Instalment 20 (1898)
Scene 1: At the Palace
Yuan Shikai has been summoned to an audience with the emperor. The emperor praises him for the good training he has given the soldiers and promotes him to the post of a higher official of the ministry of war. Moreover, the emperor tells Yuan to “act independently” of Ronglu.
Scene 2: In Yuan’s lodgings in Beijing (in a temple)
While Yuan is discussing the emperor’s words with his friend Xu Shichang, a messenger from court arrives and informs him that Cixi has summoned Yuan for an audience.
Scene 3: At Gangyi’s
Gangyi has had portraits made of Kang Youwei, Yuan Shikai and others for warrants of apprehension, and he has ordered his servants to guard these pictures.
Once Yuan Shikai has arrived at Cixi’s residence, he kneels down trembling out of fear that Cixi might respond badly to the fact that he was summoned only recently to an audience with the emperor. Cixi, who keeps Yuan waiting on purpose, first looks at Yuan through her reading glasses and then inquires what the emperor and he discussed during the audience. She also has Yuan read out a phrase from Zhang Zhidong’s book “Exhortation to Study” (Quanxuepian) and asks him for his opinion on the passage. Drenched in sweat, Yuan answers obligingly that the phrase expresses the entire truth. Cixi is pleased by his “cooperative” manner and tells him to take Zhang Zhidong as a role model.
When Yuan returns from the audience, Xu Shichang asks him if he is feeling very hot since he is drenched in sweat. Yuan replies that he had been terribly afraid. Then he has his friend buy him Zhang Zhidong’s book since Cixi urged him to study it carefully.
Meanwhile, Kang is keeping to his bed. He is ill and cries out for the emperor during his fever attacks. At the same time, the emperor rolls around restlessly in his sleep and finally falls out of his bed. His favourite concubine is shocked and asks him what happened. He replies that he is certain Cixi will not wish to tolerate his presence any longer. But he absolutely wants to meet with Itô Hirobumi.
Cixi is also getting ready to go to the Palace and see Itô. She claims that she wishes to see the man who is responsible for destroying the entire Chinese fleet in 1895. The eunuch Li Lianying is certain that Itô will have red eyebrows and green eyes – just like a “devil”.
One of Kang’s students urges Kang Youwei not to trust Yuan Shikai and compares Yuan to Dong Zhuo of the 2nd century AD who committed treason. But Kang believes that he has no other choice but to trust Yuan since they need to eliminate Cixi. Kang’s brother tries to convince Kang to leave Beijing for he believes the capital is becoming too dangerous. But Kang replies that he will brave all dangers in order to carry out his reforms! (This will be later contradicted by his behaviour). Tan Sitong is deeply moved and promises Kang that he will follow and support him throughout.
Tan Sitong calls on Yuan Shikai in the middle of the night and informs Yuan of their plans. Yuan replies that he will not join in with them since their plan is to commit high treason. But Tan threatens him with a pistol and tells him that he has no choice but to comply and thus aid the emperor. All Yuan is to do is to “merely” assassinate Ronglu and surround the Summer Palace. Yuan tries to convince Tan that the situation is forlorn, but to no avail. Finally, Yuan gives his consent. However, he requests half a month time for preparations. Then he bids Tan goodbye. After this, Yuan Shikai tells his friend and advisor Xu Shichang that he should return to Tianjin alone. Yuan wishes to remain in Beijing for another day since he believes that bad times are looming. At the same time, Ronglu has learned of the plan and has commanded his generals to watch Yuan Shikai’s army closely. Moreover, Ronglu has some troops sent to Beijing as a security measure.
Meanwhile, Kang pays Itô Hirobumi a visit and asks him to aid the emperor in his attempts to push through reforms. But Itô believes that the reforms cannot be successful since Cixi now holds all political power. As Kang is about to leave, Itô points out to him that he is being surveyed and offers Kang a refuge in Japan. Kang thanks him and will take his offer up later.
Liang Qichao and Tan Sitong are searching for Kang Youwei in the early morning hours of the next day. But he is not to be found anywhere. His brother cannot help them either for he also does not know that Kang has fled.
While the emperor and the officials are waiting for Itô Hirobumi, Cixi enters and asks if Itô has already arrived. The emperor, who is despairing at the sight of Cixi’s arrival, does not answer her. Even when she asks the emperor directly whether it “would bother him if she listened” to their conversation, he does not give her an answer. When Itô arrives, the emperor only asks him about trivial matters and fails to ask him to aid him in his reforms attempts out of fear of Cixi’s presence. Thus, the emperor is forced to let Itô depart without any results. Cixi is pleased by this outcome.
One sees Kang Youwei sneaking into the storage space of a ship. (His beard is shaven).
Meanwhile, Yuan Shikai pays Ronglu a visit.
Once Cixi has returned to the Summer Palace, the eunuch Li Lianying complains that she insisted on taking so many things over to the audience with Itô without ever needing them. They then talk about Itô and agree that although he is nothing special, he is at least courteous.
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