Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 205 Clinging to the skirt

The great affairs of the country lie in sacrifice and military affairs.

Taichang Temple is where the Zhangling Temple worships, and is responsible for rituals, music, astronomy, and clothing.

The largest government office in the imperial city belongs to Taichang Temple. It covers an area six times that of the Secretariat Province and is located due south.

When Xue Bai arrived, he had already changed into a dark blue official robe. He also saw that there was still a monkey embroidered on the inner lapel of the official robe...it was so messed up that he could only identify it with the golden hoop.

He went to the gate and handed over the talisman, and then heard the young official laugh and say: "Sure enough, looking at such young demeanor and this official robe from a distance, I knew that the number one scholar has finally arrived."

"I still have to bother you to lead the way."

"The champion scholar must not be so polite. A villain cannot bear this. Taichang Temple has 'eight departments and four courtyards', and the Taiyue Department is in the northwest corner, adjacent to the Propaganda Department."

"Which department is to the south?"

"That is the ceremonial court, which is independent of the 'eight departments and four courtyards'. The ceremonial court is responsible for the clan's posthumous title and funeral ceremonies, and is not under the jurisdiction of the temple minister and the young minister."

"Must be very noble?"

"Qinggui is unusual. Of course, Taile Department is also the Qinggui Yamen, please invite Xue Lecheng."

This is an independent government office in Taichang Temple. The environment is much better than that of the newspaper office. There is a row of medicinal gardens planted in the courtyard, and an old man wearing only a spring shirt is tending herbs in front of the medicinal garden.

Xue Bai was admitted to the hospital alone. He stepped forward and asked, "May I ask, old man, if Tai Leling is here?"

"Do you see my portrait?"

Xue Bai reacted immediately and responded with a smile: "Liu Gong is funny."

"Haha, I'm just too happy to order Liu Kui. The weather is hot, so I don't wear my official robe."

Liu Kui leaned over and sniffed for a while, then picked up the scissors and cut off a mint leaf. Then he picked up the basket and said, "Let's go to the hall to talk... You are finally willing to come and take care of the matter."

"Forgive me, Mr. Liu. The secretarial department has been busy with the affairs of the past few days."

"I've read it. I've read both the Di Bao and Wen Cui Bao." Liu Kuang said, "I have also served as the editor of the Secretariat Department and will be going to repair the book soon. This is the trouble you have caused."

Xue Bai said: "I am the one who found him. It's because Liu Gong is well versed in classics and history."

"I speak frankly. I haven't been promoted for many years. To be honest, I have to thank you. Oh, did you know that I was too obedient when Wang Wei was appointed as Tai Le Cheng? Like you, he clings to nepotism, but he has real talent. "

"Misunderstandings and rumors should not be taken seriously."

"Why hide it? You have lost your true meaning." Liu Kui rested for a while, then stood up and said: "Come, I will show you... The Taiyue Department is in charge of the etiquette and music of sacrifices, court meetings, and banquets, as well as the teaching of music industry. .Below you and me, there are eight officials from Yuezheng, from the ninth rank down, there are eight officials, eight officials each, and one hundred and forty musicians and dancers."

The two walked through the long corridor, but they heard no music along the way.

Xue Bai couldn't help but ask: "Tai Le Department looks a little quiet?"

"It's gone. It's gone in my hands." Liu Kui sighed: "It's a long story. Fortunately, you and I have plenty of spare time. I'll tell you slowly."

This old man, like Wang Changling, likes to slander the king. No wonder he entered the officialdom at a young age and has not yet been promoted.

"When the saint was in Qiandi, he had a Sanmusi troupe, which is now the Jiaofang. It also contributed to the Yaofeng of Ji Dingwu Zhou. After the saint came to the throne, he had great faith in the Jiaofang. At that time, everyone In dance music, the Taiyue Department and the Jiaofang can perform at the same time, which is called a hot show. During a hot show, both sides tried their best and the fight was a bit too fierce. That was thirty years ago, when I was just in the family. Entering an official position and serving as Lezheng..."

In the second year of Kaiyuan, the Jiaofang team was still the favorite group of Li Longji when he was the crown prince. The show began with acrobatics, with musicians playing diabolo on a hundred-foot building.

The Taile Department people felt that there was always a competition for superiority, so when they played the diabolo, it was higher than the hundred-foot building of the temple. Taking advantage of the large number of people in Taichang Temple, they let the musicians and dancers cheer with great fanfare. The arrogance of Jiaofang was suppressed.

