Free Web NovelChapter 161: Chapter 71: Better to Rely on Yourself
The thought came and went in a flash for Song Yunzhao. The Emperor’s absence from the harem didn’t affect her much. Seeing how composed the three concubines were, what did she have to be anxious about?
So, she decided to settle down and focus on her career. Pleading poverty to the Emperor was something she could only do once in a while. She couldn’t keep fleecing the same sheep—the Emperor—or she might push him too far.
It was better to rely on herself than on anyone else.
Han Jinyi was right about one thing: imperial favor was the most unreliable thing in the world.
’In her past life, she hadn’t known the first thing about infrastructure, wasn’t a chemistry whiz, and was certainly no weapons expert. She was completely clueless when it came to that kind of "hardware." So, as for helping the Emperor eliminate dissidents, expand his army, improve the grade and quality of his weapons, or build a cannon that could shoot for the sky... she was completely out of her depth.’
’A person really ought to learn more. Otherwise, if you suddenly transmigrate like I did, you’ll be completely lost.’
’Fortunately, while her "hardware" skills were nonexistent, she could still work on the "software."’
’For example, she could improve the nation’s cultural infrastructure and satisfy the people’s basic need for entertainment.’
Song Yunzhao began writing a letter to Xie Linlang. The Xie family’s Yuquan Building was already gaining fame in the Capital City, so it was time to press their advantage. She decided to partner with the Xie family to start a traveling theater troupe.
She would provide the scripts, act as an advisor, and manage the overall direction. The Xie family would handle the actual execution. Profits would be split fifty-fifty, which was quite fair to both parties.
’Relying on her own mind alone, she couldn’t possibly write so many brilliant scripts. Seeing as this was a world in a book, she decided to borrow from the essence of five thousand years of Chinese history. To put it shamelessly, it was a simple copy-and-paste job.’
’Sigh. She’d tossed all her principles aside for the sake of making money.’
’But she had her limits. She would absolutely not take credit for them.’
The first work she decided to launch with was *The West Chamber*. The play’s theme—that all lovers under heaven should end up together—would surely resonate with the budding adolescent romances of young men and women. Moreover, its plot was captivating, its characters vivid and moving, and its writing brilliant and poetic. The more she thought about it, the more perfect it seemed.
The story of *The West Chamber* originated from Yuan Zhen’s *Yingying’s Story* in the Tang Dynasty, and was later artistically refined in Dong Jieyuan’s *The West Chamber Medley* during the Jin Dynasty. Compared to *Yingying’s Story*, in which Zhang Sheng seduced and abandoned Cui Yingying, the plot of *The West Chamber* was undoubtedly far richer, its characters more three-dimensional and vibrant, making it easier to win the audience’s affection.
The Zhang Sheng in *Yingying’s Story* was obsessed with pursuing fame and fortune, not daring to defy a feudal matriarch like Lady Cui, and even callously seducing and abandoning Cui Yingying—truly despicable. But the Zhang Sheng in *The West Chamber* bravely pursued love with a pure and innocent heart, making him both endearing and moving.
After Cui Yingying and Zhang Sheng fell for each other, she disregarded the judgment of the world and took the initiative to approach him. When she saw him off to the capital for the imperial examinations, she didn’t care in the slightest whether he would succeed; she only hoped he would finish quickly and return to her side.
This concept of pure love, untainted by the lure of material wealth, was truly moving. And it was a case of people pursuing what they lacked most. Love in a feudal society—did it even exist?
Perhaps it did, but for most people, it did not.
Song Yunzhao spent several days transcribing *The West Chamber* from memory. ’Loving to binge-watch shows and watch plays wasn’t such a useless, degenerate pastime after all,’ she thought. ’Look at it coming in handy now.’
She had Xiangxue bring over a mahogany brocade box, placed *The West Chamber* inside, and wrote "By Wang Shifu" on the cover.
It wasn’t her work, so she couldn’t take credit for it. Even though these names didn’t exist in this time, she could ensure the names of these literary masters were remembered once more.
"Have Anshun come in," Song Yunzhao said to Xiangxue.
