There was a unique woman in the history of the Song Dynasty who was not born into a powerful family, and was even originally just a court maid. But the arrangement of fate gave her the honor to raise and love the crown prince at that time, and after the latter ascended the throne as Song Renzong, he actually respected her as the "queen mother". This woman is Concubine Yang Shu, who conceived Emperor Renzong with her gentle and considerate maternal love, and also created her own extraordinary life experience. So, how did Yang Shufei start this bizarre encounter? What kind of special relationship does she have with Song Renzong? How did this little lady from a civilian family finally obtain a very high honorable status in the hierarchical society of the Song Dynasty?
Yang Shufei's background and experience in entering the palace
History often likes to leave a glimmer of life for ordinary people and give them the opportunity to counterattack. Concubine Yang Shu was the lucky one favored by God, although she came from a humble background and her family background could not be compared with the clan magnates, she eventually became one of the most favored empress dowagers of the Song Dynasty by virtue of her own virtues.
Yang Shufei is a native of Pixian County, Sichuan, according to the "History of the Song Dynasty", she was born innocent and lovely since she was a child, and her appearance was beautiful and moving. Perhaps it was because of this appearance that the Yang family sent her to the capital, hoping that she could get an official position in the Forbidden City and no longer be confined by secular poverty. Concubine Yang Shu was only 12 years old and began her career as a palace maid in the palace.
At that time, Zhao Hengfang of Song Zhenzong succeeded to the throne, and in order to win over the powerful, Zhenzong rewarded his cronies and family members to enter the palace as companions. Those little girls from the power family have grown up in the poor and luxurious palace since they were children, and they have long known how to mediate within the palace walls to be favored. However, Concubine Yang Shufei grew up in an ordinary merchant family, and she didn't know anything about court etiquette, so she could only humble herself and serve those ladies from noble backgrounds.
Yang Shufei's duties and status as Song Zhenzong's close palace maid
Although Concubine Yang Shu was only the most inconspicuous palace maid in the palace at first, her diligent and studious, humble and polite conduct was soon appreciated by Song Zhenzong. After Zhenzong ascended the throne, Concubine Yang Shufei was allowed to serve Emperor Zhenzong's daily life and diet. The whole palace looked at this little girl who had just passed the age of twelve or thirteen, on the one hand, out of contempt for her humble origin, and on the other hand, surprised that she could enter the palace center.
Song Zhenzong newly succeeded to the throne, the government and the opposition were in turmoil, and there were many powerful ministers, and Concubine Yang Shu, as a close palace maid, was naturally implicated. According to historical records, many eunuchs and grandmothers wanted to win over Concubine Yang Shu, so as to form a party in the palace for personal gain. But Concubine Yang Shufei refused all, and only devoted herself to serving Emperor Zhenzong, day and night. She was always cautious in her words and deeds, never exceeding the rules, and won the appreciation and trust of the true sect.
Song Zhenzong soon canonized Liu E as the queen, Liu E was haggard and sickly by nature, and Yang Shufei had the opportunity to serve in person. She took care of Liu E's daily life meticulously, served the study with all her heart, and gradually won Liu E's appreciation. Soon, Liu E entrusted the duties of the maids around her to Concubine Yang Shu, and she single-handedly selected the red clothes in the palace. Since then, Concubine Yang Shu's status has become higher and higher in the palace, and she was finally given the title of Wanyi, serving Zhenzong and the harem at any time.
Soon after Song Zhenzong ascended the throne, the government and the opposition were increasingly corrupt, and party disputes continued. Liu E's persuasion was fruitless, and she was isolated by the party. And Yang Shufei, as Liu E's confidant, has long been like a sister to her. In this chaotic situation, Liu E and Yang Shufei supported each other and became the most intimate pair in the harem. The two often used the occasion of dressing up to discuss the state of the country and give advice to the emperor, which was quite a bit of the old legacy of the princeling cabinet.
Song Renzong's birth and the hidden mystery of his amazing life
In 1010 AD, a cry resounded through the Forbidden City. Song Zhenzong was born as a dragon, and the royal family ushered in an eldest son. It's just that the newborn crown prince was caught in a whirlpool of life disputes at the beginning of his birth.
