Dowager Empresses, Hsiao-ch'in and Hsiao-chên (see under the former), would rule as co-regents during his minority. On February 25, 1875, he ascended the throne. The title Kuang-hsü 光緒 was used to designate the years of his reign which lasted nominally from January 6, 1875 to January 21, 1909. The two Dowager Empresses ruled jointly as regents from 1875 to 1881 when Hsiao-chên died; and then, from 1881 to 1887, Hsiao-ch'in ruled alone. On February 7, 1887 Tsai-t'ien was proclaimed to be of age, but the power to rule was withheld from him for two years more during which Hsiao-ch'in "instructed him in state affairs" (hsün-chêng 訓政). It was not until March 4, 1889 that she retired to the Summer Palace (see under Hsiao-ch'in). Even so, she did not relinquish the reading of important state documents or the making of appointments to certain offices. Tsai-t'ien had no power to veto her decisions, for from childhood he had been taught to respect, to fear, and to obey her. He was married on February 26, 1889 to a daughter of a maternal uncle—to a cousin who was three years his senior and for whom he had no affection. Obviously, Hsiao-ch'in arranged this marriage, just prior to her retirement, in order that through her niece she could continue to exercise authority over the Emperor, and obtain confidential information on all proposed governmental policies. The hapless bride, known as Empress Hsiao-ting (孝定景皇后, 1868–1913), later held the position of Dowager Empress (Lung-yü Huang-t'ai-hou 隆裕皇太后) from 1908 until her death. At the time of his marriage Tsai-t'ien was given as concubines two sisters: Chin-fei 瑾妃 (1874–1924) and Chên-fei 珍妃 (known to Westerners as the "Pearl Concubine", 1876–1900). They were cousins of Chih-jui [q. v.], and both had been tutored by Wên T'ing-shih [q. v.]. Chên-fei, young and active, was perhaps the only woman Tsai-t'ien ever loved. She tried once, in 1894, to compete with Hsiao-ch'in in influencing appointments to official posts, but caused such a tempest in the Palace that she never tried again. Hsiao-ch'in ordered that she be degraded in rank, and though rank was later restored to her, Chên-fei was never forgiven for her temerity.
Under such unfavorable circumstances, Tsai-t'ien, surprisingly enough, grew up to be a man of considerable character. For this, credit must be given to Wêng T'ung-ho [q. v.], one of his tutors and his closest friend. It is said that as a child he was afraid of thunder and often, when he heard it, would hide his head in Wêng's lap. Wêng's diary is a valuable record of the Emperor's schooling. Besides the usual subjects, Tsai-t'ien studied English under two former students of the T'ung-wên Kuan (see under Tung Hsün), namely, Shên To 沈鐸 and Chang Tê-i 張德彝 (T. 在初, 1847–1919), Minister to Great Britain, 1901–05. He was described as being an impetuous and ill-tempered child, but under Wêng's patient guidance he became a conscientious man with strong moral convictions. It is likely that he could have become an outstanding ruler but for his fear of his foster mother, Hsiao-ch'in—a fear which she had deliberately and firmly planted in his mind.
During the Hundred Days' Reform of 1898 (see under T'an Ssŭ-t'ung) Tsai-t'ien rebelled against her domination, but when Yüan Shih-k'ai (see under Yüan Chia-san) divulged the plot to overthrow her, she and the conservatives anticipated the coup. She returned to Peking from her retirement in the Summer Palace on September 22, 1898, and confined Tsai-t'ien in a pavillion known as Ying-t'ai 瀛臺, on an island in the Imperial Park west of the Palace. In his name she issued decrees denouncing the reformers and begging herself to resume control of the government. Rumors of his illness were spread, and physicians were regularly summoned to lend support to the story. There was a plot either to dethrone him, or o put him to death, but because of covert protests from Liu K'un-i [q. v.] and other provincial officials, and veiled warnings from foreign diplomats, it was not carried out. However, on January 24, 1900, Hsiao-ch'in and her protégé, Tsai-i (see under I-tsung), appointed the latter's son as Heir Apparent, not to Tsai-t'ien, but to the preceding Emperor, Mu-tsung.
Attributing the frustration of their plan to dethrone Tsai-t'ien to the influence of foreigners, Hsiao-ch'in and Tsai-i decided to drive them out of China by force Tsai-t'ien knew the folly of making war on the Powers, but his protests were ignored. The Empress proeeded to sponsor the anti-foreign mob known as Boxers, thus precipitating, in 1900, the Boxer Uprising (see under Jung-lu). Finally, early in the morning of August 14, foreign troops were reported to be entering the capital. Hsiao-ch'in decided to flee, but she would not leave Tsai-t'ien behind. His favorite consort, Chên-fei, courageously suggested that the Emperor be left in Peking to negotiate a peace; but for her presumption she was by Hsiao-ch'in's order thrown down a well. Surrounded as he was by her supporters, Tsai-t'ien had no choice but to accompany the Empress
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