The spring equinox has passed, but the wind still brings the spring cold, the aftermath of the north wind still makes people shudder, and there is a strong chill between the recovery of all things. In the Qingyi Garden, the royal garden of Beijing, the water on Kunming Lake is sparkling, reflecting the emerald green of Wanshou Mountain, where the mountain shape is steep, the rivers and lakes are narrow, quiet and elegant. The lake is dotted with islands, and the 17-hole bridge and the 6th bridge of the west embankment echo each other, and under the backdrop of the green willows and peaches of the lake embankment, it is like a water town in the south of the Yangtze River.

In the corridor that runs through the foothills of the mountain and along the north shore of the lake, a young woman in palace clothes walks slowly, followed by an elderly palace maid. Behind him, two palace maids and eunuchs waited.

After walking for a while, the old palace maid said: "Little master, sit down and rest, you are just sick, this spring cold is strong, don't suffer from the wind cold again." ”

As soon as the palace maid spoke, the little eunuch behind her hurriedly stepped forward to support her, followed by a soft cushion, and let the young woman in palace clothes sit down on the stone chair in the corridor, and there was immediately a palace maid behind her to serve soup, sweat towels, snacks and other things.

The young woman shook her head in annoyance and said, "Don't, don't." ”

The old palace maid hurriedly said: "Little master, your body is still weak, it's good to add some red date soup to make up for it, if the song goes wrong later, it won't be good." ”

The young woman sighed and asked, "Aunt Kang, at the end of the year, we have been to all the places where we thought the emperor would pass by, but we didn't even see the shadow of the emperor. ”

Aunt Kang smiled and said: "Kung fu is not afraid of people with a heart, we have done enough kung fu, we will definitely be able to meet." And I heard that we were calculated before, but whenever we intercepted and sang songs, the emperor was always led away, and this was Xiao Anzi who inquired about someone making a hindrance, otherwise we would all be in the dark. ”

The young woman lamented. said: "Weishenme, the people in this palace are so good at calculating people? ”

Aunt Kang said in a low voice: "This is the case in this palace, if you want to be favored, you have to fight with others, and others will calculate you." If you don't want to be favored, it will be a cold palace for a lifetime, and you will be lonely in this cold palace. ”

The young woman shuddered, pursed her red lips tightly, and with a determined look in her eyes, she said, "I'm Yehnara. Xingzhen will not die of old age in the palace, finally one day. I want to get ahead. Then she secretly said in her heart: "Since God wants me to cross over to become Cixi, I have to do what Cixi should do!" ”

Aunt Kang saw that Xingzhen's eyes were full of perseverance, and she smiled with relief, remembering that Xingzhen had lost her soul when she first entered the palace, and she was very pleased. secretly thought that he had always lived up to his hard work, and said: "The little master can have this heart." It is not in vain that a few of our minions will do their best to help. Xiao Anzi. Bring up the jujube water. ”

That Xiao Anzi is a little eunuch who newly entered the palace at the end of last year, named An Dehai, a native of Qingxian County, although he is only ten years old, he is smart and good at observing words and feelings. Although he is also the old eunuch Dong Guiying of the Jingshi room, he was selected and introduced into the palace. But he is not a Tianli Sect figure, Dong Guiying just likes his ingenuity.

Although An Dehai has been in the palace for a short time, he has heard some clues, although Xingzhen and Kang Qi often sing in the Imperial Garden and other places. I just want to attract Emperor Xianfeng to meet, but when I come to Emperor Xianfeng, I often stay in the Old Summer Palace and do not live in the palace. Second, there are people who make a stumbling block, once Xingzhen and Kang Qi sing on the road that Xianfeng must pass, there are always people who secretly make a mistake, and lead Emperor Xianfeng to a detour or go elsewhere, it is because of these many days, Xingzhen still can't see Xianfeng, let alone compete for favor.

