As the Son of Heaven, the emperor possessed supreme power and controlled all the people "under heaven".

In addition to painting the rulers of the day, Jiang likes to paint likenesses of the child emperors. Wearing an imperial robe and sitting on a golden throne, the child emperor eats a cherry with great relish, ignoring the ministers and eunuchs standing beside him. The imperial authority and childhood innocence form a stark contrast.

It often happened that when the crown prince succeeded to the throne after the death of the emperor, he was still a child and required the empress to reign behind the scenes. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were five such child emperors.

Jiang's oil paintings also reveal the story of the palace eunuchs. On the one hand, they were damaged and humiliated by being castrated. On the other hand, they earned favor as they served the emperor and his family members day and night. Once the eunuchs gained the trust of the emperor, they could sometimes behave without scruple, such as issuing unauthorized imperial decrees, taking bribes and framing loyal ministers.

Jiang also has an eye for pretty palace women, including the empress, concubines and princesses. Although they dressed in gorgeous clothes and ate delicious food, they were spiritually bereft. With so many women serving one man, few of them had the chance to be with the emperor. Their rooms were often empty and perhaps the high walls and deep courtyards were like gilded cages to them.

While sympathizing with the fate of palace women, Jiang worships their beauty. Although their bodies are often obscured by the layers of loose and soft coats, robes and skirts, their beauty is obvious for all to see.

Rich in content and exquisite in design, Ah! The Forbidden City deserves appreciation and is a collector's item.

The royal palace was a place full of profundity and one book cannot capture all its moods and depths, but it is a great departure point for visitors to learn more about the Forbidden City, its architecture and learn anecdotes about the people who lived there.