People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

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Hu Meiren suddenly stared at Nongyu for a few moments, noticing that her features resembled her older sister's.

Could she really be my sister's daughter?

When Hu Meiren caught a glimpse of the fire and rain agate on Nongyu's body, she couldn't help but groan inwardly.

This is such a coincidence...

If Nongyu hadn't said she was Cao Ze's friend, she would have almost thought someone was trying to frame her older sister.

The group entered the somewhat empty theater.

Nongyu remained bewildered, not understanding why Madam Hu was so intimate with her.

Because Liu Yi had caused trouble at Zilan Pavilion, Sister Zi Nu investigated Liu Yi.

According to what she knew from Sister Zi Nu, Madam Hu was an elegant noblewoman who, even if she didn't despise women like them who frequented the pleasure quarters, would certainly not be so eager.

Is it because of Princess Honglian and Mr. Cao Ze?

Thinking this, Nongyu placed the guqin on the qin table and tested its tone.

Cao Ze and Hong Lian arrived on the stage.

Lady Hu and her husband were sitting in the side chamber closest to the stage.

Cao Ze had excellent hearing; he heard every word of Honglian's soft murmur as her lips moved slightly.

"I won't embarrass myself, I won't embarrass myself..."

Cao Ze couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Honglian retorted angrily, "What are you laughing at!"

Cao Ze said solemnly, "Your Highness, I'm telling you."

Tell me what?

"You won't embarrass yourself..."

Princess Honglian was instantly enraged and threw a punch straight at Cao Ze's chest.

If it were my brother-in-law, that punch would have kept him in bed for at least three days... Cao Ze commented, grabbing Honglian's fair wrist with one hand.

"Ahem, Your Highness, it's about to begin."

Honglian then realized that the curtains and drapery had been pulled apart.

Hu Meiren and Madam Hu stared at Honglian, who had violent tendencies, with some astonishment.

Honglian immediately returned to normal, transforming back into that charming and adorable young girl.

"Okay, let's begin."

Distracted by Cao Ze, and about to begin again, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go with Cao Ze.

Because it would damage the reputation of a princess to act as an actress, only the two of them were performing on stage, so Cao Ze had to read the narration himself.

With his back to Honglian, he said, "I wonder which room this maid belongs to. She's been wronged and has come here to cry."

Honglian became emotional and cried out, "Flowers wither and fall, filling the sky; their beauty fades and their fragrance dies, who will mourn them..."

Nongyu then played a mournful tune, making the atmosphere even more sorrowful.

Cao Ze breathed a sigh of relief. Everything is difficult at the beginning. After that, he wouldn't have much to do. It would all be Daiyu's monologue. This girl was going to have a good time this time.

The actors on stage looked somber and were completely absorbed in their roles.

The audience members were distracted and lost interest in the play.

Madam Hu was very fond of "Dream of the Red Chamber" and was very familiar with the scene of Daiyu burying flowers.

But none of that matters in front of his daughter.

She kept watching Nongyu, who was intently playing the zither behind Cao Ze and Honglian, and would occasionally chuckle to herself.

Hu Meiren saw all of this and kept it in her heart.

Finally, Hu Meiren couldn't hold back any longer and lowered her voice, saying, "Sister, is there something you're hiding from your younger sister?"

"Huh? No, I don't think so..."

Mrs. Hu was not good at lying, especially in front of her sister, and she stammered for a moment.

Hu Meiren, who knew her older sister very well, could easily tell that her sister was not expressing herself clearly.

"Sister, are you still hiding this from me now? That girl named Nongyu, isn't she your long-lost daughter?"

Hu Meiren tried to trick her sister.

"Ah? You already know?" Madam Hu said somewhat hesitantly.

Hu Meiren rubbed her temples, surprised that it was true.

The only saving grace now is that my sister didn't acknowledge Nongyu as her brother on the spot, otherwise...

Hu Meiren's expression changed slightly: "Sister, did Cao Ze already know that Nongyu is your daughter?"

This wasn't a baseless association.

Nongyu just said that she is Cao Ze's friend.

And Cao Ze lived like her sister.

Her own sister had been thinking of her lost daughter for so many years, and upon seeing her for the first time, she was able to restrain herself from recognizing her.

A little thought reveals that there's definitely something fishy going on.

Seeing that she could not hide it from her sister, Madam Hu honestly and truthfully confessed everything.

Hearing this, Hu Meiren gritted her teeth. Her sister, who had always trusted her implicitly, had actually kept such a big thing from her.

“Cao Ze…”

Hu Meiren spat out two words through gritted teeth.

It's all because of this guy that even my sister has to keep it from her.

