Li Xu was asking for help now, and he was worried about gains and losses. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. Many things that happened in the past year came to mind one after another, but none of them could be understood clearly. He walked around the room irritably.
After half a circle, he waved his hand away, but there was a crisp "immortal buzz" sound in his ears. He looked down again and found that his hand was touching the guqin again.
Regarding the piano art, Li Xu only learned a few scores in order to prepare for the exam. When he was studying in Yixian County, his family had no money left to buy such an elegant thing, and the piano in the county school was in charge of Master Liu. In the eyes of Master Liu,
Here, someone like Li Xu, who is ignorant of current affairs and has no one to support him, is just going home to farm sooner or later. Except for the time when he is teaching skills, which has to "sulli" his elegance, he always wants to touch the strings of the piano.
It's all impossible.
Thinking of the scene when he was a student, Li Xu sighed lightly. No matter how troubled or happy he was, it has become a meaningful memory. The philistine Master Liu, the erudite Master Yang, and a group of ambitious and unintelligent people.
The happy boy in the ravine was once so close, but in retrospect he is so far away.
Unknowingly, he took care of the tuned strings and began to pluck them gently with both hands. Cai Yong's "Autumn Thoughts" is a compulsory piece for students who are interested in fame. Vaguely, Li Xu felt that he still remembered it.
The score was rough. If I couldn't remember it at the moment, I just played it at will. Although the music was wrong, my troubled heart slowly stopped agitated with the sound of the piano.
He thought of the good times he spent with Gan Luo and Tao Kuo Tuosi on the banks of the Crescent Lake, and the song became joyful. Thinking of the few people sharing weal and woe while being chased and intercepted by the Xi tribe's scouts, the song became impassioned again. When he thought of defeating
After Suotou ridiculed his subordinates, the Xiren tribe brutally slaughtered the captives, and a gloomy energy flowed out from the fingertips again, accompanied by the sound of the piano.
In the blink of an eye, the song "Autumn Thoughts" was coming to an end. The rustling autumn wind mixed with the sound of drums and horns came out through the window, making the whole courtyard look desolate and cold. Countless autumn leaves fell from the sky, and for a while they were as colorful as rain.
"What a piece of "Autumn Thoughts"!" Someone outside the window applauded gently. Li Xu was stunned, and the meaning of the music could no longer be smooth. His fingers quickly slid over the strings, and with a "boom", the piano sounded loudly.
But stop.
"Mr. Li, my eldest son and Mr. Liu are back!" Outside the door, the announcement from the servants of the Li Mansion rang out, just in time to catch up with the lingering sound of the piano.
"Ah, oh, please!" Li Xu was stunned and replied numbly. He didn't expect that he had been playing the piano for so long, and he didn't expect that the etiquette here was so complicated. The host had to pass through when entering the guest's room.
Servants are familiar with it.
"Let's go in, my brother is a free and easy man, let's not talk to him about such vulgar etiquette!" Liu Hongji's voice sounded just right, resolving the embarrassment in front of Li Xu. With the hearty laughter,
Li Jiancheng and Liu Hongji walked into the house one after another.
"Zhong Jian played the piano so well that the whole yard was immersed in the boundless autumn mood!" Li Jiancheng walked a few steps quickly and praised with a smile.
"I just studied with the Master in the county school for a few days!" Li Xu knew what he was doing and answered modestly.
"I have reached this state in a few days. I, who have studied hard for several years and haven't seen the way, have become a fool!" Li Jiancheng retorted with a smile. Although he is the eldest son of Duke Tang, he is not like Li Xu who saw him in the county school.
Some of the local officials' sons in my past were so arrogant, but they had an air of humility all over them.
"If Zigu had a wooden head, I would be like that stupid cow. Not only can't I play, I don't even have the qualifications to listen!" Liu Hongji smiled and helped Li Xu out. After being together for so long, he still didn't know that his little
Brother can actually be so good at it.
"Brother Hongji, haven't you ever learned the piano?" Li Jiancheng looked back at Liu Hongji with surprise on his face. Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting have been compulsory pursuits for the children of wealthy families. The children of Jiangnan aristocratic families regard horses as tigers.
No one will find it strange that if you are not proficient in piano and chess, you will inevitably be treated as a laughing stock. Although the wealthy families in the north are not as sophisticated as those traditional aristocratic families in the south of the Yangtze River, they only have lower proficiency requirements, except for piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
In addition, he also added two disciplines: riding and archery. Liu Hongji's father, Liu Sheng, once served as governor of the Sui Dynasty. He himself also inherited the post of Youxun Shi. He was a genuine descendant of an aristocratic family.
If you don't know him before, you can really be called an alternative among the children of wealthy families.
"Since my father's death, my hands have been used to hold a knife much more than a pen, so how can I find the time to play the piano!" Liu Hongji looked at his calloused hands and said calmly.
When Li Jiancheng heard this, he quickly stepped forward and bowed to apologize. While bowing, he explained: "The younger brother was very happy to see the elder brother. He got carried away for a moment and actually touched the pain in Brother Hongji's heart. He really deserves to be punished!"
Liu Hongji returned the salute and shook his head slightly, "What's the pain? It's just a fact. Besides, it's the time for the country to employ people, and some martial arts can easily restore the family! As long as Zigu doesn't stay away from Brother Yu because he is a rough man.
good!"
