A Fateful Night in the Forbidden City

The winter of 1875 marked one of the most dramatic turning points in Qing dynasty history. The Tongzhi Emperor, only 19 years old, lay dying in the Forbidden City. His passing would not be a peaceful one—instead, it became the stage for a shocking betrayal that would alter the course of imperial succession and solidify Empress Dowager Cixi’s iron grip on power.

At the heart of this crisis was the emperor’s secret edict, intended to name his successor and protect his beloved empress. But when his trusted tutor, Li Hongzao, delivered the document not to the court but to Cixi herself, the stage was set for a ruthless power struggle. What followed was a night of violence, defiance, and political maneuvering that historians still debate today.

The Tongzhi Emperor’s Precarious Reign

Tongzhi’s short life was overshadowed by his mother’s ambition. Ascending the throne at just five years old after the death of his father, the Xianfeng Emperor, he ruled nominally under the regency of Cixi and her co-regent, Empress Dowager Ci’an. By 1873, he officially took power, but Cixi’s influence never waned.

The young emperor’s marriage further strained relations. His consort, Empress Xiaozheyi (Alute), was favored by him but despised by Cixi, who saw her as a rival for influence. When Tongzhi fell gravely ill with smallpox in late 1874, the question of succession loomed large—especially since he had no heir.

The Betrayal of Li Hongzao

Historical records from the Qing Jian reveal that Tongzhi, sensing his impending death, dictated an edict naming his cousin Zaishu as successor—a choice that would prevent Cixi from continuing her regency. He entrusted the document to Li Hongzao, his tutor, with instructions to rest and present it the next day.

Li’s next move was astonishing. Instead of safeguarding the edict, he rushed to Cixi’s quarters and handed it to her. This act of betrayal gave Cixi the chance to destroy the document and orchestrate her own succession plan. Historians have long debated Li’s motives—was it fear, political calculation, or loyalty to Cixi? Regardless, his decision sealed Tongzhi’s fate.

Cixi’s Ruthless Counterattack

Upon reading the edict, Cixi reportedly “tore the paper to shreds” in fury. The idea of Zaishu—a grown man—taking the throne would end her regency, a prospect she refused to accept. What followed was a series of brutal acts that shocked even the jaded Qing court.

### The Assault on the Empress

Cixi stormed into Tongzhi’s sickroom, where she allegedly overheard the emperor comforting his wife: “Endure a little longer; your time will come.” Enraged, Cixi turned on the empress. Accounts differ on the specifics:

– Some sources claim Cixi struck Xiaozheyi repeatedly, her gold-tipped nails leaving bloody gashes on the young woman’s face.
– Others suggest she ordered a brutal “zhang punishment” (a severe beating with wooden rods), though this was halted when Tongzhi collapsed in distress.

Cixi also confiscated and burned a second edict—likely Tongzhi’s attempt to protect his wife from posthumous persecution.

### The Death of an Emperor

Tongzhi’s official death record states he passed on December 5, 1874, at 7 PM, his pulse gone. But whispers of foul play persist. Some accounts claim Cixi ordered the withdrawal of all food and medicine, hastening his demise. Whether by neglect or malice, the emperor’s death at 19 made him the shortest-lived ruler in Qing history.

The Succession Crisis and Cixi’s Masterstroke

With Tongzhi dead, the court faced an unprecedented dilemma. The emperor had left no heir, and his chosen successor’s edict was destroyed. Cixi moved swiftly to install her own candidate—her four-year-old nephew, Zaitian (later the Guangxu Emperor).

### Breaking Every Rule

This decision violated two core Qing principles:

1. “The State Needs a Mature Ruler”: Tongzhi had emphasized appointing an adult to avoid another regency. Instead, Cixi ensured her continued rule.
2. Patrilineal Succession: By selecting a cousin rather than a son or nephew from a lower generation, she broke centuries of tradition.

When confronted, Cixi’s justification was chillingly candid: “The late Xianfeng Emperor had no other sons. In this crisis, I refuse to accept an adult successor. Only a child can be molded.”

The Aftermath: A Dynasty in Decline

The events of 1874–75 cemented Cixi’s dominance but weakened the Qing. Key consequences included:

– The Tragic Fate of Empress Xiaozheyi: Widowed and powerless, she died mysteriously within months—some say by suicide or foul play.
– The Guangxu Emperor’s Puppet Reign: His reign (1875–1908) was marked by Cixi’s control, culminating in the failed Hundred Days’ Reform and his eventual poisoning.
– Erosion of Imperial Authority: Cixi’s manipulations exposed the court’s fragility, emboldening foreign powers and internal dissent.

Legacy: Power, Betrayal, and Historical Judgment

The Tongzhi succession crisis remains a stark lesson in unchecked ambition. Li Hongzao’s betrayal and Cixi’s ruthlessness demonstrated how personal agendas could override dynastic stability. Modern historians often cite this episode as the beginning of the Qing’s irreversible decline—a moment when tradition bowed to one woman’s will.

For readers today, it raises timeless questions: How far should loyalty stretch? What happens when power goes unchallenged? And how does a single night of decisions echo across centuries? The answers lie in the shadows of the Forbidden City, where a young emperor’s voice was silenced too soon.