No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 281
Lexu likes musical instruments.

Everything related to music,
Whether it is the elegant music for ceremonies and ancestor worship, or the vulgar music for banquets, singing and dancing, I like it all.

The flowers and trees in Shangyang never fall, and Luoshui flows everywhere through the palace.

This is a palace in the northwest corner of Shangyang Palace, named Ganlu Palace.

A tributary near the Luoshui River, the cool river wind that is rarely seen in midsummer blows,
On the long corridor, Le Xu and his companions flicked the hem of their robes exclusively for court musicians.

Under the gaze of a supervisory female officer with a serious and dull expression in front of her, they either held a piano or a harp, lowered their heads and followed their eyes, and walked into the empty hall with small steps.

Everyone sat behind the curtain at the edge of the hall and adjusted their instruments one by one.

This Shangyang Palace is located in the western suburbs of Luoyang, also known as the West Palace, the royal back garden.

In the Ganlu Hall, Le Xu sat down with his companions. He put down the guqin in his arms, adjusted the strings skillfully, and prepared for the ensemble for a while.

Le Xu is an official name, not his real name.

As for the real name, few people call it after entering the palace, gradually forgotten,

What can't be forgotten is only the piano music.

He and his companions are all Lexu officials, under the management of the female official Si Yue in Shangyang Palace, and play music for the emperor and nobles.

Today, the solemn and staid female music officials suddenly urged them to leave and go to the musicians' positions in various palaces and waterside pavilions.

Le Xu knew without guessing that it was Her Majesty the Empress who moved to the West Palace again and came to play.

As for whether Her Majesty the Empress will wander around this relatively remote Ganlu Palace in Linxingxia, who knows?

Shangyang Palace is too big, with many palaces, extravagant and luxurious, there is no shortage of places for emperors to play.

Le Xu has been working as a musician in Ganlu Palace for nearly three years, and the number of times he has welcomed Her Majesty the Empress can be counted on one's fingers.

But Le Xu didn't complain, he lowered his head and tuned the piano by himself, ready to play, his eyes gradually filled with joy.

There are not many monthly cases to be a musician in the court, and some female officials above are embarrassing and embarrassing.

And I heard from my companions that if you find any Zhulou mansion by the Luoshui River in Luoyang City, you can earn a lot of money by playing for several nights, and you can also meet romantic and suave poets, or you may have the opportunity to meet some admirers. The ignorant oiran spends the spring night together.

But Le Xu is not the same as his companions, longing for the colorful world in Luoyang city,
In Shangyang Palace, the monotonous life accompanied by Qin has made him feel at ease and content.

I remember an old musician who taught rites and music once told him that if you want to be rich and stable, you can go to a restaurant in the market or a nobleman's mansion to be a private musician.

But if one wants to be diligent in ritual and music, there is only one way, which is to stay in this boring palace and hone the arts.

Le Xu always remembered this sentence.

However, the old musician who taught him this sentence, in the past few years, found an opportunity to leave the Luoyang court. Before leaving, at the simple farewell wine, the old man drank a few glasses, laughed and walked away without nostalgia.

Le Xu was quite puzzled.

In Ganlu Palace, Le Xu and his companions finished adjusting their instruments and played a grand and elegant melody.

Outside the hall, on the long corridor, a group of old-fashioned female officials stood with their heads bowed, motionless.

It seemed to welcome the favor of a certain queen.

Le Xu secretly glanced at the palace ladies and gentlemen outside from the corner of his eye.

In Shangyang Palace, the largest number of people are these female officials.

I heard that their strict hierarchy and demanding requirements are more complicated and strict than those of musicians.

Being in the imperial palace, I have naturally heard a lot of such rumors.

Originally, someone like Le Xu who was in the court and had access to the position of emperor should be castrated like a palace eunuch.

However, fortunately, the owner of Shangyang Palace is a female emperor, who is not strict with the eunuchs, and occasionally favors male sex.

Whether some musicians are castrated or not is naturally irrelevant. Of course, in the selection criteria for such servants, good appearance and tall stature are essential, and there must be no crooked melons.

Seeing that Her Majesty the Queen chooses to train the ladies and gentlemen around her, it can be seen that she is a sensual emperor.

Le Xu was quite grateful for not being castrated, but he also couldn't understand the departure of the old musician who taught him rites and music.

Le Xu looked outside the gate of the hall, a big Buddha in the distance.

There is the Great Buddha Hall.

One of the most conspicuous buildings in Shangyang Palace, on the square of the Great Buddha Hall, stands a tall Buddha statue, a hundred-foot building, rising from the ground, majestic and majestic.

