Chapter 1087: Wu Zetian is in big trouble

Half an hour later, Lin Lang turned his wrist slightly, and put down the last stroke. He stood up, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at Wu Zetian with a smile: "Sister-in-law, the painting is done. Do you like it?"

Li Zhi stared at the canvas, nodded repeatedly, and praised: "My dear brother, your painting skills are truly amazing!"

"Your sister-in-law's eyebrows and eyes, as well as the spiritual aura hidden in her dignified appearance, have all been painted by my brother. She is even more radiant than she usually looks!"

Empress Wu stood up from her Zen chair with a smile on her face, her skirt brushing the ground as she walked quickly to the front of the painting.

As soon as her eyes fell on the canvas, she was stunned by her bright and beautiful figure in the painting.

In the painting, Empress Wu is sitting in an elegant posture. Her eyes and brows show the grace and majesty of a Tang Dynasty queen. The faint smile at the corner of her lips reveals a bit of tenderness. The flower ornaments on her forehead are bright red, and the pearl hairpins on her temples seem to glow faintly. She is extremely beautiful.

"This...is this really me?" Empress Wu raised her hand and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her eyes full of surprise. Then she smiled with her eyebrows curved and her mouth couldn't close.

"My dear brother, your oil painting skills are truly amazing! You can actually make me look so lifelike! This is the most satisfying portrait I've ever created!"

Lin Lang put down his brush, bowed and smiled, "The Empress's wife is naturally graceful and elegant. I am simply depicting her faithfully. It is my honor to be liked by the Empress's wife."

Empress Wu was still staring at the sleeves of her own dress on the canvas, and said with unconcealed joy, "Your Majesty, look! My dear brother has painted the texture of the fabric in the painting exactly like the real thing. He even captured the translucence of the crimson gauze dress."

Li Zhi laughed loudly and said, "Queen, you must treasure this painting. When Hong'er grows up, let him see how stunning his mother was back then!"

Empress Wu was so happy when she looked at the oil painting of her own portrait that she was deeply impressed by Lin Lang's painting skills.

Seeing Lin Lang's painting was so wonderful, Li Zhi couldn't contain himself and rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to try.

"My dear brother, you have such extraordinary skills in oil painting. I can no longer hide it. Today, I will let you see my brushwork!"

Empress Wu smiled gently and quickly took the inkstone.

"Your Majesty, are you going to show off your true abilities? I will grind the ink for you right now." As she spoke, she picked up the ink stick and began to grind it carefully in the inkstone. The fragrance of ink gradually filled the air.

"Then I, your humble servant, must witness the generosity of my royal brother."

Lin Lang smiled and walked to a chair nearby and sat down. He casually placed his hands on his knees, crossed his legs, and a familiar smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Li Zhi took the wolf-hair brush handed to him by the eunuch, dipped it in thick ink, held his wrist lightly for a moment, glanced at Lin Lang's face, and after a moment's hesitation, he began to write on the silk.

I saw him moving his brush like flowing clouds and running water. Sometimes the brush tip was as light as a gossamer, outlining the smiling eyebrows and eyes of Lin Lang; sometimes it was as steady as a rock, and the ink was placed on the folds of the robe. The ink color was just right, and the texture of the fabric could be seen through.

However, with just a few dozen strokes, Lin Lang's handsome yet heroic appearance has come alive on the silk - even the curve of his mouth that seems to be smiling but not smiling has been captured accurately.

Empress Wu stood by, nodding her head repeatedly as she watched, praising softly, "Your Majesty's brushwork is truly becoming ever more refined! With just a few strokes, you've captured my brother's cleverness."

"And my dear brother's sleeves, your majesty has painted them with just a few strokes, yet they reveal their elegance and grace. They have seven points more charm than the works of the court painters." Empress Wu knew how to flatter Li Zhi.

Li Zhi became even more pleased as he listened, adding a few more strokes. He smiled and said, "Of course. It's your free and easy demeanor that makes the painting so vivid and interesting."

Lin Lang sat on a chair, watching Li Zhi writing from a few steps away.

