The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

The child of the Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty contracted smallpox shortly after birth and was sent out of the palace for secret treatment. However, someone took this opportunity to switch the child with another baby.

And this switched child was actually the child of Hong Chengchou and Consort Zhuang?

Emperor Chongzhen was truly shocked by this plot development. Huang Taiji probably never imagined that the plot would develop in this direction when he sent Consort Zhuang to induce Hong Chengchou to surrender.

If he has a spirit in heaven, he's probably turning in his grave.

And this Consort Zhuang was indeed a ruthless person.

In Zhu Ziming's words, it's called a "leading lady." Although it was the first time Chongzhen had heard this term, he roughly understood it. Among a group of men who conquered the world, this woman had managed to make herself the protagonist.

From being manipulated by Huang Taiji to induce Hong Chengchou to surrender, to using Dorgon to support his own son to ascend to the throne, and then replacing his grandson who died of smallpox with his son with Hong Chengchou.

Regardless of all those men who wield power when awake and enjoy the company of beauties when drunk, she secretly orchestrates everything with her own cunning.

Although there was no evidence, Chongzhen had reason to suspect that Shunzhi's child had contracted smallpox, and that someone might have been behind it. Otherwise, how could a prince who had just been born and was living deep inside the palace have contracted smallpox?

Emperor Chongzhen was genuinely curious about what other crazy things this woman might do next.

Zhu Ziming said, "Smallpox was the most terrible disease of that era, but Xuan Ye, who returned to the palace, was not affected by it, only suffering from a few small pockmarks on his face."

"Unlike the other three burly princes, Xuan Ye was very intelligent. He began to read and write at the age of five and quickly showed his talent for diligence and learning. Historical records say that Xuan Ye was handsome and had a loud and powerful voice. When he was six years old, he and his brothers paid their respects to their father. When Shunzhi asked the princes what they wanted to do most, the second prince, Fuquan, said that being a virtuous prince was enough. Only Xuan Ye said that he hoped to emulate his father."

"Official historical records state that he 'had a thorough understanding of imperial politics, the philosophy of sages, and the essential principles of the Six Classics,' which is not an exaggeration."

"It was precisely because of this that Emperor Shunzhi began to treat Xuan Ye in a different light."

"At this time, the gears of fate began to turn again. Emperor Shunzhi, who was only twenty-four years old, suddenly passed away. He had not established a crown prince during his lifetime, and could only designate an heir in the form of a will. Before the will was drafted, it was informed to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. In the end, the three princes, who were only eight years old at the time, namely Xuan Ye, were designated to inherit the throne."

"Thus, this child named Xuan Ye ascended the throne at the age of eight, becoming the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty."

Emperor Chongzhen started opening his mouth halfway through the conversation, and after finishing, he remained speechless with his mouth agape for a long time.

Hong Chengchou and Consort Zhuang's child not only entered the palace but also ascended the throne.

This……

Emperor Chongzhen was at a loss for words.

There are stories like "The Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat" in vernacular novels, but those are fiction.

Moreover, what Zhu Ziming said was even more exaggerated than the story of the cat replacing the prince.

This is because not only did they change the crown prince, but they also ascended the throne.

Even more importantly, the significance of this throne is extraordinary.

Because this involves a conflict between two ethnic groups.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty accomplished the great task of expelling the Manchus and restoring China, establishing the Ming Dynasty. However, it was the Ming Dynasty that failed to guard the country's borders, allowing the Manchus to enter the pass and invade the Central Plains.

If what Zhu Ziming said is true, then wouldn't that mean that because of Hong Chengchou alone, the entire Qing Dynasty's efforts were in vain?

The Manchu people fought bloody battles for generations, from Nurhaci, the old Khan, who started his rebellion with thirteen suits of armor, to Huang Taiji's diligent governance, and finally to the Shunzhi Emperor's conquest of the Central Plains...

Who would have thought that in the end, a Han Chinese general who surrendered would seize the throne by virtue of his sexual pleasures?

The entire Han Chinese empire was occupied by the Manchus, but Hong Chengchou planted his own roots at the very core. This was probably the last solace for the Ming Dynasty and for the entire Han Chinese empire.

If all of this is true, then at this moment, Emperor Chongzhen only wants to shout praises at Hong Chengchou from the original historical timeline: Hong Chengchou, Hong Chengchou! You're a real man! A true national hero!

Zhu Ziming glanced at the excited Chongzhen Emperor and thought to himself, "This man is indeed a Ming Dynasty fan."

"What I'm talking about are all unofficial histories circulating among the people, combined with online speculation and my own conjecture, which have strung together many historical mysteries from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, forming a story that seems to be self-consistent. However, there are also many opposing views online, saying that this is just the imagination of Ming dynasty enthusiasts and a pure over-interpretation."

Emperor Chongzhen had no idea what the internet was; at that moment, all he wanted to ask was, "So, what does the gentleman think?"

Zhu Ziming was stumped by the question.

After a long silence, Zhu Ziming finally spoke: "You can let me speak, but let me make it clear first that everything I say is purely my personal opinion, and I will not accept any questions or rebuttals."

Zhu Ziming was so afraid of being criticized when he wrote his novels that he started to frantically build up his defenses.

After layering the armor, Zhu Ziming said, "I don't think it's entirely a matter of imagination and over-interpretation."

Emperor Chongzhen was listening with great interest and quickly said, "I would like to hear the details."

Zhu Ziming said, "Kangxi is the most crucial point in the whole incident, so let's take a look at Kangxi first. We can learn a lot from Kangxi."

"Leaving aside the unofficial historical records such as the 'drastic change in appearance' after the young Kangxi recovered from his illness and returned to the palace, and the fact that his actual age was three years older than his real age, we will only look at the official historical records. Because these official historical records were compiled by the Qing Dynasty itself, they were extremely careful to avoid mentioning the matter of Kangxi's birth, so they would not have helped to fabricate it."

"According to official historical records, Emperor Kangxi was different from previous Manchu emperors. He was refined, intelligent, and studious. He was so engrossed in his studies that he coughed up blood but refused to stop. This was quite incompatible with the nomadic and hunting lineage known for its military prowess."

"What's even more incongruous is his appearance."

"According to the official portraits left by the Qing Dynasty, from Nurhaci to Huang Taiji, and then to Shunzhi, they all had round faces, small eyes, and single eyelids, which were very typical Manchu features. But when it came to Kangxi, they suddenly became Han Chinese with long, thin faces, pointed chins, and big eyes, and the appearance of the emperors after Kangxi was also largely the same."

"What's even stranger is that Kangxi's appearance in his old age was almost identical to that of Hong Chengchou."

At this moment, Chongzhen did not show much surprise, because he had already absorbed what he had heard and he felt that Hong Chengchou had indeed reaped the benefits of the Manchu Qing dynasty.

To demonstrate his meticulousness, Zhu Ziming went to the bookshelf and retrieved the portraits of the two men, placing them in front of Chongzhen.

"hiss!"

Emperor Chongzhen gasped.

Even though he had already concluded that Hong Chengchou was Kangxi's father, he was still shocked.

This is so similar!

Zhu Ziming said, "Do you remember you asked me before if Zhu Yuanzhang had a long, narrow face? My judgment is no, because if Zhu Yuanzhang really had a long, narrow face, his descendants wouldn't all have round, full faces."

"The same applies to Emperor Kangxi. Under normal circumstances, it is impossible for a son to be unlike his father. Even if it were, the change would not be so drastic."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded emphatically, expressing his strong agreement with Zhu Ziming's statement.

Zhu Ziming continued, "Moreover, besides their appearance, there is another piece of evidence that is almost irrefutable!"