Hearing us whispering, Jiu Ye nodded and said, "Yu er, if you have something to do, then go!" I thought for a while, handed the tea set in my hand to Tianchao, then walked out of the room.
As soon as he saw me Hong Gu immediately lifted the tea tray and put it into my hands, "I really can't take it anymore. Young master Huo's face can freeze people to death, as soon as he enters this house, I feel like I have returned to the coldest day of winter." cold, but unfortunately, I'm only wearing spring clothes. I smiled and racked my brains for something to talk about, but he didn't even raise an eyebrow. I'm afraid to die, because our entertainment house didn't offend Great General Wei but instead angered lord Chang' I don't know what you're playing, but if I keep accompanying you to play, my life will be lost." While talking he was about to leave, but I stopped him, "You can't go".
Hong Gu spun around to avoid me, "But you fangzhu, now is the time for you to use your power. We filthy soldiers can only help out." As he spoke, he had moved away and only revealed his back.
I angrily said, "Have no sense of loyalty friend". Hong Gu turned around and said with a smile, "Which is more important? Friendship or life? After all, fangzhu, I believe in you. I will support you from behind".
I sighed, then carried the tray of tea while walking slowly, when the attendants who were standing at the door saw me, they quickly opened the door, I bowed slightly to thank, then slowly stepped into the room. Young Master Huo who was said to be able to turn spring into winter was sitting upright on the mat, with an expressionless face, he was watching the scenes on the stage.
I put the tea tray on the table, then served the tea with both hands to salute him, when I saw that he didn't react, I lazy to open my mouth and just watched.
Huo Qubing lightly lifted the teacup and sipped it. At that time, Qiu Xiang, who played the role of general, appeared on the stage, carrying swords, singing and dancing, insulting the Xiongnu people for greed and blood thirst, and wanting to defend the country with his cleverness. Huo Qubing snorted until the tea water in his mouth spurted out, one hand rested on the table while the other hand was holding the cup, his head lowered and his whole body trembled lightly, so that the cup in his grasp swayed almost to the ground.
I quickly turned around to face him, snatched the cup and put it on the table, then took a handkerchief and wiped the tea water that had spilled on the serving plate. He couldn't help but laugh as he pointed at Qiu Xiang on the stage, "If the Great General of Wei was like that, he must have been killed by the Xiongnu people, he didn't kill them."
I remembered the might of the Xiongnu soldiers on horseback and my heart was amused, while holding back laughter I got up, was about to return to my original seat, but he pulled me to a stop, I looked at him in surprise, he said, "In this dance, except for the one who plays the princess, there's nothing worth watching. Sit down and accompany me to chat, there is something I want to ask you ".
I lowered my head and said, “Yes, Huo Gongzi”.
“Xiao Yu, at that time I couldn't tell you my identity, you can still call me Xiao Huo”, he said rather impatiently.
“Now you believe that I am Han?”
"Who knows. Your appearance is very strange. You know Xiyu's realm very well, you call yourself a Han person, but you are so foreign to the world of the Han Dynasty, if we don't suspect anything at all, do you think we are normal? After that we traveled with you and we made sure that at least you didn't mean any harm. But at that time I went to Xiyu in disguise, so I really couldn't tell you my identity.” I looked down and said nothing, everything he said made so much sense.
In a low voice he asked, “Xiao Yu, is my explanation acceptable to you?”
I raised my head and looked at her, “I know Xiyu very well because I grew up among the wolves, instinctively we couldn't get lost in the desert. Actually I've never lived in the Han Dynasty, so I don't know him. I consider myself a Han person, because here I am a Han person.” I pointed at my own heart, “But maybe my people are unknowable and I am a member of the wolf pack. This is all I can say, do you believe what I say?”
He looked me straight in the eye and nodded "I believe, as for other things, perhaps one day you will be willing to tell me."
Only a very confident person would dare to look the other person in the eye, Huo Qubing was definitely this kind of person. After staring at each other for a while, I averted my eyes, I didn't want to question him, nor did I want to be interrogated by him.
