The Boxer Rebellion marks the beginning of the end of Tzu Hsi. In a time of great change and cultural upheaval in China, she is a relic of the past – always resisting change. People call her “The old Budhha” – thus rising her to the position of God. Tzu Hsi learns and grows as a ruler gaining the trust of her subjects. With the demands of countries like France, England and Russia increasing, with the missionaries converting Chinese into Christians, with the number of rebels from within the nation increasing, there is unrest all around. She has to protect herself, her son and the Empire. Her life and her son’s life are in danger. There are rumors that her son is born thru Jung Lu. Yehenola gets the Title of Tzu Hsi (or Cixi, The empress of the eastern palaces) and Sakota gets the title of Tzu An ( or Cian,The empress of the western palaces) After the death of the Emporer, though She and Sakota together rise to the position of Regents, Yehenola is the de facto ruler. She learns to trust no one but only those closest to her. She takes interest in matters of state and the Emporer is soon dependent on her for most decisions. Yehenola reads history, learns affairs of the state, painting and poetry. Jung Lu is a guard at the gates of Forbidden City. Her love is always for her kinsman – Jung Lu, to who she was betrothed. Pity is the only emotion she has for the sickly and weak Emporer.
Thru sheer guile and ambition, she continues to be the favorite of the Emporer. While Sakota gives birth to a girl, Yehonala gives birth to a boy and rises to the position of the “Fortunate Mother”, the mother of the heir. She bribes the enuches and is good to the Dowager Empress (Emporer’s mother).
To be noticed, she makes an effort to stand out. While Sakota is given a the rank of the Emporer’s primary wife because, her elder sister was at a high rank, Orchid (now known as Yehonala) earns a high rank. Orchid and her cousin, Sakota are both picked as expected and go to stay in the Forbidden City – never to return. As was the practice then, a set of young girls are chosen out of who, a wife and some cocubines are picked for the Emporer. She is the daughter of a low-ranking Manchu official of Yehonala clan. The story starts when Tzu Hsi is a child. Tzu Hsi’s claim to fame is that, she was a fierce, efficient, intelligent and a very controversial empress. Imperial Woman is a biographical story of Tzu Hsi (or Cixi), the last empress of China, written by Pearl S Buck.
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