Chapter 136

"Caned the palace maid to death... 'not confusing public affairs with private ones'?"

Liu Bang smacked his lips, "This jealousy... and she even said such a big truth. However, it seems a bit interesting? If the emperor is obsessed with female beauty all day and delays state affairs, it is indeed confusing public affairs with private ones."

Lv Zhi's eyes flashed, and she said in a low voice: "These words are not false. If a monarch indulges in sensual pleasures and alienates his legitimate wife, he is easily misled by villains, and state affairs will be chaotic."

"Empress Dugu's move, although cruel, is what she maintains, perhaps not just private feelings, but the peace of the court and the dignity of the law."

"Writing the principle of 'one husband and one wife' into the law preface is even more integrating family and national ethics, with a high starting point."

Liu Che didn't agree with the caning, feeling it was too cruel, but he fell into deep thought about the saying "not confusing public affairs with private ones" and writing it into the law preface.

The struggle between legitimate and illegitimate is indeed a major source of turmoil in the palace and the clan.

If the legitimate line can be clarified and internal friction reduced, it is indeed beneficial to the country.

This Empress Dugu was trying to solve the problem from the root, although the means and methods... were a bit unique.

"Governing a country is like governing a family; if the legitimate is correct, the illegitimate will be peaceful..." Ying Zheng recited this sentence.

Legalism also emphasizes status, and not distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate easily leads to chaos.

Incorporating this concept into the fundamental law of the country, although there is a suspicion of using the family to explain the country, in the patriarchal society at that time, it might help stabilize the governing order.

This Dugu clan actually had the consciousness of legalizing ethical concepts?

Li Shimin's expression was complex.

He had personally experienced the cruelty of the Xuanwu Gate Incident where brothers killed each other, and had a painful experience of the cruelty of internal struggles in the imperial family.

If there could be a clearer set of ethical norms (although it was the idealized "one husband and one wife, legitimate is correct") to reduce internal strife, perhaps... he looked at Empress Zhangsun and held her hand.

Empress Zhangsun returned a gentle and firm gaze.

Zhu Yuanzhang agreed with the five words "not confusing public affairs with private ones."

"If the emperor is soaked in women all day and doesn't manage state affairs, isn't that confusing public affairs with private ones?"

"This Empress Dugu managing strictly might be a good thing."

"As for writing it into the law... it's a bit interesting, at least it makes those princes restrain themselves and produce fewer messy sons to fight each other."

【Summary: She is like a plain silver hairpin nailed into the lifeblood of the Sui Dynasty.

When later generations ridiculed her for being "jealous," the old farmers in Guanzhong still remembered "when Empress Dugu was there, prefectural officials did not dare to ride fat horses"—

Because the horses pulling the Empress's phoenix carriage were always four blue-maned horses of the same color.】

"Prefectural officials did not dare to ride fat horses... Empress's phoenix carriage only used blue-maned horses..."

This final folk memory was better than a thousand words of praise.

The empress's extreme thrift and self-discipline formed a powerful demonstration effect and moral pressure, making local officials not dare to be extravagant, and officialdom became solemn.

A seemingly inconspicuous "plain silver hairpin" firmly fixed the clean atmosphere of an era.

"What a great 'did not dare to ride fat horses'!"

Li Shimin praised, "Leading by example, the effect is the most significant. If the empress is thrifty, the six palaces dare not be extravagant. If the empress is thrifty, the officials dare not be indulgent. This kind of silent education is better than strict laws."

"Empress Dugu is truly a heroine of a generation, the other half of the soul of the Kaihuang Governance, well-deserved!"

Ying Zheng finally nodded slightly: "To be able to lead by example, change customs, and make the atmosphere of officialdom clean—this is the foundation of great governance."

Liu Che also admired: "Constraining the relatives of the empress, promoting thrifty governance, rectifying officialdom, stabilizing the foundation of the country... every single one is a major task of governing the country."

"This Empress Dugu is not an ordinary harem woman, but a capable minister who does not leave the court."

"No, she is a ruler who can keep pace with the emperor; I... underestimated her."

【The celestial screen specially bestows the following rewards:

Ten years of added lifespan, grain production in the Great Sui territory doubled, and the cure rate of national diseases increased by two times.】

The rewards were announced, once again highlighting her focus on merits—grain and people's livelihood.

Ten years of added lifespan allowed her to guard the foundation she co-created with Emperor Wen for longer.

