Jiang Aijian said sheepishly, “A few.”
Lu Zhou kept his eyes trained on Jiang Aijian.
Jiang Aijian said helplessly, “Liu Huan is extremely cunning. I’ve planted some of my men around him before, but they were turned… It’s likely that they’d been controlled by Mo Li. In any case, there aren’t many of them whom I can trust.”
With this explanation, Lu Zhou finally understood how those people were able to forge a letter. He said, “You should personally write the letters to Evil Sky Pavilion from now on.”
“That’s not a problem,” Jiang Aijian replied. After all, any hole that had been discovered would have to be patched up.
Creak! Creak! Creak!
The carriage entered the Obedient Summer Villa.
Little Yuan’er poked her head out of the carriage to have a look. Then, she looked inside and said, “We’re not the only ones.’
Jiang Aijian said, “That’s normal… The Second Prince knows what the Empress Dowager likes so he employed several troupes.”
Lu Zhou did not look out the window. At this moment, a few soldiers walked up to their carriage.
Jiang Aijian said in a low voice, “They’ll be verifying our identities. Let me do the talking.”
Lu Zhou was not worried about that at all. He was wondering what the next course of action he should take if Leng Luo failed his mission. Perhaps, he would really have to unleash a grand technique and flee on Whitzard’s back. If that were to happen, it would certainly be an
noment for the great villain. In the end, Lu Zhou stroked his beard and asked, “Do you have an escape plan?”
Jiang Aijian said with a smile, “Naturally. A crafty rabbit has three burrows after all. However, I don’t think that you’ll need them, old senior.”
Lu Zhou did not press him with more questions.
At this moment, voices could be heard from outside…
“My lord… I’m invited by His Highness, the Second Prince, himself. There’s no need for such formalities. My surname is Ri, you can just call me Troupe Leader Ri. I’ve been preparing my troupe for a long time for this. We will do our best.”
“Thank you, my lord. Watch your steps.”
After the identities of the travelers on the first carriage were verified, they were granted entry into the villa.
Little Yuan’er covered her mouth and giggled as she said, “Master… That person’s strange.”
Lu Zhou was not as curious as Little Yuan’er nor did he look outside. However, he had also heard the weird accent of the man who had just spoken. There were all kinds of strange things in the great wide world.
It was soon Lu Zhou’s carriage’s turn to be inspected.
When the soldiers came to check their identities, Jiang Aijian leaped out and said, “My lord… I’m part of the family. Here’s the Second Prince’s Paiza.”
The soldiers did not give him a hard time, and the carriage was granted entry into the villas as well.
Jiang Aijian returned to the carriage and said, “I say, that Ri fellow sure knows how to work his way around here. That’s just how it is in society, that’s how you survive.”
Little Yuan’er rolled her eyes at him and said, “Humph! You and that Ri fellow are the same. You’re not good people!”
“I never said that I was!”
Creak! Creak!
The carriage came to a halt and three of them leaped down from the carriage. The others alighted from the carriage as well. They were in a private little courtyard. Every troupe was separated. The environment was nice, albeit slightly confined. Large numbers of soldiers stood guard outside the courtyards. There were many cultivators as well.
The officer who let them pass spoke to Jiang Aijian, “Prepare yourselves. I’ll notify you when the act before yours is done.”
“Don’t worry, my lord!” Jiang Aijian guaranteed as he thumped his chest.
The others began preparing the props needed for the performance.
After the officers left, Jiang Aijian walked up to Lu Zhou and said, “Old senior, all you have to do is to play along later during the performance… I’m guessing that Mo Li won’t show herself. We’ll move along the secret passage later.” “Play along?”
“It’s a joke. You can just be a member of the audience,” Jiang Aijian said.
‘That’s more like it. How can you expect me to hop around like the youngsters when I’m this
old?’
Meanwhile, The Empress Dowager rested in a side courtyard.
The Second Prince, Liu Huan, waited for her outside. He said, “Grandmother, the preparations are done. They’re all troupes that you liked in the past.”
“That’s nice.”
