SEHE Chapter 25

Night Visit

“What are theatrical scripts?” The group looked at each other in confusion, asking puzzledly.

“I’ve observed the puppet shows on the streets – they all have brief storylines. You should find ways to make the stories more interesting and vivid. You can come up with some twisting and mysterious ghost legends, lingering and touching love stories, and you can also use the puppets’ voices to tell the legendary tales of predecessors throughout history.” Pei Yanci smiled and said, “These stories can absorb the twists and turns from storytellers’ mouths, can incorporate the gentle melodies of singing girls – it’s up to you to develop them.”

“These theatrical scripts sound good – I’d like to see them myself.” Many people laughed heartily.

Those who could come to the capital Anjing to participate in the imperial examinations were all well-read scholars. Writing a few interesting little stories would be a piece of cake for them.

“But wouldn’t we be degrading ourselves to the lower nine classes?” Song Suixi was eager to try, yet worried about tarnishing his reputation.

Singing and dancing performers were all considered beneath respectability.

“How would this be lower class?” Pei Yanci said, “It’s just writing theatrical scripts. Who would see your true face? If you want fame but fear trouble, you can always take a stage name.”

“What kind of stage name?” He immediately leaned forward to ask.

“Red Dust Wanderer, Successful Scholar Immortal, A Pinch of Lovesick Red – whether you want to be a wandering hero or a lover, it’s up to you.”

“This is good, this is good!” Many people clapped their hands, their calls attracting people from outside the private room, who stuck their heads in curiously but couldn’t make out what was happening clearly.

“How did you grow such a brain, with so many good ideas!” Song Suixi laughed loudly, “I need to quickly think of a stage name.”

“Suixi.” Song Qi’an was behind him to one side, but secretly frowned and shook his head at him.

“Uncle.” Song Suixi pleaded quietly, “I’ll just try it, write a few little stories.”

“Academic success is important. If your parents knew you were wasting your days like this, I couldn’t protect you either.”

“But you could abandon being a Tanhua scholar, so what harm is there in my writing a few theatrical scripts? It’s not like I’m not taking the exams.”

Song Qi’an was momentarily speechless.

One person worried, “How would the money be calculated?”

As soon as these words came out, the surroundings suddenly quieted.

While they might not think that far ahead about other things, this was their most immediate concern.

“If you trust me, write first, then we’ll set the price after seeing how the first few performances do for attendance.”

Since he was going to do this, Pei Yanci couldn’t possibly do business at a loss. This idea had come to him on a whim after his resurrection, only he had been short on both money and people at the time.

In both his lives, he had never seen what were called plays, completely lacking any precedent to follow, so he could only cross the river by feeling for stones.

“Don’t worry, I won’t shortchange you. Bear with things for a few days first. Once I find a good location, you can move from the inn, saving you the money for lodging.” He first threw them a sweet incentive.

“Staying at the theater won’t cost money?” Many people’s eyes lit up.

“How ambitious.” Sifeng sneered, “Where did your integrity go?”

Coming from a wealthy family, he naturally wasn’t short of those few copper coins.

“Integrity also needs to eat.” Someone nudged his shoulder jokingly, “Besides, it’s all writing work – no loss of integrity. Selling calligraphy and paintings on the street is the same thing.”

“Don’t crowd me.” Si Feng brushed off the hand on his shoulder, “If you want to listen, then listen. What’s the point of pushing up against people?”

“During the period of writing theatrical scripts, you can live in the theater, and I’ll give you ample time.” Pei Yanci said, “As long as you can submit your manuscripts on time, you’ll definitely have plenty of time to prepare for the imperial examinations. When you have nothing to do, you can also exchange ideas with each other, encourage each other, and hold poetry and literature gatherings in the theater. How would you be any different from those fellow students at the academy?”

Those who had originally thought that writing theatrical scripts would take up much of their time had their doubts considerably reduced after hearing this.

Pei Yanci’s words struck closer and closer to their hearts. Even Si Feng, who wasn’t short on money, wanted to give it a small try after listening, but having said so many mocking words earlier, he was too embarrassed to change his tune, so he feigned regret: “What a pity – I’ll be going home soon.”