In Shangyang Palace, apart from the palace people and female officials, the most numerous people are some people in strange clothes, who deal with some strange items all day long.

Le Xu couldn't tell whether it was a Taoist priest or an alchemist, but he had heard people say that they seemed to be called Qishishi.

Le Xu didn't quite understand what they were doing, but Her Majesty the Empress seemed to like them very much and often summoned them.

So...these hopers, like their musicians, are the way to please the emperors and nobles, right?
Le Xu quietly guessed, even vaguely dissatisfied.

Rituals and music are so beautiful and unrivaled in the world, these gas-watchers seem unreliable. I don't know what kind of ingenious tricks they used to flatter His Majesty the Empress, causing Her Majesty not to pay much attention to rituals and music.

However, most of these spirit watchers haunted the Great Buddha Hall and the Buddha statue, and the two sides did not meet too much.

When Le Xu passed by at night once, he happened to see a lot of hopefuls stepping into the [-]-foot-high Buddha statue, and he didn't know what they were busy inside.

Le Xu shook his head and continued to play the qin music. Of all the musical instruments in the world, he only loved the guqin.

I remember a time when the old musician was drunk, he said that in the Shangyang Palace, there is actually an unparalleled and incomparable piano hidden in the world, and there is a piece of peerless piano sound. In the end, the old musician sighed that the piano is not a piano.

Le Xu kept it in mind, but he had never seen or heard of it in the ten years since he entered the court, and he felt more and more that the old musician was talking nonsense after drinking.

Le Xu has already known all the qin masters in Shangyang Palace, but they are not so good, or slightly inferior to him, so he can't help but feel a little proud that his piano sound is the best in Shangyang Palace...

Le Xu suddenly restrained his mind, lowered his head and focused on the strings at his fingertips.

At this moment, he faintly heard a burst of dense but rhythmic footsteps coming from the long corridor outside the hall.

It is the holy car of Her Majesty the Queen!

He was almost certain in his heart, and could even faintly hear the familiar old voice of Her Majesty the Empress.

There is a hint of hoarseness in the solemnity.

Le Xu is suddenly happy.

Although he has only met a few times in the past few years, Le Xu has already firmly remembered this voice.

Because his ears can distinguish every syllable and remember most sounds and simple melodies, Le Xu can memorize and play them after listening to them once.

I remember that old musician once sighed, this is God's hand-feeding, this is called high-grade sound, and for musicians, it is hard to come by.

Le Xu also heard that during the Taizong Dynasty, a female court musician relied on this kind of talent. In the Daming Palace in Chang'an, she only listened to foreign music once, and then used an old song in front of countless foreign guests and envoys. The pipa played the tune perfectly.

Immediately, Emperor Taizong Wen Longyan was very happy, and the foreign envoys were all surprised, knelt down and sang praises, and were convinced... He won the honorable name of the heavenly kingdom and the great state of etiquette for Daqian back then.

It's a pity that when Daqian first established the country, the scene of all walks of life and all things flourishing is no longer there. The scene of the heavenly kingdom and the prosperity of rituals and music seems to exist only in dreams.

In Chang'an Luoyang right now, all the passions seem to have gradually slowed down with the age of the empire. The princes and nobles and the people of the two capitals have begun to be content with the days in front of them. No matter what, many things have become normal.

Even the Great Zhou Dynasty, which had just "founded the country", did not show the scene of the beginning of the great dynasty at all...

Le Xu is just a little musician, and he doesn't really understand the change of dynasty, but he can feel that Her Majesty really doesn't pay much attention to etiquette and music.

In other words, she only listens to a small number of people, not to mention, there are those eccentric hopefuls who steal part of the favor and attention. Where is it the turn of a small person like Le Xu to stand out, even if the piano sound is the best? So what about the Yang Palace.

Le Xu laughed at himself and sighed.

The old musician said that his talent is good, but it is also not good, good and bad depend on each other.

It is also said that most musicians in ancient times were blind, because blocking one sense in this way can enhance the remaining four senses and pursue the ultimate.

But the current musicians, especially the musicians in this palace, should not only be blind, but also deaf, if it is not necessary to distinguish the sound and listen to the music...

Le Xu couldn't understand the emotion of the old musician, how could he be a luthier when he was deaf?On the contrary, I am proud of the top-grade sound, the only pity is that no one appreciates it.

And now, it seems that the opportunity has come.

The companions who were playing music together noticed the movement outside the hall a little later than Le Xu.

Le Xu and his companions looked at each other tacitly, their eyes lit up, and they put on their best performances.

