"I hold a lamp to see the fox king, and the parrots and warblers grow eagles."
——Jiuzhou·Northern Song Dynasty·Liu Juling's "Lamp Oil and Pen Talk"
Act 1 "There is a fox in the northern country. It likes to stay in the study room. It talks to people during the day and throws rocks and rocks at night to hit the fou, but its shape and ears are not visible." - Jiuzhou Wei Pu Zongyi's "Fox Spirit"
In Cangzhou City at night, under the falling snow, there was only one bright light. The newly promoted Xiaolian Liu Yushi is still reading at night by candlelight. In March next year, the imperial examination for the bachelor's degree of Shangshu Province will be held at Qujiang Garden in Kyoto. If you are lucky enough to be admitted, you can participate in the examination held by the prince himself when the spring flowers are blooming. The "Xingyuan Banquet" will be the best memory for many students after ten years of hard work. Even the joy of getting into the top three in the palace examination cannot be compared with it.
In addition to reading the Four Books, Liu Yushi also read some explanations about the Four Books. Even though those books had many words, he had read them since he was four years old, and they had already memorized them by heart and were deeply ingrained in his mind. But every time, the examiners’ questions based on these books are all new, as if these books contain the essence of the old year and the new year, and from generation to generation.
The oil lamp on the table shook a few times, probably blown by the wind, but his back was to the window and the window door was closed, so no wind should come in. He was focused on the book and could not care about these things.
"Dang~dang..." There was a sound from the side room, like raindrops hitting a tile basin, or wooden chopsticks tapping on porcelain dishes. If the sound only lasted for a while, Liu Yushi wouldn't care, but The sound kept ringing, disturbing him and causing him to "wake up". He seemed to be resting when he was reading, and he didn't have any extra insights. It was just that when he wasn't reading, he was too uneasy and could only He only felt safe when he touched the pages of the book. Others looked at him and thought he was fascinated by reading, but in fact it had become a self-paralysis of a scholar.
Then he became "angry", stretched out, twisted his neck, pushed the edge of the table with his hands, pushed himself back a few feet with the stool, and then stood up. His shoulders were very sore when he leaned down. , it was difficult to straighten his back. There was only a curtain separating this room from the next room. He couldn't open his eyes very well. He felt sleepy immediately after leaving the table. As soon as he opened the curtain, his face was revealed. It turned out to be King Zhuan. Dong's face.
Zhuan Wangdong is Liu Yushi now, and he is still Zhuan Wangdong completely, but at this moment, he has the memory and identity of Liu Yushi, and it is only the memory of this period, and he does what Liu Yushi should do. .
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) saw something on the ground. He went back to the house and took out the oil lamp and looked at it. It turned out to be a pottery pot. He had only read books since he was a child and didn't pay attention to other things, so he didn't know what it was. It's a fou, a simple musical instrument. There was only such a thing, and there was no sign of anything knocking. Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) didn't think much, and returned to the room, sat down to read, and the sound started ringing again. Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) looked at it over and over again, but never found it. Finally, he ignored it and read the volumes of text with the monotonous music until he fell asleep.
Early the next morning, although there was no rooster crow, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) woke up early, ate a bowl of hot water and cold rice, and ate pickles and bangzi brought from his hometown. As long as he could survive until the day of the exam, he would be fine. He didn't have any other extravagant wishes. Of course, he spent almost all the money he spent on coming to Beijing. Still reading these books, after a morning, he sighed and said to himself: "Just lift people up, I can't go far." There are hundreds of thousands of students in the world, but only 500 are named on the list. Liu Yushi (Liu Yushi) Zhuan Wangdong) is the last one on the list. This level is already beyond his ability. He has no hope of passing the bachelor's exam. He is too far away from Xingyuan Banquet. The biggest feeling for scholars over the years is that he His talent is becoming more and more mediocre. Those words written by a group of talented people thousands of years ago will only be able to read the charm of those words written by a group of talented people thousands of years later. With an elm-headed person like him, , even if you work hard day and night, it will eventually come to an end.
But who can be willing to do so? He has put in as much effort as others.
"Alas, I have been reading this fine article for a year, but I still don't have any taste for it." Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) lamented distressedly.
At this moment, perhaps it was his misunderstanding, there was a coughing sound around him. After a while, someone else's voice actually came out, with a distant tone, saying: "What's so difficult about this sentence? Isn't it just telling the story of Lao Tzu Bai?" An elegy for the departure of Sun?"
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was shocked and said in a panic: "Who is it? Come out quickly, don't scare people!"
"I'm here, you look at the table?"
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) kicked his feet and fell backwards, including himself and the stool. Then he crawled away from the table and leaned against the window, trying to jump out. The voice hurriedly comforted him: "Don't be afraid? Look at the table, I am the lamp, I am the lamp fairy."
