Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 146 is heart-wrenching.
Although Li Qiao verbally agreed, he harbored various complaints in his heart.

This is a difficult problem!

A gentleman's word is his bond, but the problem is, Mr. Wuming over there may not agree.

In fact, Li Longji realized that he had let something slip, so he quickly passed the buck to Li Qiao, saying that if things didn't work out, they could think of another way.

If he says too much, it might really be too late to salvage the situation.

However, Wu Xin, who was sitting on the side, also realized this problem. He certainly didn't care whether Wuming would agree or not. He was worried that if things continued like this, both Li Qiao and Wuming Academy would be further elevated in status.

But this was not his biggest worry. He knew very well that the key to the Wu family's turnaround lay with Consort Wu.

Compared to this matter, he was more worried about Wang Xi.

Before the play has even started, Li Longji has already begun praising his beloved nephew.

It is conceivable that as long as Wang Xi continues to enjoy Li Longji's deep favor, it will be almost impossible for him to touch Empress Wang.

Because there are no other options in the middle.

This is the cruelty of the power struggles within the imperial harem. It is very difficult for the emperor and empress to divorce peacefully; the only option is to depose the empress. However, there must be a reason for deposing an empress, and the reason must be that she has committed a serious crime, which will naturally implicate the royal family.

Now, Consort Wu has become much more restrained and dares not easily whisper in Li Longji's ear to encourage him to depose the empress.

A short while later, the performance at the banquet officially began amidst this intrigue and power struggle.

The first performance was a traditional song and dance show.

This was Wang Xi's request; they needed to liven up the atmosphere first.

However, the song and dance arrangements were all handled by Li Linfu. After all, there were rules for court banquets, and things couldn't be done arbitrarily. Wang Xi didn't really understand these rules either.

Han Chinese music and dance accounted for only 30% of the total, while the remaining 70% consisted of dances from various tribes, especially songs and dances from the Western Regions, which accounted for as much as 50%.

Both the Tang and Han dynasties were expansionist empires, but their biggest difference lay in their inclusiveness, resulting in the absence of a royal court and a Heavenly Khan in the southern desert.

As for which one is better or worse, opinions will vary, as the era and environment have played a significant role.

If Li Shimin had sat on the throne of Emperor Wu of Han, it would most likely have been impossible for him to become the Heavenly Khan.

The policies of the imperial court often affected the common people, which led the Tang people to be very fond of many aspects of Western Region culture, including dance, clothing, musical instruments, wine, and so on, all of which were very popular in the Tang Dynasty.

But this actually benefited the expansion of the empire.

If you feel that everything around you is garbage, like the Qing Dynasty, and you look down on everyone, then after solving your security problems, you'll have almost no urge to expand outwards. Wouldn't it be crazy for you to go and occupy a garbage dump?

They might even be accused of being militaristic and avaricious.

The Tang Empire was different. It was precisely because of this cultural influence that the empire believed that the Western Regions were its territory and its people.

Therefore, the Tang Dynasty's main focus at present is still westward expansion, and it also has overseas expansion, but it is currently only in the exploratory stage.

Of course, security is still the most important issue, because there are Tibetan and Abbasid forces in that area, which makes the empire very uneasy. If you don't go, they will come in.

The performances featured cultures familiar to the envoys from various countries, and the songs and dances were all well-known to everyone. The envoys enjoyed the show immensely, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

Some of the envoys even jumped up on the spot.

Actually, there is such a tradition; Jieli was the King of Dance in Chang'an.

Li Longji held long chopsticks and tapped his bowl to add to the merriment, while the others clapped along.

It was truly a joyous occasion.

But unlike in the past, today's theme is Tang Dynasty opera; these are just appetizers.

After the song and dance performances, today's main event is finally about to begin.

First, the master of ceremonies went on stage to announce the Tang Dynasty opera that was about to be performed.

Furthermore, it provides a very detailed explanation of Tang Dynasty opera.

Since this is the first time that "Tang Opera" has been used to name a theatrical performance in a formal setting, a detailed explanation is necessary.

After the announcement, there was another burst of rapid drumbeats. As soon as the drumbeats sounded, Li Longji couldn't help but sit up straight and look on with anticipation.

Seeing how serious the emperor was, no one dared to utter a sound, and soon the banquet was completely silent.

The first to appear was Zhu Yingtai, played by Hongxiu.

Hongxiu was in her early twenties, in the prime of her life, but she was playing a young girl. To make it realistic, they used the makeup techniques brought by Wang Xi for the first time.

Even Li Linfu, who was very familiar with Hongxiu, felt a sense of amazement at the fleeting glimpse.

Li Longji, that old lecher, had long wanted to meet Hongxiu. Now that he had seen her, she truly did not disappoint him. He even nodded with satisfaction, as if to say, "Seeing is believing."

After watching the song and dance, Shang Gongbu was initially dismissive of opera, but when he saw Hongxiu, his eyes widened and he couldn't help but mutter to himself in Tibetan, "Could she be a fairy?"

