Chapter 142: A Cut Plum

A young man named Li Heng asked, "Brother Cui, is Mr. Nalan still alive?" Where can we visit this great talent? ”

Cui Daoshu sighed: "Hey~, God doesn't bless people! Mr. Nalan is long gone. It's a sigh of relief. ”

Several scholars exclaimed in surprise,

"Ah, what a pity!"

"I can't wait to be born decades early!"

"God is jealous of talents!"

Cao Yongxian asked, "Brother Cui, how did Mr. Nalan pass away?" ”

"He fell seriously ill during his travels, and because he was in the mountains at the time, he could not be treated in time, so he died."

At this time, three young people walked in, and everyone introduced Cui Daoshu one by one, and they were all classmates and friends. After the ceremony, everyone sat down one after another.

Cao Yongxian instructed the servants of Fengsong Pavilion to let them hold a banquet. After a while, seven or eight young girls walked in, ringing and fragrant. They sat down next to everyone, laughed and chatted with the young man next to them.

After a while, the servants came in and put the dishes, melons and fruits, and the girls poured wine and vegetables for everyone, and served them very thoughtfully.

Cao Yongxian raised his glass and said loudly: "Fellow students, today my Cao family is very honored to invite Brother Cui Daoshu, the head of the Cui family in Mingzhou, let's raise a glass together to catch the wind for Brother Cui." Drink to your heart's content! ”

Cao Yongxian drank it all and lit up the bottom of the cup. Everyone present raised their glasses to Cui Daoshu and drank the wine in the glass.

Cui Daoshu also drank it, this wine was dark red in color, soft in the mouth, and similar to the red of the daughter of later generations.

The girls obediently poured wine for everyone, Cui Daoshu raised a glass of greeting, and drank another glass with the scholars. The pianist next to him continued to play, and the sound of silk and bamboo was endless.

Cao Yongxian invited everyone to taste the dishes, everyone chatted while eating, and the atmosphere of the banquet was very warm. A few scholars laughed with the girls around them, making them blushing and shy.

At this moment, several women walked in. The first was a woman in her twenties, followed by two young girls.

The woman was dressed elegantly, with a fluffy bun on her head, she looked gentle and lovely, and smiled before speaking: "Distinguished guests, the slave family is uninvited, please forgive your sins." ”

Cao Yongxian said with a smile: "The famous Qi Jiuniang in Jinling City, who doesn't know, who doesn't know, you don't have to be polite." Sit down and talk. ”

Qi Jiuniang excused herself again and again, and said to Cao Yongxian: "Master Cao, my master knows that you are coming, and specially asked me to sing a few tunes for you to help the wine." I can't sit down! ”

Cao Yongxian nodded and said loudly: "Fellow students, please be quiet." ”

During the banquet, everyone put down their wine glasses and looked at Cao Yongxian. He said with a smile: "This Qi Jiuniang was the first singer in Jinling back then, and her singing skills are amazing. Today, we all came by chance, and we are fortunate to be able to listen to Qi Jiuniang's singing, which is something that can be met but not sought, I hope you will cherish it. ”

Qi Jiuniang smiled and said, "Cao Dalang praised it falsely, and the slave family is ashamed. ”

She walked up to the luthiers, exchanged a few words with them, and then stood in the middle of the room, ready to begin singing.

When the pianist played, Qi Jiuniang opened her mouth and sang: "The southeast shape wins, the three Wu capitals, and Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times--------"

Cao Yongxian and Cui Daoshu glanced at each other and smiled heartily. The scholars at the banquet also laughed, which surprised the girls around them, and they didn't know why they were laughing.

Qi Jiuniang's singing skills are very good, and she sang "Wanghai Tide" gracefully, and everyone was slowly immersed in it, listening to it as if they were fascinated.

At the end of the song, there was warm applause at the banquet, and everyone stood up one after another to greet Qi Jiuniang.

Cui Daoshu also stood up and applauded with everyone. He also felt very shocked, he had heard many singing, and it was absolutely rare to be able to compete with this singer Qi Jiuniang. That is, Fu Hongyu, who is amazingly talented, can be compared with Qi Jiuniang.

Qi Jiuniang squatted down to salute everyone, and then asked puzzledly: "Gentlemen, why are you laughing when you sing in the slave family?" Did the slave sing it wrong? ”

Cao Yongxian shook his head, "You didn't make a mistake, we were rude, don't be surprised." ”

Qi Jiuniang was a little puzzled, and Cao Yongxian asked, "Qi Niangzi, do you know the origin of Wanghaichao?" ”

"It seems to have spread last year, and it is said that it was sung for the first time in Mingzhou, from Wu Yueguo, at the Cui family's 'auction'."

Cao Yongxian laughed and said, "Haha, Qi Niangzi, I'll introduce you." He pointed to Cui Daoshu, "This gentleman is the head of the Cui family in Mingzhou." You sing other people's tunes and lyrics, can we not laugh? ”

Qi Jiuniang was taken aback, her eyes widened in disbelief, and she looked at Cui Daoshu.

Cui Daoshu nodded slightly reservedly, looking light and breezy.

Qi Jiuniang gave a salute to Cui Dao, and then said, "Young Master Cui, the slave family is polite." I take the liberty of asking, who is the author of this 'Wanghai Tide'? ”

The scholar next to him told Qi Jiuniang about Mr. Nalan's life and deeds, and she was in tears and sighed.

