Chapter 139

On the celestial screen, accompanied by the flow of golden light, scrolls were slowly unfolded, revealing majestic Han palaces and fields.

A magnificent and steady voice, as if coming from the ancient clouds, echoed between heaven and earth.

【Inventory of the Top Ten Virtuous Empresses in History, Fifth Place—Western Han, Empress Xiaowen Dou, Dou Yifang】

"Dou Yifang? Empress Xiaowen Dou?" The gazes of various dynasties gathered.

This time it was an empress of the Western Han, and it involved the famous "Governance of Wen and Jing."

Before, inventorying Yin Lihua of the Eastern Han already made people admire her virtue of "not competing"; what about this Dou Yifang?

And looking at her evaluation of "not singing, but singing hidden in silence," it seems she took another path of quiet water flowing deep.

"Dou Yifang... my grandmother?"

Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che saw the title on the celestial screen and his heart was shaken, and he stood up suddenly.

The Governance of Wen and Jing was the prosperous age created by his father and grandfather, and it was the foundation for him to display his grand plans.

This Empress Dowager was the highest authority he had to treat cautiously when he succeeded to the throne as a teenager.

He had never examined this grandmother from the perspective of a "virtuous empress"; more of what he felt was her conservatism, stubbornness, and her insistence on Huang-Lao philosophy, which was an "obstacle" to his ambition.

Now, the celestial screen actually ranked her as the fifth virtuous empress? And called her a "pillar of the sea," "minister of the country"?

A complex and difficult-to-describe emotion surged in Liu Che's heart—surprise, examination, and also a trace of sudden realization.

Liu Bang also widened his eyes: "Dou Yifang? The empress of the fourth (Liu Heng)? The pillar of the sea of the Governance of Wen and Jing? Tsk tsk, this daughter-in-law of the fourth's family is so formidable?"

He didn't have much impression of this son (Liu Heng) of his, and didn't know much about his daughter-in-law, but "Governance of Wen and Jing" sounded good; being able to make the world stable and rich was always a good thing.

Emperor Taizong Li Shimin was familiar with Western Han history and nodded upon hearing this.

"Empress Xiaowen Dou indeed has her virtue. Her insistence on Huang-Lao and advocacy of thrift contributed significantly to the rest and recovery in the early Han Dynasty."

"Being able to experience the three reigns of Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, and Emperor Wu without losing her position, and being able to have a continuous influence on national policy, requires wisdom and concentration."

"This 'not singing, but singing hidden in silence' is a quite accurate evaluation."

Empress Zhangsun said: "Your servant also knows that Empress Dowager Dou liked Huang-Lao, constrained the relatives of the empress, and did not value extravagance. Her ability to keep thrift in wealth and know when to stop before power is truly not easy."

"Being able to take 'guarding success' as merit and protect the hard-won prosperous age—this breadth of mind is also virtuous virtue."

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang scratched his head: "Governance of Wen and Jing? I know, it was the best time for the Han Dynasty."

"This empress being able to guard this family business without changing it for the worse and being able to pass it on is a great merit! It's not easy; when a family has money, it's easiest to produce a spendthrift; she can hold it, not bad!"

Empress Ma agreed: "Guarding success is harder than creating it. Being able to be calm and steady in a great situation, not tossing, not being extravagant, constraining family members, and stabilizing the court—this requires great wisdom and concentration. Empress Dou being able to do this is indeed a virtuous empress."

【Immediately, the celestial screen begins to tell】

【The governance of the world lies in the court, and also in the palace.】

【History books often record the achievements of emperors, but there are often women who stand behind the curtain, using soft and tough shoulders to carry the national fortune of a country.】

【The fifth virtuous empress discussed today is such a "minister of the country" who "does not sing, but sings hidden in silence."】

"Minister of the country..."

Liu Che chewed on this term, his heart shaken even more.

To call a woman deep in the palace a "minister of the country" was such a high evaluation!

This meant that her actions had already exceeded the scope of the harem and had a substantive and positive impact on the fundamental fate of the country.

He couldn't help but recall and examine the various words and deeds of his grandmother.

Great Tang.

"Standing behind the curtain, using soft and tough shoulders to carry the national fortune of a country..."

Li Shimin felt deeply, "Guanyinbi, you are also like this. Many merits are not recorded in history books, but I know them in my heart." He held Empress Zhangsun's hand tightly.

