tallest building

Chapter 19 New Play

Gong Chang'an was being talked to when he heard Feng Tianzhu calling for him, so he walked over gracefully.

Feng Tianzhu, spoiled and utterly rude, said, "You country bumpkin, do you think you're worthy to play with me?"

Such a question was truly outrageous, but Gong Chang'an was not annoyed at all: "Today is a banquet at my home, and as the host, I should naturally do my best to treat my guests well. I wonder what the young master likes to play?"

“There’s nothing fun here,” Feng Tianzhu said dismissively. “Every time I come, I just take a few snacks and fruits and wander around.”

The Feng family indulged him in everything good, and to please him, the people in the mansion searched everywhere for new and interesting things.

Having seen and played with so many things, he no longer took ordinary things seriously, and thus often said the words "boring".

“I do have two things here, Your Highness, you may take a look if you don’t mind,” Gong Chang’an said.

"Cherry, keep a close eye on the young master," Madam Wu instructed the maid who was specifically assigned to follow Feng Tianzhu.

"Yes, young mistress." The maid replied and quickly followed.

"Chang'an, stay with the young master well and don't be naughty or willful," Wen Mingqian instructed, giving Gong Chang'an a deep look.

Gong Chang'an replied, "Mother, rest assured, I understand."

"Where is Madam Song?" asked Lady Yu, the wife of Marquis Changrong. "Is she busy in the back?"

“Aunt Song went back to her parents’ home these past few days. Her sister-in-law is about to give birth, and she doesn’t have anyone close to her,” Wen Mingqian replied with a smile. “She’ll be back in a few days.”

He then asked, "Why didn't Miss Fourth come today?"

“Oh dear! This child has developed tinea versicolor on her face and doesn’t like to see people!” said Madam Yu. “It happens every spring, and while everyone else has gotten better, she hasn’t.”

"Did you apply nitrate?" someone immediately asked.

“Of course it works, but it’s not very effective,” said Madam Yu. “This child is strange; things that work for others don’t work for her. We’ve tried several different products, and she’s still just itchy.”

“It’s a pity that Liu Qiniang is no longer here,” said Lady Qian, wife of the Marquis of Jiangxia. “If she were here, would this little ailment be a big deal?”

"That's right. Ever since Liu Qiniang left the capital, we haven't heard from her again." Everyone said with regret, "Those face creams, face powders, rouges, and face medicines she made were really amazing. It's a pity that we can't buy them anymore."

"She has been away from the capital for more than a decade, and in all these years, no one has emerged who can match her skill."

The capital city is full of extraordinary people, and Liu Qiniang is a rare one.

She was originally a perfumer, a family that made perfumes by hereditary lineage. Later, in addition to her original profession, she researched and developed many cosmetics and face powders that women loved.

Everything she made was exquisite, and it was so sought after that it was hard to find.

She was even given the elegant title of "Hands of Rejuvenation," not because she was a doctor with miraculous healing skills, but because the things she made could make women's complexions look younger.

But she suddenly disappeared more than a decade ago and has never appeared again.

Her disappearance became the biggest regret for the noble ladies of the capital. They spared no expense, but unfortunately, no matter how much money they had, they could no longer buy what they wanted.

Amidst the sighs of the crowd, a servant came to ask Wen Mingqian, "Madam, all the guests have arrived. Can we begin the performance?"

Since it was a banquet, the guests couldn't be bored. Wen Mingqian wasn't very familiar with these people and didn't have much to say, so he called in an opera troupe.

Opposite the flower hall is the stage. The plays are all selected in advance so that the opera troupe can arrange their costumes and makeup in advance and avoid chaos.

"Everyone, I've invited a group of young actors over. Let's have some tea and listen to the opera first, and then we'll start the banquet," Wen Mingqian said with a smile. "There are also a few homemade snacks, which are from the Suzhou and Hangzhou region." Everyone naturally agreed.

After the third or fourth act of the play, the troupe leader said to Zhang Ma with a smile, "Madam Steward, I'm really sorry. I just noticed that I took the wrong costume for the finale, 'Wealthy Brocade,' instead of the costume for 'The Alliance of Lovers.' How about we change it to this one?"

The deputy troupe leader also said, "They are all good plays, it doesn't matter if we change them."

Aunt Zhang rolled her eyes and asked, "What kind of story is 'The Mandarin Duck Alliance'? Is it about love and romance?"

"It tells a story of lovers finally getting married and achieving fame and success," the troupe leader said. "It is by no means a vulgar play that is not worthy of being presented in a refined setting."

“Yes, yes! This is a newly composed troupe of ours, and we haven’t officially performed it yet! It’s a good omen for your family to perform here today!” the deputy troupe leader urged. “There are specific rules for performing opera, and it would be bad if we missed a single step.”

"I can't make that decision myself; I need to discuss it with Madam," said Zhang Ma as she approached Wen Mingqian.

Wen Mingqian walked her aside and said, "I don't think it's appropriate to suddenly say we have to change the play."

"Are you worried that there might be a trap here, young lady?" Zhang Ma asked.

“We can’t afford to be careless. You know the Song family doesn’t want us to have an easy time, so why would they give up this good opportunity?” Wen Mingqian said. “Besides, she’s already gone into hiding, which makes her even more suspicious.”

“But it wouldn’t be good if a play were missing,” Zhang Ma said. “People would laugh at us.”

“Alright then! Go and get their scripts, I’ll see what the content of the play is,” Wen Mingqian said. “We know the plays they originally selected, but we’ve never heard of this one before.”

"Better safe than sorry, we can't let anyone fool us." Zhang Ma also thought Wen Mingqian's emphasis on caution was correct.

She went behind the stage and asked the troupe leader, "Madam wants to see the script for 'The Mandarin Duck Alliance,' could you give it to me?"

The troupe leader hesitated for a moment. He hadn't expected Wen Mingqian to be so meticulous as to want to see the script, but he couldn't refuse, so he took it out of the opera box.

Zhang Ma gave it to Wen Mingqian.

Wen Mingqian took the manuscript and skimmed through it, then burst out laughing as he read, "So that's how it is!"

"What did the girl discover?" Zhang Ma asked hurriedly.

"Go and call the class leader and deputy class leader over," Wen Mingqian said. "I want to ask them in person."

"Madam, what are your orders, you two?" The troupe leader and deputy leader came over, bowing and scraping.

Wen Mingqian remained silent, sitting there repeatedly opening and closing the script in her hands, scrutinizing the two of them.

"Madam, we are so sorry. We were too careless and brought the wrong costumes. Please be lenient and let's change the play, okay?" The troupe leader's face was full of smiles, like a lapdog wagging its tail and begging for food.

"Master, what's your surname? Where are you from?" Wen Mingqian asked him.

“My surname is Zhao,” the troupe leader said. “I’m from Qinghe.”

"Master Zhao, have I ever offended you?" Wen Mingqian asked with a smile.

The troupe leader waved his hands in a panic, saying, "No, no, Madam, you're too kind. What happened today was purely accidental."

"I've read the script." Wen Mingqian tapped the script with his finger. "What sinister intentions you have!"

(End of this chapter)