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Thread: Empress dowager cixi

  1. #181
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    Chapter 28

    Seventeen was the age already mature for sex, but the emperor could not have sex with the queen, whom he loved, for fear that the queen would be blamed by his mother. And he didn't want to have sex with the royal concubine whom he disliked because his mother had forced her on him. He could not go to the other two concubines if he didn't go to the royal concubine.
    His sex life was in crisis. As the emperor gradually knew something about the life of ordinary people outside the Forbidden City, how interesting it was, he wanted to witness it, to have a taste of that life and to see things in the outside world. For diversion, He began to sneak out of the Forbidden City in disguise and wandered in the streets. He had meals in some restaurants famous for some special dishes and visited some bazaars. Once he met a bad courtier, who was singing a few pieces from some well-known operas. It was customary that courtiers or even princes liked to sing or even hum some tunes from the operas. Some courtiers even acted some scenes from operas as amateurs just for the enjoyment of it. The emperor liked to listen to the operas, too. When he listened to the bad courtier, he liked his singing. So a few days later, he promoted the bad courtier to a higher position so that the emperor could see more of him. The bad courtier secretly brought to the emperor some adult books and pictures of naked bodies, which only served to inspire his sexual desire. Life in the Forbidden City was really tedious. The most exciting entertainment was to watch operas, but even the emperor couldn't watch operas everyday. Once or twice he even spent some time in whorehouses to satisfy his need as a man. He could not go to some expensive whorehouses because he was afraid to be recognized by some courtiers, who were the regular patrons there. He could only go where no one would know him, where only workers or poor people frequented. But all these activities of the emperor were known to Ronglu, who was then in charge of the enforcement of law and order in the capital and had his men in plain clothes all over Peking to gather all kinds of information for him. But he didn't tell anyone about the emperor's behavior, only ordered his men to protect the emperor without letting anyone know it.

  2. #182
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    Chapter 28

    Seventeen was the age already mature for sex, but the emperor could not have sex with the queen, whom he loved, for fear that the queen would be blamed by his mother. And he didn't want to have sex with the royal concubine whom he disliked because his mother had forced her on him. He could not go to the other two concubines if he didn't go to the royal concubine.
    His sex life was in crisis. As the emperor gradually knew something about the life of ordinary people outside the Forbidden City, how interesting it was, he wanted to witness it, to have a taste of that life and to see things in the outside world. For diversion, He began to sneak out of the Forbidden City in disguise and wandered in the streets. He had meals in some restaurants famous for some special dishes and visited some bazaars. Once he met a bad courtier, who was singing a few pieces from some well-known operas. It was customary that courtiers or even princes liked to sing or even hum some tunes from the operas. Some courtiers even acted some scenes from operas as amateurs just for the enjoyment of it. The emperor liked to listen to the operas, too. When he listened to the bad courtier, he liked his singing. So a few days later, he promoted the bad courtier to a higher position so that the emperor could see more of him. The bad courtier secretly brought to the emperor some adult books and pictures of naked bodies, which only served to inspire his sexual desire. Life in the Forbidden City was really tedious. The most exciting entertainment was to watch operas, but even the emperor couldn't watch operas everyday. Once or twice he even spent some time in whorehouses to satisfy his need as a man. He could not go to some expensive whorehouses because he was afraid to be recognized by some courtiers, who were the regular patrons there. He could only go where no one would know him, where only workers or poor people frequented. But all these activities of the emperor were known to Ronglu, who was then in charge of the enforcement of law and order in the capital and had his men in plain clothes all over Peking to gather all kinds of information for him. But he didn't tell anyone about the emperor's behavior, only ordered his men to protect the emperor without letting anyone know it.

