Chapter 036 Brothers in Distress
"Seriously, why on earth did you attend the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival?"
It was strange enough that Li Da could appear here, and this kid was so secretive, which really aroused Shen Yichen's curiosity.
"Why should I tell you?"
"If you tell me, if anything happens later, I will help you cover it up."
Since it is called a poetry meeting, it is natural that the scholars present will have the possibility to recite poems and compose essays.
It is highly unlikely that Li Da could write it with his level. Although Shen Yichen is also a half-baked writer, he is still better than others. It is not too much to ask him to write a doggerel poem for him.
Hearing what Shen Yichen said, Li Da's eyes lit up instantly. The reason why he chose to sit in a corner with his head down was because he was afraid that he would be chosen to write a poem or lyrics or something.
Although Shen Yichen is also a student, everyone praised the poem "Linjiangxian" he wrote at the family dinner. It seems that he should be a little better than me in writing poems, so I can consider asking him for help.
"Okay, after I tell you, remember to help me!"
" Brother, please stop wasting time and speak now!"
Shen Yichen didn't indulge Li Da either. He had become so miserable and still needed help from him, and he still wanted to be the big brother?
Just be a good brother!
"This...that...actually my father forced me to come here."
After hesitating for a while, Li Da finally revealed the reason.
"Why did Li Chenshi ask you to participate in the poetry meeting? Doesn't he know your level of knowledge?"
"It was precisely because he knew that that he asked me to come here to exchange ideas and learn from him, saying that if I failed to pass the exam to become a scholar next year, he would break my legs."
"Then it seems that your leg cannot be saved."
After several months of studying in the private school, Shen Yichen now has a deep understanding of the culture of Li Da and Zhao Hongjie.
If these two brothers were put on an IQ test in future generations, they would probably be classified as mentally retarded. They couldn't even understand the basic elementary education contents such as Thousand Character Classic and Thousand Family Poems. How could they take the examination to become a scholar?
I really don't know why I ended up being the last one in the group of people. No wonder I was looked down upon by others. To be honest, I can't really blame others...
"Shen Yichen, don't go too far!"
It was already frustrating to attend the poetry gathering today, and now I have to listen to Shen Yichen's ridicule. When have I, Li Da, the little bully of the outer courtyard, ever endured such humiliation!
"Okay, okay, that's enough."
Shen Yichen had no intention of adding insult to injury. After all, things change these days. What if he had to write poems and lyrics himself later?
I'm afraid that facing this group of academic masters present, there is no essential difference between not being a plagiarist and being Li Da, so it is better to accumulate good character.
The two of them sat at the end of the table in the corner. The scholars at other tables were discussing who had better knowledge and who wrote better poems. Only Shen Yichen and Li Da were discussing which snacks on the table were delicious, and they were eating with gusto.
People at the next table occasionally saw what they were doing and couldn't help shaking their heads. It was an insult to scholars for such people to participate in the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival!
At this moment, the hall, which had been somewhat noisy, suddenly became quiet.
Faced with this situation, Shen Yichen and Li Da, holding pastries in their hands, stared at each other, not knowing what was going on.
But soon the two of them understood, and saw a group of gorgeous women walking in from outside the hall. The two leading them were even more beautiful. Even though Shen Yichen had seen various celebrity beauties in the media in his later life, these two were not inferior to them at all!
"The one on the left in pink must be Dong Yujing, who is known as the best singer of Qinhuai music. It is said that her singing is like the sound of nature. I didn't expect that she is also so beautiful."
The middle-aged scholar at the next table, who had been arguing fiercely for Zeng Mengjian, immediately turned into a fool when he saw Dong Yujing coming out.
"Of course, otherwise how can I compete for next year's oiran?"
"I think the lady Xu on the right is better. It is said that her dancing skills are comparable to those of Zhao Feiyan during the Han Dynasty. She is truly stunningly beautiful!"
"My dear brother, you have a unique vision. I agree with you."
Compared with the previous debate on "there is no first in literature", the current discussion on "there is no first in beauty" can be described as a harmonious appreciation.
It is very similar to the later generations' forums where people seek seeds, abandon all prejudices, and just enjoy the good life.
"I greet all the gentlemen and talented people."
After Dong Yujing and Xu Jiaren, two famous courtesans from the brothel, arrived at the center of the hall, they bowed respectfully to everyone present. If it wasn't known in advance that they were courtesans, just looking at their appearance, manners, and temperament, no one would doubt that they were ladies from wealthy families.
"I heard that the two girls are both extremely talented. Would you be so kind as to perform for the talented people present here?"
Lin Zhen invited the two famous prostitutes from the brothel to perform at the right time. In fact, this has been the custom and procedure over the years. They were invited just to add to the fun.
"My Lord, this is my great honor."
After the reply was made, the group of brothel girls dispersed, took out their pipa, sanxian, yueqin, erhu, bangu and other musical instruments, and prepared to play music.
Dong Yujing also stepped sideways and gave the most central position in the hall to Xu Jiaren, obviously leaving space for dancing.
As the instruments sounded, Dong Yujing's clear singing, like a yellow warbler, spread throughout the hall. At the same time, Xu Jiaren began to dance to the rhythm.
