Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

"I just said," Lu Ci raised his eyebrows, and repeated: "I want to go to the canopy of the main corridor and call two singing girls to sing before the banquet, or sit with wine."

Liu Qi retorted without hesitation: "Just now I only mentioned one, how come there are two now?"

Lu Ci replied perfunctorily, "Oh, let's just be one."

Liu Qi wanted to speak, but suddenly felt a thorn on her back, she couldn't help being shocked, she quickly regained her senses, and met Zhu Shuo's scorching eyes full of anger and condemnation.

It is obvious that, in Zhu Shuo's eyes, Lu Yuyu, who has always politely declined the courtship of those beautiful ladies in the past, can be called a clean-hearted and clean-hearted gentleman. The instigation of spotted Liu Qi.

Compared with Zhu Shuo's raging anger at Liu Qi, Yi Shu and Zhong Yuan were surprised, but also curious about the singing and dancing of Jiakui Fanlou in Jingzhong Restaurant.

As for Teng Zongliang who is quite good at this way, it is even more impossible to object.

After the initial surprise, he involuntarily brought a narrow smile on his face, and said generously: "Since Brother Liu is going to invite this table of wine and food, I can simply let me take the reward from the two singing girls."

In the end, it was hard to believe that Lu Ci made this proposal lightly, but it was Liu Qi, who was usually the most profligate, and Zhu Shuo, who was the most serious.

That's probably because in the subconscious of the two of them, Lu Ci's image can be called icy heart and innocent.

Lu Ci said helplessly, "It's just a drink and listening to a tune. Why do you react so strongly? Especially Brother Liu, the songs and dances you've heard in Huanlou are probably more salty than I've ever eaten."

Seeing that Liu Qi was speechless, Zhu said that although he felt uncomfortable, he didn't want to spoil Lu Ci's interest, so he immediately nodded in agreement.

After obtaining everyone's consent, Lu Ci summoned Xiaoer, who was walking around with a clean white towel on his back, ready to obey the guest officer's orders at any time, and gave him a tip of [-] Wen, asking him to send the girl to the singing girl who was leaning on the railing downstairs. , Call the two up.

The clerk hurriedly responded, and then asked in a low voice: "I don't know what the guest officer prefers, which two are they?"

Lu Ci just wanted to experience what it was like to invite singing girls to sing live in the largest and best restaurant in the Northern Song Dynasty. It was not a good way to do it, let alone having any relevant experience, so he naturally looked at Liu Qi and Teng Zongliang, who had the most experience: "I don't know anything about it, so I trouble Brother Liu and Brother Teng to help me choose."

Liu Qi: "..."

Lu Ci really did not ask the wrong person.

Teng Zongliang didn't know a few of the prostitutes downstairs, but Liu Qi, who used to be a regular customer among them, really knew most of them.

Under Zhu Shuo's increasingly compelling gaze, he bit the bullet and recommended Yun Niang and Xing Niang, who had the most graceful voices in his impression, and Lu Ci readily accepted them.

The clerk quickly led them up, and when the two courtesans with a peach face and almond eyes and a graceful figure came, holding a guqin and a pipa, they just glanced at Lu Ci and his party, and their eyes couldn't help but become sparkling. Bright.

This is so... so good!

As singing girls, of course they also secretly hope to meet a hospitable officer who is rich in money or handsome in appearance.

Now that these few came to the prosperous place of Bianjing alone at a young age, apart from participating in the tribute examination, they had no other reasons.

In this way, in addition to the label of being young and handsome, they have an additional layer of 'great future'.

Their hospitality attitude instantly became much more enthusiastic, especially after their wonderful eyes quickly passed over these people, the two of them did not hesitate to stick their eyes firmly on the most aura, the best-looking, On Lu Ci who was always smiling.

It really looks like a fairy.

They secretly sighed in their hearts, even if the gentleman is still young, the rewards may not be much in a while, but everyone has a love of beauty, and it is rare to be satisfied, so it is not a loss.

As for the somewhat familiar Liu Qi...

