Wei Qingming and Xu Xingze seemed to be discussing poetry and prose. At some point, something was said that made them both raise their sleeves to mask their laughter. The atmosphere was looking more suspicious by the second, so I stood up and let out a loud shout.
The two of them turned their heads in unison. Xu Xingze’s eyes were filled with a tender, earnest expectation for whatever I was about to say, while Wei Qingming narrowed her eyes slightly, tilting her chin up as she watched me with an amused, playful expression.
I blinked rapidly, feigning suspicion. "Oh my, Master Xingze, how is it that you don't seem as tall as you do on stage?"
"Me?" Xu Xingze stood barely seven feet tall, yet he took no offense. He replied in a soft, gentle voice, "One must wear platform boots on stage, which brings me to the proper height. Besides, beauty lies in moderation. A *Sheng* role should not be too tall. If one had a physique like Master Wei’s, they would appear too imposing in costume, making the *Dan* roles seem overly frail. That would lack aesthetic harmony."
My smile faltered, and I forced a slight twitch of my lips. "I see... I stand corrected."
Phantom Intent is a natural ability that can be acquired without formal training; it is most easily manifested by actors and songstresses who deal in poetry, painting, and melody. After all, wasn't our ancestral matriarch, Qianhuan, herself a painting? A painting that could seize your soul, forcing you to submit to it and sink into its world—that is the "Phantom" of manipulating the human heart. However, while Phantom Intent is easy to come by, it is weak. Once a bystander points it out or one realizes it themselves, they are no longer controlled by it. This is why so many men can be hopelessly infatuated with a courtesan one day, only to turn cold and treat her like a stranger the next. Having been reminded by Wei Qingming, I had broken free from Xu Xingze’s Phantom Intent. Looking at him now, though he was still beautiful, he no longer swayed my heart. Sigh, to be a legitimate heir of the Phantom Arts and yet be manipulated by a layman—how utterly humiliating!
At that moment, Wei Qingming spoke with a tone of concern. "I heard Master Xingze has been unwell lately? If performing is too taxing, perhaps it would be better to rest for a while and focus on recovery. Though, it would be a painful wait for us fans." As she spoke, she gazed at him with a curved smile, her posture positively fervent.
Xu Xingze looked surprised. "I am perfectly fine. Why do you ask, Master Wei?"
"Oh." Wei Qingming let out a long sigh of relief and smiled. "That is wonderful news then. I heard it from the owner of a pharmacy; he claimed his medicine was excellent and that Master Xingze was taking it."
"Ah, that must be Uncle Zheng from Ruian Hall." Xu Xingze lowered his eyes, appearing somewhat melancholy. "To be honest, it isn't I who am ill, but my Senior Sister... Her illness came on suddenly, so I told Uncle Zheng it was I who was sick so that he would take more care with the prescription."
My heart tightened instantly. So the one taking the medicine was a woman!
Wei Qingming immediately deduced the identity. "Is it Miss Meng Tingyun, who performs *The Dream of Linchuan* with you? Aside from the performance at Chunan Pavilion on the twenty-ninth of March, she has been absent due to illness."
"Indeed." Xu Xingze smiled. "Master Wei is truly an expert."
"I remember every day, every location, every partner, and every play Master Xingze has performed in the capital," Wei Qingming said slowly, emphasizing every word with a tenderness that gave me goosebumps...
Even Master Xingze, who made countless young ladies and wives lose sleep with his charms, actually blushed. He lowered his head, turned slightly, and took a sip of tea from the table.
I took the opportunity to give Wei Qingming’s arm a sharp pinch. She gave me a meaningful smile in return. Before Xu Xingze could respond, a young *Dan* actress dressed in flowery finery arrived. Her voice was as crisp as popping beans. "Fourth Brother, Second Sister is looking for you!" Seeing the two of us sitting so close to Xu Xingze, she frowned and said impatiently, "Hey, you! Don't you know you're delaying Fourth Brother's makeup? If you want to chat, do it after the show!" Her temper was directed entirely at Wei Qingming; she seemed to ignore my existence completely.
"Xiaozhu," Xu Xingze set down his teacup and scolded her. The girl named Xiaozhu ignored him, let out a huff, and stormed out through the curtain.
Xu Xingze turned back to Wei Qingming with an apologetic smile. "That is the youngest sister of our troupe. She has the temperament of a young girl; please do not take offense, Master."
Wei Qingming smiled faintly. "Not at all. Xingze, go and apply your makeup. Do not miss the hour."
Xu Xingze nodded and hurried away.
The moment he left, I pummeled Wei Qingming’s shoulder. "Xingze, Xingze! Calling him so intimately!"
Wei Qingming gave me a beaming look, then picked up Xu Xingze’s teacup to examine it closely, even giving it a light sniff. I jumped up and paced around frantically, shouting, "You've truly gone mad for him!"
