The Romance of Empress Dowager Cixi's Scandalous History [32] (End)

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Chapter Thirty-Two: The Deaths of the Two Empresses, the Regent's Exercise of Power, the Rise of the Party, the Young Emperor's Abdication. Cixi's grand dream seemed to have traversed the six realms of reincarnation, wandering through the eighteen levels of hell. Before a bomb could be detonated, the top of her head shattered, and with a cry of pain, as if possessed by a demon, she desperately clung to the leg
of one man—none other than Li Lianying, who lay on the heated brick bed. Li Lianying, because he was burning opium, was already in a state of half-dream, not quite at ease. Seeing the Empress Dowager suddenly cling to his leg, he cried out, "My mother! My mother! What's happening?
" Cixi's eyes were fixed, her throat gurgling with phlegm, unable to speak. Even the cunning Lianying was terrified, and hurriedly called for two eunuchs, one to rub her chest, the other to pat her back. After a long while, Cixi slowly turned around, tears streaming down her face, and sobbed, "We, mother and daughter, must part ways." Lianying hurriedly asked, "Why does Mother say such ominous words?" Cixi said, "Feel my chest and back, how are they?" Lianying immediately reached out to feel her skin, and indeed it was as hot as burning coals, with beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. She immediately summoned the imperial physician to take her pulse and prescribe medicine. The imperial physician simply clicked his tongue and said, "Your Majesty's pulse is slippery and her breath is weak; the attack is not minor." At this time, Empress Longyu and Princess Changshou had already rushed over, asking all sorts of questions. Cixi was now short of breath and weak, and extremely agitated.
The next day, Prince Qing, Yikuang, rushed into the palace to inquire about her health. Empress Dowager Cixi, just as her mind cleared slightly, summoned her to her bedside and said, "This illness of mine is truly terrifying. How is the situation outside? How many revolutionaries are there? Last night they dropped a bomb here." Yikuang was startled, thinking that the capital was eerily quiet; how could a bomb have been dropped in the palace? He asked, "Where did this thief come from?" Not only were Empress Longyu and Princess Changshou surprised, but even Li Lianying was astonished. They all paused, exchanging bewildered glances. Realizing she had said something inappropriate, Cixi paused to reflect and said, "Indeed, indeed. I was awakened from my sleep by a bomb, and I'm suffering from that bomb's ailment today. I fear that if I close my eyes and straighten my legs, the Qing Dynasty will be blown to smithereens by the revolutionaries. You are the Prime Minister, Na Tong is the Assistant Prime Minister, Yuan Shikai controls the entire army, and most of the ministers are of the Eight Banners ethnicity. Yet, in my opinion, I fear not a single one can be trusted!" Old Qing, upon hearing Cixi's words... Unable to answer, she could only say, "Please, Your Majesty, take care of your health. Don't worry about your illness." Empress Dowager Cixi sighed, "My illness is not good. From today onwards, you must come to the palace morning and evening, for there are important matters to discuss." She then turned to Empress Longyu and asked, "How is the Emperor's illness now?" Empress Longyu wiped her tears and said, "Your Majesty suffers from alternating chills and fever, and an unpredictable cough and wheezing, sighing day and night." Princess Changshou interjected, "Is Consort Jin still serving in the palace?" Empress Longyu nodded. Cixi said, "Does he know I'm ill?
" Empress Longyu said, "His Majesty was very anxious when he heard of Your Majesty's illness, but he regrets that he cannot rise and come to inquire about your well-being." Cixi sighed, then felt the urgency of labor and lay down, becoming increasingly tired. From then on, her condition worsened day by day. The imperial physicians were extremely busy, trying every possible method to examine both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and Emperor Qing also shuttled between the two palaces daily. At this very moment, another important figure was extremely anxious. Who could it be? It was none other than Yuan Shikai, a Grand Councilor. This was a matter of great importance. He was a confidant of Empress Dowager Cixi and an enemy of Emperor Guangxu. If Emperor Guangxu were to die first, with Cixi as his backing, he would naturally enjoy wealth and honor for life. But if Cixi were to pass away first, Emperor Guangxu would seize power, and wouldn't he be instantly in danger, to be killed or tortured at will? He sighed and lamented all day long.