I haven't seen her for nearly a year, and even when Liu Qi wandered around in Bianjing and wandered around Qinlou and Chuguan, she was often occupied by Chongniang and others, and it was rare for them to get close or even beg for words.

At this moment, I have forgotten all about it, I just feel a little familiar.

Liu Qi looked at them numbly as they ignored her completely, and only pretended to be shy and courteous to Lu Ci, asking him what song he wanted to hear.

Lu Ci smiled and asked, "Do you have any recommended repertoire?"

Their appearance can only be called average among the group of gorgeous and radiant sisters, but they stand out from the crowd because they are very good at playing the piano and singing.

They naturally valued the skills they depended on for survival.However, it is not enough to have a good singing voice and piano skills, one must keep up with popular lyrics and music, and not fall behind.

Hearing Lu Ci's question, they couldn't help but look at each other, and habitually winked, before replying, "Recently, a new song has been transmitted from Mizhou, guest officer, do you want to try listening to it?"

They also hit the right spot: most of the people at this table are from Mizhou, and it's the first time they've been away from their hometown for so long, so if they can hear some local accents, they will naturally have a good impression of them.

Lu Ci smiled and nodded.

Encouraged by this smile, Yunniang and Xingniang, who were only a little eager to try, suddenly cheered up.

Before sitting on the floor to play the piano, they lifted up the hem of their skirts unintentionally, posing in the most charming pose.

The snow-white long legs passing by under the skirt of the blue dye instantly made Yi Shu and Zhong Yuan, who had never seen this kind of world, stare straight at them, and almost lost their souls, and made Zhu Shuo look at him expressionlessly. elsewhere.

Teng Zongliang raised his eyebrows and silently mouthed 'yo'.

Liu Qi who was completely ignored: "..."

However, Lu Ci, who they deliberately seduced, has not only seen many tricks that are a hundred times more subtle than this in modern times, but also countless ones that are hundreds of times more straightforward than this.

Seeing this, I just understood it, and apart from the usual smile on my face, I was still indifferent.

Seeing that he was motionless, they were not discouraged, on the contrary, they were aroused to fight.

Although they are playing in an ensemble, when they look at each other, they can see the meaning of competition in each other's eyes, and it is a struggle that does not give an inch.

Especially Yunniang, as soon as she pointed it out, she put out all her strengths, hoping to impress this man who was especially in her favor through the melody, with a charming arrogance, yet elegant and kind.

However, the beautiful melody had just started to flow, before the others could react, Lu Ci and Liu Qi all let out a surprise in unison.

It's not that the song is bad, it's just...

It's too Nima's familiar.

Lu Ci rubbed his eyebrows.

Yunniang didn't know the situation, so she explained coquettishly: "This poem was written by Liu Sanbian and Liu Langjun for his close friend who was going to take the exam. Poetry to send it", the song is-"

Under the gazes of everyone struggling to hold back their laughter, Lu Ci interrupted her expressionlessly, and said politely: "Let's play the sonata "Moonlight Night on the Spring River"."

Yunniang was confused, and said, "...Yes."

They are the best at observing words and expressions, and they can't tell at this moment. This masterpiece, which was recently adapted by them and practiced hard for a while, is probably because this handsome man doesn't like it.

Even if they couldn't figure it out, as the singing girls who came here for the reward, they just silently agreed, seriously revised the repertoire, and played "Spring River Flower and Moonlight Night" which didn't fit the scene.

It has to be said that Liu Qiyi, who wandered around the market, looked at all the flowers, and had a very high vision, was praised. Their piano skills and singing voice are really top-notch.

In all fairness, if it were not for the previous episode, such a beautiful song with exquisite skills, beautiful tunes and melodious singing voice would surely make the people present mesmerized by listening to it. Last new word.

However, as long as I think of Lu Ci, who was enjoying the music with indifference, when I first heard the poem composed by Liu Qi for him, the bewilderment that appeared on his face instantly...

Even the most serious and honest Zhu Shuo couldn't help laughing.

Lu Ci lost his interest. After the song "Chun Jiang Hua Yue Ye" was finished, he gave the reward and sent Yun Niang and Xing Niang away.

As soon as the beauty left, Liu Qi and the others in the private room couldn't bear it anymore, and laughed loudly while covering their stomachs.

