Xianfeng not only asked Cixi to take charge of politics because of his poor health, but also for the following reasons.
As the ruler of the late Qing Dynasty, Empress Dowager Cixi held great power. She was a very skillful politician, but she was relatively weak in the turbulent nineteenth century. However, her rise to power is still very inspiring. After all, it did take two years for this noblewoman from a relatively humble nobleman in the palace to become the ruler of the late Qing Dynasty.
Why did this woman who was selected at the age of seventeen stand out in the harem? Let’s talk about this topic today. When Cixi entered the palace, she was a fifth-level concubine. There were four levels in front of her, namely concubine, concubine, noble concubine, and imperial concubine.
Although her starting point was very low, Empress Dowager Cixi, who was a noblewoman at the time, became a noble concubine in a record-breaking five years. With what? First of all, appearance is what matters in the palace. It is not enough to have the means, you must have the capital. As a man, the emperor always liked pretty women. If we look at the old photos of Empress Dowager Cixi, we can see that Empress Dowager Cixi was indeed a beauty at that time. Moreover, when we read the historical materials of the Qing Dynasty, we also affirmed her beauty.
However, good looks alone are not enough. After all, there were many beauties around Emperor Xianfeng back then. Cixi would not be able to succeed just for good looks. You still need to use tricks and scheming to get the favor of Emperor Xianfeng. Many of our friends have watched The Legend of Zhen Huan, in which the women in the harem battle their wits and courage one by one, and there is no need to be nervous about a spy drama. The Empress Dowager Cixi was a very resourceful woman. Whether through bribery or wearing small shoes, she defeated her competitors one after another, such as Mei Guiren and Yun Concubine.
Competitors who failed in the struggle were either demoted or relegated to the sidelines. The outcome was quite miserable. Cixi was obviously the one who had the last laugh. Moreover, Empress Dowager Cixi continued to improve her own connotation, such as reading more and being good at calligraphy. These were all advantages that attracted Xianfeng.
Of course, Cixi also did something to add weight to herself. Four years after she entered the palace, she gave birth to the only son of Emperor Xianfeng at that time. In ancient times, there was a saying that mother is more valuable than son, and Cixi also benefited from the honor of giving birth to a son.
Taking all factors together, Xianfeng allowed Cixi to take charge of politics, and Cixi became the ruler of the late Qing Dynasty.