Knowing his father's thoughts, Yuan Keding, the son, wanted to collude with a group of Beiyang warlords to carry out a treacherous scheme. Shikai said, "This matter cannot be acted upon rashly. I have my own ideas. Fortunately, the Qing family is on our side, and they can coordinate with the four factions within the palace. At this time, no one is more anxious than Li Lianying. I am the Emperor's enemy, and Li Lianying is even more so. This scene should at least allow Li Lianying to show his extraordinary abilities. As long as we do this and that, if the matter succeeds, Li Lianying will protect his leader, and we will not be stigmatized." Ladies and gentlemen, this part of the mystery is only based on hearsay, but in fact, Cixi's illness was caused by a combination of wind and cold, and her old age and declining health could not withstand prolonged illness; she would not survive. Emperor Guangxu's illness was caused by depression damaging his liver, leading to tuberculosis. Although he was afflicted, he would not die immediately. Even if both illnesses were fatal, there would inevitably be a difference in their timing. Why did it have to be a matter of one day? There must be a hidden reason. Psychologically speaking, Empress Dowager Ci'an's death was a sudden mishap while eating pastries. Li Lianying must have possessed a large collection of Zhou Daoshi's strange and unusual pills and medicines. If he could secretly poison Ci'an then, why couldn't he poison the Emperor today? Moreover, these poisons are easily added to the medicine. These secret schemes might fool ordinary people, but they couldn't fool us. Yuan Shikai remained calm, while Li Lianying schemed relentlessly.
In mid-September of the 24th year of Guangxu's reign, Cixi's condition suddenly changed. She hurriedly summoned Prince Qing, Yikuang, and asked Li Lianying to convey her imperial edict, instructing her on her final affairs. Prince Qing whispered something to Li Lianying, who simply nodded in understanding, saying, "There's no doubt about this. Go and find Prince Chun, Zaifeng. We'll meet in the Emperor's bedchamber when the lamps are lit." After both sides had done this, Zaifeng entered the palace with Yikuang. The eunuch Xiao Dezhang immediately greeted him, saying that the Emperor had issued an edict and they should hurry. Yikuang and Zaifeng rushed into the imperial bedchamber, only to find the Guangxu Emperor on his deathbed. Empress Longyu emerged weeping, saying, "His Majesty was in good spirits during the day, but after drinking some ginseng soup this afternoon, he suddenly became agitated. We've summoned the imperial physicians, but it's no use.
" Zaifeng, before he could finish, burst into tears. Ladies and gentlemen, Prince Chun Zaifeng was the Guangxu Emperor's brother; how could he not grieve at this moment of fraternal pain? As the entire palace wailed, two crucial words uttered simultaneously. First, Consort Jin wept and said to Zaifeng, "You are the Emperor's younger brother. The Emperor was already ill, but today he has changed so suddenly. My heart is breaking, and I grit my teeth, holding two enemies in my mouth: Li Lianying and Yuan Shikai. I want you to take his place..." Before Consort Jin could finish this crucial sentence, another sentence came: "The Empress Dowager has decreed that Prince Chun, Zaifeng, be summoned to receive the imperial edict." As the saying goes, "Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives." Zaifeng looked up and saw none other than the chief eunuch, Li Lianying. Zaifeng had no time to relay the decree and hurriedly went to Ning Shou Palace to see Empress Dowager Cixi. Cixi was already unable to speak, so Li Lianying produced the handwritten imperial edict, stating that both empresses dowager were critically ill, and that Prince Chun, Zaifeng, was to be summoned. The edict also stated that the succession to the throne had been decided, and that Zaifeng's son, Puyi, would not be changed. Upon receiving the imperial edict, Zaifeng was about to leave the palace when a group of princes, ministers, and key military figures arrived. They gathered together, and Yuan Shikai spoke first, saying: "The nation is currently facing misfortune, with both empresses dowager ascending the throne on the same day. The issue of the heir apparent is already in accordance with the will and will remain unchanged. However, political matters must be decided quickly. In my humble opinion, the practice of regency is not in accordance with international norms, and with a young emperor, the country is in turmoil. This situation is extremely critical. I believe that, following the precedent set by the founding emperor, Emperor Shizu, Prince Rui acted as regent. The proper course of action should be to follow this precedent and appoint Prince Chun as regent, thus making the matter legitimate and justifiable to the world." At that time, everyone from Emperor Qing down wholeheartedly supported this, and even Zaifeng himself was secretly pleased. Think about it, Yuan Shikai was as clever and cunning as could be. He knew that with the passing of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, the will stipulated the investiture of Puyi, Zaifeng's son. How could a father not interfere in state affairs after his son ascended the throne?
