Zhao Ji was well-versed in many of Li Qingzhao's poems.
By the way, his father Li Ge was a member of the Yuanyou Party, and the list was written by him personally.
The list of Yuanyou Party members was engraved on the stone at Duanli Gate, and Li Gefei was ranked 26th.
Li Qingzhao had complicated feelings towards Emperor Zhao.
My father’s situation is all related to the official in front of him.
However, she has become indifferent to these things.
Now I live in the countryside with my husband, and although our life is hard, I enjoy many pleasures of living in the peace and tranquility of the countryside.
Li Shishi was very clever. To avoid embarrassment, she quickly interrupted, "Your Excellency, you've arrived just in time. Master Zhang's song 'Burial of Flowers' is so moving and truly a masterpiece."
"I just listened to a few lines from outside the door. It's really a good song... Please sing it from the beginning for me."
After practicing all afternoon, everyone was already quite familiar with the piece. Some played the piano, some plucked the strings, and the beautiful music began to emanate.
Zhao Ji sat there listening quietly, sometimes frowning, sometimes sad, sometimes sighing, with an extremely rich expression.
"This man really shouldn't be an emperor." Zhang Shixun kept his eyes on Zhao Ji and thought to himself: What a pity, it would be great if he could concentrate on being an artist.
After the song was finished, Zhao Ji sighed for a long time and said with emotion: "Shishi is right. It is indeed a rare masterpiece."
Afterwards, Zhao Ji, the big troublemaker, began to join in. He sat behind the zither table, picked up the guqin, and tried to accompany the music with great interest.
For a moment, the sounds of singing and piano in the study were heard.
The singing party did not end until the hour of Hai.
Before leaving, Zhao Ji asked Li Qingzhao, "Is your husband Zhao Tingzhi's son?"
"Returning to the emperor's house, yes, his name is Zhao Mingcheng."
"Where is he now?"
"I'm living in my hometown of Qingzhou."
Zhao Ji nodded, said nothing more, and walked out of the study.
When he reached the gate, he stopped and asked, "Zhang Shixun, do you have anything to do tomorrow?"
"Nothing."
"Then let's go to Madam Shishi's place to practice music together. And your five... five-line music notation, practice it too. Ask Madam Ding to come along."
"My pleasure." Zhang Shixun agreed without thinking.
Zhao Ji turned his gaze to Li Shishi again.
Li Shishi said quickly, "It's just right. Saisai and I are preparing a program for the Lantern Festival. We'd like to take this opportunity to practice. I'd also appreciate any guidance from the emperor."
"Then it's settled." Zhao Ji walked out.
The Lantern Festival is commonly called the Lantern Festival by the people.
It is said that the custom of lighting lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is related to the spread of Buddhism to the East.
During the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism flourished, and officials and common people generally "lit lanterns to worship Buddha" on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Buddhist lights then spread throughout the people.
Since the Tang Dynasty, hanging lanterns during the Lantern Festival has become a legal requirement and gradually became a folk custom.
By the Song Dynasty, the Lantern Festival had become a major event in which the entire nation participated. The imperial court would have a seven-day holiday, and government offices, workshops, and academies would stop operating.
The emperor would also go up to the Xuande Tower on the Lantern Festival to celebrate with the people.
The grandest and most anticipated event of the Lantern Festival is the Shangyuan Lantern Festival.
In order to organize the lantern show successfully, the "rehearsal" and "preview" began early.
Like the Spring Festival Gala in later generations, all programs were "pre-screened" and "dress rehearsed" before the official performance.
As the top singing girl in the capital, Li Shishi must participate. After all, she is the most popular courtesan in Tokyo.
Of course, other artist leaders such as Ding Dusai, Feng Yinu, Sun Sansi, etc. will also participate.
This was a great opportunity to become famous, even though they were already famous.
The next day, Zhao Ji came to Li Shishi's house with great interest, and asked Li Shishi to gather together Ding Dusai, Feng Yinu, Sun Sansi, Xue Zida sister, Wang Jingnu and other capitals, calling it a Quhui.
When Zhang Shixun was invited into Li Shishi's piano room, all the beauties immediately turned their eyes to him.
Under the gaze of all the beauties, Zhang Shixun felt uncomfortable all over. He just nodded reluctantly to the host Li Shishi and smiled at Ding Dusai as a greeting.
Zhao Ji stroked his beard and sat in the middle. Seeing Zhang Shixun come in, he smiled and said, "Shixun, come, come, sit next to me."
Zhang Shixun walked up to Zhao Ji and bowed.
"No need to be so polite. Today, there are no emperors or ministers. Only friends of music and singing. Haha! Sit down, don't be shy."
Zhang Shixun sat down next to him and said with a smile, "I didn't expect so many beauties to come today. It's like a land of fragrance."
"Today I have summoned all the most famous courtesans in the capital." Zhao Ji looked around the room. "Now, our Song Dynasty is peaceful and prosperous..."
When he said this, Zhang Shixun curled his lips slightly, thinking to himself, just do it, your good days are numbered anyway.
"...This year's Lantern Festival, I want to make it grander and more lively. Shixun, can you give me some ideas on how to make it unique and special?"
"You are asking the blind for advice, there are many experts here, you should ask them more."
Zhang Shixun pointed around and said he didn't want to bother with such trivial matters.
When holding a grand event, every detail must be taken into consideration, which is not only laborious but also physically demanding. If it is done well, it will be a credit to the royal family, but if it is not done well, they will be criticized.
It is definitely a thankless task.
"Shixun, I've made up my mind. You are multi-talented, proficient in music, and a celestial master who possesses the Book of Heaven. You can simply copy the songs and dances from the Heavenly Palace into the Lantern Festival."
"This..." Zhang Shixun scratched his head.
Zhao Ji threw out a bait, "Shixun, the position of deputy envoy of the Jiaofang Division is vacant. If you agree, this position will be yours. How about it?"
"I am now the commander-in-chief of the First Army of the Tianwu Army, a military officer." Zhang Shixun was not fooled.
How could he not understand Zhao Ji's intention, which was to get him out of the imperial guards.
Seeing that he didn't agree, Zhao Ji sighed and had to settle for the next best thing. "You can remain the commander-in-chief of the Tianwu Army, and take on the position of deputy envoy of the Jiaofang for the time being. We can discuss it after the Lantern Festival. Is this okay?"
Zhang Shixun hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and agreed: "Okay, I'll do as your Majesty wishes."
"You are such a person. They treat you well, but you don't know how to be kind." Zhao Ji shook his head and said, "The Jiaofangsi is much more glorious than your Duzhishi, and it is also very lucrative."
He pointed at Li Shishi and said, "Lady Li and the others are all under the jurisdiction of the Jiaofangsi. Every year and every festival, which one of them doesn't send gifts to the Jiaofangsi?"
"Your Majesty, I am content with poverty, I have a clean hand, and I will not accept bribes." Zhang Shixun said seriously.
"You don't accept bribes because you possess countless rare treasures, any one of which could be exchanged for countless coins. Plus, your cousin has the Midas touch, so whether it's winemaking or glassmaking, either one of them could bring you two enormous fortunes. As for your talk of being content with poverty, huh? Do you believe that?"
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