sjar Chapter 107 Stage Name
Chapter 107 Stage Name
"In compliance with the Emperor's order, Tang Youyou is summoned to the palace!" A shrill voice cut through the buzzing discussion of the crowd.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a eunuch in crimson official uniform standing outside the crowd, holding a whisk with a serious expression.
Tang Youyou was stunned. She didn't expect things to develop to this point.
Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu's faces turned pale. They were just ordinary painters and poets. How could they have the honor to be summoned by the emperor?
"Boss Tang, what...what's going on?" Wu Huazi nervously pulled Tang Youyou's sleeve, his voice trembling.
Zheng Shizu also looked at her worriedly, his eyes full of anxiety.
The people around who originally supported Tang Youyou also retreated at this moment, fearing that they would be implicated.
The old man in gorgeous clothes showed a barely perceptible sneer, as if he was waiting to see Tang Youyou make a fool of herself.
Tang Youyou took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm.
She knew that she couldn't panic or show weakness at this moment.
She patted Wu Huazi gently and gave him a reassuring look.
"Don't worry. We have nothing to fear." She turned to Zheng Shizu again and said firmly, "The emperor summoned me, perhaps it's a good thing."
She walked gracefully towards Eunuch Wang and bowed slightly, "I, your humble servant Tang Youyou, accept your order."
Eunuch Wang looked Tang Youyou up and down, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He originally thought that Tang Youyou was a vulgar country woman, but he didn't expect her to be so calm and composed, with an extraordinary temperament.
"Boss Tang, please come in." Eunuch Wang made a "please" gesture, with a hint of respect in his tone.
Tang Youyou looked back at Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu, gave them an encouraging smile, and then resolutely followed Eunuch Wang towards the palace gate.
The palace gate slowly opened, and behind the vermilion door was an unknown fate.
"Boss Tang is so brave!" someone in the crowd whispered.
The old man in fancy clothes stroked his beard, a gleam in his eyes, "The show has just begun..."
Tang Youyou looked around with a determined gaze.
"You are all fans of painting and calligraphy. Don't you think that these so-called works of famous artists are all the same and have no originality?" She pointed at the paintings that were praised by everyone, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
"Landscapes always have the same mountains, figures always have the same postures, and flowers and birds always have the same colors. How can such art progress? How can it be passed down?"
She turned to the works of Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
"Master Wu's splash-ink landscapes are bold, innovative, and majestic; Mr. Zheng's poetry is profound and thought-provoking. This is true art, and this is the future of art!"
Her words were so powerful that they caused a stir among the crowd.
Some people who had originally remained neutral began to nod in agreement.
The old man in gorgeous clothes turned pale. He didn't expect that this country woman would dare to challenge his authority in public.
Several of his followers also made sarcastic remarks in an attempt to save the situation.
"How dare you! What do you, a woman, know about art?"
"Grandstanding! These devious ways, are they worthy of being called art?"
"You have no idea how high the heavens are! You are desecrating art!"
The shouting continued one after another and the atmosphere was tense.
Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu looked at Tang Youyou worriedly, fearing that she would be hurt.
Just then, a shrill voice came from outside the crowd.
"In compliance with the Emperor's orders, I'm very interested in this artistic debate and have come to see it!" Eunuch Wang, holding a whisk, slowly walked into the center of the crowd. His gaze swept across the entire crowd, finally landing on Tang Youyou.
"Boss Tang, could you explain to us the subtleties of these works?"
Tang Youyou took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and a confident smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
"Of course, it's my honor." She walked gracefully to a splash-ink landscape painting...
Tang Youyou pointed at Painter Wu's splash-ink landscape and explained, "Eunuch Wang, please look at this. It's not just a simple accumulation of ink. Instead, it utilizes unique brushstrokes and rendering techniques to vividly express the majestic momentum and delicate textures of the landscape. It breaks the formulaic composition of traditional landscape painting and focuses more on the expression of artistic conception and the expression of emotion."
She then pointed to Zheng Shizu's poetry, her voice clear and clear: "Mr. Zheng's poetry is no longer bound by flowery rhetoric or rigid rhythm. Instead, it uses simple language and profound philosophy to express his understanding of life and his thoughts on society. His poetry is like a clear spring, cleansing the heart; like a raging fire, igniting passion."
Eunuch Wang nodded frequently, with admiration in his eyes.
He came from a poor family and had no fondness for the red tape of traditional art. Instead, he appreciated this kind of work that was full of vitality and innovation.
The old man in gorgeous clothes became even more angry when he saw that Eunuch Wang attached so much importance to Tang Youyou.
He snorted coldly and said sarcastically, "Flower words! It's just a trick to attract attention! How can you country women understand true art?"
His followers also echoed: "That's right! How dare you show these graffiti works and embarrass yourself!"
"Eunuch Wang, please don't be fooled by this woman! She doesn't understand art at all!"
Tang Youyou was not afraid at all. She looked directly at the old man in fancy clothes and said firmly, "Art is not the exclusive domain of a few people, but belongs to everyone! Are you so-called 'masters' the only ones who can define art? The true meaning of art lies in expression and innovation, not in sticking to the old ways and being complacent!"
Zheng Shizu also stood up and said loudly: "The value of art lies in provoking thought and touching people's hearts, not in blindly catering to the powerful and glossing over the truth!"
The two sides argued and the scene was chaotic for a while.
Eunuch Wang raised his hand to signal for silence, then gave Tang Youyou a meaningful look and said, "Boss Tang, these works..." He paused, "We like them very much." He turned to the guards behind him, "Come here, take these works back to the palace and present them to the emperor for his inspection."
After Eunuch Wang left with his paintings and poems, the noisy exhibition gradually calmed down, but a tense anticipation hung in the air.
The old man in gorgeous clothes turned pale with a grim expression and walked away with a wave of his sleeves. His followers followed him dejectedly, cursing under their breath.
Wu Huazi clenched his fists tightly, sweat oozing from his palms. He looked at Tang Youyou nervously, "Boss Tang, the Emperor... Will the Emperor like my paintings?"
Although Zheng Shizu pretended to be calm on the surface and waved the folding fan in his hand, his eyes drifted towards the door from time to time. It was obvious that he also cared very much about the emperor's evaluation.
Tang Youyou gently patted Wu Huazi's shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile, "Master Wu, your paintings are so wonderful, I believe the emperor will like them." She turned to Zheng Shizu and said in a relaxed tone, "Mr. Zheng, your poems are even more profound, the emperor will definitely be fascinated by them."
Tang Wan, Tang Jin, and Tang Xiaoya also gathered around Tang Youyou. The youngest daughter, Tang Xiaoya, tugged at the corner of Tang Youyou's clothes, looked up and asked, "Mother, the emperor lives in the palace. Isn't it very big and beautiful?" Tang Youyou smiled and touched Tang Xiaoya's head, "Yes, the palace is very big and beautiful." Tang Jin asked curiously, "Mother, will the emperor give us a reward?" Tang Youyou blinked mysteriously, "Maybe!"
Time passes by minute by minute, and the feeling of waiting is particularly torturous.
As the sun sets, its golden afterglow falls on the exhibition, giving each painting a warm glow.
Suddenly, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from afar, getting closer and closer... A fast horse galloped over and stopped at the entrance of the exhibition.
The man on the horse jumped off and walked quickly to Tang Youyou, holding a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand.
Everyone held their breath as the man unfolded the imperial edict and cleared his throat. "By the will of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."