CHAPTER 467: 355, FOUR DREAMS OF BIANLIANG_3

Outside the theater, a woman sighed softly, "This stroke has etched through thirty years of human life."

In an instant, applause erupted in the Danbi Grand Music Hall, mingling with the sounds of sobbing, as if in a dream.

Someone tossed silver onto the stage, and women took off their hairpins to throw them onto the stage, making a clanging noise on the White Jade Platform. All the actors came on stage and bent down to collect them.

These were their rewards.

Shen Ye joined in the fun, tossing a piece of silver, then asked Chen Ji with a smile, "Dear brother, everyone says the Li Changge in the play is you. What do you think?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "It’s merely borrowing the scene of Debating Scripture, nothing else has much to do with me. This ’Four Dreams of Bianliang’ ultimately was just for the debating scene in the play. Daoist Master Zhang Li from the Dao Court cooked up this dumpling just for this vinegar."

Shen Ye laughed loudly, "You say it’s not you, but all the women in the capital who’ve seen ’Four Dreams of Bianliang’ believe it is, afraid that your peach blossom fortune might turn into a peach blossom calamity, be careful."

Chen Ji also laughed, "Li Changge is handsome and suave. When women see me, I’m afraid all four dreams will awaken."

As they spoke, a green-robed ninth-rank official from the Imperial Music Bureau ascended the White Jade Platform and said loudly, "Ladies, please step aside. Those who wish to see the Persian gold gauze sky demon dance can proceed to the South Courtyard."

The women in the Grand Music Hall departed one by one, leaving only the men.

Curious, Chen Ji asked, "What’s about to happen?"

Shen Ye explained, "They’re going to auction off the Wang Family’s daughters."

Chen Ji asked again, "And if they don’t sell?"

Shen Ye shook his head, "Naturally, they’ll be sent to the South Courtyard to be instructed by the Ninth-rank Imperial Attendant, becoming official courtesans."

On the White Jade Platform, the clerk pushed two women in white onto the stage and announced loudly, "Wang Family’s daughters, Wang Enzuan and Wang Enxian, skilled in calligraphy and painting, taught personally by the renowned Zhang Zhixian..."

They were introduced as if they were porcelain.

Chen Ji looked up and saw the two women with red eyes and swollen expressions.

He slowly stood up, "Brother Shen, Brother Huang, I’ll wait outside. Once this matter is over, we still have important business to discuss."

Watching Chen Ji walk out, Shen Ye chuckled, "Forget it, forget it, such tragedies in life, no need to watch. Brother Huang Que, let’s leave too."

Chen Ji stepped out from the light of the Imperial Music Bureau and stood at the entrance, taking a deep breath of the chilly spring night air, clearing his mind a bit.

In the distance, Si Caogui saw him emerge, hurriedly drove the carriage to the entrance of the Imperial Music Bureau, and respectfully asked, "Master, returning to the estate?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "Not yet, I’m waiting for someone."

The words had just fallen when footsteps were heard behind him.

Chen Ji turned around to see Shen Ye and Huang Que coming together, "You two not watching?"

Shen Ye shook his head, "I’ve grown tired of the tragedies of the world, even those in the Imperial Music Bureau hold no novelty."

Huang Que, unwilling to speak much with Chen Ji, cupped his hands to bid farewell to the two, "You two, I must return to study, farewell."

Chen Ji held him back and explained, "Brother Huang, I have no intentions of looking down on you for being a salt merchant, don’t misunderstand."

Huang Que still seemed skeptical, "Perhaps I’m overthinking."

With that, he turned to leave.

After taking just two steps, Chen Ji suddenly said, "Brother Huang, I have three hundred thousand salt permits in hand and can prioritize supplying salt from the salt fields to you."

Huang Que immediately stopped, turned around in surprise, "Is that true?"

"It’s true," Chen Ji sincerely stated again, "In the capital, officials frequently criticize merchants; however, I have always maintained that the world cannot function without merchants, absolutely no disdain or scorn. If Brother Huang is interested in the matter of salt permits, let’s discuss it in detail at the Meihua Ferry Crossing in Baishun Alley."

Before Huang Que could respond, Shen Ye pulled him onto the Chen family’s carriage with him, "Let’s go, let’s go, let’s see what strategy Brother Chen Ji has in his gourd."

Chen Ji was taken aback, "Brother Shen is coming too?"

Shen Ye smiled mysteriously, "Dear brother, the salt merchants I know are no fewer than Brother Huang."