He asked, "Have you arrived in Chang'an long ago?" I said, "Half a year more".
After thinking for a while, he asked, “Since you purposely changed this ballet, you must already know my identity, why don't you go looking for me right away? What if I hear about this ballet but don't come to see it?”
It turned out that he thought that the scenes in the ballet were deliberately composed for him, this person was really too confident. A mocking smile spread at the corners of my lips, "When I wanted to look for you I didn't know where you were, and when I knew where you were, I didn't feel the need to meet you".
He looked at me, in an instant his facial expression turned very cold, "What is your purpose in changing this ballet?" I listened to Fang Ru's gentle singing voice and didn't answer.
Suddenly he pulled a pair of hands that had crossed his knees to both sides of his body and clenched them, “You want to enter the palace? I thought you were an exotic flower from the desert, but it turns out you want to be a phoenix."
I shook my head while smiling, "No, I'm comfortable living alone like this, why infiltrate that wretched place?" His face visibly relieved, he looked at Fang Ru, "You want to be like him?"
I smiled while shaking my head, “Her mind is very simple, just want to use this moment to find a good place for herself, maybe at least for the rest of her life she will have enough food and clothing. I don't want to do something like that, and also can't force others to do it, after all, I guess he's someone who can't live in that kind of place.”
He said, "You are not like this, and not like that, what is your real plan then?" I turned around and looked at Fang Ru on the stage, "He's the plan".
His eyebrows rose, he seemed to be smiling but not smiling, he also looked at me, “I see that you are not like a person who grew up in a pack of wolves, but like a person who was raised by a fox. Your plan has worked, the princess has heard of Hua Yue Nong, she asked if I have come to Luoyu Fang and met the person who changed her.”
I got up, "Many thanks for the compliment".
Carefully, he listened to the sad songs from the stage, apparently he was a bit enthralled. I sat down quietly, seeing that he didn't seem to want to talk anymore, I was about to excuse myself, but he said, "In this ballet everything is carefully calculated, every song's lyrics are within the limits of decency, but before this without saying why don't you leave me and quickly greet Company head Shi, aren't you afraid of me getting angry?”
At that time I really didn't think long, but I don't regret it. I thought for a moment, then carefully replied, "He is my great master, there is no reason for a shop assistant not to come out to greet his master".
Blandly his eyes swept over me, “Really? Am I no higher than the head of a company?”
Before I could reply, the attendant behind the door called out, "Sir, Hong Gu please see me". Somewhat impatiently he said, "Just tell me what the problem is."
Hong Gu nervously said quickly, “Huo Gongzi, I had to disturb the gongzi, I'm sorry. Yu Niang, said Shi Feng Xiaoge, the big master was furious, he was scolding Master Wu.”
furious? This seemed to be the worst reaction I could have anticipated, with my hand supporting my forehead, I said weakly, “Okay, I'll go there immediately”. I smiled apologetically at Huo Qubing, “I'll excuse myself first, it seems you're not a petty person, so please don't trouble me. Now I will admit my mistake, the situation has become complicated.
“No wonder the princess is confused as to why the Shi Company has become like this. You shopkeeper is very daring, without the approval of the head of the company dare to put on a ballet about the private affairs of the royal family. I didn't argue and slowly got up. Suddenly he said, "Would you like me to accompany you?"
For a moment I was stunned, after understanding, my heart felt warm, while smiling I shook my head.
He smiled lazily, with a mischievous face he said, "Don't blame yourself too much, if the Shi Company doesn't want you, my house wants you." I widened my eyes, then opened the door and left.
As soon as he saw me, Hong Gu immediately grabbed my hand. I felt as if I was touching cold ice, so I quickly turned my hand over and held his hand, "What happened?"
Hong Gu said, “I don't know either, actually I don't know anything either, it was a little brother named Shi Feng who secretly told me to hurry up and look for you, he said Master Wu was being scolded while kneeling! I think it's because of the ballet problem."