Seeing that Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was about to jump out, the voice said again: "Laozi Bai sang on the harp, and the song said that the three lines contained the words. Zhuang Lu replied with that beautiful saying, which seemed to be stating his own intention, but in fact it was In scolding the Han scholars for failing to age before their old age, lamenting that King Hui died before reaching his prime, and praising Laozi Bai for failing to thrive as a young man, there are three other meanings in his words: in people, in heaven, and in earth, Taoism puts people first and foremost. Looking up to see natural life and death, looking down to see the rise and fall of the sea of clouds, and looking down to see the thousands of faces of the human world, the wonderful thing is that they can change with the political situation and with people. Rivers, mountains and rivers are all the same, and they are all unreasonable. It all depends on how people's hearts change. ."
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was fascinated when he heard it, and even more shocked after hearing it. He put down the window and walked around the room for a while. Then he bowed to the table, knelt down and begged: "Sir, what you said is, Thank you very much for clearing up my doubts for a year!"
"No, no, you just missed the mark. Get up quickly."
"Sir, is he really a lantern fairy?" Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) stood up and leaned forward, and asked doubtfully: "Why don't you hear the voice of the great fairy at night?"
"Oh... I, the lamp fairy, do not hide in the fire, but in the shadows. At night, there is only the light of the fire but no other light. I can only see the lamp but not the shadow. During the day, there is sunlight, and the lamp forms a shadow. I am Can show up.”
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) looked at the wall behind the lamp and saw an enchanting figure, only as long as his arms, but he felt that it was not a human being. He usually did not see such things and did not know what it was. He opened his mouth and asked what kind of shadow it was. , looks like a dog but not a dog, looks like a cat but not a cat. "
The Dengxian replied casually: "Are you a scholar? You've never even seen a fox?"
"Ah?" Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was shocked, "Great Immortal, you, you... are you a fox?"
The lamp fairy was silent for a while, and then said: "Liu Xiaolian misunderstood. I am not a fox, but the shadow looks very much like a fox. If that doesn't work, please fiddle with the wick."
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) picked the wick, and the shadow on the wall immediately changed its appearance. It was the upper body of a humanoid. Only then did he feel at ease. Not to mention scholars, even ordinary people listed foxes, weasels and other things. If you are a monster, the evil things they say are unacceptable.
The Dengxian said that it had existed since the previous dynasty and had a history of more than 700 years. It had accompanied generations of scholars rushing to take exams. Because it had listened to the essence of hundreds of schools of thought all year round, it had become spiritual and wise. It was able to meet people like him. Scholars are destined to be together.
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was overjoyed and immediately worshiped the Dengxian as his teacher and learned the profound meaning of the Four Books from him every day. However, the Dengxian taught people tirelessly during the day but disappeared at night. Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) no longer read at night, but his little In the small house, the sound of fou beating was heard all night long.
In March of the following year, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) took the Qujiang Garden bachelor's exam. Two days later, he was nominated on the list and ranked first. He was immediately famous in the capital. He ranked first in the general bachelor's list. After the palace examination, he was definitely among the top three. , and it is very likely that he will be the number one scholar, so from now on, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) will be crowded with people, and countless people will come to visit him and make friends.
But Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) stayed at home and concentrated on studying. The lamp fairy always answered all his questions, and his answers were so subtle that Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) often felt enlightened. At the apricot garden banquet, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was warmed to his heart by the prosperity and fragrance of the world for the first time. Being sought after by everyone, his heart was moved and he couldn't help but become greedy for that feeling. He was afraid that this feeling would never go away. Return, so I ask about everything about the Dengxian. One day before the palace examination, the Dengxian asked Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) to help him with a small thing. He didn't say anything, but Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) agreed.
After the palace examination, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) won the first prize and was appointed by the emperor. He became famous throughout the world. The emperor decided to entertain the top three in the palace examination two days later. Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) suddenly felt as if he was in a dream, so excited.
Back home, the fairy first reported the good news, and then made his request. He confessed to Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) that he was a fox demon, but not a harmful fox demon. He was very obsessed with human culture. , likes to read poetry and books, and it hopes that Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) can say a few words for him in front of the emperor. Over the years, it has never done any harm to anyone. It has helped students who came to Beijing to pass the exams, and it has truly become itself. It is a great achievement in learning, and it also hopes to be recognized by scholars all over the world.
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was frightened after hearing this, but he was afraid that it was a fox demon and did not dare to be presumptuous. He could only agree quickly and went to see the emperor two days later and attended the banquet. He did not mention a word about the fox demon. Firstly, he was afraid that he would be regarded as evil and evil, and secondly, he was afraid that the world would know that his talents and fame were fake. He never returned to that house and asked the emperor for a good job outside the capital. Leaving Beijing in a hurry.
On the way, he found many quacks and magicians to help him exorcise evil spirits, but it had some effect, and the fox demon never appeared in front of it again.
