As someone who had never enhanced her cooking skills with the light of destiny, Madam Liu’s culinary abilities had already reached an extremely high level. This was one of the key reasons she could keep Liu Qingquan and Ao Qian content.
The dishes Lu Zheng made, however, were occasional transcendent delights. So when the two little girls saw him, they were also full of enthusiasm.
He rubbed their fluffy little heads. “Tonight I will make pork stewed with vermicelli and chicken stewed with mushrooms. We will eat together in the evening.”
“Yes, yes!”
Everyone ate together. Just as they finished lunch, Lu Zheng saw Wang Xiaowan and Yi Xiaoqian arrive together.
“Sister Qingyan! Yueyao! Oh? Senior Brother is here too?” Wang Xiaowan greeted with a smile.
Yi Xiaoqian stepped forward and curtsied gracefully.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Going to Yuling Garden this afternoon?”
“Exactly,” Wang Xiaowan said. “A troupe arrived in Tonglin County a few days ago and settled in Yuling Garden. They have many fine pieces.”
“The Silver Phoenix Troupe from Yizhou Prefecture?”
“No, a troupe from Rongzhou. They performed ‘The Tale of Two Beauties’ only yesterday.”
Lu Zheng nodded in understanding. In this era, information spread slowly. Works not famous nationwide mostly circulated locally. ‘The Tale of Two Beauties’ was almost exclusive to Rongzhou. Back then, he had used it to uncover Fan Boyu’s background.
“Would Young Master like to join us?” Yi Xiaoqian asked Lu Zheng.
Liu Qingyan glanced over with bright eyes. Lu Zheng smiled and nodded. “I have nothing else today. Let us go together and see what this troupe can do.”
Liu Qingyan’s eyes curved with joy. She said softly, “Those who travel far and wide rely on their skills to make a living. They naturally will not be poor.”
The group agreed to go to Yuling Garden. However, Liu Qingquan and Ao Qian showed little interest. Moreover, they had lessons in the afternoon, so they returned home with Liu San.
…
Yuling Garden, elegant private room.
A maid served tea and snacks, then was dismissed by Wang Xiaowan. She personally poured tea for everyone. Yi Xiaoqian hurriedly helped, placing melon seeds and snacks before each person.
“Whoa!”
Lu Zheng looked out the private room window and spotted Yue Honghai sitting prominently in the third row centre of the main hall below.
Yue Honghai sat grandly in an armchair. A young attendant added tea with a smiling face, clearly having received generous tips.
Yue Honghai waved his hand. When the attendant left, he looked towards Lu Zheng.
Seeing the bevy of beauties around Lu Zheng, Yue Honghai could not help baring his teeth.
He saluted Lu Zheng but had no intention of coming over to play third wheel. Besides, though the private room was undisturbed, it did not offer as comfortable a view as the main hall.
Lu Zheng shook his head. Yue Honghai was easy to please. Apart from food and drink, he wanted no money and found his own entertainment.
Liu Qingyan also spotted Yue Honghai. She smiled at Lu Zheng. “Though Mr Yue seems idle daily, he is quite dedicated. A few days ago, a passing martial artist caused trouble at Benevolent Heart Hall. Before I could act, Mr Yue appeared and slapped him away injured.”
“Oh?”
Lu Zheng truly had not known. It seemed Yue Honghai had not taken his words lightly.
He had taken Yue Honghai in, nominally for guarding the home. In practice, it was rarely needed, as all close friends and family had cultivation.
So he had only mentioned casually to keep an eye out and help a little. He had not expected such diligence.
Liu Qingyan covered her mouth and laughed. “Mr Yue said he eats and drinks yours all day. If he never acted, even he would feel embarrassed.”
Though restricted by Lu Zheng’s seal, Yue Honghai was after all a great demon of several hundred years. Lu Zheng could call him “Old Yue”, but others addressed him as “Mister”.
Just then, Lu Zheng’s spiritual sense stirred.
Liu Qingyan’s eyes flashed. She transmitted quietly to Lu Zheng, “Lu Lang, I just felt as if someone glanced at me with divine sense.”
Lu Zheng nodded, turned to the ladies. Wang Xiaowan, Yi Xiaoqian, and even Du Yueyao, the highest cultivated among the three, showed no reaction.
The other party should have considerable cultivation.
“No matter. Watch the play first,” Lu Zheng transmitted back.
Then they saw the opposite private room open its window, revealing two figures.
“It is that madam?”
In the opposite room were precisely the noblewoman who had consulted that morning and her maid.
“It is them?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
From the earlier probing alone, the other side had strong cultivation but should not see through Lu Zheng or Liu Qingyan’s depths.
So Lu Zheng did not want to alert them. He transmitted to Liu Qingyan, “No rush. Watch the play first.”
Liu Qingyan nodded, unperturbed.
Not to mention her own profound Dao attainment now, with Yue Honghai and Lu Zheng present, there was nothing to fear.
The two remained calm. Then they saw the stage curtain draw back. From the backdrop, it was a home study. A young male role entered gracefully and began singing.
In ancient times, entertainment was scarce. Like modern elders listening to one ‘Battle of Dingjun Mountain’ for life, there was no concept of tiring from operas here.
New pieces, however, were always welcomed.
So Yuling Garden never lacked patrons. New plays emerged only every year or two, while some troupes toured.
Lu Zheng had not heard today’s play before, so he listened with relish. At the end of the piece, he called the maid outside and tipped one string of cash notes.
Artistic creators, after all, had it hard.
During this act, the earlier probing divine sense did not reappear.
Lu Zheng scanned the main hall and other private rooms through the window but noticed nothing unusual.
“That flower actress sang well,” Wang Xiaowan clapped. “The story is ordinary, though. Far inferior to ‘The Ghostly Romance’ or ‘Butterfly Lovers’.”
Yi Xiaoqian blushed. “My story with my husband is hardly so legendary. It is Young Master Lu who tells stories well.”
“Speaking of which…” Du Yueyao looked at Lu Zheng expectantly. “Big Brother Lu, when will you write more stories?”
Lu Zheng rolled his eyes. Write more?
‘Butterfly Lovers’ had earned many tears but also long complaints in bed from Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying.
‘The Ghostly Romance’ had led to identification with Ning Zhiqi and Yi Xiaoqian, plus Yan Hongxia constantly sparring with him.
Lu Zheng no longer knew what would be safe to write.
A palace intrigue like ‘The Legend of Zhen Huan’? It would not cause Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying to darken, would it?
Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable!
Lu Zheng pointed at the stage. “Watch the play, watch the play. The next act is starting!”
Everyone followed his finger. The curtain that had just fallen rose again. This time, the backdrop was an execution ground.
Hm, the plot reached its climax. The male lead, returning home ennobled, saves the wealthy young lady who had once helped him.
Classic trope, always effective.
