Love Affairs in Chang’an

Chapter 13: It's like a bustling city

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Qin Mubai had long expected that the emperor would have this skill. As an emperor, it was natural that he would not be able to learn from him, so there was no harm in sending a seventh-grade official. Qin Mubai never thought that the secret of the broomstick would not be passed on to the outside world, and that it would be better to enjoy it alone than to enjoy it. However, his inadvertent talent changed and promoted the pipa playing skills of the Zhenguan era. This fact itself is quite fulfilling.

Soon, Pipa was brought. Qin Mubai played a piece first, and Zeng Hongyou naturally listened attentively.

When the song ended, Zeng Hongyou was completely stunned and his eyes were straight.

"Zeng signed the order, what happened to you?"

"Ah?!" Zeng Hongyou suddenly came back to his senses, his face seemed a little pale, "Sure enough, sure enough! Your Majesty is really discerning and sincere and does not deceive others! Qin Jijiu, your pipa skills are truly unprecedented and unprecedented! I am your Majesty! I have always been very conceited about pipa music for thirty years, and now I have to be convinced that I am so proud! Those who are young and capable should be the first to learn, and I will definitely worship you as my teacher."

After saying that, he knelt down on the ground without any explanation and performed the ceremony of master and disciple.

Qin Mubai could only shake his head and smile bitterly: "That's all, it's up to you. Since you are also an expert in this field, you probably don't need me to teach you step by step - I will teach you this unique fingering technique!"

"Student, thank you, teacher!" Zeng Hongyou was unambiguous, and he handed over his hand to express his gratitude with a joyful face.

It was one thing for the emperor to issue an order to complete a task. Zeng Hongyou himself was also a music lover, so he was naturally happy to learn Qin Mubai's unique skills. Furthermore, in the feudal dynasty, it has always been a matter of action and imitation - whatever the emperor likes, the ministers and people below will imitate it and make it fashionable and trendy.

For example, the emperor Li Shimin was born in the military aristocracy of Guanlong. He was proficient in riding and archery skills since he was a child. He was also a horse-mounted emperor who conquered the world in battles in the north and south. After becoming the emperor, he did not forget about martial arts and often led a group of warriors on the battlefield. Drawing bows and comparing arrows in front of the palace - therefore, the Tang Dynasty favored martial arts and the folk customs were fruitful.

Li Shimin loved calligraphy, and his "Fei Bai calligraphy" was unique. He could be called a unique calligrapher in the contemporary era. He often led a group of courtiers to appraise calligraphy and discuss calligraphy, which became a common practice in both the government and the public. Therefore, people all over the world, old and young, high and low, studied calligraphy and calligraphy carefully. In the Tang Dynasty, paper in Luoyang was very expensive.

Even Li Shimin was a womanizer, and people all over the world imitated him. As a result, the folk customs of the Tang Dynasty were open, men and women did not shy away from matters in the boudoir, and the concept of chastity was relatively weak. Even the 21st century may not be able to compare with this.

It is no exaggeration to say that in the feudal dynasty, the emperor was the unique "popular king" who led the world's fashion.

The emperor likes music, especially the pipa, which is known to everyone in the world. Whoever can play the pipa with outstanding skills is naturally a great thing.

Therefore, Zeng Hongyou has no reason to be unhappy. Although he was in his forties, he still served Qin Mubai with humility and caution like a primary school student. He studied with concentration for most of the day and then left with a huge thank you.

In the next few days, the mansion was quiet with no other visitors, not even King Wu Li Ke came to visit again. The official appointment letter from the imperial court has not yet been issued, so Qin Mubai is not in a hurry and leads a very regular life every day. He got up to practice martial arts at dawn, competed with Qin Shubao in the room and discussed the art of spear and arrow, and then concentrated on reading. Then I would chat with my mother and sister, and teach my little sister how to play the pipa.

Zeng Hongyou became a disciple, and he did things according to orders. He dared not be less than diligent and conscientious. He would come to study at the first quarter of the day every day and leave after three quarters. After several days of hard practice, he had almost mastered the pipa fingering technique, and he was considered a master.

Two days later, the Qin Mansion, which had always been deserted, suddenly became lively.

Early in the morning, there was a commotion in the palace - a group of eunuchs and maids from the palace came, and they all wanted to see Qin Mubai by name, saying that they came to learn from his master.

Qin Mubai's head is so big. People are really afraid of being famous and pigs are afraid of being strong. This is such a big deal!

It is said that after Zeng Hongyou learned the skill, he played it to the emperor in the palace, and Long Yan Dayue praised it greatly. And the news that he studied under Qin Mubai also spread like wildfire.

As for the concubines in the harem, who doesn’t want to have the same specialty to please the emperor and win favor? Therefore, many concubines in the harem sent personal eunuchs or maids who knew the music and played the pipa to come to Qin Mubai to learn from him, and their intentions were clear at a glance.

A group of palace maids and eunuchs were waiting anxiously in the hall of the Qin Mansion. Who wouldn't want to complete the errand and go back to please the master and get a reward? This is a major matter related to whether their master is favored by the emperor. If a person can ascend to heaven, this is closely related to their own interests.

As a result, Qin Mubai, a little-known figure who had never shown his face in the court, inadvertently became the favorite of many concubines in the palace courtyard who tried their best to win over him.

Just when the maids and eunuchs were waiting a little impatiently, a low and powerful knocking sound was heard from the corner of the hall, the sound was sonorous, as if it was ringing in their hearts - Qin Shubao came out on crutches.

