In the film and television work "The Demon Queen", Emperor Tongzhi fell in love with Gui Lian, a maid-in-waiting. When An Dehai learned about it, he told Cixi. In a rage, Cixi chose to cut flowers on the ladies' faces and throw them in the most remote places in the palace. After meeting Gui Lian, Emperor Tongzhi didn't recognize him.

The film and television drama "The Demon Queen" mainly tells the story of Cixi's control of state affairs in the late Qing Dynasty and her depressed life, which eventually led to the demise of the Qing Dynasty.