Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 188 Opera

The Jinshi in Xingyuan are also going to Ziyun Tower to watch the play.

Yang Yu just stood up, and suddenly a ball hit him in the face.

"Ouch!"

When he looked up, he saw several young ladies being angry and cursing.

"Bullshit number one scholar, a blind official slave! I swear we are not at odds with you!"

"Yes, from today on, Xue Bai is my mortal enemy!"

Seeing this situation, Yang Yu suddenly felt relieved, and comforted himself in his heart, saying that even if he won the top prize and became the flower scout, it might not be a good thing. For example, is it a blessing for Xue Bai to marry the twenty-third mother?

"A blessing in disguise is a blessing in disguise."

"..."

On the other side, Li Jilan was so embarrassed when she saw them slandering Xue Bai. She was so carried away by the atmosphere of the Qujiang Banquet today that she lost her mind and went over to teach them a lesson without any explanation.

"I beat them."

Jiaonu's eyes lit up, and he was a little surprised that this talented woman could say such a thing. He quickly turned to look at Li Tengkong. She only waited for Qi Niang to nod before she started to take action.

"It's too late." Li Tengkong suddenly thought that there was still business to do, and quickly pulled Li Jilan away, "Hurry, don't delay."

"oops."

The two hurriedly ran to Furong Garden. Jiaonu was still taking out the talismans. Far ahead, they saw Li Shiniang and Yang Qixuan waiting at the palace gate.

"Where have you gone?" Li Shiniang opened her mouth and lectured: "How come you don't care about such a big thing?"

Li Tengkong was puzzled and asked, "Sister, do you know what I am doing?"

"How could you not know? You have a great filial piety, rehearsing an opera for me to dedicate it to the saint. Come with me, it will start soon." Li Shiniang said, turning her head and glaring at Yang Qixuan, and asked him to go to the guard. Talisman passes.

Li Shiniang was very interested and said: "Everyone in the world knows that I am good at music. Since you can handle this big thing, you must make my name famous. You are not good at this matter. I will tell you in front of the emperor later." , I have a sweet mouth."

"it is good."

"Ji Lanzi, your grandfather is Li Yushi who was promoted because of his contribution to the giant stone cannon, right? Don't worry, I will never forget your contribution. I will tell you when the time comes."

"it is good."

"And you, Shi Qi, did you know that many young ladies were fighting over each other at the Qujiang Banquet today? I have a keen eye and have long since fallen in love with the number one scholar, but you are so incompetent that you have to become a female champion..."

Li Jilan followed behind and listened to these babbles. He glanced at Li Tengkong sympathetically and took her hand. He understood why she would rather become a Taoist priest.

When they arrived near the stage, the couple left, and they finally became quiet, but only for a moment.

Xue Bai was surrounded by the actors, and everyone was hearing "Xue Lang, what should I do?" Everyone was obviously very nervous.

What's rare is that Xue Bai clearly doesn't know the music, but he doesn't panic when asked various questions. He calmly arranges the singing, walking positions, and movements, and can explain everything, which at least calms everyone's emotions.

At this time, seeing Li Tengkong arriving, everyone turned around one after another.

Fan Nu said: "It's time to take advantage of the opportunity. Today we will sing three folds each, and we will take turns to sing the first fold first!"

Xue Bai also smiled and said: "You are only here for a while, I don't know what to do, but I know that you are the backbone."

Li Jilan was happy to hear this and said hurriedly: "I am lucky to be able to help you sir."

Li Tengkong frowned and nodded, and quickly went to arrange the musicians.

"Lv Yu, the game will start in a moment. You can play the Jie Gu drum first, just a short one..."

~~

After the arrangements were made, Xue Bai boarded the Ziyun Tower again and sat down silently, waiting for the opera to begin.

He looked at Yang Yuhuan and found that she was also looking at him with a naughty smile in her eyes.

This smile made him a little uneasy, worried that she wouldn't help, maybe because he didn't like the clothes.

Everything that needs to be done has been done, all we have to do now is wait for the outcome.

"I love music so much that I set up a pear garden and have three hundred disciples." Li Longji was very excited. "Xue Bai, the number one scholar, is good at words, but poor in music. He is a perfect match for me. But he is young and dares to compete with me, hahaha, How can the emperor deceive a young man? According to what Taizhen said, I have to defeat him by many, and I will be considered the winner only when you and others are convinced."

"The saint is so courageous. I am willing to bet an agate cup that the saint will definitely win." The first person to join in the fun was Yang Wei.

Today's banquet was all for the emperor's relatives. There were no important ministers and few princes. It can be seen that Li Longji takes this matter very seriously and will not let those people disturb his interest.

Zhang Bian was the wise man who understood Li Longji's thoughts better. He bet Xue Bai on his guqin. After all, it was interesting to be evenly matched.

