The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

"But there is one thing I don't understand..." Zheng Shizu waved his folding fan and looked at the emperor with sharp eyes.

Wu Huazi nervously tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother Zheng, be careful with your words." Tang Youyou's heart was in her throat. How could Zheng Shizu be so bold?

Zheng Shizu, however, seemed oblivious and continued, "I do not understand why the palace contains such poems and paintings that so clearly understand the suffering of the people. I venture to speculate whether these works were created by the Emperor."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly fell silent.

Wu Huazi's face turned pale and he wished he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

Tang Youyou also secretly complained, this Zheng Shizu really never stops until his words shock people!

The emperor laughed heartily: "Poet Zheng is indeed a man of quick wit! These works were not written by me, but by this Madam Tang." He pointed at Tang Youyou, his eyes full of admiration.

Tang Youyou quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I dare not take credit for it." She was uneasy, not knowing whether it was a blessing or a curse for the emperor to praise her so much.

"Madam Tang, there's no need to be so modest." The emperor stood up from the dragon throne, walked to Tang Youyou, and helped her up personally. "I admire your works very much. They are fresh and natural, full of life, completely different from those carved works in the palace. They can be said to be a new breakthrough in art!"

Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu were so excited that their eyes were filled with tears. Their efforts over the years were finally recognized!

When the news got out of the palace, it immediately caused an uproar. Some powerful people were very dissatisfied when they heard that the emperor appreciated these "vulgar" works so much.

"A country woman is worthy of the emperor's appreciation?" In the study of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Prime Minister Li Siwen threw the teacup in his hand heavily to the ground, his face terribly gloomy.

"Master, calm down," the butler Li Fu hurried forward to persuade him, "This Tang is just a clown, there is nothing to be afraid of."

Li Siwen snorted coldly, "Isn't she something to be feared? The Emperor values ​​her so much now. If we let her continue to develop, won't she be riding on our heads?"

"Master, what you mean is..." Li Fu asked tentatively.

A fierce look flashed in Li Siwen's eyes: "Since the emperor likes her work, then we will make sure she can no longer paint!"

In another magnificent mansion, a lady in luxurious clothes was listening to the report from her servants with a sneer on her lips.

"Oh, a village woman dares to steal my limelight? Keep an eye on her, I want her to know that there are some things she can't dream of!" Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a crisp sound, as if sounding the death knell of Tang Youyou's fate.

The emperor's praise blew across Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu's faces like a spring breeze, and they were so excited that they could hardly control themselves.

The emperor walked with great interest to a painting depicting a bountiful harvest in the fields. Pointing at the plump ears of rice and the hardworking farmers, he exclaimed, "This painting is so lifelike, I feel as if I were right there in the middle of it! This is true art, drawn from life and transcending life!"

He turned to Tang Youyou, his eyes full of admiration: "Madam Tang, I like your works very much. I have decided to collect all these works in the palace for me to appreciate at any time." After that, he ordered Eunuch Wang to bring out the rewards that had been prepared long ago - exquisite jade ruyi, shining pearl necklaces, and boxes of gold, silver and jewelry.

These rewards piled up like mountains, blinding everyone's eyes.

All the ministers present gasped in shock. They had never seen the emperor reward a commoner woman so generously.

The seeds of jealousy quietly take root in some people's hearts.

"Madam Tang, I will hold a celebration banquet for you and these two talented people, so that everyone in the world will know your names!" The emperor continued with great pleasure.

Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu were so happy that they cried. Their years of hard work were finally recognized, and it was the highest recognition from the emperor!

This is something they would never dare to imagine in their dreams.

Tang Youyou was also flattered and quickly knelt down to express her gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" the three said in unison.

The news spread throughout the capital as quickly as if it had wings.

In the Prime Minister's Mansion, after hearing the news, Li Siwen's teacup fell to the ground again, and fragments flew everywhere.

"The Emperor actually values ​​a village woman so much! It's simply outrageous!"

Seeing this, Li Fu cautiously suggested: "Master, do you want to..." He made a gesture of wiping his neck.

Li Siwen's face was gloomy, and he waved his hand. "No, it's not the right time yet. The Emperor is currently doting on her. If we act rashly, it will only arouse his suspicion. Let her be proud for a few days, and when the time is right, then..." He paused, a vicious glint in his eyes, "and then make her disappear completely!"

At the same time, the lady in luxurious clothes also got the news.

She threw the teacup in her hand to the ground fiercely and said with gritted teeth, "Tang Youyou! Just wait for me! I won't let you have an easy time!" She called her personal maid and whispered a few words in her ear. The maid took the order and left, disappearing into the night.

Tang Youyou was still immersed in joy and had no idea that danger was approaching step by step.

She returned home and told her children the good news.

The children cheered and were proud of their mother.

"Mom, you are so awesome!" Tang Wan looked at her mother in admiration.

Tang Youyou smiled and touched her daughter's head, her heart filled with happiness and satisfaction.

