Chapter 137

【Inventory of the Top Ten Virtuous Empresses in History, Sixth Place—Eastern Han, Empress Guanglie Yin Lihua】

"Yin Lihua? Empress Guanglie? The empress of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han?"

The gazes of various dynasties were attracted again.

The Eastern Han, a dynasty that contributed "talents" like Emperor Ling of Han to the incompetent ruler list, could actually produce such a virtuous empress?

The Restoration of Guangwu and the Governance of Ming and Zhang were both rare prosperous ages in the Eastern Han; it seems that this empress, who was in the midst of it, must have extraordinary qualities.

"The empress of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu..."

Liu Bang touched his chin and became interested.

"Liu Xiu, this kid, is a rising star of our old Liu family; I must take a good look at his empress."

Lv Zhi also watched intently, but was quite curious about this empress who seemed to have an excellent reputation.

Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng's gaze was calm; the celestial screen had talked about this Liu Xiu when inventorying the top ten emperors before, and an empress who could assist the monarch in rebuilding the country must have extraordinary qualities.

Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che was lifted in spirit.

The Eastern Han was not his direct line, but it belonged to the world of the Liu Han.

Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu had a high evaluation in his heart; he was a figure who could revitalize the Han Dynasty.

Her empress being able to rank sixth on the Virtuous Empress List must have her virtue.

He couldn't help but sit up straight, wanting to see where this "virtue" lay.

Emperor Taizong Li Shimin was familiar with Eastern Han history and nodded upon hearing this:

"Empress Guanglie Yin Lihua has long had a virtuous name. Her 'elegant nature and benevolence' are recorded in history. To be able to accompany Guangwu through the chaotic times of the two Han dynasties, experience hardships, and finally become the mother of the world is not an ordinary woman."

Empress Zhangsun said softly: "Your servant once heard that Empress Yin was thrifty, did not like extravagance, and could constrain the relatives of the empress and stabilize the harem. Her style of 'keeping quiet and holding the middle' can serve as a model for the harem."

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know much about Eastern Han history, but hearing "Restoration of Guangwu," he said: "An empress who can follow a good emperor to fight for the world and sit on the throne can't be bad. Let's see how she is virtuous."

Empress Ma nodded in agreement.

【The celestial screen begins to tell】

【In the seventeenth year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu deposed Empress Guo and established Yin Lihua as empress.

History records her as "elegant in nature and benevolent, with the virtue of a mother."

However, her virtue lies not in power-grabbing and interfering in politics, but in "keeping quiet and holding the middle, transforming the inner palace with virtue, using softness to overcome hardness, and helping to set the style of the world."】

"Deposing and establishing an empress... keeping quiet and holding the middle, transforming the inner palace with virtue... using softness to overcome hardness..."

Liu Che's eyebrows wrinkled imperceptibly when he heard "deposing and establishing an empress."

Changing the empress often brings turmoil.

But this Yin Lihua could resolve it with a state of "keeping quiet and holding the middle" and "transforming the inner palace with virtue"; it seems her way of dealing with people indeed has unique qualities.

Not interfering in politics, yet being able to help set the style of the world—this "softness" skill is probably practiced to the extreme.

"Not interfering in politics..."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly; this met his bottom-line requirement for a "virtuous empress."

Being able to influence with virtue rather than interfering with power is a higher realm.

"Using softness to overcome hardness, helping to set the style of the world..."

Li Shimin savored these words, "It seems this empress takes a path completely different from Dugu Qieluo."

"Empress Dugu was fierce and aggressive, actively participating, while Empress Yin is soft, quiet, and introverted, transforming people with virtue."

"Both have their effects, and both can be called virtuous. It's just that this 'softness' skill is probably harder to practice."

Wei Zheng said: "Your Majesty's words are very true; fierceness is easy to practice, but softness is hard to do. Being able to control movement with stillness and transform people with virtue, making the harem peaceful and the court and field at ease, is great wisdom."

"Not competing is competing, not showing is showing; perhaps it is even more brilliant."

"Not interfering in politics is good." Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with this point.

"A woman should manage the family, raise children, manage the harem well, and not interfere in the affairs of the court; that is virtuous. This Empress Yin seems to be a sensible person."

【One: Ranking Reason

Yin Lihua was born in the chaotic times of the two Han dynasties, followed Liu Xiu through wars and displacement, and deeply understood the suffering of the people.

Her virtue has three points:

1. Restraining oneself and following ritual, establishing the law of the harem.

During the deposition and establishment of Empress Guo, the court and the field were in turmoil.

Yin Lihua was established as empress, not arrogant or jealous, constrained the relatives of the Yin family, strictly forbade interference in politics, and made the harem turn from fighting for favor to being thrifty and observing ritual, saving Emperor Guangwu from worries in the inner curtain.

2. Advocating thrift and suppressing extravagance, correcting the style of the world.

She "wore no heavy colors, and her utensils had no gold or jade," took the lead in reducing expenses, and remonstrated with Liu Xiu to reduce taxes and corvee.

During the Jianwu era, the political situation gradually stabilized, and the trend of extravagance began to appear. Yin Lihua led by example, curbed palace waste, and saved the "Restoration of Guangwu" from the danger of corruption.

