垂帘听政
chuí​lián​tīng​zhèng

to rule from behind a screen

  1. 垂帘 垂簾 chuí​lián
    to hold court from behind a screen
    to rule from behind a screen, referring specifically to an empress or dowager presiding over court affairs on behalf of a young emperor; used in the phrase 垂帘听政 chuí​lián​tīng​zhèng
  2. 听政 聽政 tīng​zhèng
    to hold court
    To administer the state or handle government affairs, used of a monarch or regent