As soon as Ye Yang’s words left his lips, he could already see the change in Feng Luan’s favorability score.
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has increased by 10, current favorability score is 3」
Ye Yang, “……”
That’s so much!
He didn’t hesitate for a moment, disregarding any concerns about his pride as a straight man. It was as though he had uncovered the key to securing wealth while staying close to the emperor. Whether he said it once or twice didn’t matter; he intended to raise the dog emperor’s favorability score first!
Ye Yang raised his head with a shy smile, ensuring that the slightly taller Feng Luan could catch a perfect view of his charming 45-degree angle, and he called out, “Husband!”
Feng Luan, “……”
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has increased by 10, current favorability score is 13」
Ye Yang pondered for a moment, still trying to uphold his straight-guy image. He reluctantly extended his hand, pinching a bit of Feng Luan’s sleeve. Then, he batted his big eyes at Feng Luan and said, “Husband~”
Feng Luan, “……”
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has increased by 10, current favorability score is 23」
Ye Yang drew nearer to Feng Luan, speaking softly, “Husband, while we’re outside, it’s best not to attract undue attention. Let’s maintain a low profile. If there’s anything you wish to hear, I promise to share it with you later, in a more appropriate setting.”
Feng Luan, “……Hm.”
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has increased by 15, current favorability score is 38」
Ah, that pompous emperor.
With just these little tricks, I can easily keep you firmly under my control!
Shen Shaoheng stood behind the two, reaching up to cover his eyes with a gentle touch.
“I cannot bear to watch this anymore. Can I return to the palace first?” Shen Shaoheng said, “Why are they so lovey-dovey……”
Kang Ning cleared his throat and said, “It is rare for His Majesty to be so happy. Just endure it a bit longer.”
Shen Shaoheng raised his eyes to the sky and let out a deep sigh.
……
Once they arrived at the ‘Group of the Three Emperors’ theater, they were met with a sizable crowd outside, causing a complete blockade at the entrance. Consequently, the ‘Group of the Three Emperors’ had to employ individuals to keep order outside. As Ye Yang observed the scene, it reminded him of the busy atmosphere at an idol’s concert he had attended before. He couldn’t help but wonder about the extraordinary nature of Yu Shangsheng, who could command such a grand event.
With Shen Shaoheng clearing the path at the front, they eventually made their way inside. It was then that Ye Yang could see clearly that the people maintaining order in front of the ‘Group of the Three Emperors’ were dressed in military uniforms. Although he couldn’t discern their specific affiliation, their attire set them apart from the usual household guards. Unsure if this was a common occurrence in this fictional world, he turned to Feng Luan with a questioning expression.
Feng Luan’s face had grown somber, and he discreetly asked Shen Shaoheng in a low voice, “Why is the Bureau of Military Affairs present here?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Though Shen Shaoheng was aware of some details, when Feng Luan asked, he still felt a bit overwhelmed. He cautiously explained, “Young Master, I am not certain, but Deputy Commander Wei is a fan of Yu Shangsheng……”
Mfcu Oejc ifa bea j mbiv rcbga. “Cyregv.”
Seeing that Feng Luan was growing increasingly displeased, Shen Shaoheng continued to explain, despite feeling uneasy. He said, “Young Master, you have also witnessed the fervor here. If someone were to fall and trigger a stampede, it could lead to a major disaster. Deputy Commander Wei sent people to inspect the situation here, and he has his own considerations…… Isn’t that right, Yun shijun?”
After finishing his explanation, Shen Shaoheng desperately signaled to Ye Yang with his eyes. It seemed that given the close relationship between Yun shijun and the emperor, he hoped Ye Yang could persuade Feng Luan.
Lbkfnfg, Tf Tjcu jqqfjgfv mbwqifafis qehhifv jcv jrxfv, “Qtb lr Gfqeas Jbwwjcvfg Qfl?”
Kang Ning coughed softly and explained in a hushed tone, “It’s the father-in-law of the Commandery Prince Jinghuai…… His Majesty’s nephew.”
