Chapter 89 Watching a Play
Jin Mantang is the latest troupe to take over from Xiangsi, and is a very popular opera troupe in Yanjing City.

All the most popular troupes seemed to be eager to get the approval of Duke Su, and they always had to perform such a play for Duke Su first. As long as Ji Heng thought that the singing was good, the troupe must be good. Just like the Xiangsi troupe at the beginning, Ji Heng seemed to have the power of life and death over the troupes in Yanjing City. He could make a troupe popular, and at the same time, he could quickly make a troupe disappear.

Although it seemed incredible to Jiang Li that a Duke, a descendant of General Jinwu, was like a person managing a troupe of opera singers, she sometimes thought that it was understandable that someone like Ji Heng had some connection with opera singers.

He was born very beautiful, more gorgeous than the actors on the stage, born to stand in front of people and shine, but he was not suitable for performing on the stage himself, because he lived too soberly and too coldly to enter the dilemma of the world. Such a child of destiny was probably only suitable to stand under the stage, watching the false joys and sorrows of others, and even disdained to shed two tears.

He just took it as a joke, just like the mocking smile on his lips.

The entire second floor was probably occupied by Ji Heng, and there was no one else there. Jiang Li could walk out of the tea room, and when she reached the railing on the second floor, she looked down and saw the stage.

You can clearly see the people on the stage, but you are one level higher than the spectators on the first floor. Jiang Li guessed that this was because Ji Heng liked to look down from a high position. But it must be said that watching a play this way is more detached than watching it directly from the audience. In other words, if you are too close to the actors, it is easy to get into the play. But if you are close to the actors, but stand higher than the actors, you can clearly feel that this is a play. No matter how exciting the play is, it is difficult for people to get into the play and will not be led by the emotions in it.

Jin Man Tang's famous actress was called Xiao Taohong, a young woman whose face was covered with powder and whose appearance was not very clear. But judging from her graceful figure and soft singing voice, she must be a rare beauty. No wonder the audience in the audience was so supportive and applauded.

This play is called "The Case of Jiuer".

"The Jiu'er Case" is a famous story about a woman in the previous dynasty. The young woman was named Jiu'er. She married a scholar in the countryside. They lived in harmony and love. Later, the scholar went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, won the first place, and became a high-ranking official. He was favored by a rich lady. The rich lady's master wanted him to be his son-in-law, so the scholar concealed the fact that he already had a wife and children in his hometown and married the rich lady.

Jiuer and her youngest son, who were far away in their hometown, did not know that their husbands had become someone else's husbands. But suddenly one day, the scholar stopped sending letters home. As if it were not bad enough, Jiuer's son got a serious illness. The family was poor and had no money to treat the illness. Jiuer had no choice but to take her youngest son to the capital to find her husband. After going through untold hardships and enduring the cold eyes of others, she finally arrived in the capital. But on the streets of the capital, she saw her husband behaving intimately with another woman.

The scholar refused to recognize Jiuer and had Jiuer beaten and driven out. Jiuer then realized that he already had a wife and son and had long forgotten his wife. Jiuer's son could not get money to see a doctor in the capital, and the long journey and the fatigue of the journey soon led to his death.

Jiuer lost her husband and her son, and she was so heartbroken that she threw herself into a river in front of the scholar's house. After her death, she turned into a blue bird and cried loudly at the door of the scholar's house all day long, attracting everyone to stop and look. This matter alarmed the emperor, who ordered officials to investigate the matter thoroughly. Knowing that the scholar was such a heartless person, he was demoted from his official position and the rich lady also divorced him. In the end, the scholar ended up with nothing and froze to death before he could survive the severe winter.

This story was invented by a storyteller in the previous dynasty. However, because it was very interesting and made people feel deeply sympathetic for Jiu'er's experience, it was later put on stage by a drama troupe and became a very famous play. Women love to watch such a gentle and sad story, and they will cry with Jiu'er in the story. Men sigh. Although it is normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, there is also a saying that "a man should not divorce his wife who has shared his hardships with him". It is no wonder that God can't stand such a person who has committed a crime.

When Jiang Li first heard this story, she was still a little girl in Tongxiang. She was young at that time and did not cry with him. She was just indignant about the injustice that Jiuer had suffered. She also told Xue Zhao that if she knew that the man beside her was such a heartless person, she would never kill herself in front of the scholar, but would take a knife and die with the scholar. Xue Zhao also said at the time: "By then, you will definitely be reluctant to leave."

