[Romantic Anecdotes of the Qing Dynasty Court] [85-86] [Author: Xu Xiaotian]

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

In Chapter 85, the Emperor listens to erotic songs in the Western Garden, and beauties are kidnapped in the Kunning Palace. It is said that Master Weng, having overheard the Emperor's words, knew that the Emperor was inherently kind and honest, but was suppressed by the Empress Dowager's authority above and manipulated by princes and eunuchs below. Feeling sorry for the Emperor, he submitted a memorial stating: "The current situation is difficult, and the palace is in turmoil. Your Majesty must revitalize the government, act decisively, and undertake a grand undertaking to reclaim national power and subdue the petty officials. Now that Japan has raised its military threat, Your Majesty should order a large-scale attack and defeat Japan. Then, Your Majesty will have established authority both inside and outside the court, and the Empress Dowager will be no longer a threat."
Emperor Guangxu believed Master Weng's words and ordered Li Hongzhang to actively prepare for war. Li Hongzhang was very unwilling because the Empress Dowager had used naval funds to build the Summer Palace, but because he could not disobey the Emperor's decree, he had to dispatch troops under Nie Guilin and Zuo Baogui to provide reinforcements. However, Nie's army was defeated, and Zuo's army was killed in battle. Unable to proceed by land, they had to rely on waterways. At that time, the Japanese navy had already entered Incheon, so Li Hongzhang urgently dispatched Admiral Ding Ruchang with the navy to its rescue.
China still had twelve warships at that time, including the Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Jingyuan, Laiyuan, Jingyuan, Zhiyuan, Yangwei, Chaoyong, Pingyuan, Guangjia, and Jiyuan, as well as eight torpedo boats, enough to contend with the Japanese. Seeing the Japanese navy enter the mouth of Incheon, Ding Ruchang wanted to block it and telegraphed Li Hongzhang for instructions. Li Hongzhang, not daring to act on his own, consulted the Governor-General's office. The ministers discussed the matter for a long time and finally decided to "act according to circumstances." Just as Ding Ruchang received the reply and was about to proceed to block the port, the Japanese fleet had already entered the Yalu River. Ding Ruchang ordered the cannons to fire. At this time, the Chinese and Japanese warships were still nine li apart. The cannons fired for a while, and all the shells fell into the sea, without damaging the Japanese warships in the slightest. As the distance between the two sides slowly closed, just as Ding Ruchang was about to order a second shot, the Japanese guerrilla fleet had already rushed towards the rear of the Chinese fleet like lightning, attacking from both sides. The Chinese fleet was surrounded in the center, and after a fierce battle, black smoke obscured the sun and white waves reached the sky. The Chinese fleet was immediately torn apart, unable to support each other. Ding Ruchang sat on his ship and watched from afar. He saw the Japanese warships of the Zhiyuan warship bombarding each other. When the fighting became extremely fierce, he suddenly saw the Zhiyuan warship go full speed ahead and ram straight into the enemy ship. With a deafening roar, the seawater rose up like mountains. Poor Deng Shichang, the captain of the Zhiyuan warship, sank to the bottom of the sea along with the ship. Lin Yongsheng, captain of the Jingyuan, also managed to destroy an enemy ship amidst the raging waves, but he himself was unfortunately hit by an enemy torpedo and his ship sank. The rest of the fleet was surrounded and captured by Japanese warships. Ding Ruchang, aboard the flagship, escaped with his life and sailed out of Lushun, temporarily anchoring at Liugong Island. He then sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang requesting urgent assistance. At this time, the Beiyang Army and Navy had already been deployed elsewhere. Li Hongzhang received the urgent telegram but had no other choice but to forward it to the provinces south of the Yangtze River, requesting reinforcements.
Emperor Meiji of Japan received a series of reports of victories and personally led a large force to garrison in Hiroshima. He also ordered General Yamagata Aritomo to attack the ports of Lushun and Weihai, besieging the remaining Chinese navy in the harbor. The Japanese army advanced with great ferocity. Their marines landed and surged forward from behind the forts, quickly seizing control of all the port's forts. They then used the Chinese forts to attack the Chinese fleet, instantly destroying Chinese warships, breaking masts and hulls, leaving them scattered on the ground. At that time, a gunnery officer on the Zhenyuan warship named Li Yuanhong, witnessing this scene, was filled with grief and indignation. He cried out and jumped into the sea, intending to commit suicide. However, he was seen by the Japanese Flying Eagle warship and was quickly rescued by a small boat. The Japanese soldiers did not harm him but took him to Ding Ruchang's flagship on Liugong Island. From afar, they saw that the flagship was already flying a white flag. Upon inquiring, they learned that Ding Ruchang had written a letter to the Japanese general, begging him to spare the lives of everyone on board, before committing suicide by poison. Meanwhile, the Japanese army was capturing Jiuliancheng, Fenghuangcheng, Gaizhou, Dalian, Xiuyan, Haicheng, and Lushun in successive days. News of these falling cities reached the capital one after another, and Emperor Guangxu urgently summoned Weng Tonghe to the palace for questioning. Weng Tonghe was also at a loss; all the officials and ministers valued their own lives and families, and unanimously advised the emperor to make peace. The Empress Dowager also complained that the emperor shouldn't have listened to Weng Tonghe's advice and so easily started a war with Japan. Now, with the army wounded and the country humiliated, why didn't he quickly make peace with Japan? Waiting until the enemy was at the gates before ceding territory and begging for peace would be too late! Emperor Guangxu, constantly nagged by the Empress Dowager and seeing his own isolated power, had no choice but to send Li Hongzhang as plenipotentiary minister to negotiate peace with Japanese minister Ito Hirobumi.
