Great Empresses of China – Role Models for Traditional Women (Part 3)
 
3. Empress Zhangsun of Tang Dynasty (Part 2 of 2)
 
Empress Zhangsun's oldest son, Li Chengqian (619 – 645 AD), was named crown prince since he was young. At the time, the entire imperial palace was run frugally, and the prince's palace was no exception. Those who were responsible for the palace asked many times to have the funds for the prince increased. But Empress Zhangsun would not agree, even though Li Chengqian was her beloved son. She said, “He is the crown prince. He should worry about his virtue and his name instead of a shortage of materials or lack of money!” Her fairness and wisdom was admired by everyone in the palace, and everyone was willing to follow her arrangements.
 
Zhangsun Wuji was the older brother of Empress Zhangsun. He was gifted as both a civil and a military official, and he made great contributions in helping Li Shimin and the Tang Dynasty establish the nation. Based on his accomplishments, he should have been a high-ranking official. However, because he was the brother of the empress, he often had to avoid arousing people's suspicion. Emperor Taizong wanted him to be the chancellor, but Empress Zhangsun said, “As your wife, I'm inside the imperial palace and in an extremely important position. I really don't want to see my brothers standing in the imperial court, which would make it look like one family. Empress Lu of the Han Dynasty was a lesson for future generations. I ask your majesty to not appoint my brother to be the chancellor!”
 
With no other choice, Emperor Taizong agreed to appoint Zhangsun Wuji to another high-level office with no real power. Nevertheless, Zhangsun Wuji refused this position as well. His reasoning was, “I'm the brother of the Emperor's wife. If I'm named a high level official, then I'm afraid that everyone will talk about your majesty favoring your family members.” Emperor Taizong responded very seriously, “When I choose officials, I choose the people who fit the positions. I employ them if they have the ability. If they don't have the ability, then I will not use them even if they are my family members. The Duke of Xiangyi, Li Shenfu, is a good example. If one has the ability, then I'll use him despite any previous conflicts. Wei Zheng is such an example (prior to Li Shimin becoming the emperor, Wei Zheng supported Li Shimin's brother to be the emperor). This decision is not due to the family connection between us.” Zhangsun Wuji finally agreed.
 
Princess Changle was the beloved daughter of Emperor Taizong and Empress Zhangsun. When she was getting married, she asked her parents to make her dowry twice the size of Emperor Taizong's sister, Princess Yongjia. Emperor Taizong originally agreed. But Wei Zheng said to Emperor Taizong in the imperial court, “Due to their age and birth order, it is not appropriate for Princess Changle's dowry to be more than Princess Yongjia's. There are rules about these things, and I hope your majesty will not do this as it will just give people something to talk about!” At first, Emperor Taizong did not take these words very seriously. He later casually told Empress Zhangsun what Wei Zheng had said. Empress Zhangsun took Wei's words very seriously. She praised Wei Zheng, saying, “I often hear that your majesty treats Wei Zheng with a lot of respect and I didn't know why. Today I heard what he said, and it is really true as to following the principle and disregarding private sentimentality. As an official, he is truly a treasure to this country. I am your wife, and we have a great bond. But even so, before I say something to you, I often have to take into account to your majesty's mood and temper, since I'm afraid of offending you. Wei Zheng could disagree with you about a family affair as an ordinary official, and that is very difficult to do. Your majesty indeed should consider his words.” In the end, as arranged by Empress Zhangsun, Princess Changle got married without an excessive dowry.
 
After this, Empress Zhangsun rewarded Wei Zheng with 400 pieces of silk and 400 strings of money. She also passed along to him these words: “I've heard that you are very honest and upright. Now I see it and thus I reward you for it. I hope that you will stay the same and never change.” With Empress Zhangsun's support and encouragement, Wei Zheng was even more dedicated to the country.
 
In the eighth year of the Zhenguan era (635 AD), Empress Zhangsun went with Emperor Taizong to visit Jiucheng Palace in Shaanxi Province and she got sick on their way back. Soon after, it caused a recurrence of an old illness. As her condition got worse, Crown Prince Chengqian asked Emperor Taizong to grant amnesty to all the prisoners and send them to a temple to ask heaven to bless and restore Empress Zhangsun's health. All the officials agreed, even Wei Zheng did not object to it. But Empress Zhangsun was firmly against it. She said, “Life and death are a matter of destiny; and wealth and honor are the will of heaven. If doing good deeds can indeed extend one's life, then I have never done bad deeds in my life. If doing good deeds does not affect one's life span, then what's the point of seeking blessings? Giving amnesty to prisoners is a national issue and the Taoist temples are quiet places. There is no need to interfere with these places because of me. Why violate the rules and principles of this country because of a woman?” She knew clearly the principles and insisted on not interfering with national affairs. Everyone was in tears when they heard her words, and Emperor Taizong eventually decided to listen to her and canceled the original plans.
 