She sneered, what's there to be reluctant about, he's just an ungrateful wolf who's worse than an animal. Jiu'er in the story actually still remembers the good times in the past, I don't know if the person who made up this story didn't think clearly and made a mistake.

She couldn't figure it out at the time, but she didn't expect that many years later, this story would be re-engraved in her life. She became another Jiuer. Her life changed drastically, and lies, betrayal, rumors and hurt filled her last days.

But there is one thing that has not changed from beginning to end. Even now, if you ask her again, she can still say that there is nothing she is reluctant to give up.

When the other party chooses to betray, it means that all past friendships have been cut off with a sword. If you carefully preserve something that others don't care about, it is not called kindness, but contempt.

She would never let anyone look down on her.

The little peach blossom on the stage, called Jiuer, finally found her husband, but her husband avoided recognizing her. The young man sang: "It's not that I don't recognize you, but I'm afraid that if I take a wrong step, disaster will befall me."

Xiao Jiuer: "What do you mean by taking one wrong step and bringing disaster upon yourself? It's obvious that you have forgotten the old kindness after getting a new one.

I remember when you were studying in Junzhou, your wife was filial to your parents.

I sent you to Beijing to take the exam in the year of the exam. Before leaving, I left you with thousands of words to tell your husband

I ask you to report back as soon as possible whether you have passed or not. You must know that your parents are old and their children are connected by heart.
Who would have thought that you would leave without any news for three years, and that the drought in Huguang killed your parents

It is difficult to bury your parents after they die, so you are my

You don't care about the love between husband and wife, and you don't love your own children.
Pat your chest and think about it. Could it be that you have a heart of iron? "

The people on the stage were crying while singing, and Jiang Li felt heartbroken. The lyrics made it hard for her not to think of herself. Just like Jiuer couldn't understand why her husband had to hide things from her when she had done nothing wrong and everything was good. Jiang Li also wanted to ask Shen Yurong, is wealth and glory really that good, so good that one can abandon humanity and give up everything?
What's more, there are her children.

Her child was killed in this dirty conspiracy before he was even born. When Shen Yurong sacrificed him, did she hesitate for a moment, knowing that the child had his blood in his veins?
Jiang Li didn't dare to think further.

On the other side, Lu Ji, who had also been watching the show, suddenly said, "Look, Miss Jiang is watching very carefully."

All three of them looked at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li turned sideways to face them, her eyes lowered, but she was staring at the people below the stage, obviously watching them very carefully. If you look closely, you can see that she is tightly grasping the edge of the carved railing on the second floor stage, the joints of her hands are white, and she is holding on tightly.

She was absorbed in the play.

"What's wrong with that?" Kong Liu disagreed. "Miss Jiang hates evil and is very clear about good and evil. This play is so aggrieved that everyone who listens to it is angry. It's normal for Miss Jiang to be moved by the play and listen to it with more concentration."

"It's normal to be a little upset because of being fascinated by this play," Lu Ji said with a smile, "but this is Miss Jiang Er."

What kind of person is Miss Jiang Er? She seems to be smiling all the time. Even when she is not smiling, she is as gentle as a stream, calm and gentle. You can hardly see her getting angry or anxious. Some people have a lukewarm temper, but in Miss Jiang Er, anyone with a little insight can probably see that Miss Jiang Er doesn't care.

In other words, most things are unimportant in her eyes. There is no need to take unimportant things to heart. This is a mentality that only occurs after a major turning point in life, and it is often seen in elderly people who have experienced the vicissitudes of life.

Even though the Second Miss Jiang had "killed her mother and brother" and had been sent to a nunnery to stay alone for eight years, she would not have become as gentle and pure as she is now, having experienced many ups and downs.

All in all, Jiang Li wouldn't take small things to heart. Would someone who doesn't care about someone who might ruin her reputation for life feel the same way for a small drama?

Others might, but Miss Jiang Er would not. If she did something different because of this play, it could only mean that this play touched her, and there were some things in her past life that overlapped with this play.

That's empathy.

Ji Heng's fingertips brushed the white handle of the fan, and she suddenly stood up, looking at Jiang Li with some interest, and walked towards Jiang Li slowly.

"He..." Kong Liu was about to speak, but was pulled down by Lu Ji. Lu Ji made a "hush" gesture to him and said, "Just watch the show."

Xiao Jiuer is still singing: "My husband is looking for a consort in the capital, and I am living in the palace holding the pipa.

It's a pity that he became rich and ungrateful, he...he abandoned his wife

I am his first wife, Fang, I remember the time when I went to the imperial examination
Whether he said it was right or not, he returned to his hometown

Unexpectedly, drought hit Huguang, and poor families were starving to death.

