of his weakness, so he had to adopt a strategy to avoid his edge, and ostensibly maintain a brother-friend-brother-brother relationship with King Cheng.
In this complex situation, Jiang Yuanbai's position is particularly important. As Zhao Ye's teacher and minister, he should have fully supported Zhao Ye. However, Jiang Yuanbai chose a neutral position.
In the court, Jiang Yuanbai often confronted Li Zhongnan-for-tat, and seemed to be loyal to Zhao Ye. But in private, he didn't want to offend the Li family. When his daughter (who was actually a fake Xue Fangfei) clashed with the Li family, Jiang Yuanbai not only did not support his daughter, but severely reprimanded her for her behavior.
Jiang Yuanbai's vacillating attitude not only stems from his judgment of the situation, but also reflects his consideration of the future of the Jiang family. He was unwilling to completely stand on Zhao Ye's side and risk offending Cheng Wang; is also unwilling to openly support King Cheng and bear the notoriety of plotting to usurp the throne.
This seemingly wise approach actually buried the hidden danger of the Jiang family's decline in the future. For Zhao Ye, Jiang Yuanbai's attitude is undoubtedly chilling. Although Zhao Ye still needs Jiang Yuanbai to balance the situation, once the situation changes, Jiang Yuanbai is likely to become the target of liquidation.
Jiang Yuanbai's way of dealing with the world
Jiang Yuanbai's way of dealing with the world can be described as a typical embodiment of the golden mean. In the complicated court situation, he always tries to maintain balance and impartiality. This philosophy stems from his deep understanding of "The Mean" and is also the crystallization of his years of career experience.
Above the court, Jiang Yuanbai often plays the role of reconciling the contradictions of all parties. When the contradiction between Zhao Ye and King Cheng became increasingly acute, Jiang Yuanbai came forward to mediate many times. He persuaded Zhao Ye to treat King Cheng with brotherly affection, and also reminded King Cheng to respect imperial power. Although this approach temporarily eased tensions, it also put Jiang Yuanbai in a dilemma.
Once, King Cheng sent someone to send a memorabilia, asking for an increase in the salary of the northern army. This recital caused a heated debate among the ministers of the DPRK and China. The faction that supported King Cheng believed that the defense of the northern border was important and that it was imperative to increase military salaries. Opponents believe that King Cheng's move is suspected of expanding his private army and should not be easily agreed.
In this controversy, Jiang Yuanbai adopted a compromise attitude. He suggested that military salaries could be appropriately increased, but at the same time, it was necessary to dispatch military supervisors to strictly supervise the use of military funds. This suggestion seems to take care of the interests of both parties, but in fact it gives Zhao Ye a chance to monitor Chengwang. Jiang Yuanbai's approach not only did not offend King Cheng, but also secretly supported Zhao Ye, which can be described as a clever use of the golden mean.
However, Jiang Yuanbai's way of dealing with the world also has its limitations. At some critical moments, his indecision instead caused more trouble. For example, in the Li Zhongnan corruption case, Jiang Yuanbai could have taken this opportunity to completely crack down on the Li family and clear a major obstacle for Zhao Ye. But fearing that the move would anger King Cheng, he ended up dealing with the matter lightly. This timid attitude not only failed to win Zhao Ye's trust, but also gave the Li family a chance to breathe.
The change in Jiang Yuanbai's attitude towards his daughter Jiang Li reflects the contradictions in his way of dealing with the world. At first, when Jiang Li was selected as the queen candidate, Jiang Yuanbai was ecstatic, thinking that this was a great opportunity for the Jiang family to soar. He did not hesitate to use all kinds of connections to pave the way for Jiang Li.
However, when Jiang Li accidentally disappeared during the draft and was replaced by Xue Fangfei, Jiang Yuanbai's attitude changed subtly. Although he knew that Xue Fangfei was not his biological daughter, he acquiesced to this replacement. Above the court, he even defended Xue Fangfei many times, as if she was really the blood of the Jiang family.
Jiang Yuanbai's practice is ostensibly to safeguard the interests and reputation of the Jiang family. But in fact, this attitude of self-preservation exposes his desire for power and his disregard for family affection. He would rather accept an imposter than risk finding his own daughter, a choice that undoubtedly deepened the contradictions within the Jiang family.
In terms of the relationship with the Ye family and the Ji family, Jiang Yuanbai also adopted the strategy of protecting himself. These two families used to be the family friends of the Jiang family, and they gave Jiang Yuanbai a lot of help in his early years. However, as Jiang Yuanbai's status rose, his relationship with the two families gradually became estranged.