In her last minutes, Empress Zhangsun still asked Emperor Taizong repeatedly to treat the good officials kindly and not let her family members hold high positions. She also asked for only a simple funeral.
 
Emperor Taizong was very sad. He gave orders that a small house be build on the road to her tomb. He had servants stay there for the empress just as they did when she was still alive. He then built an elevated platform within the palace and stood on it everyday to look in the direction of her tomb. Although he was eventually advised by Wei Zheng to take the platform apart, it showed how much he missed Empress Zhangsun.
 
母仪天下的贤后（三）
 
三、唐长孙皇后 (下)
 
长孙皇后的长子李承干自幼便被立为太子，当时宫中实行节俭开支的制度，太子宫中也不例外，费用十分紧凑。掌管宫中财物的人员屡次要求增加费用。但长孙皇后并不因为是自己的爱子就网开一面，她说：“身为储君，来日方长，所患者德不立而名不扬，何患器物之短缺与用度之不足啊！”她的公正与明智，深得宫中各类人物的敬佩，谁都愿意听从她的安排。
 
长孙无忌是长孙皇后的哥哥，文武双全，辅佐李世民赢取天下，立下了功勋，本应位居高官，但因为他的皇后妹妹，反而处处避嫌，以免给别人留下话柄。唐太宗原想让长孙无忌担任宰相，长孙皇后却奏称：“妾既然已托身皇宫，位极至尊，实在不愿意兄弟再布列朝廷，以成一家之像，汉代吕后之行可作前车之鉴。万望圣明，不要以妾兄为宰相！”万不得已，唐太宗只好让他作开府仪同三司，位置清高而不实际掌管政事，长孙无忌仍要推辞，理由是“臣为外戚，任臣为高官，恐天下人说陛下为私”。唐太宗正色道：“朕为官择人。唯才是用，如果无才，虽亲不用，襄邑王神符是例子；如果有才，虽仇不避，魏征是例子。今日之举，并非私亲也。”长孙无忌这才答应下来。
 
长乐公主是唐太宗与长孙皇后的掌上明珠，将出嫁时，她向父母提出，所配嫁妆要比永嘉长公主加倍。魏征听说了此事，上朝时谏道：“长乐公主之礼若过于永嘉长公主，于情于理皆不合，长幼有序。规制有定，还望陛下不要授人话柄！”唐太宗本来对这番话不以为然，回宫后随口把魏征的话告诉了长孙皇后。长孙皇后却对此十分重视，她称赞道：“常闻陛下礼重魏征，殊未知其故；今闻其谏言，实乃引礼义抑人主之私情，乃知真社稷之臣也。妾与陛下结发为夫妇，情深意重，仍恐陛下高位，每言必先察陛下颜色，不敢轻易冒犯；魏征以人臣之疏远，能抗言如此，实为难得，陛下不可不从啊。”于是，在长孙皇后的操持下，长乐公主带著不甚丰厚的嫁妆出嫁了。
 
此后，长孙皇后还派中使赐给魏征绢四百匹、钱四百缗，并传口讯说：“闻公正直，如今见之，故以相赏；公宜常秉此心，不要转移。”魏征得到长孙皇后的支持和鼓励，更加尽忠尽力为国。
 
贞观八年，长孙皇后随唐太宗巡幸九成宫，回来路上受了风寒，又引动了旧日痼疾，病情日渐加重。太子承干请求以大赦囚徒并将他们送入道观来为母后祈福祛疾，群臣感念皇后盛德都随声附和，就连耿直的魏征也没有提出异议，但长孙皇后自己坚决反对。她说：“死生有命，富贵在天，非人力所能左右。若修福可以延寿，吾向来不做恶事；若行善无效，那么求福何用？赦免囚徒是国家大事，道观也是清静之地，不必因为我而搅扰，何必因我一妇人，而乱天下之法度！”她深明大义，终生不为自己而影响国事，众人听了都落下了眼泪。唐太宗也只好依照她的意思而作罢。
 
弥留之际长孙皇后仍殷殷嘱咐唐太宗善待贤臣，不要让外戚位居显要；并请求死后薄葬，一切从简。
 
悲痛不已的太宗在元宫外的栈道上修建了起舍，命宫人居住其中，如侍奉活人一般侍奉皇后；他又在宫中建起了层观，终日眺望昭陵，虽然在魏征的规谏下毁弃了，但其之后对长孙皇后的思念之情溢于言表，令人唏嘘。