Rather than secretly interfering and suffering setbacks, it was better to play the good guy and openly raise this issue. This would both eliminate the abuses of the Empress Dowager's regency and cultivate a good relationship with Zaifeng, preventing him from turning against him immediately. Prince Qing had already understood and said, "The procedures we need to carry out must be handled by a respected and influential minister." Na Tong then interjected, "Currently, the greatest writer is none other than Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Hubei and Hunan." Zaifeng nodded repeatedly and said, "Let's immediately send a telegram to summon Zhang to Beijing. As for the replacement of the Governor-General of Hubei and Hunan, it would be best to send Ruicheng."
The agreement was immediately made, and a telegram was sent to Hubei. Needless to say, Zhang Zhidong naturally rushed to Beijing by express train overnight. At this moment, Zaifeng arrived at his residence, and the other Grand Councilors and ministers withdrew. Zaifeng returned and, upon seeing his wife, quickly recounted the events. His wife said, "Our son has become emperor, and we must rule from behind the curtain. I'm not joking, but our son is still young; if we don't embrace him, someone might cause him further suffering. Aren't you a role model, brother?" Zaifeng smiled and said, "Things are different now. The old method was for the Empress Dowager to rule from behind the curtain; now, I will be regent." His wife smiled and said, "That's quite a new approach. Whose idea was this?" Zaifeng said, "It was Yuan Shikai's idea. We see him as flattering me, but he's actually the emperor's enemy. When the emperor was dying, he still harbored resentment towards two people: Li Lianying and Yuan Shikai."
"Upon hearing this, the Fujin's face darkened, and she said, 'What do you suggest?' Zaifeng replied, 'I would avenge the Emperor and kill those two scoundrels!' The Fujin chuckled twice and said, 'Don't dream! With the Emperor's heavy reliance on Kang Youwei, his collusion with the revolutionaries, and the imprisonment of the Empress Dowager, our Qing Dynasty would have already perished! From the Emperor's perspective, that Yuan is a criminal; from the Empress Dowager's perspective, he is indeed a great contributor to our Manchus. Don't bury the funeral procession.' Ladies and gentlemen, why does the Fujin want to exonerate Shikai? Because Shikai is Ronglu's confidant, and Ronglu is the Fujin's own father. How could a daughter not protect someone trusted by her father? Besides, Zaifeng is somewhat afraid of his wife, and he usually obeys every word she says. Seeing the Fujin's anxiety, Zaifeng said, 'I will not make things difficult for him. I will give him a little fright to vent my anger for my brother.'" "The Princess Consort had nothing more to say. She dressed her son, Puyi, and the couple went into the palace together.
This time, the funeral arrangements for the two empresses were handled entirely by Princess Changshou according to the established rites.
The next day, Zhang Zhidong arrived from Hubei. All the edicts of mourning and celebration, as well as various imperial decrees, were written by the Prime Minister of Nanpi. During the mourning ceremony, all the princes, ministers, and key military officials wore mourning clothes. The Regent Prince Zaifeng looked at Yuan Shikai and said, 'Now that the coffin is being laid to rest, we must have a high-ranking official stay in the palace. Mr. Weiting need not leave. We still have many national funeral rites to attend to day and night.'" "Gentlemen, this Yuan fellow, though known for his cunning and shrewdness, is now ashen-faced. Why? Because of the imperial palace's strict rules; the palace must be closed for twenty-seven days, cutting off all communication. Even without food, he would starve to death.
At this moment, Yuan Shikai felt as if he were being sentenced to death in court, his heart breaking, utterly helpless, unable to escape. He stood there dumbfounded for an hour, while others left after their formalities, he alone dared not move. Prince Qing, Yikuang, and Zhang Zhidong, realizing the gravity of the situation, hurriedly approached the Regent, pleading earnestly for Shikai's life.
The Regent, already influenced by his wife's words, deliberately made things difficult, weeping and saying, 'The late Emperor's dying wish was to eliminate Yuan Shikai and Li Lianying; this must be done.' Prince Qing said, 'Today, the two palaces are not yet buried, the emperor is young and the country is in turmoil. A sudden killing could cause unforeseen events. Please reconsider this matter.'" The Regent sneered, "Since you two have pleaded, let him go back today." Prince Qing, Zhang Zhidong, having gotten his way, immediately ordered Shikai to leave the palace.
