A brief introduction to Empress Sizong and Zhou: a brief introduction to the life of Empress Zhou.
Members are divided into 120 Gong Xuan, and they are encouraged to teach their skills at school. Third, praise Feng Wang with heavy clothes and silkworms. The so-called personal butler also includes cooking in person. In the seventh year of the Apocalypse (1627), when Zhu Youjian just reached the summit, the situation was very dangerous because of Wei Zhongxian's autocratic power. Empress Yi 'an (the sister-in-law of Emperor Zhu Youjian) secretly warned: Don't eat the food in the palace. Zhu Youjian took the wheat cake back to the palace. After entering the palace, it is necessary to guard against Wei Zhongxian's bribery and poisoning of the chef, and the diet is completely operated by Queen Zhou herself. It seems incredible, but it is an indisputable fact, which has been recorded in many unofficial history. A queen who can cook, wash, spin and weave is not unique, at least rare. There is a deep friendship between the emperor and the queen, which seems to be a true portrayal of "husband and wife are very well prepared for the future." There is a poem in the Ci of Chongzhen Palace, which reads as follows: Xiang Guan waved his hand and dictated it, like learning from the village. Why not have a child over the knee, then uncover the chicken pole and forgive the book. It is such a thing: there is a little eunuch Qin in Kunning Palace, who is only eleven years old and waits on the queen. One day, the queen asked him if he could read, and Qin replied no. The queen taught him to read. Later, Qin forgot all about it and was sent to his knees. The emperor smiled and said, how about I ask my husband to forgive him? The queen pretended to be angry and said, the school rules are broken. Qin is very grateful. Through the details of daily life, it seems that people can see the ordinary couple talking and laughing between the emperor and the queen. Excerpt from The Secret History of China (Ming Dynasty) When she was young, Empress Zhou showed amazing beauty and gentle personality, won the love of her family and was regarded as the apple of her eye.
Queen Zhou was once seen by the scholar Chen when she was at home in her early years. Chen marveled at Zhou's beauty and said to her father, "Your daughter is the most noble person in the world." Professor Chen introduced Zhou's Zi Jian and Jing Shi Shu. Therefore, after the Emperor of Zhou, he was well versed in writing and calligraphy. Chongzhen is also an excellent scholar. There are books everywhere around the throne of the palace. He often reads when he sits down. He also often wrote four books and eight-part essays for ministers to read, and published them all over the world, and scholars rushed to tell them. The flattering minister also wrote a letter praising Emperor Chongzhen's academic demeanor. Chongzhen himself is very proud, thinking that even if he is not an emperor, he must be a celebrity in the world, and he can easily become the top scholar. As a scholar, Emperor Chongzhen naturally loves the talented Queen Zhou and regards him as a confidante. Empress Zhou really had no hope for Empress Liu, who chose her as a concubine. After she entered the sixth house, she assumed the heavy responsibility of managing the harem with her thin body. She is naturally elegant and dignified, and has a high prestige in the palace. Besides, she is simple in nature. Alone, she began to cut court expenses and cancel unnecessary expenses. Once the civil strife and foreign invasion continued in Chongzhen, Empress Zhou often advised Emperor Chongzhen to cherish the people, stabilize the people's hearts and unite with the outside world. Moreover, she also persuaded Emperor Chongzhen to be lenient with the people. However, Chongzhen was stubborn and conceited, and did not listen to Queen Zhou's advice at all. He always feels that people all over the world have failed him. Because soldiers were used everywhere at that time, the military expenditure was tight. Empress Zhou cares about the country and often spends her private money and the expenses saved in the palace as military expenses. Chongzhen is very grateful to Empress Zhou for her profound understanding and righteousness.
Eight years after Chongzhen, various insurgent armies grew rapidly, which seriously threatened the rule of the Ming Dynasty. The late Jin (late Qing) army outside the customs is also eyeing up and waiting for an opportunity. Emperor Chongzhen was worried about the political affairs of the imperial court and the urgent military situation, and insisted that rusu should be in power, because he was too tired and his body was getting haggard. Queen Zhou saw it in her eyes and was anxious in her heart, but she knew that the emperor would not listen. She pretended to be Emperor Chongzhen's biological mother, Li, and gave her a dream, urging the emperor to pay attention to his health and strengthen his diet. On the other hand, the queen also prepared delicious food in the palace in advance and enjoyed it after the emperor returned to the palace. When Emperor Chongzhen returned to the harem, they couldn't help crying when they saw such a scene and knew that the queen had done her best for herself and wanted the chaos of state affairs. Although Emperor Chongzhen tried his best to save the defeat, he was unable to return to heaven, and the day of the demise of the Ming Dynasty was approaching day by day. On March 18th, the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the Li Zicheng Rebel Army finally broke through many obstacles and arrived at the gates of Beijing. Many civil and military ministers fled, and those who could not escape surrendered to the rebels. The eunuch who was sent to guard the city was even more cynical, and opened the city gate to welcome the king's army into the city. Emperor Chongzhen saw that the tide was gone and tried to escape from the city, but failed. In desperation, he went back to the harem and saw Queen Zhou. He said painfully, "Now the tide is gone and irreversible. You are the mother of a country. You can't be humiliated You should commit suicide as soon as possible! " As soon as Queen Zhou heard it, she knew this day would come. She just knelt on the ground and said goodbye to the emperor, crying bitterly: "I have served your majesty for eighteen years, but your majesty never listened to my advice, so that today, I can die for my country, and there is nothing to say!" " After that, she caressed the third prince and cried for a while, then turned and locked the door.
After a while, the maid-in-waiting in the room came out and reported that the queen had committed suicide as instructed. By this time, Emperor Chongzhen remembered the years of conjugal love and could not help but burst into tears. He also ordered the three princes to quickly put on casual clothes and escape from the palace, and all the other concubines were executed. Then he went directly to Jingshan Park behind the palace and committed suicide. Empress Zhou was the last empress of the Ming Dynasty. She was deeply aware of the righteousness and was diligent in managing the family, and won the love of the people all over the world. When the country was in crisis, she gave her life as a martyr of Zhu Youjian. Her tragic and beautiful life really makes people feel heartfelt sigh.