After Shang Xirui sang "The Story of the Qianlong", he couldn't hold back the enthusiasm of the audience, and finally gave back a piece of the Beijing opera "Xiaoyaojin". It's already the middle of the night to remove makeup for Sanxi. Cheng Fengtai and Fan Lian jokingly broke up, told Lao Ge to go back to the car and wait, and went backstage by himself. In the small aisle leading to the dressing room, I ran into Amber who had been rejected - of course he might have seen Shang Xirui, but his expression really seemed to be turned into anger after being rejected , Anger hangs on his face, livid and livid. On the other side, Xiao Lai and a strange man who looked like a bodyguard were guarding the door of the dressing room. It seems that Shang Xirui has a customer, maybe the customer is not young.
Cheng Fengtai took off the hat on his head, and greeted Amber proactively: "Hey! Lord Belle! Good evening!"
Amber arched her hands to him, frowned and forced a smile at the corners of her mouth as a salute, then turned sideways past him, and left in a hurry. Cheng Fengtai didn't expect Shang Xirui to have such an ability to irritate people, he glanced around and saw the big sister Yuan Lan coming out of the door opposite Shang Xirui, smoking a cigarette on the threshold. She put on a coat and only a silk long skirt with dropped shoulders, glanced at Shang Xirui's door, and winked at Cheng Fengtai. Cheng Fengtai's heart immediately felt a little bit better. In the past few years since he entered the society, he is not a boy who fights for face regardless of his superiority or inferiority, but he does not have the stupid temper of those Eight Banners children. Sure enough, when he came to the door of the dressing room, the guard Tie Zhu's King Kong blocked his hand, and no one was allowed to intrude. Before Xiao Lai had time to say anything, Cheng Fengtai let out that kind of swinger's smile, put his index finger between his lips, made a gesture of silence, and said softly and softly: "I know, I won't go in, what to do here Can't you just wait? Miss Xiaolai also worked hard today, so I'll take your place."
How could Xiao Lai agree. At this time, it was Cheng Fengtai's turn to wink at Yuan Lan. Yuan Lan rolled her eyes at him, thinking that this would be really annoying, she pinched her cigarette butt, gathered up her skirt, and with a coquettish smile stepped forward and put her arms around Xiao Lai's shoulders and led her into the room: "Oh! Xiao Lai Come on, take a break too! Brother Rui sings on the stage, and you stand and wait with this one; when Brother Rui steps off the stage, you still stand and wait with this one. What are you going to do after seven or eight hours? Don't look around for a while, Brother Rui can't fly! Huh? Silly girl!" Xiao Lai couldn't wipe her off, and was dragged away reluctantly. Yuan Lan turned her head and cast glances at Cheng Fengtai, and Cheng Fengtai returned her one very familiarly, this was clearly a theater troupe, and the two of them made the atmosphere like a girl in a bar.
Cheng Fengtai stood at the door, leaned closer and looked inside. The old-fashioned doors and windows are covered with gauze paper, which is even more blindfolded than frosted glass, and you can't even see how many people are inside. The guard next to him stared at him with wide eyes, as if scolding him for his rudeness. Cheng Fengtai smiled at him, put one hand in his trouser pocket, and handed the guard a cigarette with the other. The guard didn't answer. Cheng Fengtai lit it by himself, took a breath, and exhaled slowly with his head raised, as if he really just came to guard the door, very casual and indifferent.
The screens also have the benefits of screens, thin and loose, you can clearly hear Shang Xirui's voice inside saying: "You shouldn't quarrel with Amber. Amber didn't mean that."
The other is a hollow and hoarse male voice: "What else can he mean! I was angry with them in the past! I still have to suffer from that now!"
Cheng Fengtai has stayed with the opera singers for a long time, and now he can tell that this voice is also their opera singer. When actors speak, their pronunciation is always a bit different from that of ordinary people. This is a voice that opera singers can't change, and ordinary people can't learn.
Shang Xirui sighed: "Hey, well, then it's up to you." There was also helplessness in that voice.
The man was silent for a moment, suppressed all the previous unhappiness, calmly, and said with a little tenderness: "You sing really well, really well... I haven't heard you sing for a long time."
Shang Xirui chuckled softly: "It's been a long time since I sang, this time it's a good role to play."
The sound of rubbing clothes and footsteps came from far and near, and a blurred shadow stopped in front of the lamp. The man seemed to be standing behind Shang Xirui, stroking his back or hair. Cheng Fengtai could even imagine the admiration that man looked at Shang Xirui in the mirror.
"I looked at you on the stage, and couldn't help but think of myself. If I kept singing at that time, I don't know what it would be like now?"
Shang Xirui thought for a while, then smiled in a naughty tone towards the brothers and sisters in the troupe: "If you keep singing until today, maybe you will be second only to me."
