Author: Anchee Min
It started off during her teenage years when they are carrying her father's coffin to where he is suppose to be buried, Beijing. Came from a hardcore life and always fantasized on how luxurious the life is in the "Forbidden City". She struggles her way into the Palace through seasons of "Beauty Pageant" contest by getting favour from NOT only the Emperor Xien Feng but also the Grand Empress.
Lifestyles has been changed (was it for the better?), friends are made (can they be trusted?), enemies that can't be felt in within our usual 5 senses. Became the Emperor's favourite and bear him a son which elevates her status as a Concubine.
What became of her during the war and after the war? Did she changed to revive China for the better or did those Fortune Tellers did really predict that the whole China Dynasty will be destroyed by a woman's hand? Who is she really?
She's none other than the Great Empress Dowager Cixi (Tzu Hsi in some version).
Nothing related: Alright, I have to admit that I do not know all about her stories until the day I went for the China Beijing tour back in Dec '05. Her life is like the greatest story ever told during the Qing Dynasty. If this gonna be a movie in Hollywood (with the right actors and crews behind), do you think this is gonna be bigger than "Titanic"? Fingers Cross guys.... Haha
Reading the sequel which is called: "The Last Empress"...reading
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