Such a beautiful and powerful queen mother began to be widowed at the age of 25, and her private life will naturally be treated condescendingly. There are even rumors among the people that she has many lovers, such as Rong Lu, eunuchs An Dehai and Li, a handsome pianist named Zhang and a foreign Englishman named Bacchus.
Cixi did many things that endangered the country and people, and her vision was limited by selfish and greedy factors. However, a queen mother of the Qing Dynasty had to observe such strict royal etiquette and was surrounded by groups of ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs. There is a strict bed waiting system in the palace: when to sleep and when to close the door, how many maids sleep outside on duty and how many maids sleep inside on duty. Every night, the rules made by our ancestors are strictly enforced step by step, and Cixi is no exception.
At dusk, eunuchs are not allowed to enter the palace harem, and offenders are severely punished. This is an ancestral system, even the directors An Dehai and Li of "The Big Man" are no exception. Besides, eunuchs have to go through layers of tests behind them before they are allowed to enter the palace. How can they fall in love with the queen mother in public? This is against common sense. An Dehai, who was killed by Ding Baozhen for three days for violating the ancestral system, was proved to be a eunuch, completely refuting the scandal between him and Cixi. Li is cautious, and his chastity procedures are recorded in detail in the palace. It is even more absurd to say that he was having an affair with Cixi.
As for Rong Lu, as a foreign minister, every time he enters Empress Dowager Cixi, he has strict rules, either to report state affairs or others are present, so the chance of being alone with Empress Dowager Cixi is zero. In addition, Rong Lu was released from Beijing for speaking out against Cixi when he was young. If she were a lover, would Cixi be willing to do so? The theory of lovers between them is false.
It is also said that Cixi likes a handsome pianist in Beijing and hides him in the palace for fun every night. First of all, where is such a big man hiding? Secondly, the palace is full of ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs, and the emperor comes to pay his respects every day. If Cixi's lover is discovered, what kind of scandal will the Qing Dynasty become? What is the face of Cixi? It is said that once Princess Rongshou Gulun, the daughter of Prince Gong, advised Cixi not to wear too bright clothes at the widow's party as soon as possible. Cixi was very happy to change clothes considering etiquette, not to mention the scandal of cheating. This is so immoral and criticized. How dare Cixi risk being locked up?