In the Ganlu Hall, the sound of silk and bamboo orchestra suddenly rises, which is melodious and melodious. Among them, the sound of qin is outstanding.

The sound of footsteps outside the hall approached, and a group of palace servants walked into the hall with two figures guarding them.

Le Xu bowed his head and played the piano, not daring to raise his head.

Only from the corner of the eye could I vaguely see the clothes and boots of Her Majesty the Queen and another nobleman.

Her Majesty the Empress was surprisingly considerate of this noble person who followed her.

"How is the old man's health recently? I heard that the old man buried his head in state affairs in Fengge, worked day and night, and used up eight counters."

This is the voice of Her Majesty the Queen, speaking slowly, but giving people a sense of weight:

"It's better for the old man to rest more. Such trivial matters can be left to the people below."

"Your Majesty, I don't really want to eat these days, but I read the official seal and read a thousand volumes a day. I will eat less food for the elders, and I will be happy with myself."

This is the voice of a strange old man, speaking at a steady pace, can His Majesty call him an old man?All over the court, only that Mr. Di is undoubtedly the only one.

The master is a master of Confucianism, he is extremely talented, he should be proficient in rites and music, you can appreciate his qin music... Le Xu excitedly played the qin.

In the main hall, the sound of the piano became more and more tactful, turning from low to sad for a while, and impassioned for a while.

Amidst the melodious sound of the piano, Her Majesty's sigh sounded again:
"Is it possible to have a little appetite after reviewing public affairs and state affairs... The old man of the country is really the great Zhou Yuzhu, the pillar of the community."

"The old minister dare not." The Master's voice was neither humble nor overbearing.

The voice that belonged to Her Majesty the Empress suddenly changed the topic:

"Yesterday, a group of ministers jointly signed a memorial, saying that the country cannot live without an heir for a day, and asked the widow to make the king of Wei the heir of the emperor. What do the elders think of the king of Wei?"

Immediately, the master's unshakable and firm voice sounded in the hall:

"Your Majesty, the old minister still misses Taizong's kindness when he looks at the people in the world. If he wants to establish an emperor's heir, he must be a descendant of Taizong. Your Majesty and Gaozong must be of the same flesh and blood."

The hall suddenly fell silent, and Le Xu, who was playing the piano behind the curtain at the edge of the hall, heard the sound of fingers tapping a certain jade product from ahead.

Beep...beep again and again, rhythmically.

Her Majesty the Empress seemed to be in danger, and she didn't speak again, as if she was enjoying the ceremony and music.

After a while, the sound of finger-tapping stopped, and she turned to ask:

"Yesterday, a court lady went out to buy from the palace. I heard some rumors and told the widows. I heard that a seventh-rank official named Ouyang Lianghan rejected the heavenly official's edict for promotion to serve as a censor. This matter, Has the old man heard of it?"

"The old minister knows that the imperial edict has passed through the Zhengshitang."

"Oh, the widow also knows this little guy. He is the Tanhua Lang handpicked by the widow. He is tall and handsome, but his temper seems to be straight...

"Heh, now you're resigning from office again, how will Mr. Guo plan to deal with this matter?"

"I don't care about it, I don't know how to deal with it."

"Oh?"

Her Majesty made an interesting voice, and seemed to chuckle slightly:
"The elder of the country also thinks that he is not a talent? Is he just a celebrity?

"Well, that's just right. I'm here today. The elder of the country can recommend a talent to the widow. The elder of the country is old, and political affairs need to be shared by others. You can recommend a talented person who can entrust you with important tasks."

Di Fuzi said lightly:

"Your Majesty, if what you want is a talented person, then I can recommend many people, Li Qiao, a member of the Ministry of Rites, and Su Weiwei, the censor...these are all suitable candidates.

"However, if Your Majesty must find outstanding talents right now, then only Jiangzhou Longcheng Order Ouyang Lianghan is the only one. Although Lianghan is small, he has the appearance of a prime minister."

"Hey, didn't you say that you don't care about this son?" The empress asked in surprise, "Why did you suddenly recommend him so solemnly?"

Di Fuzi's tone remained unchanged:
"The old minister doesn't care about him because his official position can only be bestowed by His Majesty, and it has to be promoted by you. The old minister must never dare to do it for him."

After the words were finished, the hall was silent for a while.

The queen smiled suddenly: "If the widow directly decrees the promotion, according to the specification of the book, wouldn't that mean he will be directly promoted to an official position above the fifth rank?"

"The veteran has no intention of begging for an official position. The important thing is that His Majesty personally promotes him. The rank is meaningless."

With a soft nasal "hmm", the queen remained silent again, seemingly noncommittal.

