The Guangxu Emperor had been old enough in 1887 to begin to rule in his own right, but the previous year, several courtiers, including Prince Chun and Weng Tonghe, had petitioned Empress Dowager Cixi to postpone her retirement from the regency.

Despite Cixi's agreement to remain as regent, by 1886 the Guangxu Emperor had begun to write comments on memorials to the throne.

In the spring of 1887, he had taken part in his first field-plowing ceremony, and by the end of the year he had begun to rule under Cixi's supervision.

Eventually, in February 1889, in preparation for Cixi's retirement, the Guangxu Emperor is married.

Much to the emperor's dislike, Cixi selects her niece, Jingfen, to be empress.

She becomes known as Empress Longyu.

She also selects a pair of sisters, who become Consorts Jin and Zhen, to be the emperor's concubines.

The following week, with the Guangxu Emperor married, Cixi retires from the regency.