RPAGF Chapter 1053: The Emperor and Empress’ Wedding and the Talented Man Showdown
Chapter 1053: The Emperor and Empress’ Wedding and the Talented Man Showdown
The geese circled over the Huaixing River, sometimes skimming the waves and flying through the rain of flowers; sometimes flapping their wings soaring into the sky and disappearing into the clouds.
People on both sides of the strait can watch from afar, and their cheers rise and fall with the shadows of the geese.
The three children's vision was obstructed by the gauze curtains of the phoenix carriage, and their shadows were dim and unclear. They were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
Ye Baoer couldn't sit still anymore and kept stretching his head to look outside.
"Bei Hui, Nan Yan." Shi Anxia called softly, "Hang up the curtain."
The two stepped forward, holding the golden hooks in their bare hands, and pulled the smoke-like gauze curtain to both sides. The sky suddenly became bright, and the magnificent scenery on the Huaixing River suddenly spread out before their eyes like a scroll painting.
San San's little head rose and fell with the shadows of the geese, like a little bird pecking at rice. She almost cried as she watched, tears rolling back and forth in her big black eyes.
Shi Anxia asked hurriedly, "San San, what's wrong?"
She thought her daughter still couldn't see, so she simply held her and made her sit on her lap.
San San knew that her mother's phoenix coronet and bridal robe were very heavy, so she struggled to get off and expressed her worries, "Mother, what should we do if Yan'er took away the jade belt and the marriage certificate?"
Wouldn’t that mean my father and mother’s wedding couldn’t take place?
Shi Anxia laughed in silence. This daughter is really a life of worry.
She gently touched her daughter's face and asked, "Listen carefully, is there a whistle sounding?"
The ritual music was still playing, and at this moment both sides were singing in harmony the song "The Phoenix Comes Here". If you didn't listen carefully, you wouldn't be able to hear the whistle in between.
One-One and Two-Two both heard it. “There really is a whistle blowing.”
San San was a step slower and finally heard it. Then he burst into laughter, revealing two little white baby teeth.
Shi Anxia raised her hand and touched Ye Baoer's head. "Everything has a spirit, just like Ye Baoer. If you talk to it, it can understand. Yan'er is well-trained and gets instructions when he hears the whistle." It's time to preach. "So there is no order without rules. Yi Yi, you have to understand the rules and don't ride on your uncles' necks at every turn."
Yi Yi was dissatisfied, "Mother, you can even criticize your son for just looking at a wild goose!"
"If you listen to me, I..."
"Okay, okay, uncle said you are the boss today and your son won't talk back to you." Yi Yi hurriedly bowed.
Shi Anxia didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "So as long as it's not today, you can talk back to me any day?"
Yi Yi laughed and said, "Mother, please don't make your son sound so naughty. He is a very good boy."
The mother and her son were enjoying themselves while watching the geese flying and bickering with each other.
But he didn't know that the man on the other side was very anxious. He just wanted to complete the process quickly so that he could welcome his wife and children back openly and see them every day.
Unfortunately, the process designed by the ceremonial officer was both grand and complicated.
The Liang State ritual officials had long heard that the North Wing was full of talented people, with brilliant minds coming one after another, and we must not lose.
But after the nine-round flight of the wild geese, a small boat came floating on the river, with seven scholars in blue standing on the bow.
Everyone wore a bamboo scarf on their heads and a gilded writing knife hung from their waists. The scholar in the lead held a purple bamboo flute, and when the flute sounded, the noise on both sides of the river stopped.
The six students chanted "A Night Song of Western Liang" in unison to the sound of flutes. The sound was like clear springs hitting rocks, creating layers of waves on the Huaixing River.
The chanting sounded low at first, like a spring stream breaking through the ice; then it became high, like a waterfall falling into a pond. The most interesting thing was that the six people suddenly changed their tune at the end, and used the ancient method of "one chant, three praises", praising Xiliang as a "country of etiquette" in a thousand ways.
At the other end, another graceful boat was slowly approaching to the sound of "Ode to a Night in Xiliang".
Yi Yi couldn't help but shout out, "The uncles are here!"
Who can understand the value of the "uncles" in the mouth of a child? If people don't know these guys, they will definitely think that Beiyi selects talents based on their appearance.
But I saw that several people on the boat were all wearing blue robes with wide sleeves and white edges, and auspicious cloud patterns were embroidered on the lapels.
