Shang Wenxiu’s breathing visibly quickened.
“Really?”
Zhu Xingxu nodded. “In the original story, the male and female leads eventually went to the modern world.”
With a swish, Shang Wenxiu sprang to his feet and began pacing the room, muttering to himself, “So that’s how it is…”
Lowering her gaze, Zhu Xingxu added, “But we’re not in power. There are many things we can’t obtain directly.”
She told him what items were required.
His face scrunched up tightly. “Aside from palace waist tokens, I’ve never even heard of the others.”
“Still, I’ll send people to look into it.”
Zhu Xingxu nodded. With his involvement, the search would surely proceed more quickly.
The sun was setting, and it was time for her to head back.
“I’ll go first. If anything comes up, find me at the Zhu residence.”
Shang Wenxiu waved. “Got it.”
The two walked out of Xianlai Tavern together.
To their surprise, Ji Chiying and the Third Prince were approaching from the opposite direction.
Though they maintained a respectable distance between them, the blush on Ji Chiying’s face and the smile in the Third Prince’s eyes revealed their feelings plainly.
Ji Chiying spotted Zhu Xingxu standing at the entrance.
“Xingxu, you’re here too.”
She stepped forward and took Zhu Xingxu’s hand.
The Third Prince glanced at Zhu Xingxu, then at Shang Wenxiu beside her, his expression unreadable.
Ji Chiying noticed him as well. “And this is?”
Zhu Xingxu turned, only to find Shang Wenxiu staring at Ji Chiying in a daze.
She nudged him. “Hey.”
He snapped back to his senses, cleared his throat, and extended his hand. “Hello, beautiful lady.”
Ji Chiying tilted her head, clearly confused by the gesture.
Zhu Xingxu quickly slapped his hand down. “This is the Second Miss Ji of the Ji family.”
Ji Chiying offered a polite smile.
Shang Wenxiu straightened his clothes and assumed his most confident expression. “I’m Shang Wenxiu, the sole heir of the Shang family, currently the richest man in the Rui Dynasty. Oh, and we’ve just been appointed imperial merchants.”
Surprise flickered in Ji Chiying’s eyes. “The Shang family? I’ve long heard of you.”
During her years of study in the inner chambers, she had heard stories of the Shang family’s achievements, and her admiration was sincere.
Shang Wenxiu smiled. “There’s still room for improvement.”
In truth, he possessed striking features, sharp brows and bright eyes, with a hint of playful amusement in his gaze that somehow did not repel.
He was an entirely different type from the Third Prince.
“You’re too modest,” Ji Chiying replied.
The Third Prince could not bear the sight of Shang Wenxiu showing off before her. He stepped forward, positioning himself between them. “Second Miss Ji, let’s go.”
Ji Chiying bade them farewell. “Xingxu, we’ll meet again next time.”
Once they entered the tavern, Shang Wenxiu turned urgently to Zhu Xingxu. “Who is she?”
Zhu Xingxu looked at him strangely. “She’s the female lead, Ji Chiying.”
Why was he reacting so strongly?
Had he fallen for her?
After hearing Zhu Xingxu’s explanation, Shang Wenxiu’s eyes reddened slightly. “And the man beside her… he’s the male lead?”
She nodded.
He snorted. “He may look the part, but is he richer than me?”
Zhu Xingxu was silent for a moment before saying, “He’s the Third Prince.”
Shang Wenxiu froze.
She nodded again. In ancient times, imperial authority stood above all else.
He scratched his head. “That’s… a bit troublesome.”
So he really had fallen for her.
Zhu Xingxu tried to dissuade him. “Then don’t think about it. Focus on finding what we need to go back. We can date once we’re back in the modern world.”
But Shang Wenxiu lowered his head, Ji Chiying’s image filling his thoughts.
He had never felt this way before.
Completely captivated.
After a long while, he made up his mind. “I’m not going back. I’m going to pursue her.”
“That’s impossible!” Zhu Xingxu protested at once.
Without her ally, how could she return home more quickly?
His eyes shone with determination. “I’ll keep helping you search for the items, but I’m going to chase Ji Chiying.”
Zhu Xingxu fell silent.
As long as he helped her search, it was enough. If he wanted to stay, that was his choice.
Still, out of consideration for their shared origin, she added, “They’re a match made in heaven. It’ll be hard for you.”
He curled his lip. “So what? The Third Prince isn’t even Emperor yet.”
Zhu Xingxu hesitated. He really hadn’t read the novel.
“He becomes Emperor.” She decided to tell him the harsh truth.
Shang Wenxiu went quiet. “Who’s his enemy? I’ll join him.”
Zhu Xingxu glared at him. If the Crown Prince gained such an ally, the Third Prince and Pei Xie would be finished.
She tried to recall the plot.
There had been no mention of imperial merchants in the original story. Could Shang Wenxiu’s transmigration have altered many events?
Then again…
If they aided the Crown Prince and asked for his waist token in return, would he agree?
If an ordinary person asked, certainly not.
But if Shang Wenxiu approached him?
Hard to say.
And now the Vermilion Bird jade token was in the Crown Prince’s possession as well.
The thought was tempting.
Zhu Xingxu shook her head vigorously, banishing it.
Was she insane? With the Crown Prince’s temperament, he would never trust someone who had previously stood with the Third Prince and then suddenly defected.
If he ignored them, that was one thing. If he took it to heart, the first thing he would do upon ascending the throne would be to execute them.
Not to mention what had happened with Li Dong.
The Crown Prince’s faction had been thoroughly corrupt.
Shang Wenxiu pleaded, “Help me arrange a meeting with her, please.”
She shook her head. “No!”
The Third Prince alone was enough to crush her. She wanted only to retrieve what she needed safely and return home.