“If Brother Si wants to write, you can finish writing in your spare time after going home and send it to the capital. I’ll have someone stage your play.”

Before Si Feng could say anything, several disciples from Qingcheng Academy were delighted and pushed him to the back. Just as they were about to speak, seeing that Song Qi’an’s expression wasn’t very good, they secretly tugged at each other’s sleeves and retreated to the back again.

Pei Yanci laid out all his ideas about the theater. His considerations were very comprehensive – he had already thought through various concerns for those scholars. By the time the banquet ended, they were still somewhat reluctant to part.

Chatting with Pei Yanci was a very pleasant experience.

When they emerged from Xiangqing Tavern, it was already evening.

“Gentlemen, let us part here.” Pei Yanci bid farewell to the uncle and nephew from the academy, having Wuli take out gifts prepared in advance from the carriage, “Please give my regards to Great Scholar Fang.”

Fang Hongchun had inadvertently pointed out that the Crown Prince’s Mansion steward was from a noble family. He had been well cared for in the Elu Bureau prison, but his bones were injured and his health collapsed. Added to the shock of his careless words causing his good friend’s family and others to fall into misfortune and die tragically, his mental state was much worse than before.

“Brother Pei is too kind.” Song Suixi smiled as he accepted the gifts, winking at Pei Yanci.

“Suixi.” Song Qi’an sighed – this nephew of his truly broke his heart.

“How are Great Scholar Fang’s current plans? He’s now recuperating at his villa in the capital, but Suixi’s studies can’t be neglected.” Pei Yanci patted Song Suixi’s head.

“I plan to send him to Qingcheng Academy.”

“I don’t want to go.” Song Suixi immediately pulled a long face. If he had wanted to go, he would have gone long ago, “The academy is full of rigid old pedants – I won’t go.”

“Then what do you want to do!” Song Qi’an was angry, “Since childhood I’ve had to force you to study. I finally got you to come take the imperial examination, and you followed those people in their foolishness and got yourself thrown in prison. Now you won’t study – what do you want to do? Put your mind on those disgraceful…”

Halfway through speaking, he remembered Pei Yanci was still present and quickly stopped, his face turning iron-blue with suppressed anger.

“Master Song used those five thousand taels originally to rescue Suixi and several candidates from Qingcheng Academy. I used those five thousand taels to help temporarily impoverished and fallen scholars. Our purposes are about the same, and the theater can help even more people. But now Master Song feels I’ve wasted this money and misused these good intentions.”

Pei Yanci spoke with triple sighs, making Song Qi’an blush with embarrassment, and he got into the carriage first.

Song Suixi rarely saw him this angry and felt sad for a moment, but being playful by nature and wanting to try, he looked at Pei Yanci hesitantly, unable to voice his refusal.

“Great Scholar Fang is still in the capital recovering from his injuries. As they say, ‘A teacher for a day is a father for life.’ Staying by his side to fulfill filial duties is also a scholar’s duty.”

Song Suixi’s expression drooped for a moment, then suddenly brightened.

“I knew coming to you would always have a good solution.” He breathed out a long sigh of relief.

“Talk nicely with your uncle.” Pei Yanci instructed.

“I understand. Just wait for my theatrical script.” 

Pei Yanci watched the two leave, then turned to Jiang Yi who had been waiting nearby.

“In Anjing, opening a profitable shop isn’t easy, let alone a theater that none of us have ever seen.” Jiang Yi kindly reminded him.

“I’m from the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Isn’t that background big enough for this theater?”

Jiang Yi touched his nose. His plan to get something for nothing and become the theater’s backer to share some profits clearly wasn’t going to work.

“However,” changing tack, Pei Yanci continued, “if the theater opens, I plan to hire some guards to maintain order.”

“My household has them – they’re all former soldiers, each one a veteran of many battles. You couldn’t find more suitable people anywhere else.” Jiang Yi immediately said.

He held up one finger, “One-tenth share.”

He was willing to give Jiang Yi some profit, not because he was constrained by him and needed his protection, but because he was willing to grant it to him. If he didn’t want it, he could give it to someone else.