"I was so happy that I forgot about everything and didn't notice the saint's expression of hesitation. I was leading the dancers in cheers when I suddenly felt a pain in my back. At first, I thought it was a bull elk raised in the imperial garden that ran out to nudge someone, but when I turned around, I saw I saw that the eunuchs in the chamber of corps had iron riding whips hidden in their sleeves, and they whipped us severely."

Xue Bai was surprised and said: "Is this happening?"

Liu Kuang smiled bitterly and said: "Immediately, we stopped talking. After that, the pole of the Taiyue Department was broken. The next day, the sage issued an edict, "Taichang Lisi, it is not appropriate to praise actors and acrobats," and dismissed the Taichang Temple musicians."

From this incident, Xue Bai could see that Li Longji did whatever he wanted when he was young, and his magnanimity was not even as good as it is now. However, there are still ministers to check and balance the affairs of the court, so the emperor can only be willful in these court affairs.

Xue Bai felt that there was no point in slandering people in private, so he made a scene and said: "There are still differences. Jiaofang is in charge of court rituals and music, and Taile Department is in charge of sacrifices and court rituals and music."

"Yes, sacrifices and court gatherings." Liu Kuang sighed.

……

Taile Department is indeed very different from Jiaofang, at least it looks much more solemn.

There are both men and women among the musicians and dancers, and there are also a few women among the officials and Zhang Gu to facilitate management. Basically, they are all elderly people who are really good at skills, and there is no such thing as the trend of entertaining people with sex that has been growing in the church in recent years.

The dances and music used for sacrifices are all fixed, and they are not needed for palace banquets, so there is no need to arrange new dances. Le Gong’s schoolwork and teaching were also well arranged by Le Zheng, and everything was in order.

All Xue Bai had to do was arrange music and dance during the sacrifice, which was very easy.

After inspecting the Taile Department, he couldn't help but sigh: "I feel very ashamed for receiving this salary."

When Liu Kuang heard Xue Bai say he was ashamed, he waved his hand quickly and said: "No, no need to be ashamed. The Number One Scholar has written many poems that can be passed down from generation to generation. He deserves this salary. Don't make any more excuses. I am already old, and I can't bear to do it." Move."

"Don't worry, Mr. Liu."

"If you have free time, just teach the musicians some music occasionally. Everyone will admire you." Liu Kui said, "But don't imitate Wang Weipai's yellow lion dance. If you do more, you will make more mistakes."

Having said that, Xue Bai believed that Wang Wei had offended Princess Yuzhen because of his marriage.

At this time, a musician came forward and saluted: "I have met Mr. Taiyuefu. Thank you for your visit. I would like to meet Mr. Xue."

"Okay, okay, let the young people talk."

~~

There was a person standing in the concert hall. He was dressed as an official and had a slender figure. When he turned around, it was Xie Aman.

She was Yang Yuyao's original wife choice for Xue Bai.

In the eyes of later generations, the children of the Liyuan were musicians and actors, but in today's Tang Dynasty, they are equivalent to the combination of the palace female officials and the Taichang Temple music officials. Xie Aman is a disciple of Yang Yuhuan. He has a high status. He has a mansion and works in the Liyuan. His salary is slightly higher than that of a fifth-grade official. Coupled with the rewards, she is actually a very wealthy person in Chang'an City. This is what Pang Sanniang, Fan Nu and others have hoped for in their lives.

If Xue Bai marries Xie Aman, then the husband and wife will be a holy family, and all the nobles in the city will pay tribute to them, and the blessings in the church will also be indispensable.

Just like Jia Chang and Pan, they are the happiest people in Chang'an City... Xue Bai probably doesn't know how happy the chicken prodigy is. A small official in blue robe.

When Xie Aman looked back, he looked at Xue Bai with a somewhat resentful look. It's not that I admire him, I just think he is a talented and handsome young man, but unfortunately his brain is not very good.

Xue Bai met Xie Aman several times, but always at a distance. This was the first time he looked at Xie Aman face to face at a close distance.

She is good at dancing, so her figure is graceful. When she turns around, she twists her slender waist and swings her hands lightly. Her movements are like dancing. Her eyes are lively and her cheeks are slightly red.

