The platform for opera was located in the Chenxi Pond in the center of Imperial Garden.

It was a vacant place where the red platform was ornamented with jade. Besides, plenty of colorful lights were connected, which was such an excellent design.

In front of the platform, a big tabernacle for vision was located on the ground. Three celeste curtains were all embroidered with golden lotus flowers.

The top of the tabernacle was made of gold and silver, which made up intense blessing patterns. The pattern ceaselessly changed and got overlapped, which was sophisticated and royal.

Before the opera started, there had been full of people in the tabernacle.

There were three rows of tables and chairs.

In the first row, there was a gold chair belonging to the Emperor. On both sides, there were seats for Imperial Mother Xiao and the Ninth Prince Huanan He.

The seats in the second row were especially prepared for the envoys of Ying State while those in the third row were for concubines.

Other officials and maids all stood on the side of the tabernacle or the rear of it.

When Huanan Xin and Gu Yunxi reached, the opera eventually began.

Tonight Imperial Mother Xiao still didn't show up in such a wonderful situation on the excuse of sickness.

Huanan Xin knew she had still minded the previous things, so he didn't pay attention to her absence.

He turned around and glanced at the seat belonging to Imperial Mother Xiao, directly letting Gu Yunxi sit in the seat.

"Your Majesty..."

Gu Yunxi got her back straight, trying to stand up and go to the third row.

"No, you just sit down and accompany me to see the opera."

Huanan Xin patted her shoulder and comforted her, glancing at the man in silver hair on the other side. Then he raised his lips and lifted the hem of his gown, sitting on the chair.

In the third row, Noble Concubine Hui sadly clenched her fists. Other concubines also looked at each other in their eyes, but nobody dared to say something.

The troupe that would play for Huanan Xin was somewhat special as plenty of famous actresses and actors in all opera troupes of Jing City gathered there, and they had been repeatedly playing and practicing one month ago.

The first play was The Peony Pavilion.

"Originally bright flowers were everywhere, but all those we had paid were ruined. What a beautiful day, and what a happy thing..."

On the platform, as soon as the actress showed up, she grasped people's eyes.

As her delicate body swung, the sleeves made of gauze waved and were like red lotus flowers. And the water far away was also contrasted with them. In the moonlight, colorful lights ceaselessly changed, which was like a wonderful drawing.

The actress sang in a clear voice as delicate as dewdrops rolling through lotus and lotus flowers in the morning.

Her partner actor was also handsome, who had a clear appearance and was as beautiful as an upright tree. His ceaseless voice was as clear as the unfolding silk, being delicate and charming.

As the wind blew up in the evening, the weather was as cold as jade. The lake rippled as lotus flowers and leaves slightly waved.

It was a great enjoyment to smell the fragrance of lotus flowers, hear the ceaseless voice being ups and downs, and feel it occurring around the waves.

Huanan Xin listened and was gradually caught. Then he became relaxed and slowly closed his eyes, slightly nodding in the rhythm of the drum and patting the armrest with his fingertip.

Gu Yunxi noticed that, so she turned around and looked at the man in silver hair on the other side in his eyes.

It was Gu Di, which was clearly known by her.

In the second row, General Yuancang was not interested in the opera of Da Yi. Therefore, he ignored the interpreter's ceaseless explanation, raising his head and looking around with his cunning eyes. He paid all his attention to the brilliant ornaments made of treasure at the top of the tabernacle.

By contrast, Mrs. Yuancang paid attention to the two people singing and playing on the platform. While listening to the words she didn't understand, she slightly patted in the rhythm of the drum.

When the play was finished, Huanan Xin applauded first.

The next play was Jiaohong's Tale.

Gu Yunxi's eyes were as clear as stars. It seemed that she was still indulged in the wonderful play of The Peony Pavilion. As she held a fan and got close to Huanan Xin, she praised in a soft voice.

"Your Majesty, the previous play was wonderful indeed. As an old poem said: Wearing a lotus-shaped skirt just in one color, the beautiful woman turned around."

"The actress's voice was clear, and her figure was also as delicate as the lotus flower. You give her a good reward, please."

Huanan Xin also felt happy, so he ordered Liang Zhen.

"Bring the woman there."

Hearing that, Liang Zhen happily went to the dressing room behind the platform, leading her in front of Huanan Xin's seat.

"Your Majesty, I, Ruiji, salute you. Best wishes to you."

The woman carefully kneeled and kowtowed three times. She said in a clear voice as wonderful as jade.

"You may rise."

Huanan Xin casually held a cup of tea and got a drink, slowly saying.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The woman slowly stood up and lowered her head. At that time, the coronet on her head had already been removed, so her hair fell naturally with a bun on her rear head.

Huanan Xin slightly smiled.

"Concubine Yun has admired that you sang a wonderful The Peony Pavilion, so I will greatly reward you. If you want to gain something, later you just follow Liang Zhen and select."

The woman should be not frightened as she obediently and loudly answered.

"I thank Your Majesty and Your Grace for your reward. People in the world all know Your Majesty love Her Grace most, so in my heart, being praised by Her Grace is much more valuable than gaining a lot of treasure."

"Great!"

Huanan Xin was stunned, but then he was happy. He turned around and stared at the actress.

"Just for the sake of your intelligence, I will greatly reward the people in your troupe."

It was still quiet in concubines' seats, where some frowned and became sad while others gritted teeth and became anxious in the dark.

What the actress said was like a sharp blade stabbing their hearts.

Concubine Yun was admired by Huanan Xin, so even an actress tried to flatter her. How jealous they were!

Gu Yunxi waved her fan made of gauze, looking at the actress in deep eyes.

