The Third Department Serves Chapter 19 Solo Performance
I'm really sorry everyone, this week has been unexpectedly busy, the first two days my body wasn't feeling well, my computer motherboard was struck by lightning, and tomorrow I have to fly to Guangzhou...... In short, VIP updates will only resume next Monday, please forgive me~~
On the ninth day of the ninth month, the Double Ninth Festival is celebrated. The streets and alleys of Bianjing are filled with flowers and brocade, with chrysanthemums of various colors competing in beauty. Citizens from all walks of life take to the streets, from nobles to commoners, wearing their finest clothes and inserting a sprig of osmanthus into their waistbands. Some people admire the chrysanthemums, while others climb high places. The hills outside the city, such as Cangwang Temple, Sili Bridge, Liangwang City, Yantai, and Dullegang, are crowded with people who have come to enjoy the autumn scenery and drink wine. They set up banquets in open spaces, enjoying the autumn breeze and drinking merrily, and when they become drunk, they often open their shirts and pretend to be flying through the air.
The city of Bianjing is once again bustling with activity, as large and small wine shops use chrysanthemums of various colors to create doorways, and customers come and go as if walking through a sea of flowers. The pink peach blossoms, the pure white and large-as-a-bowl "Xi Rong" chrysanthemum, and the golden-yellow-petaled "Jin Ling" chrysanthemum are especially loved by the young men and women of Bianjing who adorn their hair with flowers. Meanwhile, the white-petaled and brown-centered "Mu Xiang" chrysanthemum has a unique fragrance reminiscent of sandalwood, as if it has a special connection to Buddhism and Taoism, and is used to decorate the doorways of temples everywhere.
In the past, at this time of year, Kai Bao Temple and Ren Wang Temple in the capital were the most popular destinations for tourists. Many high-ranking monks sat on stone lions, expounding the scriptures with dignified demeanor, competing with each other to see who had the loudest voice, whose chanting attracted more applause, and the winner's face was filled with pride, called "Buddha's Light Illuminates All". The loser's face turned blue and lips white, people said it was "Heavenly Decline of Five Elements". In the temple, rice flour steamed buns were given to visitors as offerings, called "Lion Cake", all the rascals young men rushed to grab them, taking advantage of the opportunity to squeeze among the big girls and little wives who came to worship, known as "Squeezing Immortals".
This year's Double Ninth Festival is different from previous years, and a big event has been circulating in the city streets. The famous Ci poet Zhou Bangyan, who has been silent for three years in Bianjing, personally wrote more than ten new lyrics, along with Yanqing, a newcomer to the music scene, presenting the score. It is said that there are also excellent new lyrics from a mysterious guest, which can make even Zhou Da, the great Ci poet, feel inferior and sigh in admiration.
As soon as the news came out, it caused a sensation in the streets, and the posters of Fengle Tower were spread all over the world. It is worth noting that there are at least two big names in this news, Bai Shen Xiang and Zhou Bangyan, who will be performing together, and the change of either one of them would be enough to shock the music schools and various teahouses in the capital, let alone both of them appearing together, and it's a new song premiere?
In addition, two new elements have been introduced. The newcomer to the music scene, Yan Qing, may not be well-known in Beijing, but travelers from north and south have heard of his reputation as a "playboy" from the famous Damingfu family. As word spreads, people are eagerly anticipating this young musician who can be mentioned alongside Zhou Bangyan. Moreover, with his handsome appearance and elegant demeanor, Yan Qing's various personas were carefully crafted by skilled artisans on the flyers, showcasing styles such as elegance, melancholy, decadence, deep emotion, and nonchalance. Many lovesick girls fainted upon receiving the beautifully printed flyers. In Bianjing City, organizations like the "Yan Qing Fan Club" and "Playboy Guard" sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, with even many courtesans from brothels enthusiastically joining in. Young men imitating Yan Qing's style can be seen swaggering through the streets everywhere.