If the women he knew were compared to flowers, some of them looked like peach blossoms, lotus flowers, crabapples, dujuans, and peonies, while Xie Aman looked like hibiscus. The hibiscus is not like the graceful peony that captivates the country, but is like a graceful little girl.

"Xue Lang has come to Taile Department." Xie Manfu said: "The noble concubine asked me to urge you to write the drama of "The Legend of White Snake"."

"Ok?"

"Oh, if something urgent happens, you can also let me contact the imperial concubine. It will be more convenient for me to enter the palace than Madam Guo." Xie Aman added: "In short, this is how the imperial concubine promoted you to be Tai Lecheng. ...You write it."

"Xie Dianshi, doesn't he know that I always hire ghostwriters for my plays?"

"I know that a talented person can write the most beautiful artistic conception in just a few strokes, but you also need to give some supervision and revision so that we can rehearse the play as soon as possible." Xie Aman reminded: "You don't want the imperial concubine to be angry, right?"

This is what Xue Bai really wants to do when he takes office as Tai Le Cheng.

He really didn't want to be like Wang Wei, who was demoted because of his ignorance of good and evil.

If you cling to your skirt, you must have the consciousness to cling to your skirt.

"Okay." Xue Bai said, "Don't worry about the script. Just go through it one last time. Let's prepare to rehearse the drama for the imperial concubine."

Xie Aman couldn't help but be curious and asked: "Can you start rehearsing a play without writing it? How can you understand the artistic conception?"

"It's all here."

Xue Bai raised his finger and pointed at his head.

Xie Aman only felt that he was out of his mind.

"Is Xie Dianshi pretending to be Xiaoqing?" Xue Bai asked. Xie Aman's eyes lit up and he asked, "Does Xue Lang think it's okay?"

"Okay. Are there any arrangements for Xu Xian's selection of a noble concubine?"

"Xu Hezi." Xie Aman said: "The imperial concubine has thought about it and asked the palace to tailor her clothes. She will look good when the time comes..."

~~

On that day, Yang Yuhuan hosted a banquet for three sisters in the palace. They played dominoes and ate cakes together.

Xue Bai, the sworn brother, was also mentioned in the middle.

Strangely, Yang Yuyao, who had the deepest friendship with Xue Bai, just snorted coldly and said lightly: "Speaking of Tai Lecheng, I understand why Princess Yuzhen demoted Wang Wei to Jeju."

"Should."

Yang Yuhuan smiled and said: "If Third Sister is angry with him, I will persuade the saint to demote him tomorrow."

"Think about it."

At this time, Xie Aman entered the palace to report a small incident.

"Back to the imperial concubine, Xue Lang is sensible and has made arrangements..."

"Really? He finally remembered to do something for me."

"He will also tailor a few costumes, and I will ask the imperial concubine to choose from them."

"It's rare that he takes it seriously. If he keeps putting on airs, I really won't forgive him."

After saying that, Yang Yuhuan looked at Yang Yuyao and couldn't help but asked curiously: "What did the third sister say?"

"Tired."

Yang Yuyao was even more unhappy. She got up and left with a snort, regardless of whether they were missing someone while playing cards.

After leaving the palace and boarding the carriage, Mingzhu noticed that she was in a bad mood. He gently stepped forward to comfort her for a while and asked, "Ms. Yao, what happened?"

"Do you think I have grown old?"

"Yao Niang's country is fragrant and the sky is beautiful. The country is beautiful." Mingzhu asked doubtfully: "Even if you are blind, no one should talk nonsense like this. Who is it?"

"If this were not the case, how could Xue Bai be engaged to the daughter of the Yan family without authorization? And she, Yang Taizhen, bypassed me and sent people directly to him. It seems that she is closer to him than me, huh."

Only then did Mingzhu realize it, and she could only comfort her softly: "Ms. Yao, please don't get angry again. How can you blame the noble concubine?"

"Why shouldn't I blame her? I was the one who cleaned up her bedwetting when she was a child. It's great to be a concubine today, but if she reaches out for me tomorrow, I have to give it up to her?"

Mingzhu didn't dare to say anything more about the matter between the sisters, she just paid careful attention not to let others hear.

Back in the house, Mingzhu comforted Yang Yuyao in another way.

"With such a good pearl, what do you think I should teach him a lesson?"

"Yao Niang needs to calm down first before mentioning the prodigal."

When I was lingering, a maid came outside the door and said, "Madam, Mr. Xue is here to visit."

