An engaging story about the life and thoughts of one of the most prominent female leaders struggling amongst the thorns in the conservative society in China back then.
Empress Dowager; Tzu Chsi (or Orchid) as she is fondly known as.
Anchee Min spins the tale in a way that it was narrated from the lady herself; detailing her thoughts and emotions.
It was cleverly told, and the narrator assumes her role and responsibilities from a normal brought-up peasant and ordinary girl just like you and me, and how she too, goes through traumatic times in making life-threatening decisions.
The contemporary world has formed a perception of Tzu Chsi as a tyrant; and a cold-blooded ruler who would do just about anything, to protect her authority as she makes her way up to the top; including murdering her own son.
This story shows us the other side of Tzu Chsi; a Tzu Chsi who may have been misunderstood by the world, a lady who have her own difficulties in explaining to the world on everything she has done; for the pride and dignity of her country and at the same time, protect her own son, the emperor from further humiliation.
It was a realistic depiction, and I felt like I was reading the Empress's thoughts; and seeing her human side compared to the cold portrait that has been painted based on the stories I have heard and read about her throughout all the years.
The author has injected a touch of humanity and a tale of compassion into this famous female ruler who had to protect herself and the throne from all the conniving men surrounding the two widows and the son who was the true heir to the throne.
When her own son has contracted a deadly disease which was too disgraceful to be announced, Tzu Chsi was torn between true compassion and depression and at the same time, being realistic to understand the consequences of the news to the empire.
During that time, there were foreign forces which were particularly interested in the Chinese empire due to their strong influence and resources.
Tzu Chsi had to be careful with her every move, as there is no one whom she can trust in the palace. It was an internal battle itself, behind the palace walls, as she struggles to make the right decisions and forming her own very trusted allies; comprising of the devoted General Yung Lu and her eunuch who died somewhere in the novel.
Initially, Prince Kang was another allie who soon found his way out to his own interests and Tzu Chsi was left with no other choice.
Her close and intimate relationship with General Yung Lu ignited the sparks among themselves and also the whisperings along the palace corridors and the main hall. However, the author told about the empress as a lonely widow but still one with rationality and traditional mindset to swerve towards any form of behavior which will be frowned upon.
At the same time, Tzu Chsi was still human after all, and all those suppressing of her own inner feelings for a man has those times when she just wanted to break away from tradition and follow her heart, just a thought that occasionally seeps into her mind.
It was a poignant tale; but brilliantly told to show us a personally expressed story by the protagonist herself.
I love this novel; and this is actually a sequence to the Empress Orchid which starts the tale from how she became the empress; from a young peasant girl.
This novel itself; is the sequel in which her tale continues from the death of the emperor and her assuming her role as one of the Empress Dowager and at the same time, the mentor and guide to the budding young emperor who was her own son.
This is a book that I will definitely read again; to revive that compassion and heartfelt emotions of the glorious and yet humane empress.
Rating: 4.5/5
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