This is not the end, and there is even a mysterious guest who has made an appearance, offering wonderful new lyrics that make Zhou Bangyan sigh in admiration. It's worth noting that since the party ban, the four scholars of Su Men, Qin Guan, Huang Tingjian, Xu Zaisou, and Zhang Lei were all demoted, and among those who filled words in the capital, only Zhou Meicheng was respected as a master. Although he hasn't been heard to have created new lyrics in recent years, his level is still considered one of the best in this dynasty. Now, there is a mysterious newcomer who claims to be able to surpass him, which makes people feel extremely curious. In recent days, the hottest topic in the capital has been this mysterious newcomer. No matter where you go, you can hear people discussing and asking each other about it. If the other person doesn't know either, they will start guessing wildly together, and all sorts of absurd rumors are flying around, including rumors that the newcomer is a foreign poet, a beautiful songstress, or even a nun who writes lyrics. The speaker is convinced, and the listener is also convinced; if two believers in different rumors meet face-to-face, they must argue until their faces turn red with excitement.
Even the performance venue, Fengle Tower, has been shrouded in mystery. This is not just a figure of speech - since its acquisition on August 18th, Fengle Tower has been closed for renovations, with the entire building draped in white cloth, and only renovation workers and some internal staff are allowed to see inside. The mysterious "veil" outside has a countdown banner written in white cloth: "XX days until the Chongyang Festival Concert", which can be seen from afar by passersby, increasing their curiosity.
Under the hype and publicity, the ticket price of Feng Le Lou's concert skyrocketed, from the lowest 3-yuan standing ticket to the highest 100-yuan VIP ticket, all were sold out. It is said that the black market price has soared to more than three times, and some officials and wealthy people who were late in buying tickets could not get one.
Day by day, the long-awaited Double Ninth Festival finally arrived. From noon on, people from all directions swarmed to Fengle Tower, and the various houses of Kaifeng Prefecture urgently dispatched personnel to maintain order at key transportation hubs leading to Fengle Tower, with checkpoints set up every three or five steps from Mahang Street, Niuxiang Street to Dongshizijie. The imperial guards were also ordered to be on high alert, and the entire army was put on standby, canceling all leave, with tens of thousands of soldiers nervously guarding the city as if they were facing a great enemy, a scene that could only be compared to the Lantern Festival.
The front of the Fengle Building is an area of focus for defense, with six rows of military barriers forming a defensive line. Hundreds of sturdy and robust imperial guards are stationed outside the building, surrounding it in a circle that spans over ten zhang in diameter, not even allowing flies to fly in.
When the sky darkened at dusk, the canopy outside Fengle Tower suddenly dropped down, and the true face of Lushan, which had been hidden behind the canopy all along, was finally revealed to the public. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians near and far were stunned: The tower is about 10 zhang high, with three layers up and down, five buildings facing each other in front and back, connected by flying bridges and corridors in between. Outside, pearl curtains hang down, flowing silk swaying, the light from the five long-lasting lamps on the top of the building shines outwards through copper mirrors, and the five beams of light, tens of zhang long, cut through the dusk and pierced into the night sky, visible even at the Zhuque Gate several miles away. Moreover, these beams of light kept rotating, coordinating with small lights and reflective copper mirrors everywhere, illuminating the entire building like a heavenly palace, dazzling and breathtaking, making the onlookers gaze up in awe.
It wasn't until then that people were released, and the guards stared at the audience pouring in, teaching some lawless elements who wanted to stir up trouble and take advantage of the situation not to act rashly. Occasionally, a thief would trigger a small commotion, and immediately a dozen or so big men would rush over and beat them with their fists before binding them up and sending them to be dealt with by the authorities. Today's enthusiastic citizens were particularly numerous, for example "Street Rat" Zhang San and "Green Grass Snake" Li Si, these rascals fully cooperated with the official soldiers and yamen to identify troublemakers, causing the small-time hooligans of Bianliang City to not dare make a move. The thousands of spectators entered in an orderly fashion according to their tickets, while those holding VIP tickets naturally had a separate passage to enter.
After a good bustle, the five-story building was packed to capacity. On the flying bridge, however, only waiters and vendors were allowed to come and go, not allowing spectators to stand and watch, as a safety precaution.
Before the play, there were warm-up performances, such as Yang Wangjing's sumo wrestling and acrobatics, Dong Shiwu's flying knife show, and other famous folk artists took to the stage with great fanfare, drawing rounds of applause. Zhang Zhenyao's tightrope walking performance was particularly thrilling, causing many noblewomen to cover their faces with silk handkerchiefs, yet peeking out from behind them to watch. When he landed safely, they erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.
