Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 66 Please start your show

Liyuan is a "comprehensive art school" established by Li Longji. Its main responsibilities are to arrange music and write lyrics, train musical instrument players, and also train dancers.

Together with Taichang Temple, which specializes in rituals and music, and the Internal and External Jiaofang, which performs singing, dancing and music, it is responsible for supporting the entertainment and entertainment of the royal family and officials.

The top manager of Liyuan is called Cui Gong (or Ya Gong).

This position has always been held by Li Longji himself, equivalent to the principal (or dean), and has never been replaced.

Under Cui Gong, there are two sets of people: editor and Le Yingjiang (also known as Kui Ling).

Editors, as the name suggests, are responsible for arranging and composing music. There are not many fixed establishments under his command, but Li Longji often uses his power to ask Hanlin scholars or famous literati to compile programs, such as He Zhizhang, Wang Wei and others.

Li Longji, Lei Haiqing, Gongsun Aunt and others have all served as Leying generals.The person who currently holds this position is Lei Haiqing.Li Longji has long since become a hands-off shopkeeper.

They are the leaders responsible for specific performance matters, which means that after Li Longji gives an explanation, the music camp will organize and arrange the performance activities in the future.

At this time, the tables were set up in the Forbidden Garden of the Liyuan, and the tables for the guests were on the high side, while the stage was on the low side. The form was very similar to the theater in Fang Chongyong's previous life, but the scale was much smaller.

I have to say that although Li Longji is not very concerned about running the country, he is indeed someone who understands art and can play.Just looking at the venue layout of this banquet, you can tell that people who don't often attend performances and organize performances would never think of this.

Although the banquet venue was very large, Fang Chongyong saw Lao Zheng wearing Tang Jin at a glance, bragging with his colleagues around him, looking very excited.

The Tang Dynasty belonged to the transitional period between China's "divided meal system" and "combined meal system". Therefore, at large banquets, several people often sat on different high stools and shared a table for meals. Meals do not interfere with each other, which can be regarded as "sitting together and sharing meals".

"Come here, let me introduce you, this is Wei Jingzhao (Wei Jian), why don't you be polite?"

Zheng Shuqing called Fang Chongyong to come and sit down, and introduced to the official wearing a round collar and purple robe beside him: "Fang Jieshuai's only son, Fang Chongyong, is a child prodigy in Chang'an."

Wei Jian smiled awkwardly, crossed his hands and saluted Fang Chongyong, not knowing what to say to this half-grown child.

Fang Youde still needs to be given some face, but more is not necessary.

Unlike Zheng Shuqing, Wei Jian now has two identities.

One is Li Linfu's core party members.Because he married Jiang Jiao's daughter, and Jiang Jiao is Li Linfu's uncle, the two can be regarded as relatives.Li Linfu was very close to Wei Jian and helped him become Jing Zhao Yin.

But Wei Jian has another identity, his sister is Li Heng's concubine!
Li Heng is not the prince yet, so his relationship with Li Linfu has not deteriorated yet.Therefore, Wei Jian's path of sitting on the fence can continue for the time being.

But Wei Jian, the Prophet of the Spring River Plumbing Duck, has already felt the subtle changes in interpersonal relationships caused by the drastic changes in the political situation, as well as the subtle changes in Li Linfu's attitude towards him.

No one thought that the much-anticipated King of Shou not only lost his crown prince forever because of the death of his mother Concubine Wu Hui, but also concubine Shou Wang was robbed by Li Longji!
Now that the clay bodhisattva is crossing the river, he cannot protect himself!

In addition, Zhang Jiuling was dismissed as prime minister, Zhang Shougui entered the court, and the central ministers changed their minds, so Wei Jian had to be cautious in his words and actions.

He can't be as free and easy as Lao Zheng.

"Why are you wearing Tang brocade!"

Fang Chongyong pulled Zheng Shuqing aside and complained in a low voice.

"Why? Of course it's to bring about the trend of wearing Tang brocade. You don't understand these official rules."

Zheng Shuqing waved his hand and said disapprovingly.

What else is he doing? As an official supervising Tang Jin, it is the "hidden rule" of this era to take the lead in wearing this.

Everyone can accept it if you wear it, but you will be suspicious if you don't wear it.

You don't even wear the fabrics you personally supervised, yet you dare to offer them to saints. What's your intention?

The basic logic is obvious.

Wearing robes made of Tang brocade at banquets may set off a trend of wearing Tang brocade in the aristocratic circle, thereby affecting the taste of the empire's top brass.

Zheng Shuqing felt that there was no need to elaborate on such things as "grown-ups understand" with half-grown children like Fang Chongyong, especially on such occasions.Otherwise, Zheng Shuqing would not have sent someone to send a robe for Fang Chongyong to wear to the banquet today.

"There is something fatal."

Seeing that Zheng Shuqing was about to put a piece of steamed "Yuanjia pear" into his mouth, Fang Chongyong leaned over and said in a low voice, "Except for a few apprentices of Mrs. Gongsun, there are three people who wear this kind of clothes made of Tang brocade." .”