"Yes, My Lady." Xiangxue hurried out to fetch him.
Anshun arrived shortly. "This servant greets you, My Lady. What are your orders?"
"I need you to deliver this box to Miss Xie Linlang of the Xie family," Song Yunzhao instructed. "They are the Xie family from Xuanzhou, the cloth merchants who opened Yuquan Building in the Capital City."
Anshun quickly assented. "This servant will remember."
"Make sure you deliver it directly into Miss Xie’s hands. No one else is to handle it."
"Yes." Hearing this, Anshun dared not take the task lightly. He secured the box carefully before bowing and backing out of the room.
***
Xie Linlang had just returned from Yuquan Building. At home, the family was bustling with preparations for her eldest brother’s wedding. For this reason, Mrs. Xie had traveled all the way from Xuanzhou to the Capital City.
Mrs. Xie had her eye on the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xuanzhou county magistrate for her son. Originally, the match was a non-starter. But who would have thought the Song Family would produce a Noble Consort? The County Magistrate’s Wife, who had previously given the Xie family the cold shoulder, suddenly became incredibly enthusiastic.
Madam Xie, born Yao, had only been in the capital for a few days and was in the middle of sorting out household affairs. Seeing her daughter just returning, she couldn’t help but say, "What proper young lady from a good family runs around outside all day like you?"
Xie Linlang went over and hugged her mother’s arm affectionately, wheedling, "Whose young lady? Ours, of course! If it weren’t for you, how could I be so fortunate? The young ladies from other families have no idea how much they envy me."
Yao gently poked her daughter’s forehead. "You just love to exasperate me, don’t you?" Then, looking at her daughter, she continued, "Your eldest brother’s marriage is settled. In a few days, I’ll be taking him back to Xuanzhou. You and your second brother will come with me."
Xie Linlang quickly protested, "Mother, why would Second Brother and I go back? There’s so much to do in the capital. If we all leave, who will manage everything? Our family’s Yuquan Building has only just started to gain a foothold, and Second Brother is laying the groundwork for our other businesses. A round trip would cause huge delays."
Hearing her daughter prattle on about business, Yao became exasperated. "A perfectly fine young lady, completely spoiled by your father and brothers. This time, you must come back with me. If you stay here any longer, who knows what trouble you’ll get into. You give me no peace of mind at all."
Xie Linlang had no intention of going back. Just as she was about to argue further, her personal maid, Hua Zhi, rushed in. "Miss! Miss! There’s a eunuch at the gate asking for you!"
A eunuch?
Yao was startled. She was about to grab her daughter to ask what was going on, but Xie Linlang was already gone in a flash, leaving her mother’s face dark with anger.
A eunuch from the palace... Yao’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could it be the one from the Song Family?’
If it truly was her, Yao wouldn’t dare interfere. But not knowing what it was about, she couldn’t help but worry.
It was only after she came to the Capital City that she learned her younger son and daughter were on good terms with Consort Song. The news made her both happy and anxious, so of course she was flustered when someone from the palace came calling.
After receiving the item, Xie Linlang didn’t go straight to her mother. Instead, with a thoughtful glint in her eye, she returned to her own courtyard, dismissed her servants, and only then opened the box. The first thing she saw was a book, and her heart filled with delight.
Beneath it was a letter. She immediately unfolded it, and after reading it, she froze. A theater troupe?
Yun Zhao wanted to start a theater troupe, and this... *The West Chamber*... was to be their first production. Xie Linlang knew of opera troupes, but she had never heard of a "theater company." And Yun Zhao wanted her to come up with a name? What good name could she possibly think of?
But Xie Linlang’s heart began to pound. Yun Zhao trusted her so much; she couldn’t let her down.
With that thought, Xie Linlang put the items away safely and turned to find her second brother to discuss the matter.
Yun Zhao had written in her letter that one day, their company would become the most renowned theater troupe in the entire country. Just the thought of it made her heart surge with excitement.
Who would have thought that before she even made it out the door, her mother would intercept her, eyes immediately zeroing in on the box in her hands.
