Chapter 124: Top of the Ten Infamous Rulers – Empress Dowager Cixi, Yehenara

Top of the Ten Infamous Rulers – Empress Dowager Cixi, Yehenara

The celestial canopy's golden light blossomed for the last time, majestic and overwhelming, as if bearing a sense of ending and judgment.

The new title emerged, not that of an emperor, but of a woman, an Empress Dowager.

"The most supreme profligate woman in modern Chinese history", "the nation‑losing Empress Dowager", "the top of the Infamous Rulers" …

A series of shocking titles instantly set off a roar across the heavens and myriad dynasties.

"What? The top is a woman? An Empress Dowager?!"

"Empress Dowager Cixi? Yehenara? Listed as the top of the Infamous Rulers despite not being an emperor?"

"Profligate women? Nation‑losing Empress Dowager? This …"

Shock, doubt, curiosity instantly replaced the previous emotions.

The top of the Infamous Rulers is not an emperor, but an Empress Dowager?

And to be called "profligate women", a street‑slang‑like "honorific"?

What kind of sin must have been committed to, as a non‑emperor, outshine all previous infamously ruled men and claim the summit?

Great Qin, Xianyang Palace.

The First Emperor Ying Zheng, who had just dealt with Hu Hai and Zhao Gao and whose anger still smoldered, furrowed his brows upon seeing the top name.

He was not unaware of an Empress Dowager meddling in state affairs; Empress Dowager Xuan was a precedent.

Yet to be crowned as "top of the Infamous Rulers" and "nation‑losing Empress Dowager" while still an Empress Dowager, Cixi's destructive power must far exceed imagination.

"Empress Dowager … nation‑losing …"

Ying Zheng's gaze sharpened; he wanted to see how this woman "wasted the family" and "lost the nation".

Great Han, Weiyang Palace.

Liu Bang widened his eyes, incredulous: "The top is a woman? A profligate woman? Later dynasties are getting more and more interesting."

"An Empress Dowager can ruin a country to the top of the list? What a huge 'family' that must be."

Liu Che's expression grew solemn; women meddling in governance was not unheard of in previous dynasties, but to cause a "nation‑losing" outcome and be listed by the celestial canopy as the top of the Infamous Rulers was extraordinary, surely the utmost disaster to the realm.

Great Tang.

Li Shimin furrowed his brows: "Empress Dowagers presiding over court have existed since antiquity. Yet such an appraisal … 'profligate women', crude as the words are, to reach the top, the transgression must be colossal."

"Water can carry a boat, but also capsize it; could this Empress Dowager have deliberately sunk the vessel?"

Empress Zhangsun, standing nearby, gently clasped Li Shimin's hand, her face showing worry.

She, also an empress, deeply understood how a harem woman with ill intent, meddling in power, could cause immense harm.

Wei Zheng said gravely: "Your Majesty, women governing is a great taboo. There was Empress Lü before, yet none bore the title 'nation‑losing Empress Dowager.'"

"This Cixi must have gathered the greatest evils of harem governance across ages into one, thus earning this 'special honor'."

Great Ming.

Zhu Yuanzhang slapped the dragon throne, angry: "An Empress Dowager? A Tartar Empress Dowager? To make the Infamous Rulers list and be number one?"

"This damn thing has ruined the country how? Let's see how these 'profligate women' squandered it!"

Empress Ma advised gently: "Take it easy, and observe. Since the celestial canopy has placed her at the top, there must be reason."

Zhu Di wore a shocked expression; a woman wielding power to the top of the nation‑losing list was unheard of.

Qing Dynasty, during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor.

Xuan Ye saw "Empress Dowager Cixi" and "Yehenara", and his heart leapt.

Yehenara, a Manchu clan name, and yet later produced such a "figure"? To be listed atop the Infamous Rulers?!

A chill instantly swept across his spine.

What, in the future, actually happened?

The emperors of the Yongzheng, Qianlong and other reigns also turned pale.

An Empress Dowager in power, to reach this point?

Reason for ranking: She is the supreme "profligate woman" in modern Chinese history, without equal.

As a non‑emperor yet firmly seated at the top of the Infamous Rulers as the "Old Buddha".

She ruled autocratically for 48 years, enforced "family rule" to the end, forcibly turned the Great Qing Empire into a semi‑colonial state, worthy of the title "nation‑losing Empress Dowager".

"48 years of autocratic rule… family rule… turned into a semi‑colonial… nation‑losing Empress Dowager…"

Scholars of various dynasties quickly seized these keywords.

Forty‑eight years! Almost half a century of dictatorship!