I said, "Don't be afraid, I will bear everything." In a low voice Hong Gu said, “You don't know the rules of the Shi Company, many years ago there was a rich man who became a beggar on the side of the road, eventually he starved to death. And there's another punishment that I don't know about, the more I think about it, the more scared I get.”
My heart was getting more and more weary, but my face was still smiling, "Even if there's a problem, I'll be the one to bear it, this problem has nothing to do with you." Hong Gu's face looked worried, without saying anything, he accompanied me to walk.
Xiao Feng confronted us, while looking at Hong Gu he said, “He can't enter”.
Hong Gu looked like he was going to wait outside, I said, “The ballet is almost over, go watch over them, don't let anything happen at this crucial moment, it will be even more troublesome for Mr. Wu.” He felt that what I said made sense and immediately nodded, then turned and left.
I said to Xiao Feng “Many thanks”. He snorted and looked at Tianchao while lifting his nose, “You quickly think about how to explain to Jiu Ye! No wonder San Master taught me that women are troublesome.”
I held out my hand and tapped his forehead, then fiercely said, “Damn brat, you better not get married then.”
After taking a deep breath, I carefully opened the door. Master Wu was kneeling with his back to the door. Jiu Ye's face was calm, not like he was angry, but the light in his eyes was not gentle like usual. With his hands clasped to his sides, Tianchao stood by Jiu Ye's side. The curtains covering the windows had been drawn, apart from the charming ballet dancers on the stage, the atmosphere in the room was quiet and solemn.
They heard my voice coming into the room, but Jiu Ye and Tianchao didn't look at me at all.
The heads of all Shi Company's entertainment houses knelt on the floor, so there seemed to be no reason for me not to kneel, I walked to Mr. Wu's side with small steps, then knelt down too.
Jiu Ye said blandly, “Go! Why are you joining in? Shenxing will give you an explanation.”
Master Wu kowtowed and said, “I am an orphan, if the Shi Company had not raised me, I might have been eaten by stray dogs long ago. This time I hid the matter in Luoyu Fang and didn't report it to the gentlemen. However, Jiu Ye punished me. I won't complain. honestly with customers, never cheating or dominating the market, but why now I have to look helplessly at the entertainment houses that I lead, if not fighting over visitors, bought by someone else? Every time I asked Second Master Shi why something like this happened, Second Master Shi always told me not to interfere, just watch. Would the treasures that the Old Master had accumulated his entire life be squandered to nothing like this? Jiu Ye, where will you have the face to meet……”
Tianchao snapped at him, “Shut up! The older you get, the more impudent you are, how will Old Master teach you to talk to Jiu Ye?”
While kneeling down, Master Wu said with a sob, "I don't dare, but I really don't understand, don't want to, don't want to!" As he spoke he had wept bitterly.
Jiu Ye's expression did not change at all, his eyes turned towards me. I stubbornly raised my head and looked at him, he said, “You really surprised me, if you're that good at tricks, Luoyu Fang isn't good enough for you. Instead of being good at running a business, you're even fawning over the higher-ups, what's the point of you bothering to do all this?”
Master Wu wiped his tears before speaking, “Yu Niang is still young, to attract customers, her actions are not wrong. If something goes wrong, it's all my fault, I don't forbid it, and instead let it do as it pleases. If Jiu Ye wants to pass judgment, then let me bear it all.”
Jiu Ye snorted coldly, then slowly said, “Lao Wu, you are mistaken this time, listen to the lyrics of that song carefully, every word in it has been carefully calculated, how can a person with no intelligence make it up? I've seen the ballet, the story is very unique, if only to make Luoyu Fang the busiest entertainment house in Chang'an, an ordinary story is also enough, there is no need to take such a big risk by making up stories that touch upon the private affairs of the imperial family. Behind a big risk there must be a big goal too.
Master Wu looked at me in surprise, I looked at him apologetically, then looked at Jiu Ye and said calmly, “Actually, I did it on purpose, the purpose was to attract Princess Pingyang's attention, and after that befriend the princess.”
