Before long, the three of them changed their clothes.
It was easy to find costumes for Zhao Yanke and Fang Zhi, as there were suitable ones among the existing stage outfits.
As for Feng Xiao's armor - since there was no role of a young general in the script of Changxing Inn, a set was temporarily taken from one of the Princess Dowager's guards.
Feng Xiao didn't really care. In fact, he even thought the clothes of the Princess Dowager's guards were more beautiful than his own as an imperial bodyguard.
Only the Princess Dowager had a dark face, as if she had suffered a great humiliation.
Feng Xiao quietly leaned over to Zhao Yanke's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, look, how exquisite the armor of the Princess Dowager's guards is. There are even carved patterns on it..."
Zhao Yanke gave him a sidelong glance. "Are you envious? Then how about I send you to the Princess's Mansion? I heard that no new people have been added to the Princess's Mansion for two months. If you go, you might get in her favor right away and become a male concubine..."
A look of righteousness immediately appeared on Feng Xiao's face. "What are you saying, Your Majesty!"
"I'm absolutely loyal to Your Majesty and will follow you to the death! How could I switch sides just for a piece of armor with carved patterns?"
Although their voices weren't very loud, they weren't soft either.
Every word reached Princess Danyang's ears.
Danyang's face turned from white to green, then from green to black. The killing intent on her was almost uncontrollable. Finally, she suddenly relaxed, and everything returned to calm.
Her gaze swept across their faces, and she coldly snorted, "Even if I were to choose a male concubine, there are criteria. I don't just take in any random person into my mansion."
If it were just Zhao Yanke here, she wouldn't be afraid.
An idle good - for - nothing, even if he became the emperor, he still looked like a coward!
Even if she really taught him a lesson or two, she was confident that he wouldn't dare to complain to the Empress Dowager!
But Feng Xiao was different.
Feng Xiao was the grandson of Feng Yuanji.
And he was the only remaining bloodline of Feng Yuanji in this world.
General Feng Yuanji, who had shaken the country, and Prince Ning, Xiao Yuancheng, were the people that any faction in the court wanted to win over.
Xiao Yuancheng had clearly stated his neutrality and had stayed away from the court disputes for many years. So, Feng Yuanji had become the crucial support that both sides were determined to get.
She couldn't touch Feng Xiao.
Even though this idiot was in cahoots with Zhao Yanke and openly criticized her in front of her... she could only endure it.
Danyang forced herself to hold back her anger. Her fingers gripping the handkerchief turned white from the force.
Hearing Danyang call him a random person, Feng Xiao raised his eyebrows and shrugged indifferently.
What's wrong with being like a kitten or a puppy?
They're so cute.
It's much better than becoming a male concubine in the Princess's Mansion.
Just as Zhao Yanke was about to say something, Xiao Jingnan leaned over and whispered a warning in his ear, "That's enough. Don't really provoke the Princess Dowager into going crazy, or it won't be worth it."
Zhao Yanke paused for a moment. Then, the corner of his mouth suddenly curved up. He looked at Xiao Jingnan with a bright and innocent smile. "We've all changed our clothes. Where's the performance? Why hasn't it started yet?"
Li Wanming was standing beside them, holding Fang Zhi's headdress in her hands - Fang Zhi refused to wear it because it was too heavy. She said to everyone, "Everyone, please follow me."
The backyard of the inn wasn't very big, but after being renovated, it had become a flower garden planted with Chinese junipers, privets, and evening primroses.
In the middle of the flower garden, there was a crescent - shaped open space.
A snow - colored silk screen was set up there, creating a separate world.
Under the frosty moonlight, one couldn't see what was behind the screen. It was just a hazy blur, with the gentle night breeze blowing.
Against the right - hand wall, there was a large expanse of lush wisteria climbing on a bamboo trellis.
On this May night, the wisteria flowers were in clusters, hanging down among the dense green vines, looking like the enchanting spirits hiding inside.
It was already midsummer. The large flower corollas were in full bloom, showing signs of withering. The petals on the ground had turned into mud, adding a bit more eerie tranquility to this quiet courtyard.
As everyone stepped into the courtyard, the sound of a vertical bamboo flute came from behind the flower garden.
As the flute sound sobbed, a glazed lantern suddenly lit up on the crescent - shaped platform in the middle of the yard.
A figure appeared behind the snow - colored silk screen.
The flute sound undulated softly, as if crying and complaining.
The woman behind the screen started to dance.