Shang Xirui never said such boastful things to the outside world, for fear that people would catch him and criticize him for being arrogant. Although he has always been an arrogant person in private. Dare to announce it like this today, it can be seen that he is very familiar with that person.
The man also smiled softly, but he didn't know whether he was angry or not.
Shang Xirui went on to say: "If you really want to sing... just come out and sing. It's a pity to throw away so many years of effort."
After Shang Xirui said this, before the person inside answered, Cheng Fengtai saw the guards outside the door suddenly frown on guard, their heads pressed against the crack of the door, as if they were about to rush in at any time.
The man finally sneered twice, and raised his voice: "I sing? Where else can I sing now?! The old man is right. I'm an actor, and I can't find the palm of his hand even if I sing to the heavens. Let it fall into his hands." It's my life!" He raised his voice with a falsetto, it seemed that he was singing a female role.
Shang Xirui said: "Back then, I wanted to leave Commander Cao to sing in Peking, but Commander Cao refused. I bet my life to escape."
The man was silent for a long time, and Fang smiled sadly again: "You are a free person. I can't help myself."
Shang Xirui never knew anything in this world beyond his control: "If you want to escape, there is always a way. Or you can come to my Shuiyun Tower to sing, I will protect you!"
Hearing this sentence, the guard couldn't bear it any longer, knocked on the door twice, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Chu, it's past two o'clock, the master should be in a hurry."
Mr. Chu in it turned a deaf ear, and continued to say: "I haven't opened my voice for a long time, I really want to sing, I'm afraid it's not as bright as yours. Your voice is more crisp than the previous two years, and the sword is good! But I still love you. Your little girl, the matchmaker. When will you sing the matchmaker again?"
Shang Xirui smiled and said: "I haven't done this play for almost a year. Boss Yu is here for a while, and I want to take this opportunity to sing more Kunqu opera. The performance of "Qian Long Ji" is over, and I will open the box next year. Boss Yu sings "Lianxiang Companion"!"
Mr. Chu clapped his hands and said with a smile: "This one is even better! Now people only know "Lian Xiang Companion" from Beijing Opera, but not "Lian Xiang Companion" from Kunqu Opera. These are clearly two stories, but they changed their name to one. Didn't you and Jiulang sing before? Your Cao Yuhua is really good!"
Cheng Fengtai could imagine Shang Xirui's full of ambition after receiving praise, with his small face raised and his pointed chin raised.
Mr. Chu suddenly turned his voice down again: "It's a pity that I can't listen to you this time. After the new year, I will go to Nanjing with the old man to take up a post. It is not certain whether I will come back to Peiping in the future. At the old man's age, I can't prevent it." one death..."
Shang Xirui wanted to say something, but Mr. Chu interrupted him almost weeping: "Over the years, I have offended many people around the old man, and they all want the old man to eat me as soon as he closes his eyes! I He probably came back dead. Guaner Rui, this is the last time we see each other!"
Shang Xirui met a group of princes, grandsons and five lords' families in Beiping, and they all used to call actors and actresses "officials". It is known that this Mr. Chu is Shang Xirui's friend since he entered Peiping, and also a popular opera singer who often hangs out among the old, the young, the high-ranking officials and the powerful. Cheng Fengtai also heard something about the "old man" he said. This is often seen in the upper class. When people are old and confused, they get a little wife and dancer to wait by their side to entertain the evening scene. The eldest wife was so angry that she took her children to fight against the vixen who entered the house. Relying on the master's favor, the vixen can always win two games, causing a lot of resentment, everyone is sharpening their knives, and only waits for the master to kick his legs before settling accounts with him.
Shang Xirui ouched, furious and wanted to make some remarks about defection. The words were just opened, the guard pushed Cheng Fengtai, broke in, bowed his head and said very respectfully: "Mr. Chu, it's getting late, it's really time to go back."
Cheng Fengtai first exchanged an affectionate look with Shang Xirui, and then went to see Mr. Chu, he was shocked at first sight. I knew that their actors are all very beautiful, from Jiang Mengping's quiet beauty to Shang Xirui's handsome appearance, Shuiyun Tower is simply a gathering place for all kinds of beauties, all of them have picturesque features. Zhou Xiangyun is obviously a little beauty. Even Yu Qing, who became a monk on the way, is pretty and delicious. However, this Mr. Chu, his eyebrows and eyes seem to be shrouded in blue smoke, the ink is thick, and there is resentment and anger. The whole person is also weak and frail, plain and skinny, and can't bear the fine clothes. The words "Lin Daiyu" immediately appeared on Cheng Fengtai's forehead.
Mr. Chu looks like Lin Daiyu, his situation is like Lin Daiyu's, his temper is much stronger than Lin Daiyu's, he stared at the guard fiercely, but the mist in his eyes seemed to shed tears at any time, it was much less vicious and attractive Distressed. Then, before the tears fell, Mr. Chu walked over and raised his hands and gave the guard a big slap in the face: "I tell you to go back and talk!"
