Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 65: Horse-faced Skirt, Hu Xuan Dance

Although the head of the Wang family is a merchant family, the youngest master Wang Wubi is a juren. Although they are inconspicuous in the capital where officials are everywhere, they are already better than many people.

A poor scholar and a rich juren.

Wang Wubi is a good person. Today, because he wants to enjoy the singing and dancing of the singing girls, he specially restores the ancient style of the Han and Tang Dynasties and prepares a separate dining system. There is a low desk in front of each person, and a large space in the middle for the singing girls to sing.

"It's a pity that Brother Tianci and Brother Zhongmo are not here." Wen Zhengming said with regret, "They will definitely enjoy this banquet."

The Tianci and Zhongmo mentioned by Wen Zhengming are Li Mengyang and He Jingming respectively. Chen Ce knew their reputation. They were the Seven Masters of the mid-Ming Dynasty. They advocated the retro style that poetry must be based on the Tang Dynasty and prose must be based on the Qin and Han Dynasties, and criticized the official style that restricted literary themes for the sake of imperial examinations.

"Come, come, let's raise our glasses together. We are all from the same hometown of Zhejiang. If you need help in the future, please feel free to ask for it. Don't be shy."

"Mr. Chen, can you give me a courtesy name?"

Chen Ning shook his head.

"You are younger than me, so I will call you Brother Ce. If you need my help in the future, just ask me."

Chen Ce bowed and said, "Thank you."

After drinking for more than thirty minutes, the dishes were brought up one by one by the maids in the palace and placed on their respective desks. They were all the light flavors that Zhezhi liked.

Wang Wubi clapped his hands, and soon he saw a group of women in light red dresses entering the center of the hall in an orderly manner.

Several women holding stringed instruments nearby began to compose music. More than ten girls surrounded the protagonist in the center. As the dancing girls dispersed, the woman in the middle, who was wearing a light blue long gown and a horse-faced skirt, raised her white wrists high, looking very charming.

But her cold face diluted some of her charm, giving people the impression that no strangers should approach her.

As the string and bamboo instruments changed, from the brisk sounds of flutes and Xiaos to the steady sounds of Qiang flutes and big drums, the drum beats were slow at first, and then became more and more rapid like pearls falling on a jade plate.

The girl in the horse-faced skirt twisted her slender waist and tapped her toes lightly. In the end, it seemed that only her toes were touching the ground, and the horse-faced skirt kept flying and spinning in the air with her graceful dance moves.

The famous Western Region Huxuan dance from the Tang Dynasty.

The girl's dancing was extremely graceful. I don't know how many times she had trained hard to reach such a high level. The beauty of her dancing was so relaxing and refreshing that it filled people with no distractions. Simply appreciating this wonderful dancing was enough to make people intoxicated.

Chen Ce looked at her with a little surprise in his eyes, but soon lowered his head and ate the food as if nothing had happened. He didn't drink alcohol, and he used tea instead of wine when he raised his glass just now, so no one would think Chen Ce was rude.

Chen Ce took a sip of the tea and continued eating with his head down.

suddenly.

Bang.

Madam Wu twisted her foot and fell heavily to the ground.

In a quick glance just now, she saw a person who should never be here, her neighbor Chen Ce.

For some reason, Madam Wu felt a sinking feeling in her heart and lost her concentration for a moment. The Hu Xuan dance requires the balance of the body and legs, and she sprained her ankle and fell to the ground when she lost her concentration for a moment.

Wang Wubi's face was unhappy. The interest he had just raised was gone. He couldn't help but said angrily: "The slave girl is rude! Take her out and beat her!"

With so many fellow villagers present, Wang Wubi thought all the arrangements were very good, but problems occurred at the critical moment. How could he not be angry?

It is obvious which is more serious: beating and killing a slave girl or losing face in front of classmates.

Madam Wu did not refute and allowed several servants to drag her out.

Chen Ce wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Excuse me for a moment."

Wang Wubi nodded and let Chen Ce leave. Tang Yin, Wen Zhengming and Zhu Zhishan shook their heads and sighed, saying, "How could such a skilled dancer make such a low-level mistake? It really spoils the fun."

Wang Wubi quickly clasped his fists and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my fault. I didn't arrange it well. Come, I'll drink three cups as an apology." In the side yard, several servants raised their hands, ready to beat Madam Wu, but she did not resist and stood there motionless.

Chen Ce came over with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Go down."

Several servants knew that this was their master's friend, and that giving maids as gifts was not uncommon. Although he was not the master of the palace, he was not someone these lowly servants could offend, so they snorted heavily and left in dismay.

Madam Wu finally spoke up and said, "You haven't given me my thirty cents yet."

Several servants became angry again and shouted angrily: "How dare you, a bitch, ask for money?"

Madam Wu said, "I deserve it. It's not like I didn't dance. Please give me the money that belongs to me."

Chen Ce said calmly: "She is right. She has put in the work, and she should be paid even if she made a mistake. The Wang family will not lose its reputation because of such a small matter, right?"

The servants then took out money and threw it all over Madam Wu, trampling on her already lost dignity.

After the servants of the palace left, Madam Wu squatted on the ground and picked up the scattered copper coins one by one.

Chen Ce had been standing silently by the side watching Madam Wu. He knew very little about his neighbor.

After Wu Niangzi picked up all the money, she came to Chen Ce. She wiped the money on her clothes and handed it to Chen Ce, saying, "I was planning to go back and return it to you."

“Your interest.”

"They are all clean."

"Including that one tael of silver." Wu Shuxian emphasized.

Chen Ce hummed, picked up five or six copper coins and put them in his hand, saying: "I don't want that much interest. This is not a bank, and there is no rule of nine out and thirteen back."

"Five coppers would be enough at market interest."

In fact, it’s okay not to return it, Chen Ce murmured in a low voice, but Madam Wu didn’t hear it.

She didn't ask why Chen Ce appeared here. She knew that Chen Ce was never an ordinary person, even though he was sick.

Madam Wu limped and turned away cautiously.

Chen Ce said: "Let me take you out."

Chen Ce wanted to take her out the front door, but Madam Wu pointed in the direction of the back door and said, "The road is at the back."

Chen Ce was stunned for a moment, hummed, and walked her to the backyard door.

Madam Wu glanced back at Chen Ce, wanting to say something but stopping herself, she held the door and walked out the back door. When Chen Ce turned around to go back, Madam Wu said to herself, "I am as clean as money."

When Madam Wu went out the back door and got into the sedan chair, she heard Nie yelling in anger, "Are you going to die?"

"Dancing isn't your best thing? You dance like this!"

"The Wang family didn't give me a penny. Doesn't it cost money to rent the sedan chair?"

"Did you do this on purpose? Did you jump like this on purpose so that no one would dare to look for you next time?"

Madam Wu looked coldly, raised her eyes and stared at Nie, and said coldly: "If you say another word, I will kill you!"

Nie was so frightened that she felt like she was falling into an icy cave. She dared not say a word. She knew her daughter had the ability to kill her, let alone a few strong men.

This is outrageous! The daughter is going to kill her mother!

(End of this chapter)