barrels of gunpowder in the room, and lit a long fuse, then ran back out. A while later, the Palace exploded, and
both sides watched in horror and amazement as the roof of the temple of Heaven was blown off. The shock
wave was felt a mile away at the Great wall by Gaselee.
The legations, meanwhile, were trying to repel the Chinese attack on the gate. Parts of the Great wall
had been destroyed, when relief troops swarmed into the gatehouse, slaughtering the rebels, and entering the
compound. At the palace, more troops destroyed the rooms, burning and looting. Sydney, however, crept
through the back alleys into Alexandrina’s room. The lovers rejoiced, and watched as the rebels were defeated.
As the troops retook the Great wall, and fired down into the Palace, the relief troops swarmed into the empty
throne room, the artillery destroyed the Palace walls, and the Boxers finally surrendered at dawn.
After the victory parade through Peking, Sydney and Alexandrina met on the Wall. He took out a ring,
and whispered, ’Accept it.’ Although she owed him her thanks, she suddenly realized that she was happier
staying as a virgin. So, she declined coldly, and left. The tearful Admiral, now alone, walked to the wall,
stepped over the edge, and let his sorrows end. Alexandrina later buried his body below the Wall, then left for
good with the departing legations.
The Empress Cixi was sent into exile in Manchuria, and died in 1908. Lineveich retired in 1905,
Gaselee died in the Boer War in 1902, and Duchess Alexandrina was killed in the 1917 October Revolution.
The Qing dissolved in 1910.
So ended the 55 days of the siege of Peking.
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