Do you really know the story of Princess Fukang? Today, the history encyclopedia editor brings you a brand new interpretation~
There have been many arrogant and domineering princesses in Chinese history, such as Princess Gaoyang, the beloved daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang, who had an affair with a monk, attempted rebellion during the reign of his elder brother, and formed a broad alliance with Princess Taiping, the daughter of Empress Wu Zetian, who wielded power and wealth like mountains. However, in the Song Dynasty, due to the lessons learned from the previous dynasty, the policy of prohibiting the harem from interfering in politics was officially established. Princesses had little real power and were subject to many constraints and restrictions on their actions. Most princesses in the Song Dynasty remained unknown. In the Song Dynasty, there was a princess who was loved from a young age but had a tragic ending. She was Princess Fukang.
According to the Collection of Grand Edicts of the Song Dynasty, Princess Fukang, as the eldest daughter of the emperor, possessed both virtue and talent, was both beautiful and wise, and had a pure and virtuous character. In the early years of Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, most of his children died young for unknown reasons, so he particularly loved his eldest daughter. As she grew up, Princess Fukang became more intelligent and sensible, with a strong sense of filial piety. When Emperor Renzong fell ill, she knelt down to pray for her father’s suffering. It was precisely because of this filial piety that Emperor Renzong of Song favored her even more.
Princess Fukang had been living a life of being surrounded by stars and stars in the palace. When it was time to discuss marriage, Emperor Renzong of Song did not want her to go to another country to marry. However, in the context of that time, the princess could not make her own decision on getting married. Finally, Emperor Renzong of Song married Princess Fukang to Li Wei of his uncle’s family, Li Shi, out of guilt towards her biological mother Li Shi, in order to elevate the status of the Li family. It can be said that this was the beginning of Princess Fukang’s tragedy, as she did not like this person.
According to historical records, Li Wei had a simple temperament and was skilled in calligraphy and painting. Perhaps it was because of this that Emperor Renzong of Song favored him greatly. But his appearance was ugly, so Princess Fukang was quite disgusted with him. As the saying goes, ‘A melon that is forcefully twisted is not sweet.’,? If two people decide to spend their lives together without liking each other, it is indeed a very painful thing. When Princess Fukang got married, Emperor Renzong of Song specially built a luxurious princess mansion for her, but even so, the princess still tearfully refused to get married.
Not long after her wedding, the disheartened princess became even more disgusted with her son-in-law Li Wei due to the instigation of her servants. The pampered princess even treated him as an ordinary servant. One day, the princess and eunuch Liang Huaiji were drinking under the moon, while Li Wei’s mother Yang was peeking from a distance. When the princess discovered this, she was furious and injured Yang. So the real conflict erupted, and Princess Fukang still felt wronged. She ran back to the palace overnight to break into the palace gate and demand justice from the emperor for her. However, she didn’t want this commotion to be known by all the civil and military officials, and even became a reason for the ministers to impeach the royal family. Because the ministers believed that the princess’s behavior disregarded royal etiquette and law, even if Princess Fukang felt a thousand grievances in her heart, she had no way to cry. Instead, she implicated the subordinates who had been taking care of her for many years and was replaced by the emperor.
At this point, there was no familiar person by the princess’s side, and she was tormented by depression every day. She tried her best to end her life, not only hanging herself and jumping into a well, but also setting fire to the house. The emperor had no choice but to summon Liang Huaiji back. But the princess had already given up any expectations for this marriage, and was completely devoted to parting ways with her husband and leaving the Li family. Slowly, the princess’s temperament changed drastically, still seeking life and death, behaving crazily, and not a single day was happy.
Finally, Emperor Renzong of Song could not bear to see the princess being tormented by her heart disease every day and brought her back to the palace. The emperor also had to consider the feelings of the Li family and sent people to comfort them multiple times. Soon after, Li Wei’s brother Li Zhang submitted a letter, but only mentioned in his words that his younger brother’s qualifications were mediocre and not worthy of being a princess. The emperor took the opportunity to agree to their divorce without imposing too much criticism on Li Wei. But who would have thought that before Emperor Renzong of Song fell critically ill, considering that he had no son under his knees, he could only bring back Emperor Yingzong, whom he had once driven away, as his adopted son. He was afraid that his daughter would be bullied in the palace in the future, so it would be better to rely on the princess’s mansion in the future. In addition, with the advice of the ministers, Princess Fukang and Li Wei were allowed to remarry. Emperor Renzong’s original intention was good, but the two of them had such a bad relationship before. How could the Li family treat the princess well in the future?
After the death of Emperor Renzong of Song, Emperor Yingzong of Song succeeded to the throne. However, this new emperor did not care about his old feelings at all. As soon as he ascended to power, he drove Renzong’s princesses and concubines out of the palace and allowed his own children to move in. Princess Fukang has nowhere to go, so she can only stay at the princess’s mansion and live with the Li family. Afterwards, Princess Fukang was depressed all day long and passed away in the cold winter at the age of 33. Later, people discovered in Wang Anshi’s diary that Princess Fukang lived a very miserable life before her death. Her clothes and blankets were covered with insects, and there were no servants to take care of her before she died. It was the cold winter and she could only make a fire to keep warm. When she died, traces of charcoal burns were found on her face. It can be seen that Princess Fukang’s life in the Li family after her remarriage was unbearable, and she may even have suffered abuse from the Li family.