Lu Ci glanced at Liu Qi, who was the one who laughed the most wildly, and said helplessly, "It seems that this silk and bamboo dance music is not as entertaining as my own performance."

After hearing Lu Ci's words, Zhu Shuo, who couldn't hold back the corners of his lips just now, couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and quickly suppressed his smile.

In order to divert the topic, he casually added a mischievous word: "The piano played by Yunniang and Xingniang has already made people fascinated. But I don't know how good the piano skills of the insect lady who made Brother Liu fascinated. "

Liu Qi, who was suddenly nominated, choked and glared at Zhu Said displeasedly.

Change the subject, change the subject, why drag him into the water!

Teng Zongliang laughed so weakly that he lay on the table and couldn't get up for a while, he giggled again when he heard this, and jokingly said: "Chongniang is the most brilliant, maybe it's not her piano skills."

After all, Zhong Hui had become a close relative, so he vaguely guessed, coughed lightly, and stopped talking.

Zhu said that although he felt puzzled, he felt that it was not a serious matter, so he was not interested.

Only Yi Shu was still immersed in the beautiful performance just now, and couldn't help asking: "What could that be?"

Teng Zongliang felt proud of Shang Yi Shu's pure and curious gaze, and then met Lu Ci slightly warning glance.

So the yellow accent that was about to be opened was immediately shut down wisely by him, and he said seriously: "How do I know this? The Lord is sitting here, so let's ask him directly."

Liu Qi moved her body uncomfortably, squinted her eyes slightly and said, "Zijing, why should you belittle yourself? In my opinion, you are so well-read, you must also be familiar with "Tuning Light Sutra" and "On Women's Love" veteran."

Seeing that they were talking more and more, Lu Ci couldn't help kicking Liu Qi under the table.

Liu Qi understood in an instant, so she stopped decisively, snorted, and stopped arguing with the hateful Teng Zongliang.

After drinking and eating, Lu Ci didn't rush to take everyone to Washe, but at Liu Qi's suggestion, he asked the clerk, and then the group went up to the fifth floor of Fan Tower and looked out.

It was getting late, and there were countless candle lights shining around, it was hard to tell what was where.

But even if the lights there were a little sporadic, far less bright than the hustle and bustle of the market, these young candidates who had just come out of the provincial examination field and were slightly drunk at the moment couldn't help feeling a little excited.

That is in the forbidden room, the core of the Great Song Dynasty, where the emperor resides.

It is also the place they have dreamed of after studying hard for many years.

Although they have been inside and come and go in a hurry, the time is different and the mood is also different.

Especially after going through the difficult provincial examination, even just looking at it from a distance is more exciting than the previous one.

The secretly excited people stood on top of the tall building, looking down at the thousands of lights, filled with emotion for a moment, but they were all silent.

A cold wind blows.

Lu Ci, who was only visiting places of interest but didn't see them, had lost interest. He couldn't help tightening his scarf and urged, "It's too dark at night, let's go."

Besides, if it was delayed any longer, it would be easy to catch a cold. He asked Fan Lou's kitchen to help warm up the red bean cakes that he was going to pack and take away for supper.

Zhu said it was like waking up from a dream, and he couldn't help feeling a little bit ashamed.

He is really far from brother Yu Yu's state of being calm and down-to-earth.

As every time Lu Ci guessed the most accurately, Liu Qi, who was helplessly sober while everyone was drunk, had the corner of her mouth twitched.

Sure enough, in the heart of this little glutton, a glimpse of the magnificence of the forbidden palace is not as attractive as a bowl of sweet and delicious red bean cakes.

And in the inner courtyard of the palace where everyone was watching, the emperor Zhao Heng, who had just finished eating the imperial meal and was taking a leisurely walk in the imperial garden, happened to be chatting with his ministers about the tribute.

"If my memory is correct, the provincial test will be finished today, right?"

Zhao Heng asked casually.

The minister was a little surprised by this question, but hurriedly replied: "Going back to the official's house, it is the third exam today."

Zhao Heng hummed lightly.

