"That won't work!" Mingyu immediately refused after she realized what was happening. She was not like Sima Lian, who only wanted to be in the limelight and show off her face. That was why she didn't want to go on stage. "The maid doesn't have many roles. Why don't you find someone to teach her and just fool around?"
Sima Lian kept shaking her head, "How can that be? The maids in this mansion are so stupid that they can't be taught. What if she messes up the performance?" Today is a big day for her. Whether she can stand out and win the old lady's favor depends on this one move today. Sima Lian will not allow any mistakes. Moreover, she has her own selfish motives. She wants to get Mingyu on stage with her. The old lady likes Mingyu and will definitely like this play more.
Seeing Mingyu remained silent, Sima Lian hurriedly grabbed Mingyu's sleeve and begged, "Second sister-in-law, I beg you, please help me this time, it's not a difficult task. If... if I have good luck in the future, I will never forget Second sister-in-law!"
Mingyu sighed and smiled, "That's fine, I'll go back and change my clothes." According to her script, Sima Lian's maid appeared for only one minute before she was separated from the young lady played by Sima Lian and was captured by soldiers. Her line was just one sentence, "Young lady, run away, don't worry about me!" The supporting role was full of meaning. Then until the end, the maid was released from prison, and Sima Lian was the only one who carried the whole show.
After Sima Lian left happily, Li Xiang combed Mingyu's hair and changed her clothes, and asked in a low voice: "Second Madam, you have never acted before. If you fail, the eldest lady is so petty, she will hate you, right?"
"If I don't agree, she will hate me no matter whether they perform well or badly in this play." Mingyu shook her head and said, "It has come to this. Anyway, we just need to go on stage and say a few words. It shouldn't go wrong."
After Mingyu had combed her hair into two braids and changed into her usual half-worn skirt, she went to the garden of the marquis's mansion, where the birthday banquet was set up. The people in the northwest were open-minded, so the male and female guests were not separated into two areas, but there was just a stone path in the middle to indicate their separation.
The male guests had already started their meal because they wanted to drink and play finger-guessing games, and it was a lively scene. There were fewer female guests, about a dozen tables. The old lady's seat was at the front, facing the makeshift stage. When Mingyu arrived, a play was being performed on the stage. The old lady was not interested in it. Miao and Luo Lingxiu sat beside her. Several noble ladies surrounded the three of them and said auspicious words to join in the fun.
Mingyu stood on tiptoe to take a look. Aunt Yu was not there. Perhaps Aunt Yu was not qualified to appear in such a formal occasion as today, so she went behind the stage. Sima Lian had already changed her clothes. The moment she saw Mingyu, she was obviously relieved. She was afraid that Mingyu would not come, and the play would be incomplete without a role.
"You're finally here." Sima Lian couldn't help complaining, then laughed again, "I was really worried that you wouldn't come, hurry up, it's almost our turn."
Mingyu was both angry and amused, and couldn't help but flick Sima Lian's forehead, "You really are! I don't know what to say to you!"
Sima Lian and Mingyu were preparing to go on stage, while Master Bao was already drunk with the male guests. Normally, he would only drink a little, but today, something was on his mind and he was very upset. A few drinks did not help him feel better. Whenever he thought of the day when Mingyu said with a determined look on her face that she wanted to divorce him, his blood boiled and he felt uncontrollable anger, sadness, disappointment and grief.
Bai Hao watched with fear as Master Bao drank one cup after another. He wanted to persuade him but didn't know how. The table around him was full of his friends. Seeing that Ba Tianbao seemed to be worried today, they had all experienced his temper and skills, so no one dared to provoke him. They could only watch him drink alone.
Baihao finally found an opportunity and snatched the wine glass from Master Bao, saying with a smile: "Master, it's time to go and pay respects to the old lady. I just heard from Madam Zhao in front of the old lady that the old lady was just muttering, why didn't she see Master today!"
Master Bao was already a little drowsy from drinking, his handsome face had turned red, but luckily he was still a little sober, and he said with a thick tongue, "Yes, it's time to wish the old lady a happy birthday!" After that, he shook off Baihao, stood up, and staggered towards the female guest. Baihao felt a little regretful, stomped his feet and hurriedly followed him. If the lady saw Master Bao so drunk, wouldn't she blame him alone
When Master Bao arrived, Sima Lian's play had already begun. After three gong and drum beats, Sima Lian, who was dressed in her best clothes, and Mingyu, who was wearing a half-worn skirt, appeared on stage. Sima Lian secretly glanced at the old lady's face below the stage. Sure enough, when the old lady saw that it was the two of them who appeared, her originally gloomy look immediately brightened up, and she smiled in surprise, "Hey, isn't this Lian Jie'er and Mingyu!"
Miao leaned close to the old lady's ear and smiled, "This is the birthday gift they prepared for you. They just want you to see it and be happy!"
