Chapter 68 second quarter

The imperial palace of the Northern Song Dynasty has always been very quiet. Under the oppression of powerful civil servant politics, the post-clan forces and eunuch forces in the imperial palace, which had always been the main body that attracted the attention of the Chinese political arena, lost their style. In the Northern Song Dynasty, except for Empress Liu E of the Zhenzong Dynasty and Tong Guan of the Huizong Dynasty, except for the emperor himself, other women and men who were not men in the harem of the Northern Song Dynasty basically did not raise their heads in political competition.

Such a political structure has an important impact. Compared with other dynasties, the emperor himself can basically have no fire in the backyard, thus creating the zero waste prince rate of the nine emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty and the super stability of the queen's golden bench. Zhao Ji's family life is the same as that of the other seven emperors. It can be described as the red flags at home are not down and colorful flags are flying everywhere. When Duan Wang Zhao Ji was seventeen years old, he married the daughter of Wang Zao, the governor of Dezhou. Later, when he became emperor, he made Wang's queen.Queen Wang was plain in appearance, and she had the same feelings as Zhao Ji, but she had a peaceful personality, which made her a good candidate for being a queen. Unfortunately, she was not lucky, and died of illness within a few years of being a queen.

The second empress of Zhao Ji is Empress Zheng. Empress Zheng used to be the personal secretary next to the Empress Dowager. There is a spark.The Empress Dowager Xiang is a shrewd old lady, how could she not notice it?After King Duan became emperor, the old lady followed suit and rewarded Secretary Zheng to Zhao Ji (there was another Secretary Wang). Empress Zheng can also be regarded as a virtuous housemate, who can preside over the harem, can dance and write, and can occasionally help the emperor deal with simple memorials, which saves Zhao Ji a lot of worry.Zhao Ji also cared deeply for the Zheng family. His cousin Zheng Juzhong was once an official worshiped as the tazai and became prime minister.

Later, Zhao Ji abdicated, and Empress Zheng became Empress Dowager Zheng. Empress Dowager Zheng was taken to Wuguo City by the Jurchen along with her husband and son, who lived there for four years and then died of illness.In 1142 AD, the remains of Zhao Ji and Zheng were transported back to the Southern Song Dynasty, and they were buried together in Yongxin Mausoleum. In addition to the two empresses, Zhao Ji's favorite concubine is Concubine Liu and Concubine Liu. The eldest concubine Liu was extremely favored by Zhao Ji shortly after entering the palace. She was promoted seven ranks to concubine from talent, but unfortunately, she died of illness within a few days. The amorous Zhao Ji grieved for a long time, so he specially added the four-character posthumous title "Ming Da Yi Wen", and wrote a long poem in memory of Concubine Liu Gui, which was ordered by the Yuefu to compose music and sing it from time to time to express his nostalgia for his lover separated by yin and yang.

Not long after the death of Concubine Concubine Liu, Zhao Ji met Concubine Liu again. Girl's Northern Song version), soon fell in love, and took Xiao Liu into the palace.In addition to being beautiful, Xiao Liu also has a unique skill in fashion design. She often designs a lot of fashionable clothes to make Zhao Ji's eyes shine, which makes her and the emperor's love blossom forever.For a time, the costumes designed by Concubine Liu led the trend of the imperial fashion industry and were sought after by noble ladies in Tokyo. Of course, the three thousand beauties in the harem can't satisfy Zhao Ji's rich emotional world. Flowers are always fragrant on the roadside. Later, he often visits in low clothes to find his new spring.

In the dimly lit place of Fireworks and Willow Lane, he turned his head and saw Li Shishi. Li Shishi was the most well-known singing girl in the late Northern Song Dynasty. It was mentioned in many notes and unofficial histories of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yuan and Ming Dynasties. It was mentioned in "Tokyo Menghualu": ​​"Li Shishi, a prostitute in this role... Sing: Li Shishi , Xu Poxi, Feng Yinu, Sun Sansi, etc., who are true to their roles." Xiao Chang, a singing girl, mainly sang long and short sentences at that time, that is, Song Ci, while Li Shishi was the undisputed top card at that time.Mei Dingzuo of the Ming Dynasty wrote "The Story of the Lotus on the Green Mud" (a biography of a famous prostitute) to explain the situation of Li Shishi in more detail, saying that Li Shishi was a prostitute who lived in Jinxian Lane at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty. Jue was favored by Emperor Huizong during the Zhenghe period and became Emperor Zhao Ji's mistress.

