In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, there were two talented women in Chang'an, the capital, who were famous for a while. One was Wu Zetian, the second daughter of the warrior Xun, who was later named Wu Mei by Taizong, and the other was from Jiangnan. The talented woman Xu Hui. Both of them were ordered by Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty to enter the palace and become talented people. It can be said that Xu Hui and Wu Zetian had the same starting point, but until Taizong died, Wu Cairen was still Wu Cairen. Not long after Xu Hui entered the palace, she received many awards. From a fifth-grade talented person to Jieyu, she finally became a second-grade Chongrong.
The two of them are talented and have many "fans" in the capital. However, when they came to serve under Taizong, their "promotion" speed was completely different. What is the reason for such an ending?
Let’s start with the life experiences of the two people:
After the death of Wu Zetian’s father, the warrior Xun, and his ex-wife Xiangli, the great ancestor Li Yuan personally acted as a matchmaker for him, married Yang and gave birth to Wu Zetian Among the three sisters, Taizong Li Shimin also admired the warrior Yu very much. Perhaps because of his love for Wu and Wu, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty appointed Wu Zetian to the palace as a talented person. Perhaps Taizong believed in the warrior Yu based on his understanding of the character of the "founding hero" Warrior Yu. The education given to this daughter is first-rate. I also believe that Wu Zetian, who was taught by the warrior Xun and his wife, is outstanding among the many women in the Tang Dynasty today. Moreover, the entire city of Chang'an, especially some of the royal relatives, have legends about Wu Zetian's poetry and writing. She was good at , calligraphy and music. Because of this, Wu Zetian, a talented woman with good overall qualities, was summoned to the palace.
Xu Hui is from Jiangnan, which has always been a geomantic treasure land where Wenquxing loves to come. Xu Hui was born in the Xu family of the East China Sea. She was the fourth generation granddaughter of Xu Wenzheng, Marquis of Liang Ciyuan in the Southern Dynasties, the great-granddaughter of Xu Zong, the prefect of Chen Shi'an, and the granddaughter of Xu Fanggui, Linzhen of Yanzhou. Her grandmother was the Huang family of Jiangxia. She was the daughter of Zhongwu Gong Chen Sikong in the Southern Dynasty (that is, Xu Hui's father). Served as an official in the Southern Dynasty!), the eldest daughter of Xu Xiaode, the governor of Tang Guozhou. His younger brother Xu Qitan and his nephew Xu Jian are all mentioned in history books. The younger sister is Gaozong Jieyu, who is also talented in literature. At that time, because of their outstanding literary talents, people compared the three Xu siblings to Ban of the Han Dynasty. There was another younger brother, Xu Qizhuang, whose deeds were not recorded. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty awarded him the title of Prince of Changcheng County.
Xu Hui could speak when she was five months old, and had already read "Mao's Poems" and "The Analects of Confucius" by the age of four.
Not only does she come from a famous family, but her brothers and sisters are also very talented. Such a woman naturally becomes the first choice for talented people!
In the Tang Dynasty, what was the position of a talented person?
The emperor had one concubine, four concubines, nine concubines, nine concubines, four beauties, five talents, and three groups of twenty-seven concubines, totaling 81 "married women" in the palace. The emperor's real wives and concubines were the first, fourth and ninth concubines. The daughters in the harem below Jieyu were the maids who handled various duties in the palace, including etiquette, sacrifices, banquets, clothing, the pilgrimage of the married woman, and the travel of the emperor and empress. Wait.
It can be seen that Taizong selected these two talents not simply because of their beauty, but mainly because of their talents.
The so-called love grows over time, working in front of Taizong, and having the same advantage of being "close to the water". Xu Hui not only received Taizong's favor many times, but also was promoted continuously, while Wu Zetian stayed with Taizong for 12 years. According to historical records, Xu Hui was favored only once. After Taizong's death, Xu Hui had been promoted to Chongrong, while Wu Zetian, as Taizong's widow, went to Ganye Temple to become a nun. What was the reason?
It is true that the power of promotion or not lies in the hands of Taizong, but personal factors still play a certain role. It can be said that Xu Hui was promoted because of his talent, but Wu Zetian was favored because of his talent. And was alienated by Taizong.
They entered the palace in the eleventh year of Zhenguan, only two years after the death of Queen Changsun.
Historical records record that after Xu Hui entered the palace, he still kept his hands on the scroll and read and wrote when he had time. Taizong's literary accomplishment was extremely high. Seeing that Xu Hui, a little girl, had such a good literary talent, the two began to sing poems and poems.
Not only that, Xu Hui was also knowledgeable and concerned about national affairs.
She saw that after years of hard work, Taizong's national power was increasing year by year, and she was a little complacent, so she wrote to Taizong, saying: "Suppress your will and your will, be cautious as before, and reduce the minor mistakes to increase the important virtues. This is the way it is now." To replace the past mistakes." He advised Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to avoid arrogance and impetuosity. It is difficult to conquer a country, but it is even harder to defend a country. I hope the emperor can start well and end well.
Later, when Taizong mobilized troops to conquer Goryeo, which wasted people and money, she wrote another piece of advice, "Admonishing Taizong to Stop the Troops and Strike Out", with thorough reasoning and brilliant literary talent.
Taizong seemed to see the shadow of Queen Changsun in Xu Hui. While admiring her, he regarded her as an indispensable confidante. Gradually, Taizong's injured soul was soothed.
The following story best expresses Xu Hui's petty bourgeoisie sentiment, which is recorded in "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" and other historical materials:
One day, Taizong summoned Xu Hui. Taizong was waiting impatiently for a long time and was about to get angry when the servants sent her a poem:
When the morning comes, I will linger on the mirror after putting on my makeup. A rich man smiles, but can he come with a summons?
