Controlled by Cixi throughout his life, Emperor Guangxu could be regarded as the most tragic emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The only reform he launched in 1898 ended up in failure because of the interference of the conservatives, headed by Cixi.

Urged by the reformers Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, Emperor Guangxu issued an edict to carry out reform on June 11,1898. This move was rejected immediately by Cixi, who dismissed the reformist official Weng Tonghe. Five days later, Emperor Guangxu received Kang Youwei at the Hall of Benevolent Longevity and made up his mind to continue the reform, no matter what difficulties he may encounter.

Unfortunately, the reform only lasted 103 days, before Cixi suppressed it. The six reformer leaders were behead-ed at Caishikou, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao escaped abroad, and Emperor Guangxu became a prisoner. When the Empress Dowager stayed in the Forbidden City, the emperor was imprisoned in the Yintai at Zhong-nanhai and then in Yulan Hall when she moved to the Summer Palace. New brick walls were built and eunuchs guarded Yulan Hall, which became a jail. The imprisoned emperor was forbidden to see concubine Zhen, who countenanced his reform, or even the empress, and the quality of his food suffered a disastrous decline. Only a few dishes were served, and those placed further away on the table stunk. In a bad mood, the emperor declined to eat anything.

The emperor spent his last ten years in despair and misery. He died on Nov.14, 1908, one day prior to the death of Empress Dowager Cixi. It was said that the emperor was poisoned by Cixi, but this is impossible for us to prove now. When touring Yulan Hall, we still feel sorry for the nominal emperor.

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