As he turned his wrist, the ink spread across the silk. Sometimes it moved quickly, drawing sharp lines; sometimes it slowed down and paused, allowing the ink to settle into layers of depth.

"My Royal Brother's calligraphy truly demonstrates his skill. Just looking at the momentum of the beginning, development, transition and ending, I can tell that he has put in a lot of hard work."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi did not stop working, and added a little more force to the tip of the pen on the paper, outlining the folds on Lin Lang's robe more three-dimensionally.

"Your oil painting skills are far superior to mine."

The sunlight outside the window slowly set in the west, and the spot of light cast on the silk through the window paper moved half an inch. He then dipped the brush in ink again and added a stroke of light ink on the collar of Lin Lang in the painting.

In just the time it takes to stick a stick of incense, a figure painting on silk has appeared on the silk.

Li Zhi took a half step back, squinted his eyes and looked at it for a moment, then raised a confident smile at the corner of his mouth and raised his chin towards Lin Lang.

"Brother, come and take a look at this humble work of mine. Do you think it pleases you?"

Lin Lang stood up and walked over with a smile, and when his eyes fell on the painting, his eyes lit up.

In the painting, Lin Lang's posture of crossing his legs was vividly portrayed by Li Zhi, especially his deep eyes, with the ink color just right, revealing a bit of cunning and agility.

Lin Lang raised his hand and pointed at the painting, praising it, "Brother Emperor, this painting is not just a clumsy work, it is clearly a masterpiece! The expression alone has a bit more freehand spirit than my oil painting. It really is true that the painting reflects the painter!"

Empress Wu, standing nearby, couldn't help but applaud, "Your Majesty, this painting is not only like the real thing, but even your brother's spirit is perfectly accurate. It's truly a masterpiece!"

Lin Lang quickly gave a thumbs-up: "Your Majesty, this painting is truly magnificent! Especially the 'unconventional' brushwork, which makes this minister look so majestic and dignified. It truly embodies the aura of an emperor!"

Empress Wu praised sweetly, "Your Majesty's painting deserves careful appreciation. The more you appreciate it, the more delicious it becomes."

Lin Lang quickly nodded in agreement, "That's right, that's right. I'll definitely find a prominent place in the palace to hang it up so I can admire your calligraphy every day."

After hearing this, Li Zhi couldn't hide his happiness and laughed "Haha", it seems that he also likes to be complimented.

The laughter in the imperial study mixed with the scent of ink made it even more lively than when he was painting just now.

You should know that there are no paintings of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, handed down to later generations, not a single one!

This portrait painting created by Li Zhi for Lin Lang, if it was auctioned back in 2000, it would not only not fetch 1 billion yuan, but it could also easily fetch a sky-high price of 800 million yuan.

"As long as you like it, my dear brother. This painting can be regarded as a reminder of our reunion today."

Li Zhi's smile deepened, and he signed the painting with a stroke of his brush. His brushstrokes were vigorous and powerful, with the calm demeanor unique to an emperor.

Lin Lang smiled and complimented, "I am delighted to receive your royal brother's calligraphy and painting. I will treasure it and keep it carefully."

Li Zhi picked up the imperial seal on the table and gently pressed it on the corner of the painting. The seal was made of fine cinnabar, a bright red that contrasted beautifully with the ink strokes.

Including this painting, Lin Lang has collected several paintings written by Li Zhi, all of which are precious national treasures. He has made a fortune!

At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall, and the eunuch chief Li Dequan rushed in with a pale face, holding a crumpled piece of paper in his hand, his voice trembling.

"Your Majesty! A monstrous folk song is spreading like wildfire on the streets of Chang'an... and it's getting more and more intense!"

Li Zhi unfolded the slip of paper, and on it were slang phrases written crookedly: "A fox seductress has entered the palace, the blood in the front hall has not yet dried, the child cries all night long, Wu will replace Li Xingbang..."

The handwriting was illegible but every word was eye-catching. He slammed the note on the table and said angrily, "Asshole! Who is so bold?"

Li Dequan knelt on the ground, his forehead resting on the cold gold brick: "I don't know, I hope Your Majesty will understand."

As Empress Wu listened to the folk song, her face turned pale, and the calm smile she had just had disappeared.

