CHAPTER XXX. 253

HER MAJESTY THE EMPRESS DOWAGER Her Family--Presentation at Court--Fifth Wife of the Emperor Hsien-Feng--Favorite of Empress Mother and First Wife--Birth of a Son--Death of Emperor Hsien-Feng--Empress of Western Palace--Co-Regents for Young Emperor Tung-Chih--Friendliness of the Two Co-Regents--State of China at Beginning of Regency--Intrigue--The Anti-foreign Princes--Prince Kung-- First Political Act of Young Empress of Western Palace-- Support of the Princes of the Blood--The Emperor Tung-Chih Begins to Reign--Death of Tung-Chih--Resumption of the Regency by the Empress Dowager--Minority of Kwang-Hsu--Death of Empress of Eastern Palace--Policy of Empress Dowager--The Emperor Kwang-Hsu Begins to Reign--His Policy--The War with Japan--Change of Policy by the Emperor--The Progress Party-- The Ultra-Conservatives--Return from Retirement of the Empress Dowager--The Emperor’s Edict--So-called Coup d’État--Rout of Progress Party--Punishment of Ringleaders--Effect on the Emperor--Reign of Emperor “Assisted” by Empress Dowager--The Secret Society of the Boxers--Its Growth--Boxers in the Capital--Boxers among the Princes of the Blood--The Outbreak in Peking--Reported Cause of Outbreak--The Emperor and Empress Dowager’s Attempt to Check Movement--The Imperial Military Forces--Position of Legation Quarter in Peking--British Legation--Return of Their Majesties to Peking--Edicts Issued-- Arrival of Allies in Peking--Flight of Her Majesty and the Court--The Route to Singan Fu--Hardships Endured--Incidents.