In the long river of history, there are many "ifs" and "hypotheses" that constitute our endless imagination of the past. One intriguing question is: What would have happened to the Qing Dynasty if Empress Dowager Cixi had returned the actual power to Emperor Guangxu in her later years? Although we cannot get a definite answer to this question, we can speculate about the possible changes brought about by this historical turning point by analyzing the historical background and character traits.

Firstly, if Empress Dowager Cixi really returned power to Emperor Guangxu, it would mean that the political center of the Qing Dynasty would return to the hands of the young emperor. Although Emperor Guangxu had a good education, certain political ideals, and a willingness to reform, his lack of governance experience and being under the shadow of Empress Dowager Cixi for a long time made his ability to govern questionable.

Secondly, during Emperor Guangxu's reign, he had intended to implement the Wuxu Reform, attempting to revitalize the Qing Dynasty through a series of political, economic, and cultural reforms. If Empress Dowager Cixi had allowed Emperor Guangxu to govern independently, he might have been more active in promoting reforms and trying to reverse the decline of the Qing Dynasty. However, the success or failure of reforms depended not only on the emperor's will but also on strong political support and social stability.

Moreover, Empress Dowager Cixi played an extremely important role in the late Qing Dynasty, deriving her power from years of political struggle and personal prestige. If she chose to abdicate and cede power, it could have led to a power vacuum and intense competition among various factions in the court, thereby affecting the stability of the Qing Dynasty's political situation.

Lastly, even if Emperor Guangxu was able to exercise full power, the challenges he faced were still daunting. The Qing Dynasty in the late period was facing internal and external troubles, with continuous civil unrest at home and foreign powers circling around. Emperor Guangxu would need extraordinary political wisdom and firm determination to truly change the destiny of the Qing Dynasty.

In summary, if Empress Dowager Cixi had returned the actual power to Emperor Guangxu, the historical trajectory of the Qing Dynasty might have been different. However, whether it could have reversed the situation and rewritten fate remained uncertain. The development of history has its inherent logic and laws, and the efforts of any individual require the right time and environment to take effect. We cannot predict a different historical process, but we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of history and the multifaceted nature of human nature through deep reflection on the past.

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