The captivating tale of a Ming dynasty concubine who miraculously survived 15 days of torment in the cold palace without food sent shockwaves through the imperial harem.
The Cold Palace – The Fear of Concubines
In the world of ancient harem politics, being banished to the cold palace was every concubine’s worst nightmare. Entering this place meant losing one’s freedom, and their fate rested solely in the hands of those in power. However, during the Ming dynasty, one concubine stood out for her resilience, surviving a period of extreme deprivation over 15 days. She was a remarkable figure during the reign of the Ming Hyzong. But how did she endure such suffering?
The Scheming of Nurse Ke
Ming Hyzong is known for two notable aspects. Firstly, he was a talented carpenter, possessing exceptional skill despite a lack of formal training. Secondly, his unique romantic relationship with his nurse, Ke. Perhaps Ming Hyzong was the only emperor in history so influenced by his nurse. Despite having a large harem, he remained firmly under her control.
To what extent did Nurse Ke interfere with state affairs? She and Wei Zhongxian colluded to manipulate power, and Ming Hyzong not only failed to intervene but also approved of their actions, including the murder of concubines who fell out of her favor. One such concubine, who had displeased Nurse Ke, was falsely accused and banished to the cold palace, a decision Ming Hyzong agreed to without hesitation.
With power in her hands, Nurse Ke manipulated the entire harem. She employed cruel tactics, including restricting Ming Hyzong’s chances of having children with other concubines. Naturally, Ming Hyzong, like any man, desired children, but Nurse Ke’s schemes prevented this, leading to a tragic fate for many children and even some concubines. The harem was filled with anxiety until a particular concubine emerged, changing the dynamics.
With Power in Her Hands, Nurse Ke Manipulated the Entire Harem
Twice Banished to the Cold Palace
Consort Li, initially an unassuming concubine, had a special skill that set her apart: her ability to communicate and build relationships. Her humble background and generous character helped her forge strong connections with palace maids and eunuchs, which eventually led to her gaining Ming Hyzong’s favor and bearing him children.
However, this also marked the beginning of her conflict with Nurse Ke. At first, Nurse Ke had no intention of confronting Consort Li. But when Consort Li gave birth to her first child, the tension escalated. Mysteriously, the child suddenly passed away, coinciding with an earthquake, which led to Consort Li being blamed for bringing bad luck to the royal family. After a few subtle hints, she was banished to the cold palace.
Of course, Nurse Ke wasn’t going to let this situation continue peacefully. Although Consort Li returned, Nurse Ke had countless ways to send her back to the cold palace. Through her manipulation, Ming Hyzong once again decided to banish Consort Li. However, this time, Nurse Ke had a cruel plan to ensure Consort Li’s demise.
As soon as Consort Li was banished, Nurse Ke ordered the doors to be locked with iron chains, preventing anyone from entering or exiting for half a month, and no food was to be provided. She intended to starve Consort Li to death, believing that by the time Ming Hyzong regretted his decision, he would only find a cold corpse. But Nurse Ke had not anticipated Consort Li’s resourcefulness.
Nurse Ke Had Not Anticipated Consort Li’s Resourcefulness
Consort Li, anticipating such a scenario, had secretly instructed her trusted maids to hide a substantial amount of food and water in the cold palace. Through her constant bribing of maids and eunuchs, she was able to ensure her survival while Nurse Ke waited for her to starve.
Nurse Ke, satisfied with her plan, believed she could rule the harem without competition. But just a few months later, she was shocked to discover that Consort Li had returned to the harem. Upon investigation, she realized that Ming Hyzong had orchestrated Consort Li’s release and restoration of her position.
The fifteen days had passed quickly. When the doors to the cold palace were opened, people were astonished by the scene within. Consort Li sat there, her eyes bright and her complexion healthy, showing no signs of deprivation. She even greeted those around her.
A eunuch exclaimed in amazement, “Are you truly a goddess? To endure such hunger for half a month and still remain so well.” Perhaps due to the tendency to associate the unexplained with the divine, rumors spread throughout the palace that Consort Li was protected by the gods, causing even Nurse Ke to let go of her hatred.
However, instead of returning to Ming Hyzong’s side, Consort Li chose to live as an ordinary maid, never appearing by his side again. The power struggle within the harem came to a close.
During the reign of Ming Hyzong, his blind trust in Nurse Ke led to the unfortunate deaths of many. While Consort Li was banished, her family also suffered greatly. After Ming Hyzong’s death, Nurse Ke faced justice at the hands of Ming Sizong and ultimately met her end in the Laundry Bureau. It is said that after her death, no one, neither eunuch nor maid, dared to take care of her funeral arrangements.
The Forbidden Palace: A Tale of Survival and Madness for the Imperial Consorts
The Forbidden Harem, a place of mystery and pain. These two words hold untold secrets and a dark history. It was a place of confinement for the fallen consorts, a prison where countless mysterious deaths occurred. What dark secrets lie beyond its gates?
The Most Ruthless Empress of the Tang Dynasty: The Power-Hungry Woman Who Wanted to Be Another Wu Zetian, Harming the Prince
The woman was regarded as one of the most ruthless empresses of the Tang Dynasty, a power-hungry woman who wanted to become the second Empress Wu. With a thirst for power, she plotted the death of a prince and conspired to depose the crown prince. A true manipulator, her actions were driven by a desire to rule, and she stopped at nothing to achieve her ambitions.
Unveiling the Enigma: The Mystical Vietnamese Monarch and His Ferry Bride
Emperor Thanh Thai was not only renowned for his patriotism and unwavering dedication to the anti-French resistance, but he also left a legacy of intriguing tales from his imperial harem. The tales originated from his rather lenient and permissive approach to selecting his concubines, according to historical anecdotes.
The shortest-lived empress of the Qing dynasty: gave birth to a prince at 15, passed away at 23 due to a mysterious illness.
History records the shortest-reigning Empress in the Qing Dynasty, who ascended to the throne at the young age of 15 but tragically passed away at the age of 23, just a year after her son’s coronation.
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?
