Book Review•Storybook｜Cixi with a gourd in a boat written by Yu Deling

The first book I read in the new year was supposed to be a collection of poems that I couldn’t put it down, but I couldn’t stand the speed of reading Chinese and I was very curious. Therefore, the first book of the new year was “The Two My Lovers Beside the Empress Dowager” written by Yu Deling. Year" Chinese translation.

It seems to be from Gaoluopei to Cixi, and the route is not very clear. Yu Deling is of mixed Chinese and French blood. Her father, Yu Geng, was sent to France to do diplomatic work, and her mother is French. However, his father did not speak French, but raised the Yu Deling sisters with Manchu customs and etiquette. When Yu Deling visited the palace to pay homage to the Empress Dowager Cixi, she immediately won the favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi and kept her by her side as a female official. In addition to doing most of the work of female officials, Deling also served as an English and French translator for Cixi. Help her deal with diplomatic occasions, translate foreign newspapers, etc.

1. Cixi, who loves to take pictures

Judging from the Chinese translation, Yu Deling doesn't like the pretentious style of writing. At this time, I don't know if Hemingway should be used to do it, but the flat and straightforward style looks happy, but there are few aftertastes.

Yu Deling, who was favored by Cixi, entered the palace to serve Cixi and wrote about Cixi's usual life in the palace and the Summer Palace. A little more inked is the portrait of Cixi, the photograph, and Cixi's concern for foreign gazes when she meets foreign ministers and ladies.

It was De Ling's brother Xun Ling who took pictures of Cixi. After seeing the process of taking photos and developing photos, Cixi asked Xunling to take many photos for her, including photos of court clothes, photos of the Summer Palace in search of plums, photos of boating on the lake, etc. Even the eunuchs appeared in the photos.

De Ling always said that Cixi was kind and kind. Cixi said that she also talked about being favored because of her beauty and wisdom. Therefore, a photo of Cixi when she was young was circulated on the Internet, but thank you @TaiwanFact-Checking Center for this photo Clarified, and found the original photos Xunling took for Cixi.

The Cixi in the photo was wearing a court dress, and the photo of Cixi when she was "rejuvenated" by modern technology when she was young was confirmed to be false. Thanks to the article on checking and correcting false photos , I would not have seen other photos taken by Cixi mentioned in De Ling's memoirs so soon. 【 More photos 】

I like this picture of boating on the lake, because in her memoirs, De Ling mentioned that Cixi did not like to wear court clothes, because the yellow court clothes made her complexion very yellow. Cixi prefers to wear various robes with various jewelry. . In addition, De Ling described Cixi's vegetable garden and orchard in particular. Cixi not only likes to raise chickens, but also likes to grow vegetables and fruits. The gourd in the photo is the one that Cixi liked and planted meticulously. The palace maid holding the gourd and the rafting Cixi made De Ling's record come alive.

Cixi is rich in emotion in Yu Deling's writings. Yu Deling recorded several times of Cixi's crying, including the repentance about the boxing chaos tarnishing her reputation, the longing for her husband Xianfeng Emperor and son Tongzhi Emperor who died early, and the sadness when she parted with Yu Deling. Only then is a complete person.

2. The unhappy Emperor Guangxu

Guangxu's melancholy is well known, and in De Ling's writings, Guangxu's melancholy is also evident. He seldom expressed his thoughts when Cixi asked him for his opinion, but mostly echoed. He told De Ling that he knew that people outside thought he was a puppet and that the ruler was Cixi. In De Ling's blunt narrative, Guangxu's statement became depressing and hopeless.

One of the details is very interesting, still related to the photo. Guangxu knew that Xunling had taken a lot of photos of Cixi. When he met Deling, Guangxu asked her if Cixi Lafayette was taking a lot of photos, and there were actually many eunuchs in these photos. . De Ling answered Guangxu affirmatively. From Guangxu's question, he could sense the doubts and fluctuations in his heart, but he didn't dare to say anything.

Another surprise, however, is that De Ling wrote about the language talent of Emperor Guangxu. Emperor Guangxu could speak some English, and although his pronunciation was not standard, his writing and composition were beautiful. I still remember that everyone celebrated the New Year happily, only Guangxu and De Ling said "Happy New Year" in English. lonely. Thinking of Guangxu's life is really pitiful.

When De Ling left, Guangxu expressed regret that she had failed to change Cixi's views on innovation and foreign countries. De Ling is also very sorry.

Sometimes history is like this, it is said to be doomed, but it is also accumulated by every person every day. Looking at each year in sections, there are also human entanglements and helplessness. However, there may be a decision to hide in a corner that changes the world situation and turbulent life.