Chapter 135

【Merit One: The palace is the court.

Called "Two Sages" with Emperor Wen, creating the precedent of "holding court in the same carriage."

Every day at the fifth watch, the emperor and empress rode in a small carriage into the cabinet together, and set up a green tent beside the Ziwei Hall to discuss state affairs together.

History records: "The empress followed ritual in everything, but if the emperor had any mistakes, she would remonstrate with a stern face, and the emperor would always follow."】

The scene showed in detail the scene of the emperor and empress riding in a simple small carriage together at the fifth watch every day, before dawn, under the silent escort of guards and palace maids, heading to the Ziwei Hall.

In the green tent of the side hall, Empress Dugu sat upright, listening to reports and discussing state affairs with Emperor Wen.

When Emperor Wen had any impropriety, she looked solemn and remonstrated directly, and Emperor Wen often followed.

"Every day at the fifth watch... riding into the cabinet together... if there were mistakes, she would remonstrate with a stern face, and the emperor would always follow..."

Seeing this specific scene, the perceptions of many people began to change.

This was not an occasional overstepping, but a long-term, institutionalized joint governance.

And looking at her remonstrance, the emperor "always followed," showing that her opinions were often correct, had weight, and were not unreasonable.

"Actually able to do this..."

Liu Che was a bit unbelievable.

For an emperor to tolerate an empress participating in state affairs like this for a long time, and to follow her remonstrance, either the empress's talent was truly extraordinary and indispensable, or the couple's affection and trust were extremely deep, or perhaps both.

He began to put away part of his contempt.

"Followed ritual... remonstrated with a stern face..." Ying Zheng captured these few words.

This shows that Empress Dugu's participation in politics was not wanton, but followed ritual and rules, in the form of "remonstrance," with the goal of correcting the emperor's mistakes.

This was more like an extremely responsible "chief remonstrator" or "deputy" who was extremely trusted by the emperor.

"The emperor would always follow..."

Li Shimin savored these three words and suddenly felt a bit envious.

To have such a wise, upright, and courageous partner by one's side to remind and benefit one at any time—for a monarch, what a fortune!

Empress Zhangsun often remonstrated with him, but mostly in the harem; she had never participated in core decision-making publicly and regularly like this.

Perhaps, in some special periods, this model indeed had its effect?

Cheng Yaojin muttered: "This empress is formidable; she goes to court every day, and if the emperor is wrong, she dares to scold him to his face, and the emperor listens?"

"This Emperor Wen of Sui has a really good temper... no, it's that this empress really has ability."

Zhu Yuanzhang was still a bit awkward: "But that can't break the rules; the empress is the empress, how can she sit in the court every day?"

"However... if she can really help the emperor govern the country well and make fewer mistakes, it seems... it's not completely unacceptable?"

"Don't I also listen to what my sister says sometimes?" He looked at Empress Ma.

Empress Ma smiled without saying a word.

【Merit Two: Plain clothes to stabilize the tripod.

Leading by example to promote the "Kaihuang Thrifty Governance"—

Ordered the six palaces to change silk to plain silk, and all the saved Shu brocade was used as compensation for the soldiers who pacified Chen;

Abolished the "Lantern Festival all-night palace lanterns," and changed the cost of burning lanterns to build three hundred "Ever-Normal Righteous Granaries";

Even because the concubines of Crown Prince Yang Yong made too many gold hairpins, she angrily scolded: "Do you want to imitate the extravagance and demise of the Northern Zhou?"】

On the celestial screen, the concubines and palace maids of the six palaces took off their silk and satin and changed into plain silk dresses.

The expensive Shu brocade saved was packed and transported to the military camp, distributed to the soldiers who had made contributions in pacifying Chen.

The grand Lantern Festival palace lantern party was canceled, and the huge expenses saved were turned into three hundred "Ever-Normal Righteous Granaries" spread across prefectures and counties.

Inside the Crown Prince's East Palace, facing the concubines dressed in gorgeous clothes, Empress Dugu spoke with a stern face, scolding them for extravagance and taking the demise of the Northern Zhou as a warning.

"Change silk to plain silk... save brocade to compensate soldiers... abolish lantern festival to build righteous granaries..."

Liu Che saw this and was finally moved.

This was not empty talk, but a concrete act of thrift and benefiting the people.

Reducing palace expenses to reward soldiers and fill the national treasury was the act of an enlightened monarch.

