Chapter Thirty: Revisiting an Old Place, Sighing at the Vast Existence
Although it was early morning, the area in front of Lingyue Pavilion was bustling with activity, with merchants coming and going in an endless stream. Yang Xiao smiled and gestured for Cen Xun to be quiet, then waved her hand, and Cen Xun immediately leaned closer to listen.
“How about we sneak in quietly in the crowd without telling them?” Yang Xiao whispered in Cen Xun’s ear, “Let’s see how they react later.”
She looked up and smiled at Cen Xun, who was nodding in agreement, then turned to Bai Ming beside her. "Ever since we met by chance, this theater has grown bigger and bigger. It not only has local Bingzhou tunes, but now it also incorporates a lot of Jiangnan melodies. When we go there, I'll give you a proper introduction."
“Good,” Bai Ming leaned down slightly to listen, then nodded with a smile. “After so many years, the little opera troupe that used to travel around has become the famous Lingyue Pavilion in Jiangnan.” He glanced at Yang Xiao’s words and pondered them. “This is the first time I’ve seen such a fusion of northern and southern musical styles.”
"Then just you wait and see." Yang Xiao smiled and tossed her head, leading the two familiarly into the pavilion. She quickly ran up to the second-floor stage and found a spacious seat on the side. Like a theater owner, she invited the two to sit down. Seeing that there was no refreshments or tea on the table, she brought over two plates of melon seeds and snacks from an empty table next door.
Seeing how lively she was, Cen Xun couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, "Lingyu, you really treat this place like your own home."
“Yes,” Yang Xiao placed a plate of pastries in front of Bai Ming, smiling at Cen Xun, “I’ve known the Pavilion Master for so many years, would she really mind these two plates of melon seeds and pastries?” She turned around and picked up a teapot, then suddenly looked at Cen Xun as if she remembered something, “By the way, Tongxi, did Mr. Xue pay yesterday?”
“Of course,” Cen Xun said with a smile, tapping Yang Xiao’s nose, “We wouldn’t listen for nothing, would we?”
Yang Xiao smiled and stepped back, then poured tea for the two of them, saying, "That's fine then."
The surrounding seats were filled in no time, and the area in front of the stage became lively.
Yang Xiao also enthusiastically laid out snacks for Bai Mingcenxun and talked about the various decorations on the stage.
Just then, a light, cheerful clapper sound rang out, and the surroundings immediately fell silent, drawing everyone's attention to the stage.
"They've arrived." Yang Xiao put down her teacup and looked up at the stage with a smile.
A light fan floats, dance steps are delicate, and the girl's pretty face is hidden behind her long sleeves. As she turns her neck and rolls up her sleeves, her clear and beautiful singing voice intoxicates the listeners.
Fluttering like a butterfly among flowers, shining like a fairy in the moon, every rise and fall, every frown and smile, stirs the hearts of the viewers, captivating them with every note and melody.
Yang Xiao stared at the stage, her hand holding the melon seeds suddenly frozen in mid-air. She looked at the youngest junior sister on the stage with emotion; after several years, she had become the senior sister of many.
The girl on stage sang with rapt attention, her hands swung out in response, her two flowing sleeves billowing like waterfalls in front of her. Her clear, unparalleled eyes looked at the crowd below with a smile, but then she turned her gaze and looked straight at Yang Xiao.
Yang Xiao looked up at the girl and saw her freeze for a moment, then her face lit up with a joyful smile. Her water sleeves seemed to come alive, fluttering in the air and moving in sync with her movements.
"With a face adorned in rosy makeup and a flowing robe in her dress," the young woman gracefully stepped back two paces, her flowing sleeves billowing, "I wonder when my lord will return victorious?"
A series of gong sounds followed the girl's footsteps, gradually increasing in speed. Yang Xiao watched her junior sister on the stage with a smile, then quietly leaned closer to Bai Ming. Upon seeing this, Bai Ming quickly put down the pastries he was holding and turned to look at Yang Xiao.
"Look, it's coming!"
A sudden burst of gong beats rang out, and the girl gracefully stepped off the stage, her flowing sleeves billowing. On the other side of the stage, a dashing young man stepped onto the stage, his spear twirling and flying to the beat of the drums. The young man's bright eyes followed the tip of the spear, and every gesture he made exuded a dashing and heroic spirit.
"Bravo!" The audience below the stage couldn't help but applaud and cheer. Yang Xiao also clapped along with everyone else. She turned her gaze to Bai Ming and saw him clapping his hands lightly, his eyes fixed on the whistling spear.
Yang Xiao's eyes flickered, but she noticed a few crumbs of pastry on Bai Ming's lips. She suppressed a laugh and looked up at him.
As if sensing Yang Xiao's gaze, Bai Ming snapped out of his reverie of the spectacular performance on stage, lowered his eyes to meet Yang Xiao's smiling gaze, and couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. Seeing that Yang Xiao remained silent and smiling, he leaned down and asked softly, "What's wrong? Why aren't you watching the show..."
