Based on young writer Ma Boyong’s historical novel set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), “The Longest Day in Chang’an” tells the story of a retired investigator tasked with preventing a criminal conspiracy within 24 hours, to save the citizens of Chang’an (present day Xi’an) — the capital at the time.

清平乐·禁庭春昼
A Spring Morning in Palace (To The Tune of Qing Ping Yue)

禁庭春昼，莺羽披新绣。
Palace, a morning in spring;
warblers dressed up in their new bright plumage.
1. 禁庭，指“朝廷、宫廷”；
2. 绣，指“绣好的衣服”，这里指鸟新长出的羽毛
3. warbler /ˈwɔːrblər/ n. 莺，啭鸟
4. plumage /ˈpluːmɪdʒ/ n. 鸟全身的羽毛

百草巧求花下斗，只赌珠玑满斗。
Among flowers we competed –
on plants, all kinds of them, diligently acquired.
Our bets were gems and pearls,
piled up high in treasure chests.
斗百草：古代一种游戏，多在端午时玩。相传有文斗和武斗两种玩法。这里按语义来看应该是文斗，即竞采各种花草，然后对花草名，比如狗尾巴草对牵牛花，采到的种类越多，获胜的可能越高。
巧求：指“挖空心思搜寻”
只：语助词
珠玑：指“珠宝，珠玉”
diligently /ˈdɪlɪdʒəntli/ adv. 仔细而努力地
acquire /əˈkwaɪər/ v. 获得
gem /dʒem/ n. 宝石
pile /paɪl/ v. 堆起
treasure chest 宝

日晚却理残妆，御前闲舞霓裳。
When night was falling,
I reapplied some makeup,
and casually performed a rainbow skirt dance
in front of my emperor.
却：再
御前：皇帝面前
reapply /ˌriːəˈplaɪ/ v. 再次涂上
casually /ˈkæʒuəli/ adv. 闲在的，随意的

谁道腰肢窈窕，折旋笑得君王。
But graceful was my body,
that its dance moves soon managed
to bring a smile to his face.
旋折：形容舞步
笑得：使笑起来，逗笑
graceful /ˈɡreɪsfl/ adj. 优雅

为了这些微不足道的人过着习以为常的生活，我愿尽己所能。
I wish to try to the utmost of my capacity, so that these ordinary folk can continue to live their everyday life. 

2019年7月7日兰泽葳蕤