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Cixi Enters Forbidden City
- Emperor Xianfeng selected concubine Cixi from a large pool of Manchu girls in 1852.
- Cixi gained entry through art, impressing the emperor with her painting skills.
Cixi Births Heir Boy
- Cixi gave birth to a son in 1856, making her the emperor's most important consort.
- This birth elevated her rank to second only to the empress in the Forbidden City hierarchy.
Cixi Gains Political Role
- Emperor Xianfeng, though weak, entrusted Cixi with political duties despite cultural norms against women's political roles.
- This set a precedent for her rising political influence and eventual power.