Consultante de vie de la dynastie Song du Sud

Chapitre 19

The curtains were drawn again.

Yu Zhou emerged with the magic mirror, eliciting gasps of astonishment from the audience. This was because Yu Zhou's appearance was simply too outstanding.

Princess Jianning: Mirror, what is your actual price?

Magic Mirror: Not expensive at all, nine hundred and ninety-nine taels, and one tael is to be returned to the master.

Princess Jianning: Who is the most beautiful princess in the world?

Magic Mirror: Of course it's Snow White, Sleeping Beauty...

Princess Jianning: Enough! When will it be my turn?

Magic Mirror: After all the women in the world have died...

Just as Princess Jianning was about to smash the magic mirror, Romeo and his companions appeared.

Princess Jianning: You rascal, why are you so late? (Then she pounces on Romeo. Actually, Xiao Han didn't want to do this, but it was necessary for the plot. He also had to put on a coquettish voice.)

Romeo: Hello, Princess!

Princess Jianning: Hello (sways her body back and forth)

Romeo: Princess, may I borrow your magic mirror?

[Performance (Part 2)]

Romeo: Princess, may I borrow your magic mirror?

Princess Jianning: Sure! But you have to kiss me.

Romeo gave Princess Jianning a quick kiss. (Xiao Han was practically going crazy, while Lei Li's face was flushed.)

Romeo: Where are Mulan and Zhu Yingtai now?

The curtains began to open again.

They performed scenes of Mulan taking her father's place in the army and Zhu Yingtai disguising herself as a man. The audience was filled with tears, some moved by Mulan's heroism, others saddened by Zhu Yingtai's love, especially Qin Yan, who was the most heartbroken, her once smooth face now wet with tears.

Teacher Qingxing kept her eyes fixed on Teacher Qinyan. Slowly, their gazes met, and the music of "The Butterfly Lovers" began to play softly. It seemed as if only the two of them remained in the room.

Qin Yan stared blankly at Qing Xing. She couldn't utter a single word, only nodding.

Teacher Qingxing, in a daze, took out the jade pendant from her bosom and wore it at her waist. With a faint smile, two butterflies, which Yu Zhou had placed beforehand, fluttered to Qingxing and Qin Yan's side. The people below the stage were full of praise, holding handkerchiefs and gazing intently, while Lan Tianxixiang cried the loudest.

"Love or hate, it doesn't matter," Teacher Qingxing said calmly. Teacher Qin Yan remained silent, then took out a dagger from her waist and cut off a lock of hair.

The play on stage continues.

Juliet: Oh! You heartless bastard, Romeo, you little devil, you really are here! (Hua Qianmo, after being reborn, carefully lifted her chest.)

Silver Heart: Young Master Luo

Sleeping Beauty lay on the ground. The sudden appearance of four people startled Romeo so much that he dared not move.

Romeo: My wife, what brings you here? Haven't you been obsessed with novels lately?

Juliet: Oh! You rascal, if I hadn't come, you would have been kidnapped!

Romeo: My wife, how could this be?

Juliet: Oh! Who's that big-breasted, brainless woman? Otherwise, you'll have to kneel on the washboard today.

Wet Nurse: Washboard (Mirror Evil Sorrow remains emotionless)

Romeo: She's Yang Guifei, are you ever going to stop? (Lei Li has been holding it in for a long time)

Juliet: Oh! No wonder, he looks so fat and chubby. (Hua Qianmo was quite frightened by Lei Li. Why were all the people he acted with freaks? One was cold and aloof, the other was fiery.)

Yang Guifei: That's right, how dare I compare myself to Miss Zhu!

Juliet: Oh! Who is this little maid? Is she your Butterfly Sister's bastard child? (Yu Zhou felt they were constantly altering his lines; this bastard child didn't seem to be.) Yuan Yang's face already showed slight anger, his slightly purple eyes becoming even deeper. He no longer cared about the hot steamed bun in front of his chest. But he had to smile. Yu Zhou discovered that this seemingly calm and collected Yuan Yang also had a secret.

Silverheart: I'm here to deliver a message to my young lady.

Romeo: What are you saying?

Yin Xin: She asked me to bring you some wound medicine, so you won't be tortured to death by your wife. (This sentence seems to be missing.)

Lei Li paused for a moment, as if there was a hidden meaning in his words, but he quickly recovered.

Romeo: Heh heh, let's look at Sleeping Beauty instead...

Sleeping Beauty, dressed in the attire of a European noblewoman, lay gracefully on the ground. Zhan Ge, in fact, was already beyond saving. Although he had few lines, mosquitoes and flies swarmed around his face. He was the only one among them who didn't move. He frowned, wanting to shoo them away, but alas, he was Sleeping Beauty.

Princess Jianning: Sleeping Beauty, Romeo, where did you get this wild woman from? (Xiao Han walked over and deliberately stepped on Zhan Ge's fingers, causing Zhan Ge's face to contort in pain.)

Romeo: Jianning~ Don't think that~~

Suddenly, the curtain collapsed, about to hit Yu Zhou. Yuan Yang, who was closest to Yu Zhou, rushed forward without hesitation, shielding him with her body and holding him tightly. At that moment, Yu Zhou felt a warm current flow through his heart, unknowingly. Was it because he hadn't felt a warm embrace in so long, or was it because he longed for this feeling...? Yuan Yang carried a faint scent of cherry blossoms. Even Yu Zhou's keen nose could only detect a tiny, almost imperceptible fragrance, deeply touching his heart. His heart pounded for no apparent reason.

However, when Yu Zhou looked up and saw Yuan Yang's eyes, which shimmered with a purple light, they instantly became profound, filled with tenderness. In that instant, he transformed back into the phoenix chick, the arrogant young man who once looked down upon the world. Yu Zhou felt that this man was even more cold-hearted than himself, perhaps even more cruel.

After a brief commotion, everyone removed the curtain. Yuan Yang released Yu Zhou. At that moment, Yu Zhou felt as if something was missing—was it the warmth of comfort, or…? Yu Zhou didn't dwell on it. Her thoughts couldn't be swayed. She and he were lifelong rivals. She couldn't linger in his embrace. Immediately, Yu Zhou also became cold, observing everyone's expressions with a faint smile.