"Ruiji, raise your head and I will look at your face."

"Yes."

The woman obediently behaved, carefully raising her eyes. Then her real face where the thick makeup had been removed showed up.

Being delicate and beautiful, she wore a blue garment and was as wonderful as a willow in the moonlight. The woman was both pure and charming.

On one side of Huanan Xin's chair, when the man in silver hair looked at the actress's face, he suddenly loudly laughed.

"Seeing the actress's appearance, I find she is somewhat like Concubine Yun."

It was to compare the Emperor's concubine with an actress. Except for the crazy Ninth Princess, nobody dared to do so.

However, his words really made concubines in the third row become happier.

Huanan Xin thought and said nothing. Seeing that, Liang Zhen suddenly coughed and gestured to the crazy Ninth Prince who was sneering.

But then the actress groveled and carefully said.

"I should be blamed. Her Grace and I are so distinguished, so how could I as a humble woman compare with Her Grace?"

"Huh! Look at the scared woman! Boring!"

The man in silver hair shook his head and sneered. Then he casually grasped a handful of melon seeds and ate.

Gu Yunxi mildly smiled, holding the actress up in person. After looking at her for a while, she gently said.

"Yes, we are similar indeed. Your Majesty, please have a look."

Huanan Xin wouldn't refuse a beautiful woman's requirement, so he casually turned around.

At that time, Ruiji was seemingly shy and shifted her delicate eyes. Then she came across Huanan Xin's clear eyes.

She hustled to turn around and avoid. Being both shy and embarrassed, some blush occurred between her slim eyebrows.

Huanan Xin suddenly became happy in his eyes. He watched the shy woman and softly smiled. In his eyes, he was a little blank. It seemed that plenty of love and appreciation flooded from his heart.

All was prepared, and only the last step should be done.

As a flicker of mock crossed in Gu Yunxi's mouth, she held Ruiji's delicate fingers and said to Huanan Xin.

"I like opera, too. But my voice is not as clear as the girl's. Otherwise, I really want to study singing together with Ruiji."

Huanan Xin waved his hands.

"Could it be difficult? Presumably, anything should be learned. If you like, I just let the girl stay in the Palace and teach you."

"After all, I also want to find a place in the Palace for one troupe. Later, we can go to the opera at any time."

"So, I just thank you for your understanding."

Gu Yunxi was surprised and smiled.

"Your Majesty, I have loved opera since childhood. Could you let Ruiji accompany me for a period and take office after the troupe is gathered?"

The woman saying words was just Noble Concubine Hui, Shi Yuanqing.

She had been looking at the people in the first row long.

Just by means of her intelligence, she couldn't realize Ruiji, Gu Yunxi, and the Ninth Prince were just playing and coordinating with each other. It was to lure her.

Just now when the play started, Gu Yunxi sat down in the front row. She had already caught people's attention.

Then Ruiji flattered Gu Yunxi with her words in order to stir up concubines' dissatisfaction. Therefore, the head of the imperial harem Noble Concubine Hui's attention was caught.

And then Gu Di compared Gu Yunxi with Ruiji, which made a way for Ruiji to please Huanan Xin by means of her appearance.

Except for carving the jade, Huanan Xin also liked watching operas when he was free.

Noble Concubine Hui didn't clearly know Ruiji's background, so she just thought Ruiji was a common actress.

When Huanan Xin said he wanted to let a troupe in and make Ruiji stay in the Palace, Noble Concubine Hui immediately decided to flatter him and let Ruiji stay in her palace ahead of others.

All in all, she couldn't let Gu Yunxi always do something to flatter Huanan Xin and be admired.

Although Noble Concubine Hui chose to coordinate with Gu Yunxi, she couldn't completely believe Gu Yunxi. Anyhow, Noble Concubine Hui didn't want to share half Huanan Xin's love with her.

But she didn't know once she said words, she had been trapped by someone.

When Gu Yunxi heard Noble Concubine Hui ask of Ruiji, she immediately smiled. While fiddling with the fan's tassel made of beads and jade with her index finger, Gu Yunxi raised her eyebrows.

"I have almost forgotten Her Grace's voice is as clear as jade, which is the best in all concubines."

"Your Majesty, now that I have to be occupied with the food competition several days later, you just let the girl stay in Her Grace's palace."

Huanan Xin thought for a while, and then he smiled.

"It is so rare that you are so modest. So, Yunxi just pays attention to the competition now. Noble Concubine Hui, Ruiji will go to Miaoyin Hall with you this evening. You watch out and try to learn, as several days later, I will inspect your study achievement."

Noble Concubine Hui stood up, smiling and nodding.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After dealing with the thing about Concubine Liang, Yue Xilou hustled to go to the island and report to Huanan Xin.

Before walking into the tabernacle, he saw Huanan Xin and other people talking and smiling around a young girl.

He stopped, with his pupils suddenly contracted.

Yue Xilou immediately grasped a eunuch's collar outside the tabernacle, roaring in a gloomy and low voice. It seemed that he was so anxious and nervous.

"What happened? Why should Ruiji act in the evening?"

The eunuch trembled and was extremely nervous, which seemed that he was almost going to piss his pants.

"I... I heard the former actress was suddenly ill, so Miss Ruiji reached here to replace her."

Yue Xilou violently raised his eyebrows.

"When I wasn't there, what were they saying?"

"His Majesty... His Majesty made Miss Ruiji stay in the Palace, and he planned to make up a troupe."

"Go away!"

Instantly, Yue Xilou felt a sense of anxiety flooded into his brain. He cursed and pushed the eunuch away.