Once, the Ye family encountered a commercial dispute and asked Jiang Yuanbai to mediate. Jiang Yuanbai excused himself to be busy with court affairs and politely rejected the Ye family's request. Although this move avoided getting involved in the dispute, it also disappointed the Ye family. Similarly, when the children of the Ji family failed in the imperial examination, Jiang Yuanbai did not give comfort and help as usual.
Jiang Yuanbai's attitude, on the surface, is to maintain a clean image and avoid being criticized for favoritism and malpractice. But in fact, this practice has caused the Jiang family to lose important allies. In the turbulent situation of the court, Jiang Yuanbai's self-contained approach is undoubtedly laying hidden dangers for the future of the Jiang family.
Xue Fangfei's self-cultivation
Xue Fangfei, as a fake Miss Jiang family, is in a difficult situation. Not only does she have to be vigilant for the risk of her identity being exposed, but she also needs to be cautious in navigating the complex palace environment. In order to survive and thrive in this environment, Xue Fangfei has continuously improved her self-cultivation and shown extraordinary wisdom and resilience.
First of all, Xue Fangfei is well aware of the fragility of her identity, so she is extremely cautious in her words and deeds. She delved into the Jiang family's family rules and family mottos, and tried to imitate the behavior of the real Jiang Pear. Every morning, Xue Fangfei will practice the unique etiquette of the Jiang family in front of the mirror to ensure that her every move is in line with the image of the Jiang family's ladies. This perseverance has allowed her to perform flawlessly even in the most demanding situations.
Secondly, Xue Fangfei realized the importance of knowledge. As a woman from humble backgrounds, she knows that her lack of knowledge may become a flaw in exposing her identity. To this end, she used every possible time to devote herself to reading. From the Book of Songs and the Analects to the Zhou Yi and the Spring and Autumn Period, Xue Fangfei has dabbled in a wide range of topics, not only reciting the classics, but also being good at thinking about the deep meaning.
Once, at a palace banquet, a minister deliberately made things difficult for Xue Fangfei and asked her to improvise a poem. Xue Fangfei was not in a hurry, and used the sentence "The peony demon in front of the court is unqualified, and the hibiscus on the pond is pure and affectionate", skillfully borrowing flowers as a metaphor for people, which not only shows her literary talent, but also hints at her noble character. This poem not only resolved the crisis, but also won the praise of the literati present.
In addition to literary accomplishment, Xue Fangfei also pays special attention to the learning of practical skills. She learned needlework from the old lady in the palace and asked the cook in the imperial dining room for cooking skills. These seemingly mundane skills come in handy at critical moments. Once, the queen was seriously ill, and the imperial doctor was helpless. Xue Fangfei relied on the herbal knowledge she had learned to concoct a decoction, which unexpectedly alleviated the queen's condition. This move not only won the favor of the queen, but also earned her a certain status in the palace.
In dealing with interpersonal relationships, Xue Fangfei has shown maturity beyond her years. She knew that in the complex environment of the court, she could neither be too close nor alienated. She always treats the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace with courtesy, neither arrogant nor too intimate. This just right attitude has won her wide support and respect in the palace.
Treating Jiang Yuanbai, the "father", Xue Fangfei's attitude is even more interesting. She was outwardly respectful, but in fact kept a delicate distance. Every time Jiang Yuanbai summoned, she always went to the appointment on time, but she would not stay too long. In conversation, she is good at observing words and feelings, and can always say what Jiang Yuanbai wants to hear, but she will not seem too flattering. This attitude of being both close and alienated not only satisfies Jiang Yuanbai's expectations for his "daughter", but also avoids the risks that may be brought about by too much contact.
In the face of the palace struggle, Xue Fangfei showed amazing wisdom and composure. She knows that as a "stand-in", she can neither be too conspicuous nor completely hidden. As a result, she adopted a strategy of "retreating as advancing". In some inconsequential matters, she will deliberately make small mistakes and show some "weaknesses" as a way to lower the vigilance of others. But at critical moments, she can show amazing abilities, which makes people have to be impressed.
For example, in the process of a draft girl, Xue Fangfei deliberately showed preference for certain candidates, causing dissatisfaction among others. But when it came time to make a real decision, she proposed a set of fair and reasonable selection criteria, which not only quelled the controversy, but also won Zhao Ye's appreciation. This seemingly contradictory behavior is actually a self-protection strategy carefully designed by Xue Fangfei.
In getting along with other palace concubines, Xue Fangfei also showed superb communication skills. She will not deliberately curry favor with high-ranking palace concubines, nor will she despise low-status concubines. On the contrary, she is good at discovering the good in each person and giving appropriate praise and encouragement. This equal and friendly attitude won her wide favor in the palace and laid the foundation for her future survival and development.
