Know all about the secrets of the harem

Chapter 38
Empress Changsun not only praised Wei Yu verbally, but also sent an envoy to give Wei Zheng [-] pieces of silk and [-] pieces of money, and sent a word of mouth saying: "I heard that the justice is upright, and now I see it, so I will reward each other; the public is appropriate." Always hold this heart and don’t transfer it.”

With the support and encouragement of Empress Changsun, Wei Zheng was even more loyal and tried his best. He often rebuked Yan Zhizhi in the court, and he was not afraid of offending the emperor and important ministers.It is precisely because of his loyal admonisher that Tang Taizong avoided many mistakes and became a sage king. In the final analysis, Empress Changsun actually contributed to this.

In the eighth year of Zhenguan, Empress Changsun accompanied Emperor Taizong to visit Jiucheng Palace.An emergency arose one night when a mutiny among the guards was reported.Taizong himself held a weapon and came out to inspect. Empress Changsun was afraid that Taizong would be in danger, so she stood in front of Taizong.Although there was no danger, she was not in good health. She was frightened and contracted a cold, which aroused her old illness, and her condition worsened day by day.

The crown prince Chengqian asked for amnesty for the prisoners and sent them to the Taoist temple to pray for the mother to get rid of the disease. The ministers expressed their gratitude to the empress Shengde and they all agreed, and even the upright Wei Zheng did not raise any objections; but the empress Changsun resolutely opposed it. She said: " Life and death have their own destiny, and wealth and honor are in the sky, which cannot be controlled by humans. If cultivating blessings can prolong life, I have never done evil things; If you disturb because of me, why disturb the laws of the world because of me!" She understands righteousness deeply and never influences state affairs for her own sake, and everyone was moved to tears when they heard this.Tang Taizong had no choice but to give up according to her wishes.

Empress Changsun's illness dragged on for two years, and finally died in the Lizheng Palace in the heat of the tenth year of Zhenguan at the age of 36.When he was dying, Shang Yin Yin asked Tang Taizong to treat his virtuous ministers well and not to let his relatives be prominent; he also asked for a light burial after death, and kept everything simple.

Emperor Taizong of Tang did not completely follow Empress Changsun's wishes for the funeral. He ordered the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum, which was very majestic and magnificent.The wise emperor wanted to express his admiration and nostalgia for his virtuous wife in this way.With her virtuous character and selfless behavior, Empress Changsun not only won the admiration of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty and inside and outside the palace, but also set an example of a good wife and empress for future generations. ".

Empress Ma: From Orphan to Mother
Empress Ma, named Xiuying, was born in Su County, Fengyang, Anhui, and was the adopted daughter of Guo Zixing, the Red Scarf Army of Haozhou.In the 12th year of Zhengzheng (1352), Guo Zixing betrothed him to the general Zhu Yuanzhang.In the history of the Ming Dynasty, she was said to be kind and wise, and she was a good book history.After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang canonized her as queen, trusted her very much, and listened to her opinions many times to forgive ministers for their mistakes.

Therefore, some people compare her with the Empress Changsun, the empress of the Tang Dynasty.

Husband and wife in need

Empress Ma was the original wife of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It is said that she has a pair of big feet.Girls in the countryside have big feet for work, and at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, big feet are easy for escape.

Empress Ma lost her parents since childhood, and was adopted by Guo Zixing, the leader of the Red Turban Army.Later, Zhu Yuanzhang defected to Guo Zixing's tent, rebelled and started a revolution.The history of the Ming Dynasty said that he was "majestic in appearance, with strange bones piercing through the top. His will is so clear that no one can fathom it".

We don't know how strange his appearance is, but Guo Zixing was taken aback anyway, but when he thought that such a character could "increase his own prestige and destroy the enemy's aspirations" on the battlefield, he was recruited as a personal soldier.Later, because Zhu Yuanzhang fought bravely and won many battles, Guo Zixing believed that Zhu Yuanzhang was a talent, so he married his daughter to him.

