The History of Southern Tang records:
The last ruler's name was Yu, his courtesy name Chongguang. His original name was Congjia, and he was the sixth son of Emperor Yuanzong. From a young age, he was clever and quick-witted, skilled at writing and proficient in calligraphy and painting.
History is filled with countless famous figures, such as the mighty Emperor Taizong of Tang, the unifier Qin Shi Huang, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, who ushered in the Kaiyuan Golden Age. Such figures had both good and bad sides, as recorded in the histories and judged by later generations.
This book tells the story of a ruler of one dynasty.
Perhaps in the eyes of the world, he was not a good emperor. He was extravagant by nature and hastened the nation's downfall. Yet in the literary world, he was a master, with extraordinary skill in poetry and lyrics.
Li Yu, the last ruler of Southern Tang: the turbulent story of a legendary monarch.
His heart belonged to mountains and rivers, to poetry and painting, yet he could never have his wish. The world would not leave him a quiet corner, so he could only flee and hide. But there was nowhere to escape. In this life, he had never had the freedom to choose. Everyone said an emperor was born into wealth and privilege, but they did not know that this much-envied status was an inescapable predicament for him. He knew it was a trap, yet had no choice but to walk into it.
