Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Kiss her.
The next day, Xue Yuanyin went to Zhang Jingxuan to rehearse the script, but he was no longer as easy to talk to as he was today. He did not accompany her to rehearse, but just watched from the side and let her perform for him alone.
When asked where he was injured, Zhang Jingxuan seemed unwilling to answer. Xue Yuanyin felt for a moment that he was lying when he said he was injured and applying medicine.
She felt a little regretful that she couldn't find another opportunity to tease him.
Three days later, the two went to the Sanqing Troupe to find Luo Niangzi, and she agreed to let Xue Yuanyin play the female role.
Mrs. Luo talked about the plan for the play "The Lament of Pear Blossoms". They only had half a month to familiarize themselves with the play and practice, as they would go to the neighboring Chunyong County after half a month.
When we arrived in Chunyong County, the first place we went to was Xiaocang Valley.
Mrs. Luo handed the opera script to the two of them and told them to come to the Sanqing Troupe to practice diligently every day. Suddenly, she remembered something, smiled ambiguously, and said:
"By the way, at the end of 'The Lament of the Pear Blossom', the female ghost is reincarnated as a human, gets married, and kills the scholar. There's a lip-syncing scene at the end. You guys happen to be a couple, so a lip-syncing scene would be okay, right?"
"What?!"
Xue Yuanyin nearly jumped up when she saw Mrs. Luo's strange look. She felt that her reaction was a bit too much, so she coughed lightly and said:
"Even though we're married, kissing in front of all the spectators, wouldn't that be a bit indecent..."
Mrs. Luo was unconcerned. "We're in the acting business, so why should we care about what's elegant or not? It's normal for a young lady like you to feel uncomfortable when you first join the Sanqing Troupe. You'll be fine after practicing more, just like everyone else!"
Seeing that neither of them said anything and the atmosphere was a little strange, she looked over with suspicion:
"Why are you both silent? Could it be that... you are not husband and wife, but are just pretending?"
Zhang Jingxuan took a step forward and said gently:
"Madam Luo, you're joking. My wife is young and a little sensitive. I'm afraid she won't be able to adapt for the time being. Madam Luo, could you be flexible? For example, find a different angle for the lip-syncing scene, or borrow someone else's position to replace her?"
Mrs. Luo frowned slightly. She just said she would not act out the planned role. If it weren't for the man's handsome appearance, she would definitely not tolerate it.
After thinking for a while, she said, "You should try to adapt to it. It's okay if you don't want to kiss in the Sanqing Troupe on weekdays. When you go to Xiaocang Valley to perform for the nobles, it's best to follow the role. If you really can't do it, find an angle to kiss the corner of the lips, and make it look so that no one can see anything unusual. Otherwise, if the nobles blame us, we won't be able to pay with our lives."
Actors are the lowest class of people. It is understandable that Madam Luo is always cautious in front of nobles and strives to do her best.
Xue Yuanyin couldn't help but look at Zhang Jingxuan's lips.
Because his eyebrows and eyes are so outstanding, she always tends to overlook the shape of his lips. Now that she has taken a closer look, she finds that his lips are also very beautiful, with the right thickness and a light pink color, which looks very kissable.
Zhang Jingxuan suddenly turned her head and met Xue Yuanyin's dazed gaze. She suddenly woke up.
Wait...what was she thinking?!
Xue Yuanyin quickly turned her head away, pretending nothing had happened, but her ears felt slightly hot.
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her and slowly looked away.
After agreeing with Madam Luo what time to come every day, the two of them went back. Next, they would stay in the Sanqing class all day to practice "The Lament of Pear Blossoms". In half a month, they would sneak into Xiaocang Valley. Success or failure depended on this. They had to make some preparations in advance and send letters to the outside world to discuss sending troops for support.
Zhang Jingxuan returned to his room, closed the door, picked up his pen to write a letter, and showed it to Xue Yuanyin.
Xue Yuanyin asked as he watched, "We're going in with the Sanqing troupe. We can't bring weapons that are too conspicuous. What should we do?"
