How did the concubine of Duankang spend her retirement in her later years?

Mondo Social Updated on 2024-02-05

In August 1900, when the Eight-Nation Alliance entered Beijing, Cixi fled to Xi'an with Emperor Guangxu, and on that day, the life of Emperor Guangxu's favorite concubine Zhenfei came to an end. According to the "Biography of the Queens of the Qing Dynasty", "Concubine Zhen was favored by the emperor, and in the 26th year of Guangxu, foreign soldiers invaded the capital, and the emperor left Beijing to the west. ”

The Empress Dowager Cixi had always regarded Concubine Zhen as a threat, and before escaping, she ordered the eunuch to throw her into a well, and the 25-year-old Concubine Zhen died. The dead Concubine Zhen caused her own sister Concubine Jin to cry again and again by Concubine Zhen's well. Concubine Jin is calm, although she is often involved by her sister, she still takes care of her family affection and is grief-stricken.

During Emperor Guangxu's lifetime, there were only three concubines: Empress Longyu, Concubine Zhen and Concubine Jin. Empress Longyu is Cixi's niece, although she is not favored by Guangxu, she has Cixi's support. After the sacrifice of her sister, Concubine Jin lived cautiously, lest she anger Cixi, and the hardships of her life can be seen.

On November 14, 1908, Emperor Guangxu died; The next day, the Empress Dowager Cixi left the world. Concubine Jin was able to get rid of the shadow of Cixi and Guangxu, and she felt a little relieved in her heart. After the death of Cixi and Guangxu, the young Pu Yi ascended the throne, and Concubine Jin stayed in Yonghe Palace and was awarded the title of Imperial Concubine Jin.

In fact, the real power in the Forbidden City should be the Empress Dowager Longyu. However, Empress Dowager Longyu has a weak personality and treats everyone in the harem generously and kindly. In this situation, Concubine Jin's life is quite comfortable.

On March 12, 1913, Pu Yi crowned Concubine Jin as the concubine of Duankang Emperor. Since then, she has begun to enjoy the peaceful life of her old age. After Cixi and Guangxu passed away, the Empress Dowager Longyu also died. Concubine Jin became the only surviving concubine of the four in the Forbidden City (the other three were Emperor Jingyi, Zhuang He, and Ronghui, all of whom were concubines of Emperor Xianfeng).

Today, Concubine Jin plays an important role in the Forbidden City, living a carefree life and pursuing poetic moments to the fullest. During her days in Yonghe Palace, she could fish leisurely, swing happily, and even enjoy her mood with Danqing calligraphy and painting. Concubine Jin was born in a famous family in Manchuria, had a very high cultural literacy, and lived in a more superior cultural atmosphere in her later years, so she had enough time to make her calligraphy and painting skills improve with each passing day.

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