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. This condition continued for some years, with the
senior Empress exercising no authority, and Prince Kung
continually growing in power. The arrangement seemed satisfactory
to all but one--the Empress-mother. To her it appeared as though
he were fast becoming the government, and she and the Empress
were as rapidly receding into the background, while in reality
the design had been to make him "joint regent" with them. In all
the receptions of the officials by the court, Prince Kung alone
could see them face to face, while the ladies were compelled to
remain behind a screen, listening to the deliberations but
without taking any part therein, other than by such suggestions
as they might make.
Being the visible head of the government, and the only avenue to
positions of preferment, he would naturally be flattered by the
Chinese officials. This led him to assume an air of importance
which consciously or unconsciously he carried into the presence
of their Majesties, and one morning he awoke to find himself
stripped of all his rank and power, and confined and guarded a
prisoner in his palace, by a joint decree from the two Empresses
accusing him of "lack of respect for their Majesties." The
deposed Prince at once begged their forgiveness, whereupon all
his honours were restored with their accompanying dignities, but
none of his former power as joint regent, and thus the first
obstacle to her reestablishment of the dynasty was eliminated by
the Empress-mother
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