Yang Zhao is even better at such occasions, and can set up the atmosphere with just a few words.

"I took a look and found that Li Guinian, Aunt Gongsun and others are not in the palace. I guess the saint is merciless. I am detaining the saint..."

Li Longji was in a better mood, Lang smiled and waved, and the play began.

The first song will be sung by Xue Bai's team until Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying meet.

The stage was set up outside Ziyun Tower, and the curtains had already been closed. At this time, the curtain was not opened, but the sound of drums was heard first.

"Dong dong dong."

"How deep is the courtyard? The willows are piled with smoke, and the curtains are countless!"

A high-pitched female voice sounded, and the curtain slowly opened.

In this moment, Li Longji stood up, took two steps forward, and looked for the source of the drum sound with sharp eyes. After a moment, the drum stopped and the sound of the orchestra became louder.

He then pointed at Xue Bai and said, "You're such a fool. Once you've written the play, add new words to it."

After scolding, he quickly looked towards the stage.

"Qin and Hujia are not bad either."

The first person to appear was Pang Sanniang dressed as an old lady.

No one knew how she felt after struggling for so many years and finally singing in front of the emperor. At this time, the only thing on her decorated face was the grace and nobility of Mrs. Cui.

Her lyrics were extremely long, and she could sing in a melody that made Li Longji marvel.

After recounting her life experience, Pang Sanniang raised her hand, walked around, and sang again: "The weather in late spring is so sleepy that I can't help but call the matchmaker to come out and give her orders. Where is the matchmaker?"

The music changed and Fan Nu appeared on stage dressed as a matchmaker.

In the hall, Yang Zhao and others' eyes suddenly lit up, and their bodies couldn't help but lean forward.

Li Niang twisted her waist, pinched Yang Hui's leg hard, and gave Yang Hui a warning look.

"Take the little lady to relax and have some fun."

"Follow your strict orders."

When they saw that the matchmaker was going to invite the young lady, everyone became more and more excited. They thought that the matchmaker was already so beautiful, but they didn't know how stunning Cui Yingying was?

However, when the curtain was closed and opened, it was Zhang Sheng who appeared first. Before he came out, the voice came first.

"The horses on the ancient road of Chang'an are delayed, and the tall willows are in chaos!"

As soon as this melody came out, Li Longji immediately grinned, raised his hand and pointed at Xue Bai, scolding: "As cunning as a fox."

Others didn't know what this meant, and they didn't realize it until the handsome Zhang Sheng sang half of the opera.

"He's actually the Lord of Hezheng County?!"

"Really? The county master's music skills are truly passed down by saints."

Thinking about it again, only Li Yuetu dared to pretend to be a romantic talent in front of the saint. If it were any other man, he would probably be restrained at this time.

After a moment, the curtain closed and opened again. Everyone knew that Cui Yingying was about to appear on the stage, and they waited with bated breath.

"ah!"

A tender call came, and Yang Zhao was shocked when he heard it. Most of his bones softened. He squinted and saw what a delicate little beauty she was.

This time, even Li Niang was stunned and forgot to warn her consort.

On the stage, Cui Yingying moved lightly and was about to come to the middle of the stage. She happened to bump into Zhang Sheng. She walked away shyly and sang: "We are bumping into the injustice caused by the romantic industry five hundred years ago!"

The only libretto is astonishing.

What is even more surprising is that Zhang Sheng went on to praise Cui Yingying's beautiful lyrics.

"The bun is more suitable for palace style, the lotus face is tender, and the body is red and fragrant. There is no need to open the eyebrows and draw, and the heavenly teachings are used to grow the temples...I will die!"

It actually used the lyrics of "Good Times" written by the saint himself.

~~

Xue Bai calmly took a sip of wine, thinking that Li Longji would be very satisfied with the performance.

So even if he loses, Li Longji offers a marriage but he doesn't accept it, so he probably won't die, and may be exiled at most.

It can be seen that one still has to have a higher official position, and if he makes a mistake, he can be demoted to the rank of chief historian or Sima.

"Zhuzi, you have some skills."

The first part of the play came to an end, and it was Liyuan's turn for the second part. Li Longji's face became more solemn, but he was still quite confident and said: "Watch it."

……

Compared with Xue Bai's play, Li Longji's play obviously has more complete music, more comfortable singing, and the musicians and actors are also famous in the world.

Li Guinian played the piano, Aunt Gongsun played Mrs. Cui, Xie Aman played the matchmaker, Xu Hezi played Cui Yingying, and Zhang Sheng was played by Li Zhen, the king of Siqi who looked exactly like Li Longji.

Li Zhen is Li Longji's nephew. She is already in her thirties. She looks very much like Li Longji when he was young, much more similar than many of his biological sons. She is also very good at music, so she got this opportunity.

