贤淑无私的长孙皇后 The Virtuous and Selfless Empress Changsun
Princess Changle was Emperor Taizong and Empress Changsun’s favorite daughter. Having lived a relatively pampered life, she requested a greater dowry at marriage than Princess Yongjiachang, who was Emperor Taizong’s sister. When Princess Yongjiachang got married, it was during the early stages of the Tang dynasty before prosperity set in, therefore her dowry was relatively simple. At the time of Princess Changle’s marriage, Tang dynasty was in its golden years so asking for additional dowry was not an excessive request. However, when Wei Zheng heard about this, he admonished, “If Princess Changle’s dowry exceeded Princess Yongjiachang, it would defy both sentiment and reason. There are rules to seniority, I hope that Your Majesty doesn’t give people something to gossip about.” Emperor Taizong did not take these words to heart. He told Empress Changsun about it, who took the suggestion seriously. She said, “I often hear that Your Majesty valued Wei Zheng but I did not know why. Hearing his admonition in which he emphasizes propriety and righteousness over selfish love, I can tell that he really is an official who thinks in the interest of the nation. Even though I am your wife and we are very close, I still watch what I say to not offend you. Wei Zheng is your minister and does not have a close relationship with you, yet he dares to offer contradictory thoughts like this. This is very rare, Your Majesty must listen to him.” Thus, under Empress Changsun’s management, Princess Changle married with a less generous dowry.Afterwards, Empress Changsun sent officials to reward Wei Zheng with 400 pieces of clothing and 400 Min (unit of money at that time), and passed words to him, "I heard you are honest. Now I see it, thus I want to reward you for that. I hope you can always keep your honesty." Wei Zheng had Empress Changsun's support and encouragement. Therefore, he was even more diligent, loyal and spared no effort on behalf of the country. Only because of his loyalty and honesty, Taizong avoided many mistakes and became a great Emperor. In fact, Empress Changsun contributed to it as well.
In Zhenguan's eighth year, Empress Changsun went with Tang Taizong to tour and examine the welfare of the state. On the way back she got a cold, which made her former chronic disease recur. Her condition worsened daily. Prince Chengqian pleaded to release prisoners and sent them to Daoist temples to pray for his mother's health. Court officials agreed, as they were grateful to Empress Changsun and cherished her great virtue. Even the straightforward Wei Zheng did not object. But Empress Changsun firmly opposed it. She said, "'Death and life are predestined. Riches and honors depend upon Heaven. It can not be changed by man's power. If practicing goodness can extend life, I've constantly avoided doing bad things. If doing good deeds cannot prolong life, what's the use of praying for luck? Releasing prisoners is a big state matter. The Daoist temple is also a quiet cultivation place, and should not be disturbed because of me. Why disturb the state's law due to me?" She was clear on matters of principle and did not interfere in national affairs. Hearing what she said brought tears to people's eyes. Tang Taizong had to follow her will and thus gave up the plan.
Empress Changsun's sickness lasted for two years. She died in the Lizheng Palace in the hot summer of Zhenguan's tenth year, at the age of 36. Shortly before she passed away, she told Tang Taizong to treat kindly his virtuous officials, and not to appoint relatives to high-ranking positions. She also requested to be buried in a simple manner.
Tang Taizong did not completely obey Empress Changsun's will. He issued an order to construct a grand mausoleum. Inside the memorial park a tower was built so that the Empress's soul could look into far distances at any time. This great Emperor wanted to express his respect to his virtuous wife in such a manner.
Empress Changsun's virtuous, kind nature and selfless behavior not only won respect from Tang Taizong and people who knew her, but also set a good example of a virtuous wife and good Empress for later generations.
长乐公主是唐太宗与长孙皇后的掌上明珠；从小养尊处优。将出嫁时，她向父母撒娇提出，所配嫁妆要比永嘉长公主加倍。永嘉长公主是唐太宗的姐姐，正逢唐初百业待兴之际出嫁，嫁妆因而比较简朴；长乐公主出嫁时已值贞观盛世，国力强盛，要求增添些嫁妆本不过份。但魏徵听说了此事，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，回宫后随口把魏徵的话告诉了长孙皇后。长孙皇后却对此十分重视，她称赞道：“常闻陛下礼重魏徵，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；魏徵以人臣之疏远，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，长乐公主带着不甚丰厚的嫁妆出嫁了。
此后，长孙皇后还派中使赐给魏徵绢四百匹、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。”魏徵得到长孙皇后的支持和鼓励，更加尽忠尽力为国。也正因为有他这样一位赤胆忠心的谏臣，才使唐太宗避免了许多过失，成为一位圣明君王，说到底，这中间实际上还有长孙皇后的一份功劳呢！
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，就连耿直的魏徵也没有提出异议，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。
长孙皇后的病拖了两年时间，终于在贞观十年盛暑中崩逝于立政殿，享年仅三十六岁。弥留之际尚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。
唐太宗并没有完全遵照长孙皇后的意思办理后事，他下令建筑了昭陵，气势十分雄伟宏大，并在墓园中特意修了一座楼台，以便皇后的英魂随时凭高远眺。这位圣明的皇帝想以这种方式来表达自己对贤妻的敬慕和怀念。
长孙皇后以她的贤淑的品性和无私的行为，不仅赢得了唐太宗及宫内外知情人士的敬仰，而且为后世树立了贤妻良后的典范，到了高宗时，尊号她为“文心顺圣皇后。”