The Four Princesses: The first beauty suffered all her life because of the 'favor' of Empress Dowager Cixi

The life of Si Ge Ge, who was greatly loved by Empress Dowager Cixi, was a lonely tragedy. Cixi's "toxic favor" deprived her of personal happiness, imprisoning Si Ge Ge in a life of luxury but lacking her own love.

After the Western countries invaded the Qing Dynasty, many advanced inventions were introduced to China, including the camera. Thanks to that, many valuable documents about royal life inside the Forbidden City were preserved. The Empress Dowager Cixi, who had great power and influence at that time, also loved taking photos. In most of the restored photos, there was always a beautiful woman by her side, that was Si Ge Ge - who was recognized as the number one beauty of the late Qing Dynasty.

Si Ge Ge, the daughter of Prince Qing Yi Kuang, was intelligent, quick-witted, and well-educated since childhood. When she grew up, she became beautiful, graceful, and loved by everyone. Prince Qing Yi Kuang, although not talented, knew how to please Empress Dowager Cixi, thanks to which his official career was always smooth, even becoming the 12th "Iron-Matted Prince" of the Qing Dynasty. Yi Kuang was also rated by the New York Times as the richest person of the late Qing Dynasty, with a huge fortune obtained from illegal sources.

On the occasion of Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th birthday, Prince Qing sent his fourth daughter to the palace to serve the Old Buddha. With her beauty, knowledge, and ability to tell jokes, Si Ge Ge quickly became the Empress Dowager Cixi's favorite. Every time she entered the palace, she would often present interesting Western toys, which increased her favor. If Si Ge Ge did not visit for a few days, Empress Dowager Cixi would send someone to invite her.

Empress Dowager Cixi cared so much for Si Ge Ge that she even decided her marriage. Si Ge Ge was later married to Xi Jun, the son of Yu Lu, a high-ranking military strategist and minister. Si Ge Ge’s married life was filled with happiness. However, Empress Dowager Cixi could not bear the lonely days without Si Ge Ge’s company. Not long after, Empress Dowager Cixi had Si Ge Ge brought back to the Summer Palace to serve by her side.

Although she had not been married for long and did not want to enter the palace, Tu Cach Cach could not disobey the Queen Mother's wishes. The newlyweds were forced to live apart, sometimes only seeing each other once every few months. Some time later, Tu Cach Cach received the bad news that her husband had fallen ill and passed away due to years of missing his wife. Tu Cach Cach became a widow before she was 30 years old. The Queen Mother had no choice but to let her leave the palace and return home to mourn her husband.

As soon as the funeral was finished, the incense had not yet burned out, Si Ge Ge received the order to return to the palace because Empress Dowager Cixi could no longer bear to be without her. Si Ge Ge was very angry, but the family was afraid that she would offend Empress Dowager Cixi, so they tried their best to persuade her. Si Ge Ge could only cry and reluctantly return to the palace. From then on, Si Ge Ge spent the rest of her life by Empress Dowager Cixi's side, never leaving her side.

In "Palace Maid's Talks" it is recorded that as soon as Si Ge Ge returned to the palace, Empress Dowager Cixi took her to take pictures, and even forced her to dress up as Long Nu - a mythical character who often stands to the right of Bodhisattva Guan Yin. In the pictures at that time, one can see that Si Ge Ge's expression was unnatural, her smile was extremely forced, and her eyes contained a sorrowful sadness.

In 1908, Empress Dowager Cixi passed away, and Si Ge Ge was nearly 40 years old at that time. Si Ge Ge spent most of her life in the palace. After her husband died, she did not remarry, nor did she have children, so she lived the rest of her life in solitude and loneliness. Si Ge Ge's life is a clear example of the tragedy of "toxic favoritism", when one person's power completely deprived another person of happiness and freedom.

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