These words happened to fall into the ears of Wu Xin, who was sitting in the next seat. He had a slight understanding of Tibetan and couldn't help but glance at Shang Gongbu, looking thoughtful.

Soon, another person came out; it was Linghu Baodi, who played Zhu's father.

The two began to sing a duet.

Everyone immediately understood that the woman wanted to go to college, but she did not have her father's permission.

The Turkic prince immediately became interested and stared intently at the stage.

At this moment, there was complete silence behind the curtain.

It must be said that this plot immediately resonated with everyone.

There are obstacles to women attending college in many countries because, everywhere, men still hold a patriarchal position.

However, this resonance was even stronger in the Tang Dynasty.

Because women in the Tang Dynasty, and now there is a real need for this, what is the most popular women's clothing today?
It's men's clothing.

Aside from attending college, women also play games that are basically for men, whether it's sumo or polo.

This situation even occurs around some of them.

This opening is incredibly immersive.

After a scene change, Zhu Yingtai reappears on stage, dressed as a man, which is once again a sight to behold.

Of course, many people were also surprised that he changed clothes so quickly; they wondered if he was using magic.

As Zhu Yingtai heads to the academy, Liang Shanbo, played by Wang Xi, finally appears on stage. Usually, Wang Xi is dressed as a playboy, embodying a carefree and irreverent attitude, but today he is dressed as a scholar, which completely changes his demeanor, making him appear more mature and composed.

The Turkic prince felt that this young man was completely different from the one he had met at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

When Wang Shouyi saw Wang Xi appear on stage to perform, he was actually a little embarrassed. He didn't mention that this was his son and kept muttering to himself, "You can't see me, you can't see me," as if he was afraid that someone would ask.

On the contrary, Li Longji was very excited and took the initiative to tell everyone, "This is my nephew."

Regarding this part of the plot, Wang Xi did not completely copy it, nor did he follow the formula of drama entirely. Instead, he added some humorous elements.

But Huangfu Sengnian wrote the lyrics.

It can only be said that the collaboration between these two is seamless.

Some very novel jokes, paired with these ancient words, have a remarkable effect.

The guests in the audience laughed so hard they couldn't breathe.

The civil officials were somewhat restrained, but the foreign envoys were completely captivated. They had originally been indifferent to the opera, merely pandering to the foreigners' tastes, but now they were utterly fascinated.

Even Li Longji found it refreshing; it was quite different from his previous performances of capturing and releasing Cao Cao, and his acting with Wang Xi and Wu Jieyu, where he brought Daiyu into the mansion.

This ultimate form is truly different!

After these preparations, everyone was fully immersed in the role.

When you see the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the sense of immersion becomes even stronger, and it also evokes a very strong sense of resonance.

This involves the issue of the social divide between the gentry and the common people.

You should know that's how things went in the early Tang Dynasty.

At that time, marriage alliances based on social standing were so extreme that even powerful clans like the Cui, Lu, Zheng, and Wang families disdained to marry into the royal family. They would rather not hold official positions than marry into the royal family. They were unwilling to do so, whether it was to marry into or be married into the royal family.

The Li family was naturally unhappy. "You're doing this, are you? We'll make sure you're destroyed."

Ultimately, it was through the tireless efforts of three emperors—Li Shimin, Li Zhi, and Wu Zetian—that this boundary was gradually broken.

Of course, it's not a complete break; many people here still value family background.

But everyone has a deep feeling about this.

As for the envoys, their countries also had distinctions of social status, and they all had such poignant love stories.

Regardless of whether they admire or oppose the distinction between noble and lowly.

However, since they were already very immersed in the role, and as outsiders have a clearer perspective, everyone still hopes that the two will get together.

My heart was constantly in suspense, hoping for a happy ending.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and it ultimately ended in tragedy.

Especially when they saw Hongxiu's truly beautiful face with tears streaming down her face, a sense of heartbreak spread throughout the room.

Li Longji, a man of deep emotions, had already reddened his eyes and could not hold back his tears. He quickly wiped his eyes while drinking, muttering under his breath, "On such a New Year's Day, to cause such a tragedy, that dog-headed vulture is truly despicable. I'm afraid my Lin Daiyu will also not escape death. It's outrageous."

He put down his wine cup and glanced around discreetly. He was immediately startled. Many people were even more dramatic than him. The scholars were all covering their faces and wiping away tears, while the military officers were even more exaggerated. Several of them were crying their eyes out, and sobs could be heard from behind the curtain.

Wang Maozhong wiped away his tears and cursed, "What kind of performance is this? Why force your own daughter to her death and not let them be together? It's really making people feel bad."

Wang Shouyi quickly patted him on the shoulder and said, "Mao Zhong, this is just acting, don't take it seriously."

He was completely out of the loop, unable to get into character simply because Wang Xi was the lead actor, and felt somewhat embarrassed.

Wang Maozhong pushed him away and shouted, "What do you mean by acting? This kind of thing has happened before."

