Author: Fu Hu

About: This book Tales of the Qing Court makes no pretensions to historical accuracy. It is based on the folklore which surrounds the imperial family, and so must be regarded as partly factual and partly imaginary. These are tales of laughter, tears, love and hate in the lives of emperors, empresses, imperial ladies, generals, ministers, and courtiers. These tales are presented to the reader for recreation and perhaps illumination.

Additional: Warning, while 2/3rds of this novel is typical folkore in line with the dozen or so other books Silk Pagoda publishes, the final section, concerning Empress Dowager, is quite mature in its themes. Be warned.

Excerpt:

Greedy and ambitious, the fifth prince Manguertai refused to submit to his younger brother, Emperor Huangtaiji. He formed an alliance with Prince Degelei and made secret plans to overthrow Huangtaiji when the opportunity arose. Kneeling before a statue of the Buddha, they vowed not to betray their purpose under any circumstances.

One day, Manguertai persuaded his sister and sister-in-law Xiaonamu to invite Huangtaiji to a sumptuous banquet. During the banquet they tried to murder the emperor by poisoning his wine, but their plot was discovered and the conspirators were caught red-handed. Manguertai swore he had no part in their scheme, and declared that the banquet had been prepared by his son Gebilun. As a result, Gebilun was sentenced to death and his five brothers were banished as commoners.

Shortly after this incident, Manguertai died of a sudden illness. Years later Degelei also died. After the death of these two conspirators, Prince Shenlunji was in a state of suspense and decided to reveal the true story to the emperor. All the people involved in the conspiracy were eventually killed except Shenlunji.

Just as the curtain came down on this play, an even fiercer struggle began on the same stage.

After 17 years on the throne, Huangtaiji died at the age of 51. He died so unexpectedly that he had no time to appoint an heir, thus setting in motion a complicated series of events. Both the eldest prince Haoge and the 14th prince Duoergun were in the prime of life, and each had his own powerful supporters and military forces.