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Why do disgraced concubines get banished to the cold palace while eunuchs compete to serve them?

When confined to the palace, a concubine loses her power and status. However, why do the eunuchs still strive to serve?

8 March, 2024

When watching Chinese palace dramas, we often see a scene where concubines are sent to the cold palace if they happen to commit a major error. Being sent to the cold palace is like the end of a concubine’s life, losing their power and position…

After being sent to this place, the concubines no longer have anyone to serve them, living a life like being imprisoned, losing their freedom and fortune.

However, according to historical records, many eunuchs voluntarily followed these concubines into the cold palace. Moreover, they even competed for this position. The reason why these eunuchs did this is due to several factors.

First, concubines still have exploitable value. Although the concubines sent to the cold palace lose their power, they all come from noble families. Their relatives certainly do not want their descendants to suffer in the cold palace.

At this time, the only channel of communication for the relatives of the concubines is through the eunuchs to send goods and food to them.

Second, the work in the cold palace is very leisurely. Many eunuchs enter the palace with the purpose of making a living day by day instead of participating in the intrigues in the harem. On the other hand, the work of serving the concubines in the cold palace is extremely leisurely.

Every day, the eunuchs only need to provide food and take care of the area of the cold palace without having to do strenuous work. Moreover, the concubines have lost their power and position, and there is not much difference between them and the eunuchs. Therefore, the eunuchs do not have to worry about being punished or mistreated by the concubines.

Third, the eunuchs are waiting for an opportunity to change their lives. Although they are sent to the cold palace, everything in the world is constantly changing, and no one can predict the future.

There have been many cases where concubines receive favor from the Emperor and escape from the cold palace. After restoring their position, the concubines will certainly not forget those who were by their side during their low point. Of course, the eunuchs who followed them into the cold palace will become the objects of their gratitude.

This is also the time when the lives of the eunuchs enter a new chapter.

Frequently asked questions

Life in the cold palace was like imprisonment. Concubines no longer had anyone serving them and lost their freedom and status. They relied on eunuchs to communicate with their relatives and receive goods and food.

Eunuchs had several reasons for doing so. First, the concubines still had exploitable value due to their noble backgrounds, and their relatives would send goods through the eunuchs. Second, the work in the cold palace was leisurely, and eunuchs could avoid the intrigues of the harem. Finally, they awaited an opportunity to change their lives; if a concubine regained favor with the Emperor, the eunuchs by her side would be rewarded.

Eunuchs had a relatively relaxed routine, only needing to provide food and take care of the cold palace area. They didn’t have to worry about punishment or mistreatment from the concubines, as the power dynamic had shifted.