  3. #183
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    But the furtive trips of the emperor outside the Forbidden City became so frequent that he neglected his studies. He often stopped attending the classes without any reason, just notifying the tutors, “No classes today.” Usually it should be the tutors that gave the no classes notice, not the other way round. But it was the way with the emperor. What could the tutors say? When the secretaries came to know it, they discussed the situation. It was serious for many reasons, besides the reason for safety. Yixin was the sixth uncle of the emperor. Yihuan was the seventh uncle. And some old courtiers who had seen the young emperor grow up. They handed in a report to admonish the emperor, adding at the end that they hoped that the emperor would receive them and they had more important things to report in person. The emperor got the wind of it already. He didn't want to hear any more of their expostulation. He didn't even read their report. The secretaries and courtiers waited for the emperor to see them, but days elapsed without any hint that the emperor would see them. So they just went in to see the emperor. Since Yixin was the head of the Secretarial Bureau, he began, “Have Emperor read our report?”
    “Not yet.” The emperor, though a bit nervous, pretended to speak nonchalantly. Then he took up the report on his desk. Slitting open the envelope, the emperor took out the report from it. When he went half way down the page, the color on his face changed, a little paler. He put down the report and said, “I know now. I will study harder. Is that all right?” He sounded irritated. But these old courtiers ignored his sentiment.
    “There's more than that.” said Yixin. He took out another copy and read it aloud. Before he could finish it, the emperor shouted indignantly, “What if I let you be the emperor?” Everyone of the courtiers was stunned. Secretary Wenqiang, who was not well there days, sighed and collapsed on the floor. The emperor was in panic and regretted. The eunuchs waiting outside the building rushed in to help Secretary Wenqiang on his feet. Such things had never happened since the beginning of Qing Dynasty. So Yihuan, the seventh uncle of the emperor, said, “If emperor can watch his behavior, it's a blessing to our Qing Dynasty.”
    “I know everything is my fault. What's wrong with my behavior?”
    “The first thing for a young emperor is to study hard. The second thing is that a young emperor should not do things an emperor shouldn't do.” said Yihuan.
    “What have I done to deserve such censure?” asked the emperor.
    “Emperor should not steal out of the Forbidden City.”
    “That's rumor. How can I do that?” The emperor pleaded.

  4. #184
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    But the furtive trips of the emperor outside the Forbidden City became so frequent that he neglected his studies. He often stopped attending the classes without any reason, just notifying the tutors, “No classes today.” Usually it should be the tutors that gave the no classes notice, not the other way round. But it was the way with the emperor. What could the tutors say? When the secretaries came to know it, they discussed the situation. It was serious for many reasons, besides the reason for safety. Yixin was the sixth uncle of the emperor. Yihuan was the seventh uncle. And some old courtiers who had seen the young emperor grow up. They handed in a report to admonish the emperor, adding at the end that they hoped that the emperor would receive them and they had more important things to report in person. The emperor got the wind of it already. He didn't want to hear any more of their expostulation. He didn't even read their report. The secretaries and courtiers waited for the emperor to see them, but days elapsed without any hint that the emperor would see them. So they just went in to see the emperor. Since Yixin was the head of the Secretarial Bureau, he began, “Have Emperor read our report?”
    “Not yet.” The emperor, though a bit nervous, pretended to speak nonchalantly. Then he took up the report on his desk. Slitting open the envelope, the emperor took out the report from it. When he went half way down the page, the color on his face changed, a little paler. He put down the report and said, “I know now. I will study harder. Is that all right?” He sounded irritated. But these old courtiers ignored his sentiment.
    “There's more than that.” said Yixin. He took out another copy and read it aloud. Before he could finish it, the emperor shouted indignantly, “What if I let you be the emperor?” Everyone of the courtiers was stunned. Secretary Wenqiang, who was not well there days, sighed and collapsed on the floor. The emperor was in panic and regretted. The eunuchs waiting outside the building rushed in to help Secretary Wenqiang on his feet. Such things had never happened since the beginning of Qing Dynasty. So Yihuan, the seventh uncle of the emperor, said, “If emperor can watch his behavior, it's a blessing to our Qing Dynasty.”
    “I know everything is my fault. What's wrong with my behavior?”
    “The first thing for a young emperor is to study hard. The second thing is that a young emperor should not do things an emperor shouldn't do.” said Yihuan.
    “What have I done to deserve such censure?” asked the emperor.
    “Emperor should not steal out of the Forbidden City.”
    “That's rumor. How can I do that?” The emperor pleaded.