In this peace negotiation, China relinquished Korea, ceded Taiwan, paid war reparations, and almost lost the entire Northeast. Fortunately, Russia, Germany, and France forced Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to China. Since this negotiation failed, Emperor Guangxu was disheartened and unwilling to consult on important court affairs. He continued to rely on the Empress Dowager to rule from behind the curtain, content to remain in the palace and spend his days indulging in pleasure with Consort Jin and Consort Zhen. These two consorts were indeed both exceptionally beautiful, possessing captivating charm. However, Consort Zhen was more endearing in terms of intelligence and vivacity, while Consort Jin was undeniably gentle and loyal, and Emperor Guangxu doted on her.
It was late spring, and Emperor Guangxu, feeling restless from sitting in the palace all day, issued an edict to visit the Western Garden the next day. This Western Garden, also known as the Western Sea Garden, was several miles in circumference; a stone bridge spanned the water, five or six hundred paces long, with carved railings and winding balustrades made of white stone. Two ornamental columns stand on the east and west sides of the bridge; the one on the east is called Jade Spider, and the one on the west is called Golden Turtle.
A piece of land juts out of the water, called Qionghua Island, which is also dotted with pavilions and towers. A stone bridge connects to Qionghua Island. Two more ornamental columns stand on the north and south sides of the bridge, inscribed with the plaques "Accumulated Greenery" and "Dumped Clouds." Yingtai is to the south of Qionghua Island, and the Five Dragon Pavilion is to the north in the Banana Garden; they stand opposite each other across the water, their layered roofs reaching the sky, their eaves brushing against the clouds; the elms, willows, and ancient locust trees lining the banks are relics from hundreds of years ago. The pond is lush with green water lilies and reeds, and kingfishers and mandarin ducks swim leisurely among the green ripples. Lotus blossoms cluster on the water, resembling a tapestry of brocade. Later generations wrote two poems about the Western Garden: "Red islets and green forests, pavilions and paths layered, at dawn the sky disperses from a thousand peaks.
Ivory masts and brocade curtains hang like soaring phoenixes, water palaces and golden pavements conceal dragons."
A light shade hangs over the railing, still and quiet; before the banquet, verdant green fills the cups with rich aroma.
I feel as if I've descended to heaven, encountering the scenery of a fairy island.
High-pitched music resounds from the south; jeweled canopies and warships
, swords and pendants adorn the scene. Jade-like springs murmur, falling from the clouds; the sound of flutes and pipes echoes on the water.
Thick smoke from locust trees clings to the cliffside, algae shadows intertwine, painting ripples on the water.
We rejoice in this peaceful era, inviting the Emperor's grace; how unlike the banquet of Emperor Wu of Han at Hengfen!
On this day, Emperor Guangxu visited the Western Garden. A banquet was arranged in the palace, and Consorts Jin and Zhen took turns serving wine, drinking heartily. Since being brought into the palace as a child, Emperor Guangxu had for twenty years always followed the Empress Dowager, his life constantly restricted; it was a rare treat to enjoy this freedom. Even the palace maids and eunuchs, seeing the Emperor drinking in the hall, dispersed to play amongst themselves. Some gathered in groups of three or five by the artificial hill, the winding stream, the painted railings, or the flower paths; some admired the flowers; some fished; some sat on the lake rocks chatting and laughing; and some leaned against the railings singing songs. It was as if a thousand flowers were vying for attention, and ten thousand blossoms were competing in beauty. After drinking a few cups of wine, Emperor Guangxu, accompanied by two concubines, descended from the hall; behind him followed a group of palace maids and eunuchs, slowly strolling through several courtyards. The wild flowers assaulted their senses, and the fragrant herbs clung to their clothes. Seeing a sparse fence and flower screen, they followed the winding path and arrived at the Ziguang Pavilion. There, under the apricot trees on the east side of the pink wall, a dozen or so palace women sat cross-legged in the shade of the flowers, eating wine and singing songs, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Just as the eunuchs behind the Emperor were about to step forward and stop him, Emperor Guangxu hurriedly waved his hand, telling them not to make a sound. He then took two concubines and went behind the apricot tree to eavesdrop. A petite palace maid clapped her hands and sang sweetly: "Where is there any spring breeze first trying on thin silk robes! Cotton-padded jackets, cotton skirts, cotton trousers, bloated shoulders. Where is there any late-night whispers and fragrant lip rouge! Raw onions, raw garlic, raw chives, dried meat. Where is there any Lanling wine and tulips! Raising a cup and drinking strong liquor, unbearable! Where is there any cloud-like hair skillfully combed into palace attire! A loose bun two feet high on her head, a wild woman. Where are the mandarin ducks sleeping in the golden tent at night!
Where are the clouds and rain?
