Flourishing of the Ming Dynasty Novel - Chapter 167

Chapter 167 Person Behind The Scenes
Night fell again, and the crescent moon was high, sprinkling the gentle moonlight on the earth, making the entire city of Beijing seem to be enveloped in a thin layer of light veil.

Because there were countless dignitaries in the capital, many luxurious mansions were built. There were carved fences, painted buildings, and pavilions. There are poetic and picturesque gardens and landscapes like Jiangnan, as well as grand decorations that show the noble identity of the host.

If he were to ascend into the air and look at the buildings in the capital, there would be such a small bridge and flowing water in the rich mansion in the east, as if he was in the beautiful backyard of a village in the south of the Yangtze River. In a corner of the garden, there was a rectangular waterside pavilion. Now, the pavilion was brightly lit, and there were a number of Nana’s playwrights singing sorrowful and touching melodies.

This song is the Kunqu Opera that has gradually become popular in the capital recently. That lingering and sentimental tone combined with the sound of threads and bamboo and the actions of the opera performers, it is truly intoxicating to hear. The only flaw was that these seemingly delicate and moving actors were all men, not more attractive women.

In this era, although there were already dramas to read, due to the restrictions of men and women, almost all of them were men singing. Women’s singing was regarded as unfashionable. Therefore, on the stage, regardless of whether it was Ancestor’s horn or the graceful corner of the dan, the person under the makeup was actually a man. It was only a part of the actors who played the dan corner. Even if they removed their makeup, they would still look quite handsome and delicate.

In fact, even hundreds of years later, this tradition still prevailed during the period of the People’s Republic of China. Mei Lanfang’s counterattack was also popular because of this. It was only after the people’s wisdom gradually spread and the status of women continued to rise that there was a place for women on the stage.

Although the singers were all men, those who could perform in such a mansion were all outstanding figures in Kunqu Opera. Therefore, every movement and smile of these people were so charming that the maids and attendants around them were dazzled and enchanted.

It was the host that these people served. A man in his forties, with a graceful appearance, and a noble aura all over his body, was also addicted to it at this moment. He nodded and clapped his hands from time to time, and occasionally snorted with satisfaction.

Seeing this, the few people on the stage began to sing even harder. Their babbling voices were like threads of threads as they wandered around the waterside pavilion, condensing and not dispersing. It was enough to show how deep their skills were.

However, this elegant scene was quickly interrupted by the arrival of a young man in his twenties. He walked extremely fast and carried the wind. In the blink of an eye, he quickly arrived in front of the waterside pavilion. The guards guarding the pavilion clearly recognized this person. They did not dare to stop him when they saw him coming. They cupped their fists and bowed, clearing the way.

That person simply turned a blind eye to their reaction. Without even stopping, he directly stepped into the waterside pavilion. When he saw this elegant scene, his face revealed a look of disgust. He ignored everyone’s expressions and walked over to the middle-aged man. “Third Brother, why did you change your sex? You’re actually interested in this dragging-out thing?” His tone was careless, without the slightest bit of respect.

When the middle-aged man who was immersed in the charm of the opera heard this, he seemed to come out of his good feeling. He raised his eyes and glanced at the person in front of him, “Why are you here? This Kunqu Opera has been highly praised by the people in the Central Plains recently, so I tried to listen to it. This taste is not bad, it has a long aftertaste.”

‘”You’re talking about wine. My third brother has always acted straightforwardly. Why is he interested in such things? Besides, these singers are all men. Could it be that you’re starting to have a habit of splitting peaches and breaking sleeves now?” The young man curled his lips in disdain and said in a perverted tone.

This Fen Tao Duanxiu was referring to the affair between men. It was an allusion that had been passed down for a thousand years, and it was comparable to Comrade Glass or Gay Love in later generations. However, at this moment, he was treating this matter with a neutral attitude, especially in wealthy families. This kind of hobby could even be called elegant.

But even so, the middle-aged man still snorted in dissatisfaction and did not dwell on this matter. He only asked, “Tell me, why did you suddenly come here?”

“This” The youth did not answer immediately. Instead, he swept his gaze forward. The middle-aged man smiled comprehensively and waved his hand. “You guys can go down. You sang well today. All of you, go to the tent and get a thousand bounties.”

When the actors heard this, they immediately stopped thanking him and retreated. A thousand dollars was not a small sum to them. Normally, they could only earn such a sum after singing for half a month. It was really worth it to be able to enter this mansion this time.

Afterwards, the servants who were standing at the left and right also retreated outside the waterside pavilion, leaving only two people to speak. Seeing this, the young man frowned and said, “Third Brother, you actually have such leisure and elegance to listen to the play here. Something happened at the Spring Gathering House last night. That Tang Qianchuan was actually kidnapped!”

