This horrifying scene in the movie "Behind the Curtain" is to portray the viciousness and cruelty of Empress Dowager Cixi, but this is not the case in history. Concubine Li died a good death.
However, this kind of torture is indeed recorded in history books and was actually used by the famous Empress Lu of the Western Han Dynasty. Because Empress Lu was jealous of Emperor Gaozu's beloved concubine, Mrs. Qi, after taking power, she chopped off her limbs, blinded her eyes, cut out her tongue, mutilated her throat with medicine, and deafened her ears. Then she put her in a jar and threw her in the toilet. He was sentenced to pigging (zhi), which is also known as pigging punishment, and the prince was summoned to watch. The young emperor was so frightened that he developed a heart disease. From then on, he became depressed and crazy, and died within a few years. This is only recorded once in history and has never been recorded again.