In short, these people are the most professional, and each of them can be said to have a singing skill that is as high as the sky.

They also revised some of the awkward parts in the lyrics, making it smoother...but it just didn't have the lively and varied singing style of the Xueyuan Opera Troupe.

Looking individually, Aunt Gongsun is sassy, ​​Xie A is quite pretty, Xu Hezi is beautiful, and Li Zhen is majestic and chic. All of them sing loudly and continuously for three days. But taken together, there is no such feeling between Xu Hezi and Li Zhen.

How would you describe that feeling? Although Xue Bai didn't know much about music, he could tell that Li Yuetu really liked Niannu. Every time he sang to Niannu, he felt like he wanted to hold her close to her. In comparison, he thought the play performed by Li Longji was too elegant and lacked some sense of stage.

But he didn't know how the people in the hall felt. They cheered loudly, much more enthusiastically than before.

Yang Zhao really admired Xu Hezi, and he was excited every time she sang; Yang Hui and Li Zhen had a good personal relationship, and they kept stroking their hands... It seemed that these people all appreciated the music.

After singing this part of the opera, Xue Bai looked at Yang Yuhuan and saw that she was discussing something quietly with Li Longji. She looked very professional. They were serious about music and opera.

Li Longji's face was solemn. Perhaps he was keenly aware that the reactions of the ministers were a bit false, or perhaps he had a new understanding of opera.

"Dong dong dong dong!"

At the beginning of the third act, Lu Yuanzhen's drumming skills were fully unleashed.

On the stage, Mrs. Cui was getting angry, and the drums were getting louder and faster. Along with Dong Tinglan's piano, it seemed to be going straight into the night.

In response to this, Li Longji couldn't sit still and stood there watching, the excitement in his eyes getting stronger. When the third part of the opera was finished, he suddenly shouted loudly.

"Here comes the drum!"

Everyone in the hall was shocked, and Gao Lishi quickly arranged for someone to bring the saint's Jiegu.

Li Longji shook his hand and said: "I will go to the stage to fight."

"This... Saint Ninety-Five Supreme..."

"Hurry up and make arrangements."

Li Longji was in high spirits and would not be dissuaded at all. At this point, it was written that rebels were coming, and it was time for him to play the drums and compete with the drummer just now.

"Boom!"

As the drums started to sound, no one in the hall dared to sit and watch, and they all stood up to watch.

As a result, everyone in the Liyuan Opera Troupe became excited, and Li Zhen's singing became louder and louder.

"Therefore, we know that the body of a tiger eats the fortune of heaven, and looking at the surface of the sky, great virtue prevails!"

"Dong dong dong dong dong dong dong..."

~~

"Xue Lang must lose."

Li Shiniang suddenly came to Xue Bai's side and whispered: "Not only does everyone think that the saint's play is better, the saint has already done this, how can you still win?"

At this time, everyone was standing, and Yang Qixuan was not far in front of them, blocking others' sight for them.

"What advice does Eleventh Mother have?"

"It's simple. If the saint wants to grant you a marriage, just ask the Seventeenth Mother to marry you."

Xue Bai shook his head.

Li Shiniang prepared some words and whispered: "No one dares to fight with the clan except the right prime minister. Don't think that Party Yang is reliable. Once you offend too many people, do you think they will protect you?" If it hadn't been for my grandfather to protect you, Yang Zhao would have sold you. And if you want to be promoted to an official, you can't bypass the official department. Being the son-in-law of the right prime minister will bring you more benefits than you expected."

Ahead, Yang Qixuan turned his head and glanced this way.

"laugh."

Li Shiniang pursed her red lips and smiled, then she kissed Xue Bai intentionally or unintentionally, and said: "You think about it, it's better than marrying a clan member."

"In a moment, will you ask for merit from the saint?" Xue Bai asked.

"How about you and me together?"

Xue Bai said: "I just wrote the lyrics of the play, and the rehearsal of the play is all the work of freeing up the space. The eleventh mother can just ask the saint for credit."

"What? You want to escape? Can you escape?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as the right minister gets this benefit."

~~

Now that Li Longji had arrived on the stage, Xue Bai confessed to the eunuch in the palace and left the palace to prepare on the stage.

Before leaving, he glanced at Yang Yuyao and winked.

After leaving the main hall, bypassing the unmanned stairs at the back, Xue Bai descended halfway down the stairs, chose a dark place where the guards could not see, and stood there, waiting for Yang Yuyao.

In the distance, you can hear the drum beat getting more and more intense. It was a rare encounter between Li Longji and Lu Yuanzhen, and they were competing against each other.

After waiting for a while, several figures emerged in the candlelight. Among them, the slim figure in a skirt raised her hand, stopped the maid behind her, and walked towards the stairs alone with the hem of her skirt in hand.