"How can I be such a vulgar little brother!" Li Jiancheng laughed and promised. "To be honest, I am not very interested in playing the piano or ink. It's just that as the eldest son of Li, I have to learn something to show off my appearance. The second brother has
To put it in a nutshell, that thing is quite pleasant, but if you really want to get fame, you can do it quickly on horseback."
The three of them looked at each other and smiled, and all the embarrassment was gone. When Liu Hongji saw Li Jiancheng mentioning his brother, he asked with a smile: "How is Shimin doing recently? Is he still so fond of martial arts?"
"Not only is he addicted to martial arts, he is simply a martial arts fanatic. After only a few days in Huaiyuan, he and Wan'er razed a good back garden and turned it into a martial arts arena!" Li Jiancheng shook his head repeatedly when mentioning his younger brother.
.Although the words were full of reproach, the expression of love and pity was involuntarily revealed on his face.
"Wan'er, she also practices martial arts? I remember that the last time I met Shibo, Wan'er was studying Ban's "Girls' Commandments"!" This time it was Liu Hongji's turn to be surprised. In his impression, Li Jiancheng's sister Li Waner
She is a very quiet little girl who never shows her teeth when meeting others.
"That was so many years ago! Ever since Shimin started practicing martial arts, Wan'er has been accompanying her to learn martial arts. Now, let alone women of the same age, most teenagers are no match for her!" Li Jiancheng shook his head with a smile and said in a tone of voice.
He stood up with a bit of pride.
All the topics were family matters. Although Li Xu could not get in the conversation, it could be seen that the relationship between Li Jiancheng and his younger brother and sister was very good. When Li Xu was very young, his older brother Li Liang died in the battle in Liaodong.
, so he longed for brotherly love in his heart. Seeing the sincere expression on Li Jiancheng's face, he felt a little better about him.
"It's still early, why don't we go to the garden to see Shimin, he also misses Brother Hongji very much!" After chatting about family matters for a while, Li Jiancheng suggested with a smile.
"That's fine. I haven't seen you for many years. I wonder if the little guy has grown taller?" Liu Hongji agreed with a smile.
This time we were not meeting women, so Li Xu was naturally invited. The three of them chatted and walked away, and soon they arrived outside the back garden. Through the screen wall, they could hear the rustle of the wind inside.
"That's it. No one can be so addicted to bow-drawing except him!" Li Jiancheng shook his head and sighed with a smile. He ordered the servant not to complain, and went in with two friends.
Li Xu hurriedly took a few steps and looked forward from behind Jiancheng. He saw a young man with untied hair bending a bow and shooting at a target. He didn't know how accurate he was, but the target was placed seventy steps away. Next to the young man, there was a man of the same age and age.
The young girl, who is similar to herself, does not hold a round fan like the legendary women from wealthy families, but holds a pair of drum hammers, and is ready to cheer the young man on the drum.
Hearing the sound of footsteps at the door, the young man who was shooting did not raise his head. He first released the arrow in his hand, and then asked without looking at it: "Brother, why are you here free? Are you willing to compete with me today?"
"Why are you here, brother? Aren't you busy today?" The girl noticed that there were outsiders beside her brother, put down her drum hammer, and stepped forward to greet him.
"I have to help dad deal with a lot of things, so I don't have time to practice martial arts with you. Someone came to see you. I wonder if you two still remember it!" Li Jiancheng smiled and reminded his brother and sister.
"Is anyone here to see me?" The boy holding the bow raised his head, his bright eyes flickering around Liu and Li like meteors, then he dropped the bow and ran forward with a big smile.
"It turns out to be Brother Hongji. I haven't seen you for many years, but the eldest brother is in trouble!" The young man shouted while saluting.
"I've seen my wise brother Shimin, and I've seen my sister Wan'er!" Liu Hongji hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to the Li siblings who were bowing to each other.
"They said that a distinguished guest came to their door. I was surprised that this bold guest actually dared to come to the frontier to see my father. It turned out to be Brother Hongji. These stupid guys, Brother Hongji is a member of his own family, so how can he be considered a guest!
"Li Shiminnian shouted happily, his immature face turned pink due to excessive excitement.
"I also brought a brother, who is of the same race as you. He seems to be only two years older than you!" Liu Hongji smiled and pulled Li Xu over and introduced him.
After hearing this, Li Shimin and Li Waner immediately smiled and came forward to greet him. How dare Li Xu let the children of the two princes salute him? He quickly took half a step forward, cupped his hands and said: "Shanggu Li Zhongjian has met the second young master and the eldest lady!" (
Note 7)
Judging from the color of their clothes, the Li siblings could see that the other party had no fame, so they could only clasp their hands and return the favor with a half-courteous gesture. As soon as the three of them finished greeting each other, Shimin immediately stepped forward and grabbed Liu Hongji's arm.
He yelled and requested: "Brother Hongji has traveled all over the country, and his martial arts must have improved again. Why don't you go on and give me some pointers to relieve my pain of missing my brother?"
Liu Hongji was already nearly 30 years old, so he naturally refused to take action with Li Shimin, a child who was only fourteen years old. In desperation, he caught sight of Li Xu from the corner of his eye, and he suddenly had concerns in his heart.
Patting Li Shimin's shoulder, he smiled and diverted the trouble away: "Erlang wants to find someone to teach him martial arts, why not find someone of his own age. In the spring, he once beheaded Suo's head on the fortress to ridicule Khan Qili
"Eh, the ancient Qin Wuyang's bravery was nothing more than this..." (Note 8) (To be continued)