Zhang Jingxuan pondered for a few seconds and said, "It's enough to bring some hidden weapons for self-defense. Xiaocang Valley is a base for privately forged weapons, and there will be armed guards inside. We can grab them and use them immediately."
Xue Yuanyin nodded. This method was much more reliable than buying weapons outside and sneaking them in.
After finally confirming the letter was correct, Zhang Jingxuan placed it in the wooden dragonfly. While Granny Chen was cooking in the kitchen, he stood in the courtyard, activated his inner strength, and flew it out.
After delivering the message, both of them stood there, no one speaking.
Finally, it was Zhang Jingxuan who spoke first, saying calmly:
"Xiao Cang Valley is probably our last stop in Quanyang County. Whether we succeed or not, we won't be coming back."
If they succeed in destroying the stronghold, it will be the achievement of both of them; if they fail, the emperor's troops will take over, but it is hard to say whether the Western Qiang people hiding in Xiaocang Valley can be caught again, and all their hard work in recent days will be wasted.
After a while, Xue Yuanyin hummed and lowered her head. The hair that fell from her bun hung on both sides of her cheeks, blocking her expression and making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Zhang Jingxuan didn't know what to say. The two of them had spent nearly six months here, living a simple, hard-working, yet peaceful life, free from conflict. They'd lived in plain clothes and simple food, the man farming and the woman weaving. They'd almost forgotten they came from the distant capital, from prestigious families, born with a family mission. Neither of them had ever belonged here.
Once they leave this place, they will return to their original status, living a life surrounded by servants, enjoying delicacies from land and sea, but without control over their own lives.
It's like a paradise on earth, and now it's about to end.
Xue Yuanyin raised her head, her expression calm and unremarkable. She said:
"Let's go back to the house. We have to go to the Sanqing Troupe to rehearse a play starting tomorrow, so we won't have much time to rest."
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her, put away his complicated thoughts, and said "hmm".
Now is not the time to be sad.
The most important thing for them right now is to prepare to sneak into Xiaocang Valley.
-
Half a month passed in a flash, and Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan were rehearsing "The Lament of Pear Blossoms" in the Sanqing troupe.
During this period, she and he did not have any more inappropriate contact, and the lip-syncing scenes were temporarily replaced by borrowed shots. It was as if both of them knew what they would face when they returned to the capital.
They are rivals and childhood sweethearts, and they understand each other best.
Xue Yuanyin sometimes wondered why Zhang Jingxuan didn't want her to take advantage of him. Perhaps it was because he felt his future was uncertain and he couldn't take responsibility, so he didn't want to delay her.
Then he thought again, maybe she was narcissistic, and he didn't like her, so why would he care about such a small thing!
At noon this morning, the Sanqing troupe planned to leave this place and head to Xiaocang Valley in Chunyong County.
Xue Yuanyin got up early in the morning and packed a bag containing clothes, the clothes and jewelry that Zhang Jingxuan bought for her, and the Pixiu jade carving she won on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. She also tied a sheathed dagger to the leg of her trousers.
Zhang Jingxuan also took his bag and put the compass and map inside. After thinking for a moment, he went back to the house to get the tortoise shell and wooden chips and put them in the bag.
Regardless of success or failure, their infiltration into Xiaocang Valley will eventually be exposed, and they will never return to this courtyard.
Grandma Chen dismissed the master and servant, and she kowtowed to them before leaving.
Xue Yuanyin, carrying a bag on her back, turned her head to look at the small courtyard behind her. Looking at this home that was simple but full of life, she felt a rare sense of sadness.
I didn’t think so much before coming here, but I didn’t expect that I would leave behind so many concerns when I left, making me so reluctant to leave.
But there was clearly nothing of hers in this yard. She came empty-handed and left almost empty-handed, and she herself didn't understand what she was worried about.
Zhang Jingxuan is usually not a very patient person, but at this moment he did not urge her. Instead, he stood behind her, half a step behind her.