The aftermath of the truth being revealed
The revelation of the truth was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves and having a profound impact on the court and beyond. This incident not only changed the fate of Jiang Yuanbai and Xue Fangfei, but also had a huge impact on the entire court situation.
First of all, Jiang Yuanbai, as the mastermind of the crime of bullying the king, was severely punished. Zhao Ye was furious and ordered Jiang Yuanbai to be removed from all official positions and exiled to the bitter cold land of the frontier. Other members of the Jiang family were also implicated, the family property was confiscated, and the clansmen were demoted to commoners. This punishment is not only a personal punishment for Jiang Yuanbai, but also a warning to the entire officialdom.
On the way Jiang Yuanbai was escorted out of Beijing, none of his former colleagues and subordinates dared to come forward to see him off. The former powerful prime minister is now only a rickety old man, who has embarked on the road of exile alone. This scene has become the talk of the people in the capital after dinner, and it has also become a cautionary work written by later generations of literati.
Xue Fangfei's fate is more complicated. Although she was a participant in this scam, considering her age and situation, Zhao Ye did not punish her severely. On the contrary, Zhao Ye valued Xue Fangfei's intelligence and ability to deal with things, and decided to give her a chance to atone for her sins.
Zhao Ye ordered Xue Fangfei to be sent to the palace, but not as a concubine, but arranged for her to serve as the celebrant in charge of the internal affairs of the six palaces. This decision is not only an affirmation of Xue Fangfei's ability, but also a kind of supervision for her. In the celebrant supervisor, Xue Fangfei needs to deal with the affairs of the palace, which not only requires superb management skills, but also strong political sensitivity.
Xue Fangfei quickly showed her talent in her new position. She has developed a strict palace management system, which not only improves work efficiency, but also eliminates many abuses of power. Under her management, the expenses in the palace were greatly reduced, while the quality of services was improved. These achievements not only won Zhao Ye's appreciation, but also made many palace personnel who were originally hostile to her gradually change their views.
However, Xue Fangfei's situation was not all smooth sailing. Some officials and clan members who were hostile to the Jiang family began to secretly suppress Xue Fangfei. They spread rumors, questioned Xue Fangfei's loyalty, and even hinted that she might repeat Jiang Yuanbai's mistakes.
In the face of these challenges, Xue Fangfei showed extraordinary composure and wisdom. She does not clash head-on with these people, but proves her worth through her own actions. She took the initiative to ask Ying to deal with some thorny issues, such as mediating harem disputes and optimizing the distribution of materials in the palace. With each success, those voices of skepticism become smaller and smaller.
At the same time, the revelation of the truth also had a profound impact on the power structure of the imperial court. The fall of Jiang Yuanbai caused many officials who were attached to him to lose their backers. These people either choose to change course and join the new elite, or they choose to retire to the mountains and forests and withdraw from politics. This large-scale personnel change provided an opportunity for Zhao Ye to implement the new policy.
Zhao Ye took this opportunity to vigorously promote a group of newcomers. Most of these newly promoted officials come from humble backgrounds and have rich grassroots experience and enthusiasm for reform. Their ascension made the imperial court's policies begin to change in a direction conducive to the people's livelihood. For example, they promoted a series of policies to reduce the burden on peasants and enacted laws to encourage commercial development. The implementation of these policies has greatly unleashed the economic vitality of the private sector.
However, the influx of new officials has also created new problems. Some junior officials are unable to cope with the complexity of government affairs. There are also those who, after gaining power, quickly degenerate and begin to embezzle. The emergence of these problems made Zhao Ye realize that it is not enough to rely on substitution, and it is also necessary to establish a complete system to restrain and regulate the behavior of officials.
In this process, Xue Fangfei once again played an important role. Based on her management experience in the celebrant supervisor, she proposed a set of official evaluation, reward and punishment system to Zhao Ye. This system not only takes into account the performance of officials, but also takes into account the satisfaction of the people. This innovative suggestion was highly recognized by Zhao Ye and gradually rolled out nationwide in the following years.
Although this series of changes after the truth was revealed caused a certain amount of chaos in the short term, in the long run, it injected new vitality into the country's development. Many historians believe that this event was a turning point in the dynasty's transition from prosperity to decline and an important starting point for the country's modernization.
Among the people, the story has also had a profound impact. Xue Fangfei's experience was compiled into a drama and widely circulated in various places. People see the impermanence of fate and the power of individual struggle. Many young people take Xue Fangfei as an example and study hard, hoping to change their fate through their talents.