"Greetings to Duke Yi Guo!" They all knelt down with cheers.

"You all should go back. You can just ask Zeng Hongyou to learn from the Taishou. There is no need to come again." Qin Shubao said lightly, and the silence in the whole hall was slightly solemn. All the maids and eunuchs did not dare to express their anger, let alone any one who dared to raise any objections, so they had no choice but to apologize and leave.

Qin Mubai came out to support his father, and the father and son shook their heads with a wry smile.

"Sanlang, as a general, you must not have anything to do with people in the harem. This is a big taboo, remember it!"

"Kid, remember this!"

Before the father and son had time to turn around, another group of people came out of the door. They turned out to be people from various quyuan and singing studios in Chang'an West City, bringing heavy sums of money to learn from their teachers.

It seems that Qin Mubai's pipa skills have spread from the palace to the market, alarming people in these sensual places.

Qin Shubao waved his hand angrily: "Thank you behind closed doors!"

Keep these sensual and sensual people out of the door. The crutch in his hand hit the ground hard, and he hummed: "Liang'er, don't show off such wonderful skills in the future. It's useless. I am a general in the Qin family. I believe that as a father, you will be able to settle down and live your life in the future. It must be martial arts and art of war. Spend more time practicing martial arts and reading!”

"I know, dad." Qin Mubai could only smile bitterly. As for pipa, it was just a "hobby" for him at best, but he never thought of relying on it to become famous or find a way out. Unexpectedly, an occasional "inadvertent mistake" would actually cause the tree to grow taller and attract the wind.

It's so difficult to keep a low profile.

A few days later, the closed door of the Qin family finally opened, because this time it was an official from the Ministry of Personnel who came and brought Qin Mubai's official certificate, title deed, official robes, shoes and other items. Without saying a word, I took away five ounces of "suicide money". It doesn't matter whether you are a Shangzhu Kingdom or a seventh-rank official.

Qin Shubao didn't say anything about this, thinking it was the "convention" of the Tang Dynasty.

Qin Mubai unfolded the official certificate and saw that a vermilion folded book was actually the "Official Appointment Letter", which contained his birthplace, age, appointed official position, etc., covering a series of departments such as the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel. The large seal is solid and beautifully made.

"Well, we are also bureaucrats, even though we are seventh-grade sesame officials."

Looking at the Tian deed again, Qin Mubai felt a little happy: "He has become a landlord."

According to the Zhenguan Tang Dynasty system, officials' salaries mainly consisted of rice and land. A seventh-grade Beijing official can receive eighty shi of grain per year and three hectares and fifty acres of "positional land". The job fields can be rented to farmers for planting, and the rent can be collected every year. With all this income, even ten Qin Mubai could not finish eating and drinking. Of course, it's another matter if you have to spend a lot of time and alcohol.

I tried on the green official robe of the Qilu official again. Although this style is not very pleasing and unaccustomed, at least the fabric is good and it fits well. The most fortunate thing is that the official hat is not green.

"Let's go to Prince Wu's Mansion tomorrow to order a knot!" Qin Shubao said, "Be a down-to-earth man and work diligently as an official."

"Hmm..." Qin Mubai nodded in agreement, but he was thinking in his heart: The political wisdom and official skills of the ancients were not inferior to those of later generations. What would it be like to be an official in the Tang Dynasty? It's challenging and worth looking forward to.

The next day, Qin Mubai got up early as usual. After practicing martial arts for an hour, he dressed up and prepared to go to work on the first day. Before leaving the house, Mrs. Liu and Qin Shuang'er smoothed the unnecessary wrinkles on his shoulders and sent him out with warm smiles on their faces.

Wearing a thick coat and walking on the stone road in Chang'an Lifang, breathing the dry and cold winter air of the Tang Dynasty, Qin Mubai looked around. The simple buildings and people made him feel quite fresh.

Prince Wu's Mansion is not far from Qin Mansion, and it only takes a cup of tea to walk. It didn't take long to arrive in front of the mansion. Above the red lacquered and copper-riveted gate, there was a plaque reading "Prince Wu's Mansion". Eight sergeants holding spears stood upright in the cold wind, showing a bit of military arrogance in the harsh winter.

"Stop, who are you?" Qin Mubai had just stepped forward when a military academy officer with his arms akimbo stopped him. His face was full of black beard, and he looked a bit majestic.

"Your Excellency, Qin Mubai, the newly appointed King of Wu's Mansion offers wine in the East Pavilion. Today, he comes to Dianmao for the first time to take office." Qin Mubai replied.

"Qin Mubai? Never heard of it. Official certificate." The black-faced military academy said coldly.

At this time, a soldier behind him said: "Captain Fan, I recognize this person - he is Qin Sanlang of Duke Yi Guo who is famous for playing the pipa, right?"

Qin Mubai was reaching for his official certificate to report himself. At this moment, he was startled and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Oh, he looks a bit like Duke Yi Guo." A hint of disdainful smile appeared on the black-faced military academy's face, and he waved his hands and said casually, "Adjunct officers below the fifth rank enter through the side door, hurry up - Qin Jijiu."

Qin Mubai frowned slightly, thinking that it seems that my reputation as a pipa player is really not that good. Even these soldiers in the military academy treat me as a performer and actor.

Pulling the thick fur on his body, Qin Mubai smiled nonchalantly and walked towards the side door.