As the queen-level female singer of the Northern Song Dynasty, Li Shishi had exchanges with famous literati at that time. Zhou Bangyan and Chao Chongzhi, great poets at that time, both presented poems to Li Shishi.The close relationship between Li Shishi and Zhou Bangyan, a great poet, is a good story in the Ci circle of the Northern Song Dynasty. Zhou Bangyan, courtesy name Meicheng, nicknamed Halal Jushi, Liguan Taixuezheng, Professor of Luzhou, Zhishui County, etc., was a waiter for Huiyou Pavilion during the Huizong Dynasty, and was promoted to Dasheng Mansion.Zhou Bangyan was a great poet at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty. He was a master of the Graceful School and the Metrical School. He created the Jiang Kui and Zhang Yan schools of poetry in the Southern Song Dynasty, which had a great influence on later generations.The old Ci theory called him "the crown of poets", but at that time "nobles, scholars, and prostitutes all knew that beautiful words were cute", and he was an idol-level literati in the empire.

When Li Shishi became famous, Zhou Bangyan was over sixty years old. When he saw Li Shishi for the first time, Lao Zhou was inspired and wrote "Yulaner" to praise Li Shishi: The lead is light and the new makeup is standing, so charming, natural and vulgar.They are well-known to each other, although they met for the first time, they became familiar with each other first.The smoke from the stove is faint and the clouds are playing, and I am half awake, and the fragrance is so fragrant.If you have to meet each other, if you still waste it, you will not have enough lives. Since then, the two have been in close contact, and their admiration for each other's talents has made them confidantes who have forgotten their age. According to the records in Song Dynasty Chen Hu's "Secrets of the Old", the Zhou poet lived in Jinxian Lane of Li Shishi for a long time in his later years, playing and singing And, I spent the happiest period of Zhou Ci poets, during which Zhou Meicheng once wrote the lyrics "Luoyang Spring" to this confidante who is nearly 50 years younger than him:

The eyebrows are competing for beauty in spring and mountains, and they are wrinkled pitifully.Don't wet the flower branches with clear tears, for fear that the flowers will be as thin as a person.The clear and moist jade flute has been idle for a long time, and bosom friends are rare.If you want to know how to worry about relying on the fence every day, but ask for it, the willow in front of the pavilion. The intimate relationship between the two can be seen in the words. Lao Zhou’s description of Li Shishi in the words has gone beyond the beautiful appearance, and pays more attention to the lonely inner world of this unbearable beauty and his concern for her future. I hope his lover can find a good home as soon as possible, find a good man and marry him!

The "Guier Ji" written by Zhang Duanyi of the Song Dynasty records a triangular affair between Zhou Ciren, Li Shishi and Zhao Ji, which has become the most popular story in the Ci circles of the Northern Song Dynasty. That night, when the moon was half-curved, Lao Zhou visited Li Shishi at night, and the two of them were chatting happily, when suddenly the maid came to report that the emperor had also come. Li Zhou was a little flustered. Although the two of them were old friends, they were alone in the same room at night. If they were caught by Zhao Ji, they might jump into the Yellow River and they would not be able to clean up.Let the boss know that I hooked up with his mistress, and whether I want to hang out in the future.