His outburst brought many people to their senses, and they quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of their eyes. Seeing that everyone was doing the same, they no longer felt embarrassed.

Dunshan did the same, quickly wiping his eyes. Suddenly remembering something, he turned his head and saw the Turkic prince with tears streaming down his face, staring blankly at the stage. He quickly whispered, "Prince, Prince."

"what?"

The young Turkic prince turned his head to look at Dunshan, as if he hadn't yet stepped out of the play.

Dun Shan gave him a meaningful look.

The little prince then realized what was happening and quickly wiped away his tears. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Li Longji looking at him with a puzzled expression, and his snow-white face instantly turned bright red.

Dunshan noticed Li Longji's gaze and quickly came to the rescue, saying, "This play is truly... truly moving. Even I couldn't help but be moved. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Strange! Why does this Turkic prince seem like a woman? Li Longji wondered to himself, but did not ask any further questions. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect your little prince to be such a sentimental person."

Dun Shan chuckled dryly a few times.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out.

Then, Wang Xi, Hongxiu, and a group of actors, along with the musicians, all came onto the stage and bowed to the crowd.

"it is good!"

Li Longji was the first to applaud.

The others joined in the applause, and for a moment, the applause was thunderous. Despite the criticism, it was certainly very exciting to watch.

That was so much fun!

It was unforgettable!

Seeing everyone applauding, the students were very excited, but Hongxiu's face was still full of sadness. As it was time to leave, she stood there blankly.

"teacher!"

Wang Xi called out softly.

Hongxiu was startled and turned to look at Wang Xi. When she saw the look in Wang Xi's eyes, she suddenly realized what was happening and quickly followed Wang Xi out of the room.

Wang Xi was not worried about this at all; on the contrary, he was happy to see it. He intended to use this play to completely change the impression he had of Hongxiu.

Because he has experience in this area, once he gets too into character, it's very difficult for him to break free.

Why bother coming out? You can actually make a living in reality.

Shang Gongbu kept his eyes fixed on Hongxiu from beginning to end. He saw Hongxiu and Wang Xi's little actions and his eyes were full of anger. He couldn't help but drink a few cups.

After all the actors had left, Li Longji made some adjustments and then asked the crowd with great pride, "What did you all think of this Tang Dynasty play?"

You've already cried, what more do you want?

The Silla envoy said, "It's wonderful! This Tang opera is truly wonderful, moving and captivating. I sincerely hope to bring this Tang opera back to Silla."

The other envoys also expressed their desire to send people to Chang'an to learn Tang opera.

Just now, everyone was just catering to their preferences, because many people who read Dream of the Red Chamber only read a short part and didn't have much of an impression, or even thought it wasn't very good.

But this play was very complete and brought them great shock.

I finally understand the charm of Tang Dynasty opera.

This time they were genuinely asking for it.

This put Li Longji in a difficult position. He glanced at Li Qiao, who was looking around anxiously. Li Longji understood the situation and vaguely replied, "I will discuss it with the Ministry of Rites at that time."

Right now, the backstage area is much more lively than the front.

"Did you notice that the little Turkic prince was crying like a baby?"

"Not only the little prince, but Shuang Ge's dad was also crying his eyes out. This is the first time I've ever seen Uncle Wang cry like this."

"Go away, don't talk about my father."

"Oh! This proves that our performance was a great success. You should be happy."

These brats had already passed the emotional phase; they had been keeping an eye on the audience's expressions, and seeing their elders crying their eyes out made them quite pleased with themselves.

"Girl, are you alright?"

Qin'er helped Hongxiu, who had just come down from the stage, and asked with great concern.

Hongxiu waved her hand gently and said, "I'm fine, I'm just a little nervous."

As she spoke, she subconsciously looked to her left and saw Wang Xi looking at her. The teacher and student's eyes met across the distance, creating a strange feeling between them.

Just then, a voice called out, "Sparrow, sparrow."

Li Linfu strode quickly into the house.

As if waking from a dream, Hongxiu quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks slightly flushed.

This play deeply moved her; she remembers she burst into tears the first time she watched it.

They were extremely immersed in their performance just now, and even though it's over, they still can't help but feel emotional.

"Brother, why did you have to come at such a bad time? You interrupted my flirting with the teacher. I'll kill you if you don't!" Wang Xi was very annoyed. "Uncle Li, is something wrong?"

Li Linfu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Que'er, why are you unhappy?"

Wang Xi casually replied, "I got too caught up in the role."

"I see."

Li Linfu laughed and said, "Que'er's performance just now was truly wonderful, it was so moving that it brought tears to everyone's eyes. Even the envoys were secretly wiping away tears."

He paused for a moment, then immediately added, "But you have to come out right away. Don't slack off. You still have a task to complete. You'll be hosting the auction later, so don't mess it up."

Wang Xi said, "Uncle Li, don't worry, we'll make sure they empty their pockets later."

Li Linfu coughed and said, "Watch your words. This is charity, not robbery."

(End of this chapter)