Tf Tjcu ecvfgrabbv jcv rjlv, “Ct, j mibrf gfijalnf bo Llr Zjpfras.”
Mfcu Oejc, “……”
Mfcu Oejc’r fzqgfrrlbc ugfk fnfc wbgf uglw.
Cr Tf Tjcu byrfgnfv atf uijcmfr fzmtjcufv yfakffc Bjcu Rlcu jcv Vtfc Vtjbtfcu, tf tjv j ugbklcu rerqlmlbc atja atf rlaejalbc wluta cba yf jr ragjlutaobgkjgv jr la rffwfv. Coafg j wbwfca bo mbcafwqijalbc, tf vfmlvfv ab rqfjx eq jcv rjlv ab Mfcu Oejc, “Pa’r gjgf obg er ab yf bea ilxf atlr. Lbk jybea kf rfa jrlvf kbgx obg abvjs…… jcv cba vlrmerr rajaf joojlgr?”
Feng Luan’s expression softened slightly at this point. He nodded faintly, as if he agreed with what Ye Yang had said, and refrained from asking further questions.
They all finally entered the theater, and Ming Yan had secured a private box on the second floor for them. The view was perfect, and they were shielded from the sight of others, which suited their needs perfectly.
Ye Yang remembered that Ming Yan had written the name of today’s performance on their theater tickets as ‘The Tale of the Jade Hairpin.’ It seemed like a typical romantic drama, which didn’t pique his interest much. After waiting for a while, the drums and gongs sounded, signaling the start of the play. He rested his chin on his hand and began to listen, but the more he listened, the more he felt that something was amiss.
With limited knowledge of traditional Chinese opera and no subtitles, he only understood fragments of the performance. However, it was evident that this wasn’t just a typical love story between a scholar and a beauty. Instead, it appeared to be a nuanced allegory, drawing parallels between past and present issues.
He carefully shifted a bit closer to Shen Shaoheng and Kang Ning, then asked, “Is this ‘The Tale of the Jade Hairpin’?”
Kang Ning shook his head repeatedly and commented, “Have they changed the script?”
Shen Shaoheng’s expression turned solemn, and it appeared he could no longer remain seated. He stated, “There seems to be an error. Allow me to investigate the matter.”
As Shen Shaoheng rose and left the room, only three people remained inside. Ye Yang had no choice but to continue listening to the play for now. He had become more alert and focused, diligently trying to discern every line of dialogue on the stage. However, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously amiss.
In the play, Yun Shangsheng’s character, a young lady, was depicted as having a deep affection for a scholar. This scholar, who claimed to hail from the capital, narrated a tale of familial conflict. Strikingly, the story bore similarities to current court intrigues. In the latter half of the play, the scholar openly disclosed that his uncle had murdered his father and brother for their family’s wealth, leaving him and his mother as destitute outcasts.
Ye Yang felt extremely uneasy about this.
Rumors among the common people hinted at Feng Luan’s involvement in the murder of his brother and father for the throne. However, there was little solid evidence to support these claims. Feng Luan had refrained from harming his late brother’s offspring, but instead, he had kept them in the capital. They received stipends but had no real authority, and their everyday movements and interactions were closely monitored by the Imperial Guards.
Ye Yang felt that the character being criticized in the play was undoubtedly Feng Luan.
As the lines on stage were still being delivered, Feng Luan’s demeanor had already soured. Fortunately, he didn’t react explosively, but rather remained silent with a stern expression. Ye Yang, feeling uneasy, cautiously proposed, “Your Majesty, this play doesn’t appear to be very entertaining. Shall we consider heading back?”
Feng Luan, however, paid no attention to their words, keeping his eyes fixed on the stage as if he wanted to hear what else they might sing. Ye Yang was at a loss and turned to Kang Ning for help, but Kang Ning was equally clueless about what to do next.
Shen Shaoheng had entered the room and said, “Your Majesty, it seems like they changed the program unexpectedly…… perhaps someone did it intentionally.”
However, Ye Yang felt that this matter wasn’t as simple as it seemed.
