The mystery of the gown

Background to the "gown"
In episode 42, Zhen Huan was conferred the title of a consort. On the day of the ceremony, her gown was destroyed. She had to wear another gown (from the Empress) as a replacement. When Zhen Huan wore the gown to the ceremony, Emperor Yongzheng was mad and grounded her. It was then revealed that this was the very gown that Empress Chun Yuan wore when they met for the first time. But there are many strange things about this incident, which I will talk about.

The "first meeting"
Chun Yuan was the Di sister of Yixiu, then the secondary concubine of Yongzheng, then the fourth prince. When Yixiu was on her eighth month of pregnancy, she was requested that Chun Yuan stay in her residences to care for her. Yongzheng fell in love with Chun Yuan on first sight, and brought her to Emperor Kangxi, insisting that they get married and that she should be the first wife, negating the promise he made to Yixiu that she would be conferred the status of the first wife after she gave birth.

Everything wrong about their first meeting
It is very telling that the gown Chun Yuan wore is befitting of a consort when Zhen Huan thought it was a suitable replacement for her torn ceremonial gown. Chun Yuan, then a noble lady from a refined family, was of a much lower rank than an Emperor's consort. In ancient Chinese society, people of certain ranks must behave according to what is required of them, and wearing clothing that belongs to people of a higher rank is a sign of disrespect. Not only is it taboo for Chun Yuan to wear that gown, but it was also impossible for Chun Yuan to obtain the gown.

Yongzheng would have understood that Chun Yuan went against societal laws. How would he have fallen in love with her on first sight? Even if he fell in love with her, why would he bring her to Emperor Kangxi and risk getting her punished by the emperor? 

Possible explanations
First explanation:
Yongzheng's marriage with Chun Yuan is a political marriage, driven by the need for Yongzheng to secure his chances of being the Emperor and Yongzheng's mother's need to improve the standing of the Ulanala clan. Yongzheng's mother, a consort to Emperor Kangxi, would have the ability to obtain the gown for Chun Yuan to wear. Yongzheng's mother is concerned about improving the status of the Ulanala clan. If Yongzheng has more wives from the Ulanala clan, it will improve the chances of one of them becoming the next Empress Dowager. 

Second explanation:
Empress Chun Yuan's mother was jealous that Yixiu, a Shu daughter of the family, was married to a prince who would likely be the Emperor. Di children normally marry people of higher status than Shu children, so Empress Chun Yuan's mother might have wanted her to marry Yongzheng to improve her societal status. Therefore, Chun Yuan's mother persuaded her to wear the gown and seduce Yongzheng.

Third explanation:
It is highly possible that the author did not think about the plot holes when she added this scene in the story. This scene is here for two reasons:
  • To kickstart Zhenhuan's downfall. After Zhenhuan is grounded, her family was accused of treason and was exiled.
  • To indicate that Emperor Yongzheng did not truly love her, but saw her as Chun Yuan's replacement. When Zhenhuan realised this, she chose to leave the palace.

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