She was standing right in front of his sight, her fair profile blocking his vision. From his angle, he could see the top of her furry head, with a few strands of hair falling casually and resting on her slender neck.
He raised his eyes slightly, looked towards the yard, and seemed to be looking at her.
The widow next door started playing the willow leaf song again, and the melodious music floated into her ears. She was a beautiful woman who had lost her husband and had no children, but she refused to marry. She stayed in this remote loess village, watching the sunrise and sunset.
Life is like duckweed, rooted here, she can't go anywhere.
If a person leaves, he or she will not be able to let go of these things that bind him or her, but she has been here for several years, so how can she count the things that bind her or her?
When I am alone, I smile without knowing what sorrow feels like, and I am not afraid of the bumpy and vast future.
However, when there were people smiling and laughing by your side, and when you were walking together in pairs and whispering to each other, there would be many things that were hard to let go.
Flowers bloom in the morning, fruits fall in the evening, and delusions arise.
…
After a while, under the outer neck tree at the entrance of the alley ahead, Mrs. Luo urged repeatedly:
"Hurry up, it's time to go."
Zhang Jingxuan suddenly came back to his senses, retracted his gaze, and said calmly, "Let's go."
Xue Yuanyin nodded, turned and walked towards the entrance of the alley to meet up with the Sanqing troupe.
-
With the help of the Sanqing Troupe, Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan entered and exited the city gate without a pass and successfully arrived at the territory of Chunyong County.
On the way, Xue Yuanyin asked Mrs. Luo about the news of Xiaocang Valley, but Mrs. Luo didn't know much either. She shook her head and said:
"I've only spoken to their contact. All I know is that it's a valley nestled in the mountains. Someone will be waiting for us at the foot of the mountain to lead us in. But the reward is generous. They say the adults in the valley love to have fun, so they asked us not to perform the usual stuff, but something more outrageous."
Xue Yuanyin told Zhang Jingxuan the news and he said:
"They are very cautious. We should be careful after we sneak in."
After a pause, he added, "Don't act alone. Come and discuss anything with me."
Xue Yuanyin uttered an "oh" and then asked knowingly, "Do I need you to go with me when I go to the bathroom?"
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her and was too lazy to answer.
Xue Yuanyin remembered something again, coughed lightly, and said:
"It's just... the lip-syncing scene. Madam Luo just said that when we really perform for you, it's best to act it out realistically... What do you think?"
Zhang Jingxuan was silent for a moment and glanced at her lips. The girl had beautiful lips, without any rouge, and they were plump and pink. Just by looking at them, he knew that they were kissable lips. However, he must abide by the gentleman's code of conduct and cannot kiss her randomly according to the plot.
Kissing... is so intimate, even more intimate than physical contact.
He looked away for a moment before saying, "We'll see what happens."
Although Mrs. Luo hoped that they would follow the plot, she did not say anything final and left some room for maneuver.
Xue Yuanyin said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions.
Although her first kiss was on Zhang Jingxuan's face, she didn't kiss him on the mouth. As for whether she wanted to kiss him on the mouth... Xue Yuanyin couldn't think of the answer for a moment.
The advantage she imagined did not include using her mouth.
Only people who like each other can kiss each other.
…
The Sanqing troupe entered Xiaocang Valley. The person who came to meet them looked ordinary, but he was smooth and decisive in his work. He was probably the manager of Xiaocang Valley.
After a thorough check to make sure that no one else was brought along, the steward led the way.
The trees in the mountains are ancient and lush, the roads are winding, and the rocks are rugged, making it difficult to walk. The manager asked them to follow closely and not to walk around or look around.
These people from the Sanqing group were all homeless and had a natural fear and admiration for nobles, so they immediately followed obediently.
Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan were mixed in the team, at the very end, and inconspicuous.
Zhang Jingxuan avoided the eyes and ears of others and took out the compass from his bag.
The compass is made of wood, and the five elements, eight trigrams, heavenly stems and earthly branches are engraved with cinnabar pen, which looks very complicated.
Xue Yuanyin glanced at it and then looked away, losing interest in exploring.
