Why did Zhang Chunfu, the pianist of Empress Dowager Cixi's gossip lover, die of poverty?

Empress Dowager Cixi took power in the late Qing Dynasty for 50 years, during which many important events were well known. In our impression, Empress Dowager Cixi is nothing more than a traitor and schemer, ruthless. But as a person, Cixi also has another side that is unknown. She has the same emotions and worldly desires as ordinary people, and is not as incredible as we thought.

There is a pianist named Zhang Chunpu in Beijing Liulichang who plays the piano for a living. He is simple and honest, and his piano skills are superb. He enjoys a high reputation among literati. Cixi wants to learn piano when she has nothing to do. Hearing Zhang Chunpu's reputation, she called him into the palace to play the piano. It is said that the place to play the piano is in the west wing of the bedroom. There are seven main rooms, and Cixi sits in the westernmost room, which is very close to the west wing. Zhang Chunpu made an appointment with the eunuch when he called. He can't play on his knees, but he must sit down to play well. The eunuch made a promise that he was not allowed to face Cixi.

There are seven or eight pianos in the west wing, all of which are golden strings and jade axes, which are extremely luxurious and incompatible with Zhang Chunpu's audition. Then I heard Cixi say, "I can bring my usual piano and let him play." The eunuch was ordered to bring it to Zhang Chunpu. When Zhang Chun put down his finger, he felt that his voice was very clear. He repeatedly praised, "Good piano, good piano." Zhang Chunpu played a song and had a rest. Suddenly, I saw several people in nurses' uniforms with a ten-year-old child. The clothes are very gorgeous. Children will play with their fingers when they see the piano. Zhang Chunpu stopped and said, "This is a matter for Lafayette. Can't move. " The child stared at him. A woman next to her scolded Zhang Chunpu: "You know who he is. Lafaille always obeys him. Don't you dare stop him! You don't want a head! " Zhang Chunpu stopped talking.

On this day, after Zhang Chunpu left the palace, Cixi summoned him again, and he would rather die than go. Pu is a man with lofty ideals. Because of his poor family, he works as a servant in a factory, and his piano playing is famous among officials and ministers. Cixi had ordered eunuchs to preach that day:

"You have a good dedication. In the future, you will receive an official and be sent to the internal affairs office. You are not afraid of money. " However, Zhang Chunpu disappeared from the palace after seeing his young son. Asked by his peers, Zhang Chunpu said, "I don't envy such filth and wealth."

When Wang Su heard that Zhang Chunpu was famous, he called him to the mansion to play the piano and gave him thirty taels of gold every month. He is used to coming early and coming back late. Zhang Chunpu felt that the bondage was not free, but there was no good way to get rid of it. One night, it was raining, and Wang Su said, "Don't go back, just stay here." Zhang Chunpu refused, but Wang Su refused. Zhang Chunpu said, "The boss doesn't know that I live here, and he thinks I'm a prostitute." Wang Su was so angry that he kicked him out and never called him into the house again. Zhang Chunpu happily thinks that he has a plan.

A famous lady once asked Zhang Chunpu to teach piano. Zhang Chunpu came in the afternoon, played a song and left without even touching his lips. Later, Zhang Chunpu died of ignorance and poverty.

In fact, in the late Qing Dynasty, many maverick people were accommodated. Zhang Chunpu was not killed, not because he violated the will of Cixi, nor because he angered Wang Su. This was unimaginable in other dynasties.