On the earthen bed." Emperor Guangxu couldn't help but laugh heartily. The palace maids, startled by the laughter coming from the shade of the tree, quickly looked and saw the Emperor, holding Consort Zhen's hand with his left and Consort Jin's hand with his right, strolling out of the flower bushes with a beaming smile.
The palace maids hurriedly knelt to receive the music, but Emperor Guangxu decreed that they need not be reserved and should sing a few more songs of their choice. Hearing that the Emperor wanted music, the eunuchs fetched a reclining chair and placed it on the grass, inviting His Majesty to sit down. Consort Zhen then instructed the palace maids to bring out a sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument) and a drum to sing; the maids, upon hearing this, acknowledged the decree, and the instruments they had prepared were brought forward by a young eunuch.
Just as they were preparing to perform, the chief eunuch Li Lianying rushed in. Upon seeing Emperor Guangxu, he knelt and said, "Your Majesty, please return to the palace immediately! The Empress Dowager has read an important memorial and is summoning you back to discuss it." Emperor Guangxu, who was afraid of the Empress Dowager, dared not delay upon hearing of her summons. He hurriedly returned to the palace and met with her. The Empress Dowager was in the Hall of Diligent Governance, reviewing memorials in a yellow paper box. Seeing Emperor Guangxu enter, she handed him the memorial. Emperor Guangxu saw it was a memorial from Grand Councilor Ronglu, requesting that the Empress Dowager move her residence to the Summer Palace to hold a birthday celebration. Each time Emperor Guangxu accompanied the Empress Dowager to review memorials, he would put them back in the yellow paper box without saying a word. Prince Dun, however, could no longer contain himself and petitioned the Emperor and Empress Dowager to approve Ronglu's request to hold the birthday celebration in October. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager Cixi shook her head repeatedly, saying, "No, no! Our mighty Qing Dynasty has been defeated by tiny Japan, forced to pay reparations and cede territory. I have lost all face. What mood do I have for strolling in the garden?" The Empress Dowager spoke angrily, her gaze fixed on Emperor Guangxu. Emperor Guangxu knew the Empress Dowager was mocking him, so he lowered his head and dared not utter a sound. Prince Dun, terrified, immediately prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed. Later, the ministers held a meeting and drafted an edict to halt the celebrations. This edict was presented to the two empresses dowager and then issued. The edict stated: "In October of this year, on my sixtieth birthday, the entire nation will rejoice and offer our deepest congratulations. At that time, the Emperor will lead officials from both inside and outside the capital to Longevity Hill for the celebratory ceremony, proceeding from the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace. Along the route, the people will contribute to decorate the scenery and construct altars." Because the grand celebrations held during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong had become an established practice, and given the current prosperity and peace of the people, I could not afford to be overly sentimental. Therefore, I granted the Emperor's request to receive congratulations at the Summer Palace. However, since June, the Japanese have instigated conflict, invading our vassal states; subsequently, they destroyed our ships, forcing us to launch a military campaign. Currently, the conflict continues, and military conscription is frequent; lives on both sides have been lost in the fighting; every time I think of this, my grief is boundless! Previously, out of consideration for the hardships endured by our soldiers on the battlefield, I specially allocated three million taels of silver from the imperial treasury to provide for their needs. Now, with the auspicious occasion approaching, how can I bear to witness such a spectacle and receive congratulations from the imperial court? All celebratory ceremonies shall continue to be held in the palace. The congratulatory reception at the Summer Palace is hereby cancelled. So be it!
I have received Your Majesty's decree, and my heart is truly troubled. I have repeatedly pleaded, but Your Majesty has not granted my request. Respectfully considering the weight of Your Majesty's great virtue, I dare not disobey Your Majesty's will. This is to inform all officials, both within and outside the capital. So be it!
Seeing the Empress Dowager's displeasure, Emperor Guangxu guessed that she was unhappy because the celebrations had been suspended and she couldn't visit the Summer Palace. He tried to appease her, saying, "We have now made peace with Japan, and the situation is peaceful. Although an imperial edict has been issued to suspend the celebrations, I still need to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. On that day, I will still invite her to visit the Summer Palace." Prince Dun chimed in, "It's rare for Your Majesty to be so filial.
On the Empress Dowager's birthday, we servants will all go to the garden to kowtow to her; on that day, Your Majesty should also grant us a day to stroll in the garden." The Empress Dowager, who had been furious, gradually calmed down after Prince Dun's entreaties and nodded slightly. Then, a eunuch came forward to invite the Empress Dowager to take opium, and many palace maids escorted her inside. What was opium? It was opium.
Since the opening of five opium ports at the end of the Daoguang era, and the commencement of trade with foreign countries, the British have been importing opium into China for sale. At that time, many people consumed opium, among whom was a Cantonese man named Lu Zuotu. The opium he produced was exceptionally fragrant and delicious; no one else could replicate his method, no matter how meticulously they studied the process. Firstly, the Lu family possessed a well with exceptionally clean water. When poured into a bowl, the water appeared a vibrant green, like jade. Only opium brewed with this water could achieve such a fragrance; using other water greatly diminished the aroma. Secondly, Lu Zuotu had a secret method for brewing opium, which he didn't even pass on to his own children, only to his wife, Guo. At that time, wealthy families in Guangdong commissioned Guo to brew their opium, charging her two taels of silver per batch. Guo made a considerable fortune; even the opium consumed by the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi was brewed by Guo. The governor-general, enjoying the good food, brewed a vat of tobacco and sent it to the capital as a tribute to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager, after tasting it, praised it highly and named it "Longevity Tonic."
