The mystery of Li Lianying's death
The celebrity during Empress Dowager Cixi's death did not leave a whole body after her death. This inevitably made people have speculation about Li Lianying's death. There are several versions of Li Lianying's death.
The first version was to die of dysentery . According to Li Lianying's adoptive granddaughter, Li Lianying suffered from "smoking dysentery" due to long-term smoking. After the disease broke out, Li Lianying suddenly died within three or four days.
As for the authenticity of this statement, it can only be said to be skeptical. What is believed is that this statement was described by Li Lianying's adoptive granddaughter Li Lezheng. At that time, Li Lezheng had the opportunity to come into contact with the truth. What is suspected is that some experts believe that the season when Li Lianying died was in spring, and that season would not easily die due to dysentery.
The second version is that Li Lianying was killed by the revolutionary party. There are rumors that Li Lianying offended the revolutionaries, and the revolutionaries took advantage of the great wave of Revolution to kill Li Lianying.
The third version is killed by enemies in the palace. When Li Lianying was so glorious, she offended many people with the favor of Empress Dowager Cixi. After he left the palace, his enemies found an opportunity to kill him.
Some people have raised doubts about the second and third versions, because Li Lianying has always been modest in view of the past lessons of An Dehai , and has never interfered in the government affairs. He is also careful everywhere in the palace, and has almost no enemies. Since he does not interfere in the government affairs and does not bully others, there is no chance to offend revolutionaries and other people in the palace. Therefore, the legend of being killed by the revolutionary party and enemies also makes people doubt its authenticity. The fourth version of
is that he was killed by bandits. There are rumors that he was killed by bandits on the way to collect debts. However, given Li Lianying's wealth and status at that time, and his age in his 60s, he had no need to go out to collect debts in person, so there is also a lot of controversy over the rumor that he was killed by bandits.
True and fake eunuch Li Lianying
Li Lianying went to Prince Zheng Duanhua Mansion to be a eunuch because of his poor family conditions. Later, he was sent to the palace. Li Lianying was transferred to Empress Dowager Cixi when she was 16 years old in the third year of Tongzhi (1864).
at that time Cixi was 29 years old, Xianfeng Emperor died early, Cixi became a widow early, and Li Lianying was in her prime. If both of them were normal people, it would be like a fireworks. However, Li Lianying was an eunuch, so logically, nothing shouldn't happen between the two.
But what is puzzled is that Empress Dowager Cixi loves Li Lianying very much. Some people say that Li Lianying has good hair combed, and Empress Dowager Cixi likes Li Lianying's hair combed, so she loves Li Lianying very much, but the real reason is probably only the person involved knows.
And Li Lianying has never left her since she came to Empress Dowager Cixi. It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi often summoned Li Lianying to the bedroom. The two talked about Huang Lao's skills of immortality together, and they often talked until late at night.
As a eunuch, he was so close to Empress Dowager Cixi, and he talked about it late at night in the bedroom. It is estimated that only the person involved knew what he was talking about. Those who know the truth may not have the chance to speak.
If you follow the official records of Qing Dynasty , Li Lianying is indeed a real eunuch, but his close relationship with Empress Dowager Cixi makes people wonder if there is any secret between them.
Summary: The real cause of Li Lianying's death, and whether he is a real eunuch, have become historical doubts that can never be explained because of the incomplete body in the coffin.
According to the legendary causes of death, each of them has certain flaws, so these statements may be false.
The real cause of Li Lianying's death can no longer be answered. I am making a bolder guess here. Maybe Li Lianying's coffin is not himself at all, or maybe his body was destroyed by the Qing Dynasty's rule, with the purpose of covering up some truth.
This truth may be about the dignity of the Qing Dynasty royal family, or Li Lianying is really a fake eunuch. Only by letting his body become a historical mystery, can his secret with Empress Dowager Cixi become a secret forever.