It stands to reason that it should be Song Zhenzong's wife Liu E who gave birth to the dragon son, after all, Song Zhenzong has already respected her as the queen. But in fact, it was Li Shi, a maid beside Liu E, who really gave birth to this prince. As the main family, Liu E is naturally qualified to give birth to a son-in-law to inherit the throne. But she came from a humble background and has always been questioned and opposed by civil and military officials. In order to avoid obstruction by the ministers, Zhenzong had to declare that this dragon son was born to Liu E, so as not to be opposed.
Li is low-key and humble, and he did not show half of his arrogance after giving birth to the dragon son, but silently watched his own flesh and blood being accepted by Liu E as his son-in-law. Maybe she was inevitably a little apprehensive in her heart, but after all, she still put her son's future first. On the other hand, Liu E, contrary to her haggard and sick appearance in the past, was extremely energetic in labor this time. She immediately issued an order to respect her "son-in-law" as the crown prince and become the emperor in the future.
Liu E's name is Song Renzong's mother, but she is not her own. Because the mother-son relationship is not worthy of the name, Liu E lacks maternal love for Song Renzong, and often abuses him harshly, and does not allow Renzong to eat some cold things to relieve the heat. Seeing that the crown prince was suffering in the summer, Yang Shufei, the "little lady", secretly brought some snacks to Renzong. It is this love that has made Song Renzong close to Concubine Yang Shu since he was a child and regards her as his biological mother.
Before Zhenzong's death, he intended to establish Yang Shufei as Renzong's future assistant, so he respected her as a concubine in his edict, and asked Renzong to respect her as a concubine after he ascended the throne. Zhenzong took a fancy to Yang Shufei's humble and gentle character, and thought that she would be able to assist the young Renzong in ruling for a long time. Sure enough, after ascending the throne, Song Renzong paid great attention to Concubine Yang Shu, and even called her "Little Niang" as his mother. As for Liu E, Renzong gradually became alienated and called her "eldest mother".
When Song Injong was young, his mother's doting and stern contrast was stark. The biological mother Li is not even able to see her son because of her low status; And Liu E, as a righteous mother-in-law, often severely punished the prince. Only Yang Shufei, the "little lady", took care of Song Renzong meticulously and loved him in every way. She served the prince's daily life and diet closely, and when she saw what he liked to eat, she secretly asked the eunuch to prepare it, as if she regarded the prince as her own flesh and blood.
Song Renzong has looked at Yang Shufei differently since he was a child, treating her as his biological mother. In his eyes, Concubine Yang Shufei is gentle and considerate, and she puts herself in his shoes everywhere, and this maternal love is far better than Liu E's false name. After ascending the throne, Song Renzong directly respected Yang Shufei as the "Queen Mother", alongside Liu E, reflecting his special feelings for Yang Shufei. Interestingly, Song Renzong was not very familiar with the Li family, and it was not until later that he learned that she was his biological mother. But at that time, he had already regarded Yang Shufei as his closest mother, and he was embarrassed to look at the Li family differently.
Song Zhenzong's posthumous edict on the arrangement and consideration of Yang Shufei
In 1022 AD, when Song Zhenzong died in Yanqing Palace, he left a rather bizarre edict. In addition to honoring Empress Liu E as the empress dowager and designating the crown prince Zhao Zhen (i.e., Song Renzong) to succeed him, the edict also specifically mentioned Yang Shufei to give her the title of concubine, and instructed Renzong to respect her as a concubine after ascending the throne.
As for this arrangement, the government and the opposition are all talking about it. After all, Concubine Yang Shu is not Liu E's heir, nor is she a powerful member of the clan, but just a palace maid, why does Zhenzong attach so much importance to her? Some palace ministers speculated that perhaps Zhenzong valued Concubine Yang Shufei's modest and conscientious character, and hoped that she could assist the young prince in ruling for a long time. Some people also doubt that Zhenzong has seen through the mystery of the prince's life and deliberately arranged for Yang Shufei to be closer to the prince than Liu E.