From then on, it became a custom for all governors-general of Guangdong and Guangxi to brew a vat of tobacco every month and send it to the capital as a tribute to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager issued an edict granting Guo a monthly stipend of two hundred taels of silver. Therefore, Guo's fame spread throughout the country, and high-ranking officials in all provinces, both civil and military, who were addicted to tobacco, would ask Guo to brew their tobacco. Speaking of the Empress Dowager's smoking, the pipes used in the palace were all made in Guangzhou, made of bamboo, about the thickness of a child's arm, with a small tube attached as the mouthpiece. The pipe had a stand. When smoking, the pipe was placed on the stand, which could be adjusted in height and distance at will. The eunuchs would kneel on the ground, holding the pipe and smoking it. Inside was a pipe, originally used by Emperor Xianfeng and passed down to the Empress Dowager. Over the years, the bamboo surface had become smooth and reddish, like ruby.
One day, the Empress Dowager returned to the palace and was smoking when suddenly Miss Li entered and whispered a few words in her ear. The Empress Dowager's face immediately turned angry. She threw the pipe to the ground with a loud crash, breaking it and chipping a piece. Li Lianying, standing nearby, quickly picked up the broken pipe and ordered a eunuch to summon a guard to take it to the Fu Ji antique shop outside the front gate for repair. The Empress Dowager, having dropped her pipe, sat up and shouted, "Bring this vixen here! I'll question her myself!" It turned out that Miss Li was Li Lianying's sister. Because Li Lianying had gained the Empress Dowager's favor in the palace, and his clever and obedient sister had told her brother she wanted to go to the palace to play. Li Lianying, relying on his power in the palace, was feared by all. Not only did he bring his sister into the palace, but he also took her to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager loved girls most of all, and most of the palace women serving her were princesses from the imperial clan, or young girls selected from the Plain Yellow, Bordered Yellow, and Plain White Banners. Although there were a few married women among them, they were all very clever, eloquent, or skilled in calligraphy and painting; they spent their days by the Empress Dowager's side, at her beck and call. Married women were allowed to return home every two or three months.
The Empress Dowager saw that Li Lianying's sister was beautiful and clever, so she kept her in the palace as a concubine. At this time, Empress Guangxu was the Empress Dowager's niece. The Emperor disliked the Empress, so he often avoided her notice and spoke with Consort Jin and Consort Zhen. Since Li Lianying often stayed in Consort Zhen's palace, the Empress inevitably became jealous and frequently complained to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager suggested that Li Lianying's sister be placed in the Emperor's palace to gather information and report back to the Empress Dowager. Everyone in the Empress Dowager's palace called her Miss Li. This Miss Li served the Emperor daily, but had changed her name. Neither the Emperor nor Consorts Zhen and Jin knew she was sent by the Empress Dowager, and Miss Li was perfectly positioned to act as his confidante.
One day, Emperor Guangxu took Consorts Zhen and Jin to stroll in the Western Garden. Miss Li had already sent someone to inform the Empress Dowager and the Empress. The Empress then went to the Empress Dowager's palace, weeping and complaining: "At this critical time for the nation, the Emperor is still obsessed with women and neglects state affairs; if he continues down this path of folly, won't he hand over the centuries-old Qing Dynasty to a foolish ruler? I beg Your Majesty to intervene and save my Emperor!" The Empress and Emperor Guangxu had no real affection for each other, but she was extremely jealous of his frequent stays at the palaces of Consorts Jin and Zhen. She had always suppressed her jealousy, fearing accusations of being petty and jealous. Now, seeing the Emperor taking his concubines out of the palace for leisure, she could no longer tolerate it. She seized this opportunity, using the weight of the nation's fate, to whine and complain to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager, having chosen her own niece as Empress for the Emperor, intended to keep him under the Empress's control, thus making him more compliant and able to do as he pleased. Seeing that the Emperor was not bound by the Empress and instead favored Consorts Jin and Zhen, the Empress Dowager was already displeased. Now, seeing the Empress come to complain, she said to her, "Where are the family rules of our Great Qing?" These words reminded the Empress, who hurriedly kowtowed to the Empress Dowager and returned to the palace. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager used the pretext of reviewing memorials to summon the Emperor back to the palace.
Normally, the Empress Dowager wouldn't summon the Emperor to read memorials. Sometimes, when they were together, she would read the memorials and then casually hand them to the Emperor. After reading them, the Emperor would put them away in the yellow paper box containing the memorials, saying nothing, leaving it entirely to the Empress Dowager's discretion and approval. Now, when Emperor Guangxu heard that the Empress Dowager had summoned him to read the memorials, he already sensed something was amiss. When he met the Empress Dowager, she indeed had a furious expression, and in her words, she subtly implied that the Emperor shouldn't have gone to the garden alone for pleasure.
