Chapter 63 Seducing "Pei Family Fourth Lady"
Noon.
From the huge and ancient "Banfang Theater" comes the melodious sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras.
As the largest theater in the capital, its architectural style imitates the Baguatai, which means to open the door wide to welcome guests from all directions.
But in fact, those who can come here to listen to opera are either rich or noble.
For ordinary people, the "ticket" money alone, not counting other things, is enough to cover the expenses of a whole family for several months.
There are afternoon sessions every day, and the evening sessions are the most lively, with famous actors performing.
At this moment, an argument was happening at the door of the theater's exclusive VIP area.
The owner of the opera troupe, wearing a silk shirt, a soft hat, and an emerald ring on his thumb, clasped his hands together and looked apologetic:
"The Yunshui Pavilion is already occupied by a guest and is not available this afternoon. This is due to my poor arrangement.
As an apology, you can use this card to select any available private room at any time, and all expenses incurred during the stay will be free of charge."
Standing opposite the troupe owner was a wealthy businessman with his concubine.
Hearing this, he frowned:
"I reserved the Yunshui Pavilion two days in advance. When has the Bafang Building ever failed to follow the rules and not follow the first come, first served rule?"
The pretty concubine next to him also hummed unhappily:
"We're here just to watch the afternoon show. We won't come the next day."
Then she put her arm around the rich businessman and said coquettishly:
"Master~"
The theater owner apologized:
"I'm truly sorry. It's not that I'm breaking the rules, but we just had a distinguished guest come and specifically requested the best private room. If you two want to listen to the opera, you can only sit in the main hall."
The middle-aged businessman was moved: "Could it be some noble person?"
The class owner hesitated and whispered:
"He's even more powerful than a nobleman. He's someone you don't want to mess with."
Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans... Trade was developed in the Dayu Dynasty, and the status of merchants was among the highest in all dynasties.
But since ancient times, the people have not fought against the officials, not to mention that in the capital, too much money may not always be useful.
The middle-aged businessman thought for a moment and said:
"Could you please tell me which gentleman it is? I might know him and visit him upstairs."
The class leader pointed to the sky and said:
"Zhao of the White Horse."
The merchants turned around and left without any hesitation, as if they were afraid that if they were a step late, they would get into trouble.
The concubine looked resentful:
"Master, what's this White Horse Zhao? Don't you even have authority over the high-ranking officials in the six ministries? Why are you so afraid of him?"
The merchant's expression changed slightly, and he scolded her to be quiet before explaining in a low voice:
"The hardest people to mess with aren't the high-ranking officials who value status, respectability, and demeanor, but the ones who have power but don't follow the rules..."
He silently swallowed the word "villain".
Curiosity arises in my heart:
I've never heard that someone named Zhao likes to listen to operas. Why is he here today?
…
On the second floor of the theater, in the "Yunshui Pavilion" with the best view.
Zhao Duan leaned back in the Huanghuali armchair, the knitted cushion behind him was very elastic.
On the square table beside him, there are rare cakes and fine tea.
"Sir, according to intelligence, Pei Si Niang comes here to listen to opera every afternoon."
Zhu Kui, with a face full of flesh, stood with his hands behind his back.
Zhao Duan said "hmm", feeling quite new about Dayu's theater.
In his previous life, entertainment venues were developed and traditional opera was declining. The only place he had been that had anything to do with opera was crosstalk, where the actors would improvise a few lines.
It was different during the Dayu Dynasty. There were theaters everywhere, and some famous actors were as famous among the people as later stars.
However, he was not here to try something new today, but to meet Pei Si Niang.
She is the fourth daughter of the Vice Minister of Justice and the legal wife of the Luliang family.
She is also a famous "fierce woman" among the noble ladies in Beijing.
"Sir, I heard that Pei Si Niang relies on her family background and is a spoiled and difficult person to get along with. What do you want from her?" Zhu Kui was curious.
Zhao Duan glanced at him:
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
…
…
Afternoon.
The gate of Lu Liang's house was wide open, and a carriage with a curtain hanging on it drove out and headed towards the "Banfang Theater".
