In this last chapter of "Two Years in the Forbidden City", Der Ling finally came to the conclusion that she could never go back to her country of origin.

This segment of the "Two Years in the Forbidden City", being one of the remaining chapters of the book, details how Cixi was worried about the ongoing war between Russia and Japan. A very proud Cixi confided to Der Ling, suggesting it was the only mistake of her life, in what she argued was an otherwise flawless rule of the country.

On this episode of "Two Years in the Forbidden City"....During the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, Cixi was flattered and indulged in festivities with her people. The humorous and joyful lady was in sharp contrast to a quiet and gloomy emperor Guangxu.

On this episode of "Two Years in the Forbidden City"...the hidden threat of on-going war between Japan and Russia was in the air, but deliberately played down by those that feared these uncertainties.

On this episode, let delve into Her Majesty's birthday celebration in great detail, which provided a rare chance for us to get familiar with the rituals and etiquette of the times.

Two celebrations were going on in the Imperial Palace: one was the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, and the other was an anniversary marking the start of the Manchu dynasty. Well woven into the detailed descriptions of the protocols, etiquette and activities of the two celebrations are narrations, of comparatively trivial, but interesting matters of court.

This episode of "Two Years in the Forbidden City" will bring you part 2 of Chapter 13 "The Empress's Portrait" where The Empress Dowager Cixi had a go at the modern technology of photography.

On this episode of "Two Years in the Forbidden City"......Through an account of the emperor's birthday celebration we'll get a glimpse of how Emperor Kwang Hsu suppressed his curiosity toward western civilization and had to succumb to the power of Empress Dowager Cixi.

This episode of "Two Years in the Forbidden City" brings you part 1 of chapter 13 "The Empress's Portrait", which is about Empress Dowager Cixi's encounter with the art of the western oil painting.

On this episode of "Two Years in the Forbidden City"......Mrs. Conger, the wife of the American Minister to Peking asks for a private audience and proposes that a portrait be painted of Her Majesty, which was perceived as horrific at the time.