Chapter 134

Northern Song, during the reign of Renzong.

In the imperial palace, Empress Cao (who was still the Empress at this time), who was already middle-aged, was working with palace maids in the vegetable patch behind the Yanfu Hall.

The celestial screen appeared, and when she saw that she was ranked eighth on the Virtuous Empress List and her many future merits were displayed, she was stunned, and the vegetable leaf she had just picked slipped away quietly.

Emperor Zhao Zhen (Song Renzong) walked quickly from the hall to her side, held her hand tightly, his eyes full of undisguised excitement, pride, and deep love and respect:

"Saint! My Saint! Did you see? You are a virtuous empress through the ages! Eighth place! The celestial screen recognizes you!"

"Those things... those things you did silently for me and for the Great Song—the people of the world have all seen them!"

Empress Cao came back to her senses, looked at her husband who was so excited, and then looked at the future scenes on the celestial screen—constraining the relatives of the empress, reconciling imperial power, caring for soldiers... her heart was filled with complex emotions.

She never thought of leaving her name in history for doing these things, let alone receiving this "honor"; she just acted according to her heart and did her duty.

"Your Majesty..."

Her voice was a bit choked, "Your servant... your servant just did what she should have done."

"No! What the Saint did far exceeds what should have been done!"

Zhao Zhen said emotionally, "Iron lock on the Cao gate, reconciling three generations, caring for soldiers and the people... even many men might not have this breadth of mind and courage! Having such a wife is Zhen's fortune, and even more the Great Song's fortune!"

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs knelt down one after another, shouting: "Long live the Empress! Virtuous and illustrious!"

When the rewards were announced, Zhao Zhen was even more pleasantly surprised.

Ten years of added lifespan meant he could stay with his beloved wife for longer!

Eight years of favorable weather meant the Great Song would welcome a rare peaceful and prosperous year!

And doubling the soldiers' physique... this was a generous gift he didn't even dare to dream of!

The Great Song's border defense would take on a new look!

"Saint! Did you see? Heaven blesses my Great Song! Heaven blesses the Saint!"

Zhao Zhen was so happy he almost danced.

Empress Cao felt the vitality and lightness rising in her body, looked at her husband's happy smile, and listened to the cheers faintly coming from inside and outside the palace, her eyes filled with gratified tears.

She looked toward the celestial screen, bowed solemnly, her voice clear and firm:

"Cao, thanks the Immortal for bestowing these rewards! Your servant will definitely be as diligent and thrifty as always, assist Your Majesty, keep the people in mind, and repay the grace of Heaven!"

【In the celestial screen scroll, she, in her twilight years, is counting baskets of silkworm cocoons when she suddenly hears cheers from outside the palace—it turns out the Western Xia envoys have failed to negotiate peace for the countless time.】

She picks up a cocoon eaten by worms and says softly to Shenzong:

"Your Majesty, look, the toughest silk is originally spun from the broken opening."

Outside the hall, the new winter clothing lining of the city-guarding soldiers is glowing with the tough green color of ramie.】

This final scene and words provided the best footnote for Empress Cao's life.

Breaking the cocoon into silk, experiencing hardships and becoming tougher.

She is like that ramie, seemingly ordinary, but the most durable, silently warming and guarding the frontier soldiers that this country needs to protect the most.

The eighth place on the Virtuous Empress List, Empress Cisheng Guangxian Cao, won the recognition and respect of the celestial screen and ten thousand dynasties with her extreme restraint, far-reaching wisdom, and vast benevolent love.

【Next, inventory of the Top Ten Virtuous Empresses in History, Seventh Place—Great Sui, Empress Wenxian (Dugu Qieluo)】

The celestial screen spread out gradually; the scene was not as bright as before, but more solemn and heavy.

The interior of an extremely simple palace appeared, with no luxurious decorations; only behind a sandalwood screen, the candlelight cast the silhouettes of two people sitting side by side, and their shadows reading memorials together, clearly on the plain white wall.

The shadows of the emperor and empress, managing all affairs together; this scene was silent, but contained a deep bond and power structure that transcended ordinary couples.

"Great Sui? Empress Wenxian Dugu Qieluo?"

The gazes of various dynasties were attracted again.

The Sui Dynasty, a short-lived dynasty that perished in the second generation; before, Yang Guang was "at the top of the list" on the incompetent ruler list, but I didn't expect his mother, Dugu Qieluo, to make it to the seventh place on the Virtuous Empress List?

