In the 26th year of the Qing Dynasty's Daoguang reign (1846 AD), the Daoguang Emperor, already 65 years old, felt his physical condition declining and often found himself overwhelmed when handling state affairs. He realized it was time to address the matter of appointing an imperial heir.
The Daoguang Emperor had nine sons. The eldest son, Yizhi; the second son, Yigang; and the third son, Yiji, had all died previously. The fifth son, Yicong, had been adopted in his youth by Prince Chun, Miankai. The seventh son, Yixuan; the eighth son, Yihe; and the ninth son, Yihui, were still too young. Therefore, only the 16-year-old fourth son, Yizhu, and the 15-year-old sixth son, Yixin, were viable candidates for crown prince.
Yizhu's mother, Empress Xiaoquancheng, had been greatly favored by the Daoguang Emperor during her lifetime. Sadly, she passed away when Yizhu was only ten years old. After her death, Yizhu was raised entirely by Jing Guifei, Yixin's birth mother. Consequently, Yizhu regarded Jing Guifei as his own mother and Yixin as a younger brother, and the two brothers developed an exceptionally close relationship.
Compared to Yixin, Yizhu was far inferior in both appearance and talent—be it literary or martial prowess. Yizhu’s looks were already less handsome than Yixin’s, but worse, he不幸 contracted smallpox as a child, which left his face pockmarked after recovery. As the saying goes, misfortunes never come singly. When he grew older, he accidentally fell from a horse while riding, fracturing his left leg. This injury left him with a permanent limp. In contrast, Yixin was not only strikingly handsome, but also exceptionally intelligent and gifted, able to memorize anything he read at a glance, earning deep affection from the Daoguang Emperor. Yixin inherited the Daoguang Emperor's legacy of "loving martial arts" and "excelling in horsemanship." From a young age, he practiced martial skills diligently. Together with Yizhu, he even co-created a 28-form spear technique and an 18-form saber technique. The Daoguang Emperor praised these highly, personally naming the spear method "Di Hua Xie Li" (Harmonious Efforts of Brothers) and the saber method "Bao E Xuan Wei" (Displaying Might of the Precious Blade), and awarded Yixin a white rainbow saber as a reward.
Between these two princes, whom should be named crown prince? The Daoguang Emperor faced a dilemma. According to ancestral tradition, which emphasized seniority, Yizhu should be chosen. Yet, Yizhu's appearance and abilities were clearly inferior to Yixin's. Thus, the emperor deliberated for a long time without reaching a decision. Finally, he resolved to personally assess both princes before making a final judgment.
One morning, the Daoguang Emperor issued an edict ordering Yizhu and Yixin to prepare themselves, as they would accompany him on a hunting expedition to Nanyuan the next day.
Both princes understood the true significance behind their father's hunting invitation and took it very seriously. Yixin believed victory was assured and that he could easily surpass his elder brother, so he eagerly prepared, full of fighting spirit. Yizhu, knowing his leg disability made him physically disadvantaged and that he stood no chance against his younger brother in riding and archery, remained calm and composed, seemingly having a plan in mind.
It was a beautiful season of spring, when nature revived and flowers bloomed. Upon arriving at Nanyuan, the Daoguang Emperor announced: "Each of you will have ten arrows. Within the time it takes one incense stick to burn, whoever captures the most game wins." At the emperor's command, Yixin swiftly mounted his horse and charged into the hunting grounds like an arrow leaving the bow. He fully demonstrated his equestrian and archery skills, hitting eleven animals with ten arrows—one arrow having struck two targets.