The second husband and wife starved to death in the thatched cottage, and there was no money to bury the second father and mother
Cut two locks of black hair from my head, and exchange them for two mats on the street

All the neighbors are talking about my husband's success in the imperial examination.

I brought my children to visit him, begging from door to door all the way to Bianliang
Mu Chi Palace broke through the door and kicked me

Fell beside the palace gate... "

First wife... Jiang Li thought vaguely that this was a lingering name, just like Shen Yurong's tenderness towards her. She had experienced many Mid-Autumn nights like this, and every time she had been happy and satisfied. Who knew that there would be such a day, thinking of the past, as if a sword had pierced her abdomen, cutting through her bones, causing her to feel so painful that she wanted to die?

She could hardly tell whether this was just a drama of the "Jiu'er case" or her true self. She seemed to have become Jiu'er, but also seemed to be even more miserable than Jiu'er.

At this moment, a silk handkerchief was suddenly handed to me.

It was pure white, without any embroidery, and the silky texture was smooth, giving off a subtle, flowing glow under the light, and it looked very light and soft.

"Wipe it off." Ji Heng's voice still sounded calm and composed. He said, "The Second Miss's tearful look is really not good."

Jiang Li didn't care about his unpleasant words. She quickly reached out to touch her cheek, but she felt her cheek was wet. She didn't know when she started crying.

She actually cried.

Subconsciously, Jiang Li wanted to take Ji Heng's handkerchief, but she came to her senses the next moment and said with a smile, "Thank you, Duke, but I have my own." She took out a light green handkerchief from her arms. Although it was not as precious as Ji Heng's, it was also very simple and elegant, and wiped away her tears.

The movement was as calm as brushing off dust.

But she subconsciously smiled, with tears in the corners of her eyes, which was indescribably strange. Ji Heng also paused, without commenting, took back the handkerchief, and said to Jiang Li: "I didn't expect that Miss Jiang Er, such a heartless woman, would cry." He said slowly, "I almost suspected that Miss Jiang Er was a drama fan."

"If the play is exciting, watch it. If it's not exciting, don't watch it." Jiang Li also laughed, "It is said that Jin Mantang is a famous troupe in Yanjing City. Today I have seen it. The singing style of that little peach red is very moving."

"What moved people was not Xiao Taohong's singing, but the play itself." Ji Heng said: "Miss Jiang Er just got into the play."

"Me?" Jiang Li looked at him in surprise and said with a smile, "I am not a character in the play, how can I get into the play? Your Excellency is joking."

"Second Miss is very good at acting, but not so good at lying." Ji Heng sighed with a smile: "Your lies are really too clumsy."

Jiang Li frowned slightly and was about to speak when Ji Heng suddenly lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at her.

This posture was already extremely frivolous. Kong Liu next to him almost screamed out, and Lu Ji covered his mouth with his hand.

Jiang Li was so surprised that she didn't know whether to feel ashamed or surprised for a moment. She could only stare at Ji Heng.

I have seen Ji Heng so closely for many times, but no matter how many times, every time I see him, I am still as amazed as when I first saw him. His light red robe is loose, but the peony embroidered on his collar is delicate and neat. In the sad singing, he looks even more gorgeous. It's like a red lotus blooming in the pale winter, scorching and blinding. It's also like seeing a bright moon in the reflection of the abyss, so beautiful that it makes people shudder.

His eyes were light in color, a transparent amber, but the outline of his eyes was naturally deep, so it was as if he had naturally drawn eyebrows, and he was very attractive. His nose was incredibly beautiful, and his lips were thin and red, and even if he was mocking him mercilessly, he would make people want to rush over and ask for a kiss.

With a smile on his lips, he slowly leaned forward, the closer he got, the colder he became. His eyes sparkled so brightly that people couldn't help but hold their breath, but his voice was vague and hoarse as he said, "Eyes are the seedlings of love. Your eyes betray your heart."

Jiang Li said: "I don't." "You have someone in your heart." He said.

Jiang Li: "I didn't."

"This person is in your heart. You don't love him, but you hate him very much." He said with a smile.

Jiang Li was stunned, and couldn't say "I didn't" anymore.

The young man was like a demon who knew everything in people's minds. Nothing in the world could escape his eyes. Jiang Li couldn't help but wonder if this man could see through all the lies and understand all the betrayals. Because his charming eyes could captivate everyone except himself.

He lives too soberly, and is destined not to be happy.