3. Using softness to hold hardness, stabilizing the court and people's hearts.

Crown Prince Liu Qiang (born of Empress Guo) had a sensitive status. Yin Lihua did not get involved in the deposition, but instead treated his mother and son kindly, helping Liu Xiu complete the change of crown prince smoothly (later establishing her son Liu Zhuang as Emperor Ming), avoiding the splitting of the political situation.

Her virtue resolved potential factional strife and laid the foundation for the 'Governance of Ming and Zhang'.】

The celestial screen analyzed Yin Lihua's virtuous virtue one by one, especially when dealing with sensitive issues such as deposition, relatives of the empress, and the change of crown prince, showing it to the fullest.

"Constraining the relatives of the empress, strictly forbidding interference in politics... good!" Liu Che praised first.

Yin Lihua being able to take the initiative to constrain her mother's family and not get involved in state affairs is one of the greatest virtuous virtues and the most practical performance of sharing worries for the monarch.

"During the deposition, not arrogant or jealous, but instead establishing the law of the harem..." Lv Zhi felt a stir in her heart.

She had a complex experience herself and knew deeply that when the empress position changed, the new empress was often prone to being arrogant and suppressing dissidents.

Yin Lihua, however, could be not arrogant or jealous, quickly stabilize the harem, and turn to being thrifty and observing ritual; this concentration and breadth of mind were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

She asked herself, if she were in a similar situation, she might not be able to do it.

"Wore no heavy colors, and her utensils had no gold or jade... remonstrated to reduce taxes and corvee..." Ying Zheng nodded.

Thrift is a virtue, and being able to remonstrate with the monarch to benefit the people is an even greater virtuous assistance.

This Empress Yin was not blindly obedient; she also had remonstrance on major issues concerning the national economy and people's livelihood.

"Treating the son of the deposed empress kindly, not getting involved in the deposition, but instead helping to complete the smooth change... " Li Shimin's expression was solemn.

This is the most rare! Deposing the crown prince and establishing a new successor is a major matter of the country's foundation, which is most likely to trigger court turmoil and even blood and rain.

Yin Lihua, as a stakeholder (her son would benefit), could not participate in it, but instead treated the mother and son of the original crown prince kindly, influenced them with virtue, and helped Liu Xiu transition smoothly; this required what kind of wisdom, breadth of mind, and restraint.

This is no longer just virtuous virtue, but extremely high political wisdom and benevolent heart.

This move laid the foundation for the "Governance of Ming and Zhang," and the merit is immense!

"Not getting involved in the deposition... treating the mother and son of the deposed crown prince kindly..." Liu Che also felt deeply shocked.

He was exhausted by the matter of establishing a successor in his later years; if there were such a sensible, overall-situation-considering, and able-to-turn-hostility-into-friendship empress by his side, how much trouble would be saved, and how many tragedies would be avoided!

This Yin Lihua is truly the fortune of the Liu family and the luck of the Han Dynasty!

"See that? Sister!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Empress Ma, "This is the truly good empress; not competing or grabbing, managing the family well, not letting relatives come out to cause trouble, living thriftily herself, and persuading the emperor to be good to the common people."

"The most rare thing is being kind to the child born of the previous empress, not doing bad things; this is great virtue! Ten thousand times better than those poisonous women who only think about letting their own sons be crown princes and framing others!"

Empress Ma was also deeply impressed: "She is indeed a great virtuous person. Being able to treat others so generously, especially treating the imperial sons not born of herself kindly, is impossible without a supreme benevolent heart."

"Her 'not competing' is actually 'great competition', competing for the stability of the country, the harmony of the imperial family; your servant admires her."

Zhu Di also nodded: "Being able to handle the change of crown prince so smoothly and avoid internal friction is of immeasurable merit to the country."

"This Empress Yin, seemingly weak, is actually full of hills and valleys in her chest, and her virtue can convince the public."

Three Kingdoms plane.

"Not competing, and no one in the world can compete with it..."

Cao Cao sighed, "These words capture the essence of Taoism and are also a very high way of dealing with the world."

"Yin Lihua is well-versed in this principle, using not competing to compete, using softness to overcome hardness, and resolving storms into invisibility."

"Her realm is beyond the reach of ordinary harem women; Emperor Guangwu getting such a virtuous empress is such a fortune."

Liu Bei was moved and said: "Such a virtuous empress is truly a model for the wives of our Liu family, broad-minded and thrifty, harmonious in the harem, kind to the sons of others, and stabilizing the foundation of the country."

"If all the empresses in the world were like this, where would there be so many palace tragedies and the shaking of the country's foundation?"

Zhuge Liang waved his fan and praised: "Her virtue lies in virtue, and her merit lies in transformation. Not arrogant because of favor, not extravagant because of nobility, not involved in dangerous places but able to stabilize the overall situation."

"Using the quiet virtue of one person to stop the disputes of the harem, to calm the heart and spirit of the court, to assist the monarch in achieving the cause of restoration, and to start the prosperous age of later generations."

"This kind of 'quiet water flowing deep' merit, moisturizing things silently, benefiting far and wide. Sixth place, well-deserved."