“I don't want to add flowers to your brocade. I want to give you roof tiles in the snow.”
In the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong era, during the Tumu Crisis, Emperor Yingzong was captured by the Oirats.
His younger brother proclaimed himself emperor in Shuntian and named Yingzong's son, Zhu Yishen, crown prince.
Zhu Yishen was confined deep within the palace.
The ministers and people all knew the crown prince would be deposed sooner or later. Sure enough, in the fourth year of the Jingtai era, Emperor Jingtai named a new crown prince.
The most distraught person in the court was none other than Vice Minister Wan of the Ministry of Rites. His beloved daughter had been betrothed to Zhu Yishen since childhood.
To keep his precious daughter from being implicated, Vice Minister Wan sent his widowed second daughter-in-law into the palace to take her place in the marriage.
Who could have guessed that Yingzong would reclaim the throne seven years later?
Zhu Yishen later became emperor, known as Emperor Xianzong.
History records that Xianzong remained devoted to the Wan family's daughter-in-law for his entire life, faithful to her until death.
Theme: Love yourself.