Zhang Jingxuan added water to the compass, and the needle began to move, pointing in a certain direction. He considered it for a moment and whispered to Xue Yuanyin:
"Take a small piece of paper and write it down. Once you enter the forest, head west and follow the rocky mountain path."
Xue Yuanyin responded: "I know."
He immediately avoided the attention of others, took out ink, pen and paper, and began to draw a simple map.
Once they enter Xiaocang Valley, they will find an opportunity to put the letter into a dragonfly, fly it out and hand it to the emperor so that he can send troops for support.
…
Xiaocang Valley is located in the mountains and is in a hidden location. The Sanqing team walked a long way before reaching the valley.
After hearing the steward say "We're here", Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan walked out at the same time and looked around the place.
This place was probably not the main entrance, but a small gate separated by an iron gate. It was surrounded by a high mud and stone wall, so it was hard to see what was inside. But just looking at the high wall, it was clear that it was not something that ordinary people could repair. It must have been the work of the government.
Before entering the small door, the manager checked the number of people one by one and only opened the door to let them in after confirming that everyone was correct.
Madam Luo and the driver pulled the equipment that the Sanqing troupe used to travel around into the house. Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan mixed in with the team and went in, secretly looking around.
The first feeling is that this place is more like a small training ground than a stronghold.
Inside the high walls was a large, flat area of rammed earth, with several tents dotted within. The distinctive markings on the tents were common to the Western Qiang people, clearly indicating this was their stronghold. However, the tents were quiet, suggesting no one was there.
There is a training ground and a horse farm not far away, but there are not many people there.
Zhang Jingxuan walked beside her and whispered, "These are the military tents of the Western Qiang."
Xue Yuanyin looked outside the gate again. In front of him was a natural mountain stream with layers of rugged rocks and trees in the middle.
Zhang Jingxuan looked in the direction she pointed and said:
"The privately forged ironware of the Quanyang County Magistrate would be carried across the mountain stream, or rather hidden within it. The Western Qiang people here would periodically come to collect it and exchange it for gems, spices, and colored glaze."
That was all they saw at the moment. The steward led them around a corner and into a backyard, which was obviously where the servants lived. Seeing the steward stop, Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan stopped talking at the same time.
The steward asked them to arrange their own accommodation, and the nobles would come tomorrow. The nobles liked to have wine in the evening, and the Sanqing Troupe would be responsible for the drama repertoires for the next three days.
"The Lament of Pear Blossoms" was scheduled on the last day, so Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan had three days to understand the terrain of the place and inspect the distribution of various parts of Xiaocang Valley.
The steward also gave them some precautions, such as not walking around without permission, needing to report to him if leaving the backyard, not entering any other place except their residence, etc.
After the steward left, Madam Luo also gave some instructions, and then called a few people to go to the front to set up the stage. It was almost dinner time now, and it got dark early in the mountains, so they needed to set up the stage before sunset.
With the idea of finding out the terrain, Xue Yuanyin pulled Zhang Jingxuan out of the backyard and followed Luo Niangzi to build the stage. However, to their disappointment, the stage was set up on the open space in the parade ground and they did not get any useful information.
By the time dinner was over, the stage was set up. While they didn't know who the distinguished guest would be tomorrow, they knew it would likely be the master of Xiaocang Valley. The Sanqing Troupe, accustomed to wandering around for a living, were unexcited and retired early.
When the night fell completely dark and the surroundings fell into silence, Xue Yuanyin waited until the clepsydra reached the hour of Hai, then sneaked out of the house and came to Zhang Jingxuan's house silently.
The door was ajar. Xue Yuanyin knew that this was the door Zhang Jingxuan had left for her. She knocked gently and whispered, "Are you ready?"
Zhang Jingxuan quickly came out, closed the door, and nodded, "Let's go."
The steward said that the nobleman would come tomorrow, which meant that Xiaocang Valley would be unguarded tonight, making it the best time to explore the way.
Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan both knew that they could not miss this great opportunity.
-
Two days passed in a flash.
Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan rehearsed "The Lament of Pear Blossoms" during the day, and went with Zhang Jingxuan to survey the terrain and consider plans at night.
Madam Luo told everyone that after the Pear Blossom Complaint was over on the third day, the nobles would go to roast mutton and drink wine, and asked them to hide in the house and not come out.
This was a disguised way of telling the ladies to protect themselves, because the nobleman who invited the opera troupe to Xiaocang Valley was of a special status, different from the usual ones - he was from Xiqiang.
It is said that the people of Western Qiang are cold-hearted, cruel, and love blood. If you are spotted by them and captured, the consequences will be disastrous.
Everyone knew the consequences and agreed.
That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and everything was silent.
Inside the room, after closing the door, Zhang Jingxuan handed the drawn topographic map to Xue Yuanyin. The strongholds, mountain streams, and the commander's tent were all clearly visible on it.
He pointed at the topographic map and said:
"We had already secretly flown out the topographical map using a dragonfly on the first night. However, it will take time for His Majesty to receive the news, control the county magistrate, and then mobilize troops. The latest night we can take action is the third night."
His fingers were long, white, and he was drawing circles on the picture while whispering.
It was night time and everyone was resting. He spoke in a low voice and slowly.
Xue Yuanyin nodded. They had checked it out two days ago. There weren't many people here, only one commander, two or three deputies, and a few small soldiers. She said,
"Madam Luo said they will have a banquet tonight. We should wait until the banquet to take action. However, it is impossible for the two of us to kill them all."
Zhang Jingxuan pondered for a moment and said, "We must first kill the commander-in-chief to prevent him from discovering anything unusual about Xiaocang Valley. We must send scouts to deliver a message to mobilize troops from the Western Qiang border."
This place is very close to the border of Western Qiang, which is why privately cast ironware can be sold secretly without being noticed.
It is certain that the county magistrate would abandon his bottom line and collaborate with the enemy and commit treason for the sake of profit, but the problem is that if the emperor's support does not arrive in time, they will most likely die if they act rashly.
He tapped the table with his fingertips, the gentle tapping sounds repeating rhythmically in the silent night. He said:
"I recognize the Western Qiang commander stationed in Xiaocang Valley. His name is Helian Ba. Although he's not as famous as the Western Qiang's most famous murderous commander, Ashilie, he shouldn't be underestimated."
Xue Yuanyin hesitated and said:
"I'm going to put on an actor's costume, go to the main tent, seduce the Western Qiang commander, and then take the opportunity to kill him?"
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her calmly and said, "If you don't mind your life, you can try it."
Xue Yuanyin said: "..."
If you don’t agree, then don’t agree. Why are you being so harsh?
Zhang Jingxuan added calmly, "What's more, most of the Western Qiang generals are accustomed to seeing beautiful women, and there is never a shortage of prostitutes in their tents. It's best not to show them your clumsy teasing tricks."
Xue Yuanyin couldn't help but retort: "Why do you say my skills are bad? You are such a calm person, but you were teased by me..."
She met Zhang Jingxuan's slightly deep gaze, and realizing that they were now in a serious discussion, she coughed suddenly, touched her nose, and looked away awkwardly:
"Well, keep talking."
Zhang Jingxuan did not pursue her previous speechlessness and quickly changed the subject:
"After the performance of 'Pear Blossom's Complaint' ends, they will prepare roast lamb and drink wine. When the feast is over, we will enter the tent and assassinate the commander while he is drunk and asleep."
Xue Yuanyin nodded. This method was the most feasible at present. The reaction speed of people who were drunk was several times faster than usual. If they tried, even if they couldn't kill him, they could at least seriously injure him.
She said: "The most difficult thing is not the assassination, but——"
Zhang Jingxuan followed up, "It's escape."
If the assassination was done while drunk and asleep, not only her, but even Zhang Jingxuan could do it, but it would be impossible to do it silently, and the commander would definitely make a sound.
The most difficult thing is that the soldiers in the tent outside will definitely notice it, and once the truth is revealed, the assassin will have no way to escape.