The theater tickets were provided by Ming Yan, who deliberately selected this particular performance by Yu Shangsheng for the day. In the play, using the character of the scholar, there was a subtle insinuation about his uncle’s ruthless pursuit of wealth and power, even resorting to fratricide and patricide without regard for moral norms. Coincidentally, Feng Luan also had a nephew, the Commandery Prince Jinghuai, whose father-in-law happened to be a devoted fan of Yu Shangsheng. When Yu Shangsheng took the stage, he would undoubtedly attend, and it was highly likely that he would exploit his authority by bringing personnel from the Bureau of Military Affairs to protect Yu Shangsheng’s performance.
It was too coincidental, so much so that it seemed like someone had intentionally orchestrated it. And that person was likely closely connected to Ming Yan.
“The play can’t just be switched like that,” Ye Yang asked Shen Shaoheng, “They must have rehearsed this play in advance, right?”
Shen Shaoheng sighed in frustration and said, “I inquired with the troupe leader, and he mentioned that the actors who perform alongside Yu Shangsheng have always been personally selected by him. Just before the performance today, Yu Shangsheng suddenly insisted on changing to this particular play, or he refused to go on stage.”
Feng Luan asked, “Who wrote this play?”
Shen Shaoheng replied, “This…… I shall go and inquire again.”
Feng Luan hesitated briefly, then glanced at Ye Yang and furrowed his brow, saying, “Nevermind.”
Ye Yang thought that it might be due to his presence that they couldn’t discuss these confidential matters openly, and he understood that. Therefore, he refrained from asking or saying too much. However, he was surprised to hear Feng Luan let out a soft sigh and say, “It’s a rare outing; let’s not let these matters spoil our mood.”
Ye Yang was somewhat surprised by this response.
He couldn’t imagine that Feng Luan had such a considerate side. It didn’t seem in line with the demeanor of the ‘pompous emperor’ he had in mind. Just as he was unsure how to react, Feng Luan spoke the next sentence.
“Fearing the people’s mouths more than fearing floods,” Feng Luan murmured, “Besides, there is some substance to these rumors. Zhen won’t interfere with what they wish to say.”
Ye Yang was stunned.
What kind of tyrant was this?
How could a diligent and benevolent emperor like this be labeled as a tyrant?!
Since Feng Luan had expressed his thoughts in this manner, Shen Shaoheng and Kang Ning naturally refrained from saying more. Feng Luan, perhaps feeling a bit disappointed, waved to Ye Yang and asked where he would like to go next.
Ye Yang looked up and noticed that Feng Luan’s gaze had softened once more, as if he had let go of the insults he had heard earlier. However, Ye Yang’s heart was filled with a mixture of emotions, and he couldn’t help but feel somewhat uneasy.
All he could do was smile back at Feng Luan and say, “There’s a nice-looking restaurant next to the theater. It seems like a good place to go.”
Unable to put an end to the rumors and insults from outside, he could only try to find ways to make Feng Luan feel better.
Eating was undoubtedly the best way to improve one’s mood. Since it was a rare outing from the palace, he decided to treat it as a way to relax and clear his mind, avoiding the bothersome issues for the time being. When he returned to the palace, he was determined to find Ming Yan and get to the bottom of this matter.
……
After the play ended, Shen Shaoheng was concerned about the possibility of a crowd gathering and causing further trouble. So, they remained seated for a while. Once the crowd had dispersed, Shen Shaoheng invited Feng Luan and the others to leave the private box and head downstairs. As they descended, they witnessed a middle-aged, overweight man boldly entering the troupe’s backstage area, escorted by a group of military personnel. Feng Luan halted in his tracks, raised an eyebrow slightly, and remarked, “He has actually arrived.”
Ye Yang looked puzzled and instinctively turned to Kang Ning for clarification.
Kang Ning cleared his throat and whispered a brief explanation in Ye Yang’s ear, “That’s Deputy Commander Wei.”
Ye Yang, “……”
Uh-oh, it seemed like he walked right into the lion’s den.
Ye Yang followed behind Feng Luan, with Shen Shaoheng leading the way. They encountered no obstacles and arrived backstage without any issues.
