A dynasty that was once glorious finally declined under her rule; two teenage emperors were reduced to puppets in her hands. How was Cixi, who was obsessed with power, able to wield influence and control the Qing Dynasty for nearly half a century in a male-dominated world? Professor Sui Lijuan, a speaker for The Lecture Room, has peeled away the layers of greasepaint on Cixi's face. Her portrayal is not only of a "political figure", but also of Cixi as a wife, mother, and woman.