Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

I really like Duras's hysterical short sentences. In the ruthless peeling off of the years, write down the unforgettable love, and then be destroyed by death and desire. She said that time is like sand, the more you grasp it, the more it passes. If one wants to think about it, the sand that cannot be held tightly is better to be more unrestrained and blown away in the wind. The reality is so cruel, Li Shimin's beloved woman, Empress Changsun, looks haggard. Like Lin Daiyu, Guanyin's servant girl was born with a strange disease, a chronic disease called qi disease.This is a respiratory disease similar to asthma. When it is mild, it is difficult to breathe, and when it is severe, it even suffocates.Just when Li Shimin was grieving for the separation of his flesh and blood, Empress Changsun fell ill one after another, making it difficult for Li Shimin, who was so busy, to keep himself from venting his inexplicable anger.Oh, really.

Guanyin's servant girl was brought up by the famous scholar Gao Shilian since she was a child. She is knowledgeable and sensible. She and Li Shimin were considered baby relatives, but they actually had an unforgettable love. When discussing the rise and fall of the Qin and Han Dynasties with her husband, she often came up with ideas that surprised even Li Shimin, which was very helpful for governing the country.Avalokitesvara said: "The concubine is in charge of the internal affairs for you. You are busy with your external affairs. I will take care of the affairs of the harem."

A long time ago, Empress Changsun accompanied Li Shimin to the harem. With regard to matters concerning the harem, the emperor, who has always been known for his discernment, was actually very arbitrary.for example: One day, Li Shimin pointed at a certain woman's nose and scolded, "I gave you Wang Xianzhi's calligraphy, but look what you did? What do you mean by putting it next to the stove?" Crying, "That's because I don't know how to read, and I thought it was Master Zaojun!" Li Shimin was angry again, "I am the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, how can I be compared with someone who runs errands in heaven and earth, what do you mean?"

The woman didn't dare to say more, she just cried, Li Shimin concluded, "You are not wronged at all!" At this time, Empress Changsun will show her virtuous side, and agree with Li Shimin: "You are too ignorant, the emperor is arbitrary, if you say you are wrong, you are wrong, hurry up and go to prison!" The women were in an uproar, and some pretended to look at the punished woman sympathetically, and then glanced at the angry Li Shimin, feeling very happy.If you think Empress Changsun is engaging in internal strife, you are very wrong, she just wants Li Shimin to wake up quickly.But Li Shimin didn't understand that when Guanyin's servant scolded the woman, her words were extremely harsh, and in the end it was too much.Li Shimin didn't know what kind of medicine was sold in his wife's gourd, so he walked away.

... While fishing, Li Shimin frowned. Empress Changsun saw a fish biting the hook, pointed to the rippling water and said, "Your Majesty, you said that this fish bites, do you know who you and I are?" Li Shimin listened to the servant girl. He laughed and said: "Fish are not educated, how can you tell the difference between the emperor and the queen!" Empress Changsun chuckled, looked at Li Shimin with a pair of watery eyes, covered her sleeves and said, "Well, I can't read..." Seeing Empress Changsun laughing happily there, Li Shimin immediately understood the meaning, and immediately ordered that the heroine who committed crimes at the stove door should not be punished anymore.

Empress Changsun is a smart person, but her greater charm lies in her kindness than her smartness. With her alone, there are almost no grievances and fights in the harem; with her alone, countless right and wrong can be avoided.At that time, a princess of Yuzhang lost her mother in her early years, and the eldest grandson queen adopted her. The queen cared more for the princess than her own, and the world all sighed.For concubines, concubines, and even maids of honor, if someone is sick, Empress Changsun will usually appear in front of the sick person, caress and visit them in person, and give the sick person her own medicine.

Everyone in the palace loves her and respects her. Compared with other people, Empress Changsun treated Prince Li Chengqian much worse. Li Chengqian was living in the East Palace, and the furniture and items were so shabby that even Mrs. Sui'an, the prince's wet nurse, couldn't stand it anymore.Knowing that Li Chengqian didn't dare to talk to his mother, she got on the horse herself, went to the queen and said, "The things that can be used in the East Palace are too shabby, and there are many things that should be there. Can you give me two more? The chairs and cabinets are also very old." It's not the same."

Empress Changsun listened and refused.She also told the prince's wet nurse: "As the prince, Chengqian should be worried about his moral integrity and reputation. Why are you still worrying about having nothing to use?!" Li Chengqian could no longer complain after hearing what the nanny told him, and could only continue his poor life. Empress Changsun's favoritism is well-known in the palace, and everyone admires it very much. Li Shimin's illness has not recovered for several years, and Empress Changsun is by her side to serve, day and night.Everyone in the palace knew that Empress Changsun always had a bottle of poison hanging on her belt.She once said to Li Shimin: "If one day you leave, I will never live alone!"

In the eighth year of Zhenguan (634), when Li Shimin was on vacation in Jiucheng Palace, a group of people broke into the palace suddenly.The first ones were Chai Shao and others. They broke into the palace and announced that someone had betrayed.Li Shimin put on his armor and ran out of the pavilion to ask for details. Empress Changsun had a gas attack at that time, so she ran out with her husband.Many people advised her not to go, but she said: "The emperor is in a hurry, how can I rest in peace?!" Remember, such a loving couple! It really started from that day, Empress Changsun's condition became more and more serious, until now, she was exhausted and often fainted because of this damned gas disease.

