Chapter 77

This is not just a theatrical performance; it also needs to include scenes that showcase the talents of the actress playing Du Shiniang, such as playing the zither, singing a song, or dancing. Xia Hongsheng had to recall some appropriate and beautiful poems to fit into the script, following the format of modern scripts, detailing the actions, expressions, and postures required. Xia Hongsheng spent the entire night under the oil lamp, finally finishing the entire script. He then stood up, stretched, rubbed his eyes, which were sore from the dim light, and walked out of the room. Qi Yong was already up, carrying breakfast upstairs. After they had breakfast, Xia Hongsheng hurried to Xunfang Pavilion.

Qi Yong was an excellent attendant, never asking too many questions. Wherever Xia Hongsheng went, he followed. When Xia Hongsheng entered Xunfang Pavilion, Qi Yong waited outside.

Xia Hongsheng went straight to the back, but unexpectedly, he was stopped by a madam in the front courtyard.

"Hey, you can't go back there. The girls haven't started receiving guests yet!" A heavily perfumed madam with a fan blocked Xia Hongsheng's path. The strong, pungent scent made Xia Hongsheng instinctively step back a few paces.

Xia Hongsheng frowned slightly but still bowed to the madam and said, "I am here to see Yue Xian."

"That's even more impossible! Yue Xian is competing for the title of Flower Queen. Not only is she not seeing guests now, but even if she were, someone like you couldn't get close to her!" The madam sized Xia Hongsheng up and sneered.

At this moment, the people staying at Xunfang Pavilion also came out of their rooms. Hearing the madam's words, they laughed and gathered around to watch the commotion. People in the service industry, especially women, often judge by appearance. Xia Hongsheng had seen this many times in his past life. A brothel is also a service industry, so it's not worth arguing with her. The more you argue, the more you lower your own standards. So, Xia Hongsheng didn't say much, just bowed and said, "I am Xia Hongsheng. Yue Xian entrusted me to write some poems for her, which I have completed. I need to deliver them to her. If it's inconvenient, please send someone to inform her to send someone to collect them."

"Xia Hongsheng?!"

"Is this the Xia Hongsheng who repelled the Tujue with a single poem?!"

"Could it be the Xia Hongsheng from Luozhou, whose courtesy name is Jingshi?..."

For a moment, the front courtyard erupted in a flurry of excitement. After the poetry gathering, Xia Hongsheng's reputation had spread throughout Luoyang. Any self-proclaimed literati or scholar would have heard of Xia Hongsheng and his passionate and stirring "Manjianghong." Hearing Xia Hongsheng introduce himself, they were all surprised and eager to see him. Xia Hongsheng was also taken aback by their reaction. While he knew he had gained some fame, he didn't expect such a strong response. The madam, who ran the brothel, had heard of Xia Hongsheng's reputation and was now beaming, waving her fan and smiling, "Oh, how could I not recognize you, Master Xia? Your presence truly honors our pavilion... Yue Xian will be blessed to receive your poems!"

"Can I go in to give the poems to Miss Yue Xian? I'll be quick," Xia Hongsheng smiled and asked.

"Of course! Of course!" The madam quickly stepped aside, and Xia Hongsheng went straight to the back courtyard, leaving the crowd in the front courtyard whispering and speculating about what kind of poems Xia Hongsheng would give to Yue Xian, and they began to look forward to seeing Yue Xian.

Xia Hongsheng walked straight to Yue Xian's door. Just as he was about to knock, the door creaked open. Inside, he saw Pan'er carrying a basin out. She was surprised to see Xia Hongsheng standing there, hand raised, and exclaimed, "Oh! Master Xia?!"

"Hello, Miss Pan'er!" Xia Hongsheng smiled warmly and greeted her.

"Hehe, it's Master Xia! Miss has just finished washing. Master Xia, what's wrong with your eyes?" Another figure, the lively Qiao'er, jumped in front of Xia Hongsheng, then ran inside to fetch a bronze mirror and held it up to him.