Even the Crown Prince's concubines making gold hairpins had to be managed, which showed that her thrift was for real, not just a superficial gesture.

Ying Zheng nodded slightly: "Focusing on practicality, removing vanity, strengthening the military and preparing for disasters. This woman has a pragmatic style and quite a Legalist spirit."

"To be able to constrain the palace to this extent, it is impossible without great perseverance. The Kaihuang Governance indeed has a foundation."

Li Shimin praised: "Leading by example and promoting thrifty governance from top to bottom, the effect is the most significant."

"Using the savings from the palace directly for soldiers' compensation and disaster preparation is putting 'thrift' into practice."

"Scolding the Crown Prince for extravagance and pointing directly to the warning of the Northern Zhou's demise shows far-sighted vision. With such an empress, the trend of palace extravagance is hard to rise, which is a great benefit to the country."

Three Kingdoms plane.

"Three hundred Ever-Normal Righteous Granaries..."

Cao Cao also praised, "This is a great good; storing grain in prosperous years and providing relief in disaster years can save thousands of common people."

"Empress Dugu not only has the virtue of thrift but also the heart of benevolent governance. Her strictness with herself and her children also makes the family style and court discipline solemn."

【Merit Three: Iron law to constrain the relatives of the empress.

Her brother Dugu Tuo asked for an official position, and she threw back the request letter:

"How can our family produce a disaster-causing person again?"

And set up the "Dugu Family Precepts," where any clan member who is a prefect must use more than half of their annual salary to buy grain to fill the local righteous granaries.】

In the scene, Empress Dugu faced her brother's request letter and threw it back without hesitation, her words stern.

She even promulgated the "Dugu Family Precepts," stipulating that clan members who were local officials must use half of their salary to buy grain to fill local righteous granaries.

Once this precept was issued, Dugu clan members who were officials were all cautious and diligent in their duties, loving the people, and did not dare to rely on their status as relatives of the empress to do evil.

"Threw back the request letter... established family precepts to constrain relatives..."

Liu Che saw this and was already convinced.

Constraining the relatives of the empress was an eternal problem.

This Empress Dugu could not only refuse the requests of her closest relatives but also establish strict family rules, forcing clan members to restrain themselves and even give back to the local area.

This wisdom, this determination, this public spirit, far exceeded ordinary men!

"How can our family produce a disaster-causing person again?"

Ying Zheng repeated these words in a low voice, his eyes revealing appreciation.

To have such a clear understanding and take the initiative to prevent the disaster of the relatives of the empress—this woman's political wisdom can be called first-class.

Establishing family rules to buy grain with salary to fill granaries was even more turning constraints into positive contributions, turning harm into benefit—wonderful!

"Good! What a great iron law to constrain the relatives of the empress!"

Li Shimin applauded, "This is the true far-sightedness, preserving the family and even more stabilizing the country!"

"Empress Dugu's move is one step further than Empress Cao who burned the letter and set up the monument; not only prohibiting requests but also making the relatives of the empress officials have to make positive contributions. High, truly high!"

Zhu Yuanzhang praised this point endlessly: "This is the right way to deal with the relatives of the empress; don't let them rely on their power to bully people, and make them pay money to buy grain for the common people—this rule is set well! I should also learn from it!"

"No, my rules must be stricter, but I admire Empress Dugu for being able to do this!"

Empress Ma was also deeply impressed: "Being able to constrain her closest relatives to this extent and guide them toward good requires great wisdom, courage, and public spirit. Empress Dugu is truly a heroine among women."

【Merit Four: Political cleanliness behind the name of jealousy.

Caned to death the Yuchi woman who seduced Emperor Wen, and said directly, "Not confusing public affairs with private ones is true jealousy";

Wrote "one husband and one wife" into the preface of the "Kaihuang Law": "Governing a country is like governing a family; if the legitimate is correct, the illegitimate will be peaceful," objectively curbing the chronic illness of clan princes taking many concubines and breeding internal strife.】

The celestial screen showed the scene where Empress Dugu caned the palace maid Yuchi to death because she seduced Emperor Wen.

But what was even more shocking was her direct words afterward—"Not confusing public affairs with private ones is true jealousy."

Then, the scene showed that in the preface of the "Kaihuang Law," there were indeed words she advocated adding, such as "Governing a country is like governing a family; if the legitimate is correct, the illegitimate will be peaceful," which emphasized family ethics and implicitly advocated one husband and one wife.

This move played a subtle role in constraining clan princes from taking many concubines and reducing internal strife.