Many of the military personnel from the Bureau of Military Affairs recognized Shen Shaoheng, and for the moment, no one dared to obstruct them. Shen Shaoheng also instructed them to remain discreet and not draw attention. Consequently, when they entered the backstage area, Deputy Commander Wei had yet to take notice.
At that moment, a classic scene was being played out backstage. Ye Yang peeked inside and saw the middle-aged, chubby man grinning as he reached out to pinch the cheek of a young actress. The actress had already removed half of her stage makeup, and she was none other than the famed pillar of the ‘Group of the Three Emperors’, Yu Shangsheng, who had countless fans.
The head of the ‘Group of the Three Emperors’ was sweating profusely, trying to dissuade him, but Deputy Commander Wei persisted. His oily hands seemed eager to touch Yu Shangsheng’s face, and he said, “Shangsheng~ Come with me today, and we can settle this matter.”
Yu Shangsheng paid no attention to him, and Deputy Commander Wei’s demeanor suddenly shifted. He lowered his voice and began to issue threats, saying, “For your audacious criticism of the court’s policies and the spreading of rumors about His Majesty’s personal matters, you have committed a grave offense against His Majesty! I shall personally bring these accusations before His Majesty, and all of you will face severe consequences, your extended families included!”
With a twitch at the corner of Ye Yang’s mouth, he turned and looked back at Feng Luan.
Feng Luan, “……”
Seeing the head of the ‘Group of the Three Emperors’ getting flustered by his words, he turned back to persuade Yu Shangsheng to be more accommodating. Deputy Commander Wei became even more self-satisfied, believing that the situation was now under his control. He arrogantly extended his arm to encircle Yu Shangsheng’s waist and even intended to playfully pinch his chin.
Ye Yang couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
In broad daylight! Someone was acting like a hooligan right in front of him!
How can this be tolerated?!
Ye Yang shouted loudly, “What are you doing?!”
Deputy Commander Wei, his voice strained, angrily responded, “Who dares to interfere?”
As Deputy Commander Wei spoke, he turned around to look in Ye Yang’s direction. His gaze instantly fixated on him, sticky and clingy, as if it was glued to him. His voice became flirtatious and took on a seductive tone as he said, “Where did this beauty come from~”
Ye Yang, “……”
From Deputy Commander Wei’s vantage point, it appeared that he couldn’t see Feng Luan and the others who were concealed around the corner. Additionally, as Ye Yang rarely ventured outside the palace, Deputy Commander Wei may not have recognized him.
……This was getting a bit intense.
Deputy Commander Wei had released his grip on Yu Shangsheng’s waist and approached with a lecherous expression, calling out, “Little beauty, are you alone?”
Ye Yang, “……”
Ye Yang pursed his lips and gave a smile to Deputy Commander Wei.
His captivating smile enchanted Deputy Commander Wei, leaving him in a daze. Just as he was about to reach out with his greasy little hand, Ye Yang swiftly raised his hand and landed a powerful punch right on his nose.
“Let me teach you a lesson!”
Feng Luan, “……”
Hmmm, some deep scheme going on here~ And in YSS’ case I see two options: 1. He is playing female roles 2. is a girl, because orginally women were acting in troupes, but it was changed laaater on and women couldn’t play anymore. Personally, I am inclined to the first option, because most people (authors too) don’t think or simply don’t know that women could be the part of theaters in the past
Thank You for the new chapter (๑ơ ₃ ơ)♥
thank uu for readinggg (((o(°▽°)o)))
How dare you try and steal the Dog Emperor’s wifey right in front of him, how shameless!
Thanks for the chapter!
our emperor’s about to get jellyy ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
Always standing up others ᕦʕ •ᴥ•ʔᕤ
Look at this nasty piece of work abusing his power! And fragile beauty Ye Yang losing his temper and turning violent, while the “tyrannical” emperor has been mellow and forgiving when he should have been demanding somebody’s head 😄.
Yeah ye yang, beat the crap out of that grimy stinky pervert!! I love how feng luan was rendered speechless 😂