Wanjin Lady

Chapter 490 Public Opinion
Inside the Kyoto Jiaofangsi.

When Sun Lanzhi was called by the governess, she looked obviously surprised.

"This is the storybook that's been all the rage in teahouses lately. It's called 'The Noble Lady,' and even the Crown Prince praised it highly. Nobles from every household are vying to join in the fun, and even the concubines in the harem have specifically requested to see this play..."

The girls came forward and surrounded the nanny to listen to her lecture.

"We've received orders from above to rehearse this play and then perform it for the ladies in the palace..."

Most of the girls in the Jiaofangsi were from official families. Although they had fallen to this state, they usually sang, danced, and played the qin for the nobles, which was still acceptable. But now they were reduced to the lowly profession of actors...

The girls looked embarrassed and were thinking of backing out.

Even if a girl who had been in the Jiaofangsi was released, it would be difficult for her to get married, let alone learn to sing opera for the nobles...

Seeing everyone's different expressions, the nanny sneered, "You've already come to a place like the Jiaofangsi. What's the difference between you and the actors? What? Are you still thinking about climbing up the social ladder after you leave? I'm telling you, if you're willing to perform for the nobles, you might be able to leave this place sooner!"

Someone protested, "They say Buddhas fight for a stick of incense, and people fight for a breath. Madam, I can dance and play the piano if you ask me to, but I can't do this lowly actor!"

"Yes, my Zhang family has an ancestral precept that we must never become actors or prostitutes. If Madam Nanny forces me to violate this ancestral precept, I would rather hang myself!"

Someone stood up and said in a clear and firm voice, "Mammy, I do."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. It was a girl about fourteen years old, with long eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, fair skin, and a thin figure. Despite the contemptuous gazes of the crowd, she had a determined look on her face.

The nanny smiled with satisfaction, "Can you sing opera?"

"I can learn."

Mammy patted her shoulder and said, "Among all the girls I've taken care of, you, Alan, are the most caring! Come with me."

When Sun Lanzhi got the notebook, her heart finally settled down.

Two days ago, someone secretly passed a note to her, asking her to take on the role of "The Noble Lady", a play that has recently become popular in Kyoto. She did not recognize Wen Wan's handwriting, but the four words "Honglou Jiaojiao" signed on the note suddenly made her feel blessed.

Sister Wen has come to Beijing!

She held the book in her hands and read it eagerly. Unable to hold back her tears, the maid laughed at her: "Just now in the outer room, you were so determined, I thought you really didn't mind being an actor."

Sun Lanzhi wiped her tears and smiled sincerely, "Mammy, I just found this storybook so touching..."

"I see!" After joining the Jiaofangsi, she could no longer keep her previous name. This girl named Alan's origins were unknown, but she was the most obedient and steady among the girls, which made the nanny feel pity for her. "Don't worry, we're not asking you to be an actor! From what I heard from the higher-ups, we want you to be storytellers!"

The words "audiobook" immediately popped up in Sun Lanzhi's mind!

Sister Wen is so awesome!
When in Bozhou, Honglou attracted many customers with just those storybooks. The ladies and young ladies of each family regarded visiting Honglou as a prestigious place. It became popular throughout the whole Bozhou city, and the price of Ruiguo pulp also soared, making Honglou a huge profit.

Now she has come to Kyoto again!
Sun Lanzhi was unaware of the affair between Wen Wan and Wei Zheng. Having been confined to the brothel for a long time and unable to leave, she was naturally out of the loop. She simply assumed that Wen Wan's business had expanded rapidly, reaching the capital from Bozhou in just a few months. Before leaving, Wen Wan had said she would come to the capital to find her.

She hugged the storybook, her heart in turmoil: Sister Wen won't break her promise! She's here!
"Whose young lady is so bold?"

In the Duke's Mansion's study, Wei Zheng sat in a wheelchair. He read over and over the booklet "The Noble Lady" and casually tossed it on the desk. "I knew you were bold, but I didn't expect you to be so audacious as to even dare to fabricate something about His Majesty?"

"What's wrong?" Wen Wan teased him, "Is Duke Wei scared?"

Wei Zheng frowned and looked at the young lady. "This matter is too radical. I am worried... that His Majesty will be furious..."

He pointed to the last page of the storybook. "Although the dynasty of this book 'The Noble Lady' is fabricated, the villain princess in it is now in the same situation as Zhao Yingzhen. The emperor is helpless and helpless, and he is being manipulated like a rat by the fake imperial edict in the princess's hand. If Your Majesty knew about this, he would inevitably have second thoughts."

Wen Wan smiled and said, "Your Majesty may be angry with me, but he will be even more angry with Zhao Yingzhen."

Wei Zheng sighed, "Your Majesty is deeply suspicious. He has been on the throne for many years and has acted in an overbearing manner, rarely being manipulated. Even if he gives in now and grants Zhao Yingzhen a house to appease him, he will surely feel a lump in his throat."

"So, this time... we have His Majesty's support."

Wei Zheng smiled faintly and spoke bluntly, "You once said that the business world is like a battlefield, but the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. A single wrath of the emperor can result in the death of millions. There's also a saying that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Your Majesty has clearly decreed that I inherit the title. First, to vindicate my father's injustice, and second, to use us as a check and balance against Zhao Yingzhen."

Wen Wan's heart sank, and she thought to herself that this dog emperor was so cunning!

The emperor lived in the deep palace, and Zhao Yingzhen was his elder sister. He also had a hold on Wei Zheng's weakness. If he wanted to deal with Zhao Yingzhen, he could only force Wei Zheng to fight Zhao Yingzhen.

"Although Zhao Yingzhen's Princess Mansion was the property of a confiscated criminal, Your Majesty may not care about the ties between brothers. However, as long as the matter of the imperial edict is thoroughly investigated and Your Majesty can sleep peacefully, Zhao Yingzhen will not fall."

"So it was you who said..." Wen Wan looked at him with a smile, "We have to find a way to turn the imperial edict in her hand into waste paper."

Wei Zheng frowned and looked at the notebook, "Is this your method?"

"Don't underestimate the storybook." Wen Wan tapped the table lightly with her fingers. "It's not just a storybook, it's public opinion, it's pressure, it's an invisible knife."

Wei Zheng had a rough idea of ​​what Wen Wan was going to do, but he wanted to give Wen Wan the credit, so he calmly asked, "Since that's the case, why not press on? I heard from Zhao Heng that storytellers in every major teahouse in Kyoto are talking about this book, 'The Noble Lady.' The plot just stops after the villain princess kills the heroine's parents. The evidence is irrefutable, and His Majesty has issued an order to punish her, but Her Highness lies, claiming she has the emperor's decree."

"Not only is Zhao Heng curious, I'm curious too..." Wei Zheng's wheelchair wheels rolled across the floor. "How is the heroine going to respond?"

To be precise, it is about how Wen Wan is prepared to respond.

"When the fake becomes real, the real becomes fake. The plot ends here. Guess who's the most anxious right now?"

Who is most anxious?
That is naturally Zhao Yingzhen.

This play "The Noble Lady" is full of indirect criticism. The plot is in the style of "The Story of Jiaojiao" and "The True and False Daughter" written by Wen Wan in Bozhou. It is full of thunder and lightning, melodrama, and twists and turns. It fermented quickly as soon as it was released and became popular in Kyoto in just a few days.

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