Chapter 75: The Fate of Li Erniang and Suggestions for Zaju Play Revisions

Squire Zhao laughed heartily as he was about to open the letter, but Li Erniang, who had been lounging on the couch, was so startled that she leaped up like her backside was on fire. She grabbed and yanked the envelope and tore it to shreds with a few frantic rips.

"What are you doing?" Squire Zhao roared, immediately dropping to the floor to gather the torn pieces. "Li Erniang, have you lost your mind?"

Li Erniang's face turned deathly pale, her panic impossible to conceal. Squire Zhao had no idea what was happening, but Li Erniang knew exactly what she had done. The moment she heard Bing Wengu's name, a sense of foreboding had gripped her. As she listened to Squire Zhao and the gatekeeper's conversation, she became increasingly convinced that the letter was meant for her.

"Li Erniang, are you possessed? Ever since you returned from tending to your mother, you've been acting strangely. Did you catch some madness from her?" Squire Zhao spat angrily. "Do you even realize whose letter this is? It's from Jieyuan Bing, the most promising candidate in this year's imperial exams! How dare you tear it up? If you've ruined this opportunity for me, I swear I'll sell you to the whorehouse!"

While berating Li Erniang, Squire Zhao and the gatekeeper scrambled to collect the torn pieces. Fortunately, in her haste, Li Erniang hadn’t shredded the letter too finely, and it could still be reassembled.

As Squire Zhao began reassembling the letter, Li Erniang lunged forward again, grabbing the fragments and tearing them further.

"Guards! Restrain Li Erniang at once—she’s gone mad!" Squire Zhao pointed at her, his expression one of utter disbelief.

Several house servants rushed in and pinned Li Erniang down. Despite her frantic struggles, she was no match for the strapping servants. They even managed to wrest the remaining torn pieces from her grasp.

Squire Zhao trembled with rage. "You wretched woman! Do you truly have no fear of death?"

Realizing Squire Zhao was genuinely furious, Li Erniang panicked and began rambling hysterically by way of excuse. "Husband, listen to me! You mustn’t read that letter—it’s definitely fishy! You and Bing Dalang have never met, and he’s refused gifts from everyone in town. Why would he suddenly write to you? There must be some scheme! He probably covets your wealth and wants to swindle you!"

In his fury, Squire Zhao didn’t even notice the way Li Erniang referred to Bing Wengu.

"Nonsense! You’re clearly deranged!"

At that moment, Squire Zhao’s first wife, Lady Chai (née Chai), entered and saw Li Erniang being restrained by the male outsiders. A flicker of smug satisfaction crossed her face.

The fact that Squire Zhao allowed male outsiders to manhandle Li Erniang without regard for propriety meant she must have done something unforgivable.

"My lord, what’s happened? What has Li Erniang done?" Lady Chai asked.

Squire Zhao fumed. "She’s lost her mind! She dared to tear up a letter from Jieyuan Bing!"

Lady Chai was stunned. Li Erniang had always been adept at flattery and never acted against Squire Zhao’s wishes. What had gotten into her?

She stared at Li Erniang in disbelief, wondering if she’d been possessed.

Li Erniang sobbed. "Husband, I only did this for your sake! I didn’t want you to be manipulated by someone with ulterior motives!"

"You’re the one with ulterior motives! You just don’t want me to prosper. An opportunity to befriend Jieyuan Bing is something others can only dream of!" Squire Zhao had managed to reassemble part of the letter, though some fragments were too shredded to reconstruct.

"My lord, you mustn’t read it! That Bing Dalang is a silver-tongued seducer—you mustn’t fall for his tricks!" Li Erniang persisted desperately.

By now, Squire Zhao had reassembled most of the letter. Ironically, the parts Li Erniang had torn beyond repair were the least important, while the crucial details remained intact.

The more he read, the darker his expression grew. This wasn’t a letter of friendship at all—it was a letter of indictment, exposing Li Erniang’s unwifely conduct and her attempts to seduce another man.

