The audience, previously, blindly believed history, thinking that what history recorded was the truth.
Little did they know, history is also written by people, and people have their preferences and dislikes.
Even Sima Qian, the Grand Historian, was not exempt. In his "Records of the Grand Historian," he highly praised Xiang Yu, listing a defeated man who lost to Liu Bang in the "Annals of Emperors."
Precisely because of this, readers must be rigorous when perusing official histories; they should believe, but not accept everything unconditionally.
After watching Hua Ruyi's live interview, many viewers, finding his arguments well-reasoned, rushed to consult the "Old Book of Tang" and compare it with the New Book of Tang's descriptions of Empress Wu Zetian.
Upon reading, they were shocked.
As Hua Ruyi had said, the "New Book of Tang" indeed blackened the Empress relentlessly.
Further examination of the compilation time of the "New Book of Tang."
Damn, it was precisely during the reign of Empress Dowager Liu E of the Song Dynasty.
It was evident that the "New Book of Tang" went to such lengths to smear Empress Wu Zetian in order to prevent Liu E from usurping power and becoming a second female emperor.
After this discovery, many netizens still disbelieved and went on to research Cixi.
Their findings were exactly as Hua Ruyi had stated.
Although the old hag Cixi was detestable, she did not persecute Emperor Xianfeng's concubines nor did she engage in a mortal struggle with the so-called rival Consort Li.
On the contrary, Cixi and Consort Li had a particularly good relationship.
Upon Emperor Xianfeng's death, Cixi immediately issued an edict, promoting Consort Li to Imperial Noble Consort, skipping a rank and appointing her to the highest position among all concubines.
If Consort Li and Cixi were indeed rivals, Cixi, after gaining power, would not have promoted her, let alone not have her killed.
Furthermore, Consort Li's daughter was immediately granted the title of Princess Guren, the same treatment as a daughter born to the Empress.
Apart from Princess Heshò Guren, Emperor Qianlong's most beloved, only Consort Li's daughter was initially granted the title of Princess Guren.
Other princesses born to concubines were either married off for political alliances or had their husbands achieve great merits, only then receiving promotions, and their initial titles were all Princess Heshuo.
However, these were not the most shocking revelations.
What made netizens disbelieve even more was that while investigating Cixi, they inadvertently discovered that Empress Dowager Cixi'an, who was honored alongside Cixi, was actually a concubine's daughter.
Who was Cixi'an?
She was the Empress of Emperor Xianfeng, the Empress Dowager for the reigns of Tongzhi and Guangxu, and her status was above Cixi.
It was incredible that the Empress of three dynasties was actually a daughter of a concubine.
The concubine-born Cixi'an became Empress, while the legitimate daughter Cixi, who bore the Emperor's only son, became a Noble Consort.
This historical record had undoubtedly shattered the illusions of countless fanatics of the "legitimate-daughter cult" and the "favored-concubine faction."
Wasn't it said that daughters of concubines were inferior?
Weren't daughters of concubines merely fodder for legitimate daughters?
Why was Empress Dowager Cixi'an a concubine's daughter in history? Had Emperor Xianfeng lost his mind, rejecting a perfectly good legitimate daughter and insisting on appointing a concubine's daughter as Empress?
A concubine's daughter as Empress, were you trying to reach the heavens?
Many viewers thought they had made a mistake and consulted several more history books.
The results were all consistent: Empress Dowager Cixi'an was indeed a concubine's daughter.
A single history book might err, but it was impossible for all of them to be wrong.
Jiang Ling constantly monitored the online discussions. Seeing many adherents of the "main wife cult," "favored concubine faction," and "legitimate-conubine cult" wailing hysterically upon discovering that Empress Dowager Cixi'an was a concubine's daughter, feeling their faith crumble, she couldn't help but want to laugh.
While the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born offspring was indeed clear in ancient times, what mattered even more was "daddy's influence."
The father's official rank directly determined one's status.