Zhao Yue glanced at Liu Huan. Then, she helped the Empress Dowager to her feet and said, “Granny, you like listening to songs even before this?”
The Empress Dowager displayed a gentle smile and said, “The palace is deserted and boring. This is the only pastime I have. Zhao Yue, why don’t you remain in the palace and keep me company?” Zhao Yue replied, “Granny, you have many grandchildren… I’m sure there are better candidates.”
“They’re ungrateful brats… The one I like the most is your third brother. Alas, he died young!” the Empress Dowager said with a sigh.
“Third brother?”
“Let’s not talk about that. Come, listen to some songs with me.” The Empress took a few steps before slowing down. “Little Yun.”
Li Yunzhao walked over immediately.
The Empress Dowager said, “Look after things.” “Understood.”
After that, they made their way to the Obedient Manor.
The stage and props were already set up at the center of the wide space. The musicians were respectfully waiting on the stage.
The Empress Dowager entered the manor. With Li Yunzhao escorting her, she sat in the seat of honor. The seat had the best view of the stage. There were seats next to her seat as well. She said, “We’re all family. Sit wherever you like.”
Although she told them to sit wherever they liked, nobody actually did so. The Second and Fourth Prince entered the manor.
The Empress Dowager pulled Zhao Yue to sit on the seat next to her.
Then, the musicians bowed and began playing their piece.
To those who knew nothing about music, this was truly a bore. For example, the Second and Fourth Prince would often find their minds wandering as they listened to the songs. The music merely entered one ear and exited from the other.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager exclaimed in delight, “Bravo!”
The others applauded as well, following her
cue.
“Since grandmother says it’s good, it must be really good. They’ll be greatly rewarded!” Liu Huan waved his hand as he looked at the Fourth Prince, Liu Bing. “What do you say, fourth brother?”
“Of course,” Liu Bing replied.
The next two performances paled in comparison to the opening act. The Empress Dowager did not find them interesting.
The Second and Fourth Prince shook their heads when they saw this.
When it was time for the third troupe to perform, Zhao Yue’s eyes suddenly brightened when she saw a man dressed in peculiar clothes and a tall hat with a fake mustache pasted to his face stepped onto the stage. She rendered speechless by this sight. ‘Fourth Senior Brother? What’s he doing here?’
There was no need to describe how badly the play went.
Halfway through, the Second Prince, Liu Huan, hit the table and said, “This is a complete mess! Men!”
The Empress Dowager was perplexed by the performance as well. It seemed to be a jumble of magic tricks and acrobatics. It was meaningless.
“Take them away!” Liu Huan said.
At this moment, Zhao Yue hastily said, “I think it was a good performance.” “Hm?” Liu Huan looked at Zhao Yue.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly. “If Zhao Yue says that it’s good, it means that it’s good… I like it.”
The man in the peculiar clothes bowed at the Empress Dowager. “Thank you, Empress Dowager!”
“Bravo!” the Empress Dowager said tonelessly.
Feeling helpless, Liu Huan could only wave his hand. “Reward them.”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of footsteps resounded in the air. More people made their way into Obedient Villa. This was not a public place. Why were there so many visitors? The Empress Dowager said, “Little Li.”
Li Yunzhao hastily lowered his body and moved his ear closer to the Empress Dowager.
“What’s all the commotion about?”
Li Yunzhao nodded and said, “I’ll take a look.” He pushed away from the ground and launched himself into the air. From above, he surveyed the entire villa.
‘Hm?’ He saw that the entire villa was now surrounded. Li Yunzhao landed and fell to one knee as he said, “Empress Dowager, I’m afraid we’ll have to ask His Highnesses about this.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Liu Huan and Liu Bing
Liu Huan waved his arms before cupping his fists and said, “Grandmother, songs and acrobatics are minor performances. I’ve prepared something big for you.” “Something big?”
Liu Bing chuckled and said, “So soon, brother?”
“Naturally.” Liu Huan clapped his hands.
A poised and charming woman in lavish makeup entered the Obedient Villa while she was escorted by several other women.