She had a graceful figure, with a slender waist that could be easily grasped. Her long silk sleeves fluttered, just like a spirit from a flower emerging from a dream.
At this moment, a new moon hung quietly in the sky like silver. Under the moon, the woman raised her wrist and lowered her eyebrows. Her jade sleeves fluttered in the wind, as if a master was painting with a free - flowing brushstroke.
Zhao Yanke was stunned.
Although he couldn't see the woman's face, he could imagine that she must be an extremely beautiful woman.
The flute sound paused slightly, changing from high to low. Then, the woman's sad voice rang out:
"All over the green mountains, the cuckoos are singing with red blood. Outside the withering flowers, the smoke - like silk is soft and drunk. Although the peony is beautiful, how can it be the first when spring has returned..."
Her voice was sad and lingering, like a winding stream, full of endless yearning and sorrow.
The night was cool, and her voice seemed to have borrowed the moonlight.
Li Wanming nudged Zhao Yanke. "It's your turn to go on stage."
Zhao Yanke was startled, as if waking up from a dream. "Oh, right. It's my... my turn to go on stage... Uh, what should I say?"
Li Wanming whispered a reminder. "The young scholar's surname is Liu, and his name is Mengmei, with the courtesy name Chunqing... Didn't you read the script? Just improvise!"
Without waiting for Zhao Yanke to say anything else, she pushed him onto the stage.
Zhao Yanke staggered and almost fell onto the snow - colored silk screen.
A pair of hands caught him.
The fingers were as slender as scallions, and the wrists were as white as snow.
Zhao Yanke was completely entranced.
The woman let out a soft laugh and then quickly withdrew her hands.
Zhao Yanke stamped his feet and walked around on the stage twice. Then, he faced the woman behind the screen and smiled. "Miss, I heard you're not a human?"
...
Li Wanming was extremely impressed by Su Xiaozhu behind the snow - colored silk screen at this moment.
The situation tonight was sudden. She only had time to tell Su Xiaozhu that the original plan had been completely changed. The immersive experience was now changed to a stage performance with limited interaction with the guests.
Although it was generally much simpler than before, it also meant that all the previous preparations were in vain.
Su Xiaozhu asked, "Do I still need to follow the script?"
Li Wanming scratched her head and said, "Do as you see fit."
Do as you see fit... But how?
Su Xiaozhu was completely confused.
But Li Wanming left after saying this and didn't give her much guidance.
There was nothing she could do. Su Xiaozhu had to figure it out on her own.
Dance first, then sing... Do what she knew how to do first, and deal with the rest later!
In this chaotic situation, Su Xiaozhu showed excellent professionalism and dedication by adapting to the situation.
She danced well and sang well.
She remained calm in the face of danger, showing the poise of a great general!
Even when faced with Zhao Yanke's such strange question, she still tried her best to perform and tried her best to get the plot back on track.
"Li Niang is not a ghost. I'm just a soul separated from my body. I've been dead for three years, only hoping to be reborn in the dark by the one I dreamed of."
This half - literary and half - colloquial conversation both advanced the plot and responded to Zhao Yanke's nonsense.
Amazing!
Li Wanming was so impressed that she wanted to shout out in admiration.
Fang Zhi beside her kept tugging at her sleeve. "When is it my turn to go on stage? Hmm? When is it my turn?"
Originally, Li Wanming was worried that there were too many new characters on stage and Su Xiaozhu wouldn't be able to handle it. But now it seemed that there was no need to worry at all.
So, she waved her hand. "It's now. Go up now!"
Hearing this, Fang Zhi happily lifted her skirt and ran onto the stage.
Feng Xiao was eager to go on stage below. "What about me?"
Li Wanming said, "You go too!"
Dang dang dang!
All the actors took the stage!
The small crescent - shaped platform suddenly seemed a bit crowded.
But Su Xiaozhu was neither impatient nor flustered. She calmly dealt with these powerful but shameless people who added extra scenes:
"Brother Liu, with your such talent, I only hope that you will achieve success in the imperial examinations in the future and come to marry me."
"My dear sister, you may not know that love arises without a trace and goes deeper and deeper. The living can die for love, and the dead can be reborn for love. How do you know that the love in the dream is not real?"
"General, you are a young hero. Your future is surely bright and boundless."
...
Li Wanming was completely confused by what she heard, but she knew that Su Xiaozhu was saying nice words, which were more than enough to flatter these second - generation nobles.
Sure enough, after just a few words, Zhao Yanke's eyes turned red. He was extremely touched and almost shed tears.