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The Forbidden City before dawn, tranquil and mysterious. The palace hidden in the mist seems to silently tell an ancient story about power and family. This is a story about the princes who were adopted, and a story about the struggle of the nine sons to seize the heirs during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty.
In this silent battle, each prince is not only the possible future successor of the dynasty, but also the bearer of the family's destiny. Some of them, such as Yongzheng, were adopted by their peers, with imperceptible edges and ambitions in their temperaments. Others, such as the fifth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother, were adopted by their elders and had a gentle personality but were full of worries in their hearts.
In the dark corridors of the depths of the court, a conversation unfolds in a low voice, revealing the impending storm. Yongzheng's eyes concealed unfathomable strategy, while Yinyu's face showed endless confusion and struggle. In this world of intrigue and intrigue, the boundaries between family and power are blurred, and the emotions between brothers are clouded by interest and suspicion.
I. Morning at Court: The Delicate Relationship Between Brothers.
The Forbidden City wakes up in the early morning with a slight morning breeze and sparse sunlight. The sunlight shone obliquely on the verdant plants of the Imperial Garden, paving a golden glow. The fifth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother walked through this garden of light and shadow, walking slowly and contemplatively.
In a corner of the Imperial Garden, the two princes found a secluded place to sit. The fifth elder brother's eyes revealed deep worry, and the seventeenth elder brother seemed more calm, but there was also a faint uneasiness between his eyebrows. Their conversation revolved around the government and the family, but more often than not, they were worried about the impending power struggle.
Brother, how do you think your father will choose an heir?Seventeenth Elder Brother's voice was low, with a hint of imperceptible trembling.
The fifth elder brother slowly raised his head, looked at the palace in the distance, and sighed deeply: "The situation in this palace is changing, we can only do our best." There was a kind of helplessness and bitterness in his voice, as if he had foreseen the coming storm.
The seventeenth elder brother nodded silently, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He knows that in this struggle, they will have to face their fate, regardless of the outcome.
I hope we can get through this turmoil safely. Brother Seventeen said softly, with a hint of pleading in his tone.
The fifth elder brother didn't answer, just quietly looked at the peonies blooming in the garden. At this moment, they all knew in their hearts that this struggle was far more than a battle for the throne, but also a test of family affection and brotherhood.
As the sun gradually brightens, the scenery of the Imperial Garden becomes brighter. But the mood of the fifth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother could not be as bright as this sunshine. They knew that as the storm approached, every corner of the Forbidden City would be full of calculations and schemes.
At this moment, in the palace in the distance, the other princes were also making various preparations for the upcoming struggle. Everyone was plotting, everyone was watching, and the atmosphere in the court became more and more tense.
The fifth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother stood up and slowly walked out of the imperial garden. Their backs elongated in the sunlight made them look particularly lonely. They knew in their hearts that this struggle was not only about the fate of individuals, but also about the future of the entire Qing Dynasty.
2. Violent temperament: a prince who was adopted by his peers.
At the other end of the Forbidden City, Yongzheng and Yinxi, two princes who were raised by their peers, stood in front of a quiet palace, and the atmosphere was extremely tense. The air between the two seemed to freeze, filled with the invisible smell of gunpowder.
Yongzheng's eyes were cold, as sharp as a knife blade. He stared at Yinxu tightly, his voice low and full of provocation: "Do you really think you can win this fight?"There was not only provocation in his words, but also disdain for the strength of the other party.
Yinxu stood there, expressionless, but there were mixed emotions hidden in his eyes. He spoke slowly, his voice calm but firm: "It's not a matter of winning or losing, it's something that has to be done." His words, though brief, reveal a clear and firm understanding of the coming struggle.
The confrontation between the two continued in the depths of the court. The surrounding scenery is so peaceful that it contrasts with the tension between them. It was a contest for the throne, but also a contest of emotions and power between brothers.
Yongzheng's eyes revealed his ambition for the future. As a prince, he was taught to be eloquent and strategic since he was a child. In this struggle, he has to face not only the competition of his other brothers, but also his own inner struggle.
Yinxi is even deeper. Although he seems calm on the surface, his heart is actually turbulent. As a member of the royal family, he is well aware of the cruelty and ruthlessness of the struggle for the throne. He also knew that whatever the outcome, it would affect the future of the entire royal family.
3. The rift between brothers: Yongzheng and Yinyu.
Yinyu looked at Yongzheng with a deep helplessness and confusion in his eyes. Although they are half-brothers, they rarely have the opportunity to communicate in depth. In this court of intrigue and intrigue, their relationship becomes increasingly complex and estranged.
You and I have the same mother, why are you so strange?There was a sadness in Yinyu's voice, and his eyes tried to find a trace of affection on Yongzheng's face.
Yongzheng turned around and faced Yinyu, a trace of complicated emotion flashed in his eyes. "In this court, family affection has long been clouded by power. Yongzheng's voice was low and powerful, and his words revealed a deep understanding and helplessness of the palace struggle.
