This winter is colder than usual. It's snowing heavily outside, and when you step on it, the back of your shoes is completely covered in snow.
The old man from the Yi family came in from outside, his woolen overcoat and hair covered in snowflakes.
Handing the leather bag to the butler, brushing the snow off his clothes, the eldest master of the Yi family looked upstairs: "Where is the fifth young master? Isn't he home?"
Normally, if I heard him come home, I would rush downstairs in a flash.
The butler bowed to him and whispered, "Today, the Xiancui Theater is showing 'The Drunken Beauty,' and Young Master Mu went there early this morning."
The old man frowned and shouted, "That good-for-nothing! He never learns anything good. Take some men and bring him back here!"
"Why!"
The steward, accompanied by two sturdy servants, trudged through the thick snow to the brightly lit and decorated Xiancui Theater.
The theater was always brightly lit, day or night.
Bright red lanterns illuminate the carved doors and windows, and two stone lions stand at the entrance with bright red ribbons around their necks. Everyone entering and leaving wears a smile on their face.
With only a few days left until the New Year, the theater is already filled with joy and happiness.
Walking inside, on the first floor, you'll find storytelling performances, with ordinary people dressed in simple cloth shirts sitting below the stage.
The story was about Liangshan, the Water God. The old man's voice was sometimes loud and sometimes soft. When he got excited, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table, and the audience cheered and applauded.
Knowing that the Fifth Young Master wouldn't be here, the butler climbed upstairs, where the view suddenly opened up.
Theaters are primarily places for performing operas.
The stage was three meters high, with a dense crowd of people standing or sitting below. Seven or eight meters above, there were several private boxes, where high-ranking officials and dignitaries sat.
The female lead on stage sang, "Life is like a spring dream, so let's drink a few cups to our hearts' content," and then, holding a golden goblet, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.
A slight flush of intoxication appeared on her rosy cheeks, yet she still said, "Your Majesty, is the wine still not enough? Take off your phoenix robe and let me serve you a large cup."
This young lady's appearance was elegant and beautiful, her singing was melodious, and her looks were also exceptionally beautiful. No wonder the Fifth Young Master, who always prided himself on being a playboy, had lingered in this theater for three months without getting tired of it.
The two servants said they would go downstairs to look for it, but the steward waved them off.
"Given Mu Shao's personality, he would never sit with these vulgar people."
He must be upstairs.
The steward led the servants upstairs and, sure enough, saw Yi Mu to the south.
Next to him sat Green Green, the top courtesan of the Meijin Courtyard, who was feeding him grapes.
Looking around, all he saw were either military officers in uniform or elderly officials.
They all sat in their chairs, intently appreciating the unparalleled music playing downstairs.
Only their young master lay boneless in the soft chair, a small thermos in his arms, being fed by a beauty—even a god couldn't compare.
The butler went over and whispered in the Fifth Young Master's ear.
"Just have some fun, don't get too involved. I'm waiting for you to go back. Put your shoes on, the sedan chair is all ready."
The young man, who looked quite young, was dressed in a moon-white silk cotton coat embroidered with a few pale yellow orchids, and wore a snow-white fox fur scarf around his neck.
His face was snow-white, even whiter than his scarf, with jet-black eyebrows, beautiful phoenix eyes, and a straight nose inherited from his father.
Unlike typical handsome men, he possesses thin, cool lips.
The Fifth Young Master's lips were like a woman's, small and red, like a ripe cherry, making one want to take a bite.
The most beautiful woman in the Yi family was not one of the three stunningly beautiful young ladies, but rather the fifth young master of the Yi family, Yi Mu, who had just come of age and was already famous throughout Beiping.
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