  5. #185
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    “Emperor know it's rumor or not rumor.” It sounded like the emperor was lying. So he said, “Do you have any proof? If you don't, you are spreading rumors.” Under such circumstances, Yihuan had to tell the emperor what he had learned so that the emperor looked upon his behavior seriously. So he enumerated what the emperor had done and where the emperor had gone. On such and such a day, the emperor had gone to buy some books. On such and such a day, the emperor had gone to such and such a restaurant to have lunch and what dishes the emperor had ordered and how much the emperor had paid. He could not say in which brothel the emperor had visited. The emperor could say nothing more.
    Then the Secretarial Bureau wanted to punish the officials in charge of the royal construction work, because they had caused a lot of trouble by instigating the emperor to fix the Round-Bright Garden, but the emperor wouldn't agree. When Yixin insisted, the emperor flared up in outrage and issued an order to remove Yixin from all his offices, which he had learned from his mother, West Empress Dowager, who had done it before. Other secretaries came to reason with the emperor and the emperor wrote another order to remove every secretary from the Secretarial Bureau. He summoned the ministers and other courtiers and wanted them to discuss what punishment the emperor should inflict on the secretaries.
    West Empress Dowager had some eunuchs working in the emperor's place and they ran to report to West Empress Dowager, who went to see East Empress Dowager and told her everything she knew. The two empress dowagers sent for the emperor, who came immediately. East Empress Dowager said to him, “How can you dismiss all the secretaries? Do you want the empire to crumble in your hands?” The emperor could say nothing to plead for himself. Then West Empress Dowager told the emperor to undo all his former orders, which the emperor had to follow, though reluctantly. Anyway, everything became normal.
    On November 28, 1874, the emperor was suddenly taken ill. A royal doctor was summoned and after diagnosis he said that it was cold. No big deal. Everyone could fall sick for cold. So he prescribed some medicine, but it had no effect. The doctor was perplexed and didn't know what to do. He had to wait and see what other symptoms would appear. In the meanwhile he just prescribed some general tonics. Then some red spots broke out on the emperor's skin a few days later. So the doctor decided that it was small pox. The doctor thought that it was easy now since he was sure what it was. When the empress dowagers asked him what was the emperor's illness. He told them that it was small pox. The empress dowagers asked, “Are you sure?”

  6. #186
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    “Emperor know it's rumor or not rumor.” It sounded like the emperor was lying. So he said, “Do you have any proof? If you don't, you are spreading rumors.” Under such circumstances, Yihuan had to tell the emperor what he had learned so that the emperor looked upon his behavior seriously. So he enumerated what the emperor had done and where the emperor had gone. On such and such a day, the emperor had gone to buy some books. On such and such a day, the emperor had gone to such and such a restaurant to have lunch and what dishes the emperor had ordered and how much the emperor had paid. He could not say in which brothel the emperor had visited. The emperor could say nothing more.
    Then the Secretarial Bureau wanted to punish the officials in charge of the royal construction work, because they had caused a lot of trouble by instigating the emperor to fix the Round-Bright Garden, but the emperor wouldn't agree. When Yixin insisted, the emperor flared up in outrage and issued an order to remove Yixin from all his offices, which he had learned from his mother, West Empress Dowager, who had done it before. Other secretaries came to reason with the emperor and the emperor wrote another order to remove every secretary from the Secretarial Bureau. He summoned the ministers and other courtiers and wanted them to discuss what punishment the emperor should inflict on the secretaries.
    West Empress Dowager had some eunuchs working in the emperor's place and they ran to report to West Empress Dowager, who went to see East Empress Dowager and told her everything she knew. The two empress dowagers sent for the emperor, who came immediately. East Empress Dowager said to him, “How can you dismiss all the secretaries? Do you want the empire to crumble in your hands?” The emperor could say nothing to plead for himself. Then West Empress Dowager told the emperor to undo all his former orders, which the emperor had to follow, though reluctantly. Anyway, everything became normal.
    On November 28, 1874, the emperor was suddenly taken ill. A royal doctor was summoned and after diagnosis he said that it was cold. No big deal. Everyone could fall sick for cold. So he prescribed some medicine, but it had no effect. The doctor was perplexed and didn't know what to do. He had to wait and see what other symptoms would appear. In the meanwhile he just prescribed some general tonics. Then some red spots broke out on the emperor's skin a few days later. So the doctor decided that it was small pox. The doctor thought that it was easy now since he was sure what it was. When the empress dowagers asked him what was the emperor's illness. He told them that it was small pox. The empress dowagers asked, “Are you sure?”

