Dreams About the Forbidden City

Xiaode Zhang, whose original name was Zhang Lande and whose courtesy name was Yunting, was a famous eunuch in the late Qing Dynasty. He distinguished himself in the court with his wit and power. He was born in a poor peasant family in Jinghai County, Tianjin. His family was poor since he was a child. In order to change his destiny, he made an astonishing decision at the age of 12 - to commit suicide in order to enter the imperial palace. In 1891, Xiaode Zhang got his wish and entered the Forbidden City and began his extraordinary career as a eunuch. With his intelligence and superb opera skills, he gradually won the appreciation of the Empress Dowager Cixi, and was promoted from an ordinary young eunuch to the leader of the imperial court, and also in charge of the general promotion of the Nanfu Opera Troupe. Under the protection of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Xiao Dezhang's power and influence grew day by day. After the death of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Xiao Dezhang succeeded as the general manager and continued to gain the trust of the Empress Dowager Longyu. His power reached its peak. He not only held a pivotal position in the palace, but also established deep relationships with princes and ministers, and accumulated huge wealth through bribery and power. However, with the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Xiao Dezhang's power and status also disappeared. In the early years of the Republic of China, after the death of Queen Mother Longyu, Xiao Dezhang left the palace and lived in seclusion in the Tianjin Concession with his wealth. There, he lived a luxurious life, married wives and concubines, ran pawnshops and grain stores, and accumulated considerable wealth. After the founding of New China, Xiao Dezhang's property was confiscated and his life changed drastically. After losing his former glory and wealth, he had to rely on selling fried fruits to make a living and live an ordinary and hard life. In 1957, Xiaode Zhang died in Tianjin, ending his legendary and bumpy life.