Historical Roots and Literary Imagination: The Real Empress Ulanara
In the realm where history intertwines with fiction, few characters have captured the public imagination quite like Ma'ertai Ruoxi (马尔泰若曦) from the novel "Startling by Each Step" (步步惊心). While the character herself is a creation of the author's imagination, her story draws inspiration from a real historical figure - the only official Empress of the Yongzheng Emperor during China's Qing Dynasty.
The true inspiration behind Ma'ertai Ruoxi was Empress Ulanara, born into the prestigious Ulanara clan. As the daughter of Fei Yanggui, a prominent inner minister of the imperial court, she entered palace life at a young age. Her grace and charm quickly caught the attention of the Kangxi Emperor, who took a liking to the young woman. In a pivotal decision that would shape the course of Qing history, Kangxi arranged for her to marry his fourth son, who would later become the Yongzheng Emperor.
Empress Ulanara's life in many ways parallels the fictional narrative of Ma'ertai Ruoxi. Both entered the Forbidden City as young women, navigating the complex social and political landscape of the imperial court. Both earned the favor of the reigning emperor and became intimately connected to the future Yongzheng Emperor. However, while Ma'ertai Ruoxi's story is one of time travel and star-crossed love, Empress Ulanara's life was firmly rooted in the realities of Qing dynasty politics and tradition.
In the first year of Yongzheng's reign (1723), Ulanara was officially elevated to the position of Empress. Her tenure as the Emperor's consort lasted until the ninth year of his reign (1731) when she passed away at the age of 43. Notably, she did not bear any children to Yongzheng, a fact that adds a layer of poignancy to her historical legacy.
From Palace Intrigue to Popular Culture: The Legacy of Qing Dynasty Consorts
The author of "Startling by Each Step" took considerable creative liberties in crafting Ma'ertai Ruoxi's character. While maintaining some historical touchpoints, such as her entry into the palace and her relationship with the future Yongzheng Emperor, the novel introduces elements of time travel, romantic entanglements with multiple princes, and a reimagined family background.
In the novel, Ma'ertai Ruoxi is portrayed as the daug(ter of a high-ranking military official named Ma'ertai. This fictional lineage creates an interesting historical puzzle, as there are two potential historical figures who could have inspired this character. One is a Qing dynasty official named Ma'ertai who served as the Governor-General of Liangguang from 1738 to 1744. The other is a lesser-known Ma'ertai, the father of a concubine belonging to the Eighth Prince's son. Given the timeline of the novel, the former seems a more likely inspiration, though both connections remain speculative.
The novel expands Ma'ertai Ruoxi's fictional family, giving her an older sister named Ma'ertai Ruolan and a younger sister named Suwargiya Minmin. It also weaves a complex romantic narrative, placing her at the center of a love polygon involving several Qing princes, most notably the Fourth Prince (future Yongzheng Emperor), the Eighth Prince, and the Thirteenth Prince. These relationships, while engaging for readers, are largely products of the author's imagination rather than historical fact.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Ma'ertai Ruoxi's character is how she embodies both historical authenticity and modern sensibilities. Her fictional experiences in the palace - from her role as a tea-serving maid to her interactions with various princes - are grounded in the realities of Qing court life. At the same time, her modern consciousness, a result of her supposed time travel, allows readers to experience this historical setting through a contemporary lens.
The popularity of "Startling by Each Step" and its adaptations into television dramas has brought renewed interest in Qing dynasty history, particularly the lives of imperial consorts. While Ma'ertai Ruoxi's story is largely fictional, it has sparked curiosity about the real women who lived and loved within the walls of the Forbidden City.
Empress Ulanara's actual life, though less dramatically rendered than her fictional counterpart's, was no less significant. As the official Empress to one of China's most controversial emperors, she played a crucial role in court politics and dynastic continuity. Her inability to provide an heir adds a note of historical irony, given the Yongzheng Emperor's later struggles with succession.
The blending of historical fact and fiction in characters like Ma'ertai Ruoxi serves multiple purposes. It entertains and educates, drawing readers into a distant historical period while allowing them to connect emotionally with characters who feel both familiar and exotic. It also highlights the gaps in our historical knowledge, particularly regarding the lives of women in imperial China, whose stories were often overlooked or minimized in official records.
As we unravel the threads connecting the fictional Ma'ertai Ruoxi to the historical Empress Ulanara, we're reminded of the power of storytelling to bring history to life. While it's important to distinguish between historical fact and literary invention, both have their place in shaping our understanding of the past. The enduring fascination with characters like Ma'ertai Ruoxi demonstrates the ongoing relevance of Qing dynasty history to modern audiences and the timeless appeal of stories that blend romance, intrigue, and historical drama.
