The said Concubine Zhen entered the palace when she was thirteen and soon became the Emperor’s favorite. I guess the Emperor’s still-young (according to the modern standard) windowed mother, the Empress Dowager Cixi was not too fond of this fact.
There are so many titillating stories about Cixi. I often wonder whether she was born evil or was forced by circumstances to grow into such a ruthless power-hungry figure.
On our outings to admire the various palaces, I could not help but tell my eldest the horror stories behind the grandeur of Chinese dynasties, including what it means to be an eunuch and what it takes to bind a woman’s feet.
I think I have forever scarred him. “All that glitters is not gold.”
Mission accomplished.
Related posts:
- My first picture taken inside the Forbidden City is a sign that warns against vandalism
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- I finally saw it with my own eyes! Sound machine inside public toilet to mask the embarrassing noise…
- So proud of my boys; they sat through 2-hour Chinese opera last night after a day at the Great Wall & Ming Tombs
- If you think turtles are cute, how about turtles with head of dragon? They are everywhere…