I got up early in the morning, dressed myself up carefully in front of the mirror, and waited for you to summon me. But after waiting and waiting, I didn't get it, so I had to walk around the room, feeling unbearable. It is said that a thousand pieces of gold can buy a beautiful woman's smile. Will you go as soon as you call me?
The women in the harem call themselves "concubines", and naturally they must abide by the etiquette of monarchs and ministers with the emperor. Xu Hui, who knows the taste, is in Taizong. When he was anxious, he resorted to the "little trick" of welcoming and rejecting. When Taizong saw this poem, his anger turned into joy and he laughed heartily. The mood of these little daughters was something Taizong could not feel from other concubines. For a king who is used to seeing obedience, such a "petty bourgeois sentiment" is obviously more interesting.
In the 23rd year of Zhenguan (AD 649), Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty passed away. Xu Hui became ill due to grief and refused to take medicine. She said: "The late emperor treated me deeply, and I hope that he can be the best before dogs and horses." It is my wish to serve the late emperor’s mausoleum!” Then he wrote a poem to express his wish.
Xu Hui died of illness in the first year of Yonghui (AD 650). Emperor Gaozong was moved by her true feelings and buried her in the stone chamber of Taizong's mausoleum.
A generation of talented women passed away like this, at the age of only twenty-four. As for Wu Meiniang, she was becoming a nun at Ganye Temple.
Wu Zetian followed Taizong for 12 years. The reason why she did not enter Taizong's emotional world was, in the words of Wu Zetian herself, that her character could not be accepted by Taizong.
Everyone understands the truth that people have preconceptions. Once a person forms a fixed mindset about another person, or when the first impression is poor, no matter how hard the other person works in the future, Nor can it change its original thinking and definition. The "strong" impression of Wu Zetian in Taizong's mind came from that experience of horse training.
It is recorded in "Old Book of Tang", "New Book of Tang" and "Zizhi Tongjian":
One day, the vassal country in the Western Regions sent Taizong a horse named The horse is called Lion and Luo. He was tough and strong and difficult to subdue, and Taizong couldn't think of a good way for a while. Wu Zetian saw it and volunteered that he could tame the horse. Taizong asked Wu Zetian if he had any tips. Wu Zetian said: "Please give me three things: an iron whip, an iron whip, and a dagger."
Taizong Not understanding what Wu Zetian meant, he asked with a smile: "What are these three things for?" Hit it on the head with iron laos; if you still refuse to obey, I will cut its throat with a dagger!" Taizong laughed after hearing this: "As you said, this good horse is not yours! Did you stab her to death?" Smiling, Taizong was suddenly shocked and thought to himself: This little girl is so beautiful in appearance, but has such a strong personality and such vicious skills. She is really extraordinary.
Wu Zetian was so smart that when she saw the emperor pondering, she further explained: "A good horse is worthy of being ridden by the monarch.
If it is tamed, use it; if it is not tamed, what use will it have? "Taizong did not comment after hearing this and was speechless...
As a king of the Tang Dynasty, it is not an exaggeration to say that Li Shimin had a keen eye for knowing people. Just as Taizong expected, he believed that "the founding of the country" "Hero" Warrior Yu, I believe that the daughter raised by Warrior Yu and his wife must be excellent, and Wu Mei is indeed like this in reality!
However, Taizong did not know something. After Warrior Yu passed away, the two sons of Warrior Yu's ex-wife And how the Wu clan abused and bullied Wu Zetian and her daughter out of the Wu family. This kind of trauma is deeply memorable to a girl.
Compared with those who had no worries about food and clothing, they had nothing to worry about! For children who were cared for by their parents, Wu Zetian prematurely felt the warmth and coldness of human relationships and the coldness of the world. In view of the fact that her body and mind were harmed by her two half-brothers, two cousins ??and their clansmen in the Wu family during her childhood, she acted defensively. Instinct made Wu Zetian tightly wrap up her vulnerable heart, and at the same time, she would unconsciously show a defensive and always ready counterattack in front of the world. In a modern saying, Wu Mei! The shadow left by her teenage experience left a dark side in her psychology that cannot be eliminated.
This is also the "strongness" and "aggression" she showed when facing an untamed horse. "The main reason.
We have reason to believe that Xu Hui's living environment before entering the palace must have been full of warmth and harmony. She must have been pampered and cared for as she grew up, and after entering the palace When she reaches the age when her love interest begins, she becomes a woman who "composes new poems and expresses her sorrows", which makes people feel pity. It can be said that Xu Hui is a sunny girl!
Wu Mei and Xu Hui just entered the palace. At that time, the talents of the two were indistinguishable in Taizong's eyes. However, as Taizong lived a life of fighting and bloodshed, he was used to seeing killings on the battlefield. When he returned to the harem:
If Let him face Wu Mei, a woman who is beautiful on the surface but full of aggression or even murderous intentions in the subconscious. It is hard to believe that his heart will feel happy.
What will happen when he faces Xu Hui! Quite different, Xu Hui, as pure as the dew hanging on the young leaves in the morning, although it is dazzling, it is pleasing to the eyes and nourishes the heart!
Taizong’s heart was happy and his body was relaxed! /p>
Taizong, who holds the power of life and death, promotes a talented person, a Jieyu, without any effort!
Taizong, who does not need any effort, decides who he likes and promotes, depending on his mood.
When Taizong met Wu Zetian, he only appreciated and used her, and would not let her enter the harem ambitiously.
Recognition and appreciation are the same thing. His official concubine is another matter.
This is the ultimate reason why Xu Huineng got into Taizong's heart, was promoted repeatedly, and finally became Taizong's official concubine, and Wu Cairen was still Wu Cairen. !