Bing Wengu’s letter laid out their history in detail, recounting Li Erniang’s relentless advances and brazen propositions, including her insistence on becoming his concubine.

By the time he finished reading, Squire Zhao’s face was dark enough to drip ink. He let out a cold laugh. "Well, well, Li Erniang, you’ve outdone yourself! No wonder you were so desperate to destroy this letter! You’re still my concubine, yet you’re already panting to leap into Jieyuan Bing’s bed. What lofty ambitions! Too bad he wants nothing to do with you!"

Lady Chai’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t believe Li Erniang had the audacity to do such a thing.

"My lord, what exactly happened?" she asked.

Squire Zhao glared at Li Erniang, all former affection gone. "Turns out this woman was betrothed in the womb to Jieyuan Bing. But when it came time to marry, she reneged on the betrothal because of his family's poverty and instead seduced me. Now that he’s made good, she’s chasing after him shamelessly, begging to be his concubine. That ‘month-long visit to tend to her ailing mother’? She was actually in the capital, shamelessly pursuing him!"

Lady Chai was gaping in astonishment. "She broke off an engagement with Jieyuan Bing… to marry you?"

After finishing her words, even Chai Shi found it absurd. Even an idiot wouldn't pull this stunt. If her husband were younger—a handsome young man in his early twenties—one might grudgingly say the girl was smitten by looks. But this man could practically be Li Erniang's father. Why would Li Erniang, forsaking the promising young talent Jieyuan Bing, go to such lengths to marry her husband? What could she possibly gain? Surely not his musty old-man odor.

Squire Zhao could read his wife's thoughts from her expression and turned red with rage. "Clearly, this woman is opportunistic. She looked down on Jieyuan Bing for his poverty, assumed he’d never pass the imperial exams, and sought a fool to leech off. And here I thought she genuinely cared for me!"

Chai Shi snorted in amusement. Men—so ordinary yet so confident.

"Oh, so I'm better than Jieyuan Bing now?" Squire Zhao sneered sarcastically.

"No, honey, let me explain! It’s all Bing Dalang’s scheme. Everything in that letter is false. He’s the one who’s never let go of his obsession with me. You don’t know—when I broke off the engagement back then, he refused to accept it and even tried to drown himself over me. Now that he’s become a Jieyuan, he’s trying to force himself on me again. When I refused, he wrote this letter to make me a cuckold!" Even now, Li Erniang was still stubborn to the bitter end.

"Li Shi, if you’re going to defend yourself, at least come up with a better lie," Chai Shi said, amused. "If you don’t own a mirror, piss in a puddle and look at yourself. With that face of yours, Jieyuan Bing is still carrying a torch for you? In his current position, if he so much as hinted at taking a concubine, not just the town but even the county’s most eligible young maidens would be fighting to marry him. Family background, looks, talent—he has it all. What do you have? Looks? None. Education? You’re illiterate. Talents? Your only skill is making scenes. How dare you slander Jieyuan Bing by claiming he’s still hung up on you?"

"What do you know? Men always want what they can’t have," Li Erniang spat, glaring at Chai Shi. "And I’m the woman Bing Dalang could never have!"

Chai Shi barked a laugh. "Now I see where you got the courage to fling yourself at Jieyuan Bing in the capital. So this was your reasoning all along? How utterly ridiculous."

"Jieyuan Bing really tried to kill himself over me!" Li Erniang screeched.

Squire Zhao watched coldly. Li Erniang’s delusions about Jieyuan Bing were real. Every word in Jieyuan Bing’s letter must be true.

"Wife, deal with her," he said. The last shred of pity in his heart vanished at the thought of this woman trying to make him a cuckold.

Chai Shi was overjoyed. She had long despised Li Shi, but with Squire Zhao still infatuated, she couldn’t act. Now, she could finally teach her a lesson.

With a cold smile, she ordered, "Someone, fetch the madam. Since this woman loves seducing men so much, let her do it to her heart’s content in the brothel!"