Time suddenly skipped ten years, and Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) went directly to a scene ten years later. Ten years passed, and Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) gradually forgot about the fox demon, and it also broke his heart. He believed that he relied on his own luck and talent to win the first prize. The so-called lantern fairy became his dream at that time and was praised by everyone.
One day, when he wanted to take a bath, his new concubine came to take care of him. The two inevitably had to play in the water. The concubine saw the colorful hemp rope on Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong)'s hand and asked him with a smile which beauty it was. After seeing each other off, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) said that this was a self-defense object given to him by a Taoist priest. As long as he kept carrying it, the fox demon would not be able to find him. The concubine laughed at the old man who took the dream too seriously. Really, after all these years, there won't be any trouble. After some gentle pushing, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was moved and felt that it was too troublesome to carry the thing on his hand, so he took it off and threw it into the stove.
That night, a black cloud quietly appeared, covering the crescent moon in the sky. And Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) had a dream. He returned to the table. There was a shadow of a lamp on the wall, but it was not daytime, but night. The fox demon's voice sounded again. Although it was a dream, Liu Yushi (Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong)) had a dream. Zhuan Wangdong) felt extremely real. The fox demon asked him: "Did you tell the emperor?"
"I told you...the emperor didn't believe it and arranged for me to leave the capital that day, so I didn't have time to tell you."
The fox demon smiled strangely, and Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) asked: "Isn't this night? Aren't you unable to show up?"
"I'm always here. If it doesn't work, come over and have a look."
"Huh?" Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) stood up and opened the door curtain. In the darkness, he saw a fou on the ground. It was dark and dark, and he couldn't see anything else. After a while, there was a sound from the fou, and something was knocking. In front of the fou, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) returned to the room and walked out holding a lamp. The oil lamp was immediately extinguished after entering the room, and everything was dark. After a while, two lamps were on the fou about nine feet high. Appeared, still trembling faintly.
"Where are you?" Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) asked anxiously.
"Let me ask you again, have you told the emperor?" The fox demon's voice was cold and stern.
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) swallowed and said calmly: "I really said it, but no one believes it. If I say it again, I will be guilty of deceiving the emperor and will be punished by the nine tribes."
"Oh..." The fox demon suddenly began to smile sinisterly and said, "Can you see me?"
"I didn't see it, where are you? Are you that Fou plate?" Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) felt that the room was extremely cold and the dream was so real that he believed that this place was the bookstore back then.
Suddenly, the two lights in the room were much brighter. Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) suddenly had a ferocious look on his face, clutching his face with both hands, and looked up with great horror. The two lights hanging on the fou plate turned out to be a The eyes of the big blue fox demon, and the sound that the fou can make is because the fox demon's saliva is dripping on it. In fact, it is like this every night. During the day, it is false humanity, and at night, it is real beastliness.
The fox demon gritted his teeth and smiled fiercely: "You are very smart. You can find a Taoist priest for help. It has been ten years. You have made it easy for me to find you. Human beings are all liars. You are comfortable now. Number One Scholar. The world doesn't know what you are capable of." It's all mine! I gave it to you!" The fox demon suddenly bit it with its bloody mouth. The next day, Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) was seriously ill and could not get out of bed, but he was conscious and extremely weak.
From this day on, everything in the Liu family was unlucky. Within a few years, the family fell into decline. All his heirs died in infancy, and all the family property collapsed. People around Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) left and died one by one, until he was the only one left. , the official position was gone, the house was gone, so he was wrapped in a quilt and thrown into the street. Later, he was rescued by an old friend who once owed him kindness and was sent to a dilapidated small house. Then the old friend Then he disappeared. Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) suddenly recovered, but there was only a desk, an oil lamp, and a few books in the small house.
Suddenly, the lamp lit up, and the fox demon's voice sounded again, "Jie Jie Jie... you have to give me back everything I gave you. Come, you take the exam for merit again. I will let you live, and you will never think about it." Get away from me until you gain fame on your own merits, Jie Jie Jie..."
Liu Yushi (Zhuan Wangdong) collapsed and shouted in the room. All the doors and windows in the house were locked. During the day, only a beam of light shone on the table. At night, only the oil lamp was on. The only food he had to eat was hot water and cold rice. No one spoke to him, and there were no other voices. He was able to stay alive. After seven days of madness, he picked up the book and read it day and night. However, he, who had been praised by others for ten years as the number one scholar, once again picked up one of the four books. Only then did I realize again that my mediocre posture was unable to read those words.
One year, three years, ten years, he went crazy and woke up, and woke up crazy again. His examiner was the fox demon, who set the questions for him. Thirty years later, he still failed to pass the exam. Even when his hair turned gray, he still failed. Sitting in front of the desk, with a hunched back, there was only a lamp for company.