History books say that Empress Ma "has wisdom and good history", which shows that she is a talented female intellectual.

Back then, in the peasant uprising army, it was naturally a rare "treasure".Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang's roster, accounting sheets and other books in the army were all handed over to Empress Ma.Empress Ma is a very responsible and good revolutionary cadre. No matter how many soldiers and horses are in chaos, she has never forgotten what was lost.Perhaps it was because Zhu Yuanzhang fought too well and his prestige in the army was too high, which caused other generals to be jealous. They slandered Guo Zixing, which made Lao Guo suspicious of his son-in-law and planned to "clean him out." ", to purify their own revolutionary ranks.Fortunately, Empress Ma knew that the political and ideological work of the revolutionary team was either that the east wind prevailed over the west wind, or the west wind overwhelmed the east wind.If the enemy can blow the wind, so can she.Therefore, she did a lot of ideological work for Guo Zixing's wife (that is, her godmother), and the work of Guo Zixing's wife's ears was also very effective. Guo Zixing and Zhu Yuanzhang finally "released their suspicions" and reconciled as before.

Guo Zixing had the kindness of nurturing Empress Ma, and he regarded it as his own.However, a married daughter is like water being poured out. After marriage, Ma Shi's heart will naturally turn to her husband's side.When she and Zhu Yuanzhang started the revolution together, it was a time of great debts. In addition, Guo Zixing suspected Zhu Yuanzhang at that time, and was giving him small shoes to wear, deliberately owed him food and did not give him enough food.Empress Ma felt sorry for her husband, so she secretly stole sesame seed cakes from her natal family and brought them to Zhu Yuanzhang to eat.It is said in the history books that "after stealing the pancakes, the bosom will be eaten, and the meat will be scorched". Think about it, in order to let my husband eat hot biscuits, he did not hesitate to scald the skin and flesh, which shows how deep the affection and love are.When a woman loves a man, she often shines with the brilliance of motherhood, and her unstoppable care is often moving.In addition to stealing sesame seed cakes from her natal family, she also tried her best to save some dry food and dried meat for Zhu Yuanzhang to eat, but she was often too hungry to sleep.

In addition, Empress Ma is also good at using her status as the "leader's wife" to grasp the women's work in the revolutionary team in a decent manner.Back then, after Zhu Yuanzhang conquered Nanjing, because the surrounding warlords Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng were fighting every day, Empress Ma personally led a group of women to sew clothes, make shoes and socks, and act as a model army to provide military supplies for the frontline soldiers.Zhu Yuanzhang led her teachers to march in person. In order to boost morale, she also took out all the gold, silver, treasures, satins and silks from the harem to reward the soldiers.

It is worth mentioning that Empress Ma has a deep understanding of the nature of war, and she has repeatedly reminded her husband that the rule of the world must be based on virtue, not "killing people".She made a lot of sense, and Zhu Yuanzhang thought so too.Of course, after the world is established, heroes are not considered "human beings", so if you want to spank your ass, you can behead your head if you want, which is naturally another matter.

These things left a deep impression on Zhu Yuanzhang.Later, when he became emperor, he did not forget the love between his husband and wife, and put Empress Ma on the throne. Compared with the allusion of eating barley rice and drinking bean porridge at Wulou Pavilion by the Hutuo River in Raoyang, he praised Empress Ma's virtue as comparable to that of Emperor Taizong's eldest grandson empress.Later, he told these words to Empress Ma, and Empress Ma took the opportunity to tactfully advise him and persuade him to treat the minister well.She said: "I heard that it is easier for husband and wife to help each other, but it is difficult for monarchs and ministers to help each other. Since your Majesty can not forget the poor and humble years spent with me, I hope you can also not forget the difficult years spent with your ministers." Besides, how dare I compare myself with Empress Changsun?"