Pei Si Niang was only in her thirties. She had been pampered since childhood and had been raised in a honey pot.
Don’t let your fingers get wet in the spring water, and don’t let your feet step on the dusty road.
Although she is pregnant, her figure and skin are well maintained, smooth and delicate, and are no less beautiful than that of a young girl.
She was wearing a long, double-breasted dress made of Shu brocade with floral patterns, her thick black hair was tied into a bun, and her round face was like a bright moon.
It’s a pity that the resentful air between her sharp eyebrows dilutes the beauty.
It’s not entirely her fault. Pei Si Niang was once a “savage princess”.
Even after marrying Lu Liang, she still had a lot of smiles on her face.
The real change happened after Lu Liang cheated.
Although Pei Si Niang has a bad personality, she has pure fantasies about love.
After getting married, not only did she observe her chastity as a wife, she also strictly forbade Lu Liang from having any contact with other women. As for taking a concubine... that was even more impossible.
Whenever Lu Liang was late for a social event, he would send someone to catch him up.
She even personally brought her maids and servants to pick up the person, thus earning the name of a "violent woman".
Therefore, upon learning that her husband had cheated on her, this noble lady from the capital was devastated and went to her father to beg for help, demanding a divorce.
But she didn't expect that her father, who had doted on her in the past, would reject her.
He suppressed the matter completely and advised her to give Lu Liang a chance.
How could Pei Si Niang agree to that?
But the little arm cannot bend the thigh, and the couple has completely broken up since then. They only maintain a "loving" persona in front of outsiders, but in fact they have no feelings for each other anymore.
But at this age, Pei Si Niang is inevitably lonely and empty, and needs someone else to fill the void.
Unwilling to be close to her husband anymore, she began to try to find comfort from the outside world.
However, Si Niang had high standards and ordinary men were not in her eyes. She happened to see a play performed by a "young man" at the Bafang Theater.
From then on, I became interested in that actor, and whenever he performed, I would drive to watch it.
Well, it feels like an older rich woman chasing a young idol...
Today is no exception.
When Si Niang was supported by her maid, she walked down from the carriage with lotus steps.
Entering the theater from the "VIP channel", going up the stairs to the second floor, and preparing to enter the "Hibiscus" box that had been reserved in advance.
He was stopped by an ugly, dark-skinned man with a face full of flesh who suddenly appeared from the side.
"Where did this disgusting bastard come from? Where is the theater owner? Why did he let such a person go upstairs?"
Pei Si Niang was startled, her beautiful eyes widened with contempt.
Tell the maid to call for help.
Zhu Kui smiled faintly, cupped his fists and said sinisterly:
"Madam, please don't worry. I am here on the orders of Lord Zhao, the White Horse Supervisor, to ask you to honor me by visiting the Yunshui Pavilion next door."
That Zhao Duan?
He wants to see me?
The noble lady in the capital was startled, and recalled that she seemed to have heard that Zhao Du'an had a rough and dark old official as his follower.
Moreover, she had heard that the empress's lover was good-looking, but she had never seen him, so she was immediately very curious.
In addition, the guests here are either rich or noble, and those who are invited into this place are unlikely to be bad people.
After a slight hesitation, he raised his chin proudly, revealing his white jawline:
"lead the way."
…
After a while, Pei Si Niang, accompanied by her maid, stepped into the Yunshuijian box.
At this moment, on the stage in the lobby on the first floor, the entrance gongs and drums sounded, and the drumbeats were as rapid as raindrops.
Zhao Duan, dressed in gorgeous clothes and handsome in appearance, looked over with a smile:
"Mrs. Lu, I'm sorry to invite you. Would you please do me the honor of taking a seat?"
Boom boom boom…
Pei Si Niang only felt that her heart, which had been lonely for a long time, was beating as rapidly as the gongs and drums on the stage.
She even ignored the appearance of the "young man" she had been thinking about. The melancholy in her eyes was like a spring breeze blowing, thawing the glaciers.
Pei Si Niang's cheeks suddenly turned red, and she thought to herself:
"Good...handsome young man..."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
