Princess Jianning (simplified: 建宁公主, traditional: 建寧公主, pinyin: Jiànníng Gōngzhǔ, jyutping: gin3 ning4 gung1 zyu2) was the younger sister of the Kangxi Emperor and one of Wei Xiaobao’s wives in The Deer and the Cauldron. She is known for being the most violent and having a fierce temper among Wei Xiaobao’s wives.
Biography
Political marriage arrangement
Princess Jianning was originally arranged to marry Wu Yingxiong (吴应熊), the son of Wu Sangui (吴三桂), as part of a political arrangement to secure Wu Sangui’s loyalty to the Qing dynasty. This marriage was intended to strengthen the alliance between the Qing court and Wu Sangui’s powerful forces in the southwest.
Wei Xiaobao was tasked with serving as the imperial envoy for this marriage, accompanying Princess Jianning to Yunnan where the marriage was to take place.
Relationship with Wei Xiaobao
However, during the journey to Yunnan, Princess Jianning and Wei Xiaobao begin a secret affair. The two develop a scandalous relationship that cements her place in his household, despite her original marriage arrangement with Wu Yingxiong.
When they arrive in Yunnan, the headstrong princess violently rejects her intended husband, even going so far as to castrate Wu Yingxiong. This act of extreme violence demonstrates her fierce temper and unwillingness to submit to political arrangements that don’t suit her.
Marriage to Wei Xiaobao
After the failed marriage arrangement, Princess Jianning becomes one of Wei Xiaobao’s wives. Their relationship is marked by her violent behavior and unpredictable temper, making her the most dangerous of his wives in some respects.
Princess Jianning and Wei Xiaobao have a daughter together, Wei Shuangshuang (韦双双), their first child, further cementing their relationship despite its unconventional beginning.
Personality
Princess Jianning is characterized by her violent behavior, fierce temper, and unpredictable nature. She is known for being the most violent of Wei Xiaobao’s wives, with a tendency toward extreme actions when she doesn’t get her way.
Her violent nature is demonstrated in her extreme rejection of Wu Yingxiong, where she physically assaults and mutilates him rather than simply refusing the marriage. This behavior reflects both her privileged position as a princess and her unwillingness to be controlled by others.
Significance
Princess Jianning represents the theme of rejecting political marriages and asserting personal agency. Her violent rejection of Wu Yingxiong demonstrates her unwillingness to be used as a political tool, even at the cost of creating diplomatic problems.
Her character also highlights the unconventional nature of Wei Xiaobao’s relationships, showing how his various marriages come from different sources and contexts. As the most violent of his wives, Princess Jianning adds a dangerous element to his household that reflects the chaotic nature of his life.
Princess Jianning’s story illustrates how even those in positions of privilege and power can find themselves constrained by political arrangements, and how violence can be a means of asserting personal agency when other options are limited.