Suddenly, all the lights in the venue went out, and the five beams of light on the rooftop converged to shine directly at a point in the air. A lotus flower slowly descended from mid-air, with a person sitting elegantly on it. The delicate eyebrows and eyes were like those of a goddess from the Jade Pool, dressed in a long, flowing gown, with several silk ribbons dancing behind her in the wind. The tinkling of the jade pendants around her body shone brightly, making her look like an immortal fairy descended to earth. The thousands of people in the venue held their breath, and only one name was on everyone's mind: Bai Chenxiang!
The courtesan slowly descended to the center of the stage, her slender hand gently waving goodbye to the lotus platform. Her autumn water-like eyes scanned the entire audience, and suddenly there was complete silence, with everyone thinking: "Bai Xingshou has seen me!"
Those crimson lips lightly opened, and a sound came as if from the sky outside, fluttering and floating. Suddenly it transformed into a banished immortal descending to the world, slightly stirring up worldly dust, and giving rise to lovesick longing; then immediately it turned low and mournful, sorrowfully lingering, like weeping, like pleading, as if there was heartache, and those who heard it shed tears. As the sound gradually became lower and fainter until almost imperceptible, suddenly it burst forth again from the stillness, seemingly joyful beyond expectation, yet also seemingly lightly resentful and indignant. At this moment, the music reached its climax, gradually rising high, fully expressing a woman's thoughts and feelings in a most vivid and moving way.
The whole audience was silent after the song ended, but suddenly a loud shout of "Good!" came from a corner. This sound broke the silence, like a stone stirring up a thousand waves. The applause of thousands of people in the venue thundered, and many people were so excited that they almost clapped their hands to pieces, cheering and shouting in unison.
Under the spotlight, this fairy-like courtesan showed no signs of nervousness or panic. She stood calmly and raised her right hand, instantly silencing the thunderous applause and cheers that had been like a tidal wave. It was clear that the emotions of the thousands in attendance were now under her control. Then, she sang one after another the new lyrics and melodies, from Zhou Meicheng's "The Flower That Understands Words", "Waves Washing Away Sand" and "Passing by Qin Tower" to Li Qingzhao's "Drunken Lotus Shade", even Xin Qiji's "Green Jade Table. First Night of the Lunar Year" and Lu You's "Divination Song. Ode to Plum Blossoms". These masterpieces were presented one after another by this talented woman, who was then renowned for her singing skills. The audience, suddenly hearing these famous lyrics and melodies ringing out like bamboo in a grove, felt as if they were in a heavenly paradise, their spirits soaring as if on cloud nine, the entire hall mesmerized and silent, with not even the sound of birds chirping.
When it came to the last verse, Bai Chenxiang softly sang the "Sheng Sheng Man" written by Gao Qiu: "Gong Mei powder is light, An Liu Jin is scattered, Huang Zhou suddenly celebrates the spring... The sparse bell is broken, and the sound of the song is still in the forbidden street." This was one of Song Huizong Zhao Ji's famous phrases that Gao Qiu remembered, and using it as a conclusion was most appropriate for flattering.
The whole song ended, in the thunderous applause like a tsunami, this beauty, like a fairy from the Jade Pool, had already been crying with tears streaming down her face. The feeling of being at the pinnacle of life left her mind blank, standing still for a long time under the spotlight, as if time had stopped for her at that moment. It wasn't until Yan Qing and Zhou Bangyan went on stage together to accompany her in thanking the audience that she came back to reality, bowing to all directions with gratitude.
At this moment, Gao Qiang in the audience was also emotionally fluctuating. Just now, Lao Da Gao's confidant had sent a secret signal: Zhao Guan Jia was watching the whole performance in the secret room, and now he wanted to invite Gao Qiang and Bai Xing to meet him first.
It suddenly occurred to me that there is a saying: When I returned to see the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven was not in the temple, but in the pleasure grounds.
Advertisement time: Empty work, author Jingjing Liang (This guy is more qualified than me, and he still has the nerve to ask me for an advertisement)
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