I am the prince of the Ming Dynasty, I don't give up

Chapter 37 The drama begins

"Sometimes, when I look at the loom and spinning machine that Xuan'er sent me, I would think that if I had these two machines back then, I would be able to weave much more cloth than before. The money from selling them might be enough to save mother. Even if I can't save her, I could buy her a thin coffin." Concubine Liu burst into tears.

"So sometimes I wonder if what I am doing is right. This world is unfair. There are not many opportunities for women to make a living. Xuan'er has given so many poor women opportunities to make a living. They are all like me back then. If I could earn eight cents a month, my mother might have... But now I am always trying to find a way to stop Xuan'er."

"Don't say anything, Concubine Liu, then we won't stop Brother Xuan." Liu Yourong coaxed Concubine Liu like she was coaxing a child.

"No," Concubine Liu's voice became low, "Xun'er is still too young, too young, I'm worried, I'm worried."

Concubine Liu's voice became weaker and weaker, and finally she fell into a deep sleep.
Liu Yourong covered Concubine Liu with a blanket and stared at her for a while before leaving.
Three days passed quickly.

The palace theater became lively. Officials of all ranks in the palace came, many of them with their wives. There were probably hundreds of people bustling about.

"Hey, Commander Zhao, are you here to watch the young prince's new play as well?" said the Right Chief Clerk Zhan Bin, bowing.

"Then he must come! My man - Liu Hao! Plays the leading role in this play," Commander Zhao said with satisfaction.

"This young prince's drama is really not simple. All the important people in the palace are here. I think Concubine Zhang and the two princes are here." Commander Zhao said after observing for a while.

"Yes, I haven't seen Concubine Zhang come out for a long time," replied Zhan Bin.

Concubine Zhang was the concubine of the previous king. She gave birth to two sons, Zhu Houkun and Zhu Houxun. These two were Zhu Houxuan's new brothers, but there was still a big difference in their status, because Zhu Houxuan was the legitimate son, and these two brothers were illegitimate sons. They just didn't reach the age yet and had not been canonized as princes. After being canonized as princes in a few years, they would leave the palace.

The two of them quickly paid their respects to Concubine Zhang.

"Just looking at the scene, we know that the play is going to be good." Zhan Bin, who had just returned from the greetings, looked curiously at the band below the stage. There were more than thirty people, and the stage was covered by a huge curtain.

"Actually, I think Zheng's 'Journey to the West: The Women Kingdom' is pretty good. I don't think the prince can come up with anything new." Zuo Changshi Shi Lu also came at some point.

Zhan Bin and Commander Zhao exchanged glances and said nothing.

Soon, Concubine Liu and Zhu Houxun came to the theater with Liu Yourong and Yu Chunlai, and everyone hurried forward to greet them.

After some greetings, everyone took their seats. The two concubines sat in the middle, Zhu Houxun sat next to Concubine Liu, and Zhu Houkun and Zhu Houxun sat next to Concubine Zhang.

The five most distinguished people in the Prince of Jing's Palace sat together.

Just then, the band in front of the stage suddenly started playing.

Concubine Liu was shocked. "Isn't it time yet? Why did it start?"

"Mother, the band is warming up and familiarizing themselves with the instruments," Zhu Houxuan explained.

"This music is so beautiful. It has a royal feel, but also has a fairy-like feeling." Concubine Zhang tilted her ear to listen to the band's performance.

"What's the name of this song?" asked Concubine Liu.

"The name of this song is "Celebrating the Victory of Heavenly Gods." Zhu Houxuan replied.

As "Celebrating the Victory" began to play, the place gradually quieted down. Everyone silently appreciated the band's performance. Listening to this unfamiliar yet beautiful song, they began to feel a sense of anticipation.

"Celebrating the Success of the Heavenly Palace" is the BGM of the Heavenly Palace in the 86 version of Journey to the West. With Qin Yuelan, a musical genius, and the professional orchestra of the Dian Music Institute, Zhu Houxuan was so crazy as to use this song to warm up the audience.