Jiu Ye looked at me, then said while nodding, “Your ambition is quite high, but have you thought about whether you can bear the consequences?”
I said, “The result? I don't know what Jiu Ye is afraid of? If the Shi Company is like now, there are only three possibilities. First, because the people in the Shi Company themselves are incompetent, so no one can control such a large enterprise, but I know that's not the case. The Shi Company fell following the fall of the Dou Family, and the sudden rise of the Wei Family. Thus there are two other possibilities, namely because the Shi Company used to be closely related to the Dou Family, and now the Son of Heaven hates them, the Shi Company was affected, or, the Shi Company was hostile to the Wei Family and of course was destroyed because of it.”
Tianchao glanced at me, Master Wu suddenly came to his senses, his face both excited and worried, I continued, “Even though the Wei Family's influence and power are at their peak, Great General Wei has always tried to control his family and forbid them from using their power to oppress others, he doesn't even allowing the man who whipped him years ago to be investigated. Therefore, between the Shi Company and the Wei Family there must be deep enmity, otherwise, the Shi Company would not be what it is today. People say that power and money are inseparable. Since ancient times, if you want to grow a business, you can't help but have to forge relationships with officials, especially here in Chang'an, a gathering place for hundreds of officials, where all kinds of power are intertwined? Even though I have never met Old Master, I can understand his thoughts, thus, I think Old Master used to have a good relationship with the Dou Family.”
Jiu Ye picked up the teacup on the table and sipped it, "Since you already understand it, what do you plan to do then?" I said, “Three or four years ago, I certainly wouldn't have dared to do it, but now the circumstances have become more favorable for us.”
Tianchao and Mr. Wu's eyes flashed, staring at me unblinkingly, but Jiu Ye did not react, putting down the teacup, he said insipidly, “Miss Jin Yu, thousands of employees rely on Shi Company for their lives, they don't have your intelligence, don't have your ambitions, and also can't throw their family's life into your play. From today on, I will sell Luoyu Fang to Miss, and no longer have any relationship with Shi Company, how you manage Luoyu Fang is Miss's own business. Tianchao, let's go home.” His speech was bland and his face calm, but that only accentuated the aloofness and foreignness that he had never shown before.
I couldn't believe I stared at him without blinking, but he didn't look at me anymore and pushed his wheelchair to go, when he passed me and Mr. Wu, because we were kneeling in front of the door, his wheelchair couldn't pass, looking at the mouth of the door he said, “ Please both of you give me a way". His tone was polite yet icy cold, making my heart freeze.
I suddenly got up, opened the door and ran out, Xiao Feng shouted, "Yu Jiejie!", but I didn't care about it, I just wanted to get far away from this place, away from them, away from this icy cold place.
After running away, I just thought about how he came down from the attic, he certainly didn't want anyone else to touch his body, I gritted my teeth and stomped my feet in annoyance to myself, then quickly ran back and looked for someone who could run the wooden box , so that he can tell Tianchao and Shi Feng how to get down from the attic.
“In war, a general takes orders from his emperor, raises an army and concentrates his power. When in difficult terrain, don't camp. Where paths cross, join forces with your allies. Do not linger in remote and dangerous positions. If you are surrounded, use tactics. In a critical situation, you must fight. There are roads which must not be taken, armies which must not be attacked, cities which must not be besieged, positions which must not be taken and orders of the emperor which must not be obeyed.”
I read silently, then stopped the movement of my writing brush. Why? At that time, because I was cringe at Jiu Ye's attitude and tone, I didn't think carefully about the meaning of what he said. He said that for the sake of Shi Company's thousands of employees, he would not allow me to make trouble, but we had relations with officials only for the sake of business, and would absolutely not interfere in the power struggles in the palace, even trying to avoid those fights. In the past, the downfall of the arbitrary Dou Family had dragged thousands of people within the Shi Corporation into the abyss, if I now relied on the princess who always acted with caution, wouldn't it be safer? As long as my steps are right, when can things be worse than now? What exactly is in Jiu Ye's mind? Wasn't the faint frown on Jiu Ye's forehead caused by the Shi Company?
