Author: Shi Yuchun
Emperor Mingshenzong's noble concubine Zheng Shi was greatly favored by Emperor Zhu Yijun throughout her life.
In the ninth year of the Wanli Calendar (1581 AD), three years after the great marriage, the emperor had no heirs. In order to increase his heirs, Zhu Yijun honored the orders of Empress Dowager Cisheng and asked for a lady to be selected to serve the emperor. Later, upon agreement by the cabinet, in accordance with the old practice of selecting nine concubines by Emperor Ming Shizong (Zhu Houxi), women over the age of fourteen and under sixteen years old, Rong Yi Duanshu, courtesy and education, and their parents were not negligent in their wealth were selected inside and outside the capital to fill the harem. Zheng was fortunate to be elected at the age of fifteen (according to the old age calculation method, Zheng's first age should be fourteen years old).
In the tenth year of the Wanli Dynasty (1582 AD), the emperor came to the Imperial Pole Hall and was crowned with nine concubines, and Zheng shi was named a shu concubine, ranking second among the nine concubines.
In the eleventh year of the Wanli Calendar (1583 AD), The Concubine Zheng was made a concubine of the Jin Dynasty because she was pregnant. She was the first of the nine concubines to be knighted. In the same year, Princess Zheng gave birth to the emperor's second daughter Yunhe. Yun and Princess Died Early, only six years old.
In the twelfth year of the Wanli Calendar (1584 AD), Princess Zheng became pregnant for the second time and was given the title of noble concubine. In the same year, Princess Zheng Guifei gave birth to the emperor's second son Zhu Changpu, and the little prince died on the day of his birth.
In the fourteenth year of the Wanli Calendar (1586 AD), Princess Zheng Guifei gave birth to Zhu Changxun, the third son of the Emperor. In the same year, Zheng Guifei was given the title of Imperial Concubine.
After the birth of the emperor's third son, Zhu Changxun, Emperor Zheng's concubine begged Emperor Zhu Yijun for the appointment of her son as crown prince. Out of favor for Emperor Zheng's concubines, Emperor Zhu Yijun agreed to Emperor Zheng's request.
On that day, on the west side of the northwest gate of the Forbidden City, there was the Great High Xuan Hall (the Qing Dynasty Avoiding kangxi emperor Ai Xin Jue Luo Xuan Ye Zhen, called "Great Gao Yuan Hall"; also known as the "Great High Hall"; because the front gate of the Great High Xuan Hall was three doors side by side, commonly known as "Three Doors").
The Great High Xuan Hall was built in the 21st year of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty (1542 AD), and Emperor Zhu Houxi, who believed in Taoism, built it to honor the "Three Qings" and became a royal Taoist temple.
Soon after the completion of the Great High Xuan Hall, it was hit by fire.
In the twenty-sixth year of Jiajing (1547 AD), the Ming court rebuilt the Great High Xuan Hall. [28th year of the Wanli Calendar (1600 AD), rebuilt again]
The Great High Xuan Hall offers true martial incense, which is quite spiritual. Emperor Zhu Yijun and Consort Zheng went to the Great High Xuan Hall to perform incense.
What is "incense"?
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, officials entered the temple every 1st or 15th day of the first lunar month to burn incense and prostrate, or the new official held a ceremony to burn incense after taking office.
As far as the records are concerned, the emperor also has the saying of "xingxiang", not only officials.
At the time of the incense, Zhu Yijun and Zheng Guifei agreed with each other and secretly made an oath:
In the future, the son of Zheng Guifei will be made crown prince.
Because of this oath, Zhu Yijun also personally made the imperial letter, and sealed the imperial letter, hid it in a jade box, and handed it over to Concubine Zheng Guifei to keep the certificate.
Later, the courtiers urged Zhu Yijun to make him crown prince.
Zhu Yijun's birth mother, Empress Dowager Cisheng, insisted on establishing a crown prince for a long time.
During this period, there was a "dispute over the foundation of the country" that lasted for more than ten years.
In the end, Zhu Yijun still bowed his head, endured the pain of cutting love, and established Zhu Changluo (i.e., Ming Guangzong), the eldest son of the emperor born to the imperial daughter Wang Shi (formerly a palace girl of the Cining Palace and serving the birth mother of Emperor Mingshenzong), as the crown prince.
In the twenty-ninth year of the Wanli Calendar (1601 AD), at the same time that Zhu Changluo was made crown prince, the third son of the emperor, Zhu Changxun, was made the Prince of Fu, the fifth son of the emperor, Zhu Changhao (mother of Zhou Duanfei), was crowned king of Rui, the sixth son of the emperor, Zhu Changrun (mother Li Jingfei), was crowned as the Prince of Hui, and the seventh son of the emperor, Zhu Changying (mother Li Jingfei), was crowned as the King of Gui.
After the emperor's eldest son Zhu Changluo was made crown prince, Emperor Zhu Yijun sent emissaries to Zheng Guifei to retrieve the jade box of the imperial oath of the same day.
After the jade box is retrieved, the mark added to the seal of the day is still clear and true.
Opening the jade box, Zhu Yijun found that the handwriting on the imperial book had been completely blurred, leaving only four pieces of old paper.
In this regard, Emperor Zhu Yijun was terrified, because he broke the oath, and he felt guilty.
From then on, until his death, for nearly twenty years, Zhu Yijun never promoted the Great High Xuan Hall again.
Regarding this matter, [Palace Words] there are clouds:
The secret covenant burns incense to write an oath,
The king doted on the noble concubines.
He was the year jade box opened for inspection,
Remember the time when Gao Yuan was in the temple.
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Key References:
1． Ming Wenbing,"The Beginning of the First Dialing"
(End of this article)