After playing "Celebrating the Victory of Heaven", the band switched directly to another unfamiliar and dynamic song.

"The name of this song is "The Swift Sound of the Cloud Palace." Zhu Houxuan took the initiative to explain to the two concubines.

"This song is quite novel," said Concubine Liu.

The performance of "Cloud Palace Swift Sound" was not very good, because many electronic music cannot be played well under current conditions. But Zhu Houxuan still stubbornly used this song as the opening song.

However, the natives of the Ming Dynasty present could not hear the difference and only felt that the music style was bright and novel.

"It's much better than those slow songs," Commander Zhao whispered on the side.

As "Cloud Palace Swift Sound" came to an end, the curtain on the stage slowly opened, and the band cut to another unfamiliar song.

"Why do I hear the sound of a wooden fish?" Concubine Liu asked puzzledly.

Zhu Houxuan did not say anything, but just gestured to Concubine Liu to look at the stage.

Suddenly, a figure wearing a red cassock, a yellow monk's robe and a five-Buddha crown appeared on the stage. This figure was walking forward with difficulty, leaning on a Zen stick. The wind blew up the white ribbon on his five-Buddha crown and also blew up the corners of his clothes.

Everyone immediately realized that this was a monk who was struggling to move forward.

Zhu Houxun knew that behind the curtain in the direction the monk was heading, several strong men were waving a simple wooden fan and blowing it fiercely at the monk.

Everyone was brought into the situation in an instant, and as the deliberately prolonged prelude ended, the wind on the field also subsided.

Everyone finally saw the appearance of the monk on the stage.

"What a handsome Tang Monk." Concubine Zhang exclaimed.

"Oh my god. Is this Liu Hao?" Commander Zhao looked at the monk on the stage stupidly. He didn't connect him with the big-headed soldier under his command at all.

Yes, the image of Tang Monk in the TV series was reproduced by Liu Hao about 60% to 70%.

Tang Seng's appearance caused a burst of exclamations.

Amid the exclamations, Tang Seng slowly spoke along with the music.
"Cross the river and climb the mountain."

“It’s been a difficult and thrilling journey.”

The sound was gentle and magnetic, reaching everyone's ears. It was not loud, but it was clear to everyone present. With the rhythmic sound of wooden fish mixed in the music, everyone felt calm in their hearts.
"Just now I saw demons in power, and then I encountered gods and immortals causing trouble."

"I have just been met with wind spears, snow halberds, and now I have been met with frost knives and rain swords."

The magnetic yet peaceful voice suddenly had a hint of helplessness and confusion, and brought everyone's hearts into this difficult journey.

"Who knows when we can reach the West——"

There was a hint of helplessness in the monk's voice.

But the music of this sentence suddenly became higher and higher, reaching its peak when the monk uttered "Western Paradise".

Just a few simple lyrics pulled everyone's hearts from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountain.
"With sincerity, we will move forward courageously!"

"I won't come back until I reach Lingshan!"

The helplessness and confusion in the voice before were swept away, leaving only incomparable determination!
"No matter how long the road is, I will ride my horse and whip it——"

There was a hint of heroism in the resolute voice.

Then the last three lines were repeated twice.

The resolute passion in the last two sung lyrics grew stronger and stronger, reaching a climax.

Everyone's mood rose and fell with Tang Seng's chanting.

There was some noise in the venue at the beginning, but after Tang Seng sang just two lines, it became completely silent.

As the music faded away, everyone finally came out of it.

Zhan Bin stared blankly at the solemn Tang Monk on the stage, with only one thought in his mind - this is the great monk! Tang Monk should be like this. If Tang Monk is not like this, it must be Tang Sanzang's fault.
When I touched my arm again, I suddenly found that it was covered with goose bumps.

There were many people like Zhan Bin in the audience. It was the first time for them to have such a novel experience because of a song.

Zhu Houxuan quietly observed the performance of the people below the stage, and he knew that the image of Tang Monk had been established!
(End of this chapter)