Great Empresses of China – Role Models for Traditional Women (Part 3)
 
3. Empress Zhangsun of Tang Dynasty (Part 1 of 2)
 
Empress Zhangsun was the daughter of the famous Sui Dynasty general Zhangsun Sheng, who passed away when she was eight years old. She was raised by her uncle, Gao Shilian, and she married Li Shimin at the age of 13. Thirteen days after Li Shimin inherited the title of emperor, he named her as the empress. As an empress, Zhangsun often gave Li Shimin examples from history to encourage him. She also rectified his ruling mistakes and was known to protect honest and loyal officials. She gave birth to three sons and four daughters. She died on the 10th year of the Zhenguan era (636 AD), and was given the posthumous title of Empress Wendeshunsheng (literally “the civil, virtuous, serene, and holy empress”) or, in short, Empress Wende. Li Shimin praised her as the “perfect spouse” and a “great help” and built an elevated platform so that he could see her tomb from a distance.
 
Empress Zhangsun grew up in a noble family and received a formal, traditional education. As a young woman, she was learned, polite, virtuous, gentle, and kind. When she was still a child, a fortuneteller said that she “had boundless virtue and would become indescribably noble.”
 
At the age of 13, she married Li Shimin, who was 17 at the time and the second son of Taiyuan City's top official, Li Yuan. Although she was still very young, she could already carry out her role. She served his mother- and father-in-law, assisted her husband, and educated their children.
 
In August of the ninth year of the Wude era (626 AD), Emperor Li Yuan passed the crown to Li Shimin, who was known as Emperor Taizong, and Zhangsun became the empress of the nation. She stayed humble and frugal. She served the aging Li Yuan conscientiously, going to greet him every morning and evening and frequently reminding the servants about how to take good care of him. She paid her filial piety just as an ordinary daughter-in-law. She was very kind and tolerant to the ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs in the palace, and her virtue touched everyone. This helped create a good atmosphere behind the scenes, which enabled Emperor Taizong to focus on governing the country instead of spending energy on family issues. Although Empress Zhangsun grew up in a rich family and was the wife of an emperor, she lived frugally. She never paid much attention to luxury and never went in for extravagant celebrations or meals. This set a good example for others in the palace.
 
Because Empress Zhangsun’s upright and virtuous actions, Emperor Taizong respected her a great deal and often talked with her about national affairs. Although she had great understandings and good opinions on many things, she did not want to interfere in national affairs. She thought that men and women were different and were responsible for different things. When Emperor Taizong insisted on hearing her opinion, she could not refuse to respond, so she told the Emperor, “Think of danger even at peaceful times; choose honest and capable officials and accept their opinions. That's all I know as your wife and nothing else.”
 
Minister Wei Zheng was famous for not being afraid of admonishing Emperor Taizong. Wei Zheng often directly pointed out Emperor Taizong's mistakes and insisted that he correct them. Emperor Taizong respected him and called him “a loyal official with good advice.” One time Emperor Taizong wanted to go hunting. He gathered many guards and officials to hunt outside the city.  When they got to the palace gate, he encountered Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng asked where he was going and then said, “It is springtime now. Everything has just started to grow, and the animals are raising their young. It is not a good time for hunting. I ask your majesty to return to the palace.” Emperor Taizong insisted on going, but Wei Zheng would not budge. He stood firmly in the middle of the road to block the emperor's entourage. Emperor Taizong was very angry. He got off the horse and went back to the palace in a huff.
 
Emperor Taizong saw Empress Zhangsun and said angrily, “I must kill that stubborn old man to relieve my anger!" Empress Zhangsun asked what had happened but did not comment immediately. She retreated to her bedchambers and put on her official empress gown. Standing solemnly, she bowed to Emperor Taizong while saying, “Congratulations your majesty.” He was surprised and asked her, “For what occasion are you so serious?” She responded, "I have heard that only a most able emperor will have subordinates with integrity. Wei shows so much integrity because you are an able emperor. Therefore, I congratulate you." Emperor Taizong was stunned for a moment. As he thought about it, he agreed with her and his anger disappeared.


