Instalment 39 (1907)
Scene 1: In Tianjin
The Imperial Special Emissary, Prince Zaifeng, is investigating the relationship between Zaizhen and the opera singer Yang Cuixi. Yuan Shikai shows him an older newspaper article (which has probably been altered by Yuan). The article’s title is “The beautiful singer, whose face has been disfigured by third-degree burns, is now working as a servant”. Yuan wants to “prove” to Zaifeng that Yang had already quit her opera job and has been working as a “servant”. To take in “servants” is, of course, not objectionable. Zaifeng distrusts Yuan’s “proof”, but he cannot find evidence for the contrary.
Scene 2: At the Summer Palace
Cixi believes that because Prince Zaifeng is still rather young, he should not attempt to take on Yuan Shikai. But she also holds that the Qing Prince has gone too far this time and considers having him dismissed. Qu Hongji is delighted and says that Cixi will thus manage to protect the prince’s face and his integrity until the end of his life! Meanwhile, Li Lianying seems to have something on his mind.
Scene 3: At Wu Yuding’s house
After Qu Hongji has informed his disciple Wu Yuding that Cixi is thinking of having the prince dismissed, Wu decides to write a newspaper article (without previously consulting Qu) entitled: “The Empress Dowager intends to dismiss Yikuan (i.e. the Qing Prince) from office”. Through public pressure, Wu hopes to force Cixi into action. He estimates that she will then indeed have Yikuan dismissed and Qu Hongji would hold all power in his hands.
During a reception given by Cixi in the Summer Palace for the ambassadors’ wives, the wife of the British ambassador asks Cixi about Zaizhen’s (i.e. the son of the Qing Prince’s) dismissal. Cixi replies that he is a very stubborn young man who cannot keep out of mischief. When the ambassador’s wife asks Cixi whether the newspaper article on the planned dismissal of the Qing Prince is accurate as well, Cixi swallows down her anger, guards her countenance and answers that everything that is written in today’s newspaper is wrong, except her own name. After the ladies have departed, Cixi is enraged and scolds Qu Hongji for being indiscreet about the contents of private discussions and giving them away to newspapers.
Li Lianying is waiting for someone in a temple when he suddenly finds the little box that had gone missing (containing his „precious parts“). Then Yang Shiqi appears and Li offers him a lot of money to express his gratitude. But Yang declines the money. He says that he is not interested in gifts. Rather, he is hoping that the relations between Li and Yuan Shikai may be mended again. (Thus, it becomes evident why Yang had wanted to meet Xiao Dezi: he used him to pull Li back on Yuan’s side with the help of a simulated theft.)
Cixi is in an audience with the high court officials. She is talking about the reforms
and contends that some reforms will bring them honour, while others are merely destined to impress foreigners.
The only thing that is really important for the Qing dynasty, she believes, are the empire’s roots, i.e. its people and its finances. Among normal people the most important aspect is filial piety (xiao); among people at Court, the most important aspect is loyalty (zhong). Then she starts to criticise the Qing Prince. Although he is very loyal and Cixi has spoilt him, she holds that he is not permitted to do whatever he wishes. He is both her relative as well as an official of the Qing dynasty. His son has entertained an illegitimate relationship with an opera singer, and the Qing Prince sold official titles for money. Thus, both harmed the reputation of the Qing dynasty. Until now, she contends, the matter of the illegitimate relationship has not been solved yet. But she believes that it is in no way Yuan Shikai’s fault, since he merely tried to support the prince and his son because they are both members of the Imperial family.
Finally, Cixi decides to dismiss solely Zaizhen from office. The Qing Prince, who is also present, breathes a sigh of relief. Then Cixi criticises the censor Zhao Qilin, who is not present. She dislikes that he lauds himself for always stating the truth for she believes that it only depends on how one states the truth. Without any evidence Zhao criticised court officials and this time, even the Qing Prince. Now, Cixi fears that the entire world knows about this and the foreigners think that there are only corrupt members in the government. The Revolutionary Alliance overseas has thus been given even more reason to oppose the Qing government. This has led to Cixi’s own reputation and the reputation of the entire dynasty being befouled. Cixi decides to dismiss the Censor Zhao Qilin and to never appoint him to a position again. Finally, Cixi explains why she judged this case in this way: because she does not wish to harm the empire’s roots.
Owing to the newly „re-established“ connections to Li Lianying, Yuan Shikai has been informed that Cixi scolded Qu Hongji after the reception for the ambassadors’ wives. Yuan holds that he initially believed the imperial family to be his enemy in the reform processes, but that he now sees that his real enemies are the officials Qu Hongji and Cen Chunxuan. Thus, he thinks that the time has now come to take actions against Qu. But Yuan requires more money to buy Li’s further aid. He is therefore on his way to Beijing, to speak to the Qing Prince and gather funds.
While Cixi is enjoying the nice weather in a garden, Li Lianying points her towards a newspaper advertisement for Kang Youwei’s poetry collection. It is entitled: “Kang Youwei has escaped abroad and now shares with us his poems filled with his opinions; In the Forbidden City, Qu Hongji secretely glances at him lovingly”. Cixi consequently sends Li to purchase one of Kang’s volumes.
In the residence of the Qing Prince, the prince and Yuan Shikai are secretly plotting Qu Hongji’s dismissal. The Qing Prince has given his son one million Liang and a book for Li Lianying.
Cixi is reading Kang Youwei’s poetry collection (Nanhai shi gao) – possibly the book which Yuan Shikai and the Qing Prince had given to Li Lianying in the previous scene. She reads one of the poems in which it says: “Kang Youwei praises Qu Hongji and says that he is very impressed: looking up to Qu is as pleasant as taking a bath in spring winds.” Another poem reads: “The past reforms were harder to realise than moving a mountain would be. If Qu is successful in his schemes against Yuan Shikai, then we will soon see an empress covered in blood.” After Cixi has read these passages she decidedly says to herself: this is a rebellion!
Cixi tells the Qing Prince that there have been three loyal and able men at the Qing court in the past. Those men were Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and Ronglu. After their death, Cixi says, she has been looking in vain for an able successor. At all times, she believes, there are loyal men and able men at court; however, it is hard to find a man who possesses both strengths – loyalty and ability. Those who lack ability may acquire it at a later stage, but those who lack loyalty she will not tolerate at court. She continues: the Qing Prince is loyal, but his vice is money. But Qu Hongji’s case is different: He appears to be an honest man, but in reality he has collaborated with the newspapers and fraternised with the foreign (i.e. with Kang Youwei). He uses the censors for this purpose and plans to seize power.
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