After hearing this, Ci Dong felt relieved and stopped thinking: "I'll go get some water now, and you should get some rest early. You've been busy patrolling the city these past few days."

Chang'an and Cidong exchanged a few words and then went about their business.

May is finally getting hot, and ice drinks and ice snacks seem to have been available overnight.

Zhaoyang County is well connected, with countless merchants, and business is prosperous.

A new theater has opened in the east of the city. It is said that the famous actress Yuanyang is the host, and the business is getting more and more popular.

"Your Highness, I have a few things to say to you that I should not speak."

Fang Zhengjin looked up at the plaque of the theater "Yihongyuan" and smiled stiffly, as if he had eaten sour peppers, staring straight at Helian Yu.

Helian Yu held a bamboo tube of ice drink and patted Fang Zhengjin on the shoulder: "Fang Fang, don't be so polite when you are out. If you have anything unpleasant to say, just hold it in. After all, you are friendly to me."

Fang Zhengjin: “…”

Yan Tiantian added in a low voice from behind: "I can speak for her."

Helian Yu turned around and smiled kindly, "Tiantian, I always believe that your mouth is as sweet as your name."

Yan Tiantian blinked and nodded knowingly, "I understand, Your Highness. I'll hold it in too."

Fang Zhengjin: “…”

Helian Yu snapped her fingers in a casual manner and walked towards the theater. The hem of her skirt danced with her steps, creating ripples like green lotus leaves reflected in the green water of a pond, fresh and lively.

Fang Zhengjin and Yan Tiantian looked at each other and followed.

"We should have asked Shu You to come out today, why didn't she come out?"

"Master Shu sent someone to bring her some summer clothing, food and daily necessities, cool pillows, bamboo mats, gauze clothes, etc. She is sorting them out."

"I see."

The three men were followed by guards disguised as servants and entered the crowded theater lobby.

The lobby was not very big, with a dozen tables. There was singing on the stage in front, and the audience and drama fans below were clapping and cheering.

Helian Yu and the other two found a table and sat down, while the guards either stayed outside or sat down at a table nearby.

Helian Yu ordered tea skillfully: "A pot of cold tea and two plates of cakes."

"Okay! Please wait a moment!"

The waiter moved quickly and swiftly and served the food.

"Waiter, I heard that Miss Yuanyang is a famous actress. Why did she join an unknown troupe?" Helian Yu stopped the waiter and asked.

The waiter smiled awkwardly: "Miss, the guests are still waiting over there..."

Helian Yu took out a piece of silver that he had brought specially and put it on the table.

The waiter smiled instantly, as if his smile was filled with warmth. He quickly put the silver coins into his sleeves and said, "Miss, you don't know that our troupe owner's sister is beautiful and also a singer. She is lucky to be taken in as a concubine by the third young master of the Jiangnan Mu family. That's why our troupe owner has the money to hire Miss Yuanyang!"

Helian Yu nodded and sent the waiter away without asking any further questions.

The Jiangnan Mu family is a relatively special family. They were banned from entering officialdom more than a hundred years ago and were not allowed to enter the capital without being summoned.

The matter of the theater and the monks was too coincidental for Helian Yu to help but think about it, but now it seems that they are indeed not related at all.

After listening to the performance for an hour in the theater, Helian Yu made this comment: the performance was good and the actresses were pretty.

After listening to the opera, Helian Yu took Fang Zhengjin and Yan Tiantian to the backstage of the theater, which is also the backyard.

"Whose family are you from? What do you want?"

A very handsome boy looked at Helian Yu and the other two with curiosity in his eyes. His gaze was fixed on the gold and jade jewelry on them, and then he shyly looked away.

"Where is your boss?" Helian Yu took out an ingot of silver and handed it to the boy.

The boy put his hands behind his back, bit his lip shyly and shook his head. He lowered his head like a frightened bird, raised his eyelids carefully, and said in a very light and quick voice: "I'll go call the class owner over!"

The boy turned and ran away. Fang Zhengjin pinched his chin and looked at Helian Yu.

"Is it possible that your highness looks scary?"

"Is it possible that I'm really good-looking?" Helian Yu forced a smile, "I've been a beauty since I was young."

Fang Zhengjin: “…”

The boy quickly brought the boss, who was a middle-aged man in his thirties with a short beard on his chin and looked smart and capable.

The man looked at Helian Yu and the other two as he walked, and the smile on his face became more and more sincere and brilliant.

He greeted her warmly, "Miss, what do you want to talk to me about? Your family wants to invite a troupe to perform?"

"No." Helian Yu looked around the courtyard. The small courtyard was very clean. The apprentices were practicing hard so that they could go on stage as soon as possible. "I want to buy your troupe."

The man's face changed when he heard this, and he seemed to want to kick her out: "Miss, this troupe is my hard work--"

"Ten thousand taels of silver."

"Miss, this play——"

"Thirty thousand taels."

"Sell!"

When Helian Yu opened his mouth to mention 50,000 taels, he stopped in time: "My request is that you continue to stay in the troupe and teach the apprentices, but my people will come to manage it with you. I will give you 5 taels of silver every month, how about it?"

When the troupe owner heard this, his old face almost blossomed with joy, and he nodded happily: "Hey! Don't worry, young lady! I will definitely teach you a good role!"

Helian Yu didn't care whether Jiao'er was good or not, she just wanted to grasp the possible clue.

"I don't want anyone outside to know about this except those present here." Helian Yu warned, "If anyone outside says anything, our deal will be void."

"No problem!" The troupe leader promised solemnly, "If these apprentices dare to tell anyone, I will throw them out and let them starve to death! I'm tight-lipped and I promise I won't tell anyone, not even my own mother or sisters!"

Helian Yu was satisfied: "When you have time, pick up a few beggars on the street. If they are not lazy or bad, recruit them and feed them. You don't have to worry about money."

The troupe owner had never met a "sucker" like Helian Yu in his life. He used other people's money to do good deeds and got the good reputation. He was more grateful than having his own parents.

He was excited and tears welled up in his eyes: "You are such a good person!"

He is still a good man who is a little silly! I don’t know whose family this young lady is from, how big her family is, can she afford to lose money like this! After finalizing the details with the troupe owner, the troupe owner insisted on going back to the mansion with Helian Yu to get the silver. He was really itching and curious about whose prodigal daughter this was.

When they arrived at the county government, the troupe owner was dumbfounded.

"Princess!"

He knelt down in fear and kowtowed: "Princess, please spare my life, please spare my life, it is my fault that I did not recognize the real talent. I don't want the money anymore, I don't want--"

"That's enough." Helian Yu led the people into the county government. "The contract has been signed. How can I be a person who goes back on my word? How will the people of the world view me? How will they view the royal family? How will they view my father?"