Enforcing "family rule" (treating the state as private property) to the utmost?

This is no ordinary power grab, but hijacking the entire nation onto her personal chariot of ambition.

Semi‑colonial? That is a more humiliating, more tragic state than outright loss; the "nation‑losing Empress Dowager" is truly apt!

"Others are the Son of Heaven guarding the nation's gate; she is the Empress Dowager selling the nation's gate."

Liu Bang recited this netizen's sharp comment, but this time did not laugh, only wore a strange expression.

"Selling the nation's gate? That's even harsher than the runaway emperor (Zhao Gao). To betray the nation's gate—this move… truly a damn talent."

In Ying Zheng's eyes a cold light flashed: "Selling the nation? Such conduct is no different from Zhao Gao's—no, even worse!"

"Zhao Gao sold Qin; she sells the nation's gate, the ancestral legacy, the Chinese lands!"

Liu Che erupted in fury: "Scoundrel! Defending the land is the king's heavenly duty; how can one sell the nation's gate?!"

"Empress Dowager? A mere woman, how dare she! This beast must be exterminated along with the nine families!"

Li Shimin, anguished, said: "The Son of Heaven guards the nation's gate, the king dies for the state; this is integrity!"

"This Cixi, to treat the nation's gate as merchandise to exchange for personal power and pleasure? Shameless! Despicable! Truly a sinner for all ages, unforgivable forever!"

Cheng Yaojin cursed: "Selling the nation's gate? Is this some man's job? And an Empress Dowager? These old women have black hearts, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was already so angry he could not speak, just stared dead at the sky, his chest heaving violently.

Traitor? That is one of the words he can least tolerate, let alone a traitorous gate.

This is even more detestable than Emperor Gaozong of Song submitting and paying tribute; it is outright treason, even though she is a Tartar Empress Dowager, she is selling the gate of Huaxia!

Zhu Di also shouted angrily: "Such conduct, selling the nation for glory, deserves death! Deserves a thousand cuts!"

【Netizen bestows name:】

Lao Yaopo: because her methods are ruthless and her lifespan extremely long, netizens jokingly call her "the Qing's number one Boss".

Yehe Nala Baijia: mocking her prodigal waste, emptying the treasury.

Wan Shou Jiang Wu: borrowing Zhang Taiyan's couplet "One person celebrates, ten thousand lives have no borders", mocking that she cedes land on her birthday.

"Lao Yaopo… the Qing's number one Boss… Yehe Nala Baijia… Wan Shou Jiang Wu…"

Xuan Ye listened to these increasingly vicious and precise nicknames, his face dark enough to drip water.

Ruthless methods, long life, prodigal waste, ceding land on birthdays…

This Ci Xi, she literally threw the Empress Dowager's face, the Aisin Gioro family's face, the Qing dynasty's face, into a cesspool, and even stepped on it a few times!

"Wan Shou Jiang Wu… what a Wan Shou Jiang Wu!"

Xuan Ye was so angry his whole body trembled; this couplet was simply the most venomous curse and satire against imperial authority.

Ceding territory on birthdays? This Empress Dowager must be here specifically to cripple the Qing's destiny, right?!

"Old Witch? That nickname fits!"

Liu Bang nodded, "Being able to wreak havoc for forty‑eight years, turning the country into a semi‑colonial state—if not Old Witch, then what?"

"Boss? Oh, probably means leader, the Qing's number one disaster chief, no problem."

Ying Zheng sneered, "Yehe Nala Baijia, truly lives up to the name; Wan Shou Jiang Wu, how ironic."

"Such women, to wield power to this extent, shows the previous dynasty's discipline has collapsed, sovereign authority has slipped, now beyond cure."

Liu Che shouted angrily, "Such poisonous women, the three characters 'Old Witch' are still insufficient to describe her evil!"

Li Shimin sighed, "One person's celebration, ten thousand people's sorrow, loss of territory."

"This 'Wan Shou Jiang Wu' lays bare the root of the nation's downfall—rulers' ultimate selfishness and shortsightedness. Such 'Boss' is truly the greatest disaster for the nation and people."

Wei Zheng shouted sternly, "Your Majesty! Extravagance ruins a country, an ancient clear admonition!"

"If a ruler only knows personal pleasure on birthdays, neglects the people's lives, the nation's survival, then ruin is near!"

"This 'Wan Shou Jiang Wu' should hang in the hall of state as a warning for ten thousand generations!"

Cheng Yaojin cursed, "Cede land and pay reparations on a birthday? Is this a celebration or a funeral?"

Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer curse, only forced out a few words between his teeth: "Witch Empress… should be lingchi…"