The most luxurious bath in history. How did Empress Dowager Cixi take a bath?

When the Empress Dowager Cixi takes a bath, she not only has to be served by more than ten people, but also uses a hundred towels, as well as carefully developed scented soap and toilet water. It can be said that she has reached the pinnacle of enjoyment. The Empress Dowager Cixi was the most powerful person in the late Qing Dynasty. She not only monopolized the harem, but also controlled the affairs of state behind the curtain. Even the then king Guangxu was trembling in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi. The life of the Empress Dowager Cixi was also exquisite and luxurious. In "Memoirs of a Palace Lady" It records the diet and daily life of Empress Dowager Cixi in detail, and today we will talk about the process of Empress Dowager Cixi taking a bath.

Although taking a bath in ancient times was a very inconvenient thing, it was also for ordinary people. For the Empress Dowager Cixi, taking a bath was a piece of cake. Generally, she took a bath every day in the summer. Once, in winter, wash every two to three days. Before going to bed after dinner, four rough eunuchs would lift the hot water outside the bathroom. After Empress Dowager Cixi entered the bathroom, the things in the bathroom had been arranged properly, including twenty-five neat towels on a plate. Stacked in the shape of a flying dragon in the sky, one or four trays are neatly placed there, as well as various bath supplies.

Immediately afterwards, four palace maids dressed exactly the same came in to say hello, and then took off the clothes for the Empress Dowager Cixi. Rather than taking a bath, it was more accurately a scrub. The Empress Dowager Cixi sat on a stool, and the four palace maids divided their duties. Cooperate, quickly soak the towel in water, take it out, twist it until it is half dry, and then wipe it gently for the Empress Dowager Cixi. When wiping the chest, the palace maid could not exhale at the Empress Dowager Cixi and had to hold her breath to finish, which was very hard.

After wiping it once, apply soap and knead it into foam and then wipe it dry again. Then four other maids will come in to change the hot water. After the whole body is wiped, the maids will Use a piece of silk cut to the size of a palm to apply a layer of toilet water on the Empress Dowager Cixi. After that, the Empress Dowager Cixi put on pajamas and sleeping shoes, washed her face and soaked her feet again. The whole bathing process took about an hour. The Empress Dowager Cixi would not move a finger during the whole process, and she was completely served by her slaves. It can be said that she enjoyed herself to the extreme. .