And looking at these silhouettes, it seems she is sitting on an equal footing with the emperor, managing state affairs together?

"Holding court in the same carriage? Two Sages?"

This Empress Dugu could actually be called "Two Sages" with the emperor and go to court to discuss state affairs together every day?

This was no longer simple assistance; it was almost joint governance!

The emperors of various dynasties felt it was a bit overstepping, but were also curious about what ability this empress had to make Emperor Wen of Sui rely on her so much, and even tolerate her sharing power.

Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng had no expression, but a trace of displeasure flashed deep in his eyes.

The emperor is the unique supreme being; how can the harem be called "Two Sages" with him and hold court in the same carriage?

This has violated ritual and disrupted order.

He wanted to see what merits this Dugu clan had to be recognized by the celestial screen for such "usurpation."

Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che snorted coldly: "A hen crowing at dawn is the ruin of a family."

"The empress interfering in politics is not a good omen, and she actually sits in the court with the emperor and is called Two Sages? Absurd! The Great Sui perishing in the second generation may not be unrelated to this!"

He advocated for imperial power to be decided by one person and was extremely sensitive to the harem interfering in politics, let alone such open "joint governance."

Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, however, revealed a thoughtful expression.

He had experienced the chaotic times at the end of the Sui Dynasty and had some understanding of the prosperous age during the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, and had also heard of Empress Dugu's virtuous name and "strict jealousy."

Since the celestial screen listed her as the seventh virtuous empress, there must be something far beyond the ordinary.

This "holding court in the same carriage" probably was not simple power-grabbing, but had its special political background and effect.

Empress Zhangsun said softly to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, your servant once read history and heard that Empress Dugu was thrifty and strict, assisting Emperor Wen in creating the Kaihuang Governance; perhaps she has extraordinary qualities."

"This title of 'Two Sages' perhaps... has its unavoidable or special merits?"

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was also not interested in "holding court in the same carriage" and curled his lips:

"What kind of court is a woman going to? The harem must not interfere in politics; this is an iron rule!"

"This Emperor Wen of Sui is also muddled, letting his wife ride on his head? And Two Sages? Bah! Our Zhu family doesn't have this rule!"

Empress Ma said gently: "Chongba, let's see what the celestial screen says; perhaps Empress Dugu really has extraordinary qualities. Look at that palace, how simple it is; she doesn't look like an extravagant person."

【Ranking Reason: Deeply participating in the construction of the empire with the posture of "advancing and stopping in the same carriage," guarding political ethics with the stubbornness of "one husband and one wife," laying a solid skeleton for the Sui Dynasty between thrift and the rule of law, becoming the other half of the soul of the "Kaihuang Governance."】

"Deeply participating in the construction of the empire... laying a solid skeleton... the other half of the soul of the Kaihuang Governance..."

This evaluation was extremely high, raising Empress Dugu's role to a status almost equal to Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, as one of the co-creators of the Sui Dynasty's founding foundation.

This was no longer just a "virtuous helper," but an equal partner in politics.

"The stubbornness of one husband and one wife?"

Liu Bang sneered, "What kind of merit is this? What's wrong with the emperor having a few more women?"

"This Dugu clan looks like a vinegar jar, and it even became guarding political ethics?"

Lv Zhi said coldly: "Your Majesty naturally feels it doesn't matter. However, not distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate, and having multiple favorites side-by-side, has always been the source of harem chaos and the shaking of the country's foundation."

When she said this, her gaze swept over Concubine Qi's direction intentionally or unintentionally, scaring Concubine Qi into a shiver.

Liu Che didn't comment on "one husband and one wife"; he had many in his harem, but he was more concerned about "thrift and the rule of law" and "laying the skeleton."

If Empress Dugu could really have major achievements in these aspects, her "same carriage" might be excusable.

Ying Zheng's gaze flickered.

Legalist governance emphasizes systems and downplays personal feelings.

If this Empress Dugu could really assist Emperor Wen in establishing the legal system, promoting thrifty governance, and stabilizing the foundation of the country, her "participation" would have value.

The saying of "the other half of the soul" seemed exaggerated, but if it were true, her merit could not be ignored.

Li Shimin's expression became solemn: "I also know about the Kaihuang Governance; the granaries were full, laws were passed, and it was the peak of the Sui Dynasty."

"If Empress Dugu was really the 'other half of the soul' of this prosperous age, her merit is great. It's just that this stubbornness of 'one husband and one wife'... is quite peculiar."