Empress Zhangsun said softly: "Your Majesty is over-praising. Your servant's meager merits, how dare I compare with the sages."

"However, this evaluation of Empress Dou says everything about the subtle connection between the virtuous virtue of the harem and the national fortune; it is not shown on the outside, but the power is on the inside."

Great Qin.

"Not singing, but singing hidden in silence..." Ying Zheng's gaze flickered.

This style was different from the fierceness of Dugu Qieluo and the soft stillness of Yin Lihua.

It was a kind of operation closer to the "Way," silent, but everywhere, exerting force at critical points, guarding the foundation.

This required a higher level of realm and a precise grasp of the situation.

【She ranks fifth, not because her virtue is insufficient, but because her merit lies in "guarding success" and "continuation."】

【She is not like Empress Lv who grabbed power, nor like Zhangsun who was sharp and exposed in assisting in politics; she became the pillar of the sea that allowed the Governance of Wen and Jing to run through three dynasties without breaking, in a way that was almost silent.】

"Merit lies in guarding success and continuation... pillar of the sea..."

Liu Bang touched his chin, "It sounds like she didn't toss around, stabilized the good policies and good days left by the fourth (Liu Heng), passed them on to the grandson, and also helped see the great-grandson grow up."

"This job, looking inconspicuous, is extremely important! Having such a steady person in the family is a blessing."

Lv Zhi heard "not like Empress Lv who grabbed power," and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, but the celestial screen immediately pointed out the merits of "guarding success" and "continuation," and called her a "pillar of the sea," which forced her to think calmly.

The celestial screen had mentioned her future governance before; while it had merits like consolidating the Liu family and striking at meritorious officials, it also triggered a lot of turmoil, and the aftermath was a mess.

And this Dou Yifang seemed to have achieved longer-term stability in another way. Which is better or worse?

Liu Che had the most complex emotions at this moment.

"Running through three dynasties without breaking..."

The education he received since childhood was that the prosperity of the Governance of Wen and Jing was the merit of his father and grandfather.

Now it seems that this Empress Dowager, who lived deep in the palace, was actually the key figure in ensuring that this "prosperous age" did not break and transitioned smoothly?

Were those "conservative" measures of hers that he felt were in his way when he was young actually the guarantee of this "non-breaking"?

"Pillar of the sea..."

Li Shimin sighed, "A country has major policies, and it is precious to persevere; the most taboo is to change orders in the morning and evening, and for the policy to die with the person."

"Empress Dou being able to ensure that the national policy of 'resting with the people' continued across two generations of monarchs with her special status is a great merit."

"Many enlightened monarchs and wise ministers might not be able to do this. This power of 'guarding' can be called the essence of governing a country."

Great Ming.

"Being able to let good policies pass on without changing their appearance is harder than formulating policies!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had a deep understanding of this point,

"I am afraid that later generations will change the rules I set!"

"This Empress Dou being able to stare at it, not letting people below mess around, and also managing the family well, not letting them be spendthrifts—this is a great merit! This 'pillar of the sea' is well-deserved!"

【One, For the country: Insisting on Huang-Lao, protecting people's livelihood in the invisible.】

【Her merit lies first in setting policy.】

【When Emperor Wen was on the throne, she was the empress, deeply influenced by Huang-Lao philosophy, and knew that the Qin perished because of harsh government and the people were distressed by corvee.】

【Emperor Wen passed away, Emperor Jing succeeded to the throne; at that time, there were already undercurrents of reform in the court, and there were many who were radical and wanted to change things.】

【If the national policy was shaken at this time, the results of more than ten years of rest and recovery in the Wen and Jing eras might be destroyed in one day.】

【It was her, with the dignity of the Empress Dowager, sitting steadily in the palace, clearly expressing her stance: The laws of the ancestors and the art of Huang-Lao cannot be easily abandoned.】

【She did not directly refute the ministers, but showed the world with actions—those who advocated strict laws and major construction would not find a door to enter.】

【It was precisely this heavy "guarding" of hers that allowed the Jing Emperor's reign to continue to implement "light taxes and corvee, rest with the people,"】

【Making the Han family treasury full and the people able to truly breathe on the ruins of the war at the end of the Qin Dynasty.】