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. She is
small, but pretty, and, as I have indicated, quiet and reticent.
She was fond of her father, and naturally fond of the Empress
Dowager, who selected her as a wife for her favourite nephew,
Prince Chun, to whom she promised the succession at the time of
their marriage. After her father's death, and while she was in
mourning, she was invited into the palace by the Empress Dowager,
where she appeared wearing blue shoes, the colour used in second
mourning.
" 'Why do you wear blue shoes?' asked Her Majesty.
" 'On account of the death of my father,' replied the Princess.
" 'And do you mourn over your dead father more than you rejoice
over being in the presence of your living ruler?' the Empress
Dowager inquired.
"It is unnecessary to add that the Princess 'changed the blue
shoes for red ones while she remained in the palace, so careful
has the Empress Dowager always been of the respect due to her
dignity and position."
Having promised the regency to Prince Chun, we may infer that the
Empress Dowager would do all in her power to prepare him to
occupy the position with credit to himself, and in the hope that
he would continue the policy which she has followed during the
last ten years. Whenever, therefore, opportunity offered for a
prince to represent the government at any public function with
which foreigners were connected, Prince Chun was asked or
appointed to attend. I have said that it was the murder of the
German minister, Baron von Kettler, that gave Prince Chun his
opportunity to see the world
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