Fang Chongyong continued with a sad look on his face: "Zheng Shilang, yourself, me, and...the former Princess Shou."

blah blah blah!

The chopsticks in Zheng Shuqing's hand fell to the table!The half-eaten pear fell to the ground.After subconsciously swallowing what was in his mouth, he asked incoherently: "That, that, that...this, will..."

"meeting."

Fang Zhongyong nodded and said.

Yang Yuhuan can wear it, why can't Li Longji wear Tang brocade at this banquet?The reason is very simple. This is the same reason why Zheng Shuqing wore Tang brocade.

If the trend is brought up, then Li Longji will wear it after the banquet, anyway, someone helped him to get rid of the thunder; if this kind of fabric is complained about being inferior and vulgar at the banquet, it is Zheng Shuqing who is ashamed, not him, the emperor.

Since he is a saint in Chang'an, he naturally puts face first.

No matter how ugly he is, he cannot be ugly to himself.

"How did she have such clothes?"

Zheng Shuqing calmed down and asked in confusion.

"Because the sage is the biggest person in the Tang Kingdom, why does Zheng Shilang think he can cover the sky with one hand?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Zheng Shuqing as if he were a fool and asked.

If the official process was followed, the clothes would definitely not be in Yang Yuhuan's hands now.

However, the so-called "official" priority is also ranked behind the emperor Li Longji.

"The first act! Joining the army scene!"

A Liyuan boy was holding a sign to announce the curtain at the performance venue.

"What is the drama about joining the army?"

Fang Chongyong pulled Zheng Shuqing's sleeve and asked.

"Are you still in the mood to watch a show? If you can't think of a way, we will all be in bad luck today!"

Zheng Shuqing was blowing his beard and staring, so anxious that he almost cried.

If you don't give Yang Yuhuan good clothes to wear, you put them on yourself first. Is this plausible?
She doesn't have to wear it, but you have to give it away!
If Yang Yuhuan didn't wear Tang brocade, Zheng Shuqing could still fool him, because Li Longji couldn't imagine whether the other party would look good in Tang brocade, so he wouldn't pursue the matter.

But the current situation is that Li Longji already knows that Yang Yuhuan looks beautiful in a robe made of this kind of fabric, so Zheng Shuqing's "bad intentions" are clearly exposed.

"Shilang Zheng, when Princess Huishou comes out to dance with her, and the saint sees that we are wearing the same clothes as her, will he think that you are the emperor, she is the noble concubine, and I am the young prince?"

Fang Chongyong whispered teasingly in Zheng Shuqing's ear.

"Yes! So why can you be so calm!"

Zheng Shuqing lamented, he obviously thought of this.

"Watch the show with peace of mind. I'll guarantee that you'll be fine later. If something goes wrong, I'll pay you my head."

Fang Chongyong said calmly.

"Sure?"

In view of Fang Chongyong's miraculous performance in the past, Zheng Shuqing also calmed down.

"Of course I'm sure. Have I cheated on you? As long as you have a thicker skin later, you'll be fine."

Fang Zhongyong laughed and said that he found that many dishes on the table had unique shapes that he did not recognize. Some were rough and bold, while others were delicate and delicate.

It seems that there is also a "Jade Buddha Guanyin" that is not for eating, but simply placed for decoration to increase the "ceremonial sense" of the banquet.

Only a few Ju Sheng Nu and others have seen these dishes, let alone eaten them.

Riding a horse, Li Longji is really extravagant.

Fang Chongyong complained secretly in his heart, but this did not prevent him from eating and drinking here.

As a member of the "ruling class", this identity is not something he can just shake off if he wants to.

"Do I need to be thick-skinned? I'm not a madman like You Heng."

Zheng Shuqing said with a vigilant face.

"Don't worry, let's go to the theater. By the way, what was announced just now was about joining the army. What is this?"

Fang Chongyong grabbed a "Ju Sheng Slave" on the table and started eating it. He asked while eating and watching the show.

"Later Zhao Shile, because of corruption by an official who joined the army, ordered an artist to pretend to join the army, and another artist to tease from the side, so there was a so-called army scene.

The person who was teased called it "Joining the Army", and the person who teased him called it "Cang Falcon". The two characters made funny dialogues and performances, and the play "Joining the Army" got its name from this.

In short, don't ask so many questions, this play is not interesting, just watch it for fun. "

Zheng Shuqing waved his hand disapprovingly and said.A little explanation of what joining the army drama is.

What is "funny"?

Sima Qian's "Comic Biographies" for comic artists in "Historical Records" has an explanation.

Among them, comedians are called "haiyuu". These people take it as their duty to amuse the king and relieve their boredom. They are just the playthings of the rulers and did not become popular among the people.

Looking at the performance on the stage, Fang Chongyong felt a bit like a sketch from his previous life, accompanied by cadenced music.