These were two different things.

Although he desperately needed Jiang Yi’s support – after all, doing things in the Crown Prince’s name ultimately wasn’t a long-term solution.

Jiang Yi grabbed that finger, “Deal.”

Seeing him frown, Jiang Yi realized he had used too much force and hurt him, so he quickly smiled apologetically and let go, “You’re really too weak – not at all like someone who does rough work as a servant.”

“Are there only servants in the Crown Prince’s Mansion?” Pei Yanci rubbed his fingertip.

“True enough.” Seeing him like that, Jiang Yi grabbed his hand again and carefully helped him massage it, “You run errands for the Crown Prince – your position in the mansion must be quite high, so that kind of work wouldn’t fall to you.”

“Don’t spread word that today’s matter was the Crown Prince’s idea.” He said, pushing his hand away.

Those clumsy hands made him hurt even more.

“I understand – they all know the importance too.” Jiang Yi’s expression was sheepish, and he stopped touching his hand, “His Highness the Crown Prince has shown kindness to me and to them. We’re not ungrateful people.”

“That’s best.” Pei Yanci didn’t say more. With curfew time approaching, they each got into their carriages and bid farewell.

****

He and Wuli returned the carriage and entered through the back courtyard’s small gate – they were both familiar with this routine. While looking at the dim path ahead, he instructed Wuli to go to Xin Hai’s place tomorrow to have them look for suitable estates in the city.

Wuli rubbed his belly and let out a satisfied belch, “Estates? What estates? Sweet-filled ones?”

(TL: 園子(yuánzi)=“Garden,” “courtyard,” or by extension a residential estate (often with buildings and enclosed grounds)

圓子(yuánzi)=Glutinous rice balls (usually with sweet fillings, like sesame or red bean)

Eating with scholars was great – they only loved to talk, so all the food went into his stomach. He still hadn’t recovered from it.

“…” Pei Yanci said, “Never mind. I’ll write a letter later, and tomorrow you can take it directly to them. Also have them look for a few street performers who are good at puppet shows.”

“Oh, are we bringing them into the mansion to entertain the Crown Prince?”

“…You didn’t listen to a single word this afternoon, did you?” Pei Yanci said helplessly.

“Ah!”

Wuli was so startled he stopped dead in his tracks. Seeing that the black shadow ahead was a person, he finally exhaled the breath caught in his chest, “Steward Zhao, why do you walk without making a sound? How frightening.”

“How did you two come from this way?” Steward Zhao was also startled and said reproachfully, “It’s already nighttime – why are you wandering around?”

“Steward Zhao, why are your expressions and actions becoming more and more like Chief Steward Zhang?” As soon as Wuli finished speaking, he immediately received a sharp glare from Steward Zhao.

Pei Yanci quickly said a few perfunctory words and pulled the person away.

If they continued chatting, this little fatty would offend someone again.

Steward Zhao slowly calmed his heartbeat, looking at Pei Yanci’s retreating figure, then at the path they had come from, a very familiar feeling rising in his heart.

He remembered that on the night the Elu Bureau broke into the Crown Prince’s Mansion, Pei Yanci also seemed to have just entered from the back courtyard gate.

Steward Zhao’s eyes lit up, and when he looked at Pei Yanci’s retreating figure again, there was an added depth of meaning in his gaze.

****

On that end, Pei Yanci had just opened his room door when a sudden strange fragrance wafted out, and he immediately closed the door again.

“What’s wrong with you all tonight, always startling people?” Wuli was frightened again.

“Go to the kitchen and ask if there’s still hot water available.”

“Why don’t you go?”

“I have stomach trouble.”

“Oh.” Wuli left, grumbling.

Pei Yanci waited until he was far away before opening the door.

Inside the room, Tang Xizhui was wearing a half-face mask, looking at him with an expression that was half-smile, half-not.

In the blink of an eye, the figure had floated to the doorway and grasped the hand that Jiang Yi had grabbed earlier.

“Stomach trouble? Did you secretly eat something at the tavern this afternoon behind this lord’s back?”