The guard had gotten used to his temper, so he stood still and lowered his head a little: "This subordinate dare not, please return Mr. Chu to the residence."
Mr. Chu stood at the door of the room, with his hands in his armholes, took a deep look at Cheng Fengtai, turned his head and smiled at Shang Xirui: "Everyone has his own life, Boss Shang's kindness, Qionghua appreciates it. You yourself Take care, don't follow my old path. It really deserves to be like this, you won't be able to escape every time." He changed his soft or plaintive tone with Shang Xirui in private, and became very cold and numb, pretending Unrestrained and unrestrained.
Shang Xirui sent him to his door, he walked for a while in the corridor, looked back at Shang Xirui, Shang Xirui nodded and waved to him. When he reached the stage, he stopped again, staring blankly at the stage. Tall and thin, she was left alone outside the Sifang stage, like a soul that could not be reincarnated, longing for the prosperity of the previous life in vain. He was in a daze for a long time before he really left.
Seeing off Chu Qionghua, Shang Xirui threw himself into Cheng Fengtai's arms with a groan, and hung it around his neck. Cheng Fengtai laughed loudly, stiffened his neck and hung him into the room with difficulty, and closed the door behind his back. The tragedy of Chu Qionghua wasting the rest of his life in the golden cage did not leave anything in the hearts of these two people at all.
"Second master, second master! How is my play today?"
Cheng Fengtai hugged him so that his feet flew up: "It's great! I've never seen such a good one! Boss Shang is so majestic! The soldiers brought by the second master are not as effective as Boss Shang! Boss Shang is so handsome!"
Shang Xirui smiled and rolled his eyes: "That's right!"
Talking and frolicking like this, gossip about Chu Qionghua while helping Shang Xirui remove her makeup. Shang Xirui took off his make-up, as if he had taken off a layer of energy, he yawned several times and burst into tears. Cheng Fengtai looked at the time, it was almost dawn when he went down, he touched Shang Xirui's back, smiled absent-mindedly: "Oh... Boss Chu followed such a big shot? This time I'm going to Nanjing, maybe it's to be the Prime Minister Yes. Boss Chu is the Prime Minister's wife."
Shang Xirui was drowsy, he giggled foolishly when he heard this. He was sleepy, his mind was very unclear, half drunk and half asleep, he was really a fool. Cheng Fengtai took the opportunity to change the subject, and said softly: "You see, you almost became the commander's wife, why did you leave the mansion?"
Shang Xirui's eyes were closed: "Because I want to sing. To help my father in Beiping."
"Then what does Miss San say?"
"Which third lady?"
"Commander Cao's third daughter!"
Shang Xirui's sentences were all broken: "I... sing. What does she care?... What did she say?"
Cheng Fengtai embraced his shoulders, patted his face to wake him up: "She seems to like you a lot?"
"Um... yeah? Like..." Shang Xirui was already half asleep.
"What about you, do you like that girl?"
This sentence was never answered. Shang Xirui fell asleep in an instant, snoring lightly, still leaning against Cheng Fengtai in the snow-white undershirt of his costume.
Cheng Fengtai pinched his face, said with a smile: "I'll forgive you."
Sitting like this for a while, the door was creaked open, the actors over there were all scattered, Xiao Lai was able to get away, and saw the two of them snuggling together with smiles on their faces under the dim light, without any lust. I didn't know what kind of feeling it was in my heart, I felt like crying, so I just stood there in a daze.
It's the middle of the night, listening to Shang Xirui's breathing, Cheng Fengtai finally got sleepy, sighed: "I don't clean up, let's go! Go home!" Said lightly, using his woolen coat to wrap Shang Xirui Wrapped tightly, he hugged him horizontally in his arms: "Don't freeze our boss. Hey, it's really heavy..."
How can he not sink into the drama that he has embraced for thousands of years? The lights on and off the stage outside the house were all extinguished. Xiao Lai held the lantern for him in front. In a small corridor, a few costume cigarette butts and velvet flowers are scattered here and there. Cheng Fengtai walked very carefully, muttering to himself: "Hey, if you fall, the little actor will be broken." Therefore, he walked more and more slowly, like an old man hesitating, groping and struggling every step, It took a lot of time. It's as if he's been holding Shang Xirui like this, he's been walking for so long and so tired all his life. In the darkness, a floating lamp floats in front of me, making me feel like I'm in a dream and I don't know where I'm going.
Xiao Lai took the lamp to shine on the ground, raised his eyes and saw the vague and peaceful expression on Cheng Fengtai's face. Shang Xirui lay warm in his arms and rubbed against him.
Inexplicably, Xiao Lai's nose became sore again.