It's a bit interesting, but that's about it.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, looking at it with gusto.

"Second Act, Ta Yao Niang!"

After the scene of joining the army was over, the announcer came out again, holding up a sign and shouting loudly.

"There was a man named Su in the Northern Qi Dynasty who was not an official but called himself a doctor. He was addicted to drinking and would beat his wife every time he got drunk.

The wife is sad and complains to the neighbors, and the people of the time make it up.

The husband is dressed in women's clothes, and slowly walks into the field singing. With each stack, the others are in unison, "Tap the ballad and come!"Tayao Niang is bitter and come! 'Because it walks and sings, it is called 'Treading Ballad'; it is called injustice, so it is said to be bitter.When the husband arrives, they act as if they are fighting, thinking that they are laughing. "

The announcer did not move away, but stepped aside and began to "narrate".

Fang Chongyong turned to Zheng Shuqing with a confused look on his face, "What are you doing?"

"Tell the audience what's going on."

Zheng Shuqing was puzzled by the question.

"It's fine if you don't want to watch a play, why are you talking about this?"

"If you don't talk about this, who knows what the opera is doing?"

Zheng Shuqing looked at Fang Chongyong's confusion and asked, "This prodigy Fang is smart, but he is always stupid on some common sense issues."

After a while, the Tang Dynasty version of "Farewell My Concubine", "Fairy Dance" with the participation of many young dancers, etc. were performed.

There are not only these dance operas, but also acrobatics with tricky angles.

Fang Chongyong saw a thin boy standing on a horizontally placed wheel, and someone beside him was constantly turning the wheel.

The boy could actually perform all kinds of incredibly difficult movements on the rotating wheel, and he could also play the flute at the same time!
All the musicians before were behind a half screen, and their silhouettes could only be seen through the semi-transparent silk on the screen.This is the first time Fang Chongyong has seen others play the flute in public.

What a unique skill!
Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

360 lines, every line is the number one.This skill of playing the flute and doing acrobatics at the same time may not be able to reach the level of elegance without ten years of practice.

"I didn't see Yang Yuhuan come out."

Zheng Shuqing handed the "program list" to Fang Chongyong with a weird look on his face. This seemed like a lively banquet performance, but it actually hid a murderous intention.

People who are not vigilant will be killed for an inconspicuous reason when they go home after the banquet, and they may even die without knowing what the problem is.

"The next show is the song of colorful feathers, which is also the finale."

Fang Chongyong said in a low voice.

Li Longji's seat is in the main seat in the north, which is far away from here. He can only see the general appearance, but not the expression on the other person's face.

In short, Li Longji is very calm now, basically without any body movements, just like a sculpture sitting in place.

"The last scene, the song of colorful feathers!"

The "announcer" yelled, and then left in a hurry.

The venue, which was originally buzzing with murmurs, suddenly fell silent. A young woman wearing a graceful and luxurious Tang brocade robe, dancing gracefully on the stage, immediately attracted everyone's attention!
is her!She must be Yang Yuhuan!

Fang Chongyong had a very strong premonition in his heart, and he didn't need others to introduce him at all. He just took a look and knew that this woman couldn't be someone else.

Soon, the solo dance turned into a group dance. Four dancers dressed in slightly darker colors but the same style of clothes began to dance around Yang Yuhuan. Fang Chongyong saw that one of them was Li Shiriniang, Aunt Gongsun's apprentice!

Yang Yuhuan's suit is probably not Li Longji's whim and wanted to play dress-up play, but it is very likely that Yang Yuhuan accidentally saw Li Shiriniang and others rehearsing in the Liyuan, so she had a plan and deliberately made one for herself. Put on Tang Jin's clothes, and then dote on him in front of Li Longji!
This woman is not as simple as imagined.She is also very adaptable to the change of her identity, very calm.

At this moment, Gao Lishi called on the eunuchs in the palace to distribute pens, inks and other items to the guests present.

What Li Longji wants to express is very clear: This is my woman, you all should praise her quickly to flatter her!
Whoever shoots well will be rewarded!
"Shilang Zheng, please start your performance."

Fang Chongyong handed the pen and paper sent by the eunuch to Zheng Shuqing and said.

"Show what?"

Zheng Shuqing hasn't recovered yet, now his mind is full of beauties with weak bones and strong muscles.

"Perform your flattering skills. If you shoot well, this matter will be solved."

Fang Chongyong said meaningfully.

"Who are you shooting?"

"Yang Yuhuan."

"How to shoot?"

Zheng Shuqing was taken aback, writing poems and prose to flatter him, he can't!Not to mention flattering women!
"The clouds are like the clothes, the flowers are like the face, the spring breeze is blowing the curtains and the dew is thick. What do you think?"

Fang Chongyong wrote down these two poems on the paper and asked.

"Absolutely!"

Zheng Shuqing looked at the other party in shock.

"Since you know, why don't you hurry up?"

Fang Chongyong pointed in the direction of Li Longji's seat and winked.

(End of this chapter)