Doubling grain production was the greatest affirmation and strengthening of her policies such as valuing agriculture and establishing righteous granaries.

Increasing the cure rate of diseases was even more benevolent governance that benefited all people.

Great Sui, during the Kaihuang era.

In the Daming Palace, Emperor Wen Yang Jian and Empress Dugu Qieluo were having dinner together, and the food was simple.

The celestial screen appeared, and when he saw that Dugu Qieluo was ranked seventh on the Virtuous Empress List and her many future merits were displayed in detail,

Yang Jian was stunned for a moment, then put down his chopsticks, held Dugu Qieluo's hand tightly, his eyes full of undisguised excitement, pride, and deep admiration.

"Qieluo! Did you see? The Immortal on the celestial screen said you are the seventh virtuous empress through the ages, and my Kaihuang Governance also has half of your credit."

Yang Jian's voice was trembling,

"Without you, how could I have today, how could the Great Sui have the Kaihuang Governance?"

"Holding court in the same carriage, setting state affairs together, thrift and anti-corruption, constraining the relatives of the empress... every single one is your hard work!"

"I... I got you as my empress, it is Heaven's blessing, it is the Great Sui's fortune!"

Dugu Qieluo looked at herself in the future on the celestial screen,

Those strict, stubborn, and even somewhat cruel behaviors were analyzed one by one by the celestial screen and given such high evaluation, and her heart was also turbulent.

She did these things because of the lessons of the Northern Zhou's demise, because of her unreserved support for her husband's career, and because of her inner persistence in order, thrift, and justice; she never thought that she would be remembered by all ages in this way.

"Your Majesty..."

She held Yang Jian's hand back, her eyes red,

"Your servant's temper is stubborn, and her handling of things is strict, often causing criticism."

"Being able to get Your Majesty's constant trust and walk side by side is already your servant's greatest fortune. Now that I have this honor from the Immortal on the celestial screen, your servant... feels ashamed."

"No! You deserve it!"

Yang Jian said decisively, "Your remonstrance made me make fewer mistakes;

Your thrift saved the court so much expense and benefited so many soldiers and people;

You constrained the Dugu family, saving me from so many troubles from the relatives of the empress.

Your 'jealousy'... I understand, you are afraid that I will confuse public affairs with private ones and disrupt the court.

Qieluo, you are my mirror, my arm, and even more my... other half of my soul!"

When the rewards were announced, Yang Jian was even more overjoyed,

"Ten years of added lifespan, good! I want to stay with you for a long time and share this peaceful and prosperous age!"

"Grain doubled, disease cure rate increased... this is Heaven blessing the Great Sui, the fortune of the people! Qieluo, this is all because your virtuous virtue moved Heaven!"

Dugu Qieluo felt the vitality bursting in her body (the reward took effect), looked at her husband's ecstatic appearance.

Listening to the cheers of the people faintly coming from outside the palace (the news of grain doubling had spread rapidly), her heart was full of warmth and strength.

She looked toward the celestial screen, stood side by side with Yang Jian, and bowed solemnly:

"Dugu Qieluo, thanks the Immortal for bestowing these rewards!"

"Your servant and Your Majesty will definitely be diligent and love the people, making our Great Sui peaceful and prosperous, to repay the grace of Heaven!"

【In the celestial screen scene, she, in her twilight years, is personally mending Emperor Wen's old robe when she suddenly hears the report from Jiangnan that "all three hundred righteous granaries are full."】

She stops her needle and looks at the continuous spring rain outside the hall, saying softly to Emperor Wen:

"The daughter of the Dugu family knows best that in chaotic times, a peck of millet is heavier than a hundred bushels of pearls and jade."

Outside the palace wall, the rice shop in the West Market of Chang'an is hanging out a new sign: One peck of rice for three coins.】

This final scene and words said everything about the fundamental reason why she was obsessed with thrift and valued grain all her life—

It stemmed from the deep memory of the suffering in chaotic times and the clear understanding of the foundation of people's livelihood.

One peck of rice for three coins was the symbol of the Kaihuang prosperous age and the most simple and powerful footnote to her life's merits.

The seventh place on the Virtuous Empress List, Empress Wenxian Dugu Qieluo, with her unique, highly controversial but meritorious "same carriage" way of participating in politics,

With her extreme thrift, spirit of the rule of law, and persistent protection of political ethics, left a heavy and indelible mark in history.

Emperors of all dynasties looked at their empresses, looking forward to their empresses also making this Virtuous Empress List...