  7. #187
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    “Yes.” The doctor replied, “If it is the small pox, that meant no danger to his life. If it was not small pox, he might have difficulty to cure.” West Empress Dowager annoyed, but she knew that she could not rebuke the doctor. It was not that she was afraid the doctor would poison the emperor, but that if the doctor was reproached he might get nervous and prescribe wrong medicine. So it was the tradition that no one should blame a royal doctor. On the contrary, West Empress Dowager said to the doctor, “If you heal the sickness of the emperor, I will give you a promotion.” Encouragement was more appropriate. There was another tradition that when anyone in the palace suffered from small pox, a goddess of small pox would be set up in an unoccupied room and joss-sticks and candles were burned before the icon. After a few days the symptoms of the small pox on the skin of the emperor gradually disappeared. Everyone in the palace was happy. The empress dowagers were at rest. However, to their unexpectedness, other symptoms showed up on the emperor. Now the doctor was in a plight. The symptoms indicated the fatal disease of syphilis. It's unbelievable in the doctor's opinion that the emperor could suffer from such a terminal disease, which was spread only through sexual contamination. Of course the treatment didn't get any expected result. The emperor didn't feel any better, but worse everyday. The doctor couldn't tell the truth, because the truth would impair the emperor's reputation, which was at that time considered more important even than his life. Besides, it was a terminal disease. No one could do anything about it even if the doctor told the truth.
    Since the emperor got worse day by day, Yixin liked to know what was really the disease. He sent for the doctor. At first the doctor was afraid to tell the truth, but Yixin threatened that if he didn't let him know, when the emperor died, the doctor would get into big troubles. So the doctor had to tell the truth. Yixin was stunned. He had never thought of that. It was incredible. But he could not let the empress dowagers know it.

  8. #188
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    “Yes.” The doctor replied, “If it is the small pox, that meant no danger to his life. If it was not small pox, he might have difficulty to cure.” West Empress Dowager annoyed, but she knew that she could not rebuke the doctor. It was not that she was afraid the doctor would poison the emperor, but that if the doctor was reproached he might get nervous and prescribe wrong medicine. So it was the tradition that no one should blame a royal doctor. On the contrary, West Empress Dowager said to the doctor, “If you heal the sickness of the emperor, I will give you a promotion.” Encouragement was more appropriate. There was another tradition that when anyone in the palace suffered from small pox, a goddess of small pox would be set up in an unoccupied room and joss-sticks and candles were burned before the icon. After a few days the symptoms of the small pox on the skin of the emperor gradually disappeared. Everyone in the palace was happy. The empress dowagers were at rest. However, to their unexpectedness, other symptoms showed up on the emperor. Now the doctor was in a plight. The symptoms indicated the fatal disease of syphilis. It's unbelievable in the doctor's opinion that the emperor could suffer from such a terminal disease, which was spread only through sexual contamination. Of course the treatment didn't get any expected result. The emperor didn't feel any better, but worse everyday. The doctor couldn't tell the truth, because the truth would impair the emperor's reputation, which was at that time considered more important even than his life. Besides, it was a terminal disease. No one could do anything about it even if the doctor told the truth.
    Since the emperor got worse day by day, Yixin liked to know what was really the disease. He sent for the doctor. At first the doctor was afraid to tell the truth, but Yixin threatened that if he didn't let him know, when the emperor died, the doctor would get into big troubles. So the doctor had to tell the truth. Yixin was stunned. He had never thought of that. It was incredible. But he could not let the empress dowagers know it.

  9. #189
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    During the emperor's sickness, since he could not attend to the state affairs, the empress dowagers resumed the roles to act in his behalf and recommenced to handle the state affairs, which was just after the heart of West Empress Dowager. She was already disappointed in her son, who, in her opinion, had never listened to her since he took over the power. Now it was everybody's concern who would succeed the throne when the emperor was summoned to Heaven by his ancestors.
    According to logic and common sense, the successor should be chosen from the next generation to be the adopted son of the present emperor. But West Empress Dowager thought differently. If the successor came from the next generation to the present emperor, the present queen would become the empress dowager, and she would be the grandmother to the successor. She wouldn't be in a position then to act in behalf of the successor from her next next generation and she would lose power forever. She could not bear even to think of it. She sent Ronglu, who was a high-rank courtier now, to convene all the important courtiers to her presence to discuss the issue of the successor. But as it was a subtle issue, the courtiers didn't dare to express their opinions. They just begged the empress dowagers to make the decision.
    Therefore, she selected the son of her sister, who married Yihuan, Yixin's brother, also her brother-in-law. The son was then only four years old. So she could still stay in power on the pretext that the successor was too young and she must help him to handle things till he was grown up.
    “His mother is my sister.” she would say, “His father is my brother-in-law. I am his double auntie. He is really my own flesh and blood.”
    East Empress Dowager didn't care who succeeded the throne. The courtiers could really say nothing about the selection of the future emperor, which was considered to be the business of the royal family, a family matter, but which really concerned everybody, the whole empire. Since West Empress Dowager made the decision, it was thus settled. Then West Empress Dowager promoted Ronglu to be one of the heads of the Royal Family Affairs Management. Ronglu could see more of West Empress Dowager now.