"No! Honey, please! It’s all Bing Dalang’s slander—I never seduced him!" Li Erniang was like a stubborn mule, still refusing to admit anything even now.

Squire Zhao was furious. "Li Shi, if you won’t confess, shall I send someone to investigate? Remember, every step taken and every word spoken leaves traces. Then we’ll see clearly whether you seduced him or not."

Li Erniang clenched her teeth and refused to admit anything, no matter how Squire Zhao coaxed or threatened.

Just then, the madam arrived. Chai Shi pointed at Li Erniang. "This one. Nothing special to look at and worse manners, but at least she’s young. A few coppers will do."

The madam smiled. "In my line of work, we inspect the goods before naming the price."

Chai Shi waved her hand, and the madam stepped forward, gripping Li Erniang’s chin without mercy, forcing her mouth open to check her teeth. After that, she tore at Li Erniang’s clothes to examine her figure.

At this point, Li Erniang was utterly terrified. She was just a country girl—skilled at seducing men, perhaps, but she’d never faced such a scene before. In her panic, she pissed herself.

Chai Shi wrinkled her nose in disgust at the puddle of yellow urine beneath Li Erniang.

But Squire Zhao, who had lingered, felt a twinge of pity. "Forget it. No matter what, Li Shi followed me when she was young. Let her go. From now on, we go our separate ways."

The madam glanced at Chai Shi. "Mistress, what should we…?"

Chai Shi waved her off. "Sorry for the trouble. We’re not selling her after all."

After this ordeal, Li Erniang was completely ruined. She’d never return to the Zhao household, and since she’d no longer be a pain in Chai Shi’s neck, there was no need to sell her off and risk angering Squire Zhao by appearing cruel.

Chai Shi instructed a servant to fetch the manumission papers from the magistrate. She had Li Erniang changed into scratchy servant's rags and forbade her from taking anything from the household.

Thus, Li Erniang was sent home on a mule cart. When the servant dropped her at the Li family’s doorstep, neither her family nor the villagers recognized the disheveled woman as Li Erniang.

"Erniang!" Li Shi, limping on one leg, rushed toward her. "What happened? Why are you dressed like this?"

The servant stood haughtily on the cart. "Don't act stupid, woman. You know exactly what your daughter did. My mistress said we must make things clear in front of everyone, lest you slander our master's name in the village later."

His voice bellowed, drawing half the village out to gather and watch the show.

The Bing family and the Nan family were among the crowd, both families disliking Li Shi and her daughter. Neither left, waiting to see the outcome. Who knew that while enjoying the gossip, they’d get dragged into it?

"The reason Miss Li was divorced and sent back to her family today is her greed for wealth and disdain for poverty, her lack of morals, and her attempt to seduce another man," the servant announced loudly.

"You're lying! My Erniang would never do such a thing. This is slander!" Li Shi shrieked, as if shouting louder made her right.

"Slander? Li Shi, wasn’t it you who personally took your daughter out to seduce other men?"

The villagers burst into an uproar. What? A mother pimping out her own daughter, leading her to sell herself to other men?

"I didn’t! You’re lying!"

"Lying? Not long ago, your daughter asked my lady for leave, claiming you were gravely ill and she needed to return home to care for you. But it was all a lie. In truth, you secretly took her to the capital to seek out Jieyuan Bing, fooling yourselves into believing she could become his concubine."

Liang Shi and Miao Shi exchanged glances, unsure how to react. Miao Shi had long anticipated that as Bing Wengu’s status rose, women would inevitably throw themselves at him. But she never expected Li Erniang to be the first—though it did fit the character of Li Shi and her daughter.

The servant continued, "Unfortunately, Jieyuan Bing rejected your daughter outright and had her sent to the authorities. You and your daughter are shameless. Even after such disgrace, you returned to Squire Zhao’s household, coaxing my lord. It wasn’t until Jieyuan Bing sent a letter revealing the truth that my lord finally learned the truth."

By now, the villagers were pointing and mocking at Li Shi and her daughter. Some even spat at them.

Every accusation had evidence, leaving no way to deny it.