Xia Hongsheng looked closely in the mirror and saw that his eyes were quite puffy, but the mirror was too blurry to see clearly. Speaking of mirrors, they probably didn't exist in this era. How were they made? Something was burned and then...?

"Master Xia, you're here?" Yue Xian's figure appeared behind the two maids. Her hair was still loose, hanging straight down to her waist, making her look exceptionally beautiful and natural, which made Xia Hongsheng momentarily dazed.

"I was just washing up and haven't had time to style my hair... I apologize for my appearance, Master Xia," Yue Xian said, a bit embarrassed.

Xia Hongsheng smiled and shook his head, "On the contrary, Miss Yue Xian, you look even more natural and beautiful this way. As the saying goes: 'A lotus rises from clear water, naturally beautiful without any adornment...'"

"A lotus rises from clear water, naturally beautiful without any adornment..." Yue Xian's eyes lit up, repeating the phrase softly, her face blushing slightly as she lowered her head, "Thank you for your kind words, Master Xia. You truly are a man of great talent, able to compose such beautiful verses spontaneously."

Yue Xian's blushing face made Xia Hongsheng pause, then he quickly shook his head and handed her a stack of papers, "Miss Yue Xian, I completed the script last night. Please take a look."

Yue Xian, without further ado, asked Xia Hongsheng to sit down and had Qiao'er and Pan'er attend to him while she began reading the script. Xia Hongsheng sipped his tea and observed her facial expressions. Du Shiniang was a famous courtesan, and as a fellow courtesan, Yue Xian could easily empathize with the character, making her performance emotionally rich. Indeed, Yue Xian's face showed a range of emotions—smiling, frowning, clenching her teeth in anger, and finally, tears streaming down her face.

Qiao'er and Pan'er, not knowing what was happening, wanted to ask but were stopped by Xia Hongsheng, leaving them anxious.

After a long while, Yue Xian wiped her eyes and sighed deeply, her gaze shifting from the script to Xia Hongsheng. Her eyes were still moist, and she looked at him intently, making Xia Hongsheng a bit uneasy. She then said softly, "Master Xia's talent, Yue Xian... I don't know how to describe it. Not only are the poems and verses in the script each a masterpiece that could stir the city, but the story itself is deeply moving and thought-provoking. I can't believe you completed it in just one night. This story makes me feel as if I am Du Shiniang, and it's quite distressing."

Xia Hongsheng nodded, "That's exactly what I need you to do in the performance—immerse yourself in the role of Du Shiniang and bring the story to life on stage for those who haven't read it. Du Shiniang's character is similar to yours, so this will showcase your beauty and talent while distinguishing your performance from other Flower Queens. The audience will be drawn into the story and naturally transfer their feelings for Du Shiniang to you, which will gain you a lot of support."

"Being able to bring Master Xia's story to life is already a great honor for me. Whether I win the title or not is no longer as important to me," Yue Xian was still immersed in the story, feeling the weight of the tragedy, and thought of Du Shiniang as if she were herself, feeling a sense of emptiness and despair.

Xia Hongsheng could see her thoughts and gently reminded her, "Miss Yue Xian, Du Shiniang is Du Shiniang, and you are you. You are two entirely different people with different experiences and outcomes. Immersing yourself in the role will benefit your performance, but if you truly become Du Shiniang, it would be counterproductive."

Yue Xian looked at Xia Hongsheng and smiled faintly, then stood up and walked to him, about to kneel in gratitude, "Master Xia, your kindness is beyond measure, and I don't know how to repay you..."

"Enough!" Xia Hongsheng quickly stepped back and waved his hand, "Don't be silly. I consider you a friend, and that's why I helped you. If you keep thanking me, it will seem too formal. I have things to do today. I've marked the specific performance requirements next to the lines. Miss Yue Xian and Miss Qiao'er and Miss Pan'er can practice according to the prompts. I'll come back later to give you some suggestions, but I believe with your talent, it will be no problem."