  10. #190
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    During the emperor's sickness, since he could not attend to the state affairs, the empress dowagers resumed the roles to act in his behalf and recommenced to handle the state affairs, which was just after the heart of West Empress Dowager. She was already disappointed in her son, who, in her opinion, had never listened to her since he took over the power. Now it was everybody's concern who would succeed the throne when the emperor was summoned to Heaven by his ancestors.
    According to logic and common sense, the successor should be chosen from the next generation to be the adopted son of the present emperor. But West Empress Dowager thought differently. If the successor came from the next generation to the present emperor, the present queen would become the empress dowager, and she would be the grandmother to the successor. She wouldn't be in a position then to act in behalf of the successor from her next next generation and she would lose power forever. She could not bear even to think of it. She sent Ronglu, who was a high-rank courtier now, to convene all the important courtiers to her presence to discuss the issue of the successor. But as it was a subtle issue, the courtiers didn't dare to express their opinions. They just begged the empress dowagers to make the decision.
    Therefore, she selected the son of her sister, who married Yihuan, Yixin's brother, also her brother-in-law. The son was then only four years old. So she could still stay in power on the pretext that the successor was too young and she must help him to handle things till he was grown up.
    “His mother is my sister.” she would say, “His father is my brother-in-law. I am his double auntie. He is really my own flesh and blood.”
    East Empress Dowager didn't care who succeeded the throne. The courtiers could really say nothing about the selection of the future emperor, which was considered to be the business of the royal family, a family matter, but which really concerned everybody, the whole empire. Since West Empress Dowager made the decision, it was thus settled. Then West Empress Dowager promoted Ronglu to be one of the heads of the Royal Family Affairs Management. Ronglu could see more of West Empress Dowager now.

  11. #191
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    Emperor Tongzhi died on January 12, 1875, and the successor to the throne was named Emperor Guangxu (1871-1908), but he was chosen as the adopted son of Emperor Xianfeng, the husband of West Empress Dowager, not as the adopted son of Emperor Tongzhi, her son, because Emperor Guangxu was the cousin of Emperor Tongzhi, belonging to the same generation. Now West Empress Dowager was his adopted mother, still the empress dowager.
    Prince Fu was sent to fetch the son of Yihuan, the future emperor, whose mother, the sister of West Empress Dowager, was happy and sad at the same time. Happy because her son was the emperor now and sad because she lost her son forever. “Will the wet nurse go into the Forbidden City too?” asked the mother.
    “No. They had hired another wet nurse already.” answered Prince Fu, who was Yihuan's younger brother, the ninth one.
    “But can you report to West Empress Dowager that my son can't leave this wet nurse.” pleaded the mother, who was almost in tears.
    “My sister-in-law, you should say Emperor now, not your son any more.”
    It was night. The child was asleep. When he was wakened, he started to cry. The mother took him to the Forbidden City, carried in a warm palanquin. When they reached the palace and were presented to the empress dowagers, the child was asleep in the arms of his mother. But when he transferred to the embrace of a new wet nurse, he began to cry again. Therefore, the empress dowagers had to send for the original wet nurse.
    Just after a month of the new emperor's coronation, the queen of Emperor Tongzhi died. It was said that she committed suicide, but general opinion was that she was compelled by West Empress Dowager to end her life either by swallowing a lump of gold or by starving herself. Imperial palace is always full of secrets that no historian can solve.
    Almost at the same time, Princess RongAn, the daughter of Concubine Dowager Li, was pregnant. When she came to know her stepbrother, Emperor Tongzhi, died, she wept and wept till her baby aborted. Then she got small pox and died not long after Emperor Tongzhi's death. It was said that Emperor Tongzhi needed a companion in Heaven and took his step-sister with him.