Although he has been obsessed with alchemy and Taoism recently, concocted heavenly scriptures, and even granted Zen awards, he is quite clear about the disputes between the North and South factions in the court.

Under the consistent strong performance of the former Prime Minister Kou Zhun in supporting the north, the courtiers from the south had struggled for a while. Except for Yan Shu and others who were favored by the emperor and could be promoted exceptionally, the other southerners even got fame and became officials. , can also be stuck at the promotion step by Kou Zhun.

It wasn't until Kou Zhun was dismissed and Wang Qinruo was gradually reused that he gradually improved.

Moreover, after gaining benefits from promoting Yan Shu and Wang Qinruo, and realizing Kou Zhun's domineering arrogance, Zhao Heng did not let the prevailing prejudices go his way as before.

To make a balance, he took this into consideration when he appointed the examiner of Zhigongju this time.

Although Liu Yun, the chief secretary, was from the north, he appeased the courtiers in the central and northern regions; but the two additional deputy directors were both from the south.

According to the principle of the three-level evaluation system, if the chief director wants to go his own way, if the two deputy directors oppose it together, he will not be able to do so;

And the emperor's conspiracy really made Liu Yun quite constrained.

When reviewing the test paper, he quickly confirmed the fact that the owner of this obscure test paper was Lu Ci through the neat and tidy handwriting that was not exactly the same, but roughly the same style.

Out of selfishness, as well as his admiration and optimism for Lu Ci himself, even though the content on this roll of paper is only above average and occasionally bright, he still approved "Last Time" without hesitation.

After all, just because Lu Ci was only sixteen years old and had already won Jieyuan, and he was able to perform stably in the provincial examination, it is enough to see that he must have a bright future in the future.

The emperor has always liked to show off his ability to know people by promoting young talents.When Lu Ci's high name enters the palace examination, the final rank will definitely be good.

If he could add another northerner to the DPRK from now on, he would be satisfied.

However, he had selfish intentions and wanted to add luster to Lu Ci, and the examiners who also noticed Lu Ci's outstanding performance early on and were wary of his identity as northerners also had their own calculations.

After finally making Kou Zhun, who despises the southerners, unable to become a prime minister, is it possible that the northerners will be arrogant again so soon?

They also successfully determined the ownership of the paper through the distinctive handwriting in Lu Ci's official paper.

The author has something to say: Notes:

1. Sporadic lights in the palace:

As mentioned in the previous commentary, from the top of the Fan Tower, you can see the forbidden room.

It is also recorded that the palace in the Song Dynasty was far less lively than the folks, and even the people in the palace couldn't help feeling envious.

The palace man said: "Listen to the officials, the outside is so happy, it's not like my palace is so cold and desolate." Renzong said: "Do you know?"He was so happy because I was so cold.If I were him, he would be neglected'" ("Song: The Dawn of Modern Times")

2. "The Sutra of Adjusting Light" and "Theory of Love for Girls", replaced by today's terms, can be called the "Secrets of Picking Up Girls" summed up by the people of Song Dynasty. The "Dimming Sutra" tells boys, when they meet a girl they like, how to strike up a conversation, how to win her favor, and how to develop a relationship: to "bow down and bow down to welcome"; , the second promise to be attentive and first"; "You can't be pan donkey and Deng play, and you can't be separated from snow, moon, wind and flowers"; , the mouth is important, the place where the saliva is scraped, the face must be skinned"; "Use words as lobbyists, and use eyes as a matchmaker"; If you pretend to ignore it, no one will say anything." ("Living in the Song Dynasty")

3. From the early years of Zhenzong to the period of Shenzong, the provincial examination papers adopted a three-level evaluation system: first seal the head of the Mi scroll, Song Zhigong selected officials to test the school, and after he determined the rank, he then talked about the rank of the test. Mi, and then sent to the re-examination office for re-examination.In the end, the Zhigong will appoint officials to "gain and lose from participating in the school", and decide to take it and get it done.

4. The prime minister at the moment is Wang Dan, and Kou Zhun has been dismissed, but he is currently a privy envoy, and he is still in the court, so he has a great say ("Song Dynasty Political History").