The Imperial Woman
In 1852, a Manchurian girl, Orchid, clan name Yehonala, was summoned to be viewed by the Emperor of China. On the twentieth day of the sixth moon, the last Empress of China was chosen. By right, her cousin, Sakota, was the Emperor’s consort, but she gave birth to a girl. Yehonala gave birth to a boy and became the Empress, Tzu Hsi. Once the Son of Heaven dies, Tzu Hsi and the consort, Tzu An, became the Empress Mother and Regent. Since Tzu Hsi was the stronger of the two, it seemed as if she was the only Empress. Her son grew up to be the Emperor of China. All his decisions were still made by his mother, but he died young. Tzu Hsi had to find the next heir before any trouble started. She took her sister and the sixth prince’s son to be raised as the next Emperor. Once the Heir grew up, Tzu Hsi retired to the Summer Palace. Again, she was called back to be the ruler of China since her nephew had made foolish decision. The people of China called her Old Buddha. According the novel, Yehonala was a beautiful woman with a fierce heart. Since she was a virgin, she was called to be viewed by the Dowager Mother and the Son of Heaven. She could not disobey the command. Yehonala wanted to marry her third cousin, Jung Lu, bu
Yehonala started to educate herself so she would be a proper ruler. In many novels, Tzu Hsi was noted as a cruel tigress, but because of her stubbornness to the old traditions and burdens, she tried to make China for her son. By tradition, the Emperor must fulfill his duties to the dead Consort by choosing Sakota to be his new Consort. For some unknown reason, the Emperor fell ill and died. The Dowager Mother had died at the announcement of the girl infant and the pregnancy of Yehonala. Alute had the same ambitions as Tzu Hsi had when she was chosen. Once the little Emperor was in his teens, he became the Emperor of China, but Tzu Hsi still had power behind the throne. Prince Cheng, Prince Yi, and the Grand Councilor plotted to kill Tzu Hsi and the Heir while the son of Heaven was dying. Other than protect herself from power greedy politicians, the Chinese distrusted female rulers, specially the females from Manchu race, so there were many rebels ready to overthrow the dynasty. She expected her son’s first duty was to his mother. According to tradition, Sakota had a duty to protect the Heir like her own child. As the new Emperor grew, he became curious about the “white men”. Foreigners were trying to take over businesses and convert China to a more Western lifestyle. She believed the people were trying to ruin China without her “sister's," Queen Victoria, knowledge.
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