Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 52

Pei Mingjiao and Cui Yi chatted and laughed all the way to the theater stage. Yan Yongrong was currently speaking with the troupe leader, while other young ladies gathered in small groups of two or three to talk and laugh. As soon as the two arrived, a maid came forward to lead them to their seats.

A collection of play scripts was prepared in front of each guest. Seated next to them were Yan Yuanyi and Gu Ning. Pei Mingjiao exchanged a few polite pleasantries with Yan Yuanyi but did not spare even half a glance for Gu Ning. Her blatant disregard and air of looking down on others made Gu Ning’s fists tighten. However, Gu Ning knew the occasion and didn’t retort; instead, she quietly gave Cui Yi a look.

Sister, you’ve really had it hard.

That restless, “wanting-to-hook-up” look was immediately noticed by Pei Mingjiao. She gently placed a cup of tea into Cui Yi’s hand. After seeing Cui Yi lower her head to sip the tea, she spoke up toward Gu Ning with a cold sneer, “What is it? Yi-niang and I are one body. Is there something Officer Gu has to say that cannot be said to me?”

Gu Ning was instantly thrilled by the title “Officer Gu” coming from Pei Mingjiao’s mouth. She tried desperately to pull down the corners of her mouth, pursed her lips, and adjusted her expression to agree: “The County Princess is right.”

Pei Mingjiao wore an expression of disgust, rolled her eyes, and said to Yan Yuanyi, “Cousin, you should be careful. Some people are like snakes in the grass; you never know when you might get bitten.”

She used a sowing-discord tactic without any hesitation.

Gu Ning’s expression remained unchanged, while Yan Yuanyi gave a light smile. “Thank you for the reminder, Cousin.”

Cui Yi timely placed the script collection in front of Pei Mingjiao. “I took a look; the stories here are the type you like.”

Pei Mingjiao’s eyes lit up, and she hurried to study them. Cui Yi and Yan Yuanyi’s gazes met; the two nodded to each other, both wearing perfectly measured smiles.

Having finished the handover, Yan Yongrong came over to greet them. She was older than both Pei Mingjiao and Yan Yuanyi, with a plump, healthy visage. When she smiled, it felt like a refreshing breeze. After the greetings, she said with great pride, “All the operas today are based on scripts written by my elder sister.”

These words were not hidden from anyone, and those nearby were naturally surprised upon hearing them.

Many had already looked at the scripts. The protagonist, Lady Xu, married down for love. She and her husband lived in harmony, yet his family was picky with her in every way and even misappropriated her dowry. For her husband’s sake, she endured it, but her in-laws pushed for more at every turn. Her husband would always use those deeply affectionate eyes to plead with her, and Lady Xu quickly withered.

Her former close friends urged her to seek a divorce.

Lady Xu was very reluctant. “Husband Meng is very good to me.”

Her friend sneered, “Is being ‘good to you’ turning a blind eye while you are being bullied? Li-niang, look at yourself now. Is this the happiness you sought?”

Lady Xu went back and thought for a long time, eventually deciding to divorce. She returned to her once-bright self.

Shen Shuhua, who was in attendance, had naturally read the script as well. At the time, she had even pulled people aside to gossip about it. As the saying goes, ‘Better to destroy ten temples than to break one marriage.’ What kind of “good friend” would advise Li-niang to divorce? Hearing Yan Yongrong’s words, she suddenly understood—so Yan Qihua wrote it. No wonder Yan Qihua had been restless lately; she had been influenced by these things. She suddenly spoke up, “A wife should follow her husband. Xu Li-niang failed in her womanly virtues; such a person should be spat upon by thousands.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the expressions of many young ladies changed. The social customs of the State of Qi were open; women who remarried two or three times were everywhere, and some well-born ladies even kept male attendants. These words were bound to offend many.

The young lady standing next to Shen Shuhua was now deeply regretting her choices. She shouldn’t have brought such a disaster just to save face.

Yet Shen Shuhua didn’t realize it. She assumed Yan Yongrong was still the girl she could bully without consequence. She lectured, “Yongrong, change this play quickly, lest it corrupt people.”