After Empress Ma became the first lady, she was particularly diligent in internal governance.She actively played the characteristics of female intellectuals, "emphasized ancient teachings" in the governance of the inner palace, and paid attention to the experience of previous dynasties.She felt that there were many virtuous queens in the Song Dynasty, so she ordered Nvshi to extract their family laws and read them frequently.Some people say that the queens of the Song Dynasty were too benevolent, right?Empress Ma asked back: "What's wrong with being too kind? It's better than being mean?"

Another day, she asked the female historian, "Why did the Empress Dowager Dou of the Han Dynasty like Huang Lao's learning so much?" The female historian said, "Purity and inaction are the foundation. If benevolence is abandoned and righteousness is abandoned, the people will return to teach kindness, which is what she taught. Empress Ma sighed accordingly:

"Filial piety is benevolence and righteousness. Who is filial piety without benevolence and righteousness?" In fact, Empress Ma talked about benevolence and righteousness with ulterior motives.Because she knew that her husband was serious and self-willed, he had been suspicious since he became the emperor, he was always mean and unkind to ministers, and he didn't take human life seriously at all, so she hoped to remind her husband to be lenient to his subjects in this way.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a bad temper, and he often vented his anger on ministers in the court.When I returned to Houguan, I often found this displeasing to the eye and that displeasing to the eye.Whenever Lao Zhu gets angry, Queen Ma will pretend to be angry, and then order him to be handed over to the judiciary for handling.Afterwards, Zhu Yuanzhang asked his wife why she did this?Empress Ma said meaningfully: "The emperor cannot reward or punish people just because he is happy or angry for a while. When His Majesty is angry, I am afraid that he will give too heavy a punishment. Hand them over to the judiciary, and a fair judgment can be made." Yes. If His Majesty wants to convict someone in the future, it should be handed over to the judiciary."

.Of course, Queen Ma also knows that action is the best example.She summed up kindness and morality in one word, that is love.In order to let her husband understand what love is, she has done a lot of meticulous and effective probation work.She loves her husband.She knows that to warm a man's heart, he should first warm his stomach.Therefore, regarding the leader's diet, she has always regarded it as the top priority of her work, and she has to go to the imperial dining room to "examine herself" every time.She also loves other people's children.Empress Ma overcame the jealousy of women, and she treated concubines and palaces very kindly to those who gave birth to children because of being favored by the emperor, and "ordered women to enter the court and treated them like family members".She also loves the people of the world.In this regard, Empress Ma mainly worked hard and made a big fuss about being diligent and thrifty in managing the family.She set an example. The clothes she usually wears have been washed and washed, and they are already worn out, and she is unwilling to replace them with new ones.Later, after listening to the story of Empress Chabi, Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty, who cooked bowstrings and weaved silk clothes, she was greatly inspired. She picked up the craftsmanship she had when she was young and ordered people to set up looms in the harem.I personally weave some silk clothes and satin quilts, and then give them to the elderly who are lonely and widowed in the name of royal love.Empress Ma cut the remaining cloth into clothes and gave them to the princesses to let them know that "the sky is hard" and it is not easy for the common people.

Zhu Yuanzhang once praised Empress Ma in this way: "A good wife in the family, and a good minister in the country!" This is absolutely true.The greatness of Empress Ma is that she is not afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang's bad temper, and dares to blow the wind in her ears confidently.As we all know, Zhu Yuanzhang doesn't like women to interfere in politics. He believes that "although concubines are respectful to the world, they should not be used to do political affairs", because "too much favor will lead to arrogance, offense and disorder", so he specially ordered someone to compile "Female Concubine" "Commandment" as a warning.

But Queen Ma is an exception.

Once, Empress Ma asked Zhu Yuanzhang: "Do the people in the world live and work in peace and contentment?" Zhu Yuanzhang replied unhappily: "This is not what you should ask." The mother of the world, why can't you ask about the well-being of the people?" Perhaps it is because Empress Ma has a high level of education and is reasonable, so Zhu Yuanzhang mostly listens to her words.