Xue Yuanyin asked, "Who will kill me or you?"
Whoever is responsible for the assassination will be in danger.
The air was quiet for a moment, and her eyes fell on his face. The dim light of the bean lamp shone on his handsome and delicate face, making his expression a little unclear.
Zhang Jingxuan pondered for a moment and said, "Let me do it. My Qinggong skills are decent."
Xue Yuanyin shook her head and said, "I will. If a fight breaks out, I can still handle it. What about you?"
Although she had no formal experience in the battlefield, if she met an opponent, she could at least maneuver around and delay until reinforcements arrived. If it were Zhang Jingxuan, he might not have any problem escaping alone, but he would forget about maneuvering.
This wasn't the time to act rashly. Zhang Jingxuan considered for a moment, then nodded, "I'll cover for you. The main tent is very close to the main gate. Remember to grab a horse and a weapon. Once you exit through the main gate, flee into the mountains and forests. It's best not to enter the mountain stream."
Once you enter the mountain stream, you will find yourself at the bottom of a valley with high cliffs on both sides, making it easy to get trapped.
Xue Yuanyin blinked and said, "Perhaps by then the Western Qiang reinforcements will arrive on both sides of the forest, forcing me into the mountain stream. If that happens, you will be the one providing cover outside, and I will have to rely on you to save my life."
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her with a hint of warning.
Xue Yuanyin said "Puh, Puh" twice and quickly covered his mouth.
I hope it doesn't sound like a jinx.
She suddenly thought of something and said with a smile, "Didn't you bring the tortoise shell and wooden chips with you? How about you tell me the fortune and see if the result is good or bad?"
She spoke so lightly about such a serious topic. He glanced at her and unexpectedly refused: "No divination."
Xue Yuanyin was disappointed: "Why?"
Zhang Jingxuan's attitude this time was unyielding. He said, "No divination, no divination."
Xue Yuanyin asked, "Aren't you worried about my safety?"
Zhang Jingxuan did not answer, obviously not intending to change his mind.
Xue Yuanyin curled her lips and said, "Okay, then I won't."
Glancing at the clepsydra, she saw it was already past midnight. She yawned, stood up, and said, "I'm going back to my room. You should get some rest too. Tomorrow we'll perform 'The Complaint of the Pear Blossom' well, and we won't let anything get out of hand before we start."
Zhang Jingxuan said succinctly: "I know."
With a wave of his hand, Xue Yuanyin left the room and closed the door.
There was silence in the room for a moment. Zhang Jingxuan lowered his head, took out a tortoise shell and wooden chips from his bag, and then took out six copper coins. He looked at them silently. After a moment, he put the copper coins into the tortoise shell and shook it slowly.
The sound of ding-ding-dong-dong was heard. He repeated it six times, counting the chips one by one, and finally placed them on the table, looking over quietly.
——Lu Gua.
It is not the best result and there are considerable risks, but it is not bad either. In the end, we will be able to turn danger into safety.
Zhang Jingxuan relaxed his brow slightly and put away the tortoise shells, wooden chips and copper coins.
-
The next day, the rosy clouds fell, and it was the beginning of the You hour.
The show was about to begin, and Xue Yuanyin was forced by Mrs. Luo to stay in the room to put on makeup.
"Your facial features are very pretty, and your eye acting has been very well practiced lately. If it weren't for the fact that the other two actors from our Sanqing Troupe who are returning from mourning are going to be back soon, I would have kept you here... But your face is still too childish, and you need a bit more makeup. For a ghost demon who has just become a spirit, it's better to retain a little bit of innocence..."
Mrs. Luo kept talking, saying that the performances of the previous two days had ended perfectly, and she hoped that today's last song "Pear Blossom Lament" could also be completed smoothly.
The group of Western Qiang people did not cause any trouble. She never asked too many questions or looked too closely. She just wanted to finish the job quickly, get the reward and leave Xiaocang Valley as soon as possible.