Having delivered Lady Chai’s message, the servant drove off in the mule cart, kicking up dust.

"Where’s the village chief? Call the chief! Our village won’t stand for such loose women!"

"As a concubine of Squire Zhao, she dared to seduce another man—this is a disgrace to womanhood. She should be drowned!"

"Li Shi, as a mother, not only failed to correct her daughter but helped her commit adultery. She should be drowned too!"

The village chief arrived. Ultimately, considering Bing Wengu was in a critical phase of the imperial exams, the chief feared such a scandal might affect him. The matter wasn’t escalated, and the mother and daughter weren’t drowned. But the chief ordered Li Shi’s husband to divorce her and expel Li Erniang from the family register.

This time, no matter how much Li Shi protested, she was still kicked out.

Frantically, Li Shi screamed at her husband and son, "How could you do this to me? Back then, when Erniang and I went to the capital to find Bing Dalang, you all agreed! You even said that if she couldn’t be his wife, being a concubine was fine. After all, that Shuang Er from the Nan family is barren. As long as Erniang gave birth to a son, everything in the Bing family would eventually belong to her and her mother. Now that things have failed, you’ve turned against us!"

Li Erlang was so ashamed he wanted to disappear. He still had some sense of shame. Initially, he had felt a little guilty toward Li Shi, but now even that shred of guilt vanished, replaced by disgust.

With no natal home to return to—her brothers would never take her in—Li Shi and Li Erniang ended up living in a dilapidated thatched hut at the village entrance.

Soon enough, Li Shi regretted airing her husband’s dirty laundry. She ran back to the Li family, doing laundry and cooking, desperately trying to win their favor—completely abandoning Li Erniang.

But the Li family treated her as nothing more than an unpaid servant. They accepted her labor, scolding her if the work wasn’t done well, but refused to take her back—not even offering her a single meal.

Li Erniang had to fend for herself. Fortunately, wild greens from the hills could keep hunger at bay, so she wouldn’t starve.

Li Erniang blamed her mother for suggesting she seduce Bing Wengu. Li Shi hated her daughter for having no shame and taking her casual words seriously. And so, the two tormented each other day after day.

Practicing plays, setting up rigging. The Hou residence celebrated a birthday, presenting a kaleidoscope. The Crown Prince was present, so one was gifted to him. Another mention before the Emperor—hopeful. Starting a kaleidoscope business, each priced between 50 to a thousand guan. Buying a house.

"Jin Geer, come, I’ll take you to watch a play," Jiang Jinghuai burst in excitedly. Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping set down their brushes simultaneously.

Bing Wengu asked, "The play’s rehearsals are done?"

Nan Jinping looked at Jiang Jinghuai expectantly, pulling a teacup from the set and personally pouring him tea.

Bing Wengu’s light-colored eyes flicked toward Ping’an, who shuddered and hurried forward to take the teapot from Nan Jinping’s hands. "Lord, allow me."

Nan Jinping handed over the teapot and exchanged a helpless glance with Bing Wengu, who averted his gaze as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Jinghuai drank the tea Nan Jinping poured for him. When Ping'an went to pour more tea, Jiang Jinghuai waved his hand dismissively. "Let's go. The Imperial Music Bureau awaits us."

The Imperial Music Bureau was an official organization for theatrical performances, originally serving only the imperial court. Later, by the emperor's grace, it was permitted to perform for the public to share joy with the people.

Nan Jinping was surprised. "You arranged for the Imperial Music Bureau? I thought it would be folk performers."

Jiang Jinghuai boasted proudly. "You should know who I am. If I'm going to do something, I'll only settle for the best."

Young Noble Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping changed their clothes and followed Jiang Jinghuai out.

With Jiang Jinghuai leading the way, Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping easily entered the Imperial Music Bureau.

The performers inside bowed respectfully to the trio. A group rehearsing in the distance noticed them, halted their practice, and approached. Among them, a woman in pink stage attire stood out the most—her figure graceful, her steps light and elegant.