Yan Yongrong said with a beaming smile, “Madam Shen, you certainly love to worry, don’t you? Fretful over the host’s affairs right in front of the host.”

Shen Shuhua was choked by these sarcastic words, feeling extremely humiliated—especially with the faint, mocking laughter surrounding her. Shen Shuhua straightened her back and sneered, “I spoke out of good intentions. By etiquette, I am still your elder. To offer a few pointers has instead become my fault?”

The nature of the conversation changed with those words. In the past, Shen Shuhua loved to spout ancient codes of etiquette. At first, some thought she was brainwashed and wanted to help, only to find she enjoyed it. In fact, not just Shen Shuhua, but other Shen women followed that code to varying degrees; even women who married into the Shen family seemed to change. Gradually, people began to catch on.

The smile on Yan Yongrong’s face vanished. “There are many in this world qualified to be my elders, but you, Madam Shen, are not among them.”

Shen Shuhua’s face turned ashen, her features masked in anger.

Just then, Yan Qihua approached gracefully. “What has happened here?”

Shen Shuhua turned her anger toward Yan Qihua, calling her directly by name: “Yan Qihua, how can you face my brother? Have you forgotten that before he died, he asked you to take care of the Shen family?”

Yan Qihua raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t forgotten.”

Hearing this, Shen Shuhua grew even more confident. She even forgot her family’s instructions and questioned, “Then how are you acting now? Because of you, our Shen clan has become a complete laughingstock.”

The smile on Yan Qihua’s face was bright. “Then let us add one more joke to the pile. Someone, come quickly and shoo this shrew away; she is truly bringing bad luck.”

Shen Shuhua’s eyes widened in disbelief. Before she could react, she was escorted away by attendants. Yan Qihua said to the crowd with a smile, “I’ve let everyone see a ridiculous scene.”

One by one, they replied that it was nothing, and the atmosphere became lively once more.

Pei Mingjiao sighed into Cui Yi’s ear, “There really are fools everywhere.”

Cui Yi: “…Indeed.”

Pei Mingjiao was quiet for a moment, then leaned closer to Cui Yi. Her hot breath fanned against the other’s ear as she whispered softly, “Yi-niang, I’ve realized that Shen Duoyu perhaps didn’t like Cousin at all.”

Cui Yi turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting Pei Mingjiao’s. Their breaths intertwined as if she were asking why.

Pei Mingjiao became inexplicably shy, a rosy tint spreading across her bright, fair cheeks. She said, “Because if it were me, I would only instruct you to live well before I died—to be happy every day and live a long life. I wouldn’t hand the responsibility of taking care of my parents over to you.”

Cui Yi’s breathing grew light. She was so stunned that she felt a bit dizzy. Her throat moved, and the tremor in the depths of her soul left her temporarily speechless.

On the stage, the soft, mellow sound of musical instruments rose. The play began.

Cui Yi only wanted to pull the person before her into her arms. In the end, she restrained herself and calmly gripped Pei Mingjiao’s hand tightly.

Pei Mingjiao blinked, looking at their tightly clasped hands, her eyes sparkling. Amidst the sounds of the opera, she said boastfully, “Did I say it right?”

Cui Yi, who was currently calming her racing heart: “…Yes.”

Pei Mingjiao was completely unaware of Cui Yi’s restraint; she was incredibly proud of herself.

Halfway through the play, an Imperial Envoy arrived bearing rewards from the Emperor. The lavish gifts made the Emperor’s attitude clear to everyone.

Over the years, the Emperor had been very cold toward the Prince Zhao Estate. Now that Yan Qihua was no longer “observing widowhood,” the rewards had arrived. No one was a fool; in an instant, the Shen family’s reputation plummeted.

The Consort of Prince Zhao muttered, “How can this be…”

The Emperor was a man; what man wouldn’t want a wife to remain faithful to a deceased husband?

Prince Zhao’s chubby face was full of grievance. “That old scoundrel of the Shen family has truly ruined me.”