After putting on makeup and changing into costume, Xue Yuanyin looked at herself in the bronze mirror.
The girl's facial features have been replaced by charm, and there is an innocence in her every frown and smile, but her skin is painted extremely white, and it is not difficult to see that it is not like human skin. Obviously, female ghosts are not often exposed to sunlight, so they have an abnormal and morbid beauty.
Her long black hair hangs down, with no decoration except for the crown, which fits the image of a "newborn" female ghost.
Xue Yuanyin smoothed the sleeves of his costume and went out to see Zhang Jingxuan's costume. He had also changed into his costume, dressed as a scholar from a poor family who was making his debut. There were patches on the hem of his clothes, but it did not hide his handsome and unrestrained appearance, as beautiful as jade.
I have to say that Zhang Jingxuan is really convincing in playing the scholar. If it weren't for his outstanding face, how could the ghost demon fall in love with him at first sight.
Suddenly, there was a whistling sound outside. Xue Yuanyin looked at the sky through the curtains, frowned slightly and said, "The wind is picking up."
"Yeah." Zhang Jingxuan stopped adjusting his shirt and collar, looked up, and said slowly, "It's going to rain."
Xue Yuanyin said, "I'm afraid it will rain tomorrow. I wonder if the deployment of the Western Qiang people in Xiaocang Valley will be temporarily changed."
While they were talking, the sound of actors singing could be heard from the stage outside. Madam Luo also came on stage and was responsible for singing the harmony. The sad and mournful clear voice flowed out slowly.
Three drum beats signaled that it was time for the characters to appear on stage.
Zhang Jing retracted his gaze and whispered, "Don't say too much, just adapt to the situation."
After saying this, he adjusted the corner of his robe, walked out first and went onto the stage.
Xue Yuanyin also looked at the stage, took a deep breath, and soon appeared on stage.
Neither she nor he needed to sing any songs. There were only one or two short lines in which they needed to call each other's names. All the other lines were sung for them by Madam Luo.
As the actors sang, Xue Yuanyin acted with Zhang Jingxuan while glancing at the Western Qiang people below. He estimated that there were no more than ten of them in total, most of them were probably just reserve soldiers guarding the place, and there were not many people.
The main general Helian Ba was sitting at the back, with thick eyebrows and a broad face. He was drinking and watching the stage with relish, his attitude looking quite relaxed.
It seemed that when they didn't need to do the "weapons trade" with the county magistrate, they had nothing else to do, so they were not on guard and happened to be taken advantage of by her and Zhang Jingxuan.
Xue Yuanyin returned her attention to the stage, concentrating on rehearsing with Zhang Jingxuan.
In the play "The Complaint of Pear Blossoms", he seemed to be completely immersed in the role of a scholar. He felt inferior about his family background and felt melancholy about the future. He also developed a romantic feeling for the quirky and somewhat charming female ghost who was accompanying him at this moment, and they soon had physical intimacy.
Amid the melodious singing, Xue Yuanyin looked at him somewhat absentmindedly.
Zhang Jingxuan seemed to have completely turned into that scholar, looking at her with a gentle and shy smile, gradually opening his heart to her, promising her a future, and telling her his secrets.
But after becoming successful, she was no longer the same. After the ghost monster gave her a heart, she needed spiritual power to maintain her form. After the scholar passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar, he was still troubled and changed his face, which led to her tragic death.
After the first act ended, Xue Yuanyin was in a daze for a long time. Finally, Zhang Jingxuan pulled her and she remembered to go back to the stage to change into costumes for the second act.
Xue Yuanyin had to change clothes three times when performing the piece "Pear Blossom Lament".
One is at the beginning, when she, as a newly formed ghost demon, came out to explore the human world and was given the task of killing a scholar. Unexpectedly, she fell in love with the scholar's appearance and became disloyal. But in the end, the scholar let her down, leading to her innocent death.
The second time the ghost demon changed clothes, he was reincarnated as a woman in the human world and became a lady from a wealthy family. However, the ghost demon's memory was not lost, so he went to find the scholar to complete the unresolved love and hate entanglement in his previous life.