At this moment, Jiang Li felt inexplicably relaxed. In the few times she had fought with Duke Su, Ji Heng, she had never had the upper hand. Although she was not at a disadvantage, Jiang Li knew in her heart that the pressure made her very uncomfortable. But at this moment, she understood that people like Duke Su, Ji Heng, could indeed see everything clearly. But people who live too clearly and understand too much are mostly very hard-working.

It's rare to be confused.

It seemed that there was one thing that Ji Heng was destined to never surpass. Jiang Li suddenly curved her eyebrows, as if her tense body relaxed at that moment. She looked at Ji Heng and smiled, "Whatever the Duke says, that's it."

Ji Heng didn't expect Jiang Li to compromise so suddenly and said it so easily. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Jiang Li struggled slightly to get rid of Ji Heng's hand. Ji Heng loosened the fingers that were lifting his chin and put his folding fan back on. He became polite and courteous again and put on his sheepskin.

"My Lord, you love watching plays so much, aren't you afraid that one day you will also get into the play and be laughed at by others?"

Ji Heng's eyes darkened slightly, as if she didn't expect that Jiang Li not only did not take a step back, but also said such provocative words.

"Second Miss Jiang thinks I am someone who can get into a role?" He waved his fan gently and said, "I am not as kind as the second lady."

What this means is that he is not as kind as Jiang Li, and will not shed tears for insignificant people or other people's joys and sorrows.

"A play is just a play. It cannot be taken seriously." He uttered the cruel words in an almost lingering voice.

"People in the play don't know they are in the play." Jiang Li said softly: "Just like the stories I encountered here touched me, maybe one day you will encounter them too."

She spoke gently, but there was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes when she looked at Ji Heng. This made her look like a "little girl" after all, but the way she spoke was still so tactful and meaningful.

"Then I'll ruin this show," Ji Heng said with a friendly smile, "I'm not an actor."

This simple and rough statement is really Ji Heng's style! Jiang Li was a little depressed. Ji Heng was a dictator in his bones. He didn't have to consider other people's ideas, nor did he care about other people's opinions. He already had a scale in his heart, and he just needed to add weights to it.

No one can be his leverage, so no one is destined to be his weak spot. He is destined not to be threatened by anyone. He has no weaknesses, so everyone is afraid of him.

Jiang Li said coldly: "Then I wish that the Duke can always be a spectator like today!" She didn't understand what was wrong with her, why did she have to come here to compete with Ji Heng. It's best not to interact with people like Ji Heng, and stay as far away as possible.

But this man could easily stir up her inner anger, and she couldn't help but talk to him more. He was really a master at playing with people's hearts!
However, in this world, it is not uncommon for people who play with eagles to have their eyes pecked by eagles.

Jiang Li said: "When it is too strong, it will eventually dry up; when it is too weak, it will eventually become stronger." She snorted in her heart and turned to walk towards Kong Liu.

Ji Heng stood there in astonishment. After thinking it through, she almost couldn't help laughing out loud.

Jiang Li was warning him that the thinner something was, the more profound it might be in the end. The more he went too far, the more retribution he would suffer in the future.

Kong Liu was muttering to Lu Ji about how Ji Heng and Jiang Li seemed to be about to quarrel, when he suddenly saw Jiang Li coming over. He forced out a relatively kind smile and said to Jiang Li, "Why is Miss Jiang here? Don't you want to continue watching?"

"Nothing to see." Jiang Li's smile was gentle and modest, and it didn't look like she had just had a confrontation with Ji Heng. She said, "I've seen this story many times, and it's too tragic. Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, and I don't want to be sad."

Kong Liu suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes."

Ji Heng stood at the carved railing with her arms folded, watching with interest how Jiang Li handled Kong Liu's greetings with ease. She was a girl who could change her expressions, and her ability to do so was quite good.

He glanced at Xiao Taohong who was still singing "Yiyaya" on the stage, and wondered in his heart, I just don't know who she loves or hates.

It shouldn’t be Zhou Yanbang.

……

Dealing with a straightforward person like Kong Liu was much easier than dealing with Ji Heng. Even the smiling goatee next to him who always tried to get Jiang Li to talk was easier to deal with than Ji Heng.

When dealing with Ji Heng, he was always willing to let people see another side of her that was completely different from his passionate beauty, such as cruelty and coldness.

Kong Liu even asked Jiang Li if she wanted to join his cavalry as an archer or cavalryman. Her archery and riding skills were excellent, not inferior to those of men. Moreover, she was able to do so well without any training before, so she would surely be even better after training in the army. Although there were no women in their cavalry, she could set a precedent.

