Lu Zheng accompanied Liu Qingyan to the medical hall. Around noon, Hu Cainiang and Bi Xin Yu arrived.
If he had not seen it with his own eyes, Lu Zheng would have found it hard to believe that a fox and a snake could get along so peacefully.
“Oh? Young Master Lu is coming with us today? How rare,” Hu Cainiang said with a smile.
“I heard a fine opera troupe has come to town, so I thought I would broaden my horizons,” Lu Zheng replied.
Bi Xin Yu gave a seductive smile, pulled Liu Qingyan close and whispered, “Didn’t you say your husband was leaving town? What happened, did you drain him so thoroughly he can’t walk?”
Liu Qingyan spat in mock annoyance. “What nonsense. I couldn’t keep him here even if I wanted to.”
Bi Xin Yu’s eyes flashed. “I could help, you know?”
Liu Qingyan’s lips curved. “You’re not the only one who wants to ‘help’. You’d have to join the queue.”
Bi Xin Yu, “…”
After bidding farewell to old Doctor Liu, the four women, all chirping like orioles and swallows, surrounded one scholar in green robes and headed towards Yuling Garden. They attracted countless stares along the way.
“Which family’s spoiled young master is that, flaunting himself so openly?”
“Shh! Quiet! Don’t you see Doctor Liu and Doctor Du?”
“Oh, right, so it’s the two goddess doctors from Benevolent Heart Hall and their friends. But who is that scholar? Slurp!”
“He owns Sweet Treats Studio in the south of town.”
“Who would have thought…”
“Thought my foot. Young Master Lu is Doctor Liu’s neighbour, and he knows medicine himself. He often helps out at Benevolent Heart Hall.”
“If you’re jealous, go learn medicine first.”
“Forget it… If I had that talent and drive, I’d have passed the county exam long ago…”
“I may not know medicine, but I can always fall ill!”
Anyone in Tonglin County with real power who could cause trouble for Benevolent Heart Hall knew a little of the background story. There wasn’t much, but it was enough to tell them the hall was untouchable.
Those who only talked big online posed no threat at all. In fact, they behaved better than anyone once they stepped inside the hall.
The group paid no attention to the gossip. On the way they bought some snacks and sweets. The vendor, whose paralysed mother had once been cured by Liu Qingyan, refused to take their money no matter what.
Many townsfolk who knew the two doctors greeted them. When the five reached the entrance of Yuling Garden, they ran into more acquaintances.
“Brother Lu! Miss Liu! Miss Du!”
“Brother Zhao?” Lu Zheng replied. It was Zhao Wenrong, the man from Yizhou prefecture.
Zhao Wenrong had come with his companion Lin Yushu and arrived at the entrance at the same time.
Zhao Wenrong cupped his hands in greeting towards Lu Zheng. When he raised his head, he saw not only Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao beside him, but also Hu Cainiang and Bi Xin Yu.
A true master! Worthy of the title!
I wonder if it’s too late for me to climb Little Tong Mountain and become a disciple at White Cloud Temple?
Zhao Wenrong looked at Lu Zheng with open admiration. “Brother Lu, have you reserved a private room? Seats for the Silver Phoenix Troupe are hard to get. We could share one.”
“Oh?” Lu Zheng had not known this. He turned to Liu Qingyan.
“It’s already booked. Second floor, Room Yi-5,” Liu Qingyan said.
“What a coincidence. We’re right next door in Yi-4,” Zhao Wenrong laughed.
“Then let’s go together.”
The group entered Yuling Garden and went up to the private rooms on the east side of the second floor.
Zhao Wenrong saw Lu Zheng’s party into Room Yi-5 before entering the neighbouring room with Lin Yushu.
…
They ordered tea and snacks, then sent the Yuling Garden waiter away. Everyone immediately relaxed.
Lu Zheng patted his gourd, took out more fruit and nuts, and suddenly…
it felt exactly like a ladies’ tea party.
Soon, light chimes sounded from the stage below. The curtain rose, and the performance began.
One had to admit that in ancient times, audio-visual entertainment was scarce. Opera, with both singing and acting, was already the height of enjoyment.
Since this was a piece none of them had ever heard before, all four women watched intently, only sipping tea or nibbling snacks during scene changes.
Even Hu Cainiang and Bi Xin Yu put away their usual seductive airs while watching the play. They looked almost normal, which made Lu Zheng feel strangely unaccustomed.
So he turned his attention to the stage as well.
This piece was one of the Silver Phoenix Troupe’s signature works. The plot was full of twists, the lyrics and music were moving, far better than the last new play at Yuling Garden and on par with Legend of the Red Ribbon.
Unfortunately, the characters still lacked distinctive personalities and did not reach the level of timeless classics.
The two leads, however, the young male role and the flower female role, were outstanding, far superior to the actors at Yuling Garden.
Delicate features, graceful bearing, exquisite singing, rich emotion. Every gesture and movement was pure theatre. In the Republican era, they would have been famous stars known across the whole concession.
If actors of this calibre performed something like Butterfly Lovers or Legend of the White Snake, it would truly be a delight.
“What a pity…”
Lu Zheng shook his head, wondering whether the Great Jing dynasty had stories or libretti of that quality.
In China’s several thousand years of history, only a handful of works with truly vivid characters had endured for centuries. After a few hundred years of peace here, surely some existed. Perhaps he simply had not encountered them yet.
Hearing Lu Zheng sigh, Liu Qingyan could not help asking curiously, “The Silver Phoenix Troupe is excellent. Why the pity, husband?”
“The performance is indeed excellent,” Lu Zheng nodded. He kept his real thoughts to himself and only said, “I had assumed actors of this calibre could only be seen in the central capital.”
Liu Qingyan’s eyes also filled with longing. “The central capital is the heart of the realm. I wonder what the famous performers and operas there are like.”
It was an interlude. Bi Xin Yu turned around and said, “Little demons like us dare not wander around the capital. The furthest I’ve been is a few prefectures in Lingbei Circuit. I’ve heard a few pieces and bought some famous illustrated storybooks.”
Lu Zheng stroked his chin, watching the anticipation in Liu Qingyan’s eyes, and felt something stir within him.
Normally Lu Zheng was not one to show off. Everything he brought between the two worlds had a purpose.
He had once carried handicrafts and antiques to make money on both sides.
He brought food, wine, the Cloud Pattern Sword, and similar items from the modern world for enjoyment and to build connections.
The only creative work he had ever brought over was the poem “Peach Blossoms” that he gave Shen Ying for her temple.
One poem had directly created a deity. It turned her into the flourishing Peach Blossom Immortal who governs harmonious families and happy marriages.
That had startled Lu Zheng. To avoid drawing attention and becoming famous, he never again displayed his “literary talent”.
On ordinary days he would at most practise calligraphy, paint a few ink wash paintings, play the qin, or enjoy go, always keeping a low profile, fishing and coasting along.
So even though he often visited Leping House to listen to storytellers and accompanied Liu Qingyan to Yuling Garden to watch opera, he had never considered bringing over any Chinese opera from his original world.
But now… he was already registered at White Cloud Temple. Bringing over one love story should not cause too much trouble… right?
