So long as you officials do not hand out appointments recklessly, why should you fear what the people of the realm say?
君臣相對,鬚髮皓白,豈不為樂。

Politicians
Wu Zetian
The only female emperor in Chinese history (624-705). Founded the Zhou dynasty in 690, reformed civil-service examinations, promoted commoners — but built a regime of informants and purges that took even her own sons.
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Source: (本来は康熙帝の言葉。武則天には誤帰属の疑いがある)Disputed