Jiang Li had a headache.

Kong Liu was too ambitious. He seemed to have forgotten that Jiang Li was the daughter of Jiang Yuanbo, the daughter of the current Prime Minister. How could she give up her job and become a cavalryman? Even if Jiang Li wanted to, Jiang Yuanbo would not agree. He would probably write a letter to the emperor, accusing Kong Liu of abducting the daughter of the Prime Minister.

Jiang Li politely declined.

Kong Liu felt very sorry.

Lu Ji kept chatting with Jiang Li with a smile, occasionally asking about things in the Jiang Mansion. Although he asked about trivial matters, Jiang Li was still sensitive enough to realize that Lu Ji was trying to get him to tell her something. Jiang Li didn't know Lu Ji, and didn't know what he was up to. Even if Lu Ji was Ji Heng's man, Jiang Li wouldn't let her guard down. You know, Ji Heng wasn't a good person either. What if he wanted to frame the Jiang family behind the scenes? She was now relying on the Jiang family, a big tree. If the Jiang family fell, she, a young lady from the Jiang family, would definitely have few options.

Jiang Li smiled and answered Lu Ji, but avoided the important questions one by one. After several rounds, Lu Ji realized that Jiang Li had noticed it, so he stopped asking questions, just smiled, and continued to bicker with Kong Liu.

Ji Heng did nothing but lean against the carved railing and look at the "Jiuer Case". He looked so nonchalantly that people almost doubted whether he was looking at it at all.

It's confusing whether this is just one of his plays.

I don't know how long I sat there. Jiang Li instinctively felt that an incense stick of time had passed, so she stood up and said, "My lords, I have to go back. If you don't look for me, my second uncle and the others will be worried. It's getting late now..."

"Then let me send you back!" Kong Liu waved his hand.

"Wait." Lu Ji stopped him and said, "We are the Duke's people after all. Although we can explain clearly by sending the Second Miss back like this, it will inevitably cause misunderstandings. We are fine. Second Miss Jiang is a girl. In order not to cause trouble for her, we should send her to your brother. It's better to explain to your brother."

Jiang Li understood what it meant, that it was much easier to fool Jiang Jingrui than to fool the Lu family.

Ji Heng said: "Wen Ji."

Wen Ji was being stared at by Bai Xue and Tong Er, who were looking at him curiously. After all, there was no guard with such a good appearance in the Jiang residence. Tong Er was comparing Wen Ji and Jiang Jingrui to see who was better-looking. She started by gesturing at the eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth, but she still couldn't figure out what was going on. Instead, Wen Ji blushed and was at a loss.

This time, after hearing Ji Heng's order, Wen Ji was finally able to get rid of the two girls and immediately said, "Here."

"Send Miss Jiang back home." Ji Heng said.

Wen Ji nodded, and Jiang Li saluted Ji Heng: "Thank you for your hospitality, Duke."

"You're welcome." Ji Heng chuckled, "See you later."

Jiang Li: “…”

I really hope that “dead end” is a hundred years later, no, a thousand years later.

Finally coming out of Wangxian Tower, Jiang Li breathed a sigh of relief. Looking back, she saw Wangxian Tower standing in the busy street in the center of Yanjing City, with lights flickering, like an unreal dream.

She suddenly realized that the Mid-Autumn Festival she had thought she was doing to evoke memories of someone was ruined by Ji Heng.

Although he did have some thoughts in the beginning, the fight and argument with Ji Heng actually made it so that those resentment and pain had no time to invade him for a while, and now he felt relaxed.

It can be considered a blessing in disguise.

She said: "Let's go."

After finding Jiang Jingrui, Wen Ji disappeared into the crowd. When Jiang Jingrui saw her, he immediately asked, "Where have you been? I've been looking for you and couldn't find you. I almost told my mother so that she could find a way!"

"I was pushed to a remote place by the crowd and it was hard for me to get back." Jiang Li lied calmly, "I'm fine now."

"Really?" Jiang Jingrui looked at her suspiciously: "Why did you take so long? Your makeup is a little smudged..."

"It's too hot, and the sweat has made the flowers bloom." Jiang Li said, "Let's go find Second Aunt first. It's time to go back now."

Jiang Jingrui was a little frustrated. He hadn't gotten the White Rabbit Lantern yet, so he had to give up.

Jiang Li sighed inwardly. No wonder Lu Ji said that. Jiang Jingrui was indeed easy to fool.

　OK, I hooked my chin, and if we round it off, it means we have consummated our marriage, right? (*/ω╲*)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)