Zhu Yuanzhang has a very bad temper. When holding a state affairs office meeting in front of the palace, he would be violent and lose his temper at every turn.And when you lose your temper, others often lose their heads.He is too self-willed, he doesn't investigate or study many things, and he will kill in a fit of anger.Although Empress Ma did a lot of enlightenment work, she just couldn't influence him.He is the emperor, can do whatever he wants, and never changes his way of thinking and principles of doing things.In this regard, Empress Ma could only do her best and try to persuade him.Fortunately, he could still hear Empress Ma's words, so he saved many lives.

Once, a feudal official named Guo Jingxiang was guarding Hezhou. Someone reported that Guo Jingxiang's son was holding a long gun and wanted to kill his father.Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and said on the spot that he would execute the traitor.Empress Ma said: "Guo Jingxiang has only one son. The rumors may not be reliable. If his son is killed, Guo Jingxiang's descendants will be cut off." Later Zhu Yuanzhang sent someone to investigate, and it turned out to be a rumor.

Another time, Song Lian, a bachelor, was implicated in the case of Sun Shen.After being arrested and imprisoned, he shall be executed according to the seriousness of the case.The queen heard Qixian, and couldn't bear to let him die so innocently, so she said to the emperor: "Everyone knows to treat teachers leniently for their children and grandchildren, so that etiquette can last from beginning to end. You are the emperor, how can you not have such insight and tolerance? What's more, Song Lian is an old man. There are a lot of them, and they are retired at home, so they must not know about it." Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he couldn't listen at all.After a while, the queen served him a meal, but no wine and meat. The emperor asked why.Empress Ma said: "I am doing a blessing for Mr. Song." The emperor's heart was moved when he heard this, and his heart was filled with compassion, so he put down his chopsticks and didn't eat.

Finally figured it out the next day, pardoned Song Lian, and resettled him to Maozhou.

Another famous story about Empress Ma's virtuous virtue is related to Shen Wansan, a great merchant in Anhui.At that time, Shen Wansan was so rich that he was known as the "God of Wealth".Seeing that he was rich, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to defraud him and ask him to contribute some money for the construction of the Nanjing City Wall.Shen Wansan was so wealthy that he bid for one-third of the cost of the city wall project.Later, Shen Wansan was still unsatisfied, or wanted to flatter Emperor Zhu, so he offered to reward the army for the court.Unexpectedly, the flattery was slapped on the horse's leg, and Zhu Yuanzhang was furious when he heard it: "The little man wants to reward the emperor's army. He has a lot of evil intentions, and he should be killed!" Empress Ma thought it was wrong. I don't know the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth, and the crime is not death.So I persuaded: "Concubine who hears the law, it is not good to punish the law, not to punish the bad luck. The people are rich and the country is the enemy, and the people themselves are not good.

The ominous people will be disastered by heaven, so why should your majesty punish them! "As soon as the emperor heard that it was reasonable, he changed his mind and dispatched the unlucky businessman to Yunnan, where the mountains are high and the water is far away.

As a female intellectual, Empress Ma has a deeper side besides kindness and generosity.After the generals of the Ming Dynasty captured the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, they sent the captured gold treasures and jade back to Nanjing.Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed when he saw these treasures, but Empress Ma poured cold water on one side: "The Yuan Dynasty had these treasures but could not keep the country. I think, maybe the real emperors had other treasures?" Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback, pondered for a moment, and said: " I understand, what the Empress means is that talent is a treasure." Empress Ma continued, "Your Majesty is right."

"Your Majesty and I came from a poor and humble background to become what we are today. I often worry that arrogance will be born out of extravagance, and that national perils will arise from small things. Therefore, I hope to recruit talents to rule the world together." Empress Ma continued: " If the law is repeated, it will be corrupted, and the law will be corrupted, and the people will be troubled, and the people will be troubled." When the emperor heard this, it was a wise saying, and he immediately called for a female historian to record it in the history book.