The Emperor, feeling slighted, dared not speak. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Consorts Zhen and Jin were summoned to the Kunning Palace by the Empress Dowager, who, following the Empress Dowager's orders, brought out the family rules and severely beat the two consorts, saying they shouldn't have bewitched their master. Consort Zhen was exceptionally beautiful, and the Empress especially disliked her, ordering the palace maids to beat her even more severely. Poor Consort Zhen, with her delicate body, could not withstand such a brutal beating. She was soon covered in blood and gore, like a pear blossom battered by rain. When Emperor Guangxu rushed into the palace to see her, he found Consort Zhen pale and weak from the beating, only able to sob softly upon seeing him. The Emperor, enraged, gritted his teeth and said, "You heartless old woman!
One day, I'll make you die by my hand!" He stroked Consort Zhen's wounds, offering words of comfort, and immediately ordered the imperial physician to administer medicine. He then turned and went to the Imperial Study, summoning the head eunuch and instructing him to quickly summon Master Weng. To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.
Chapter Eighty-Six: Master Weng Advises on Taking Power, Recommends a Talented Individual, and Consort Zhen is Banished. It is said that Emperor Guangxu ordered the head eunuch to summon Master Weng. A short while later, Weng Tonghe hurriedly entered the Imperial Study with the head eunuch. After the formalities, he was offered a seat. Emperor Guangxu said indignantly, "I have the title of the supreme ruler, yet I cannot even protect a single concubine. Isn't that shameful?" He then recounted how Consorts Jin and Zhen had severely beaten the Empress. Upon hearing this, Weng Tonghe seized the opportunity to speak, "Your Majesty, I have long said that Your Majesty's power has been usurped and must be recovered. Then you must act independently, addressing each issue one by one. In the future, when you hold absolute power, not only the Empress and princes, but even the Empress Dowager will have to fear you."
Emperor Guangxu nodded and said, "Master's words are indeed a fundamental solution. I've considered taking back power countless times, but with the Empress Dowager and the princes there, how can I proceed? I can't think of a plan that satisfies both sides." Weng Tonghe pondered for a moment and then said, "There is a method here, but I wonder if Your Majesty has the courage to implement it?" Emperor Guangxu replied, "Anything that benefits me is acceptable. Even if I do it, the Empress Dowager and the princes won't necessarily do anything to me." Weng Tonghe said, "In that case, Your Majesty could take advantage of the Empress Dowager's leisurely enjoyment at the Summer Palace and, for the memorials from high-ranking officials, select those that can be answered independently; only discuss those that are more important with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager will then be enjoying herself to the fullest, and seeing Your Majesty doing so, she will be happy to remain at ease." "Absolutely no doubt whatsoever. Because the Empress Dowager knows His Majesty to be loyal and sincere, and understands he has no intention of seizing power, she wouldn't have considered this. If things continue like this day after day, even in urgent matters, there will be no need to consult with the Empress Dowager. Hasn't this power been returned to him unknowingly? Then, the power of several former princes and ministers can be stripped away; the old, flawed systems can be greatly reformed. The nation will prosper daily, the world will be well-governed, and praise will be bestowed upon both domestic and foreign lands, all saying His Majesty is a wise ruler. At that point, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to interfere in politics, she would know she was no match for her, so what would there be to fear?" Emperor Guangxu, upon hearing Weng Tonghe's words, became pleased and said, "My advisor's advice is certainly excellent. However, among all the officials in the court, besides my advisor, only Li Hongzhang is truly loyal to me, but I fear he is unwilling to take this risk. Others, like Liu Kunyi..." "And since they are all officials from outside the capital, it is inconvenient to transfer them in the capital for the time being. But I have no one around me, and they are all from my mother's faction; even the eunuchs and servants often spy on my movements. With so many obstacles everywhere, even if I have three or five trusted ministers, it will certainly be very difficult to get things done." Weng Tonghe hurriedly reported: "Speaking of talent, there is no shortage of people. Our dynasty has several outstanding individuals. It is a pity that a group of princes have abused their power and buried them. It is truly lamentable!" Emperor Guangxu said: "Now that things are urgent, if you have any capable people, please recommend them, and I will immediately promote and give them important positions." Weng Tonghe reported: "When I was the chief examiner of the provincial examination, I selected a person with exceptional talent from among many candidates and made him the seventh-ranked Jinshi. He is currently a principal of the Ministry of Works. Because his position is very low, he cannot reach the emperor's ears, and the several memorials he submitted were withheld by the ministers." "Keep it under wraps. This man's surname is Kang, given name Youwei, style name Changsu, and he is from Nanhai County, Guangdong. He is regarded as a sage in the South; even he himself is quite self-important. He also has a disciple named Liang Qichao, who is extremely learned; moreover, his opinions are insightful about world affairs. If Your Majesty wishes to reform the government and is determined to carry out reforms, these two are indispensable." Upon hearing this, Emperor Guangxu said with delight, "Master, since you have such capable men, why didn't you say so earlier? If I had known, I would have promoted him long ago." Weng Tonghe replied, "If Your Majesty is determined to reform, it is not too late; you can start slowly. But you must not be too sharp, lest you arouse the Empress Dowager's suspicion, which would be a burden." Emperor Guangxu nodded repeatedly, saying, "Master is right; I will proceed with caution." After saying this, he dismissed Weng Tonghe and returned to the inner palace. Leaving aside the discussions between Emperor Guangxu and his ministers in the Imperial Study, let's focus on the day the Empress Dowager Cixi issued the edict to halt the celebrations. She was deeply displeased, but fortunately, Prince Dun, being perceptive, quickly interjected, "On the day of the Emperor's birthday, Your Majesty will still go to the Summer Palace. We servants will also kowtow on your behalf, hoping for a cup of longevity wine." These words gradually calmed the Empress Dowager's anger, and she only nodded slightly. Then, surrounded by palace maids, she was led to the inner palace to obtain opium. The Empress Dowager was smoking opium on her couch when suddenly Miss Li entered and whispered a few words in her ear. The Empress Dowager immediately flew into a rage, shouting, "Bring those two vixens here! I'll question them myself!" Li Lianying, understanding the situation, quickly went out to summon Consorts Jin and Zhen to see the Empress Dowager. A moment later, Consorts Jin and Zhen entered with the eunuch. They trembled as they performed their greetings and stood aside.