In any case, Zhenzong's recommendation of Yang Shufei was by no means untargeted. In fact, a few years later, after Song Renzong succeeded to the throne, he honored Yang Shufei as the empress dowager, alongside Liu E, which shows how accurate Zhenzong's vision is. However, even Song Zhenzong himself probably didn't expect that this edict before his death would open a broad road for Yang Shufei to climb to the pole and reach the dragon.
Thinking about it carefully, it is very scary that Song Zhenzong's deep meaning of including Yang Shufei in the edict is likely to include political considerations of power checks and balances. On the one hand, Zhenzong witnessed the isolation of Empress Liu E by his henchmen, so he hoped to continue the power of his mother for the crown prince after he left. On the other hand, he may also be worried that the prince is young and unscrupulous, and Liu E is too manipulative.
Therefore, Zhenzong skillfully included Yang Shufei in the arrangement of the edict. Although Liu E is respected as the queen mother and is in power in the palace, Concubine Yang Shu has also obtained the lofty status of 'concubine', and the two are equal in strength. In this way, a delicate balance of power can be formed, so that the crown prince will not be manipulated by any one party in his future rule.
It is worth mentioning that Yang Shufei has been Liu E's confidant since she was a child, and the two are like sisters. Liu E was not a nobleman of the clan, and she was so valued by Song Zhenzong, and to a large extent, she was also given by Concubine Yang Shu. Therefore, if there is a real power struggle in the future, Liu E will never regard Yang Shufei as an opponent. While checking and balancing, Zhenzong also left a glimmer of life and ensured the continuity of the government.
During Song Renzong's reign, he favored and attached importance to Concubine Yang Shu
Under the influence of his father Song Zhenzong's edict, Song Renzong respected Yang Shufei as the empress dowager after ascending the throne, and was on the same level as Liu E. This was unprecedented in the Song Dynasty and was rare. After all, Liu E was born in a powerful family and rightfully became the queen; And Concubine Yang Shufei was originally just a palace maid, and she was able to sit on an equal footing with Liu E, which shows that Renzong favors her.
Since then, Concubine Yang Shu's status in the palace has risen sharply. Not only was she listed in the ranks of the queen mother, enjoying a supreme authoritative position, but she could also personally preside over the harem etiquette and order three thousand concubines. Even some major political and military affairs, Renzong often consulted with her to make decisions. Some palace ministers privately complained that although Concubine Yang Shufei was the queen mother, she had more real power than the queen.
Renzong's favor for Concubine Yang Shu is not only reflected in the emperor's grace, but also in the meticulousness of life. He often guarded Concubine Yang Shu in the most exquisite palace in the Forbidden City, and ordered the eunuchs to serve day and night. Every festival, Renzong must first offer the delicious food cooked by himself to Concubine Yang Shu to taste, and then allow the harem concubines to eat.
The root of Song Renzong's favor for Yang Shufei actually stems from the mother-son relationship whose blood is thicker than water. Renzong, who was raised by Yang Shufei's "little mother" since he was a child, has long regarded Yang Shufei as his biological mother. He believes that it is Concubine Yang Shufei's care that enables him to grow up safely and finally ascend to the throne of the crown prince. Therefore, even though it was later known that Li was the biological mother, Renzong unswervingly respected Yang Shufei as his biological mother.
After ascending the throne, Song Renzong was physically and mentally exhausted. Every now and then, he poured out his heart and told Concubine Yang Shufei about the hardships of governance. Although Concubine Yang Shufei has a humble status, she understands Renzong's way of being a monarch and often gives advice to him. She can even personally summon hundreds of civil and military officials in the palace to preside over major affairs of the court, as if she is a powerful prime minister in the middle of the sect. But what she did was only to assist Renzong in governing the world wholeheartedly, and she did not have any other ambitions.
Renzong's trust in Concubine Yang Shufei is by no means just a favor or gratitude. This is more of an inseparable family friendship between mother and son. As Tongrenzong said: "I regard her as a loving mother, how can I look away from others?" Concubine Yang Shu used her delicate and gentle heart to firmly tie Song Renzong, so that he would never forget the grace of birth and nourishment.