In 1908, in the last twilight of the Qing Dynasty, the Empress Dowager Cixi died, taking away the glory and gloom of an era. This year, in the Forbidden City, the symbol of imperial power, the political situation is unpredictable. For many years in this splendid place, Li Lianying, as a powerful eunuch, his fate is closely related to the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. Cixi's death not only marked the end of her personal power, but also heralded Li Lianying's new life challenges.
On Cixi's deathbed, Li Lianying stood in front of the silent gate of Changchun Palace, her eyes full of reluctance and worry. Forty-four years of service, accompanied by a shadow, made him almost forget that he existed, and that everything he did was for Cixi. When the last breath faded into the cold wind, he knew that he would also usher in a turning point in his life.
"Father-in-law Li, the Queen Mother has driven to the west, you ......" a little eunuch said in a trembling voice, interrupting Li Lianying's contemplation.
Li Lianying took a deep breath, turned around and walked back to the dormitory. Under the palace lamp, his shadow stretched long, like the passing years. He began to sort through the relics left by Cixi, each one full of memories. But it's more about thinking about the way out of the future. Staying in the palace, or returning to the old home? This is a choice that must be faced.
The rise of the Empress Dowager Longyu changed Li Lianying's fate. He soon realized that the new empress dowager was very different from Cixi. The Empress Dowager Longyu was calm and detached, and did not trust him, the once powerful eunuch.
In the run-up to Cixi's funeral, Li Lianying felt an unprecedented isolation. Once, he tried to suggest the funeral arrangements to the Empress Dowager Longyu, but was coldly interrupted: "Li Lianying, this matter has been arranged, you don't need to bother." His right to speak seems to have vanished with the death of Cixi.
At this time, he began to plan to leave. He foresaw the purchase of several properties outside the palace as his retirement residence. Although there is infinite reluctance in his heart, he knows that the only way to survive is to leave.
Under the nose of the Empress Dowager Longyu, Li Lianying skillfully transferred the wealth she had accumulated over the years to her private residence in Haidian. Every moment in the dead of night, he is carefully preparing for his future.
Eventually, on the day of Cixi's funeral, Li Lianying asked Empress Dowager Longyu to allow him to hold a three-year mourning for Cixi outside the palace as a final expression of loyalty to Cixi. Empress Dowager Longyu was silent for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for the grace of the Queen Mother. Li Lianying said in a low voice. He knew that this was his last time at the palace and the beginning of a new life.
After the three-year mourning period, Li Lianying left the Forbidden City, which was full of power and intrigue, with all his belongings. In his private residence in Haidian, he lived a life away from the hustle and bustle of the palace. Despite his simplicity, the burden in his heart seemed to be much lighter. He planted flowers and grass here, occasionally reminiscing about the glory days of the past, with a hint of pride and indescribable loneliness in his heart.
For the rest of her life, Li Lianying never stepped into the palace again. Although his later years were not as glorious as those of the Cixi era, he also found his own peace and freedom.
Li Lianying's life is a portrayal of a legend in the imperial palace in the late Qing Dynasty. His story reminds us that every choice counts, whether at the pinnacle of power or in the ordinary world. He grew from an ordinary eunuch to a powerful figure in the palace, and finally chose to leave in search of inner peace. Such a change is not only a grasp of personal destiny, but also a response to the changes of the times.
Li Lianying's story is a narrative of loyalty, power, and self-redemption. In him, we see the end of an era, and also see the difficulty of individuals struggling to survive in the torrent of history. His final choice makes us understand that in the journey of life, finding your own peaceful corner may be the ultimate destination.