Chapter 431 The smell of gunpowder in the music and dance troupe
After Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao met, there was another period of deep sisterly love.
The Longyou scholars headed by Wang Chengwei also arrived at Chang'an City, covered in dust.
Because Chang'an and Luoyang were recovered, the imperial examination that was originally planned to be held in Fengxiang Mansion was simply held back in Chang'an.
The candidates have been waiting for so long anyway, so they are not in a hurry for a month or two.
Moreover, this imperial examination was the first time that the imperial court reopened its examinations to obtain scholars. After the purge of the Anlushan Rebellion, there were many vacant positions in the court, and both the government and the public were paying close attention to this examination.
After taking the imperial examination in the Tang Dynasty, one could not be appointed an official immediately.
Taking the imperial examination and passing the Jinshi exam only means that you have the qualifications to be an official, which is equivalent to the lawyer's qualification certificate for future generations.
You still need to wait until a suitable position becomes vacant and pass the selection process of the Ministry of Civil Affairs before you can officially become an official.
During the Kaiyuan period, because there were too many officials, there was a strange record that no Jinshi in Qiuwei was awarded an official title.
Even during the Emperor's reign, there was a tragedy in which a Jinshi died before being awarded an official title.
But now there are many vacancies in the six ministries and various ministerial offices, and many departments only have a few officials. As long as they can pass the imperial examination this time, they will definitely be awarded official positions.
This time the smell of gunpowder in autumn was even stronger.
Since the imperial examination is held in Chang'an, the candidates gathered in Fengxiang Mansion must rush to Chang'an in advance to adapt to the environment of Chang'an.
The imperial examination was the opening of the Tang Dynasty to obtain scholars. A series of ceremonies required the emperor to attend in person, so the imperial examination would definitely have to wait until he returned to Luan Chang'an.
Wang Chengwei and other seventeen Longyou disciples also joined up with Guo Pingping and businessmen to prepare to build a "sub-base" in Chang'an.
The place Guo Ping chose to stay was Anyi Fang, which is a square close to the East City and not far from the North City of Chang'an City. It is considered to be in the core area of Chang'an.
Using the current metaphor of Beijing, Anyi Fang is probably located outside the third ring road and within the fourth ring road.
Chang'an stretches from north to south, and the closer it is to the imperial city, the more important it is.
The reason why I like Anyifang is because it was once a gathering place for Hu merchants from the Western Regions.
Many big Hu businessmen will buy luxury houses in Anyifang, which is also convenient for doing business in Dongshi.
Anyifang was once a bustling market with numerous restaurants and brothels.
However, after An Lushan invaded Chang'an, these Hu merchants who were guilty of carrying jade became the targets of massacre and looting.
The owners of many houses in Anyifang had been robbed and slaughtered by An Lushan and his soldiers. Even those who were lucky enough to survive became frightened birds.
Guo Ping stepped forward directly, found several properties with completed title deeds and clear property rights, found the property owners, and purchased these properties from them.
Many of the owners of these houses were Hu merchants from the Western Regions. They had long wanted to return to Longyou. When they heard that Guo Ping was an imperial merchant under King Jianning, they naturally couldn't wait to sell the properties to Guo Ping.
However, Guo Ping also brought enough money and boldly bought seven adjacent mansions as the branch base of the Street Lamp Pendant Association in Chang'an.
Yu Xiaoxiao and Su Nuan also worked together to buy a pipa shop with three entrances to the yard, right next to the mansion that Guo Ping bought.
One of the seven mansions facing the street was originally a three-story restaurant.
Guo Ping simply connected with another mansion and turned it into the "Longyou Guild Hall" for accommodation behind the restaurant in front.
One of the most magnificent mansions has a sign of "Longyou Chamber of Commerce". From now on, all members of the Street Lamp Pendant Association who come to Chang'an for business can stay at the Longyou Chamber of Commerce for free.
Guo Ping called the craftsmen to repair the houses. Except for the restaurant, which still had to wait for the chef from Longyou to come over to start the business, the other houses had been repaired.
In the future, if the Longyou Governor's Mansion leaves its backyard, the remaining houses will be settled. From then on, Anyi Fang will be the player's stronghold in Chang'an.
Wang Chengwei and other seventeen scholars also stayed at the Longyou Guild Hall. As expected, Chang'an was much more luxurious than Fengxiang Mansion.
"Put it over here, yes, yes, right here!" Su Nuan directed the craftsmen to hang the last pipa on the screen wall.
The screen wall is the wall facing the gate. Ancient Feng Shui believed that there were evil spirits on the road, and the screen wall was used to block the evil spirits.
However, in reality, Su Nuan hired a designer to change the gate and screen wall of Pipa Hall into a signboard.
Twelve pipas of different shapes are hung on the screen wall. Through the carefully carved hollow wooden door, you can see this "pipa wall".
Every time the surrounding merchants and people pass by Pipa Shop, they look forward to when this refreshing Pipa Shop will open.
Pipa Shop is not only a business that sells pipa, but also a training institution for pipa players and a stage for pipa players to perform.
In modern terms, this is a music institution that integrates music shops, musical instrument training and theater performances.
Pipa parlors are different from the brothels that provide such services. These pipa girls often sell their skills rather than their bodies.
Once a dignitary's home needs a band to perform, Pipa Xing will come to the house to perform.