  12. #192
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    Emperor Tongzhi died on January 12, 1875, and the successor to the throne was named Emperor Guangxu (1871-1908), but he was chosen as the adopted son of Emperor Xianfeng, the husband of West Empress Dowager, not as the adopted son of Emperor Tongzhi, her son, because Emperor Guangxu was the cousin of Emperor Tongzhi, belonging to the same generation. Now West Empress Dowager was his adopted mother, still the empress dowager.
    Prince Fu was sent to fetch the son of Yihuan, the future emperor, whose mother, the sister of West Empress Dowager, was happy and sad at the same time. Happy because her son was the emperor now and sad because she lost her son forever. “Will the wet nurse go into the Forbidden City too?” asked the mother.
    “No. They had hired another wet nurse already.” answered Prince Fu, who was Yihuan's younger brother, the ninth one.
    “But can you report to West Empress Dowager that my son can't leave this wet nurse.” pleaded the mother, who was almost in tears.
    “My sister-in-law, you should say Emperor now, not your son any more.”
    It was night. The child was asleep. When he was wakened, he started to cry. The mother took him to the Forbidden City, carried in a warm palanquin. When they reached the palace and were presented to the empress dowagers, the child was asleep in the arms of his mother. But when he transferred to the embrace of a new wet nurse, he began to cry again. Therefore, the empress dowagers had to send for the original wet nurse.
    Just after a month of the new emperor's coronation, the queen of Emperor Tongzhi died. It was said that she committed suicide, but general opinion was that she was compelled by West Empress Dowager to end her life either by swallowing a lump of gold or by starving herself. Imperial palace is always full of secrets that no historian can solve.
    Almost at the same time, Princess RongAn, the daughter of Concubine Dowager Li, was pregnant. When she came to know her stepbrother, Emperor Tongzhi, died, she wept and wept till her baby aborted. Then she got small pox and died not long after Emperor Tongzhi's death. It was said that Emperor Tongzhi needed a companion in Heaven and took his step-sister with him.

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    Chapter 29

    A critique official turned in a report, saying, “The pawn shop owner Li falsely declares that he is a relative of Minister Ho of Construction Ministry and hereby does all sorts of illegal things like cheating and extorting and taking briberies. He is also a go-between in other unlawful transactions. He mingles with the courtiers and his residence is as magnificent and luxurious as those of the ministers.” How can a pawn shop owner manage to have all these luxuries? This critique official beg to have this pawn shop owner to deport to his home town so that the capital could be clear of such human garbage. Then he added in another paragraph, “As for courtiers, especially ministers, they should not mix with such low lives, feasting together and giving each other presents. This critique official beg to issue an order to prohibit such behavior among the courtiers.”
    When West Empress Dowager read the report, she was surprised. She knew Minister Ho was a scholar. How could he have anything to do with such people? But she was not sure whether the critique official told the truth, because a critique official was allowed to write a report based on mere rumors and gossips. So she sent her head eunuch Li to gather some facts. Head Eunuch Li, or Tawing Li as people called him behind his back, was cleverer than Little An. He did anything illegal without leaving any trace of proof behind. He spent half a day to make inquiries where he could get the truth and came back to report to West Empress Dowager.
    Merchant Li, the pawnshop owner, came from Shanxi Province. He had a building constructed and opened a pawnshop, which took up a great expanse of space in a market place. He dealt in curios and also sold books. So the pawnshop was looked upon as a bookstore as well. Poor people wouldn't buy books or pawn curios. His customers were all rich people and courtiers. Therefore, he bought an official title so that he could wear official clothes on certain occasions. He even knew a prince, who had a hobby to collect antiques. With so much contact with courtiers, he began to step outside the circumference of law. When such dealings became open secrets, they attracted the notice of critique officials. It was just at the time that West Empress Dowager wanted to utilize the critique force to discipline the officialdom and establish her own authority. So West Empress Dowager gave the report to the Secretarial Bureau for discussion and investigation. The Secretarial Bureau ordered the Judicial Ministry to arrest the pawnshop owner. Further investigation revealed that the pawnshop, when in the process of construction, had encroached on a piece of the government land and the whole lot that belonged to a charity organization for poor people. The judgment of Judicial Ministry on him was sixty beatings and one year's imprisonment, and after that, he would be deported to his hometown under parole of his local government.