An Dehai smiled and took the jujube water and said: "Little master, drink it while it's hot, this soup is hot enough, your body is warm, and you can sing a little more later." ”

Xingzhen took the bowl, drank it in one gulp, and then smiled at An Dehai and said, "Xiexie you, Xiao Anzi." ”

An Dehai said that he didn't dare, but Kang Qi frowned and said: "Little master, how many times have I told you, you don't need to be polite to the minions and slaves, you are too polite, others look down on you, the shelf at the end should be put up, and you can't lose your manners." ”

Xingzhen smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, it's all your own people." ”

Although An Dehai was young, he also felt the generosity of Xingzhen, and after bowing down at the moment, he kowtowed a few times and said: "The master treats the slave like this, and the slave is not afraid of broken bones." ”

Xingzhen smiled slightly and said: "What are you saying, get up and go, then the Kunqu Opera Singing Troupe is about to arrive at Changyin Pavilion." ”

Changyin Pavilion is on the east side of the Yangxing Palace, the south end of Ningshou Palace. Because An Dehai heard that someone was obstructing him, this time Kang Qi came up with an idea, and a few people went around in a big circle and made a detour to Changyin Pavilion.

Coming to the front of the Changyin Pavilion, I saw that the Changyin Pavilion was facing north and south, and the building was magnificent. Its building triple eaves, roll shed rest on the top of the mountain, covered with yellow glazed tiles. The pavilion is three rooms wide, three rooms deep, and the five bays in the south are connected with the theater building, and the plane is convex shaped. Under the eaves of the upper floor, hang the "Changyin Pavilion" plaque, hang the "Daohe Yitai" plaque under the eaves of the middle floor, and hang the "Hutian Xuanyu" plaque under the eaves of the lower floor. There are three layers of stage in the upper, middle and lower floors, the upper floor is called "Futai", the middle layer is called "Lutai", and the lower floor is called "Shoutai".

There are no pillars in Shoutai, there are four staircases, connected to the platform, and you can reach Lutai by going up the stairs. Shoubei, east and west are decorated with grimace curly grass pattern wood carving and painted plaques above the two pillars, but the front hangs the couplet: "Moving and quiet Ye Qingyin, knowing the water Renshan will meet wherever you go; On a prosperous day in spring and autumn, the phoenix song and dance are at the right time. Taken from Zuo Si's "Zhaoyin Poems": "Why bother with silk and bamboo, the landscape has a clear sound", in addition, Tao Yuanming's "Emigration" also has "many good days in spring and autumn, ascending to the top and giving new poems". The middle of the table is set up below the well, the well is equipped with a winch, usually covered with a woodblock, the cover plate can be opened and closed, according to the content of the play, the scenery and characters can be held up from the ground to the surface, resulting in the dramatic effect of drilling out from the ground or water, such as the performance of "Diyong Golden Lotus" a scene, that is, four big lotus flowers are slowly drilled out from under the stage, and a Bodhisattva is sitting on a lotus flower. There is a manhole at each of the four corners of the ground under the stage, and a well in the middle of the south side, which can provide a water source for the water spray during the performance.

Xingzhen is the first time to this Changyin Pavilion, although there are dramas in the palace in the Changyin Pavilion several times before, but Xingzhen is sick and has not met her meeting, and she has not been informed, and even if she is informed, presumably the seat she is sitting in is also far away from Xianfeng.

It was afternoon, and there were no other royal relatives and concubines watching the play here. The troupe's name is Yunhua Society, and it is a well-known Kunqu opera troupe in Beijing. Emperor Xianfeng loved Kunqu Opera, so there were often Kunqu Opera troupes waiting in the palace, and even sometimes Emperor Xianfeng personally went down and sang a gong and song.

This troupe is rehearsing at the moment, and the head of the troupe, Huo Yunhua, saw that someone from the palace was coming, so he hurriedly greeted him: "It's really unfortunate that a few masters, the emperor will come to listen to the music later, and the scene will be cleaned up later." If a few masters want to listen to music, they will be waiting for the younger ones another day. ”

Kang Qi stepped forward and said, "Master Huo, a few of us are just passing through here, just walk around, and leave immediately." After that, he walked away with Xingzhen in his arms as if nothing happened.