"What is Miss Su thinking?" Wei Qingming finally responded. "The scent and color of this tea are unusual. A lot of spices were added to bolster his Phantom Intent, but it indeed has nothing to do with Resentful Malice."
I was still huffing with indignation, so Wei Qingming took my hand and said calmly, "I don't care for his type."
Only then did I feel a bit better. Just as I was about to snap at her again, another person lifted the curtain and entered. Upon seeing Wei Qingming, he looked surprised for a moment before clasping his hands and kneeling. "I did not expect to meet Master Wei here. Thank you, Master Wei and the Immortals of the Wujing Sect, for your life-saving grace."
The newcomer was Tong Jinhu. He wasn't wearing his stage armor, and he looked quite refined. However, his right eyelid drooped slightly and was a bruised dark blue, as if some medicine had been applied. The more I looked at him, the more familiar his build seemed. Then it hit me: he was the "Wood Tiger" from the night banquet! So when Wei Qingming spoke to him back then, she was telling him to go to the Wujing Sect for treatment to save his eye—a vital asset for an actor. That day, Tong Jinhu had rushed to the fighting pits immediately after his performance without time to remove his makeup. The sweat running down his neck had been multicolored, a detail Wei Qingming had seen through long ago.
Tong Jinhu’s Huaibin Troupe was a traditional Northern-style troupe, specializing in acrobatic combat scenes of sieges and battles. They used a lot of gongs and drums, their makeup was heavy and bold, and their costumes were complex and complete. Xu Xingze represented the Southern style, specializing in romantic stories of scholars and beauties. They focused on string and woodwind instruments; their costumes and props were minimalist, and their makeup was natural and fresh, like a light ink wash painting. This was why he dared to chat with admirers even half an hour before the curtain rose.
Tong Jinhu looked at my stunned face and smiled. "Miss Wen is here as well. How has your elder sister been lately?" I knew he was asking about Wen Xiang, so I smiled back. "She is doing well. Is your injury alright, Master Tong?"
"It's fine," he said. "After staying at Daoist Zhong's place for three days, I was able to return to the stage."
I then remembered that he and Xu Xingze were technically rivals. Fearing he might be unhappy that we were here to see a Southern play, I guiltily offered him a few compliments. Tong Jinhu was straightforward; without waiting for an invitation, he sat down—right in Xu Xingze’s seat... How strange! His presence here was strange in itself!
Wei Qingming had returned to her usual indifferent state, no longer using that nauseatingly sweet tone. "Master Tong seems very familiar with this place."
"Yes, I often perform here as well," Tong Jinhu said. "Xingze and I are also friends."
His frank admission shocked me even more. To think that the top stars of two rival factions were actually close friends... This was massive gossip; I had to tell Sister Xiang and the others when I got back!
I couldn't suppress my curiosity and asked, "Master Tong, perhaps this is offensive to ask, but... why did you go to the fighting pits?"
"I don't want to be in this trade anymore," Tong Jinhu said. "I wanted to earn enough money to buy out both my and Xingze’s contracts."
...Heavens, this was even bigger news.
I thought he had some unspeakable secret, but perhaps out of respect for Wei Qingming and Wen Xiang, he didn't treat me as an outsider. Without being asked, he continued, "Boss Zhang of the Huaibin Troupe has a reputation for chivalry, but he is cruel to his own. The injuries I had that day were from his beatings. And that Boss Jiang is even worse..."
"Who are you talking about?" Boss Jiang’s voice drifted in coldly. "Who let you in here? Get out!"
Tong Jinhu glared back, sitting as steady as a mountain. "And what will you do about it?"
I was incredibly embarrassed, but Wei Qingming simply held her teacup, offering no mediation, watching with cold detachment. Boss Jiang’s voice rose an octave in fury. "This is mutiny! Someone, beat him and throw him out!"
Tong Jinhu grabbed a wooden stool, ready to smash it over Boss Jiang’s head. Wei Qingming reached out and lightly deflected his arm, saying calmly, "Why must you two lose your tempers? The performance is near; it would be better to take your seats." As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the woman behind Boss Jiang. "Besides, there is an honored guest here."
Hua Moli had an expression that said she loved a good spectacle. She clapped and giggled. "Fight! Third Brother Wei, why are you stopping him?"
Boss Jiang seemed to suddenly remember he was escorting a female patron to see Xu Xingze. He quickly put on a fawning smile. "My apologies, my apologies. I hope the young lady wasn't frightened?"
"What does a little scuffle like this matter?" Hua Moli chuckled. "Since we've run into each other, why don't we sit together? I imagine Xingze is busy with his makeup; I'll see him after the show. Third Brother, where is your seat? Is it as good as mine? Master Tong, you come too!" Without waiting for an answer, she turned her quick tongue toward me. "I know you're that Wen Xiang girl's sister, but that won't stop us from being friends. If you're the petty sort, I'll just ignore you!"
