In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang defeated the Yuan army, captured a Mongolian girl, and made her a concubine. Soon, this concubine gave birth to Zhu Yuanzhang's fourth son, Zhu Di. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was very angry and used the "iron skirt punishment" on her. I never thought that the reason was that this concubine was born prematurely!
In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang led his troops to defeat the Yuan Dynasty. After winning the battle, he heard that the Mongolian girl was good-looking, so he ran to the harem of the Yuan Dynasty and wanted to find a Mongolian girl to accompany him.
It just so happened that there was a little girl who looked like a flower, which immediately attracted Zhu Yuanzhang's attention. Seeing the little girl crying, Zhu Yuanzhang walked over and asked, "Little sister, why are you crying here alone?" ”
The little girl raised her head, her big eyes were watery, and she looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang. She bent down slightly and replied: "I used to be the concubine of the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, but now that the king has been killed, my life is gone." ”
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed, isn't this the prey sent to the door! said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, sister, follow me in the future, and I promise to let you eat and wear without worry." ”
Then, Zhu Yuanzhang brought the little girl into the harem and named her "Concubine Qi". Concubine Qi was very grateful to Zhu Yuanzhang "Don't worry, the king, I will serve you well." ”
After Concubine Qi entered the palace, her life was quite peaceful, but she became pregnant not long after. However, when she was not full-term, she actually gave birth to Zhu Yuanzhang's fourth son, Zhu Di, which made everyone in the palace talk about it.
Zhu Yuanzhang was quite angry, because the medical skills at that time thought that a child born in less than a month was wrong. He stared at Concubine Qi solemnly and asked, "Are you fooling around with a man, why was this child born so early?" ”
Concubine Qi lowered her head, her eyes were full of innocence and fear, she trembled and said, "Your Majesty, I haven't done anything bad, this is a gift from God." Zhu Yuanzhang ignored her for the time being.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicions in his heart became deeper and deeper, and he felt that it was Concubine Qi's water-based Yang Hua, hooking up with men outside. In a fit of anger, he sentenced Concubine Qi to an extremely cruel punishment - the punishment of the iron skirt.
This punishment was to wrap the lower half of the woman's body with a red-hot iron piece, and at that time it was like a fire, the skin and flesh were as painful as the burning iron, and it also made a sizzling sound, which made people's legs weak when they heard it.
During the torture, Concubine Qi endured unimaginable pain from others, but she always insisted that she was innocent. But she just gave birth to a child, her body was too weak to stand this punishment, and she died.
Everyone knows what happened later, the crown prince Zhu Biao died suddenly, and Zhu Yuanzhang's ** person Zhu Yunwen was weak. Zhu Di rebelled, successfully became the emperor, and proclaimed himself Ming Chengzu.
Regarding Concubine Qi, there are also rumors that she is a beauty in Miao Jiang. At the beginning, when the Ming Dynasty army attacked Miaojiang, Concubine Qi was captured by the Ming Dynasty soldiers. Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Concubine Qi is not only as beautiful as a fairy, but also understands **.
So, he took Concubine Qi back to the palace and made her a concubine. Concubine Qi's ** talent made Zhu Yuanzhang very happy, so he especially doted on Concubine Qi.
Although the fog of history has obscured the true identity of Concubine Qi, whose child is Zhu Di is is still a topic of endless debate in academic circles to this day.
The official history says that Queen Ma was born, and many Ming and Qing literati notes say that they were born to Concubine Qi.
Although Concubine Qi can only sit in the West in the Ming Tomb, unlike other concubines, this special position seems to imply that Zhu Di still respects his biological mother in private, hoping that she can feel the glory of "mother is precious by son" underground.
However, whether it is Queen Ma or the controversial Concubine Qi, what cannot be changed is that the punishment of the iron skirt has become a chilling stain in history, silently telling the sorrow of women in the feudal era.