As the emperor's footsteps approached, the main entrance was blocked, and he did not dare to jump out of the window. The great poet Zhou chose a very unsightly method - hiding at the foot of the bed, regardless of his image as a literati. Zhao Ji was in a good mood that night, and personally brought Li Shishi a new orange that Jiangnan paid tribute to.He was pleasantly surprised to find that an inexplicable shyness appeared on the face of the always glamorous beauty tonight, like a girl in first love, another kind of stunning beauty. Zhao Ji spent a long time in Jinxian Lane and Li Shishi tenderly that night, and left in the middle of the night, but Lao Zhou who was hiding at the foot of the bed suffered a lot. A great poet is a great poet. Just as Li Shishi and Zhao Ji left, Lao Zhou, who got up from the foot of the bed, was suddenly inspired and wrote one of his masterpieces, "Youth Tour", before leaving: With a sword like water, Wu Yan beats snow, and a slender hand breaks a new orange.The brocade tent is warming up for the first time, and the scent of beasts keeps coming. They sit opposite each other and tune the sheng.Ask in a low voice, who will you sleep with?It's three o'clock in the city.The horse is slippery and frosty, so it's better to stop, because few people go. When Li Shishi came back and saw the lyrics, he was ashamed, happy and loved, so he often played and sang. Soon, this love song composed by Zhou Bangyan and composed by Li Shishi became popular in Tokyo and became the most popular song of the year. Zhao Ji heard that his mistress had released a new work, so he came to Jinxian Lane to listen to the original song, but Li Shishi blushed and said that you would be angry if you heard it. Zhao Ji smirked and said my little baby, how could I be angry after hearing the latest work?Sing it to me now. As expected by Li Shishi, after listening to Li Shishi's song "Youth Tour", Zhao Ji became jealous and left in a huff, and soon found a name to demote Lao Zhou from Tokyo. After demoting the imaginary rival, Zhao Ji ran to Jinxian Lane, but Li Shishi was not there, and went to see Lao Zhou off.Zhao Ji sat in Jinxian Lane all afternoon, when Li Shifang came back, he was sad and haggard. Zhao Ji couldn't see the sadness of his beloved woman the most, coaxing her left and right, but Li Shishi was still frowning. Zhao Ji is not stupid, he knows why Li Shishi is worried, if he wants to please the beauties, he must tie the bell to untie it. So he asked with half-flattery and half-jealousy, "To see Zhou Meicheng off today, the great poet didn't fill in the first word for you?" Li Shishi said yes with tears in his eyes. Zhao Ji said play and sing for me. Li Shishi played the piano and sang the "Lanling King" written by Zhou Bangyan just now: Liu Yin is straight, and there are traces of blue in the smoke.On the embankment of the Sui Dynasty, I have seen it several times, and the water is blown to see off the scenery.When you visit the homeland, who knows the tired guest in Jinghua?Changting Road, every year, should be folded over a thousand feet.Looking for the old traces, drinking wine while mourning, leaving the table with lights.Pear blossom and elm fire urge cold food.Worry about an arrow and the wind is fast, and the wave of the half-pole is warm. When you turn your head and pass it, you will count the posts, looking at people in the north of the sky.Miserable, hate piles up!Ashamed to leave Pu lingering, Jin Hou quiet, the setting sun Ran Ran spring endless.Nianyue Pavilion joins hands, and Luqiao hears the flute.Contemplating the past, like a dream, tears dripping darkly. The meaning of the words is poignant, and Zhao Ji was completely intoxicated by Li Shishi’s wonderful music. After being intoxicated, he sighed for a long time, this Zhou Bangyan is indeed a talented man, no wonder you like him, it’s a pity that such a talent doesn’t stay in Tokyo, I’ll change tomorrow The imperial edict asked him to come back to be the president of the Imperial Academy of Music (promoting the Dasheng Mansion). What Zhao Ji did was half to please the beauties, and half to cherish talents, which made a legendary story. Although Li Shishi was favored, he was very independent. According to Yuan Tong Tianweng's "Weng Tianxuan Yu" (the book first recorded Song Jiang Tugui's deeds infiltrating Beijing to visit Li Shishi in the wild history gossip), Zhao Ji later publicly Pull down the cover of "merchant identity", and designate her as Concubine Li Ming and Mrs. Yingguo.However, judging from various other unofficial historical records, Li Shishi did not enter the palace. One of the most important evidences is that "Three Dynasties Beimenghuibian" quoted Tao Xuangan's "Biandu Ji" in the seventy-fourth volume, saying that Zhao Ji was put under house arrest by the Jurchens in Kaifeng City When they were in Waiqingcheng, the courtiers were asked to send some of their favorite concubines, and there was another famous prostitute Zhao Yuannu on the list, but Li Shishi was not on the list. From this, it can be inferred that Li Shishi did not enter the palace. As for Li Shishi's ending, there are several versions, the most official ones are the records in "Three Dynasties and Northern Leagues" and "Li Shishi's Biography". Encourage the soldiers in front to fight bravely against the Jin army.After the Jin Army broke through Kaifeng, the head coach of the Jin Army, Ta Lan, had long been salivating at the beauty of the Northern Song Empire after the first day, and ordered the temporary puppet emperor Zhang Bangchang to hand over Li Shishi.Zhang Bangchang led troops to Jinxian Lane, but did not find Li Shishi. The citizens of Tokyo risked their lives to hide this woman they admired and loved.Zhang Bangchang then launched a blanket search in Tokyo. It took many days to finally find Li Shishi. The soldiers brought Li Shishi to Zhang Bangchang. She is just a prostitute, but she only serves and entertains men in Tokyo. She would rather die than go to the Golden Camp to be humiliated. After being scolded, Li Shishi pulled out the golden hairpin and committed suicide. According to some other unofficial historical records, Li Shishi did not die, but traveled to the south, and continued to resume his old career, but he was old and haggard, and he was no longer the peerless generation in Tokyo. A literati named Liu Zihui met an old man in the south. Li Shishi, thinking of the demeanor of the Queen of Tokyo in those days, couldn't help feeling very sad, and wrote a poem "Bianjing Chronicle Poem": The prosperity of the chariot hub can hurt, and the teachers and teachers are older than Huxiang.The golden sandalwood board is colorless today, and a song moved the emperor back then. No matter whether he would rather die than submit to righteousness and die for the country, or die in the south, Li Shishi is much luckier than the women in Zhao Ji's palace.Although she is just a lowly horn prostitute, she is independent and overwhelmed by the country, and she still dominates her own destiny after the collapse of the empire.