TRT – Chapter 12 Performance

“Zhi Yuan—!!”

I shouted loudly and grabbed that man’s arm!

“Shou’er, take the brocade box from the table and give it to Qingqing.” I traced my eyebrows and gave instructions to Xiao Shou’s reflection in the mirror.

“Hmph!” Shou’er gave a short grunt, motionless, not even sparing me a glance.

I had no choice but to put down my brow brush. “What’s wrong with you? Ever since we came back from the street, you’ve had that sour look on your face, like someone owes you five hundred taels! …But if I recall correctly, you still owe me five hundred taels, don’t you?”

Suddenly, Shou’er stood up, knocking over the whole table of cosmetics with a crash. He seized my sleeve, spun me around by the shoulder, and glared into my eyes, asking each word heavily:

“Who. Is. Zhi. Yuan?”

Ah… so that’s what this is about.

Earlier on the street, I had grabbed the arm of a man in black training clothes.

“Zhi Yuan—! Is that you? Did you time travel too? This is unbelievable…”

But when that man turned his head to glance at me, my excitement was instantly frozen solid!

This man was absolutely not Zhi Yuan!

Yes, the face was exactly the same.

But Zhi Yuan would never have such an icy expression, such a distant and indifferent gaze, such inhumanly cold words—

“Take your hand away.” That was all he said, not one extra word.

“Ah…!” I finally snapped out of it. “S-sorry! I’m sorry! I mistook you for someone else…” I hurriedly released him and stepped back.

Looking carefully at his departing back, it was clear—he wasn’t the same person. This man was much taller and stronger than Zhi Yuan. Zhi Yuan, like all modern boys, loved to wear oversized T-shirts, thinking it looked cool to slouch as he walked. But this man’s spine was straight and tall… a completely different person.

And so, in a daze, I had returned to Cangchun Pavilion under Xiao Shou’s relentless questioning…

“Hey! Hey! Wake up! I’m talking to you!” Xiao Shou’s angry face loomed right in front of me. “Every time that name comes up, you look like your soul’s flown off! …Fine, if you don’t want to say, forget it!”

He snatched the brocade box off the table and stormed out.

“Hey—! You must come watch the performance tonight! I have a gift for you!” I shouted at his vanishing back.

Minmin turned around, touching the door panel Shou’er had just kicked in. With concern, she muttered, “This brat! Why’s his temper so bad lately? Is this his rebellious phase?”

At the same time, a man known as Prince Luo stood leisurely in a waterside pavilion, smiling as he watched the koi swimming in the rippling pond.

Without a sound of footsteps, a blue-robed servant dropped lightly behind him, knelt on one knee, and reported respectfully:

“Master, the Third Prince has arranged a banquet in the front hall and invites you to attend.”

Prince Luo seemed not to hear, continuing to gaze at the koi pond. The servant remained kneeling like a statue.

After a long while, a melodious voice, like golden bells and drums, finally spoke:

“Go back and tell him, Prince Luo has already dined. I appreciate the Third Prince’s kindness. Oh, and Lian Zuo—have the palace kitchen prepare supper. I’m feeling a little hungry.”

“Yes.” Lian Zuo replied briefly, then vanished from the pavilion.

“Pfft—” Another blue-robed servant standing nearby, holding a basket of fish feed, suddenly laughed.

“Lian You, what are you snickering about again?” Prince Luo elegantly scattered some feed into the water, unhurried as ever.

“I was just thinking—the Third Prince goes to such lengths to curry favor with you, but unfortunately, he’s putting his effort in the wrong place. How can the palace chefs compare with our Weiyang Sect’s master chef? And then to call it a fine offering—what a joke! Today he even invited you to watch the performance at Cangchun Pavilion. Little does he know, that place already belongs to Weiyang Sect! What right has he to invite you? Hah, I’d say apart from the title of ‘Prince Luo,’ there’s nothing in the royal family that can tie down Master anymore. Wonder what tricks the other side will try next to win you over~”

“You’re wrong, Lian You.” Prince Luo spoke slowly. “There’s no such thing as ‘apart from.’ No matter which side, nothing has ever been able to bind me.”