She hurriedly raised her hand and pressed the handkerchief tightly against her forehead. Her fingertips rubbed against the fine cold sweat that was oozing out, and a small wet mark instantly appeared on the handkerchief.

The next moment, Empress Wu's body swayed slightly, and she leaned towards Li Zhi as if she could not stand steadily. Her eyes turned red, and tears as big as beans rolled down. Her voice was choked with sobs and deep grievance.

"Your Majesty! I am innocent!"

"Who is so cruel? How dare they fabricate such filthy songs to slander me, saying I am 'a foxy woman who seduces the master,' 'poisoned the former concubine,' and 'Wu replaced Li Xing.' It's completely absurd."

"Ever since I returned to the palace from Ganye Temple and was granted the title of Zhaoyi, I have been loyal to Your Majesty and treated the palace maids with kindness. How could I have ever done anything so heinous as this?"

Empress Wu clutched Li Zhi's sleeve, her shoulders trembling slightly, and tears falling like beads from a broken string.

"Your Majesty, please understand this. Someone is clearly deliberately framing me to sow discord between you and me! Your Majesty, please believe me. I am innocent!"

Lin Lang stood aside, watching Empress Wu weeping and sneering in his heart: Unjust? Wasn't the fate of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao all due to you, the Emperor's sister-in-law?

However, these words only flashed through Lin Lang's mind, and he naturally would not say them out loud.

Lin Lang just lowered his eyes and pretended to be indifferent.

Li Zhi had always been partial to Empress Wu, and when he saw her crying, his anger was immediately suppressed by his heartache.

"Don't cry, Queen. I will not listen to such filthy songs and slander."

Empress Wu looked up with grievance, tears welling up in her eyes as she bowed to Li Zhi, her voice as soft as water: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for trusting me. Wuwuwu..."

Li Zhi clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white. He shouted angrily, "Li Dequan! Pass on my order to thoroughly investigate this matter! Dig three feet underground to find the person who spread the rumors and tear them into pieces!"

"Also, ban that misleading folk song. Anyone who dares to sing it again will be executed!" Li Zhi also had a bad temper.

Li Dequan crawled over and replied, "I obey your order," and hurriedly retreated.

Li Zhi was so angry that his temples were throbbing, and his migraine came back. He raised his hand to rub his eyebrows, and said to Lin Lang with all his strength, "I'm sorry to hear such a rumor spread in the Tang Dynasty. I'm sorry to have laughed at you, my dear brother."

Lin Lang replied, "This despicable person is using this trick to slander the Emperor's sister-in-law. His heart is worthy of death!"

"I'm so angry! I'm so mad!" Li Zhi was furious and sat on the chair with a splitting headache and a painful expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Don't get yourself hurt by being angry!" Empress Wu hurried forward and began to massage Li Zhi's temples to relieve his headache.

According to historical records, Li Zhi's vertigo began to appear during the Yonghui period and gradually worsened towards the end of the Xianqing period. Especially after 660, he was frequently unable to attend court due to headaches and dizziness, and could only entrust Wu Zetian to "decide on all matters reported by the various departments."

Therefore, Wu Zetian gradually accumulated power by taking the opportunity to handle state affairs and became the actual controller of Li Zhi's government in his later years.

To put it bluntly, if Li Zhi did not suffer from vertigo, Wu Zetian would not be able to interfere in politics from the harem so legitimately, and she would probably not have become an empress.

Lin Lang asked knowingly, "Brother, why do you still have a headache?"

Li Zhi sighed deeply, "I toil daily for the country and its people, and worry about the unrest of state affairs. I don't know when I developed this stubborn disease of dizziness and headaches. The slightest anger or a cold makes me dizzy and I can't stand steadily. This disease is really tormenting when it strikes."

While gently massaging Li Zhi's temples, Empress Wu said, "Your Majesty, since you are a renowned doctor in Shanghai and can cure Hong'er's acute fever, why don't you let me take your pulse and examine your persistent headache?"

Li Zhi slapped his thigh upon hearing this and said, "That's right! My dear brother, do you have any way to cure my stubborn headache?"