1900, Eight-Nation Alliance openly invaded Beijing in the name of suppressing the Boxer Rebellion. Cixi and Guangxu fled hastily after hearing the news and fled all the way to Shaanxi. Cixi went to Shaanxi and was treated carefully by local officials, but everyone knew that Cixi had fled to this place, so many mercenary businessmen avoided her, let alone offered help to Cixi.

During the period of Cixi's settlement in xi 'an, Zhou Ying offered 702,000 silver to Cixi, who came all the way here, to feel Zhou Ying's righteous act, and Cixi also specially met with Zhou Ying. It is said that Zhou Ying and Cixi had a candlelight conversation. In the heart-to-heart communication with Zhou Ying, Cixi actually developed a feeling of mutual appreciation for her, and then recognized Zhou Ying as her adopted daughter and named her Mrs. Yipin.