The third time she changed clothes, the scholar who had become the top scholar was bewitched by her, abandoned his wife and decided to marry her. However, on the wedding night, he was shot through the heart by a ghost in a wedding dress, but this also hurt the ghost's body, and she turned into pear blossoms and followed him away.
The pear blossoms were planted for her by a scholar just because she praised them, saying, "The flowers here are so beautiful." Unexpectedly, the pear blossoms became funeral flowers in the end, and the "pear blossoms" also turned into "leaving flowers."
Resentment and love, dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, everything is gone without a trace.
Soon the final scene came, the wedding night arrived, and it was also the last gamble for the ghosts and demons.
If the scholar confessed everything and apologized to her, she would decide to forgive him and live a happy life with him for the rest of his life. But if the scholar concealed and denied everything, she would kill him and die with him.
Xue Yuanyin listened to the sad singing beside her ears, put on the red veil of her wedding dress, and vaguely saw the pair of eyes of the scholar played by Zhang Jingxuan in front of her that seemed to be full of love. In an instant, she actually understood the ghost demon's feelings.
She wanted to sleep with him, but that would also mean losing her innocence. There were many harsh rules in this world for women, and as the heir to the Xue family, she had already endured too many rumors.
Sleeping with a poor boy with no name or status and sleeping with the eldest son of a noble family have completely different weights.
If the fact that she had had physical contact with Zhang Jingxuan were to be exposed, she and the Xue family would be drowned in the spit of the people in the capital.
But will Zhang Jingxuan take responsibility?
How could he be responsible? He was the eldest grandson of the Zhang family, a close minister to the crown prince who was entrusted with great hopes. He had ascended to a high position at a young age, and was in charge of the government. How could he allow something beyond his control to happen?
Zhang Jingxuan would not fall in love with her, nor would he make any promises.
He will enjoy himself for the moment, but in the end he will let her down.
Xue Yuanyin was wearing a red veil and listening to the sad opera, her heart ached and she actually shed a tear.
She heard the scholar opposite lie to the ghost. He lied and said that he had never loved a female ghost from a different background, and he only loved the reincarnated lady from a wealthy family in front of him.
The scholar promised her that they would be together for the rest of their lives, but this promise was nothing but a bubble, like a high tower or a reflection in the mirror, which would break with a slight poke.
So, she shed tears of blood behind her red veil, but secretly took out the dagger from her sleeve, ready to assassinate the scholar she had admired for many years, the current top scholar, and her new husband of only one day, on the wedding night when they were kissing each other.
She and Zhang Jingxuan had already come to an understanding, and used substitutions for their lip-syncing scenes.
And she needed to stab Zhang Jingxuan's heart with the specially treated dagger at this final moment. He had protective armor under his outer shirt, and if it was stabbed, it would puncture his blood sac and cause blood to flow.
Xue Yuanyin suppressed the sadness and bitterness in her heart and adjusted her mood. Amid the actor's sudden and passionate singing, she saw Zhang Jingxuan leaning over from a borrowed angle.
Through the red veil, she trembled as she raised her hands tightly gripping the dagger, and waited calmly for the blood sac to be pierced and the scene to end.
When Zhang Jingxuan was close to her, he raised his palm and gently pressed it on her thin shoulder. He tilted his head, slowly closed his eyes, and kissed her lips.
The sharp knife pierced his chest, and he let the blood flow out. A very low sound came from his throat, like a soft gasp, like a soft sigh.
He did not use the position as agreed.
The two lips were pressed tightly together, separated by the vermilion veil, engraving each other's feelings intimately and charmingly.
The fabric is rough, yet soft.
Xue Yuanyin's eyes suddenly widened behind her red veiled costume.
For a moment, everything around her was silent, her mind was buzzing, and the only sounds were the rustling wind, the enthusiastic cheers, and her own heartbeat in her chest, which seemed to have been boiling in a frying pan, beating rapidly and violently.
——Bang, bang, bang.
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