Poor Shikai, terrified by the shock, was paralyzed and unable to move. He summoned two eunuchs to help him home, and without lingering, was escorted out of Beijing by his son, Yuan Keding, and returned to Xiangcheng.
Meanwhile, a great upheaval was brewing in the country: the imperial edict of mourning was issued, and the whole nation knew that the two empresses had passed away, and that Prince Chun's son, Puyi, had ascended the throne, with the reign title changed to Xuantong the following year. As you all know, in the late Guangxu era, revolutionaries rose up everywhere. In terms of distant causes, Sun Yat-sen's Triads, Revive China Society, and Gelaohui were the founding fathers, while Kang Youwei's Royalist Society was a continuation of that movement. In terms of immediate causes, Wu Yue, while the five ministers were going abroad, released... A bomb was dropped, and later Xu Xilin executed Enming in Anhui.
Enming had served as the governor of Shanxi for Yu Xian, but was transferred to Anhui after only two years. Xu Xilin, driven by his revolutionary zeal, sacrificed himself to eliminate Enming. The trouble wasn't over yet. That year, the Anhui and Hubei armies held autumn military exercises, held in Taihu County, Anhui. The reviewing minister was Feng Guozhang, one of the three outstanding generals of the army. Feng arrived in Taihu, where Yu Dahong, the commander of the First Division stationed in Anhui, led 50% of his troops to the exercises. Unexpectedly, at this time, the edict of mourning for the passing of the two empresses arrived in Anhui, bringing forth two revolutionary figures, Xiong Chengji and Hong Chengdian. Taking advantage of the national mourning period and the absence of Commander Yu Dahong in Anhui, the two launched a fierce attack on Anqing. In the provincial capital, a great disturbance broke out.
In reality, their disturbance was merely a series of minor skirmishes lasting three days and three nights before dispersing due to a lack of supplies from all four directions. However, the anti-Manchu sentiment had an impact throughout the country. Following this, Wen Shengcai assassinated Fuqi in Guangzhou. There was also a revolutionary giant named Huang Xing. Huang Xing formed the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance), with countless members. Initially, they launched an attack from Vietnam, targeting Zhennanguan in Guangxi, but were unable to succeed due to insufficient supplies. Later, they joined forces with Sun Yat-sen, leading their followers to attack Hekou in Yunnan and occupy the Nanxi area. However, their forces were always outnumbered and their artillery insufficient, ultimately unable to withstand large government troops. These revolutionaries frequently dispersed and regrouped, and it is said that overseas Chinese, including Sun Yat-sen, Bi Songhu, and others... Yang Feihong, Chen Bai, and others secretly funded the operation, otherwise, the army would have collapsed and no one would have been able to recover. In the second year of the Xuantong reign, Huang Xing joined forces with Lin Wen from Fujian, Zhao Sheng from Jiangsu, and Song Yulin from Anhui in a fierce battle in Guangdong. At that time, the Governor of Guangdong was Zhang Mingqi, and the Commander-in-Chief was Li Zhun, a seasoned veteran. The revolutionary army used Lin Wen as their vanguard. Lin Wen, a young and ambitious man, achieved a small victory and then launched a fierce attack, only to be surrounded and killed by the combined firepower of the government troops. After Lin Wen's death, Zhao Sheng and Song Yulin, unwilling to retreat, rushed to his aid and also perished. Only Huang Xing managed to escape to Zhejiang, where he encountered Hong Chengdian, a man who had been dispersed from Anhui. At this time, the revolutionary party had connections in various provinces. The authorities, along the river and coast, conducted thorough investigations, but to no avail. One crackdown led to another. Where Han Chinese held power, the chaos was limited. But once a Manchu was in power, or a Manchu became governor, the explosions were deafening, like meteors streaking across the sky! The two leading figures of the revolution were Huang Xing and Sun Yat-sen. Sun Yat-sen focused on mobilizing overseas Chinese and providing financial support; Huang Xing focused on mobilizing the army in the interior and coordinating communication across six routes. It seemed that most of the southeast was under the revolutionary army's influence, except for the northeast, where the revolutionaries had little presence. Xiong Chengji, after his failed uprising in Anhui, fled with Hong Chengdian and some remaining troops. Lacking funds and food along the way, the deserters gradually... They gradually dispersed. Xiong Chengji and Hong Chengdian changed their clothes and went to Shanghai, where