Upon seeing the two women, the Empress Dowager was already furious. She shouted, "What have you two vixens done! You've bewitched the Emperor and now you dare to interfere in state affairs! Has our dynasty lost its family rules? How dare these concubines be so presumptuous!" With that, she ordered the family rules to be brought to her. At this moment, Emperor Guangxu, hearing that Consorts Jin and Zhen had been summoned by the Empress Dowager, feared something bad might happen and hurriedly arrived. The Empress Dowager was about to order the two consorts to be beaten. Poor Consort Zhen, whose wounds from the Empress's beating had not yet healed, wept bitterly, her face streaked with tears. Upon seeing this, Emperor Guangxu, without even performing the proper etiquette, hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, what is the matter that you have punished these two? Please explain clearly before imposing further punishment." The Empress Dowager Cixi angrily replied, "These two are so audacious because you have spoiled them. Ask them if they have had affairs with foreign officials, and what Wen Tingshi's address to them, and you will understand.
" Consort Zhen, upon hearing this, quickly kowtowed and said, "Wen Tingshi is indeed my teacher, but I haven't seen him for many years." The Empress Dowager Cixi sneered, "Many years have passed, yet you have helped him sell official positions; if you saw him every day, who knows what kind of trouble you would cause?" With that, she ordered the punishment to be carried out. Emperor Guangxu hurriedly pleaded, "Your Majesty, please be wise! They have had affairs with foreign officials; there is absolutely no such thing. Please forgive them." The Empress Dowager Cixi angrily said, "Are you still covering for them? Today, they must be punished." Emperor Guangxu, hearing this, could only continue to plead. Li Lianying also pleaded incessantly, but the Empress Dowager Cixi simply frowned and said, "Since you both plead like this, the punishment will be waived, but demotion is absolutely unacceptable." She then ordered them both demoted to the rank of Noble Lady and imprisoned for six months; anyone who dared to plead for them would be punished according to family law.
As soon as this edict was issued, several eunuchs came and escorted Consorts Jin and Zhen to their confinement.
Emperor Guangxu, seeing that things had gone awry and that pleading was futile, could only retreat with tears in his eyes. However, he still couldn't understand why the two consorts had been imprisoned. Returning to the palace, he was preoccupied with these thoughts. Because Consorts Jin and Zhen were imprisoned, he felt extremely lonely and bored, and began to sigh and weep. Just then, the eunuch Kou Liancai was attending to the Emperor. Seeing the Emperor's gloomy mood, he came over to comfort him. Emperor Guangxu sighed and recounted the imprisonment of the two concubines, then said bitterly, "I don't know what crime they committed to deserve such mistreatment!" He stamped his feet repeatedly as he spoke. Kou Liancai, upon hearing this, knelt and reported, "This must be another of Li Lianying's tricks. Does Your Majesty remember the audience with that candidate for the position of Daoist, Xu Cheng, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation? Xu Cheng is Li Lianying's sworn brother. Your Majesty made him look foolish on the spot, so naturally Li Lianying will hold a grudge and take revenge." Upon hearing Kou Liancai's words, Emperor Guangxu suddenly understood. From then on, the Emperor's desire to reclaim power grew even stronger.
However, why did the Emperor's audience with officials appointed outside the capital involve Consorts Jinzhen and Consort Zhang?
The story has a complex cause and effect. Originally, Wen Tingshi was a Hanlin scholar. Among the Qing court officials, the Hanlin Academy was considered the poorest. Without political maneuvering for a promotion outside the academy, one was like an old rooster in a temple, never to rise again. Even with the means to do so, one needed to be shrewd; otherwise, even after being promoted, one still wouldn't get a good position and would remain impoverished. Therefore, it was better to stay hidden in the Hanlin Academy. Once promoted outside the academy, one had to bear responsibility; one wrong move and one's head would be lost. As a Hanlin scholar, as long as one was obedient and kept to oneself, there was little risk. However, one only earned a fixed salary and would never rise to prominence, hence the nickname "poor Hanlin scholar." But as the saying goes, "To get rich, become an official." If becoming an official still meant such hardship, who could endure it? Enough of this digression, let's get back to the main point. Although Wen Tingshi was a Hanlin scholar, he did indeed have a teacher-student relationship with Consorts Jinzhen and Consort Zhang. Therefore, relying on his female disciple's status as a concubine, he inevitably took advantage of her position to engage in scheming for official titles. People, out of respect for the concubine, turned a blind eye.