“Master, you don’t even care for a prince’s title?”

“Indeed. Now that I am master of Weiyang Sect, what in this world could possibly tempt me further?”

Lian You looked at him with reverence, then hesitated before speaking again. “But… about the performance at Cangchun Pavilion… I truly want to witness it myself!”

“Oh?” Prince Luo raised an eyebrow. “What you really want to see is the capital’s number one beauty—Minmin, isn’t it?”

“Heh heh heh…” Lian You scratched his head, embarrassed. “Though Cangchun Pavilion is ours, Master has been in the capital for a year now and never once gone to see. People all say: ‘To miss Minmin’s song and dance is to waste a life!’ I’m just curious!”

“Very well. Let’s go have a look. Consider it giving the Third Prince some face.” Prince Luo said casually. “If you truly like her after seeing, I’ll grant Minmin to you.”

Lian You quickly knelt to thank him.

A handful of feed scattered onto the lake, the koi swarming and battling for it.

“Lian You, do you know? The true pleasure of feeding fish lies in watching them fight each other for mere scraps… while I sit safely on shore.”

At the time, none of us could have foreseen the outcome of Luo Wang’s promise.

That night’s performance marked the beginning—

The beginning of a beautiful yet cruel memory in some people’s lives.

The performance was held in a courtyard. All the lanterns were extinguished, plunging the place into silence, save for the moon and the starry sky above.

“This piece is titled—Red Beauty.”

At those words, the sound of flutes suddenly rose from all directions.

The flute was desolate and winding, sometimes faint, sometimes clear, like an ancient melody echoing across a vast riverbank, or like a lone swordsman standing upon a cliff.

Then, blending seamlessly with the flute, a deep, mournful male voice began to sing—

(Lyrics omitted)

Suddenly, all the lanterns flared to life, and blossoms of light scattered like drifting petals!

A bewitching tune from a qin joined in, weaving intricately with the flute.

Amidst the falling blossoms, a girl slowly rose on stage. Every one of her movements seemed to flow perfectly with the music.

She wore a long white gown, layered and luminous, pure yet dazzling. Her slender shoulders and back were bare, mysterious golden tattoos curling like ancient vines down her arms and waist, merging with the two golden swords in her hands, glimmering dangerously yet beautifully.

The girl tilted her face like springtime peach blossoms, opened her lips, and her silver-bell voice rang out—

(Lyrics omitted)

The singing rose from all directions, countless voices together, indistinguishable as male or female, as if born as one.

Pure innocence and seductive allure, opposites fused in harmony…

The most provocative dance, paired with the purest eyes…

Every stretch, every bend pushed to the extreme—soft as a maiden, resilient as a youth.

What a combination! What a performance! What a woman!

(Lyrics omitted)

The song faded, the dance stilled, but the heart could not calm.

I didn’t know where my fan had fallen. Slowly coming back to myself, I realized—I too had lost composure. But for this woman, it was worth it.

Looking around, the audience remained entranced long after the music ceased. Prince Luo’s eyes were still clear, but the Third Prince’s gaze brimmed with naked desire. Yes, who wouldn’t crave such a woman? For a fleeting moment, I even felt proud—this peerless woman desired by all belonged to Cangchun Pavilion, and sooner or later, Cangchun Pavilion would belong to me.

Yet the girl’s next words shattered my pride instantly.

“Thanks to everyone’s support this past year, Minmin has what she has today. For this, Minmin offers her gratitude.”

She bowed. Seeing no response from the dazed audience, she smiled faintly.

“And now, for the big surprise— Tonight’s performance is Minmin’s final one. This piece, Red Beauty, shall be my farewell to you all. I hope it pleases you~”