Turning to Yizhu, although he entered the hunting ground, he did not fire a single one of his ten arrows and thus captured no game at all. The Daoguang Emperor was deeply puzzled and immediately asked Yizhu, "Why didn't you shoot even one arrow?" Upon hearing his father's question, Yizhu knelt down abruptly before the emperor and said, "Father has repeatedly taught me that one must possess benevolence. I dare not forget this teaching and constantly keep it in my heart, striving to practice it. It is now spring, and most female beasts in the fields are pregnant. If I were to kill a mother beast, her unborn young would die with her. I simply cannot bear such cruelty. Therefore, I fired not a single arrow. I humbly ask for your forgiveness." Upon hearing this, the Daoguang Emperor couldn't help but exclaim, "Only someone with the heart of an emperor could utter such words."
A few days later, the Daoguang Emperor again summoned Yizhu and Yixin, announcing he wished to hear their respective views on major state affairs and governance, urging them to prepare their thoughts in advance.
First, the Daoguang Emperor summoned the sixth prince, Yixin. He told Yixin, "Your father is growing old, and my health worsens daily. I may not have much longer to live, so I wish to hear your insights and ideas on governing the nation." Yixin, knowledgeable, perceptive, and eloquent, immediately launched into an articulate discourse on statecraft. The Daoguang Emperor nodded repeatedly, praising his words as brilliant.
After Yixin departed, the Daoguang Emperor summoned the fourth prince, Yizhu. After repeating his earlier remarks to Yizhu and asking for his advice on governance, to his surprise, Yizhu said nothing. Instead, he knelt down, lowered his head, and wept uncontrollably. Puzzled, the emperor asked, "My son, why do you weep bitterly instead of answering my question?" Only then did Yizhu reply through tears, "I pray that Your Majesty remains eternally healthy, lives forever, and never leaves us. I wish to stay by your side always, serving you for my entire life." Deeply moved, the Daoguang Emperor nearly shed tears himself.
After these two practical assessments, the Daoguang Emperor concluded that although Yizhu was somewhat unattractive and far surpassed by Yixin in knowledge and martial skill, he possessed a compassionate and filial heart—the very Confucian values of "benevolence" and "filial piety" that were essential for governing a nation. Therefore, considering the stability of the dynasty and the well-being of the people, he deemed it more appropriate to name Yizhu as crown prince. Soon after, the Daoguang Emperor formally issued an edict, officially designating Prince Yizhu as the Imperial Heir.
Four years later, the Daoguang Emperor passed away, and Crown Prince Yizhu naturally ascended the throne, becoming the "Xianfeng Emperor." The name "Xianfeng" meant "universal abundance," expressing the hope that all people under heaven would have enough food and clothing and live good lives. However, Yizhu, lacking both statecraft ability and foresight, indulged himself in pleasures and debauchery precisely when the nation faced grave crises. He eventually succumbed to numerous illnesses and died at the young age of 31.
Why did Yizhu, who twice defeated Yixin to become emperor, change so drastically afterward? The truth was that Yizhu's victories over Yixin were entirely due to the strategies devised by his tutor, Du Shoutian. When the Daoguang Emperor ordered the hunting trip to Nanyuan, Yizhu knew he could not compete with Yixin and secretly visited his tutor Du Shoutian for advice. After pondering, Du Shoutian told Yizhu, "In terms of horsemanship and archery, Your Highness is no match for the Sixth Prince. To win, you must adopt the strategy of 'hiding your inadequacy and demonstrating benevolence.'" Yizhu followed Du Shoutian's advice and indeed won the Daoguang Emperor's admiration.
For the second test, Du Shoutian advised Yizhu, "When discussing state affairs, Your Highness is also no match for the Sixth Prince. Therefore, you must 'hide your inadequacy and demonstrate filial piety.' Just act accordingly when the time comes." Overjoyed upon hearing this excellent strategy, Yizhu once again emerged victorious.
Yizhu ascended the throne with his tutor's help, yet proved utterly incapable of governing, thereby accelerating the decline of the Qing Dynasty. As for Yizhu's tutor, Du Shoutian, while he was a hero to Yizhu for using cunning to help the weak and foolish prince reach the throne, he might well be considered a villain to the nation.