Chapter 76: Burn the Boats
Almost everyone present was shocked by this turn of events.
The people exclaimed.
The queen looked gloomy.
All the officials in Liangzhou were sweating profusely and their legs were shaking.
Zheng Yueru looked at Shen Manqing on the float with a pale face...
Is she crazy?
This "Ten Sides of Ambush" is a relatively large piece of music, with a majestic momentum and vivid artistic images. The structure is very complete, and it perfectly expresses the famous Chu-Han War in ancient and modern times, especially the Battle of Gaixia, with the method of musical narrative. Shen Manqing is a master of zither art. With her ups and downs and tense rhythm of the zither sound, and the body movements of the courtesans dancing beside her, the exciting melody of this song makes the listeners excited and excited.
"good!"
"This... this is Wu Qu?"
"Miss Manqing is really talented!"
The music played in ancient times can be divided into two categories, one is civil music and the other is martial music. If the "Splendid Dragon Flame" just now is a civil music, then "Ten Sides of Ambush" is a martial music. It should be neither fish nor fowl, but today, under the interpretation of the girls of Fengming Tower, the transition is natural. Although it feels abrupt for a moment, people will soon realize it!
Shen Manqing and others are acting as a person of extremely high status who is surrounded by ambushes from all sides, murderous auras, assassins lurking nearby, and shouts of killing coming from afar.
This is a decisive battle!
Liu Zheng had once taught the song "Ten Sides of Ambush" to Shen Manqing in Fengming Tower. Today he brought it out again, and paired it with today's dance, the live performance effect was simply explosive.
"good!"
"happy!"
The scholars and the common people cheered loudly after hearing this.
But what about the Queen?
Everyone was shocked!
From "The Dragon Flame" to "House of Flying Daggers", what kind of meaning does Fengming Tower want to express? Is it mocking that the current Dragon Flame Dynasty has been exhausted for a long time and is about to die? Or is it cursing the queen to return in glory, but surrounded by murderous intentions?
No matter what, has Fengminglou become so bold as to commit evil?
Chen Ping was so frightened that he fell to his knees, sweating profusely: "Empress, this matter has nothing to do with my Liangzhou Prefecture, Your Majesty!"
“Too outrageous!”
"Whose Fengming Tower is this?"
"This is extremely treasonous and his heart deserves death!"
The other officials also beat their chests and stamped their feet, and followed Chen Ping to kneel down. Liu Dahao also had a sad face, cursing in his heart, Zheng'er, what on earth are you doing? How should your father deal with it?
The palace maids and eunuchs were also terrified.
Queen Zheng Fu's gloomy face slowly cleared up and she smiled faintly: "It's a good song, isn't it? Look, many people are applauding."
Everyone was terrified and kept kowtowing.
The Queen said calmly, "Everyone, get up. I am not so stingy. The people of Liangzhou have always been tough since ancient times. I have returned to visit my relatives, so I have to follow the local customs. Today is the Lantern Festival, and Fengming Tower presents such a beautiful song. Enjoy it!"
Chen Ping wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then stood up and shouted: "The Queen is so kind!"
Everyone followed suit and shouted.
At this time, the last float of Fengming Tower finally came slowly. After the song was over, the whole city cheered. Today, Fengming Tower has one civil and one martial performance, which is really wonderful. In terms of the program alone, it is definitely much better than the palace dance of Lanxiang Troupe.
"Mr. Liu, you are so willing to give it up!"
At this moment, Du Biao laughed out loud and bowed to Liu Zheng sincerely, expressing his great admiration.
Isn't this what it means to be a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger?
Is he really not afraid of offending the Queen?
Liu Zheng also smiled: "Third Master, you are too kind. The Lanxiang class is a palace dance. I have to deal with it well, so I am going all out!"
"Manqing is really blind in admiring you!"
Zheng Yueru glared at Liu Zheng fiercely.
Liu Zheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He knew what Zheng Yueru meant. If the Queen was furious during today's show, Shen Manqing would be the first to bear the brunt of the anger. But she knew the danger of today's show, but she accepted it calmly and performed so perfectly. On the one hand, it was really for Liu Zheng, a soulmate, and on the other hand, it was her own pursuit of art.
Fortunately, what made Zheng Yueru feel at ease was that the Queen’s reward was coming soon.
"The performances in Fengming Tower are novel and full of twists and turns. Shen Manqing's art is unrivaled in Liangzhou. She is a master of Longyan and is rewarded with 500 gold coins to be promoted to the imperial court zither master!"
Zheng Yueru was so excited that she knelt down to express her gratitude on behalf of Shen Manqing.
A court zither player, this is equivalent to an official position! And the rank is not low, a sixth-rank court zither player. In other words, after tonight's performance, Shen Manqing can not only win the title of Liangzhou's most beautiful woman, but can also completely eliminate the influence of her father's exile on her.
As her best friend, how could Zheng Yueru not be happy for her?
Liu Zheng actually made the right bet!
Shen Manqing's eyes were also blurred with tears: "I thank the Queen."
The whole audience followed suit and cheered.
The Queen Mother was admiring Shen Manqing alone, and her attitude was very clear. She was the most beautiful woman tonight.
"The Queen has ordered that Master Liu Zheng of Fengming Tower and Zheng Yueru of the Zheng family be summoned to the audience!"
Just when people were beginning to revel again, the eunuch had already run down from the third floor.
