One morning during the first year of Jingde (1004 AD) under Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, a grand banquet was held in the residence of the Grand Chancellor in Bianjing, the capital of the Great Song. Outside the chancellor's mansion, crowds gathered and carriages flowed like water; high officials and aristocrats from the capital arrived one after another, each bearing lavish gifts. It turned out that today was the 43rd birthday of the newly appointed chancellor, Kou Zhun. At this moment, Kou sat proudly upon his ceremonial chair, basking in success and radiant with joy.
Suddenly, a servant approached Kou Zhun and whispered softly into his ear: "Master, there is an old woman at the gate. She says she is Liu Ma, your family’s longtime maid, and insists on speaking with you."
"Liu Ma?" Kou Zhun was startled. "I haven't seen her in over ten years. What could she want at such a time? No—" Before he could finish saying "don’t see her," Kou realized it was inappropriate. Though Liu Ma was only a servant, she had been loyal and honest in service to his family for many years and had faithfully cared for his mother. How could he refuse to meet her? He quickly changed his words: "Please invite Liu Ma into the main hall."
Shortly after, the frail and elderly Liu Ma entered slowly, leaning heavily on her cane. Trembling, she walked up to Kou Zhun, greeted him with, "Master, greetings!" Then, with a thud, she knelt down and raised both hands to present a rolled-up scroll. Kou Zhun hurried forward, helped her to rise, took the scroll, and asked, "What is this?"
Liu Ma replied: "This is a painting left by the late Madam for you, Master."
"If it is my mother’s legacy, why is it being delivered only today?"
"The Madam once instructed me not to give it to you until the right moment. I dared not disobey her command."
Upon hearing this, Kou Zhun silently unrolled the scroll. The instant he glanced at it, he shuddered. The scene depicted fierce winds howling and heavy snow falling. In the center stood a dilapidated thatched hut. Inside, a dim oil lamp flickered weakly. To the left of the lamp, a mother sat weaving cloth while watching her son beside her. The boy was diligently studying by the light of the oil lamp. In the upper-right corner were five characters written in the mother’s own hand: "Studying Through the Cold Window." In the lower-left corner was a poem she had penned:
"Alone by lamplight, reading through bitter hardship,
I hope you cultivate virtue for the sake of all people.
Frugality and diligence—this is a loving mother’s teaching;
When wealth and honor come, never forget poverty."
Kou Zhun had not even finished viewing the entire painting when tears streamed down his face.
It turned out that Kou Zhun had lost his father at an early age and depended entirely on his mother, who supported the family by spinning and weaving. Their life was extremely poor. Though their days were filled with hardship, Kou’s mother never neglected her duty to educate her son. Often at night, while spinning thread and weaving cloth, she would teach young Kou Zhun to read. Under her strict guidance, the bright Kou made rapid academic progress and passed the imperial civil service examination at the age of 19, becoming the youngest Jinshi scholar of his time.
In that very year Kou passed the exam, his mother fell gravely ill. On her deathbed, she handed the painting she had personally created, titled "Studying Through the Cold Window," to Liu Ma, instructing her: "After Kou Zhun becomes an official, wait until he makes mistakes or strays from the right path, then deliver this painting to him." With those final words, the woman who had labored her entire life finally extinguished like a lamp running out of oil.
When Kou Zhun first began his career as an official, he remained upright, incorruptible, and frugal. But gradually, he started indulging in extravagance and luxury. Seeing that the time was right, Liu Ma seized the occasion of Kou Zhun’s grand birthday celebration to deliver the long-kept painting, hoping it would serve as a moral lesson.
After viewing his mother’s final gift, Kou Zhun could not help but recall the hardships he and his mother had endured. He was deeply moved by her profound and heartfelt intention behind leaving this painting as a guide. Overcome with emotion, he immediately ordered the birthday feast to be dismantled and all gifts returned. From that day forward, Kou Zhun remembered his mother’s teachings, lived simply, managed his household frugally, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to state affairs. Thus, he became a renowned virtuous chancellor—a great statesman of his era.