Zhang Hongsheng asked with the intention of drinking: "Brother Cui, Mr. Nalan should have composed more than three songs, right?" With such a beautiful scenery tonight, can you come up with a few more songs to open everyone's eyes? ”

The other scholars followed suit and asked Cui Daoshu to write a few of Mr. Nalan's works.

Cui Daoshu smiled secretly in his heart, looking helpless on the surface. Cao Yongxian winked at him and said with a smile: "Brother Cui, you should be merciful." If you don't come up with a few songs, everyone won't let you go. ”

Cui Daoshu thought for a moment, and said helplessly: "Bring a pen and paper." ”

A few girls hurriedly ran out, and after a while they brought pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. Everyone took away the dishes on the top of a few cases and cleaned them up. Then the paper is spread out and the ink is polished.

Cui Daoshu picked up the pen, held his breath, and began to write. The scholars were all around several cases, and the anxious girls were straight-legged outside, but they couldn't see the situation inside.

Zhang Hongsheng was empathetic and read out aloud what Cui Dao wrote:

"The red lotus fragrance remnants of the jade in autumn, lightly relieve Luo Shang, and go on the Lanzhou alone. Who in the clouds sent the brocade book? When the word goose returns, the moon is full in the west building.

Flowers float and water flow freely, a kind of lovesickness, two sorrows. There is no way to eliminate this situation, so I frowned, but I was in my heart. ”

For a while, there was silence in the house, and everyone was silently reciting in their hearts, savoring this song "A Cut Plum" that has been passed down through the ages by Li Qingzhao.

Cui Daoshu put down the pen and saw that everyone was a little sluggish, many people muttered in their mouths, and some people frowned and meditated.

Cao Yongxian separated everyone, hugged Cui Daoshu excitedly, and shouted loudly: "Brother Cui, God is made!" Is it really Mr. Nalan's work? ”

Cui Daoshu smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's Mr. Nalan's work." ”

Qi Jiuniang listened to this song "One Cut Plum", and the whole person was stupid, chanting the words repeatedly in her heart, wanting to sing this song perfectly.

The girls all gathered together and talked about this masterpiece. Cao Yongxian picked up the flask and shouted: "Fellow students, raise your glasses and toast to this masterpiece!" ”

The scholars agreed loudly, raised their wine glasses, and drank wildly together. Then everyone surrounded Cui Daoshu and asked him to tell the origin of this poem.

Cui Daoshu had no choice but to continue to make up the story, saying that when Mr. Nalan was traveling, he met a woman who missed her husband from afar and confided her heart to Mr. Nalan. Mr. Nalan was moved by the emotion to make this song "A Cut of Plums".

Cao Yongxian asked with some curiosity: "Why is the word plate called 'One Cut Plum', and what is the allusion?" ”

Cui Daoshu couldn't make it up, so he had to say: "Mr. Nalan didn't explain, and I don't know." ”

The scholars talked a lot and began to study the magic of this poem.

Cui Daoshu noticed that Qi Jiuniang walked next to the piano master and communicated with them. After a while, she walked up to Cui Daoshu, gave a solemn salute, and then said: "Cui Gongzi, the slave family is ready, I want you to sing this song "One Cut Plum" for you, please allow me." ”

Cui Daoshu said gently: "Qi Niangzi doesn't have to be polite, we will listen to you." ”

Cao Yongxian asked some excited classmates to sit down, ready to listen to Qi Jiuniang's singing.

The room was quiet, the scholars sat down, and the girls sat beside them.

Qi Jiuniang walked to the middle of the room and nodded to the pianist. The sound of silk and bamboo sounded, and Qi Jiuniang began to sing.

Her singing voice is delicate and crisp, it is a pure Wu Nong soft language, Cui Daoshu listens to it, and it feels somewhat similar to the Kunqu opera of later generations. Everyone listened in fascination, and many people beat and hummed along.

Qi Jiuniang sang it three times and squatted down to salute everyone. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, and some people applauded loudly.

Cao Yongxian invited Qi Jiuniang to take a seat, and she excused herself and sat down.

Cao Yongxian instructed the servants to remove the remnants of the table, put the dishes anew, and then frequently raised their glasses and fought with everyone.

Qi Jiuniang stared at Cui Daoshu and drank a few glasses of wine with him. Then he sat next to Cui Daoshu, grinding hard with him, and wanted to come up with a few new words.

Cui Daoshu had a big head, so he had to pretend to be drunk, use the Dafa of urine, and escape.

He pretended to stagger to the yard, and Zhai Xiaoshan hurriedly came over to support him. Cui Daoshu saw that there was no one around, so he whispered: "Let's go quickly, otherwise I will have to drink to death in a while." ”

Zhai Xiaoshan asked the two guards to stay, blocking other people who wanted to find Cui Daoshu, so he took the two guards, everyone supported Cui Daoshu, and hurriedly walked out of the gate of Fengsong Pavilion.

The three of them carried Cui Daoshu into the carriage and asked the coachman to send everyone back to the inn. A few guards of the Cao family came over and asked Cao Yongxian why he didn't come out.

Zhai Xiaoshan said with a smile: "Your eldest man is still drinking with the guests, and our family master is too drunk to drink." We carried him out and went back early. ”

The carriage departed in the direction of the inn. Back at the inn, Cui Daoshu was already asleep. They carried him in.