In the late autumn of 1908, the Forbidden City was solemn. Pu Yi, who was only three years old, was suddenly carried into the palace, but he couldn't stop crying in the face of the hundreds of officials who knelt down. This young figure will carry the last burden of the Qing Empire in the storm. Who would have thought that this immature "Son of Heaven" would have an unknown side in the future?
[Puyi's Emperor Road: From Infant Baby to Master of the Forbidden City]
If you want to talk about the drama of the last years of the Qing Dynasty, it is a big drama.
Think about it, a doll who was still nursing was suddenly carried into the palace and told him: "Hey, little friend, you will be the emperor from today on!" Isn't this a joke? But it really happened.
In 1908, Emperor Guangxu died. It stands to reason that the throne should have passed to his son. But the problem is that Guangxu didn't give birth to a son and a half daughter at all. Now it's a big deal for the ministers of the DPRK and China, and there is no heir, what can I do with this country?
At this juncture, the Empress Dowager Cixi stepped forward. She rolled her eyes and thought of a clever plan: since she doesn't have a son, then find a nephew! So, she set her sights on the little Pu Yi who had just turned two years old in Prince Alcohol's mansion.
In this way, Xiao Puyi became the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty in a daze. Do you think it's a big joke? A doll who didn't even clean the diaper turned into a ninety-five! If this is placed in modern times, I am afraid that I will not even be able to enter kindergarten, let alone be an emperor.
[From swaddling clothes to dragon chairs: an emperor destined to be lonely]
Pu Yi deserves this emperor, to be honest, it's quite embarrassing.
Think about it, what can the average child do at the age of three? That is, they can call their parents, eat by themselves, play with building blocks or something. Can Puyi? At the age of three, he had to sit on the dragon chair and accept the worship of civil and military officials. This picture is funny and sad when you think about it.
How does Xiao Puyi know about any major affairs of the court? All he knew was that he had suddenly been taken to a strange place, surrounded by adults he didn't know. Who is not afraid? Therefore, on the day of his accession to the throne, Xiao Puyi cried vigorously and shouted that he wanted to go home.
Can you imagine? The Manchu Dynasty civil and military knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the little emperor who was crying on the dragon chair. This scene, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a farce.
However, for Pu Yi, this is not a fun thing. From then on, it was as if he was locked in a golden cage. Everyone around him was respectful to him, but no one really regarded him as a child in need of care.
You think, a three-year-old child who suddenly loses the arms of his parents and is surrounded by strangers. The only thing he can rely on is the nurse who has taken care of him since he was a child.
[The Secret of the Nurse: The Emperor's "Bad Habits"]
Speaking of which, it's interesting.
You know what? This little emperor is still drinking milk at the age of ten! That's right, you heard it right, ten years old! This was big news at the time, and even the eunuchs and maids in the palace didn't dare to talk much.
You know, the average child should be weaned at the age of two or three. But Pu Yi? He insisted on drinking milk until he was ten years old. This made his nurse very worried.
Imagine that scene: a ten-year-old boy, dressed in a dragon robe, sits on a dragon chair and calls the nurse to come and nurse him. This picture, how awkward it looks.
However, if you think about it, you will find that there is a poignant truth behind it.
Why is Pu Yi so obsessed with drinking milk? In fact, by the time he was ten years old, the nurse had long since run out of milk. He just took the nurse's nipple in his mouth and pretended to be drinking.
You say, why would a ten-year-old do this?
The answer is actually quite simple: he needs security.
Think about it, Pu Yi has been carried into the palace since he was a child, surrounded by strangers. Although he was the emperor, he was actually a puppet in that turbulent era. He has no real power, and he has no real friends. In this case, the nurse became the only person he could trust.
For Pu Yi, holding the nurse's nipple is like going back to his infant days, when he only felt safe and loved. This seemingly "bad habit" behavior actually reflects the deep desire of a lonely child.
[The "secret" in the palace: the embarrassment of everyone]
You think that's the end of it? No, there's something more embarrassing.
Every time Pu Yi wants to "drink milk", the palace has to make a big move. According to the rules, when the emperor was breastfeeding, everyone else had to avoid it. You think, a group of adults, in order to cooperate with a ten-year-old child's "milk" performance, all hiding. This scene is as absurd as it is ridiculous.
The eunuchs must be muttering in private: "This emperor is so old, why is he still ......" The palace maids are probably also secretly discussing: "This is too unusual, right?" But who would dare to say it? Who would dare to accuse the emperor?
In this way, the entire palace became an accomplice to Pu Yi's "secret". Everyone knew something was wrong, but they had to pretend that everything was fine. Do you think this matter is disturbing?
In the end, the queen and the concubines couldn't stand it anymore. As soon as they put it together, they decided to send the nurse out of the palace. This trick is high, which not only does not offend the emperor, but also solves the problem.
Guess what Pu Yi's reaction was? He's so sad. However, he did not dare to say anything. After all, although he is the emperor, he can't actually do anything. He was a puppet, a wretched creature trapped in a golden cage.
[From Emperor to Prisoner: The Ups and Downs of Pu Yi's Life]
Pu Yi's life is like a roller coaster.
As a child, he was a high emperor. But within a few years, as soon as the Xinhai Revolution came, he became the "abdicated emperor". Do you think this is changing too fast?
After his abdication, Pu Yi still lived in the Forbidden City. On the surface, he still lives a "emperor" life. But really? He was a prisoner under house arrest.
Do you think that a teenager suddenly loses his status as an emperor, but he can't live like an ordinary person. He is neither this nor that, and he doesn't know how to position himself.
To make matters worse, Pu Yi didn't even know his nickname. How sad do you say this is? What does it mean that a person doesn't even know his nickname? It shows that he has not received normal family care since he was a child.
Therefore, when we see Pu Yi still "drinking milk" at the age of ten, instead of laughing at him, we should sympathize with him. Behind this behavior is a lonely child's desire for love and security.
Looking back at Pu Yi's life, it is embarrassing.
He was the last emperor of China, but he was also the most powerless. Pushed to the throne of God since childhood, but not knowing what it means. When he grew up and became sensible, he lost everything.
Pu Yi tells us that power and status do not bring true happiness. Instead, they may deprive a person of their most basic emotional needs.
Today's children may think it's cool to be an emperor. But if you look at Pu Yi's example, you will find that sometimes ordinary people live happier lives. At the very least, you can grow up freely and without worrying about those complicated political games.
So, the next time you feel like you're not doing well in your life, think about Pu Yi. You may find that you've been lucky.