It's good to know she had a loving husband the second time even if they fell into poverty later on. It's a million times better than living in a palace with a horrible person.

The concubines and all the servents in The forbidden City were PRISONERS. Call it for what it is.

I would always choose being alone and poor than stuck in such an awful and toxic relationship. Glad Wenshiu managed to break free eventually.

"If she'd known, she might have run the other way. "
Sadly,  that wouldn't have been possible for her. Her family would not have taken her back, and she would have no way to make a living.

"He preferred the land way to the water way" Those Chinese euphemisms man💀

I'm so happy to hear that Wenxiu escaped in the end. Living in poverty may not be the best end, but she was loved. Having that genuine connection with someone at the end must have brought her so much comfort.

Boy, they sure did go all out on beautifying ALL the characters for the movie. 😮

An interesting documentary,  excellently narrated. Pu Yi  was a deeply damaged & damaging  individual; the film Last Emperor romanticised him & this is a far more accurate portrait.  These two unfortunate women never had a chance.

Real wealth is not measured in gold. It comes with love, and true intimacy. Wenxiu was much richer in her box of a house, with her loving husband than she could even have imagined in that huge, cold mausoleum of a palace. She died young but she died free.

Puyi really had no right to agree that anyone was ugly.😡

People on the outside think it's a wonderful life but the agony of loneliness has got to be gut wrenching

I think it should be emphasized a bit more how miserable Wanrong was. The video makes her an antagonists, but many time she was just as tortured and lonely. Also, the end of Wenxiu's life as "quiet sorrow, I wouldnt say. She and her husband were very poor, but they were truly in love and happy with each other. When she passed, her husband was by her side, holding her hand. She was happy that he was there and that they were truly in love. I think it is more triumphant than sorrowful. We should see her strength and end as a victory story, than solemn sorrow. Wanrong lived a miserable life and had a very horrible end. I think that should be more noted. Really all 3 of them were victims of the cruel times :(

This was so hurtful to both women.  They show some of this in ‘Last Emperor of China’

Wenxiu had the most normal life experience of the three of them. They were probably jealous that she understood their dangerous circumstances better than the others and didn't want to face reality.

What a terrible life Wenxiu had between a happy childhood and being divorced .Her tiny home was at least filled with real love.She actually proved she was superior to those who have taunted her- As for Puyi  she lost nothing there. Many thanks liked and subscribed :

It should be noted that Wenxiu married the Emperor after the later had actually lost the throne. so it was an empty title - at least until the Japanese-controlled Manchukuo empire, by which time they were divorced. It is true that the Imperial Family were expelled from the Forbidden City in 1924, but it was the Revolution of 1912 which led to PuYi's abdication.

short version: he was gay (probably)

He never reigned as Emperor in China - the Dowager Empress Longyu acted as Regent during his infancy and abdicated on his behalf in 1912.  His position in Manchuria was purely nominal. It was a Japanese colony.

Besides having the far wealthier, nobler family there was the fact that Wanrong was 16 while Wenxiu was only about 12 to 13. The most urgent duty of the empress was to birth a son to secure the dynasty, and control the imperial Harem.  Wenxiu was simply too young to do the job, while Wanrong was old enough and she was far more ready for the job than Wenxiu was.

I remember being a poor teenager, working at a private airport where I frequently encountered a rich guy who had 5 cars and 3 planes. He would rush to the airport to fly his toys, but it was obvious that he wasn't really happy. I realized then that money doesn't lead to happiness. The lives of many people in these palaces must have been miserable.