Zheng Yueru looked apprehensive, but Liu Zheng took a deep breath. Wasn't he risking his life just to see the queen? This desperate move, if done well, would shock the world, but if not, he would be bloodied or even torn to pieces. Fortunately, for now, he has succeeded halfway!
The two followed the eunuch all the way, and the eunuch told them some precautions in a shrill voice, such as how to kneel, how to pay respects, how to talk to the Queen, and they were not allowed to look up unless the Queen called them.
The two kept it in mind.
On the top floor of the brothel, the queen had already sat back in her phoenix carriage, accompanied by hundreds of officials from Liangzhou. The eunuch asked the two to wait here first, and then followed the queen closely, and then shouted in a hoarse voice: "Summon Liu Zheng and Zheng Yueru to see you!"
The two walked in together and knelt on the ground.
"Long live the Queen, long live the Queen!"
Liu Zheng felt that at this moment, nearly a hundred pairs of eyes on the top floor were all focused on his back, causing him to feel more stressed.
Then, there was silence.
A disturbing silence.
Queen Zheng Fu looked at the two young men kneeling and bowing with a smile, and said slowly: "I am afraid that if this ambush happens a few more times, I may not even have a hundred years to survive."
Everyone was shocked.
Liu Zheng also hurriedly said: "Empress, "House of Flying Daggers" is a work of art, don't take it seriously..."
Zheng Yueru was so frightened that she couldn't speak.
The queen said calmly, "Young Master Liu, raise your head."
Liu Zheng took a deep breath and raised his head calmly. This was the first time he dared to look the queen, the one who was above everyone else, in the eyes. Although the queen was already in her forties, she was indeed a rare beauty. She looked elegant and graceful, with skin as white as jade. She looked to be in her early thirties. It was hard to imagine that this woman already had a son of fifteen or sixteen years old. The queen's eyes were sharp, and she looked like she was not an ordinary person. She was definitely not the kind-hearted person that Zheng Yueru said...
Seeing that Liu Zheng still dared to look at her, the Queen sneered and shouted: "How dare you, Liu Zheng, what if I want to punish you?"
The whole audience was shocked. Chen Ping, Liu Dahao and others knelt down again out of fear.
Liu Zheng was not afraid. He looked at the queen and smiled faintly:
"Your Majesty, I believe that art should be free from any shackles in order to produce masterpieces!"
"What should be passed down through the ages is not the complicated and unoriginal palace dance!"
"In ancient times, the thirty states of Xiliang were the domains of celebrities. The jailer was in charge of everything, while the talented person with a round fan was in the upper echelons. They avoided banquets for fear of hearing about the literary inquisition, and wrote books for the sake of making a living. Where are Tian Heng's five hundred men? Will they all become marquises when they return?"
"If our Longyan Dynasty is not great enough, how can it have been passed down for more than a thousand years?"
He looked at her calmly and spoke eloquently.
Zheng Fu couldn't help but let a look of surprise flash across her eyes.
"Hahaha, great! What a man who avoids banquets for fear of hearing about literary inquisitions, and writes books just to make a living!"
Zheng Fu laughed loudly: "In ancient times, the thirty states of Xiliang, with countless grievances, belonged to the celebrities! In my opinion, the young people of the entire Longyan Dynasty are not as good as you!"
For a queen, this was already considered disregarding etiquette and being unrestrained. But she couldn't help laughing. The other people present all looked unhappy. Liu Zheng's poem was a curse to almost everyone present! This world-famous Liangzhou was controlled, divided, managed, and poisoned by a group of so-called celebrities who had no vision, no ideals, and no integrity, who colluded with each other and excluded each other, and who spent their days fighting for fame and fortune...
On the contrary, those who truly read books, truly pursue academic research, and read ancient and modern times, stay away from them, dare not speak, dare not voice their opinions. Even if someone writes a book, it is only to support their family.
How, then, does civilization progress?
How does a country progress?
How can people’s livelihood be improved?
Although there has never been any "literary inquisition" in the history of the Longyan Dynasty, there were many people who were convicted for their words, especially those who offended the royal family. They were often exiled, beheaded, and their entire clans were exterminated. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with Liu Zheng's analogy.
He also used art to explain academics, showing that Liu Zheng was fearless and concerned about the country and the people.
"good!"
Zheng Yueru couldn't help but her eyes lit up, and she looked at Liu Zheng's profile obsessively.
She suddenly thought of Shen Manqing today. Following such a young master Liu, even if she was torn to pieces today, what would it matter? They just wanted to have fun!
For a moment, Liu Zheng became so majestic and romantic in her eyes...
The queen laughed for a while, then realized that her manners were wrong, so she looked at Chen Ping beside her with interest, covered her mouth and smiled: "My Lord Governor, what do you think?"
Chen Ping was complaining in his heart.
He tried his best to hurry up, suppress it openly and secretly, but still let Liu Zheng steal the show today. Who can't see at this time that the queen has no intention of punishing Liu Zheng! Not only will she not punish him, she may even favor him!
Chen Ping's mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts as he walked out and was about to speak.
No matter what, he must first recognize Liu Zheng as his "son-in-law" today!
The Queen suddenly looked at Zheng Yueru and said with a smile, "You are Yueru, right? Look up. Hmm, you look a bit like me when I was young. Can you marry him? What do you think of the young master of the Liu family?"
"ah?"
Zheng Yueru's delicate body trembled, her face suddenly turned red with shame, and she was at a loss as to what to do.
Chen Ping almost missed a step and fell on the stairs.
What the hell?
Is this an arranged marriage?
