Chapter 153

The picture flows, it is the Zhenguan period.

Taiji Palace Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun is flipping through the account book.

Although she is the empress, she is dressed simply, the furnishings in the hall are simple, and there is no gold or jade decoration.

"Empress,"

The female official presented a list, "The Shanggong Bureau plans to make a new phoenix crown for the Empress, using a hundred eastern pearls, gold..."

"No need."

Empress Zhangsun interrupted, "My current crown and clothes are still wearable. Convert these gold, silver, and pearls into silver, and allocate them to the Taicang for disaster relief."

The female official hesitated: "But tomorrow is the Empress's birthday, and envoys from all countries are coming to congratulate, if it is too simple, I am afraid it will lose the dignity of the heavenly dynasty..."

Empress Zhangsun shook her head: "Dignity does not lie in clothes, but in virtue."

"His Majesty often says: use copper as a mirror to straighten clothes;

Use history as a mirror to know the rise and fall;

Use people as a mirror to know gains and losses.

I am the mother of the world, and I should be a model for the harem, how can I be extravagant?"

She paused, and said: "Pass my decree: from today on, the expenses of the harem will be reduced by 30%. Half of the saved silver will be allocated to the Taicang, and half will be used to set up 'Ci'ou Bureaus' in Chang'an and Luoyang to adopt lonely and suffering children."

"Yes!" The female official stood up in respect.

One day, Tang Taizong Li Shimin returned from the morning court, furious.

"Why is Your Majesty angry?" Empress Zhangsun greeted him.

Li Shimin snorted: "It's Zhangsun Wuji! I wanted to enfeoff him as Situ, but he actually refused in public in the court, saying 'relatives should not be powerful', making me unable to come down from the stage!"

Empress Zhangsun smiled: "Your Majesty, brother is doing this for Your Majesty's good, and also for his own good."

"Oh?"

"Your Majesty, think about it," Empress Zhangsun said warmly, "The disasters of Lv and Huo in the Han Dynasty were all because relatives were powerful."

"Although brother is loyal, the name of relatives is easy to cause criticism."

"He refused today, just to show the world: the Zhangsun family only wants to be loyal ministers, not powerful relatives. This is to preserve Your Majesty's holy name, and also to preserve the long-term way of the Zhangsun family."

Li Shimin's anger gradually dissipated, and he sighed: "Guanyinbi, you are always so reasonable, it's just that Wuji has great merits, if I don't reward him, I feel uneasy."

Empress Zhangsun said: "Your Majesty can reward gold, silver, fields, and houses, and give his descendants grace, but important positions in the court, especially the position of prime minister, must not be given to brother. This is for the country, and also for the Zhangsun family."

Li Shimin held her hand: "I have Guanyinbi, why worry about the court not being peaceful?"

The sixth year of Zhenguan.

Li Shimin was directly contradicted by Wei Zheng in the court, and returned to Lizheng Hall angrily, slapping the table and shouting:

"I must kill this country bumpkin!"

Empress Zhangsun heard this and retreated without a word.

A moment later, she came in full dress, and bowed solemnly to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was stunned: "Guanyinbi, you are..."

Empress Zhangsun looked up and said righteously: "I congratulate Your Majesty."

"Congratulations on what?"

"I heard 'the master is bright, the minister is straight'. Now Wei Zheng dares to speak directly, just because Your Majesty is a wise monarch who can accept advice."

"Having such a straight minister is Your Majesty's blessing, and the Great Tang's blessing. How can I not congratulate?"

Li Shimin was stunned, and after a while, laughed loudly, and his anger disappeared.

"Good 'the master is bright, the minister is straight'! Guanyinbi, this congratulation of yours saved Wei Zheng and also saved my virtuous name!"

He helped Empress Zhangsun up and sighed: "I have you, have Wei Zheng, have Fang and Du, why worry about the Great Tang not being prosperous?"

Empress Zhangsun not only persuaded the monarch, but also set rules for the harem.

She read extensively, collected the virtues of empresses and concubines of past dynasties, and compiled "Women's Rules" in ten chapters.

"Mother, who wrote this book?"

Crown Prince Li Chengqian asked curiously.

Empress Zhangsun stroked her son's head and said warmly: "This was written by mother for the harem, and also for the women of the world."

"The book records the deeds of virtuous empresses and concubines of past dynasties, intending to let women know etiquette and cultivate virtue."

She opened a page and pointed to Li Chengqian:

"Look, this is Empress Mingde Ma of the Han Dynasty, she was diligent, frugal, and benevolent, restraining her relatives; this is Empress He Xi Deng of the Eastern Han Dynasty, she was knowledgeable and assisted the young master..."

"Mother hopes that women in later generations can use this book as a mirror to cultivate themselves, manage their families, assist their husbands, and raise their children."

Li Chengqian nodded, not quite understanding.

Empress Zhangsun said to the female officials around her:

"Copy this book and distribute it to the concubines, princesses, and noblewomen in the harem. Let them read and think often, and stand with virtue."

Once "Women's Rules" came out, the atmosphere of the Zhenguan harem was cleared.

Concubines did not fight for favor, princesses were not arrogant, and noblewomen all knew etiquette.

Later generations called this book and Ban Zhao's "Women's Precepts" together, becoming an important classic for women's education in ancient times.

At this moment, the dynasties and times were silent.

All emperors and generals were conquered by the wisdom and virtue of this empress.

Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng sighed: "This woman can be called a 'perfect person'. Frugal, reasonable, good at remonstrance, literary... what is even more rare is that all her actions are out of public heart."

"If I had such a virtuous empress, perhaps... Great Qin would not have died in the second generation."

This sentence, spoken from the mouth of a proud emperor, weighed more than a thousand catties.

Han Gaozu Liu Bang was completely convinced at this moment, and whispered to Xiao He:

"This first place... well-deserved."

Xiao He was solemn: "This woman's virtue is close to a sage. Your Majesty, I think we should order the noblewomen of the harem to learn "Women's Rules"."

Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che held Wei Zifu's hand tightly and sighed: "Zifu, I understand now, the virtue of a virtuous empress lies not in how great the achievements are, but in how pure the virtue is."

"The virtue of Empress Zhangsun is like a clear lotus, natural and unadorned. She... is worthy of this first place through the ages."

Wei Zifu nodded gently, her eyes full of admiration.

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was still unconvinced: "Why didn't my sister be on the list? Give me an explanation!"

Empress Ma comforted: "Chongba, it's okay, maybe the immortal has other arrangements."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and had to continue watching.

Young Zhu Biao and Zhu Di both hoped that their mother could be on the list, but this first place has already been ranked... sigh!

The sky screen scene turned dark.

The tenth year of Zhenguan, summer.

Empress Zhangsun suddenly fell ill.

The imperial physician was helpless, saying it was a recurrence of an old illness (asthma), combined with years of hard work, and medicine could not cure it.

In the Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun lay on the couch, her face pale, her breath weak.

Li Shimin guarded the couch, holding her hand tightly, his eyes bloodshot.

"Guanyinbi, you must get better... I cannot live without you..."

This emperor who swept the world was choked with sobs at this moment.

Empress Zhangsun smiled weakly: "Erlang... I'm afraid I can't do it, I have a few words... to entrust to Erlang."

"You say, I'm listening."

"First, after I leave, keep the funeral simple, don't waste people and money, don't start construction on the mountain mausoleum."

"I wish to be buried in Jiuzong Mountain, it is high and open, Erlang... can come to accompany me to talk in the future."

Li Shimin's tears fell like rain, nodding repeatedly.