母仪天下的贤后（三）
 
三、唐长孙皇后 (上)
 
长孙皇后，隋右骁卫将军晟之女。八岁丧父，由舅父高士廉抚养，十三岁嫁李世民。李世民即位十三天即册封为皇后。在后位时，善于借古喻今，匡正李世民为政的失误，并保护忠正得力的大臣。先后为皇帝诞下三子四女。贞观十年薨。谥号文德皇后。李世民誉之为“嘉偶”、“良佐”并筑层观望陵怀念。
 
长孙皇后生长在官宦世家，自幼接受了一整套正统的教育，形成了知书达礼、贤淑温柔、正直善良的品性。在她年幼时，一位卜卦先生为她测生辰八字时就说她“坤载万物，德合无疆，履中居顺，贵不可言。”
 
长孙氏十三岁时便嫁给了当时太原留守李渊的次子、年方十七岁的李世民为妻。她年龄虽小，但已能尽行妇道，悉心侍奉公婆，相夫教子。
 
唐高祖武德九年八月，李世民登基，长孙王妃成为母仪天下的长孙皇后，应验了“坤载万物”的预言。长孙氏并不因之而骄矜自傲，一如既往地保持著贤良恭俭的美德。对于年老赋闲的太上皇李渊，她十分恭敬而细致地侍奉，每日早晚必去请安，时时提醒太上皇身旁的宫女怎样照顾他的生活起居，像一个普通的儿媳那样力尽著孝道。对后宫的妃嫔，长孙皇后也非常宽容和顺，凭著自己的端庄品性，影响和感化了整个后宫的气氛，使唐太宗不受后宫是非的干扰，能专心致志料理国家大事。虽然长孙皇后出身显贵之家，如今又富拥天下，但她却一直遵奉著节俭简朴的生活方式，衣服用品都不讲求豪奢华美，饮食宴庆也从不铺张，因而也带动了后宫之中的朴实风尚。
 
因为长孙皇后的所作所为端直有道，唐太宗对她十分器重，常与她谈起一些国家大事及赏罚细节。长孙皇后虽然很有见地，但她不愿以自己特殊的身份干预国家大事。她认为男女有别，应各司其职，唐太宗却坚持要听她的看法。长孙皇后拗不过，说出了自己经过深思熟虑而得出的见解：“居安思危，任贤纳谏而已，其他妾就不了解了。”
 
大臣魏征以敢于进谏闻名，常对太宗的不当行为和政策直接了当地指出，并力劝他改正，唐太宗对他颇为敬畏，常称他是“忠谏之臣”。一次，唐太宗兴致突发，带了一大群护卫近臣，要到郊外狩猎。正待出宫门时，迎面遇上了魏征，魏征问明了情况，当即对唐太宗进言道：“眼下时值仲春，万物萌生，禽兽哺幼，不宜狩猎，还请陛下返宫。”唐太宗坚持出游，魏征却不肯妥协，站在路中坚决拦住唐太宗的去路。唐太宗怒不可遏，下马气冲冲地返回宫中。
 
唐太宗回宫见到了长孙皇后，犹自气愤地说：“一定要杀掉魏征这个老顽固，才能一泄我心头之恨！”长孙皇后问明了原由，也不说什么，只悄悄地回到内室穿戴上礼服，然后面容庄重地来到唐太宗面前，叩首即拜，口中直称：“恭祝陛下！”她这一举措弄得唐太宗满头雾水，吃惊地问：“何事如此慎重？”长孙皇后一本正经地回答：“妾闻主明才有臣直，今魏征直，由此可见陛下明，妾故恭祝陛下。”唐太宗听了心中一怔，觉得皇后说的甚是在理，于是满天阴云随之而消。