The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

In the elegant room of "Zuixianju", the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood, and Tang Youyou and Wu Dehua sat opposite each other.

"Madam's craftsmanship is truly amazing and truly admirable!" Wu Dehua sipped his tea while admiring the painting "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" in front of him.

"Boss Wu, you're too kind. I'm just killing time in my spare time." Tang Youyou responded modestly, but her eyes intentionally or unintentionally swept across the empty seat next to Wu Dehua.

"Madam, you may not know," Wu Dehua put down his teacup and said in a low voice, "In three days, the palace will hold a banquet and invite famous craftsmen from all over the country to perform in celebration of the Queen Mother's birthday. I think your embroidery is exquisite. If we can present it to the Queen Mother, it will surely win her favor!"

Tang Youyou was secretly delighted. Isn't this the opportunity she had been dreaming of?

"Thank you for your kindness, Boss Wu. I'm very grateful!" Tang Youyou stood up and saluted, with a confident light in her eyes.

In order to leave a deep impression at the palace banquet, Tang Youyou decided to bring Tang Wan and Tang Jin with her and let them show the culture and art of the Tang Dynasty.

"Wan'er, this banquet is extraordinary. You must practice your best piano skills well and don't slack off." Tang Youyou reminded while checking Tang Wan's strings.

"Mom, don't worry, I will definitely perform well." Tang Wan nodded solemnly, her slender fingers dancing on the strings, playing a crisp and pleasant song "High Mountains and Flowing Water".

Tang Jin showed great interest in the 300 Tang poems prepared by Tang Youyou. He studied hard day and night and memorized them thoroughly, hoping to take this opportunity to shine at the banquet.

"Mom, do you think I recited it well?" Tang Jin recited Du Fu's "Spring Thoughts" with his head shaking, his childish voice full of anticipation.

"Good, Jin'er recited it really well!" Tang Youyou smiled and touched Tang Jin's head, his eyes full of love.

Three days later, as the lights came on, Tang Youyou, accompanied by the carefully dressed Tang Wan and Tang Jin, and led by Wu Dehua, slowly entered the magnificent palace...

Inside the magnificent palace, the melodious sounds of stringed instruments drifted in and out. Amidst the elegantly dressed, Tang Youyou, accompanied by her two children, strolled leisurely into the banquet hall, guided by translator Chen. Tang Wan, dressed in a pale blue kimono, resembled a secluded orchid, elegant and refined; Tang Jin, in a royal blue brocade robe, exuded a heroic air. The moment they appeared, they attracted the attention of many guests.

As everyone took their seats and the singing and dancing began, Wu Dehua stood up and introduced Tang Youyou and her family to the Empress Dowager. Tang Wan took the stage first, her delicate fingers plucking the strings of her zither. The piece "High Mountains and Flowing Water" poured out like flowing clouds and water, at times clear as a spring, at others surging like a tide, vividly showcasing the grandeur of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. When the piece ended, the lingering sound lingered in the air, enchanting the guests and thunderous applause.

Then, Tang Jin confidently stepped forward and recited Du Fu's "Spring Thoughts" in his tender voice. His voice was full of emotion, and he vividly expressed the poem's longing for his country and his loved ones. The Empress Dowager listened with rapt attention, nodding repeatedly and praising him, "Excellent poem, wonderful child!"

At this moment, Tang Xiaoya, who had been sitting obediently beside Tang Youyou, was infected by the lively atmosphere of the banquet. She opened her big black eyes and looked around curiously. Suddenly, she saw several exquisite cakes on the table and couldn't help but reach out to grab them.

"Little girl, don't be rude." Seeing this, Tang Youyou quickly stopped her.

Tang Xiaoya pouted in grievance, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not do it again. This scene happened to be seen by the Queen Mother, who smiled kindly and beckoned Tang Xiaoya to come to her side.

"This is your little daughter, right? She's so cute." The Queen Mother gently pinched Tang Xiaoya's pink little face, her eyes full of love.

Tang Xiaoya's innocent smile added a touch of lightness and liveliness to the solemn palace banquet, and also made Tang Youyou and his family the focus of the entire audience. However, just as everyone was immersed in the joyful and peaceful atmosphere, Wu Dehua suddenly spoke. His eyes fell on Tang Youyou, with a hint of subtle meaning: "Madam Tang, I have long heard that you are knowledgeable and talented. I have a small question about local culture. I wonder if you can help me solve it?"

