Ding Dusai couldn't hide his excitement and rushed to say, "In previous years, when we admired the moon, the princes and ministers would gather in the palace to eat and drink with the emperor, either singing praises or flattering each other, and they would hardly bother to watch the artists' performances. Today, when my sisters and I took the stage, the audience was as noisy as usual. When our music sounded, the place gradually quieted down. Whether it was the emperor or the ministers and princes, they were all attracted by the beautiful melody of 'Spring River Moon Night' and listened with great concentration. When we started singing, we won the applause of the whole audience..."
Ding Dusai was beaming with joy. "The song ended, and it was originally Sun Sansi's turn to perform, but the ministers felt they hadn't heard enough and kept clamoring for another performance. The emperor said with a smile, 'This song should only exist in heaven; how many times can we hear it on earth?' They wouldn't get tired of hearing it, let alone just once, even a hundred times..."
"So, you sang it again." Zhang Shixun was also happy for them.
As stars of this era, the two girls certainly hope that their shows will be popular with others.
Li Shishi nodded. "Yes, we sang it again. The emperor and the ministers listened even more attentively. Their faces were filled with ecstasy. They shook their heads and clapped their eyes to the beat. I could see their intoxicated expressions clearly from the stage."
As she spoke, she was immersed in the scene at that time. "After singing it for the second time, the applause was even louder than the first time. Some people even shouted for another round..."
"Sun Sansi was really pissed off today. When we were leaving the stage, she glared at me with her face stretched so long, almost two and a half feet long, hehe!" Ding Dusai gestured with his hands and smiled brightly.
Zhang Shixun said, "I don't know who this Sun Sansi you're talking about is. The name seems a bit confusing."
The two women burst out laughing. Ding Dusai pointed at Zhang Shixun and said, "You're such a mean person! If Sun Sansi were here, she'd be pissed to death... But maybe you're right. She really does do things in a rather chaotic way."
Li Shishi smiled and explained, "Sun Sansi is also one of our sisters. Because she is lazy and always forgets things, others jokingly call her Sun Sansi. As time goes by, this nickname has become popular, and her real name has been forgotten."
Ding Dusai added: "Sun Sansi is so petty. Normally I'm in the Lotus Pavilion and she's in the Peony Pavilion, and we each sing our own songs, keeping to ourselves. But she's always trying to outdo me. When I perform well, she's envious; when I don't, she's gloating."
"She has a competitive personality, but she's not a bad person. Saisai, don't bother with her." Li Shishi saw Ding Dusai looking indignant and tried to persuade him.
"I didn't say she was bad, I just thought she was petty and made me feel uncomfortable. But this time, seeing her eyes blazing with jealousy, I was so happy, just like drinking a bowl of iced sour plum soup on a hot day, hehe!"
"You are so childish." Li Shishi said, tapping her nose.
Zhang Shixun sat aside with a smile on his face, without saying a word.
In later generations, the atmosphere in the theater industry was not very good either. Colleagues were full of intrigue and sabotaging each other was commonplace. It turned out that this bad habit was passed down from generation to generation.
Maybe because of the excitement and a few glasses of wine, the two beauties' faces were flushed and shy. They looked hazy in the moonlight, like flowers in the fog, making them look even more charming and attractive.
Although Zhang Shixun didn't drink much, he felt a little tipsy, which is in line with the saying: It's not the wine that makes you drunk, it's you who makes yourself drunk.
Looking at this one, then looking at that one, I can't tell which of the two women is more beautiful or more charming.
"Hey! Sir, stop staring at us. Look up at the moon. Look at the moon." Ding Dusai tugged at his sleeve and pointed at the bright moon in the sky. "After you look at the moon, tell me, who's prettier, the moon or me?"
Ding Dusai was obviously drunk when he said this.
Zhang Shixun just smiled, but because Li Shishi was there, he didn't dare to respond to her.
"Of course, my Saisai is the prettiest." Li Shishi calmly took Ding Dusai's wine glass and said, "I have an idea. Drinking and watching the moon like this doesn't seem very elegant. How about having Master Zhang play a song?"
"Great! I like watching the moon and listening to music under the moon." Ding Dusai smiled and clapped his hands in agreement.
Zhang Shixun agreed with a smile. Drunken beauties are difficult to deal with, so he decided to go along with them. Moreover, he was also infected by their emotions and felt like playing music.
Seeing that he agreed readily, Li Shishi hurriedly ordered her maid to get the musical instruments.
Several maids quickly brought the pipa and guzheng.
Zhang Shixun picked up the pipa, looked up and thought for a moment, then said, "Since today is the fifteenth day of the eighth month, I will sing a song about the moon."
"What?" the two girls asked in unison.
"The crescent moon."
"Crescent moon?"
Zhang Shixun smiled slightly, plucked the strings and sang:
In the distant night sky, there is a crescent moon. Under the crescent moon is the crescent bridge. Next to the bridge is a crescent boat. The crescent boat is leisurely floating, and it is the childhood Gillian...
Zhang Shixun came from a musical family, so he naturally had some singing skills. Although he did not reach the professional level, he had no problem fooling people in the Song Dynasty.
As for the effect, it can be seen from the intoxicated expressions of the two girls.
When the song ended, the two girls clapped their hands in praise.
"Sir, you sang the song so well." Ding Dusai praised, and her fiery eyes made Zhang Shixun dare not look at her.
"Yes! Mr. Zhang has a great voice, and this song is very inspiring." said Li Shishi.
"I heard this one evening when I returned from overseas, strolling by a river in Panyu, passing by a residential building." Zhang Shixun handed the pipa to the maid and emphasized, "I have a small request."
"Mr. Zhang, please tell us. If it's not excessive, we will agree." said Li Shishi.
"Next time you listen to me sing or play the piano, I hope you won't ask who composed the music. Otherwise, don't expect me to play for you again."
This request was a bit strange. The two girls felt puzzled and looked at Zhang Shixun together.
Ding Dusai seemed to be hesitant to speak, so Li Shishi patted her hand gently, signaling her to be silent. Then she smiled and said to Zhang Shixun, "Shishi, I will obey your orders. If you don't tell us, we won't ask."
Ding Dusai had no choice but to nod.
Zhang Shixun's difficulties were difficult to express. Deep down, he was unwilling to plagiarize the fruits of other people's labor and claim other people's things as his own.
The servant came over and said, "Madam Li, Madam Sun Sansi is here, she's at the door."
"The place in Kaifeng is so weird. Whoever you mention will come." Ding Dusai said with a pout.
"Since she's here, let her in." Li Shishi said to the servant.
"Hello, Sister Li!" Just as Li Shishi finished speaking, she heard a crisp voice coming from the door.
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