I heard the sound of the door being opened, but my figure didn't budge, I was still staring dumbfoundedly at the Sunzi Martial Arts book. Li Yan put a pot of wine in front of me, "How long do you plan to stay in the room?" I put down the writing brush, then said while looking at him, "Hong Gu told you to come here?"
Looking down, Li Yan poured some wine, “He actually told me not to come here, but I wanted to ask you myself. Did you hire us brothers and sisters so that we can eat for free in this house?”, while speaking, he handed me a cup of wine, “Drink a little, will you? This wine can make you forget your troubles.”
I pushed the cup back towards him, "Just forget for a moment, once it wakes up, the tribulation will continue". Li Yan shook his head, smiled, he lifted the cup and downed it thoroughly, "You don't understand the use, it can make you not be yourself, make your heart carefree, float, even if only for a while, but not forever." of any use." I didn't argue and picked up the cup of tea on the table and sipped it. While slowly drinking the wine, Li Yan said, "What plan do you have?"
I lifted the teacup and thought for a moment, then shook my head, “I don't know. I was about to return the Shi Corporation to its pre-decline position, but I suddenly realized that no one wanted me to do that, it was all just my wishful thinking. Li Yan, have I done something wrong?”
“Jin Yu, why are you asking such a stupid question? In this life, we are always like a boat going against the current, unable to sail smoothly, the current of the river doesn't allow you to sail forward, if you don't row as hard as you can, you will be pushed back by the swift current. Even if Luoyu Fang lives and doesn't die, can we survive? Tianxiang Fang is very aggressive. Behind them, of course, there is the power of officials. The Shi Company's countless entertainment houses were removed or bought by them, will you one day be willing to bow under their feet?”
Meaningfully, I smiled and said, “You haven't arrived in Chang'an long but already know a lot about everything.”
Li Yan's facial expression changed, suddenly he held my hand, while looking at me intently he whispered, "Between the two of us there is no secret, since I guessed the purpose of your ballet, you of course already know what I want, I need your help".
Even though I didn't pull my hand away, I didn't answer either, only smiled and said, "Even without my help, by relying on your intelligence and pretty face, you will be able to achieve your goals".
Li Yan looked at me for a while, then smiled and let go of my hand. He picked up the cup of wine again and drank it down. His cheeks were red with wine, like a beautiful peach blossom, really incomparably beautiful. Her eyes that were as clear as an autumn pond no longer glittered like they used to, only looked like a deep pool. As beautiful as a flower, her face could tear a nation down, but her beautiful face was full of sorrow.
Fang Ru's gentle voice sounded, "Yu Niang, may I come in?" From the tone of his voice, it seemed that he wanted to ask my advice, but his attitude was not like that at all, when his voice had just been heard, he had already opened the door.
I sighed and said, "How many people did Hong Gu tell me to persuade?" Unexpectedly, Hong Gu laughed outside, "I'm tired of seeing you languishing in the room all the time". I said, "Come in. We all sit together and deliberate."
As soon as Fang Ru entered, Li Yan immediately put on her veil, then with her head down, she sat quietly at the corner of the table. Fang Ru and Hong Gu sat shoulder to shoulder across from me. As I cleared the bamboo slats on the table, I said, "Hong Gu, Mr. Wu must have told you that the Shi Company doesn't want us anymore."
Hong Gu smiled broadly and said, "I don't know what you think, whether you will be angry or not, after all I dare not say it in front of Mr. Wu, all the entertainment houses that Mr. Wu manages will be released by Shi Company, reportedly for capital to open a business medicine, as long as it can raise money at the appointed time, each household can manage its own business, and also can be bought by outsiders, but the priority is the Shi Company's own people. I can't stay home. But I'm happy to hear that instead! Without the Shi Company being too careful, we'll be free to do what we want to do!”