The leader was Shi Yunqi, followed by Xiao Changle, Lu Sangyu, Gu Boyan, Yan Xingchen, Qiu Zhiyan... and Emperor Wen Xuan.
They are truly each one more handsome and younger than the other.
Er Er and San San were so excited that their shoulders were shaking, "Uncle! Uncle!"
My real uncle and my uncle-in-law are all here! How can I not be excited?
The flute sound stopped, but the lingering sound of "A Night in Xiliang" continued.
Emperor Wenxuan took a step forward and crossed his legs in front of the guqin.
Emperor Xiu placed his fingers on the ice string, and his thumb, which was not wearing a ring, gently twisted the string, producing a crisp overtone. Then the fingering suddenly changed, and a series of clear sounds flowed out from the string.
The sound of the piano is in keeping with the charm of a peaceful and tranquil sea and a clear river. Every overtone is as clear as morning dew, and every movement of the fingers is as steady as a pillar.
The people on both sides of the strait held their breath unconsciously, as if they saw the river surface moving without wind, rippling with tiny ripples, as if thousands of koi fish were following the sound.
Emperor Wenxuan's face flushed, but what he was thinking in his heart was, if the emperor didn't have some talent, he wouldn't be able to attend this scene, and I, Pighead Nine, must not be absent!
I am extremely grateful to myself for being willing to settle down and practice playing the piano.
Amid the lingering clear sound, the talented scholars of the Northern Wing recited in unison "Looking North" written by the retired emperor himself.
The chanting was not loud, but each word was deep and profound, like the collision of metal and stone.
The sound of "Looking North" stopped, the boats just touched each other, and the talented scholars smiled at each other.
Bowing together is the demeanor that scholars should possess.
The envoys from various countries were paralyzed.
What happened to the wedding that was promised? Why did they go their separate ways?
But you know what, she's pretty. If you don't mention anything else, just her appearance is really pleasing to the eye.
The man playing the flute on the Xiliang boat stepped forward and said politely, "Xiliang, I am Wu Yanqing, also known as Haiping, please give me your advice."
This is the second round of couplets.
Shi Yunqi glanced at Qiu Zhiyan.
Qiu Zhiyan stepped forward and greeted him politely, "Beiyi, I am Qiu Zhiyan, and my name is Jiubian."
Wu Yanqing recited the first line of the couplet in a clear voice: "The black boat divides the waves, and the bronze boat carries the dew, making the sun and the moon shine."
Qiu Zhiyan loudly replied the second line: "The shadow of a wild goose soars into the sky, and the red characters reflect the mountains and rivers."
The two of them bowed and said in unison, "A match made in heaven."
Another person stepped out, "North Wing, when the clouds rise, the words are popular. Please give me your advice."
"In Xiliang, the river is white, but the words are not yet dry."
At that time, Yunqi came up with the first couplet: "Boats in the north and oars in the south, bathing in the morning sun and receiving the auspicious dew together."
Jiang Jibai's second line: "The geese from the east and the letters from the west, wearing the same brocade, prove their good marriage."
At that time, Yunqi wrote a horizontal banner: "All nations come to congratulate."
Jiang Jibai wrote in a horizontal banner: "The mountains and rivers celebrate together."
Both sides bowed and smiled, then took a step back.
Xiliang: The Huai River surges, and the geese exchange messages amid the sound of ritual music.
North Wing: The morning sun is bright, and the flower rain is falling, forming the alliance.
Horizontal banner: Peaceful seas and clear rivers. This is the wish of the emperor and empress.
The duel between the talented scholars had no winner or loser, and what was displayed was the elegance, bearing and cultural heritage of a country.
The people couldn't hear, but that didn't stop them from watching the fun. But when they couldn't hear, they got anxious and kept asking, "Mother, what are they talking about?"
Shi Anxia couldn't hear clearly either, so she smiled and said, "They are reciting couplets. It doesn't matter if you can't hear them. We can look at Mr. Huang's on-site recording when we get downstairs."
In fact, both sides had officials in the boat shed to record the scene.
Yi Yi didn't know what a couplet was, but suddenly he felt like playing, forgetting that it was the wedding of the Emperor and Empress. He shook his body, stood on the carriage and asked loudly, "What has a mouth but doesn't speak? What has no mouth but chatters? What has legs but doesn't walk? What has no legs but walks to the end of the world?"