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    Chapter 29

    A critique official turned in a report, saying, “The pawn shop owner Li falsely declares that he is a relative of Minister Ho of Construction Ministry and hereby does all sorts of illegal things like cheating and extorting and taking briberies. He is also a go-between in other unlawful transactions. He mingles with the courtiers and his residence is as magnificent and luxurious as those of the ministers.” How can a pawn shop owner manage to have all these luxuries? This critique official beg to have this pawn shop owner to deport to his home town so that the capital could be clear of such human garbage. Then he added in another paragraph, “As for courtiers, especially ministers, they should not mix with such low lives, feasting together and giving each other presents. This critique official beg to issue an order to prohibit such behavior among the courtiers.”
    When West Empress Dowager read the report, she was surprised. She knew Minister Ho was a scholar. How could he have anything to do with such people? But she was not sure whether the critique official told the truth, because a critique official was allowed to write a report based on mere rumors and gossips. So she sent her head eunuch Li to gather some facts. Head Eunuch Li, or Tawing Li as people called him behind his back, was cleverer than Little An. He did anything illegal without leaving any trace of proof behind. He spent half a day to make inquiries where he could get the truth and came back to report to West Empress Dowager.
    Merchant Li, the pawnshop owner, came from Shanxi Province. He had a building constructed and opened a pawnshop, which took up a great expanse of space in a market place. He dealt in curios and also sold books. So the pawnshop was looked upon as a bookstore as well. Poor people wouldn't buy books or pawn curios. His customers were all rich people and courtiers. Therefore, he bought an official title so that he could wear official clothes on certain occasions. He even knew a prince, who had a hobby to collect antiques. With so much contact with courtiers, he began to step outside the circumference of law. When such dealings became open secrets, they attracted the notice of critique officials. It was just at the time that West Empress Dowager wanted to utilize the critique force to discipline the officialdom and establish her own authority. So West Empress Dowager gave the report to the Secretarial Bureau for discussion and investigation. The Secretarial Bureau ordered the Judicial Ministry to arrest the pawnshop owner. Further investigation revealed that the pawnshop, when in the process of construction, had encroached on a piece of the government land and the whole lot that belonged to a charity organization for poor people. The judgment of Judicial Ministry on him was sixty beatings and one year's imprisonment, and after that, he would be deported to his hometown under parole of his local government.

  15. #195
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    But the critique officials really aimed at Minister Ho, not the pawnshop owner, like they had said that they wanted to hit the tiger, not a fly. Then another critique official filed in his report, asking what relationship actually was between Minister Ho and the pawnshop owner. After the perusal of the report, West Empress Dowager ordered Minister Ho to explain it. Minister Ho replied in his report that he didn't really have any relationship with the pawnshop owner and that he met him whenever he went to buy some books there. If that was the truth, he was not guilty of anything. But as a matter of fact, Minister Ho took the wife of the pawnshop owner as his dry daughter (In China, dry father/mother and dry daughter/son have no flesh-and-blood tie between them. Their relationship is somewhat like god-father/mother and god-daughter/son, only without any religious meaning in it.) When the wife had died, Minister Ho made one of his maids as his dry daughter and married her to the pawnshop owner. So the relationship between them was dry father-in-law and dry son-in-law. To show his gratitude for marrying his dry daughter to him, the pawnshop owner bought a young girl and presented her to Minister Ho as his concubine. Minster Ho's wife had long been dead. So Minister Ho made the girl his wife. Now the pawnshop owner got himself a young dry mother-in-law. If the girl were still a concubine and when they met, he didn't need to show any respect to her, but as the wife of Minister Ho, he should go down on his knees before her and kowtowed to her when they met on certain occasions.
    The critique officials accused Minister Ho of cheating in his reply about his relationship with the pawn shop owner. So Minister Ho was demoted to be the deputy general critique official since there was no other vacancy. (General critique official was the head of the critique department.) Now all the critique officials were opposed to it. That was a wrong move of the Secretarial Bureau. It seemed as if they had made the appointment without serious consideration. Some critique official asked if this appointment meant that a critique official should lie and cheat. Of course not. On the contrary, a critique official should be upright and honest. So the Secretarial Bureau had to let him retire with the promise that his son would get a promotion.

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