As a result, Wen Tingshi's audacity grew day by day. This time, as fate would have it, a vacancy opened up in Shaanxi for a very lucrative post, attracting many to try and secure it. A Daoist official surnamed Li was willing to offer 600,000 taels of silver to Wen Tingshi through intermediaries, hoping to become the Daoist official. Wen Tingshi agreed and went to the Ministry of Personnel to pull strings, only to find that the position had already been filled. Wen Tingshi was furious, almost losing his mind. How could he not be angry when he saw that the 600,000 taels of silver would not be in his pocket? Upon further inquiry, it was learned that the newly appointed circuit intendant was a purchased official, a sworn brother of Li Lianying, named Xu Cheng. He had previously worked as a warehouse clerk, but later became wealthy and opened a bamboo and wood shop in the mill outside Qianmen, which flourished, amassing three to four million taels of silver.
With his newfound wealth, Xu Cheng desired an official position, so he sent one million taels to Li Lianying as a tribute and had his son become Li Lianying's sworn brother. Li Lianying, seeing his abundance of money, was happy to befriend him, and before long, they were sworn brothers. Li Lianying then helped Xu Cheng purchase a circuit intendant title, promising him a place whenever a vacancy arose. At this time, a vacancy for the Shaanxi circuit intendant opened, and Li Lianying hurriedly instructed the Ministry of Personnel to fill it for Xu Cheng. However,
fate had other plans; Wen Tingshi was also seeking the same position, and now Li Lianying had snatched it away. How could Wen Tingshi accept this? He frowned, a plan forming in his mind. He thought to himself, "That Li Lianying is no match for me in terms of power; and that bastard Xu is still in my hands. I'll make sure he can't become the Daotai (a high-ranking official) before I can vent my anger." Having made up his mind, he inquired further and learned that Xu Cheng was not only from a humble background but also practically illiterate. Wen Tingshi, upon hearing this, was overjoyed and said, "Then we can deal with him!" He then secretly instructed a eunuch to inform Consort Zhen of this situation, asking her to speak to the Emperor on his behalf.
Consort Zhen, seeing that it concerned her tutor, couldn't refuse, and even more so, she hadn't expected it to escalate into imprisonment. Therefore, taking advantage of Emperor Dezong's visit, she casually brought up foreign affairs, asking, "Are there any vacancies for provincial officials?" Emperor Guangxu replied, "I haven't heard of any." Consort Zhen then asked, "I've heard of a newly appointed Circuit Intendant of Shaanxi, who is Li Lianying's sworn brother. I've heard he's illiterate; how can he be appointed Circuit Intendant?" Emperor Guangxu hated Li Lianying more than anything else in his life. Hearing Consort Zhen's words, without pressing her to reveal the source of this information, he flew into a rage, saying, "Li Lianying's power is growing day by day, while our national affairs are declining day by day. Leaving aside everything else, just look at those censors and vice-ministers; they're all illiterate. During the war with Japan, Censor Tieling submitted a memorial requesting the appointment of Tan Daoji to fight the Japanese, and Vice-Minister Wang Yonghua requested the restoration of Huang Tianba's original rank. I only knew that Tan Daoji was a person from the Song Dynasty, but I didn't know who Huang Tianba was. I summoned both of them and only then did I learn..." The two of them overheard a storyteller in the marketplace talking about how Tan Daoji was capable of leading troops and how Huang Tianba was a martial arts master in Shi Gong's novels. They investigated and found no record of Tan or Huang in the court, suspecting they were retired officials, so they submitted a memorial recommending them.
Isn't that laughable? Especially since our Manchu officials often make such blunders; I ultimately destroyed the memorial to avoid being laughed at by the Han officials and to prevent them from looking down on us Manchus.
But all these absurd and incompetent people were recommended by Li Lianying. "I will thoroughly eliminate such people when I rectify the government in the future. Now, according to you, the newly appointed Circuit Intendant is another figure like Wang Yonghua, the Iron-willed Magistrate; if such corrupt officials are appointed, won't they cause trouble? Aren't they just harming the people? But I don't know his name." Consort Zhen replied from the side, "I heard that the Circuit Intendant is named Xu Cheng." Emperor Guangxu nodded and said, "I understand. He will not escape my grasp; when he is introduced, I will settle accounts with him slowly." As he spoke, he chatted with Consorts Zhen and Jin for a while.