However, she didn't know how long this happy time could last... Late at night, Tang Youyou looked at the sleeping children, and a sense of uneasiness suddenly surged in her heart.

She walked to the window, looked at the dark night sky, and murmured to herself, "I hope everything goes well..." Suddenly, a rapid knock on the door broke the tranquility of the night...

The rapid knock on the door made Tang Youyou's heart sink.

She opened the door and saw Eunuch Wang standing outside with an anxious look on his face.

"Madam Tang, the Emperor summons you to the palace immediately!"

Tang Youyou had a bad feeling and hurriedly followed Eunuch Wang into the palace.

The atmosphere in the imperial study was solemn.

The emperor's face was gloomy. He held a memorial in his hand and slammed it hard on the table.

"This is unreasonable! This is simply unreasonable!"

Tang Youyou knelt down, not daring to breathe. "Your Majesty, please calm down."

"Calm down? Look at this memorial! It says your paintings are immoral and undermine the court's discipline! It says your poems are obscene and misleading! These people are talking nonsense!" The emperor pointed at the memorial, furious.

Tang Youyou glanced at the memorial, which was signed by Prime Minister Li Siwen.

She sneered in her heart, it was indeed him.

"Your Majesty, my works are all based on life and reflect the real lives of the people. There is nothing wrong with them." She spoke calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"I know! This is exactly what I admire about you! But these ministers are so pedantic and stubborn! They just can't stand seeing you do well!" The emperor paced back and forth, obviously very annoyed.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan." Tang Youyou raised her head, her eyes gleaming with wisdom.

"Say!"

"Since they say that my paintings are immoral, then I will let them see with their own eyes what true immorality is!" Tang Youyou's mouth corners rose slightly, revealing a confident smile.

The emperor looked at her, his eyes full of anticipation. "What are you going to do?"

Tang Youyou whispered a few words into the emperor's ear.

After hearing this, the emperor was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"Okay! Okay! I'll do as you say! I want to see what else they have to say!"

The next day, a special exhibition was held in the palace.

The theme of the exhibition is "People's Livelihood".

Tang Youyou's paintings and Zheng Shizu's poems were placed in the most conspicuous positions.

Next to them are some erotic pictures and obscene songs collected from the folk.

These things are truly immoral!

When the ministers saw these things, their faces turned pale with shame. Li Siwen was so angry that he was shaking all over, but he couldn't say a word.

The emperor looked at their expressions and felt secretly happy.

He walked up to Tang Youyou, patted her shoulder, and said loudly: "Madam Tang, you did a great job! I was not wrong about you!"

Tang Youyou smiled faintly, but a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. "Prime Minister, which do you think is more immoral, these things or my works?"

Li Siwen's face turned pale and he said nothing. Just then, a shrill voice rang out...

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!" The shrill voice came from Li Siwen's daughter, Li Junxiang.

She walked gracefully before the emperor and bowed. "Madam Tang's paintings and Master Zheng's poems are indeed excellent, but they are ultimately petty and cannot be considered worthy of high art. True art should be elegant and transcendent, inspiring goodness."

Tang Youyou sneered in her heart, this Li Junxiang was clearly here to cause trouble.

She observed Li Junxiang calmly. She was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had an elegant posture, but there was a hint of imperceptible hostility in her eyes.

"Oh? What do you think, Miss Li?" the emperor asked with interest.

"I believe that true art should be about praising the prosperous times and the emperor's grace, rather than depicting the vulgar life in the market." Li Junxiang said, looking at Tang Youyou provocatively.

Tang Youyou was about to refute, but Zheng Shizu spoke first.

"Miss Li, you're wrong. Art originates from life and transcends it. Although ordinary life may be vulgar, it is also full of human touch. Is art only about praising merits and virtues?"

"You!" Li Junxiang was choked by Zheng Shizu and couldn't speak.

Seeing this, Tang Youyou smiled slightly.

"Miss Li is right. Art should indeed be refined and unconventional. However, this 'refined' aspect isn't limited to eulogizing. Master Zheng, Painter Wu, and I pursue an art that returns to its roots, an art that draws from everyday life and connects with the people." She paused, her tone firm. "We want art to move beyond the realm of highbrow highbrows and become accessible to everyone, full of life and accessible to the common people."

After hearing this, the emperor nodded repeatedly.

"What a 'common man'! Madam Tang, I support you! Just go ahead and do it, and don't pay attention to the opinions of those pedantic people!"

With the emperor's support, Tang Youyou and others became more determined in their artistic ideas.

They began to hold various exhibitions and performances among the people to bring their works to more people.

Their works are fresh, natural and full of life, and soon won the favor of the people, forming a unique art school known as the "People's Livelihood School".

However, Li Siwen and others did not give up.

They secretly plotted and tried to suppress the development of the "People's Livelihood Faction".

One day, Tang Wan hurried over to tell Tang You You, "Mom, I heard..."