The old lady looked at the two pretty girls on the stage with satisfaction. She listened to Sima Lian's melodious singing and clapped her hands and said with a smile, "Sister Lian said a few days ago that she would give me a birthday gift. I didn't expect it would be this. It's really thoughtful."
Miao couldn't bear to offend the old lady in front of everyone, so she smiled and agreed with a few words, while Luo Lingxiu lowered her head and curled her lips, secretly cursing the two little bitches for trying so hard to curry favor with the old lady and using such shameful means.
Master Bao walked towards the female guest in a daze. Just as he was about to reach the old lady, he heard a woman at the next table laughing and saying, "Hey, look, this play is really fresh. The maid is prettier than the young lady!"
The person sitting next to the woman was the wife of the magistrate. She smiled mysteriously and said, "You may not know this, but the one who plays the maid is the second wife of the Marquis's mansion! She is so pretty when she was little, she is worthy of being the wife of the Marquis's mansion!"
Hearing this, Master Bao raised his head somewhat slowly. The woman standing on the stage, as beautiful as a flower, was none other than his wife Mingyu!
Staring blankly, Master Bao liked them more and more the more he looked at them. All the depression and unhappiness in his heart disappeared. Listening to the ladies around him praising the beauty of the two girls on the stage, Master Bao also looked proud and happy.
However, the good times did not last long. When the soldiers attacked, the maid played by Mingyu was captured by them. The little girl looked frightened and terrified.
Master Bao's heart was in a knot as he watched from the audience. He stared angrily at the two "soldiers" who had captured Mingyu, wishing he could chop off their claws. When Mingyu shouted, "Miss, run away quickly, don't worry about me!", Master Bao, whose mind had been burned out by alcohol, could not help it, and hurriedly stretched out his hand and shouted, "Mingyu, don't be afraid, I'm here to save you!"
Then, Master Bao, who was strong and agile, and whose face was red from drinking, jumped onto the stage in a few steps, rudely pushed away the two "soldiers" who were holding Mingyu, and grabbed Mingyu and tried to run off the stage.
For a moment, the whole place was silent; you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was stunned, their jaws dropping to the ground.
The old lady was the first to react. She burst into laughter with tears in the corners of her eyes. Then the whole garden was filled with the sound of laughter.
Bao Erye was a little confused, but he still held Mingyu's hand tightly. Mingyu was so angry that she cursed in a low voice: "What are you crazy about?!" Bao Erye realized that he seemed to have made a mistake, and his grip on Mingyu's hand loosened. Mingyu took the opportunity to shake off his hand and ran backstage without looking back. Thinking of what happened just now, Mingyu's face was so red that it almost dripped blood. The audience was full of officials and wives from the northwest. She was so embarrassed!
Sima Lian stood there at a loss, watching Mingyu run off the stage. Baihao lowered his head and pulled away the still dazed Bao Erye. There was laughter from the audience, but no one paid attention to her on the stage anymore.
The noble ladies surrounding the old lady all smiled flatteringly, "Oh, the Second Master and Second Madam in the mansion are so nice. Just saw them on the stage, they are truly a perfect match!" Someone else said, "Look at how much the Second Master loves the Second Madam. I'm so envious!"
Miao smiled awkwardly, having made up her mind that she would teach this kid a lesson when he sobered up. What could she say after he had lost face in front of so many people
Whenever the old lady thought of her silly grandson jumping onto the stage to save his daughter-in-law, she would burst into laughter until her stomach hurt. After finally calming down, she couldn't help laughing again and said to the ladies sitting next to her, "As long as he likes her, the second lady is the daughter-in-law that our old marquis has chosen for the second master!"
Several ladies expressed surprise and confusion. The old lady was old and loved to chat, and she chattered about old times with several ladies.
Only Luo Lingxiu lowered her head, her face pale, her fingers twisting the handkerchief unconsciously. The bright autumn sun shone on her body, but she could not feel any warmth, only felt cold all over. No way, the person in her cousin's heart was her, how could it be that little bitch? !
At the signal of several female actors on the stage, Sima Lian skipped the next scene and continued singing. However, no matter how hard and beautifully she sang, the old lady never looked back at the stage. The ladies at the table were all talking happily and discussing the "comedy" that had just happened. Even if they occasionally glanced at the stage, they were nonchalant and did not care about the people on the stage at all.
Sima Lian couldn't act any more, and ended the play in a hurry. When she reached the backstage, she couldn't help but burst into tears. She had many scenes that she hadn't had time to perform, including the one in which she disguised herself as a man and passed the imperial examination, the one in which she debated with many people in the Golden Palace, the one in which she was chosen by the princess to be her husband... and other scenes that would have made her the center of attention, but she didn't have the time to perform them.
Mingyu had already returned to Yiqing Courtyard. Just as she sat down to take a breath, she saw Sima Lian coming over. There were tears in the corners of her eyes, but a mocking smile on her face. "Congratulations to the second sister-in-law. I didn't expect that the second sister-in-law had such a brilliant mind. One scene made the second brother like it so much!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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