If you are an ordinary citizen, tea is also sold in the pipa shop. You can go in and drink tea while listening to the pipa girl playing.
In Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty during the An-Shi Rebellion, there were several pipa parlors like this in almost every square.
However, after the puppet Yan occupied Chang'an, the entire city of Chang'an lost the sound of strings and bamboos. The pipa parlor in Anyifang had long since closed down, and many pipa girls had switched careers to other jobs.
Now that Chang'an City is finally being restored, the remaining people in Anyifang are full of expectations as they look at the Pipa Hall that is being renovated.
Although life is still very difficult, if you can hear the cheerful dance music again, it may remind people of the prosperous Chang'an before.
In addition to the front door, the interior is also undergoing intensive renovation.
Su Nuan watched the carpenters build a stage, and the entire patio in the Pipa Hall was converted into an open-air stage. In order to prevent the performance from being impossible on rainy days, a movable awning that could be propped up was also made by the hands of skilled craftsmen.
Su Nuan stood on the stage and looked at the newly built tables, chairs and benches below.
Although this is a small theater, it can accommodate 200 people.
Su Nuan also used the glass mirrors Long You brought to create several spotlights that could focus the light of candlelight on the stage.
But these are just small designs of the theater. For Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao, what is the most important thing about a performance?
Of course, he is still an actor.
When it was time for the carpenters to finish work, Su Nuan personally escorted them out of the door, and Yu Xiaoxiao finally came back dragging her tired body.
After the two entered the door, Su Nuan asked anxiously: "How is it? Are you invited?"
Yu Xiaoxiao sighed and said, "That Madam Zhou is not willing to continue being a pipa player."
Su Nuan sighed and said, "I didn't expect that these famous pipa players would not be willing to continue performing."
Yu Xiaoxiao said: "This is normal. It has been more than two years since the fall of Chang'an, and they have stopped playing the pipa for two years."
"My wife has also gotten married this week. I think her husband is also a diligent and good man, and he will not let his wife show up as a pipa player again."
Su Nuan was silent for a moment.
Although the pipa players in the pipa guild are different from those in the brothel, they hang around in sensual places all year round and perform on stage. The reputation of this industry is actually not very good.
Especially those young and beautiful pipa players often cannot stand the temptation of money and power and become concubines of high-ranking officials.
Yu Xiaoxiao heard from neighbors that there were several well-known pipa players in Anyifang, but she couldn't find any of them.
Su Nuan said: "Then we can only wait until Princess Yanguang's music and dance troupe returns to Chang'an."
Shang Bo gave Princess Yanguang the idea to choreograph a dance to welcome the emperor back to Chang'an.
Shang Bo recommended Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao to Princess Yanguang, saying that they were the greatest musicians and dancers in the world.
So Princess Yanguang generously sent her music and dance troupe of thirty musicians and fifty dancers to Chang'an and gave it to Su Nuan to rehearse.
Counting the days, this music and dance troupe will arrive in Chang'an in a few days.
Yu Xiaoxiao said: "Let's use Princess Yanguang's dance troupe to rehearse first. As long as we have a name, it will be much easier for us to recruit people later."
Su Nuan also nodded and said: "That's all I can say. When the music and dance troupe arrives, I will rehearse a dance for them and try it out. It would be great if I can become famous."
When the decoration of the Pipa Hall was about to be completed, Princess Yanguang's music and dance troupe finally arrived in Chang'an City.
In addition to the music and dance troupe, Jiang Gui, the eunuch beside Princess Yanguang, also arrived in Chang'an City with some servants.
Now that Chang'an has been recovered, they first returned to the Princess Mansion for maintenance and cleaning. When Princess Yanguang and the emperor returned to Luan Chang'an together, they could live directly in the Princess Mansion.
When he saw Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao, even the eunuch Jiang Gui's eyes lit up.
He quickly said: "I've met these two of you!"
Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao looked at the carriage behind them. They heard that the music and dance troupe at Princess Yanguang's mansion was the best in Fengxiang mansion. Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao were also curious about their level.
"I've met Jiang Fuling, ladies and gentlemen, please stay at our Pipa hotel for the time being." Yu Xiaoxiao also saw the world and said directly to Jiang Gui.
"Is this the descendant of Aunt Gongsun?" Seeing Yu Xiaoxiao dressed in red and wearing a dagger around her waist, Jiang Gui thought of Aunt Gongsun, who was famous for her sword dance.
Yu Xiaoxiao nodded, and Jiang Gui said to Su Nuan: "Is this lady the successor of Li Guinian?"
After saying this, there was a noise from the carriage behind.
Originally, these dancers and musicians were unconvinced. He was also praised by dignitaries in Fengxiang Mansion. Why was he sent to Chang'an to be trained by two young ladies?
The lead dancer of the dance troupe is named Cheng Ji. Logically, she should get out of the car to meet Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao, but she hid in the car to express her dissatisfaction.
But when she heard that one of the two people was the descendant of Gongsun Auntie, and the other was the descendant of Li Guinian, Cheng Ji opened the curtain and jumped out of the carriage.
Seeing that she was also wearing a smart skirt, she looked at Yu Xiaoxiao and Su Nuan and said, "You two are said to be the descendants of Aunt Gongsun and Li Guinian, can you perform a show to open my eyes?"