"I just don't see him." Yang Yuyao snorted coldly, "We should let him know the consequences of not knowing what is practical."

~~

"I thought you had become more capable, so you became attached to the Yan family and became a noble concubine, so that you would come to see me."

When she saw Xue Bai in the hall, Yang Yuyao couldn't help but snorted, feeling very dissatisfied.

Xue Bai didn't have any sweet words, he only showed her his sincerity.

"Yu Yao can feel what I mean."

The two then moved from the lobby to the boudoir to talk...

It was now June, and the weather was getting hotter. As she spoke, Yang Yuyao broke out in a fragrant sweat and panted.

This weather makes people feel very hot. I wish I could go to Lishan Mountain to find a stream and plunge into it to relieve the heat.

……

After a long time, Yang Yuyao let out a long sigh.

During this period of time, Xue Bai ignored her wishes, got engaged without permission, and contacted Yang Yuhuan directly. She was really unhappy, and she was at the point where love would lead to hatred.

After giving Xue Bai a hard lesson, she finally calmed down.

After resting, she complained again.

"It's all your fault. You just want to make progress too much and keep making trouble."

"I have been too radical recently." Xue Bai then explained various reasons and finally said: "You can't solve the troubles in the officialdom. I don't want you to worry about it, so I haven't come here these days."

"Actually, I know everything." Yang Yuyao found it easier to understand him at this time, and said, "Then...as long as the Yan family's daughter doesn't stop us from dating, that'll be fine."

"Yes." Xue Bai said: "After a few days, I'm afraid I will be released."

"What?" Yang Yuyao sat up suddenly and said angrily: "Who dares?!"

"This is the path that must be taken in officialdom. I must have this qualification. If everything goes well, I will be back in a year or two."

Yang Yuyao was still angry, but she knew that Xue Bai was not a man she could control. After thinking about it, she said, "Then I will choose a suburban county in Chang'an and Jingki for you. I can go there to see you from time to time."

"it is good."

Xue Bai didn't refuse.

He was indeed here today to calm Yang Yuyao's anger, not for this reason, but he didn't expect that she would have the heart to take the initiative to mention this matter.

Only then did Yang Yuyao become happy.

After thinking about it again, she was still looking forward to it.

"Xianyang should be the nearest one, including Zhaoying, Liquan, Weinan, Lantian, and Huxian. It's convenient for me to find you. If I can find such a position for you, you will have to entertain me well."

"How would Third Sister like me to entertain you?"

"It's good like this today." Yang Yuyao bit her lips and smiled: "When you get to that remote county town, you can focus on me with all your heart and eyes without those goblins."

"it is good."

These are all Gyeonggi counties next to Jingzhao Mansion, but in her words they are just suburban counties. It should be noted that many important ministers started from these positions.

For Xue Bai, if he can take this step, any reward will be worthwhile, but it is actually very difficult.

State affairs were in the hands of Li Linfu. According to the power of the Yang Party, there were very few methods that could be used if he did not send out officials. It would be impossible to seek the holy family, and he could not let the emperor interfere with such trivial matters every time he was promoted. Moreover, Li Longji also has no intention of letting Xue Bai go out of Beijing to develop his qualifications.

Unexpectedly, Yang Yuyao actually came up with a solution.

"Do you know where the best place is? Zhaoying County, Lishan is two miles southeast of the county. I have another business in Lishan."

"Huaqing Palace?"

Yang Yuyao said: "Yes, if you are appointed Zhaoying Lieutenant, it will be easy for you and me to find an opportunity to stay together, and this is the Ji County Lieutenant who has the best chance to meet the Holy Spirit. With your ability, you will be able to be transferred back to Chang'an in a year or two." "

Xue Bai was just starting to get to know each Ji County. He couldn't help but nod and considered Zhaoying County as a choice.

"Is it easy to arrange?"

"The saint will move to Huaqing Palace soon. I will think of a way for you to accompany him. Then you and I will find an opportunity to seek this official position."

In fact, Xie Aman told Xue Bai today that Concubine Yang had made appropriate arrangements and would take Xue Bai to Huaqing Palace to rehearse the show so that he could prepare early... There was no need to tell Yang Yuyao about this matter.

Xue Bai was a little moved and said, "Okay, I'll listen to Yuyao's arrangements."

　Chapter 2 Don’t wait~~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)