Up close, Hua Moli was much more likable than I had imagined. She was truly soft on the outside but bold on the inside, which immediately won my favor. "What are you saying, Sister Hua? I would be honored!" In truth, she and Wen Xiang were essentially the same kind of person!
Satisfied, she patted my hand and smiled. "Good girl."
After all that fuss, it turned out that Hua Moli and Wei Qingming had booked adjacent seats—the best spots, neither too far nor too close to the stage. They simply had the partition screen removed and moved the tables together. Out of respect for the two honored guests, Boss Jiang couldn't do anything untoward to Tong Jinhu. He gave him a dark look, offered a fawning apology to Wei Qingming and Hua Moli, and swept away in a huff. Tong Jinhu gritted his teeth, suppressing his rage, and downed an entire cup of tea in one gulp.
"I'm telling you, if you want to retire, that's your business, but don't drag Xingze down with you!" Hua Moli snapped at Tong Jinhu as soon as Boss Jiang was gone. "I can lend you the money, but Xingze has a brilliant future ahead of him. Do you really have the heart to ruin it?"
The previously candid Tong Jinhu fell silent. After a long while, he said, "Miss Hua, you saw it yourself. What kind of life are we living?"
"Then have you asked Xingze what he thinks? He has spent his whole life striving for perfection in his craft, pouring his heart and soul into it. He finally made it to where he is today. Asking him to leave the stage is asking him to die!"
Tong Jinhu set down his teacup, knelt to give Hua Moli a formal bow, then turned and strode away.
"So stubborn." Hua Moli shook her head, then pointed at the pine nuts on the table. Her personal maid immediately began peeling them for her. "Sister Qi, do you want some melon? How about some pine nut candy?" She quickly piled several snacks in front of me. I thanked her for her kindness, and the two of us began chatting while we ate.
"Sister Hua, what exactly is going on between Master Tong and Master Xingze?" I seemed to have caught Hua Moli’s rapid-fire speaking pace, asking a string of questions. "And that Meng Tingyun—I heard she's in poor health?"
"Those two? Childhood sweethearts, obviously," Hua Moli said, eating a pine nut. "Meng Tingyun has a bit of a 'theatrical madness'; she gets too lost in her roles."
"Childhood sweethearts..." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "One is from the North and the other from the South. How could they have grown up together?"
"Hehe." Hua Moli gave a devious smile. "You thought Xingze was from Yuezhou too? Nonsense. Just like Huzi, he was a little street urchin in the capital ten-odd years ago. He learned the Yuezhou dialect later. Which troupe boss doesn't know how to package and brand their stars? They could dress up a corpse to look alive. If people knew the top star of Southern Opera was actually a Northerner, they'd laugh themselves silly!"
I nearly choked to death on a piece of pine nut candy. Wei Qingming timely handed me some tea and patted my back.
"Oho." Hua Moli pointed a melon seed shell at Wei Qingming. "Third Brother, weren't you cold as ice toward Sister Qi when you were little? Does absence make the heart grow fonder? You're only eighteen; isn't it a bit early to marry Sister Qi?"
Wei Qingming smiled faintly. "Naturally, the marriage between Sister Xiang and Second Brother Hua should come first."
"Hmph! You think you can provoke me?" Hua Moli spat at her. "I've moved past it! Who told her to say my brother wasn't handsome enough in the first place? Actually, I know she loves my brother dearly! I'm being the bigger person and choosing not to hold a grudge!"
Oh boy, talk about who's petty. So she and Wen Xiang had been bickering for all these years over such a minor spat...
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
内行 | Expert / Insider | Someone who is a professional or has deep knowledge of a field.
生 (Sheng) | Sheng | The main male role category in Chinese opera.
旦 (Dan) | Dan | The general name for female roles in Chinese opera.
幻意 | Phantom Intent | A natural, low-level form of illusionary charm or aura.
瑞安堂 | Ruian Hall | The name of a pharmacy.
临川梦 | The Dream of Linchuan | The name of a specific opera play.
初南楼 | Chunan Pavilion | A location/venue for performances.
淮滨帮 | Huaibin Troupe | A Northern-style opera troupe.
玉山班 | Yushan Troupe | A Southern-style opera troupe.
孟停云 | Meng Tingyun | Xu Xingze's senior sister and co-performer.
霞珠 | Xiaozhu | A young actress in the Yushan Troupe.
童金虎 | Tong Jinhu | A martial actor, formerly the "Wood Tiger."
花茉莉 | Hua Moli | A noble lady, sister of "Second Brother Hua."
越州 | Yuezhou | A southern region, associated with Southern Opera.
虎子 | Huzi | A nickname for Tong Jinhu (Little Tiger).
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