"A thousand taels of silver in cash is not only inconvenient to carry around but also poses a danger," Song Jinyu murmured to herself as she idly recalled the scene of the opera performance that day.
Fan Renmei had repaid the strong - armed man with a thousand - tael silver note. It seemed like an equivalent exchange, but in fact, she had added to the trouble because the man still had to go and exchange it for silver.
Fan Renmei and Li Zizhao.
The illegitimate son of the Minister of War had taken a fancy to the star actress of the theater. It was quite a romantic tale. However, Fan Renmei didn't even spare Li Zizhao a glance.
This wasn't right. If two people were in love, they would hardly be able to take their eyes off each other, just like herself and Zhongli Mingye. Bah! Why was she thinking about him?
Moreover, it was strange that such a romantic scandal had spread about the son of the Minister of War's family. Usually, high - ranking families rarely got involved with actors. After all, the Minister of War was an important official in the court. Didn't they fear the imperial censors' memorials?
Li Zizhao's attitude seemed normal. But Fan Renmei had so many secrets. On one hand, she claimed that she wouldn't marry into a high - ranking family, yet she still chose the son of the Minister of War.
Even though he was only an illegitimate son, it was still a family that many women dreamed of marrying into.
Just as Song Jinyu was filled with doubts, a lot of rumors about Fan Renmei suddenly spread in the restaurants and teahouses in the capital. It was said that the reason she had caught the eye of the noble in the capital was that she had been the mistress of a certain imperial clan member.
The rumors spread like wildfire, as if they had been proven true.
There seemed to be more and more secrets about Fan Renmei, and the so - called Young Master Li hadn't said a word in her defense. Not to mention going to the theater to propose marriage.
Despite the intense gossip, Fan Renmei remained as gorgeous as ever and had no problem performing on stage. After that, Song Jinyu and her two companions had gone to support her shows several times. Her opera skills were truly remarkable.
However, the topics surrounding a beauty were indeed worth exploring. Li Zizhao was always the last one to leave, as silent as ever.
Every time Fan Renmei rehearsed a new opera, there were always many people who would reward her generously. Once, Song Jinyu estimated that the reward could be as much as ten thousand taels of silver.
Truly a money - burning place! A single Fan Renmei could earn the equivalent of a lifetime's income for countless ordinary families.
She shook her head, trying to suppress the doubts in her heart.
Until Zhongli Mingye started coming back from court later and later. There were even a few days when he stayed in the palace directly.
"What's wrong?" he asked, hugging her. "Just because I've been away for a few nights, you miss me so much?"
"You..." Song Jinyu was at a loss for words.
"The Six Gates recently discovered that the banks have been maliciously run on, and there are duplicate banknote serial numbers," Zhongli Mingye said in a slightly low voice, which made Song Jinyu realize the seriousness of the matter.
"Could it be that someone is forging banknotes?"
"No, they are real."
"So that's why the banks had to exchange them for silver in cash," Zhongli Mingye sighed. "The bank being run on is the official bank."
"Father is furious and has ordered me to investigate this matter thoroughly." Now the national treasury had suffered heavy losses, and the derelict officials had been thrown into prison.
Song Jinyu thought for a moment and told Zhongli Mingye about the scene when Fan Renmei was rewarded that day. "It was a full ten thousand taels!"
Zhongli Mingye frowned. "Is there such a thing?" He sat up straight, intuitively feeling that this matter was of great significance. He kissed her on the forehead. "You're always so meticulous and observant."
"I'll go and investigate this matter."
As soon as he finished speaking, he left. Seeing that he was so busy that he didn't even have time to eat, Song Jinyu didn't idle around either. "To the theater!"
Fan Renmei had taken off her stage costume. Without makeup, she was still extremely beautiful. Song Jinyu had thought that Concubine Xue in the palace was already beautiful enough, but unexpectedly, Fan Renmei was even more outstanding. Especially her eyes, which were full of ambition.
"Greetings to Your Royal Highness, the Princess."
Fan Renmei had long known that the Princess of Yu Prince had come to the theater to listen to operas several times. Since they dressed as men and kept a low profile, Fan Renmei hadn't deliberately gone to pay her respects. She had only told the people in the theater to take good care of them.
It was obvious that this top actress was a perceptive person.
Song Jinyu helped her up and praised her. "Miss Fan, your opera skills are truly excellent."
"Not only are they vivid, but they also show great depth. I especially like the opera where you played an ancient emperor in drag."
She asked Fan Renmei to sit beside her. "It still leaves a deep impression on me to this day."
Praised by the Princess, Fan Renmei lowered her eyes to hide her abnormal expression and only said, "It's a great honor for this little girl that Your Highness likes it."
"I've also heard the rumors in the streets. You're a brave and true woman who dares to love and hate."
Unable to figure out the meaning behind the Princess's words, Fan Renmei thought for a moment. "Your Highness is an example for all women. You're deeply loved by the Yu Prince. All the women in the capital envy you." Her words were flawless. Song Jinyu gave her a deep look.
She had intended to mention Li Zizhao, but unexpectedly, the troupe master came to invite Fan Renmei. So she didn't keep her for further conversation and just encouraged her a lot.
After all, it wasn't easy for an actress to get to where she was today.
She took a look at the theater. "Qingfeng, go back and investigate the person behind this theater."
It was hard to believe that the troupe master had no connections to be able to build such a large theater in this expensive area of the capital.
Moreover, Fan Renmei had been famous in the capital for a full ten years and had earned a fortune. She must have been targeted by some scheming people.
"I also want the genealogy of the Li family."
At night, the weather was cold. Fan Renmei still wore a single - layer dress, looking graceful and charming. But the man hiding in the darkness was no longer amazed by her beauty.
"What did you say?"
"You don't want to marry me anymore?" There was disbelief in her tone. She put her hand on her chest, looking extremely disappointed.
The man was impatient. "Now, the situation is tense, and those rumors about you are getting more and more intense."
"If I marry you, our Li family will become the laughingstock of the capital."
Fan Renmei endured her anger. "Don't forget that you owe your success today to my great help!"
"Now that your Li family is prosperous and enjoying wealth and honor, you want to kick me away?"
The man stepped out of the shadow, and the moonlight shone on his face. "Meier, I have no choice. My family will never agree to our marriage."
"Moreover, my father is the Minister of War." Romantic affairs were fine, but marrying her home was out of the question.
"Then..."
The man sneered. "So, I've come up with a good idea!"
Now that Fan Renmei had reached this point, she had no choice but to follow Young Master Li. Despite her lifelong shrewdness, she had still lost because of her birth.
Recalling the meeting with the Princess of Yu Prince during the day, she felt bitter in her heart. That woman had a beautiful face, comparable to a fairy in a painting.
She was elegant in speech and clearly from a noble family.
So it was easy for her to win the love of the Yu Prince. But what about herself?
Before the Fan family declined, she had also been a young lady from a noble family.
It was a pity that she had been sold into the opera troupe by her family. After ten years of hardships and struggles, the rumors in the capital were never unfounded.
She had indeed been the mistress of an imperial clan member, but with that person's death, everything had come to an end.
Tears blurred her eyes, but Young Master Li didn't look back. How could he care about her determination?