Li Qingzhao was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "That's great! I really want to know what the book of someone who can write such a good poem is like."
"It's a wonderful book," Zhang Shixun replied without hesitation, then added, "However, there is a certain type of person who should not read this book."
"Who can't watch it?"
"Boys and girls."
"Why?"
"Because young people's minds and experiences are immature, they can easily be misled by reading this book, and thus develop negative and pessimistic feelings about the world and become unable to extricate themselves."
"So powerful?"
"After showing you the most beautiful things in the world—love and life, wealth and prosperity—this book tears them apart for you to see, and then tells you that this is the world you will experience when you grow up."
Zhang Shixun glanced at Li Shishi and the other women present, then continued, "From a profusion of blossoms to a fleeting illusion; from a flourishing brocade of flowers to the withering of all the flowers. Just as a character in a book says, 'People gather and then part. When they gather, they are happy, but when they part, isn't it lonely? Loneliness breeds sadness, so it's better not to gather. Just like flowers, when they bloom, they evoke love, but when they wither, they bring with them a sense of melancholy, so it's better not to bloom.'"
"If you don't have a correct understanding of life, it's easy to become disillusioned with the mundane world and become addicted and depressed. That's why people with immature minds and experiences shouldn't observe this."
Ding Dusai said: "No wonder I feel so bored and meaningless after listening to this song."
Zhang Shixun looked at her affectionately. This was what it meant for a husband and wife to follow each other's lead.
Li Shishi was a very clever person. When she heard what the two said, she immediately understood what they meant. She smiled and said, "I am obsessed. To be honest, when I sing this song, I immediately think of my own life experience. It feels like this poem was written for me."
Li Qingzhao also wrote, "It's not surprising to have such feelings, but I'm afraid of falling into them and being unable to extricate myself. Regarding life, the great scholar Su Shi of our dynasty was very open-minded. 'People have joys and sorrows, separations and reunions; the moon waxes and wanes; it's impossible to have everything perfect.' This is the true open-minded attitude."
Zhang Shixun laughed and said, "A true warrior dares to face the bleakness of life and the bloodshed."
Ding Du track: "Sir, we are women, not warriors."
"What's wrong with me? Don't underestimate yourself. Haven't you heard that 'women are as good as men'?"
Zhang Shixun changed the subject: "When you are alive, you should seize the present moment. Don't complain about what you have lost, because complaining won't make your life better. You should learn to enjoy the life you have and cherish every moment God has given you. Seize the bad days and make them wonderful. This is life."
Li Qingzhao clapped her hands and praised, "Well said!"
Li Shishi and others stared at him intently, with stars in their eyes.
Zhang Shixun felt embarrassed by their stares and said hurriedly, "Shall we continue singing?"
"Great! Such a good song, of course we should sing it well." Li Shishi responded first. Her mentality has now adjusted.
Li Qingzhao picked up the brush and said, "You guys sing, I'll write down the lyrics."
Zhang Shixun coughed lightly and looked at the women. "You're almost familiar with the lyrics of this song, but there are a few points you need to pay attention to..."
Seeing the women all staring at him, waiting to hear what he had to say, he said, "This poem isn't simply mournful and sad. If you savor it carefully, you'll find a spirit of unyielding determination. For example, the line 'I wish I could grow wings under my arms, soaring with the flowers to the ends of the sky.' It expresses a yearning for freedom and happiness. 'I came from purity and shall return to purity, better than being mired in the mud and ditches.' It reflects a proud and unyielding character that refuses to be humiliated and will never yield."
“When singing these parts, you must express the reluctance to accept fate, the longing for happiness, and the unyielding spirit.”
When Zhang Shixun said these words, he was talking to Li Shishi and Ding Dusai.
The two girls nodded frequently.
The song lasted until it was time to light the lamps.
Zhang Shixun turned his head to look outside and asked, "It's time for dinner. Should we eat first?"
All the girls, including Li Qingzhao, said they were not hungry and wanted to continue singing.
Zhang Shixun ordered Zheng Yuanyuan and others to light a few candles to brighten the room.
All the girls were very interested, even Li Qingzhao picked up the bell and started ringing it to the rhythm.
Li Shishi and Ding Dusai are both extremely talented. By this point, they had already mastered the characteristics of this piece of music. The two sisters took turns singing lead, their voices sometimes sad and angry, sometimes mournful, and sometimes high-pitched...
Just when we were singing happily, an unexpected guest came in uninvited, clapping his hands.
The music stopped abruptly.
When everyone looked up, they found that the uninvited guest was the current emperor Zhao Ji.
"Your Majesty?" Zhang Shixun was startled, then immediately bowed and said, "I didn't know your Majesty would come. This... I'm sorry for not welcoming you. How rude! How rude!"
Li Shishi, Ding Dusai and others also squatted and saluted.
Li Qingzhao also followed suit and bowed in confusion, never expecting to meet the current emperor here.
"Haha, I'm dressed lightly and have only a few companions, so there's no need for you to be so polite." Zhao Ji waved his hand and said to Zhang Shixun with a smile, "Your door is wide open, and the sound of elegant music is flowing through the doorway, without stopping. Outside the door, there are people standing in three layers, hundreds of them, yet they are completely silent. They all stand with their hands behind their backs, listening attentively, listening to you sing."
"Huh?" Zhang Shixun opened his mouth in surprise. He turned to look at Zheng Yuanyuan and asked, "Who brought Master Yi An in? They actually forgot to close the door."
Xiaoju's face turned pale as she knelt down with a plop and said in a trembling voice, "It's...it's the maidservant."
Zhang Shixun didn't expect her to be so frightened, and quickly said in a gentle voice: "Hurry up and get up, this is not a big deal, I don't mean to blame you."
Zhao Ji said: "Shixun, you should find a housekeeper. You don't even have a gatekeeper."
"There's no rush. I don't live at home often anyway." Zhang Shixun didn't dare to respond to him. If he added another person to be the housekeeper, this house would no longer be his own.
He bowed and asked Zhao Ji to sit in the main seat, and asked Zheng Yuanyuan to serve tea.
After Zhao Ji sat down, he looked at Li Shishi and said, "I just went to your place and heard that you came to Zhang Shixun to learn music, so I came here."
Li Shishi took the teapot from Zheng Yuanyuan and poured tea for him while saying, "Saisai told me that Master Zhang has a great poem. Shishi couldn't resist her curiosity and followed Saisai here."
She kept calling "Saisai" left and right because she was afraid that the official would become jealous.
"By the way, sir, this is Li Qingzhao, the Yi'an Jushi." Li Shishi introduced him.
Li Qingzhao hurried forward to pay her respects.
"Oh! It turns out to be Li Yi'an." Zhao Ji nodded. He called out Li Qingzhao's pseudonym and was obviously very familiar with her.
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