Chapter 33 Forty years old

Li Lianying's power in the palace became stronger and stronger, especially after he became the chief executive of the inner court in the twelfth year of Guangxu (1886), he became even more powerful.The following year was his fortieth birthday.Empress Dowager Cixi also intended to raise his social status, and personally ordered to celebrate Li Lianying's birthday.On the day of Li Lianying's birthday, Empress Dowager Cixi personally gave her a boa robe, a scroll of Dafushou calligraphy and painting, two thousand taels of silver, and a jade cat.Since Cixi had such a high profile, everyone from the emperor to the prince, the ministers of the inner court, and the governors of other provinces all sent generous gifts to Li Lianying. There was a lot of people in front of Li Lianying's house, and countless birthday gifts were received.Rare antiques, calligraphy and paintings of celebrities, brocades and silks, nanmu furniture, gold and silver utensils are also hidden in the treasury.At this time, Li Lianying was really a smash hit.There are as many as five or six foreign residences of Li Lianying in Beijing.Even this birthday celebration was held in Cixi's house in the public library (the house was sold by Li Lianying's eldest son Li Chengwu in 1940).On the day of the birthday, the Li family was decorated with lanterns and festoons, and a feast was held for three days. Guests and friends from all walks of life came to congratulate each other, which was very lively.

Empress Dowager Cixi held a grand banquet in the palace, and put Li Lianying's seat specification above that of princes and courtiers.Not only that, officials, eunuchs, court ladies, etc. who were lower than Li Lianying in the palace had to kneel down and worship Li Lianying according to their ranks to show their congratulations. This was an unprecedented event in the Qing Dynasty.The civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty dared to be angry but did not dare to speak out against the Empress Dowager Cixi's wanton violation of the family law of the ancestors. This standard courtesy of the Empress Dowager Cixi not only greatly increased Li Lianying's social status, but also contributed to his power, and brought real benefits to Li Lianying.

Receiving the unusual courtesy of Empress Dowager Cixi, Li Lianying became even more domineering and supercilious.In the fourteenth year of Guangxu (1888), Emperor Guangxu was ordered to issue an edict to change the name of Qingyi Garden to the Summer Palace and rebuild it.Empress Dowager Cixi appointed her confidant Li Lianying to take full charge.At this time, Li Lianying had already figured out the temperament of the ministers in the court and Cixi. As long as Cixi didn't care, it would be useless for anyone in the court to impeach him. Therefore, Li Lianying took the opportunity to steal a large amount of wood, tiles and stones for building the garden, and built a private house in Haidian, which caused complaints in the capital.Wang Xianqian couldn't bear to see Wang Xianqian offering sacrifices to the Imperial College, so he wrote a letter demanding that Li Lianying be severely punished.It is mentioned that: the troubles of eunuchs and temples have been known since ancient times, and the legal system of this dynasty is strict, and no eunuchs have ever taken power to speak out.The empress dowager listened to the government behind the curtain, and when she reported to the former Mo, she was merciless, and all the subjects in the world knew it and saw it.But there is Li Lianying, the chief eunuch, who is raped by nature and unscrupulous. He has a dirty voice and bad deeds on weekdays, and he dare not show it as a spy. Everything is based on reason, so why should the eunuch exaggerate his kindness and ostentatiously, in the name of the eunuch Li Xiaoli (Li Lianying), who has attracted attention both at home and abroad, and alarmed everyone?It is easy to say that walking on frost and firm ice gradually.The empress dowager and the emperor are industrious in order to govern and protect the country, and they are not diligent in seeking to stay up late, and guard against maintenance in case of trouble.There are already signs of a small rampage tonight. If there are no severe punishments, there will be no way to strengthen the discipline and suppress the public opinion.This statement was impassioned, but it was a pity that it was neglected and not reported, and was downplayed by the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Li Lianying, who is in full swing, sees that Cixi is backing her, so she intensifies.In September of that year, in order to get closer to the Empress Dowager Cixi, Li Lianying actually had a dream of becoming the emperor's pro-uncle. He not only dreamed, but also took action.Relying on Cixi's favor, he let his second sister enter the palace, and introduced him to the Empress Dowager Cixi through his relationship, and soon accompanied the Empress Dowager.Empress Dowager Cixi loved Wuji, and ordered that all the people in the palace call her Miss Li, and intended to accept her as Guangxu's concubine.It is conceivable that Li Lianying is ambitious.