"Don't move yet." Yang Xiao couldn't help but laugh. She glanced at the pastry crumbs on Bai Ming's lips and gently wiped them away.
Bai Ming froze upon seeing this. His gaze followed Yang Xiao's fingertips, but he dared not meet her eyes. He simply held his breath, feeling the moment her fingertips linger, before gently leaving with the pastry crumbs.
He seemed frozen in that instant, his heart suddenly racing. He was about to raise his hand to touch his lips, but he barely managed to hold back. He looked into Yang Xiao's smiling eyes and pursed his lips almost imperceptibly.
"Alright." Yang Xiao sat up straight, then turned back to look at him with a smile. Seeing that he was still stunned and silent, she tilted her head towards the stage. "Come back to your senses, the best is yet to come."
Bai Ming then looked up at the smiling Yang Xiao, a blush spreading across his cheeks. He rubbed his nose and nodded with a slightly embarrassed smile, "General Yang, you flatter me."
"There's no need to laugh or not laugh," Yang Xiao chuckled and shook her head. Looking at the half-empty plate in front of Bai Ming, she slowly pushed the pastries in front of her towards him. "Lingyue Pavilion's pastries are famously delicious. Since we're here, why not indulge in some?"
Bai Ming took the pastries handed to him and nodded with a gentle smile.
Hearing the commotion, Cen Xun turned to look at the two whispering lovers and smiled knowingly. He then turned back to look at the young man on the stage, resting his chin on his hand.
After a series of fluid movements, the young man brandished his spear and his piercing gaze immediately fell upon the group.
In an instant, his face was flushed but could not hide the joy in his eyes. He seemed to have suddenly become interested, and every movement was light and powerful.
"To serve one's country is a matter of destiny; what fear is there of white bones being sacrificed to express one's heart? If it can bring peace to the land for ten thousand generations, then I will use this spear to test my skills against all heroes!"
Enemy soldiers suddenly rose up on the stage, but the young man's spear, like golden light, pierced through the enemy ranks.
The continuous, dragon-like movements drew applause from the audience, and cheers filled the entire pavilion.
Cen Xun watched the play on stage with great interest, occasionally clapping along with the audience. Ever since the young actor on stage noticed her sitting there, his gaze had never left her for a moment.
Everyone loves watching plays about generals risking their lives in battle, but Cen Xun seemed tired of them, resting her chin on her hand and slumping on the table. She glanced back at the two "genuine" generals beside her, then looked at the "showy but ineffective" martial arts on the stage, and couldn't help but sigh.
Born into chaotic times, who wouldn't want to do their utmost to save the people from suffering? Yet now, Jiangnan hesitates and wavers, like a "general" trapped on the stage. This is He Yuan's play, but isn't it also a laughingstock of the nation?
Cen Xun frowned, twirling the teacup in his hand, then sighed weakly. What hope was there for Jiangnan in its current state? Under He Yuan's command, even the most learned and skilled martial artist had no future.
"If my husband can bring peace and stability to the country, what does it matter if I suffer alone?" The beautiful young woman had somehow appeared beside the young man again. "You may leave now, but I will have no regrets."
Cen Xun chuckled and sighed, picked up the still-warm tea beside him and took a sip. Before his eyes was the familiar scene of the general returning home victorious and reuniting with his beauty. Amidst the cheers around him, Cen Xun drank countless cups of tea.
She stared at the cup, momentarily unable to distinguish whether what was being stirred within it was tea or wine.
"Good!" Seeing the young general returning home victorious, Yang Xiao couldn't help but cheer. Then she suddenly noticed that Cen Xun was leaning against his arm listlessly, his eyes showing no trace of the joy and pleasure he had in the play.
"What's wrong, Tongxi?" She glanced at Cen Xun, only to see him chuckle and wave his hand. "When you have the chance, you can have a drink with me."
"Drinking?" Yang Xiao looked at Cen Xun with slight disbelief. She paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly. "Although I've never drunk before, it shouldn't be a problem with you. But..." Yang Xiao sighed softly, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Cen Xun, "If you don't come north with me, how will I have a chance to drink with you?"
As the music ended, the audience left their seats, still wanting more, leaving the stage bustling with activity once again.
As the audience dispersed, Cen Xun chuckled and stood up. "You two, fight to the best of your ability. The day you pacify the world with Lord Zhongli, Lingyu, you too, like the general in the play, will return to Jiangnan to find me."
Yang Xiao couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, "What are you talking about? It won't be that long. When our two families unite against Xiao Yan, we can get together."
"Tongxi, Lingyu!" Before Yang Xiao finished speaking, they heard a clear male voice from not far away. They turned around and saw that the young man on the stage had run down without even changing his clothes.
Cen Xun turned to look at him, sighed softly as if he couldn't escape his fate, and stood there quietly waiting.
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