Wan Guifei has always been a controversial woman. She was seventeen years older than Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen and was originally a palace maid who took care of Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen. After Zhu Jianshen ascended the throne and declared himself emperor, she became a Noble Consort. I thought that Wan Guifei, who was no longer young and had no children, would soon fall out of favor, but Ming Xianzong remained very attached to her. Wan Guifei, who was showered with countless favors, ran rampant in the harem and acted very arbitrarily. Although Consort Wan received special favor, she also worried that other concubines would threaten her status and even take action against her concubines and imperial heirs. However, there was still a fish that slipped through the net, and this person was Empress Xiaomu Ji, who gave birth to Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, Zhu Youchuan.
Empress Xiaomu, whose real name is Li Tangmei, comes from the Yao ethnic group. She lost both of her parents at a young age and was later adopted by relatives in He County, Guangxi. In the first year of Chenghua, a large-scale Yao and Dong ethnic rebellion broke out in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, and the Yao people in He County also participated in it. The Ming army launched a large-scale encirclement and suppression of this. Afterwards, the tusi who participated in the rebellion were killed, and their families were captured and sent to Yeting, with Li Tangmei among them. In Yao language, “Li” sounds the same as “Ji”, but the registration officer mistakenly recorded it as “Ji Girl” without even a name.
Li Tangmei is exceptionally beautiful, intelligent and sharp, and proficient in writing. She did not remain silent in the palace, but stood out and was appointed as a female historian. She entered and exited the inner treasury and was responsible for various affairs. If she hadn’t met Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty, Li Tangmei would likely have been the Ji girl for the rest of her life in this dark palace where the future is unknown.
One day, after Ming Xianzong retired from the court and went to the Inner Treasury, he coincidentally met Li Tangmei, who was handsome and capable in her work. During the conversation, he discovered that Li Tangmei was still a very talented person, and was even attracted by her talent. Therefore, he favored her and Li Tangmei became pregnant as a result. At that time, Consort Wan was in charge of the imperial harem and repeatedly persecuted the pregnant concubines and palace maids. She was very angry when she found out that Li Tangmei was pregnant and ordered the palace maids to have abortions. I don’t know if she couldn’t bear it or wanted to gain a fortune, but the palace maid lied to Consort Wan, saying that Li Tangmei was only sick and not pregnant. Nevertheless, Empress Wan sent Li Tangmei to reside in Anle Hall.
From Li Tangmei’s pregnancy to childbirth, she was able to complete it with the help of kind-hearted people. After she successfully gave birth to the prince, eunuch Zhang Min disobeyed the will of Princess Wan and did not kill the prince. Instead, she took the prince away from Li Tangmei, carefully protected him, and fed him with Rice noodles every day. After Empress Wu became aware of this matter, she secretly helped to raise them together.
When the prince was six years old, Zhu Jianshen lamented to Zhang Min that he had no children, and Zhang Min risked her life to reveal the truth. After hearing this, Zhu Jianshen was both surprised and delighted. He immediately brought Zhu Youzhu to his side, announced it to the world, and appointed him as the crown prince. Li Tangmei was taken to reside in Yongshou Palace and conferred the title of Shufei, later known as Ji Shufei. After Wan Guifei learned about this matter, she wept and complained every day. Not long after, Li Tangmei suddenly died suddenly in the palace at the age of only 26. Some people say she was persecuted to death by Empress Wan. And eunuch Zhang Min is afraid