In August of the 15th year of Hongwu, Empress Ma, who had gone through all kinds of hardships and worked hard, also contracted a serious illness.After the trial treatment was ineffective, she insisted on not taking any more medicine. Ming Taizu tried hard to persuade her, but she said: "Life and death are determined. I am dead, so what's the use of taking medicine!" He said: "May your Majesty seek the virtuous and accept advice, be as cautious as the beginning, and the descendants should be virtuous, and the subjects will get what they want!" Then, he called the princes and princesses to his side, and said:
"Growing and growing rich, you should know that sericulture is not easy to cultivate, and you should cherish things for the world, and cherish the blessings for the people!" At the last moment of her life, she still did not forget to influence her husband and children with her virtues, for the sake of The country is worried.Soon, Empress Ma passed away suddenly at the age of 51, and hastily completed her vicissitudes of life from an orphan to a mother.

Ming Taizu lost his wife Jiefa who shared weal and woe, and also lost his right-hand assistant. His grief is beyond words.

In order to commemorate the respectable and lovely Empress Ma forever, Ming Taizu decided not to be a queen.The people in the harem were also very grateful for Empress Ma's virtuousness, and specially composed a song to commemorate this virtuous and kind empress.Huaide is unforgettable, in the year of Wansi; under the Wubi spring, leisurely in the sky.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang: an outstanding woman who lived through the three dynasties of the early Qing Dynasty

Among the many empresses in the Qing Dynasty, there was an outstanding person who lived in the three dynasties of the early Qing Dynasty, worked for more than half a century, and wholeheartedly assisted the three emperors Huang Taiji, Shunzhi, and Kangxi in governing. She was called the "Mother of the Qing Dynasty". It is the famous Empress Xiaozhuang Wen.Xiaozhuang shown in the TV series "Kangxi Dynasty" and "Secret History of Xiaozhuang" is artistically processed and does not completely match the historical facts.In fact, her life is exclusively biographical in the "Drafts of Qing History", and scholars of all dynasties have also discussed it.With her intelligence and special status, Empress Xiaozhuang played a great role in resolving internal contradictions and struggles among upright officials, stabilizing the society in the early Qing Dynasty, and promoting national unity. She can be called an outstanding female politician in ancient China.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the Ming Dynasty declined, and the Jurchens in Northeast China rose.Nurhachi, the leader of the Jurchen in Jianzhou, unified the Jurchen ministries and established the Houjin Kingdom in the 44th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1616).After Nurhachi's death, the eighth son, Huang Taiji, inherited the Khan throne.He conquered Mongolia in the north and Korea in the south, and proclaimed himself emperor in the ninth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1636).In the 17th year of Ming Chongzhen (1644), the peasant army led by Li Zicheng captured Beijing, and Emperor Chongzhen hanged Meishan to death.Wu Sangui, the Ming general who guarded Shanhaiguan, rebelled against the Ming Dynasty and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, so the Qing army rode to Turenguan to compete in the Central Plains. Li Zicheng's Dashun regime collapsed under the pursuit of the Qing army.On September 6th, Jierhalang, Prince Zheng of the Qing imperial family led a vigorous horse and escorted the young students of the Qing Dynasty to move from Shengjing to Beijing.At dawn on October 250st, the ancient imperial city was redecorated. In the morning, the whips rang three times in front of the Huangji Hall, the bells and pans rang, and Shaohe classical music slowly played.The little emperor Fulin, who was only [-] years old, came to the throne.The [-]-year history of the Qing Dynasty ruling China began here.However, the little emperor didn't understand the meaning of the high throne and cheers. Only the young woman with a phoenix crown sitting next to him had a serious face. She was the little emperor's mother and was called Xiaozhuang by later generations. Empress Wen.

Empress Xiaozhuangwen, surnamed Borjigit, daughter of Beile Zhaisang in the Horqin tribe of Mongolia, was born in February of the 41st year of Ming Wanli (1613). When she was 13 years old, she was escorted to Shengjing by her brother Wu Keshan and married Huang Taiji.

(End of this chapter)