Shang Wenxiu pulled out a thick stack of silver notes from his pocket. “Please.”
She examined the amounts carefully, then quietly accepted them.
No reason to refuse free money.
“Where do you want to meet her?”
He thought for a moment. “I’m opening a new theater soon. Let’s meet there.”
Zhu Xingxu made a face. “To watch opera?”
She disliked it and always fell asleep. He handed her two more notes.
“Alright,” she said promptly. “When?”
“The opening is the day after tomorrow.”
She suddenly remembered the scene she had witnessed that afternoon. “By the way… what was going on with that woman earlier? You’re not some sort of playboy, are you?”
She eyed him suspiciously.
She did not particularly want Ji Chiying with the Third Prince, but she would not push her into another pit.
Shang Wenxiu waved his hands frantically. “You misunderstand! She’s a cook at one of my restaurants. Her ex-husband has been harassing her, so she asked me to help drive him away.”
Zhu Xingxu frowned. “Really?”
He raised three fingers to the sky. “I swear. If I’m lying, may I never win Ji Chiying’s heart.”
For the sake of the silver notes, Zhu Xingxu chose to believe him.
She did not think that one outing would immediately change Ji Chiying’s mind anyway.
After arranging the time, Zhu Xingxu arrived early at the Ji residence on the appointed day.
Ji Chiying had already informed the servants, so Zhu Xingxu was led straight into the reception hall.
While waiting, she saw Ji Qingqing.
Dressed in emerald green, Ji Qingqing looked lively and charming. She spotted Zhu Xingxu, snorted coldly, and headed toward the gate.
To Zhu Xingxu’s surprise, Pei Yan also arrived.
A servant was respectfully ushering him inside.
Ji Qingqing’s eyes lit up, and she hurried over. “Your Highness, are you here for me?”
Pei Yan glanced at her. “I’m here for Second Miss Ji.”
A flicker of jealousy passed through her eyes before she concealed it. “Second Sister won’t be going out today. Let Qingqing accompany you instead, alright?”
He frowned. “Not going out? Why?”
She fabricated smoothly. “Second Sister has caught a cold. It wouldn’t be suitable for her to go out.”
“In that case, I should visit her,” he said, stepping forward.
Ji Qingqing quickly stopped him. “Your Highness, she is ill. If you go in now, you might catch it too. How will you greet His Majesty afterward?”
He paused. “That… makes sense.”
Satisfied, she smiled. “Then come with me.”
And so Pei Yan allowed himself to be led away.
Watching from the side, Zhu Xingxu was furious.
What a scoundrel. Swayed by a few sweet words from a scheming woman.
She decided to support her fellow transmigrator Shang Wenxiu instead.
After a quarter of an hour, Ji Chiying emerged. “Let’s go, Xingxu.”
Linking arms, they left together. Zhu Xingxu decided not to mention what had just happened.
Shang Wenxiu’s Wenxin Theater drew a massive crowd on opening day.
The Shang family spared no expense, decorating it in dazzling splendor.
Zhu Xingxu felt the style was oddly familiar, though she could not place it.
Commoners had initially hesitated to enter. But at the entrance, Shang Wenxiu had set up a wooden board listing prices.
Seats in the main hall were very affordable, while only the private boxes for nobility required a minimum expenditure.
Encouraged, the public poured in.
When Zhu Xingxu and Ji Chiying arrived, they were stunned by the sea of people.
“So many…”
“It’s newly opened,” Zhu Xingxu replied, equally astonished.
Shang Wenxiu had been waiting at the entrance.
He strode toward them, his gaze fixed intently on Ji Chiying.
Feeling his heated stare, she edged behind Zhu Xingxu.
Zhu Xingxu noticed and shot him a glare.
Realizing his impropriety, Shang Wenxiu quickly averted his gaze. “Come, I’ve reserved seats for you.”
Inside, the hall buzzed with excited chatter. The commoners could scarcely believe they were able to afford such a luxurious venue.
Among the crowd, Zhu Xingxu even spotted a few deeply featured faces, likely foreigners.
Shang Wenxiu led them upstairs.
The private boxes varied in style, some elegant, some opulent, some plain, catering to different tastes.
He brought them into an elegant room. “Take a look. If you don’t like it, we can change.”
Though he addressed both of them, his attention never left Ji Chiying.
Zhu Xingxu glanced at her.
Ji Chiying nodded, satisfied.
Shang Wenxiu handed her a program list. “If there’s anything you like, just call someone to add it.”
She leaned close with Zhu Xingxu to examine it.
Besides traditional opera, there were acrobatic performances and even some modern-sounding titles.
Zhu Xingxu recognized one as the name of a once-popular melodramatic television series.
The acrobatics likely explained the presence of foreign guests.
“This one,” she said, pointing to a modern piece.
Ji Chiying selected a favorite of her own.
Shang Wenxiu personally recorded their choices. “I’ll have refreshments sent up shortly.”
Ji Chiying hesitated. “Do the refreshments cost extra?”
Her monthly allowance was limited.
Shang Wenxiu’s smile did not fade. “You’re Zhu Xingxu’s friend, and that makes you my friend.”
In other words, there was no charge.
Ji Chiying wanted to refuse, but seeing Zhu Xingxu accept so casually, she nodded lightly. “Thank you.”
Zhu Xingxu sat quietly, lowering her presence as much as possible.
Gradually, the boxes around them filled.
Fortunately, they arrived early.
Each private box was curtained for privacy, and from the window one could see the bustling hall below and those entering.
Shang Wenxiu personally brought up tea and pastries before hurrying off again. With a new theater opening, he was the busiest of all.
After sitting for a while, Zhu Xingxu saw the Third Prince and Ji Qingqing enter.
Behind them followed Pei Xie.