The conversation between the two echoed in this secluded corner, and everything around them seemed to be still. Yinyu's face showed a deeper disappointment and sadness. He once hoped to find the warmth and support of brothers in Yongzheng, but the reality was cold and ruthless.
Yongzheng's gaze moved away from Yinyu's face, and he looked at the sky in the distance, as if thinking about something. He knew that this court was a dangerous and complicated arena, and that everyone had to play their role carefully. Here, family affection often falls prey to rivalry and power schemes.
Yinyu stood there silently, looking at Yongzheng's back. His mind was full of doubts and struggles. As a member of the royal family, he had to come to terms with the fact that in a court full of intrigue and strife, even those closest to him could become the most dangerous adversary.
Yongzheng finally turned around and left, leaving Yinyu standing there alone. Yinyu's heart was full of unwillingness and sorrow. Not only did he lose a brother, but he also lost hope of finding support in this complex world.
Although this chance meeting was over, it left a deep mark on the hearts of the two. It is not only a manifestation of the emotional rift between them, but also a microcosm of the entire royal family in the power struggle.
In the shadow of the Forbidden City, the tragedy of brotherhood is quietly unfolding. In this place full of intrigue and power struggles, even brothers who are related by blood will inevitably be drawn into it and become an insurmountable chasm between each other.
Fourth, the storm of succession: the struggle for power.
As the struggle for the throne became more and more fierce during the Kangxi period, the atmosphere in the Forbidden City became more and more tense and heavy. In this context, a royal banquet has become another battlefield for the princes to compete for power. In the palace, gorgeous lanterns are hung high, and the banquet hall is resplendent with gold, and the glazed tiles shimmer dazzlingly in the night. However, under these gorgeous appearances, there is an undercurrent of hidden princes.
In the corner of the banquet, the two palace maids talked in a low voice. Their words were slight, but they revealed the question in everyone's hearts: "Who will win this battle in the end?"From time to time, their eyes swept over the banquet hall, observing the mannerisms and expressions of each prince.
This is a heavenly opportunity, no one can say. Another palace maid replied, her voice revealing a helpless and deep understanding of the struggle for imperial power. They knew that the outcome of this struggle would determine the future of the entire Qing Dynasty.
In the banquet hall, each prince is showing off his style while secretly observing his opponent. Yongzheng, with his unique temperament and unfathomable eyes, has attracted a lot of attention. His gaze wandered through the banquet hall, as if calculating every possible variable. He knew in his heart that every tiny detail could affect the final result.
At the same time, the fifth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother behaved more low-key at the banquet. They talked, but their eyes sometimes revealed wariness of their surroundings. They know that in this struggle, being too visible often means danger.
The ** and dancing at the banquet could not hide the tension and calculation in the hearts of the princes. They smiled and talked, but everyone's mind was thinking about their own plans and the weaknesses of their opponents.
As the night deepened, the banquet drew to a close. One by one, the princes left and returned to their quarters. But the struggle in their hearts is not over, on the contrary, it only becomes more intense over time.
In the night sky after the feast, the stars twinkled, as if to tell of the coming storm. It was clear to every prince that this struggle was not only about the fate of the individual, but also about the future of the entire Qing Dynasty. In this smokeless battlefield, everyone must be careful, because a small mistake can mean complete defeat.
5. The fate of the family: the arrival of the endgame.
As Emperor Kangxi grew older, the battle for succession in the Forbidden City gradually reached its peak. This struggle is not only a struggle for the throne, but also a contest of family fate and personal honor and disgrace. In this court full of intrigue and undercurrents, every prince is caught up in this vortex, and their fates seem to be tightly bound together.
Yongzheng, with his resourcefulness and means, gradually gained the upper hand in this struggle. Not only does he have to face competition from his brothers, but he also has to deal with various complications in the court. Every decision he makes is filled with caution and precision, and every action he takes hides far-reaching intentions.
In this struggle, Yongzheng not only showed his wisdom and bravery, but also showed his desire for power and his unwavering pursuit of success. However, as he progressed to victory, he also gradually lost some of his most precious things – brotherhood and family harmony.
Is this throne really worth it?"Late one night after Yongzheng ascended the throne, he sat alone on the dragon chair, his eyes deep, immersed in his own thoughts. His voice echoed through the empty halls, as if searching for an answer.
During this journey, Yongzheng experienced countless challenges and tribulations. He has been on the road to power, but at the same time he has paid a huge price. A mixed emotion welled up in his heart – was it the joy of victory, or the sorrow of what he had lost
At the moment when Yongzheng ascended the throne, the atmosphere in the Forbidden City was both joyful and indescribably heavy. The other princes had their own feelings about this result. Some people accept it silently, and some people are full of unwillingness. But in any case, the end of this struggle marks the beginning of a new era.
1] Meng Fanyi. Yongzheng's way of secrecy[J].Party Member Digest, 2023(22): 60-61