Xingzhen was a little secretly anxious when she heard this, and said in a low voice: "Aunt Kang, you can't enter Changyin Pavilion, what should I do?" ”

Kang Qi whispered, "Let's just wait outside." ”

After leaving the Changyin Pavilion, Kang Qi took Xingzhen to a pavilion next to the Changyin Pavilion to wait, and immediately ordered the palace maid Qi Dan to light sandalwood, put the Yaoqin on the table, and waited, but An Dehai was gone.

After a tea hour, a large number of yellow coats and royal guards escorted Xianfeng's Luanjia and arrived, and the yellow coats held the inside and outside of Changyin Pavilion, and Emperor Xianfeng entered Changyin Pavilion.

When Xingzhen saw Xianfeng Luan driving from a distance, she remembered the qin singing, but was stopped by Kang Qi: "Little master, now is not the time." ”

Xingzhen obeyed her, hummed at the moment, took a deep breath, and continued to wait.

After Emperor Xianfeng walked into the Changyin Pavilion, the troupe members all came to take over, and after some etiquette, the class owner Huo Yunhua presented a twist and turn, and asked Xianfeng to order a play.

Xianfeng seemed to be a little excited, picked up the twists and turns and flipped through them, and said sullenly: "These are all these things that come and go, and there is nothing new." ”

Peng Youyi, the great eunuch beside Xianfeng, smiled flatteringly: "Your Majesty, do you want to sing a few words in person?" ”

Xianfeng seemed a little tired, waved his hand and said, "I won't sing today, just sing a song." ”

Huo Yunhua was a little embarrassed, the emperor said casually, but if the song he sang was not to his liking, it was a bad thing, and he looked up at Peng Youli in embarrassment, Peng Youyi boldly whispered: "Your Majesty, how about you come to Qu Peony Pavilion?" ”

Xianfeng closed his eyes and recuperated, and didn't speak, just waved his hand, signaling that he would do so, Peng Youyi hurriedly said to Huo Yunhua: "Don't hurry up and prepare, Peony Pavilion!" ”

In the pavilion outside Changyin Pavilion, Xingzhen and Kang Qi waited anxiously, only to see An Dehai turn out of the corridor wet and run into the pavilion and hurriedly said, "Order the Peony Pavilion!" It turned out that Kang Qi ordered An Dehai to take advantage of the time when the people in the troupe greeted Xingzhen, and hid in the gushing water manhole under Shoutai, and then An Dehai listened to the repertoire and came to inform. Kang Qi wanted Xingzhen to start singing before the troupe sang.

At that moment, Xingzhen's Yaoqin plucked, sang softly in her mouth, and began to sing according to the Peony Pavilion track.

Kunqu opera excerpts are the most prosperous in the Qing Dynasty, and there are 12 roles in the rivers and lakes, such as the deputy end, the old student, the positive student, the foreigner, the big face, the second side, and the third side, which are called "male characters"; Lao Dan, Zheng Dan, Xiao Dan, and Tie Dan are called "female characters"; There is also a person who makes a joke, called "miscellaneous". There are five categories: big officials, small officials, towels, shoe leather (poor) and pheasants. Dan line is divided into six categories: Lao Dan, Zheng Dan, Zuo Dan, Four Dan, Five Dan and Six Dan.

Xingzhen sang loudly, and on the side, Kang Qi, An Dehai and Qi Dan sounded gongs and drums, obviously they have been practicing for a long time.

Xingzhen alone can sing a few flavors at the end of her birthday, and her voice is clear and beautiful, without dragging mud and water at all, and the song has been floating into the Changyin Pavilion. Singing and singing, Xingzhen consciously took on the role of Du Liniang in "The Peony Pavilion", two lines of tears fell, but her face was filled with a faint smile, and the spirit of the piano music gradually spread, and people inside and outside the Changyin Pavilion couldn't help but listen. The soft rhythm swings across the sky, making people feel like bathing in the spring breeze and sitting on the clouds. At the end of the song, everyone listened to it as if they were still in a dream. (To be continued......)