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East Room of Yang Xin Dian where the Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci'An gave orders behind a screen (now raised half-way up). The child emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu sat on the bench with gold cushion and gold pillow and the empress dowagers sat behind him with the screen shielding them from the eyes but not ears of those who came to receive orders from the emperor (it was improper for women to engage in politics even though everyone knew that Dowager Cixi was calling the shots). The empress dowagers were the true "power behind the throne". (Tourists can view the room from the other side of a very reflective glass window.)

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