Emperor Jing'an

Biodata

Background

Jing'an and his mother endured years of humiliation from the Elder Princess Yue Shu and her mother, a favored consort of the late emperor. The late emperor knew of their conduct but did not intervene. Jing'an resolved to deal with them once he took the throne 26.

Grand Elder Princess Huiying, his aunt, helped protect him and his mother and later helped secure his succession. He ascended the throne at seventeen and regarded Huiying as another mother 6 42.

At twenty-nine, Jing'an had neither a son nor a daughter, and no woman in his harem was pregnant. With court officials questioning his health, he feared he might have to adopt an heir if no consort conceived within three years 6.

Personality

Jing'an values rules and had maintained strict standards in his harem, but his growing favor toward Hua Meng led him to make exceptions that drew notice and resentment 15 21. He appreciates her forthrightness, having grown tired of consorts who concealed their genuine feelings from him 7 10.

Since his years as crown prince, he has wanted a wife who could express her opinions and stand beside him rather than fear him. He also longs for the kind of family affection he saw in ordinary households 38 39.

He can be patient and calculating in politics: although he wants Yue Shu punished, he recognizes the influence of her allies and the danger of destabilizing the court 27 30.

History

Hua Meng and the medical investigation

Jing'an approved Hua Meng’s entry into the palace after investigating the circumstances with Zhang Jinghong. During his first visits to her, he asked whether she had entered willingly and was struck by her candid answers 4 6 7.

Hua Meng’s remarks prompted Jing'an to question why only Cen Yongning, head of the Imperial Medical Academy, had routinely examined him. After noticing gray grime on his skin, he secretly summoned Imperial Physician Jiang Xin, who found his pulse abnormal but could not identify the cause. Jing'an concluded that Cen was disloyal and suspected a connection to Yue Shu 11 12 13.

With the empress dowager’s help, Jing'an used a visit to Hua Meng’s family as cover to consult physicians outside the palace. He took the prescribed Grass-Insect Decoction, and his pulse and complexion improved. The physicians could not identify the drug involved but warned that frequent intercourse worsened his chances of fathering children 13 21 23 24.

Pregnancy and palace attacks

When Yue Shu angered the empress dowager into collapsing, Jing'an left court and ordered Yue Shu and her daughter Wei Ningyan to kneel. Hua Meng then felt unwell, and Jiang Xin and the other physicians confirmed her pregnancy. Jing'an granted her the title Consort Jing and entrusted her care to Jiang Xin 26 27 28.

Jing'an wanted to hasten his plans against Yue Shu’s family, but Lin Ming urged him to protect Hua Meng and the unborn child while proceeding cautiously. Jing'an worried that Yue Shu’s Phoenix Tail Token could allow her to summon the secret guards 30.

At a flower-viewing banquet, a maid attacked Hua Meng while elderly eunuchs diverted Jing'an. After learning she was unharmed, he rewarded those who had protected her. He then learned that the empress dowager had also been wounded and hurried to her side 37 38.

Palace administration and alliances

While the injured empress dowager recovered, Jing'an accepted Hua Meng’s suggestion to divide responsibility for palace affairs. He placed Consort Qi and Consort Wan in primary charge, with Consort Ying and Consort Jing assisting 41.

He promoted Consort Wan and placed Liang Xijun, Grand Elder Princess Huiying’s granddaughter, in her care with the title Commandery Princess Shouning. The arrangement also served his plans to strengthen ties with the Song family as he moved against the Wei and Zhan families 42.

When rumors raised concerns that Hua Meng might bear twins, Jing'an said he would raise both sons and revealed that the Grand Ancestor had left a secret edict addressing succession concerns. Jiang Xin later confirmed that Hua Meng was carrying one child, to Jing'an’s visible regret 45 46.

Relationships

• Hua Meng (Consort Jing) — His favored consort and the mother of his unborn child. He values her directness, consults her on palace affairs, and agrees to arrange instruction to help her prepare to stand beside him 10 28 41 42.
• Empress Dowager — His mother and a close confidante. He trusted her with his medical suspicions and was deeply distressed when she was attacked 13 38.
• Elder Princess Yue Shu — His adversary. She and her mother mistreated him and the empress dowager; he suspects Yue Shu was involved in his medical condition 22 26 27.
• Grand Elder Princess Huiying — His aunt, whom he regarded as another mother. She protected him and helped place him on the throne 42.
• Wei Fugui — His trusted chief eunuch, who began serving him when Jing'an was three years old 12 13.
• Lin Ming — An ally who helped arrange physicians and advised Jing'an to prioritize Hua Meng’s safety over a rapid move against Yue Shu’s family 18 30.
• Jiang Xin — An imperial physician who secretly examined Jing'an and was later entrusted with Consort Jing’s care 12 28.
• Cen Yongning — Head of the Imperial Medical Academy. Jing'an lost trust in him after Jiang Xin discovered his abnormal pulse and suspected him of serving Yue Shu 12 13.
• Consort Qi — His former secondary consort from his years as crown prince. She resented the exceptions he made for Hua Meng and later shared responsibility for palace affairs 9 21 41.
• Consort Wan — A consort whom he promoted and entrusted with raising Commandery Princess Shouning 42.
• Liang Xijun (Commandery Princess Shouning) — Huiying’s granddaughter, whom Jing'an brought into the palace as his adopted daughter 42 48.

Notable Quote

“Don’t worry. If there are two princes, I’ll only be happy, and I’ll raise them both.” 45