Suddenly, the monarch and his ministers changed the subject. Her Majesty the Empress greeted her warmly and gave some tribute cakes. A certain fat old man bowed and stepped back.

In the hall, only the sound of the orchestra is left, and the atmosphere of ritual and music is solemn.

The old woman in a dragon robe turned her head and glanced at a memorial and a picture album neatly placed on the desk.

It was the "Ten Books on Water Control in the South of the Yangtze River" and "Viewing the Maps of Water Systems in the South of the Yangtze River" submitted by Ouyang Rong.

On the memorial, there are traces of annotations drawn in circles with a Chinese ink brush.

"Miaozhen."

Empress Wei Zhao of the Great Zhou Dynasty spoke suddenly.

The eight female officials in colorful clothes who accompanied her, in crimson palace attire, with makeup and lips, all lined up on both sides of the hall without looking sideways.

At this moment, among the eight women, a woman in a palace costume immediately came out and knelt down to salute:

"The servant is here."

There are two small dots of rouge between the dimples on the corners of the mouth of this woman in palace attire. She is Miaozhen, a sixth-rank palace lady who gave gifts to the Su residence on behalf of Empress Wei Zhao.

It's just that, at this time, her arrogance disappeared, and she knelt down on the cold marble floor in humility.

"Recount what Ouyang Lianghan said that day in front of the Su Mansion's door when I sent the jade jue to you, and then carefully tell the widow to listen to it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Miaozhen kept her head buried and recounted it word for word.

The old woman in the dragon robe and phoenix crown propped her chin on the back of her hand, closed her eyes and listened, her face unchanged.

About half an hour later, the closed-eyed queen waved gently.

Miaozhen and other eight female officials in colorful clothes retreated together with the palace people in the hall, leaving only the small officials playing music in the main hall.

at this time.

Suddenly a man dressed in red came from the Buddhist hall, walked into the hall, bent down and said:
"Saint, I watched the sky last night, and the southeast has the air of the Son of Heaven."

Wei Zhao opened his eyes, looked at him, closed them again, picked up a round green emerald Maitreya Buddha on the table, and played with it carefully.

In the main hall, the sound of the orchestra suddenly became chaotic.

The queen with her eyes closed tapped the front with the emerald Maitreya Buddha in her hand:

"killed."

Zhu Yiwang Qishi nodded and walked towards the group of music officials in the main hall. Wherever Zhu Yi passed by, people fell to the ground one by one, including a musician who was holding the piano tightly.

The sound of the orchestra in the hall was completely cut off.

The queen suddenly opened her eyes: "What about you?"

Zhu Yiwang's Qi warrior suddenly lost his soul, his body was like a hurricane, and he rolled towards the open door of the main hall, desperately fleeing.

But in this silent hall where the luthier and other music officials died early, suddenly, there was a sound of a piano:
"Zheng."

The sound of the piano is very slight, like the sound of nature, coming from a distance, but it is close at hand.

After Zhu Yiwang Qishi heard the sound of the piano, it was as if the pause button had been pressed.

His face was ashen, and he stopped any means of escaping or resisting. Zhu Yi watched the Qi warrior turn around, knelt down and kowtowed. At the last moment, he turned his head towards Zhongnan Mountain in the distance, and blood came from his forehead:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving death to Emperor Wen!"

Zhu Yiwang's kowtow stopped abruptly, and his kneeling body, like a watermelon, was divided into two parts, with a neat section in the middle, and the two parts, one left and one right, fell to the ground separately, and the wine-red blood came out after a while. It gushes out from the section of each petal, staining the clean and dust-free hall floor.

The old woman in dragon robe slowly opened her eyes and ignored the bloody scene in the palace.

"Is there a temper in the southeast..."

She turned her head and looked towards the southeast of Jiangzhou, playing with the emerald Maitreya Buddha in her hand, and said softly:

"The Great Zhou is not Qin, and the widow is not the first emperor."

……

afternoon.

In the hall where the emperor had already left.

Miaozhen led a group of beautiful and beautiful Meizhuang Palace people into the empty hall full of corpses.

Their faces were as usual, their hands and feet were sharp, and they carried buckets, rags, mops, wooden buckets, etc., splashed water and mopped the floor, and cleaned up the corpses and blood one by one.

Go to open the door and open the window, light the fire and burn incense, and the bloody smell in the hall faintly dissipates.

The female officials in colorful clothes and the members of the Lingling Palace walked away from their backs.

In the Ganlu Palace, everything is clean and spotless, but... the sound of the piano is not there.

(End of this chapter)