"Young Noble has arrived," the woman greeted Jiang Jinghuai with a slight bow before turning her gaze to Jieyuan Bing and Nan Jinping. "Might I ask who these two young gentlemen are?"

Her eyes were like autumn waters, deep and tender, carrying an unspoken allure.

"This is Li Shishi, the star performer of the Imperial Music Bureau..." Jiang Jinghuai first introduced the key actors to Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping before turning to present them.

"This is this year's provincial exam Jieyuan, Bing Wengu—though the top scholar title is out of reach since it’s destined for my cousin."

Li Shishi, who moved among the nobility in the capital, had heard whispers about the most favored candidate for the top scholar position—Shen Qinghe, the son of the Imperial Secretariat, renowned for his brilliance and learning, deemed certain to claim the highest honor.

Yet no one expected that as soon as Shen Qinghe entered the competition, he consistently placed second.

Li Shishi gazed at Bing Wengu with admiration, her eyes shimmering with reverence, making her expression seem even more affectionate.

"This lowly one pays respects to Jieyuan Bing. Your reputation precedes you—your extraordinary learning is as if a literary star descended from heaven. I hold you in deepest admiration." She bowed gracefully, her eyes lingering on Bing Wengu with unmistakable intent.

Bing Wengu, with his outstanding intellect and striking looks, was a rare talent even in the imperial capital. For Li Shishi, having such a distinguished man as her patron would be a feat worth boasting of.

Jiang Jinghuai saw right through her but made no move to intervene, merely watching with amusement to see how Bing Wengu would handle it.

Bing Wengu remained unfazed, utterly indifferent to Li Shishi’s flirtatious gaze.

Instead, he openly took Nan Jinping’s hand and, in full view of Li Shishi, Jiang Jinghuai, and everyone in the Imperial Music Bureau, said, "Allow me to introduce the author of *Dong Geer’s Rebirth*, Master Wuwei."

Since Nan Jinping was dressed in male attire, with handsome yet not effeminate features—lacking the soft beauty typical of modern Shuang Er—even Li Shishi, experienced in the pleasure quarters, failed to recognize Nan Jinping’s true gender at first. She was puzzled why Bing Wengu mentioned Nan Jinping in response to her advances.

Though this person was also quite handsome, if Bing Wengu was trying to divert her attention, it made some sense. But if so, Li Shishi found Bing Wengu even more intriguing—a man unmoved by her charms was all the more captivating.

Then, in the most casual tone, Bing Wengu delivered shocking news.

"I am also his husband." Li Shishi turned sharply toward Nan Jinping.

Nan Jinping’s pale cheeks colored slightly, a hint of shyness on his face, but he did not deny it.

A shrewd judge of character, Li Shishi quickly grasped the situation. Pondering Bing Wengu’s words, she detected a subtle nuance.

Bing Wengu had introduced himself as the husband of Master Wuwei, not Master Wuwei as his spouse. The meaning was the same, but the subject and object were reversed—placing the emphasis differently.

She had heard countless powerful men introduce their wives or daughters as "my lady," always centering themselves. But Bing Wengu did the opposite, placing Master Wuwei at the forefront. If he were a mere dependent or an incompetent, it might make sense—but Bing Wengu was a capable man, this year’s Jieyuan. She had never encountered such a man before.

This only increased his appeal. Yet, as a woman who recognized when to withdraw, she bowed to Master Wuwei. "Master Wuwei, your righteous spirit is evident in your storybook, speaking for both Shuang Er and women. I hold you in deepest admiration."

Nan Jinping quickly helped Li Shishi up. "You honor me too much, Miss Li."

As if she hadn’t just been flirting with Nan Jinping’s husband right in front of her, Li Shishi led the three to the performance room and called for maids to serve tea, wine, and snacks.

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment. The other performers and I will change our costumes and be right on stage."

After Li Shishi left, Jiang Jinghuai elbowed Bing Wengu with a smirk. "Such a beautiful lady was flirting with you—are you truly unmoved?"