“I knew you were here because of this.” The middle-aged man did not show any signs of panic because of these words. He filled the young man with a glass of wine and gently pushed it in front of him. “You came to see me the moment you heard the news, didn’t you?”

“Exactly. What, Third Brother, you already knew?” The young man asked unconsciously.

“It’s not too early. Early this morning, the news came from the building. After all, this Tang Qianchuan is involved in too many things. It’s hard to be at ease when he suddenly disappears.”

“Then you’re still so stable?”

“Everything has already happened. Could it be that I can find someone just by sitting there in a difficult position?” The middle-aged man’s words left the young man at a loss as to how to respond. He smiled and said, “After receiving the news, I have already sent people all over the capital to inquire about his whereabouts. Even at the city gate, I greeted him. As long as that Tang Qianchuan shows up, he will definitely not escape my ears.”

Only then did the young man let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, he gave a thumbs up and said, “Third Brother is indeed third brother. My admiration for his speed is indescribable.” Then, he thought of something, “Third Brother, what do you mean by this arrangement? Do you think that Tang Qianchuan ran away by himself?”

Before the middle-aged man could reply, he shook his head and said, “Third brother, you were wrong this time. As far as I know, he was kidnapped. Because the guards in the building fought with people that night, and they disappeared afterwards. Also, the recent murder of Feng Changchun in Daxing County was investigated. I’m afraid that Tang Qianchuan is most likely related to this case.”

The middle-aged man took a sip of wine and looked at him with a faint smile. “You can actually see this, kid. You’ve improved a bit.”

“Hey, this is also a problem that the people around me can see. I was just casually saying it.”

“If only on the surface, it is true. However, if one wanted to go deeper, it might not be possible. The guards of the Spring Gathering Pavilion only said that they were fighting with people, but they didn’t say whether that person was here to kidnap people or to help Tang Qianchuan escape. Moreover, according to one of them, Tang Qianchuan had told him to leave first to distract the other party, while he himself had gone into hiding. “I suspect that if it were you and I, would we really encounter any danger and let the remaining guards leave and put ourselves in an even more dangerous situation?”

This question really made the young man suspicious, “This is indeed a bit strange. So, do you suspect that this was Tang Qianchuan’s own escape method?”

The middle-aged man nodded, “Although Feng Changchun’s case has nothing to do with him, our relationship with the Spring Gathering House is the most unsettling one for Tang Qianchuan.” Now that the Daxing County Government suddenly wanted to investigate this case again, he couldn’t help but feel fear, and thus thought of such a move to shed the golden cicada’s shell. “If we decide that he was kidnapped and put all our effort into it, he will be able to leave the capital easily.”

“This Tang Qianchuan really has some brains, what should we do?” The young man thought carefully.

“This person is no longer trustworthy. In order to keep this a secret, he must die.” Even though he was talking about such a bloody matter, the middle-aged man still looked very elegant. Even drinking was a calm manner.

Seeing that the young man opened his mouth, he seemed to be a little puzzled, and said, “I know what you want to say. What we need to do now is to add fuel to the fire and tie Tang Qianchuan’s disappearance to Daxing County. If he is found dead in the end, then the people from Daxing County who want to investigate Feng Changchun’s case are the biggest suspects!”

“… Wow!” After pondering for a moment, the young man suddenly clapped his hands and praised, “This hand is indeed extremely wonderful. At that time, the people from the Great Xing County Yamen will be covered in mouths. I’m afraid they won’t be able to explain it clearly.”

But then, he asked with some uncertainty, “Third Brother, what if your speculation is wrong? What if Tang Qianchuan is really kidnapped and someone wants to get information from him that is harmful to us?”

“You can think of this level and prove that you have made progress.” The middle-aged man looked at the other party with satisfaction, “So, in addition to that arrangement, I also sent people from the Shuntian Prefecture to the county government to probe. In addition, after a while, my people will enter the Daxing County government to investigate. As long as they are there, they will eradicate him! However …”

Originally, the arrangement for the middle-aged man had already caused the young man to be greatly convinced, but after listening to his words, he still had some hesitation and was stunned again, “Just what?”

‘”However, Tang Qianchuan has been in his hands for a whole day. No one knows if he will really say anything. I told you to have a family that day, which is easier to control, but you just won’t listen to me. Otherwise, with Tang Qianchuan’s family in hand, I don’t have to worry about what he will say anymore.”

Hearing this, the young man immediately lowered his head and said, “I was confused for a moment …”

“Forget it, the matter is still under control. A small Daxing County government isn’t a big problem. Even if he really knows something, they probably wouldn’t dare to really report it. This matter isn’t small!” The middle-aged man said confidently.