they sought refuge with Chen Qimei, the chief editor of a newspaper. Chen also advocated revolution and promoted the overthrow of the Manchus. They stayed for half a year, and I sent them travel expenses. The plan was that Hong Chengdian would go south, where he happened to meet Huang Xing in Zhejiang, and they joined forces—more on that later; while Xiong Chengji would go north, intending to contact Korea and do some work in the three northeastern provinces. Gentlemen, at this time Korea was completely occupied by Japan. Wouldn't Xiong's trip to mobilize revolutionaries be like walking into a trap? But the revolutionary principle was that as long as it benefited the country, he would go even if it meant facing danger. Besides, Korea, under Japanese oppression, also had radical elements and revolutionaries. I remember the Korean revolution… The leader of the faction was named Ahn Jung-geun, and he had quite a few followers. Xiong Chengji found this avenue and began to discuss their respective political views and aims. Ahn Jung-geun wanted to keep Xiong Chengji in Korea as an assistant; Xiong Chengji wanted to lead Ahn Jung-geun eastward to the mainland to seize territory in Fengtian and Jilin. However, Xiong lacked real power, while Ahn's influence was already established. Just then, Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi arrived in Korea to plan the reform of the conquered nation. Ahn Jung-geun, having discovered Ito's whereabouts, rushed over and dropped a bomb, instantly blowing his head off.
Gentlemen, wasn't Ito Hirobumi Japan's most important figure? Since the Meiji Restoration, he had achieved great victories in battles against China, Taiwan and Ryukyu in the south, and Korea in the north, as well as in the fights against powerful Russia. Which of these events wasn't orchestrated by him? This unique figure, his life lost at the hands of Ahn Jung-geun—isn't that strange? It's a pity Ito was killed, and even Ahn couldn't escape; his entire party scattered like birds and beasts. Xiong Chengji, naturally, couldn't find a foothold. He crossed the border from Korea to the South Manchurian Railway, but was captured by a Chinese detective at the train station and taken to Beijing. Under court questioning, Chengji didn't deny it, claiming to be the leader of the revolutionary party and a loyalist of the anti-Manchu faction. Needless to say, he was beheaded and executed. Originally, when the Qing government heard that Xiong Chengji had been captured, all the Manchu officials were overjoyed, thinking that with the revolutionary leader dead, the rest wouldn't cause trouble. Wasn't that just a pipe dream?
At this juncture, I must add some information about the political situation. With the Regent in power, it's natural that he heavily relies on Manchus. He originally intended to remove Yuan Shikai and severely punish Li Lianying. However, Li Lianying was quite mischievous. On the day that Prince Chun's wife escorted the Xuantong Emperor into the palace, he secretly recorded Cixi's personal savings in a small book and handed it over. He then asked someone to do their utmost to influence the situation before the Prince Chun's wife. The Princess Consort told the messenger, "Tell him to rest assured. His crimes are different from Yuan Shikai's. Yuan Shikai offended the late Emperor, a fact known throughout the country. He merely relied on the Empress Dowager's power to bully the Emperor. Now that the Emperor has passed away, why bother with this grudge? I'll handle this matter; tell him not to worry." Sure enough, the next day she told the Regent. The Regent thought to himself, "One great enemy, Yuan Shikai, has already been forgiven. Why make things difficult for these petty men? Fortunately, he's confined to the palace and won't have any influence." He was happy to do his wife a favor. But enough of this digression. Currently, one of the important figures in the court is still Prince Qing. The two princes, Zai Zhen and Zai Bu, had a close relationship with the Regent. Even when he ran gambling dens, the Regent would often patronize them. Beauties like Yang Cuixi, Su Baobao, and Hong Baobao had all been admired by the Regent. Although they were now separated by vast distances, at government meetings, the Regent represented imperial power. Aside from the formalities, they chatted and laughed like brothers. The Regent, due to his wife's jealous and arrogant nature, had grown tired of fine food and sought out wild delicacies. The two princes, catering to his desires, had already found him a variety of alluring women. Besides the courtesans in Beijing, they had also found a Japanese woman. This Japanese woman, named Noda Juansu, was exceptionally beautiful, and the Regent adored her, spending his leisure time with her. The Princess Consort also received some news, but