Before the people arrive, the fragrant breeze arrives first.

After walking a few steps, she snorted softly because it was a little dark down there.

"Yu Yao."

"Who is your Yuyao?"

"I've seen the imperial concubine, I'm sorry."

"What? I am no longer your sworn sister."

"Yes, sister, be careful."

Xue Bai helped Yang Yuhuan's arm a little, and the skin under the gauze was smooth.

He turned around and could faintly see Yang Yuyao's shadow in the corridor above the stairs, covering their conversation.

"I'm here to talk to you face to face. I can no longer judge you as the winner." Yang Yuhuan said, "Who taught you to find a drummer who was so outrageous that the saint even walked off the stage himself? I can't do anything about it. .”

Although Xue Bai had some concerns, he didn't say anything at this time and only said: "Please save me, sister."

In the dimness, Yang Yuhuan could be seen covering her mouth and smiling, her voice was clear.

"What's wrong with the saint granting you a marriage? Do you need to use the word 'save'?"

"I really can't marry a clan member..."

"Then tell me, who do you want to marry?" Yang Yuhuan asked, "You have to lose, as long as you don't disgrace the saint. The marriage is an agreement. Say who you want to marry, and I will arrange it for you."

Xue Bai was stunned for a moment, unable to speak.

"What's the matter?" Yang Yuhuan became more and more interesting and teased him: "Isn't it true that the number one scholar doesn't have a sweetheart?"

As soon as she approached, Xue Bai felt awkward for no reason.

At this moment, the drumming in the distance suddenly stopped.

Yang Yuhuan turned to leave, but remembered that the matter was not finished yet, so he urged: "Speak quickly."

Xue Bai actually had a candidate in mind. When she urged him, he almost wanted to say it out, but immediately swallowed it back. After all, I haven't asked the other party about their feelings, so how can I directly ask the emperor for marriage?

"As long as you don't lose or win."

"Huh?" Yang Yuhuan thought for a moment and responded with a smile: "Understood, I will arrange it later. I also want to ask you Bai Suzhen, maybe next time."

After saying that, she held up her skirt and trotted up the stairs lightly.

"Sister, be careful."

Yang Yuhuan had already reached the candlelight, looked back and smiled, without saying a word, and walked away, leaving only a gust of fragrant wind still on the tip of Xue Bai's nose.

Xue Bai walked down the dark stairs and muttered softly to himself.

"I do not know."

~~

At night, Li Linfu was still awake, still handling general affairs in the meeting hall, and waiting for news from Ziyun Tower.

It wasn't until the third watch that Cang Bi arrived in a hurry.

"Alang, the eleventh mother came overnight."

Before she finished speaking, Li Shiniang rushed over and said, "Master, the opera has started."

"how?!"

"It's really refreshing. My daughter has never seen such a opera before. After the competition, the saint was still in Ziyun Tower and wanted to watch the opera all night long."

"So, Seventeenth Mother has done a great job?"

"My daughter said that it was my grandfather who personally went to Yuzhen Temple to tell Shi Qi to rehearse a play for the saint."

The father and daughter also had a tacit understanding. They first determined the gains brought by this matter, and then Li Linfu asked: "How is the victory or defeat?"

"The imperial concubine brought a bowl of water and put it on the table, saying that the two sides could not win or lose. The saint did not grant Xue Bai a marriage, and Xue Bai did not ask for an official position." Li Shiniang said proudly: "In the end, I was the only one to report my merits to the saint. I carefully talked about my grandfather’s teachings on music to us.”

Li Linfu was satisfied with this and asked, "What did Xue Bai say?"

"He said that as long as grandpa knows what he feels."

"This is preparation for the civil service examination." Li Linfu sneered, "Shuzi...scheming."

In the end, he changed the subject and looked serious.

"Master, what do you mean? Xue Bai didn't get anything."

"You didn't win the bet, but don't forget that you haven't been rewarded for your contribution to the opera. Don't be blinded by a gambling game. The gambling game is just a joke. With the generosity of a saint, as long as you like this opera, how can you not reward him? It looks like it’s a tie, but in fact Xue Bai won.”

Li Shiniang was stunned and murmured: "This... my daughter didn't expect it."

"He first sold me some benefits, so that he could pass the civil service examination and find an official position. After a few days, the saint came to his senses from the opera, and thinking of his good fortune, he was afraid that not only would he be given an official position, but also more It’s a reward, Zhuzi is very good at calculating.”

Li Linfu smiled sarcastically and flipped it casually, and there was actually an abacus on the table.

He has given the one given by Xue Bai to the saint. This is the one he made again. It still has the inscription "Clouds in the blue sky and water in the bottle" engraved on it.

　September is going well for everyone. On the first day of September, more than 9 words were updated~~ Please vote at the beginning of the month, please vote for the month~~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)