As we all know, every dynasty in feudal society had strict requirements for concubines in the harem. Once they entered the palace, they lost their freedom, as if they were in the deep sea. Not to mention that they can't go in and out of the palace at will, even if they want to see their families, there is little chance. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why Cixi entered the palace from the age of 17 until her death and only returned to her family once.
Of course, in the late Qing Dynasty, Cixi was already in power and did not need to be restricted by court etiquette. However, at that time, the family was already in a state of enlightenment. Maybe the whole family moved to Beijing and there was no need to go back to their hometown. In addition, unofficial history data once recorded that Cixi's true identity was an ordinary woman from a peasant family, and later she was sold to a rich family and became a servant girl. When it came to the emperor's draft, the family didn't want their daughter to be tortured when she entered the palace, so Cixi took the place of entering the palace and chose a female teacher. Since then, her family situation cannot be clarified.
As a reference, we can find out why Cixi only went back to her family once after entering the palace. It is difficult to find a true and exact answer to this question. Whether it is historical biography or folk unofficial history, the materials and statements provided are questionable, but in the final analysis, it is the court rules of feudal society that deprive personal freedom.