pretended not to know. You have your pleasures, I have mine. If I interfere with yours, you'll surely become jealous; if you interfere with mine, don't blame me for being a little jealous. We both turn a blind eye, neither bothering the other, and things are peaceful enough. However, the Regent Prince is wasting his useful spirit on youthful beauty. The Qing family father and son, leading the Prince astray, aren't they the main culprits? One of them is Zhang Zhidong. Zhang Zhidong was a literary giant, originally a member of the Qingliu Party. He was promoted from a Beijing official to the Governor-General of Hubei and Hunan. During the Hundred Days' Reform, he initially supported Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, then aligned himself with the Empress Dowager Cixi's faction; during the Boxer Rebellion, however, he resolutely opposed the Boxers. Having served as Governor-General of Hubei and Hunan for many years, he was very enthusiastic about promoting the new policies. Just as the two empresses passed away, Zhang Wenxiang was summoned to the capital as a Grand Secretary. All the procedures for drafting imperial edicts were handled by Nanpi. At that time, he was already over seventy years old. Although his writing was brilliant, his energy was failing. Within two years, he succumbed to illness and died, meeting the King of Hell. As was customary, he was given a posthumous silver and a funeral gift, and posthumously honored with the title Wenxiang. Ladies and gentlemen, Zhang Wenxiang had no connections in the Qing government, but as a Han Chinese, he still held some prestige. Now that this Han Chinese was gone, the capital was practically overrun with Manchu bannermen, living in swarms of people, a chaotic scene of conflict and conflict, with various factions vying for power. What was the situation like? Every household was filled with the sounds of birdsong and smoke. The Eight Great Hutongs were bustling with activity, and several stages resounded day and night with the deafening gongs and drums, and performances never ceasing. The renowned Tan Xinpei was particularly famous, but apart from Yang Xiaolou, there were no other outstanding performers among the newcomers. But wasn't Yang Xiaolou the darling of the Empress Dowager Chundi? On this day, whenever Yang Xiaolou put on a play, a concubine would always be present, dressed in flamboyant attire, known in the capital as the "Number One Noble Lady." This Noble Lady was inseparable from Yang Xiaolou. Having grown tired of playing in the capital, she suddenly decided to travel along the Yangtze River.
This illicit couple, traveling by special train from the Beijing-Tianjin Railway to the Tianjin-Hankou Railway, arrived in Wuchang, rented a spacious mansion, and openly declared it the "Imperial Residence of the Emperor." The officials of Hubei were terrified. If their suspicions were true, the Regent was in power and could not travel arbitrarily. There was no important military or national business, no dealings with outsiders; what business did they have here at such an inopportune time?
If their suspicions were false, in this important trading hub, everyone was watching, and the guards and eunuchs speaking fluent Beijing dialect were not imposters. Having heard the news, they had no choice but to rush to the Governor's Office to meet with Ruicheng. Ruicheng said, "This matter is not difficult to resolve; there must be something fishy going on." He then summoned his guards and, in a large eight-person sedan chair, headed straight for the temporary residence. Ruicheng had met Prince Chun and Consort Chun more than once before. He had made up his mind: if it was true, they would hasten the supply; if it was false, they would arrest them on the spot. In no time, they arrived at the temporary residence of Prince Chun. The guards summoned palace eunuchs, who, recognizing the Governor-General of Hubei and Hunan, quickly led him to an audience. The most distinguished person stood at the entrance of the hall. Ruicheng, seeing the convenient route, quickly curtsied and greeted the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort asked a few questions and then withdrew. Ruicheng then approached a palace eunuch and asked, "Did the Princess Consort travel south alone this time, or did she come with Prince Chun?" Just as Ruicheng asked this, Yang Xiaolou emerged from the back of the hall, glanced at Ruicheng, and then went back inside. The eunuch waited for him to enter, then whispered, "This is our master.
" Ruicheng, without a word, went out of the office and called to two officers and thirty to fifty guards: "Stand nearby. If you see any respectable officials leaving, bind them and send them to the capital!" The officers agreed. Just as Ruicheng returned, Yang Xiaolou, dressed in finery, had already left.
