I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 162: Chapter 72: Song Yunzhao, Well Done

"What’s that you’re holding? You’re in such a rush, it doesn’t look like you’re up to any good."

’That’s my mother for you,’ Xie Linlang thought, exasperated. ’Never one to mince words.’

"Mother, the Noble Consort herself ordered this. I have to get my brother on it right away." Fearing her mother would think Yun Zhao was making trouble for them, Xie Linlang quickly added, "Our family’s Yuquan Building only got its start thanks to the Noble Consort. We naturally can’t neglect her affairs."

Hearing this, Yao said hurriedly, "Then you’d better go. The Noble Consort’s affairs certainly can’t be delayed." Then she added, "Just come back early. Don’t make me worry."

"I know, Mother." Xie Linlang bolted outside, ordering someone to prepare the carriage as she went.

Watching her daughter’s happy expression, Yao figured it must be good news and felt a little more at ease. Regarding the Noble Consort’s affairs, both her children were tight-lipped and wouldn’t say a thing, no matter what she asked. As their mother, she understood that matters involving the palace required the utmost caution. Still, she worried. They were so young. What if they did something wrong and offended their powerful benefactor?

Consort Song was their family’s benefactor; even her eldest son’s marriage was arranged thanks to the Noble Consort’s blessing. Yao was naturally grateful. Her eldest son was currently only a Scholar and had not yet passed the examination to become a scholar, so marrying a county magistrate’s daughter was certainly a case of marrying up.

Yao was filled with worry. ’Currying favor with the powerful is never that simple,’ she thought.

Meanwhile, after reading Song Yunzhao’s letter, Xie Jinshu paced back and forth, walking in endless circles around the room. Xie Linlang grew dizzy just watching him. "Second Brother, what on earth is on your mind?"

Xie Linlang couldn’t put down The West Chamber. She absolutely adored so many of the lyrics.

"’Waiting for the moon beneath the west chamber, the door half-open in the breeze. Flower shadows stir against the wall, and I wonder if my love is here.’"

’No wonder it’s called The West Chamber,’ she mused. The more she thought about it, the more she loved it. Xie Linlang could already imagine how popular it would be if they really adapted it into an opera.

Xie Jinshu slowly stopped pacing at his sister’s words. "It’s not hard to start a theater troupe," he said, "but it’s very difficult to run one well. At a minimum, we’d have to hire talented actors. But what if those actors are all contracted to other people? What do we do if they learn our play and then just leave?"

Xie Linlang frowned. "That is a big problem. Why don’t we buy a few actors of our own?"

Xie Jinshu shook his head. "That would be too slow. We’d have to buy them and then train them, and all of that takes time."

"Then what’s your plan?" Xie Linlang pressed.

"I’ll go ask around and see if any theaters are for sale," Xie Jinshu said. "We can buy the whole operation, performers included. Once we have their indenture contracts, we won’t have to worry about them leaving."

Xie Linlang thought it was a great idea. "But what are the chances of finding a deal that perfect?"

"You don’t need to worry about that." Xie Jinshu had his ways, though he couldn’t explain them in detail to his sister. "Just go home and wait for my news. If we need to send a letter to the Noble Consort, how do we get it to her?"

"The Noble Consort said to deliver any letters to Madam Song," Xie Linlang replied.

"Madam Song isn’t going to Yucheng anymore?" Xie Jinshu asked in surprise.

Xie Linlang shook her head. "I don’t think so. Madam Song sent two of his concubines to Yucheng to wait on Doctor Song."

Xie Jinshu nodded. "That makes things much easier. I don’t know where the Noble Consort found this Wang Shifu, but he wrote a fantastic play."

"Yeah, Yun Zhao is just amazing. No matter who wrote it, as long as it’s sent to our Yuquan Building, we can use it."

Xie Jinshu nodded. "Go pay a visit to Madam Song. You don’t have to say anything in particular, just treat it as a social call."

Xie Linlang nodded. ’I’ll have to rely on Madam Song to pass along letters in the future, so it’s even more important to stay on good terms with her. It’s a good thing I made an effort to build that relationship from the start.’

Xie Jinshu was completely swamped with matters concerning the theater troupe, while Xie Linlang helped organize all the miscellaneous details. The two of them were so busy they barely had a moment’s rest. Finally, at her wit’s end, Yao went to find her eldest son.

Xie Jingguan didn’t try to stop his younger siblings. Instead, he tried to persuade his mother. "Jinshu knows what he’s doing, and Linlang isn’t the type to cause trouble. Mother, why don’t just the two of us make the trip back to Xuanzhou? Our family has received the Noble Consort’s favor, so we must see her business through and not disappoint her."

Since her eldest son had spoken, Yao had no choice but to let it go. She returned to Xuanzhou, taking only him with her.

The weather grew hotter and hotter, and ice basins were brought into Song Yunzhao’s palace hall. A Noble Consort’s allotment of ice wasn’t enough for continuous, day-long use; there was a strict quota. She only used it during the peak heat of the day, making sure to be as frugal as possible.