Li Chengqian was most reluctant to part with his mother, so he said to Guanyin's maidservant: "I have used all the medicines for my mother, but it still hasn't healed. I want to play, let my father forgive the world, save people into Taoism, and pray for blessings." After saying that, he was about to run away. Go to face the saint, so that Li Shimin can pardon the world and pray for Empress Changsun. Unexpectedly, Empress Changsun grabbed Li Chengqian and stopped her, saying: "Life and death have their own destiny, and it cannot be changed by praying. Amnesty to the world is a major event, and it cannot be done so easily. Your father often said that there are many things in Buddhism and Taoism. Things are harmful, why do you do things you shouldn't do when you come to me? If you have to go, I'll die right away!" Scared by his mother, Li Chengqian didn't dare to move, but put this matter Secretly told Fang Xuanling.

Fang Xuanling forwarded the original words to Li Shimin. After hearing this, Li Shimin hid and cried a lot, announcing that he would amnesty the world, but was resolutely stopped by Empress Changsun. What she meant was that an amnesty is similar to lowering the flag at half-mast. It is a grand occasion, and there must be a national event to do so.Li Shimin himself said that if there is an amnesty at every turn, there will be trouble.Li Shimin is willing to risk the disgrace of the world for his wife, how can he not make people feel distressed?For a woman like this, if she likes to eat lychees, Li Shimin will stand out; if she likes to engage in infighting, Li Shimin will kill innocent people;But Empress Changsun is nothing, she is Li Shimin, and Li Shimin is her. Li Shimin is Datang, and she is also Datang. Now, Empress Changsun is dead. For the thirty-six-year-old, she always felt that there were some unfinished business. The breath is hanging on the thread, dying.Li Shimin was so sad that he died, but he had to hold back his sadness and ask: "If you have anything else to say, tell me quickly." Li Shimin, if she is willing, she will dare to do anything for her.If the maid wants the sky, he will pull the sky down to the sky; if the maid wants the sea, he will bring the sea to him. For the last time, Empress Changsun persisted. She really had something to worry about, and she must tell Li Shimin herself. "Your Majesty, Xuanling has been with His Majesty for so long. He has been cautious and scheming. He has never made any major mistakes. If there are no major mistakes, I think you should not drive him away. Because the concubine's ancestors were sheltered, there is The position of salary does not depend on virtue and talent, there is nothing to use. Your Majesty wants them to be preserved, so you must not give them heavy responsibilities. If there are talents among them, let them come to court and be ordinary officials. From the beginning to the present, the concubine has brought no benefits to others, but it must not harm others after death. It is just that the concubine hopes that your majesty will not waste the world because of me alone. As for the tomb, earthenware pots are used for utensils." Looking at Li Shimin who was in tears, she took a deep breath. It was an affectionate and earnest voice: "I also hope that your majesty can be close to gentlemen, stay away from villains, accept loyal advice, reject slander, save service, and stop traveling. In this way, concubines under Jiuquan will have no scruples! Your Majesty, don't let your children Come see me off, let them see you cry, it will only add to their troubles, it will not do any good." After finishing speaking, Empress Changsun took out the poison from her clothes, and she smiled.She smiled, as if showing off to Li Shimin: The concubine once said that if His Majesty leaves first, I will drink this bottle of poison.I swear to follow His Majesty to the death, I cannot be Empress Lu, I cannot be Empress Lu... This day is the last day of Empress Changsun on June 21st of the tenth year of Zhenguan (636). Love is a bottle of poison, Wugou girl, she just left the biggest king in the world. Li Shimin could barely raise his head, and he could no longer raise his head, so he was asked to cry, crying for his beloved.What's the use of being an emperor?What's the use of being a Khan?Tsangyang Gyatso said: "I live in the Potala Palace, and I am the biggest king in the snowy land. Wandering on the streets of Lhasa, I am the most beautiful lover in the world." The lover is in love with the dead, the wife is only a soul. The lover is the blue sky, and the wife is the transparent water.It is said that there is a place where heaven and water meet, but wise people, please tell me, I don't want to spend my whole life chasing after it! Ugh…… The palace secretary understood Li Shimin's pain. After the death of Empress Changsun, they presented the "Women's Rules" edited by her. Empress Changsun is a studious person. She once collected stories about women in ancient times and compiled them into the thirty volumes of "Women's Rules".Li Shimin looked at her handwriting over and over again, stroked the scholarly pen and ink over and over again, cried and read, and missed again and again. Then one day, he took "Women's Rules" to his close ministers to read, and said: "The Queen's book is enough to set an example for the world! It's not that I don't know the destiny, so I grieve in vain. Do you know? What I have lost is not only They are my married couple, and they are also a partner who can correct my mistakes. From then on, when I go to the harem, it is impossible to hear good words of persuasion." The courtiers were moved because they knew that Li Shimin was stubborn. Thousands of years later, "Women's Rules" was forgotten by people and gradually lost.This book once carried touching love, only left a name, and the romantic writing of Shangyuan Peach Blossom.