Empress Dowager Cixi is a well-known figure for those interested in the history of the Qing Dynasty in China. Many believe that after the death of Emperor Xianfeng, Cixi single-handedly controlled the situation and held all the power. However, at that time, there was still a significant obstacle in her path to power, namely Empress Dowager Ci’an (the wife of Emperor Xianfeng).
Why Did Cixi Enjoy Listening to Peking Opera?
After Emperor Xianfeng’s death, Cixi’s son ascended the throne (Emperor Tongzhi) at a very young age. Cixi and Ci’an became the two empress dowagers tasked with acting as regents for the emperor. Despite her son being the reigning emperor, Cixi had to pay her respects to Ci’an whenever they met.
Cixi was not able to take charge of the government independently. Whenever significant matters arose in the court, she had to present them to Ci’an for review and only after receiving Ci’an’s opinions could she make the final decision.
Even though she held the title of empress dowager, every move Cixi made was closely monitored by Ci’an. During that period, Cixi’s life was quite dull, so she turned to an art form for entertainment – listening to Peking opera.
Empress Dowager Ci’an (left) – the “high mountain” obstructing Cixi’s path to power after Emperor Xianfeng’s death. (Photo: Baidu)
Gradually, Cixi became so enamored with Peking opera that she became famous throughout the palace for this passion. To indulge her interest, she even had a three-story opera stage designed and built at the Summer Palace. Every day, Empress Dowager Cixi listened to opera regularly, even more frequently than her meal times.
Not content with being just a mere audience member, Cixi took great pains to learn about the art form. For instance, she instructed her attendants to note when a particular song should be sung within the entire performance and which actions should be performed.
As a result, when watching the performances, if any singer made a mistake or performed any action incorrectly, they would face punishment from the empress dowager. One night, unlike any other at the Summer Palace, Cixi summoned a Peking opera performer into her chambers.
This performer was a handsome man who entertained Cixi for an entire night. However, the next morning, he was not seen leaving; instead, a corpse was carried out of Cixi’s quarters. What happened?
The royal opera stage of the Qing Dynasty at the Summer Palace. (Photo: Baidu)
The Performer Silenced by Cixi
According to historical records of the Qing Dynasty, that night of listening to Peking opera was one of the days when Cixi claimed to be ill and did not leave her quarters. The next morning, while it was still dawn, Empress Dowager Ci’an unexpectedly visited Cixi’s palace. Due to the surprise, Cixi’s maids and eunuchs did not have time to inform her.
Upon entering Cixi’s bedroom, Ci’an found the door tightly shut, and the curtains drawn closed. However, she could hear faint voices coming from inside, though they were not clear. Immediately, Empress Dowager Ci’an pushed the door open, revealing a chaotic scene: Cixi was lying on the bed, while the performer, dressed in disheveled attire, sat on the floor massaging the empress dowager.
The performer was killed by Cixi to silence him after being discovered by Empress Dowager Ci’an. (Photo: Baidu).
This scene infuriated Empress Dowager Ci’an. In front of Cixi, she revealed a secret edict that Emperor Xianfeng had entrusted to her before his death. The content of the edict stated that if Cixi engaged in any disorderly conduct, her fate would be determined by Ci’an. It turned out that even during his lifetime, Emperor Xianfeng had been wary of the favored concubine.
After hearing this, Cixi turned pale with fear, hurriedly kneeling on the ground, weeping and begging for mercy. Ci’an, known for her gentle nature, was moved by Cixi’s desperate pleas. Before leaving, Empress Dowager Ci’an said: “This time I will spare you, but you must not let anyone else know about this. Otherwise, I won’t be able to help you!”
Immediately after, the performer who served Cixi was killed to silence him, and his body was carried out of the palace. However, after this brush with death, Cixi began to harbor ambitions to usurp Ci’an’s position. The rumors surrounding Cixi’s plot could not be verified.
However, not long after, Empress Dowager Ci’an did indeed pass away in the seventh year of the Guangxu era. (Guangxu: Cixi’s nephew, chosen to succeed Emperor Tongzhi after he died at the age of 19). From this point on, Empress Dowager Cixi officially gained her own “heaven of power,” and her notorious reign in Qing history began.