Hu Meiren directly shifted all the blame to Cao Ze.

Madam Hu said softly, "Sister, it's not the teacher's fault, it's all Liu Yi's fault..."

"How to say?"

"Liu Yi discovered Nongyu before Mr. Liu came to Xinzheng and caused trouble at Zilanxuan many times. Perhaps he was not sure that Nongyu was my daughter, so he did not make a bigger fuss."

Hu Meiren sneered, "I'm afraid it's not that it's not confirmed, but rather that they want to..."

Hu Meiren didn't finish her sentence, but Madam Hu understood.

She bit her lower lip lightly. If it weren't for Mr. Cao Ze, it would be hard to imagine how badly her daughter would have been bullied by Liu Yi.

Hu Meiren couldn't bear to see her sister so upset, so she said, "Liu Yi won't live much longer, so just wait patiently, sister."

After giving a soft "hmm," Madam Hu gazed longingly at Nongyu, who was playing the zither.

Hu Meiren remained silent, thinking to herself, "I need to urge Cao Ze to make Liu Yi die sooner."

But she also knew that if Liu Yi, the Left Sima of the State of Han, died, the State of Han would definitely conduct a thorough investigation.

Furthermore, since Liu Yi is still Ji Wuye's lackey, it will be even more difficult to quell the matter of killing Liu Yi.

She was curious about how Cao Ze planned to use the Night Birds to get rid of Liu Yi.

The lyrics for Daiyu burying the flowers were not many, and Honglian finished singing them quickly after getting into character.

Originally, it was not appropriate to sing such a sorrowful drama on such a joyous occasion as a birthday, but Madam Hu and Lady Hu, as opera fans, had no objections.

For them, a good show brings more joy than a festive banquet.

Even after the play ended, Honglian remained immersed in the sorrowful mood of Daiyu burying flowers.

Cao Ze originally wanted to take advantage of the situation—no, he wanted to transform into a warm-hearted man and comfort Little Red Lotus—but Consort Hu used the excuse that it was getting late to have her maid escort Princess Red Lotus back to the palace to rest.

Nongyu bid farewell and returned to Zilan Pavilion alone.

Madam Hu was worried, so she asked Yingge to come with her. Little did she know that Yingge, who was waiting in a carriage outside the theater to watch the play, was secretly escorting her.

Hu Meiren, with her bound feet, shattered the lamplight and, with a flick of her pink sleeves, directly blocked Cao Ze's path.

Her foxy eyes narrowed into slits as she looked at Cao Ze and said in a low voice, "Mr. Cao Ze, we need to have a serious talk."

Cao Ze grinned, seeing Hu Meiren's expression, it seemed she was ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

……

Chapter 267 Did I arrive at the wrong time...?

Compared to her elder sister, Madam Hu, the imposing presence of Lady Hu leaning forward was even more pronounced.

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, it's almost 9 PM. Aren't you going back to the palace?"

Hu Meiren sneered, "Stop playing tricks on me. Now I just want to know what you're after my sister! And what's the deal with that Nongyu!"

What could he possibly be after? He's just lusting after her body... Cao Ze was honest in his heart, but said aloud, "Your Majesty, to be honest, my sister-in-law and I..."

Hu Meiren raised her chin slightly and glared at Cao Ze with a slightly upward gaze, "Get to the point!"

Cao Ze was speechless for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty should know that I live in Zilan Pavilion, and therefore have a lot of contact with Nongyu. I happened to recognize that Fire Rain Agate, and later I found a similar Fire Rain Agate on my sister-in-law’s body. So I made a guess, and after asking my sister-in-law and Nongyu, I was certain.”

Hu Meiren's expression softened, and she reluctantly accepted Cao Ze's reasoning.

"Then why not let my sister and... Nongyu recognize each other?"

Thinking of the scene of her sister being affectionate with Nongyu just now, Hu Meiren swallowed back the word "daughter" that was on the tip of her tongue. She was not yet used to Nongyu's presence.

"Your Majesty should know what kind of person Liu Yi is. If your sister-in-law and Nongyu easily recognize each other, and Liu Yi finds out, I'm afraid..."

At this point, Cao Ze shook his head slightly.

A scoundrel like Liu Yi can be suppressed, but once his sore spot is touched, he will definitely go berserk and kill without considering any consequences.

Just like back then, out of jealousy of Li Kai, he sided with Bai Yifei, secretly harmed Li Kai, and used the Three Wolves with Broken Hair to kill Madam Hu, Hu Meiren and her sister's family, and even forcibly married Madam Hu.

If it weren't for the fact that Madam Hu had a younger sister who became a concubine in the palace, she probably would have died of depression long ago.