Nothing more was said that day. The next day, since the Ministry of Personnel had appointed Xu Cheng as Circuit Intendant, it was natural for him to be introduced to the Emperor. Xu Cheng was then waiting in the side hall, wearing his court robes and beaded with court beads. Li Lianying even came out personally to teach Xu Cheng the etiquette for meeting the Emperor and the appropriate words to use, which Xu Cheng memorized. Before long, the eunuch delivered the imperial edict, ordering Xu Cheng, the Circuit Intendant of Shaanxi, to come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to meet the Emperor. Xu Cheng received the imperial decree and staggered into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
He saw eunuchs lined up neatly in the hall, the beaded curtains rolled high, and he could vaguely make out a person in yellow robes, but they were too far away to see clearly. He guessed it was the Emperor. Xu Cheng panicked; his legs trembled uncontrollably. Helpless, he had no choice but to steel himself and go forward to pay his respects. He barely managed to perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows, prostrating himself on the ground to listen to the Emperor's words of encouragement before thanking him and leaving. This was the established custom, and Li Lianying had instructed Xu Cheng beforehand, so he was quite calm, preparing to go out and receive congratulations from his colleagues. Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly heard someone ask, "Are you Xu Cheng?" Xu Cheng was startled by the question, thinking that Li Lianying hadn't taught him any other mannerisms. What if he asked something else? He was anxious, but could only manage a simple "yes." But then he heard the emperor ask again, "Xu Cheng, what was your profession before?" Xu Cheng panicked even more and couldn't answer. After stammering for a long time, he finally replied, "This servant was in the timber business." Emperor Guangxu shouted, "Since you are a timber merchant, why don't you become your manager and instead seek an official position?" Xu Cheng was extremely flustered and could only reply, "To be honest, Your Majesty, the prospects of doing business are nowhere near as good as being an official, so this servant seeks an official position."
Emperor Guangxu roared, "Do you know how much success an official can achieve?" Xu Cheng kowtowed on the ground and said, "This servant doesn't care about much; as long as I have 300,000 taels of silver in savings, this servant will be content." Emperor Guangxu scolded, "Do you know how much salary a prefect receives?" Xu Cheng trembled and replied, "This servant has heard that officials who rely on their salaries will starve to death; when that happens, the people will offer them their respects." At this point, a eunuch threw down a piece of paper and a pen, saying, "His Majesty wants you to write down your resume." Upon hearing this, Xu Cheng was terrified, yet he couldn't refuse to write; trembling, he lay prostrate on the ground, clutching a withered bamboo tube as if it were a thousand-pound weight, which he could no longer lift. The eunuch urged him on repeatedly, and poor Xu Cheng, sweating profusely like soybeans, struggled for a long time, managing only to write half a character "Xu," crooked and illegible. The eunuch presented this half-written character, and Emperor Guangxu coldly sneered, "You can't even write your own resume properly, yet you want to become an official and make money. Even if you get the position, won't you just be a corrupt official who harms the people? Get out of here!" With this edict, the eunuch removed Xu Cheng's official hat and shouted, "Get out of here!" Xu Cheng, relieved, stood up, took a few steps back, and fled in a panic. The eunuchs who were with Li Lianying's faction came to inquire, and Xu Cheng said dejectedly, "I've been tricked by Chief Eunuch Li. I'm lucky to have my head!" The eunuchs hurriedly asked what had happened, and Xu Cheng recounted the entire introduction, then staggered back home. Here, Xu Cheng's affair is treated as a laughing stock for those obsessed with officialdom.
But when the news reached Li Lianying's ears, he was quite surprised. Normally, when the Emperor met with officials from outside the capital, experienced officials would inquire about customs and traditions; as for newly appointed officials, aside from words of admonition, there were no other formalities. Now, however, Xu Cheng's audience required a test of his talent and learning—it was obvious there was an insider interfering. So, he went to the Ministry of Personnel that very night to inquire and learned that Xu Cheng's name had been changed to Xu, and the replacement was now surnamed Li; the person who had pulled the strings was Wen Tingshi.
Upon hearing this, Li Lianying understood most of the situation. He gritted his teeth and said, "Isn't that Wen Tingshi the tutor of Consorts Jinzhen and Consort Zhang? He took advantage of his female disciple's status as a concubine to pull strings and snatch the steamed bun from my hand; that's one thing. But he shouldn't have instigated the Emperor to make things difficult for Xu Cheng in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, embarrassing him on the spot. It's as if I've lost face. This injustice must be avenged!" So Li Lianying consulted with his sister, who fabricated a lie to report to the Empress Dowager Cixi, saying that Consorts Jinzhen and Consort Zhang had interfered in foreign affairs because their tutor, Wen Tingshi, had strongly advocated war with Japan, and that the two consorts had intervened on their behalf. They had then worked day and night to persuade the Emperor, swaying his mind and leading Li Hongzhang to fight, ultimately resulting in defeat and national humiliation. Wasn't that all due to the fault of Consorts Jinzhen and Consort Zhang?
Under her brother's instructions, Li Da Niang went to see the Empress Dowager the next day. The Empress Dowager was smoking opium on her couch when Li Da Niang whispered the whole story in her ear. How could the Empress Dowager not be furious? She immediately jumped up, threw her opium pipe, breaking it in the process; she shouted for the arrest of those two vixens. Poor Consorts Jin and Zhen suffered such a great injustice, something they could never have imagined! Although the Emperor pleaded for them, they were ultimately imprisoned. Li Lianying's methods were indeed ruthless. But after Consorts Jin and Zhen were imprisoned, the Emperor felt lonely and bored, and whenever he had nothing to do, he would stomp his feet in hatred towards Li Lianying. One day, Emperor Dezong was discussing the matter of Consorts Jin and Zhen with Kou Liancai when a young eunuch suddenly stumbled in, trying to speak but unable to catch his breath and utter a single word. Seeing this, Emperor Dezong knew something terrible must have happened and was greatly alarmed. To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next installment.

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[Romantic Anecdotes of the Qing Dynasty Court] [85-86] [Author: Xu Xiaotian]

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