Wu Dehua cleared his throat and asked: "Mrs. Tang, do you know the origin of the Kunlun slave culture that is popular in my Tang Dynasty?" This question seems simple, but it actually contains hidden mysteries. It involves many aspects of knowledge such as history, culture, and geography. For a "stranger" who has just arrived, it is undoubtedly a huge challenge.

Tang Youyou smiled faintly and replied calmly: "My lord, the Kunlun slaves are not native to our Great Tang, but come from the distant South China Sea countries. They have dark skin, gentle temperaments, and are good at singing and dancing, so they are deeply loved by the nobles. As for why they are called 'Kunlun', it is because the ancients believed that there were black people living on the overseas fairy mountain Kunlun Mountain, hence the name." She cleverly combined modern knowledge with ancient legends, showing her erudition while avoiding directly explaining the true origin of the word "Kunlun", avoiding unnecessary trouble.

After listening to this, Wu Dehua's eyes flashed with admiration. He clapped his hands and smiled, "Mrs. Tang is indeed knowledgeable and experienced. I admire you." He raised his glass and gestured to Tang Youyou. Tang Youyou also raised her glass in return. The two smiled at each other, and everything was said without words.

This banquet marked the grand entrance of Tang Youyou's family into the social world of the Tang Dynasty. Tang Wan's zither skills, Tang Jin's poetic talent, Tang Xiaoya's adorableness, and Tang Youyou's wisdom and grace all left a deep impression on the guests. During the banquet, many wives of powerful figures expressed their affection for Tang Youyou and her. Several wealthy businessmen even approached her, inquiring about the exquisite handicrafts she had brought with her.

As the night deepened, the banquet drew to a close. Wu Dehua approached Tang Youyou with a kind smile on his face. "Madam Tang, I've benefited greatly from meeting you today. My house also has a collection of rare and precious treasures from overseas. I wonder if you might be interested..." He paused deliberately, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. Tang Youyou's heart moved, vaguely realizing that Wu Dehua seemed to have other matters to discuss with her, so she readily agreed, "That's very good. I'll trouble you, Your Excellency."

Leaving the noisy banquet hall, Tang Youyou followed Wu Dehua to the back garden of the mansion. Under the night sky, the exquisite pavilions and towers appeared even more tranquil under the moonlight, and the fragrance of flowers was refreshing.

Wu Dehua led Tang Youyou into an elegant study room. The antique furnishings exuded a strong scholarly atmosphere. He gestured for Tang Youyou to take a seat at the guest table and instructed the servants to serve fragrant tea before he slowly spoke.

"Mrs. Tang, what I saw today really opened my eyes. The handicrafts you brought are so ingeniously conceived and finely crafted. I wonder..." Wu Dehua paused here deliberately, observing Tang Youyou's reaction.

Tang Youyou was so smart that she immediately understood his implication. She put down the teacup in her hand and said with a smile, "If you like it, I have some other works here that I can give to you for your enjoyment."

"Hahaha, Madam Tang misunderstood." Wu Dehua laughed heartily a few times and then said, "To be honest, I have something on my mind and I need Madam Tang's help."

He paused, his tone becoming serious. "My worthless nephew is about to marry the princess of the current dynasty. As you know, royal etiquette is complicated, and betrothal gifts are even more important. I was wondering if I could ask Madam Tang to create a unique betrothal gift for my nephew to show our family's sincerity."

Upon hearing this, Tang Youyou suddenly understood. It turned out that Wu Dehua's real reason for inviting her to the banquet wasn't the wine, but the handicrafts she had brought with her. He was attracted by her unique design concepts and exquisite craftsmanship, hoping to use them to gain political benefits for his family.

She hesitated for a moment and didn't agree to Wu Dehua's request outright. She knew that if she agreed, she would be involved in a complicated political marriage. Moreover, she didn't want her craft to become a tool for others to cling to the powerful.

"Sir, regarding your request, I..." Tang Youyou was about to refuse when she was interrupted by Wu Dehua.

"Mrs. Tang, I know this request is a bit abrupt, but I can assure you that as long as you agree, you can set any conditions." Wu Dehua said sincerely, his eyes full of expectation.

Tang Youyou looked at the powerful official in front of her, with a myriad of thoughts in her mind.