Cixi was the ruler in the late Qing Dynasty. During her reign, the Qing dynasty had nothing to do with the prosperity of the rich, but was shameful to be backward. It can't be said that Cixi had no responsibility at all, but before the Qing Dynasty came into her hands, she had already embarked on the road of decline, and western powers had also opened the door to the Qing Dynasty. In all fairness, Cixi was able to master the political affairs of the Qing Dynasty for decades without the ability to govern the country. At least, she is very proficient in imperial politics.
In the late Qing Dynasty, there were many patriots, such as Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and Zuo. These people suppressed the peasant uprising in China for the rule of the Qing Dynasty, but in the face of western powers, they also tried to enrich Qiang Bing and take action. They are not traitors, let alone mediocre officials. Cixi can control them, but she can't say that she has certain ability, but she really can't say that her ability is very high. In the final analysis, she did not save the decline of the Qing Dynasty, but accelerated its demise.
However, as can be seen from her words, in this turbulent situation, this woman in power can still feel at ease, which is not something that ordinary people can have. This also shows that Cixi's ability is not without merit.