When the Eight-Nation Alliance entered Beijing, Xu Tong was still there. He hid in a minister's former residence and initially had no intention of committing suicide. His son, Xu Chengyu, urged him, saying, "Dad, you've sheltered the Boxers, and the foreign powers are after you. If you get caught, our family will be in serious trouble. If you die, you'll leave a good reputation, calm the anger of the foreign countries, and maybe our family members can survive. As for us sons, we can only be with you in death." Xu Tong cried and hanged himself on a beam. Xu Chengyu immediately abandoned him and ran away.
At that time, many members of the imperial family and nobility were hiding from the Alliance in Beijing. Prince Yi was captured by soldiers of a certain country, not only beaten but also forced to wash clothes for the soldiers. Their treatment was brutal, and he couldn't bear it, so he committed suicide. Prince Kui and Prince Qing's subordinate, Lang Kuan, were both captured and severely insulted. They were forced to carry dead bodies and throw them out together, running back and forth dozens of times a day without rest. They were given only a piece of bread and a bowl of water each day. Accustomed to luxury, they couldn't bear the hardship. After a few days, they took the opportunity to go to Li Hongzhang to complain, crying and begging him to find a solution. Li Hongzhang couldn't do anything either, so he comforted them and sent them away. The other nobles, princes, and descendants had spent all their wealth, and their lives became increasingly difficult. They often took out their precious jewels and other possessions to sell on the streets, but they found no buyers.
Qixiu was initially captured by the Japanese army. After his mother passed away, Li Hongzhang interceded for him, requesting a ten-day leave to allow him to attend to his mother's funeral. The Japanese army agreed, but to prevent his escape, they tied one hand and had a guard escort him. After Qixiu finished handling the funeral affairs, he went to visit Prince Qing. Prince Qing made some sarcastic remarks that Qixiu didn't understand, and he was imprisoned again upon his return.
After the city fell, Chongqi barely escaped with his life. All of his family members were captured by the allied forces and taken to the Temple of Heaven, where they were tortured in various ways. When Chongqi's son, Duke Baogong, found out about this, he was so angry that he had no way to vent, so he hanged himself. When Chongqi heard about this in Baoding, he also committed suicide. The Chong family was originally very wealthy and dressed elegantly. After the city fell, the allied forces looted their home, taking over three thousand pieces of clothing—everything.
Waldersee, the allied commander, entered Beijing and stayed in the Forbidden City, residing in the Hall of Imperial Supremacy. After Li Hongzhang entered Beijing, he had arranged to meet with Waldersee, who wanted to meet him in the Hall of Imperial Supremacy. Li Hongzhang insisted he couldn't enter the palace without permission. Waldersee had no choice but to meet him elsewhere.
Former Anhui Governor Furun, the son of the former Japanese Minister Wen Duan (Woren), used to live in Beijing. After the allied forces entered the city, Furun died, his family was looted, and all his family members were gone. His mother was captured by foreign soldiers, brutally abused, and killed.
Shen Jiaben, the Prefect of Tianjin Prefecture, was arrested by the allied forces during the fall of the city because of his previous dealings with the Boxers. They initially planned to imprison him for several years. Later, a Christian accused him of sheltering the Boxers and harming Christians, so Shen Jiaben was escorted to Lushun for questioning. Observers noted his escort was no different from that of any other criminal.