Bing Wengu glanced at him. "Beauty fades to bone."

Jiang Jinghuai smirked, then suddenly teased, "So in your eyes, Jin Geer is just a pile of bones too?"

He even looked slyly at Nan Jinping.

Bing Wengu immediately replied, "To me, my love shines like the stars—eternal."

Jiang Jinghuai gaped. "Bing Wengu, you’re unbelievable."

Nan Jinping’s heart warmed. Though he already knew Bing Wengu treated him better than anyone, who wouldn’t want to hear their partner openly declare their love in front of others?

"Alright, enough teasing. Let’s enjoy the performance."

The play began with Li Shishi dressed as a shuang’er, lying on a straw pile in ragged clothes, the scene depicting Dong Geer’s impending descent into the underworld.

Despite her deliberately sallow makeup and oversized, ragged garments, Li Shishi’s beauty remained undiminished, only enhancing her fragile, heart-wrenching aura.

From the opening alone, Bing Wengu was convinced. If the play followed the storybook faithfully, it would undoubtedly be a sensation.

As expected, Li Shishi’s superb acting and flawless delivery made Dong Geer leap off the stage—beautiful, intelligent, resolute, and courageous. Bing Wengu could already foresee how many gallants would swoon for Dong Geer after this play, further advancing Nan Jinping’s cause for equality for shuang’er and women.

Both Nan Jinping and Jiang Jinghuai were deeply impressed. Jiang Jinghuai glanced at Nan Jinping smugly. "Well, Jin Geer, does she live up to your Dong Geer?"

"She performed wonderfully," Nan Jinping nodded. "Miss Li portrayed Dong Geer’s defiance and resilience perfectly. Though, given the chance, I’d still prefer a shuang’er to play the lead."

Jiang Jinghuai sighed. "Finding a shuang’er who fits the role isn’t easy."

Nan Jinping knew this. Performers were all of the music registry—so-called ‘base’ commoners.

Shuang’er in the music registry often suffered harsher fates than women, with little chance of rising above their station.

Nan Jinping could only sigh softly.

"Does my performance displease you, sir?" Li Shishi approached and asked.

"Not at all," Nan Jinping replied. "I was merely lost in reflection."

Jiang Jinghuai grinned. "We were just marveling at your performance, Miss Li. Even Jieyuan Bing raved about it—right, Yuan Ting?"

He clapped and called out Bing Wengu, who had remained expressionless throughout the play, not uttering a single word of praise. He was the picture of propriety.

This Bing Wengu, who loved putting on a devoted act in front of Nan Jinping—how would he respond now?

"It could be refined," Bing Wengu answered.

"Aha! Called it!" Jiang Jinghuai smirked. "See, Jin Geer? He puts on this stern act just for you. We all saw how vividly Miss Li breathed life into the role, yet he’s picking flaws—how contrived."

Before Nan Jinping could defend Bing Wengu, he spoke again. "I don’t deal in petty criticisms. If I say it could be refined, I can name the shortcomings."

"Oh." This time Li Shishi spoke up. She was very serious about her profession and disliked such troublemakers immensely. Even the slight admiration she had felt for Jieyuan Bing's looks and erudition vanished without a trace.

"Since Jieyuan Bing has raised this point, I would be honored to hear your expert opinion," Li Shishi said, her tone gentle yet firm.

Jiang Jinghuai grinned mischievously. "That’s what you get for acting so high and mighty. Let’s see how you spin this one. Let me tell you, the performing arts aren’t like you scholars writing essays—writing pages of nonsense without a single useful point. In this craft, you either have skill or you don’t."

Jieyuan Bing nodded. "I do have suggestions, and they are not without merit. However, my advice will take some time to explain—it cannot be summarized in just a few words."

Li Shishi replied loftily, "Then please, Jieyuan, don’t hold back—enlighten us. The entire Imperial Music Bureau awaits your instruction."

Jiang Jinghuai, as if already envisioning Jieyuan Bing's impending embarrassment, grinned like a jerk.