Dong Yujing sang a traditional ci tune called "Ru Meng Ling". In fact, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, brothel singers rarely sang traditional ci tunes from the Tang and Song dynasties. Instead, they turned to popular folk songs, dramas, Kunqu opera, and so on.
Because compared with the high-brow style of traditional ci, popular tunes are refreshing and light, with concise language, and are closer to the popular meaning and singing.
However, this is a gathering of scholars, and the performers are famous Qinhuai courtesans, so they naturally cannot sing some popular "popular songs". Therefore, Dong Yujing's selection of songs must also meet the taste and level of the audience.
Shen Yichen looked at the performance in front of him, and to be honest, he was a little shocked. He had always believed that ancient songs and entertainment were far from modern times and he had no interest in them at all.
But today, Dong Yujing's singing was so melodious and touching that it seemed to reach people's hearts. Even though it was completely different from the pop music style of later generations, it could still make Shen Yichen intoxicated by it.
As expected, music knows no age, language, or nationality. Now it seems that even time and space can be ignored, and it can still make people feel the same.
In addition, Xu Jiaren's dance was as graceful as a startled swan and as graceful as a swimming dragon. Just by watching for a short while, Shen Yichen understood what it meant for the king to stop attending court early in the morning.
No wonder ancient scholars never considered visiting brothels as something shameful, but rather considered it an elegant thing. Now it seems that this is indeed the case.
"Shen Yichen, there is only one piece of cake left. If you don't eat it, I will."
Just when Shen Yichen was gradually becoming intoxicated, Li Da next to him broke the atmosphere at the right time!
"No, you just know how to eat. Do you have any awareness of appreciating beauty?"
Shen Yichen was so angry that he was already despised by many people for his foodie behavior. He never expected that Li Da would be even better than him.
"What is the awareness of appreciating beauty? Can it be eaten?"
Li Da was completely unaware of what Shen Yichen said. To be more precise, he didn't even raise his head to take a look at this amazing song and dance performance.
"I'm convinced. You can eat it."
For the first time, Shen Yichen felt inferior to Li Da when facing him. No wonder this kid is so big and strong, it must be because of eating so much.
With Li Da, this funny guy, sitting next to him, Shen Yichen lost interest in appreciating the singing and dancing, so he just watched casually.
However, his eyes soon locked onto a female accompaniment. Because Shen Yichen discovered that this woman was Liu Qiu's daughter whom he had rescued on the Qinhuai pleasure boat - Liu Wan'er!
She is here too?
To be honest, Shen Yichen did not expect that he would meet Liu Wan'er again in such an occasion.
Ever since he rescued Liu Wan'er that day, Shen Yichen would occasionally wonder how she was doing when he passed by Qiuyue Fang on his way to school.
Was his “heroic act of rescue” right or wrong for Liu Wan’er?
But apart from occasionally thinking of this name, Shen Yichen, as a son of a maid, could barely take care of himself, so how could he have the right to worry about the fate of others.
Seeing each other again today, the only thing that made Shen Yichen feel a little relieved was that at least Liu Wan'er was still alive.
As long as you are alive, there is hope of redressing your injustice!
Just as Shen Yichen looked at Liu Wan'er, Liu Wan'er, who was playing the pipa, also looked up.
Compared to Shen Yichen's surprise and shock when they suddenly met, Liu Wan'er's expression hardly changed, and she just looked at him silently.
Family misfortune, her father's sudden death, and her being exiled by the emperor to be a courtesan. The things she had experienced in the past few days had already made Liu Wan'er feel hopeless, and there were few things or people that could cause her to have a slight emotional fluctuation.
To Liu Wan'er, Shen Yichen was not an old friend, but just a passerby.
When the song ended, the scholars cheered, and the two famous courtesans, Dong Yujing and Xu Jiaren, also went to the main table to accompany the guests. No matter how famous the Qinhuai courtesans were, they were just more expensive, and they were nothing compared to real power and status.
The accompanying musicians also retreated to the corner of the hall, waiting to come out when needed. Liu Wan'er didn't know if it was a coincidence or intentional, but she happened to be waiting behind Shen Yichen, and the two of them turned their backs to each other in silence.
After a moment of silence, Shen Yichen finally spoke first: "How have you been lately?"
He didn't mention any names, and didn't even make eye contact, but Liu Wan'er knew very well that the other party was asking about her.
"Thank you for your concern, I am fine."
It was an ordinary answer, but Shen Yichen knew in his heart that it was just a polite cover-up.
Shen Yichen didn't know what else he could do, so he could only reply: "Live well. Justice may be late, but it will never be absent."
To be honest, this kind of words is more like a kind of psychological comfort. Whether delayed justice can still be considered justice is controversial.
But perhaps for many people, psychological comfort is also a kind of strength that supports themselves.
After Shen Yichen finished speaking, there was no response from Liu Wan'er, and no one knew what she was thinking at the moment.
At this moment, Lin Zhen, who was sitting at the main table, stood up and said to the scholars present: "Dear talented people, we have finished appreciating the dances of the two Qinhuai masters. You should also show your talents and let the world see the flourishing literary style of our Ming Dynasty!"
When Lin Zhen said this, it meant that the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival had officially begun.