The officers, acting on orders, naturally led their troops forward, seized Yang Xiaolou, and bound him before sending him to the governor's office. Ruicheng questioned him briefly, then handed him over to the higher police department. However, the First Noble Lady, upon hearing this news, actually telegraphed the capital, ordering the Regent to ask Ruicheng to demand Yang Xiaolou's return. Zaifeng had just received the Princess's telegram when Ruicheng's secret telegram arrived. Zaifeng had no choice but to give a vague reply to Ruicheng, ordering him to send someone to properly escort the Princess to the capital, while Yang Xiaolou remained unresponsive. Upon receiving the telegram, Ruicheng naturally complied and respectfully invited the Princess Consort back to Beijing. The Princess Consort insisted that Yang Xiaolou accompany her, leaving Ruicheng with no choice but to telegraph Beijing again for instructions. The Regent, considering the vital importance of the nation, telegraphed Ruicheng again, ordering him to immediately release Yang Xiaolou and bring him to Beijing for further investigation.
Consider this: the phrase "bring him to Beijing for further investigation" was merely a pretext for his removal from power. Yang Xiaolou was immediately released from the police station and continued to live in close proximity to the First Lady, traveling all the way from Hubei to Beijing. The Regent, having met with the Princess Consort, didn't utter a single word, seemingly adhering to a policy of non-interference.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Qing Dynasty's embarrassing history is already filthy beyond recognition. Without revolution, there is no justice; without revolution, there is no law; without revolution, there is no humanity; without revolution, this world, as described by Yan Fu, will become a living hell. The seeds of evil have been sown layer upon layer, creating a vast and turbulent sea of sin, shrouded in darkness, without a single ray of light! The Xuantong Emperor's three years on the throne have been a chaotic mess; can we not blame Empress Wu Zetian for this? Without her as a role model, how could the First Noblewoman have become so alluring? Without her deposing the eldest son and installing a younger one, and destroying the imperial family, how could the country have become so weak, leaving only a regent to represent the monarch? Without her trust in the Manchus, how could anti-Qing sentiments have arisen? Without her stubborn conservatism, how could a republican system have been promoted? Internal demons give rise to external demons; there are past external demons, present external demons, and future external demons. Demons beget demons; internal demons are external demons, and external demons are internal demons. In the end, when demons compete against demons, there should be a mighty god-king to cleanse the demon realm. We novelists are merely indulging in an idealistic fantasy. At this time, the demons retreated and the demons rose again. Along the Yangtze River, the five-colored flag was first changed; Li Yuanhong launched the Wuchang Uprising; Rui Cheng fled in fear; Yin Chang led his troops south; various provinces were liberated; prefectures and counties responded; Sun Yat-sen and Huang Xing occupied key locations; the regent, unable to resolve the situation, asked Yuan Shikai to take over; Feng Guozhang bombarded Wuchang; Tang Shaoyi went to Shanghai to negotiate peace; Sun Yat-sen conceded, and Yuan Shikai became president; Empress Dowager Longyu hastily issued an edict, abdicating with the Xuantong Emperor in her arms; and the North and South were unified. My book is titled "Empress Dowager Cixi's Reign," but it could actually end abruptly with the passing of the two empresses dowager. However, the fall of the Qing dynasty was swift, and the poison of the "female dynasty" still lingers. As is customary for scholars, I like to use empty rhetoric. I also have eight short poems to share: How the demonic power manifests itself, ten thousand Asuras battle the turbid dust; the hen hatching eggs crows at dawn, the emperor is called the Golden Wheel.
A seductive fox spirit enters the palace, enjoying exclusive favor; she steals the imperial seal and halberds. Not a star added to the young man's life, but a concubine sent by Heaven to replace Dangyang. Through
the trials of fire and water, war and strife, the land is ravaged, its gold cast in disgrace. Han officials bow before the palace maids, yet the barbarian's heart remains loyal.
They love neither the real nor the fake; how many know the filth of the palace? Wild foxes revel daily; even the rain and clouds of the gorges are no wonder.
Sable-adorned eunuchs and castrated horses are too powerful; like fire and tea, it's all a dream. Mountains of gold return to the ghost kingdom, watching people cross the sea, their cargo held in hulls.
They discard the old and create the new, returning from the seas to be fashionable; dragons soar and clouds disperse, not seeking to change banners with five colors.
The former king oversees the country, the latter king is the same; the frivolous and arrogant Flying Swallow reigns supreme in the six palaces. A new history of romance and beauty unfolds, a green scarf secretly given to the protagonist.
A woman ruins the land; internal demons and external obstacles are surely not without cause. Stealing moments to study the Buddha's teachings, she seeks to dwell in the heavens, never to regress from the cycle of rebirth.
[The End]

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