Ye Qingcheng lay listlessly on a chair in the courtyard.
Her foot injury had worsened, leading to a scolding from Bi Xi and Chu Xiu, and Xiao Wangye had instructed the guards at the gate not to let her leave.
It was incredibly boring. Her gaze was vacant, like a listless salted fish.
"Miss," Bi Xi said, knowing that ever since her mistress had suffered that heart ailment, her personality had changed, becoming more lively and interesting. She also frequently wished to go out and explore.
Confining her to the courtyard for several days had undoubtedly left her feeling down.
"Miss, I heard today is Madam Sun's birthday, and they've invited a theatrical troupe to the estate." It was a shame the Princess Consort's foot injury prevented her from attending.
"Why don't we invite a theatrical troupe over in a few days?"
"A theatrical troupe?" Ye Qingcheng mused. Since she had arrived, she hadn't properly watched a play.
"Alright, then let's have the steward invite a troupe over in a couple of days." This was, after all, the only form of entertainment in ancient times.
Upon hearing that the Princess Consort wished to invite a theatrical troupe, the steward immediately made arrangements. "Does the Princess Consort wish to invite some ladies from other households?"
"No need. We won't invite anyone. Just tell the household servants to do their jobs and watch if they wish."
"Understood, Princess Consort."
The steward was quite efficient and promptly arranged for a theatrical troupe to arrive in two days.
"Miss, theatrical troupes are truly a rare sight. Back in the Ministry official's mansion, we only got to see them during festivals and holidays. And since Miss married into the Prince's mansion, there hasn't been a single troupe."
"Really?" Xiao Wangye disliked such things, and since the original occupant had tried to cater to his preferences, she had never brought it up.
"Yes, during festivals and holidays, our Prince's mansion is the quietest," Bi Xi sighed.
The steward mentioned he had invited a troupe from the outskirts of the capital, and they were quite renowned.
"Princess Consort, please. Which play would you like to order?" The steward presented the script to Ye Qingcheng.
"Which play is this troupe most famous for?"
"They say it's 'Mu Lian Saves His Mother'."
"Then let's have that one." Since it was famous, it would surely be spectacular.
Soon, the day arrived. The day before, led by the servants, the theatrical troupe moved boxes of costumes and props into the Prince's mansion.
"Be quick, everyone, carry the items inside!" The troupe leader shouted at his performers.
There were many young men in the troupe, as well as quite a few girls. They all carried boxes on their backs, just like the boys.
"Er Ya, let me take that," a tall man said, taking the boxes from a few of the younger girls. "You go carry the ones at the back; they're mostly lighter clothes. Leave these props to us men."
"Thank you, Brother Qiangzi."
"Qiangzi, hurry up. You little rascals, why are you running around?" The troupe leader reprimanded the girls who were scurrying about.
"Troupe leader, they are still young. Look, if they keep carrying like this, their backs will break," Qiangzi said. These young girls had been working in the troupe daily and had become so thin.
"If they don't work, why would I keep them?" the troupe leader scoffed.
"Troupe leader," the steward arrived at the back door, seeing that the troupe's belongings were taking up most of the ground.
"Steward, Steward, what is your command?" Seeing the steward arrive, the troupe leader immediately came over to flatter him.
"Please carry your items with less noise. The Princess Consort is recuperating in the courtyard; do not disturb her rest."
"Understood, understood," he agreed repeatedly.
As the steward walked away, the troupe leader immediately waved his hand, "Be careful not to disturb the esteemed guests."
If this performance went well, he hoped to gain further publicity through this Princess Consort. In the future, wherever he went, he would have the reputation of the Prince's mansion.
"Where is Zi Yan?" he asked a young girl.
"Sister Zi Yan went to the outhouse," the little girl replied, carrying items on her back while being questioned by the troupe leader.
At this moment, Zi Yan walked into the vast Prince's mansion. After asking a passing servant, she had finally found the outhouse. However, when she tried to return, she got lost.
She wandered around the corridors twice but still couldn't find her way back.
"Young lady, where are you from?" a young girl in a green dress approached and asked.
"Excuse me, I'm from the theatrical troupe that arrived today. Could you please tell me where the outhouse is?" Zi Yan felt a little embarrassed.
"So you're from the theatrical troupe that arrived today?" Bi Xi said with delight.
"I can take you. However," she said, looking at the tray in her hand, "I need to deliver tea to my Princess Consort first."
"You come with me first. Wait for me outside, and I'll take you there once I'm done."
"So you are the Princess Consort's attendant. My apologies," Zi Yan had always known that attendants serving their masters in front of guests held a higher status than ordinary maids.
"It's alright, follow me."
Following Bi Xi around two corners, Zi Yan arrived at a courtyard.
It was so grand. Looking at the three-story building before her and the walls surrounding it, she couldn't help but sigh.
In the theatrical troupe, dozens of people might not have as much space as the Princess Consort's private courtyard. Even she, a lead performer, only had a small room with nothing but a bed and a wardrobe.
"This is it. Wait for me here." As Bi Xi opened the door and walked in, Zi Yan curiously peeked inside.
The glazed-tile eaves emitted a dazzling brilliance under the sun. The spacious courtyard was filled with lush flowers and plants, bathed in bright sunlight. Someone could faintly be seen reclining on a lounge chair.
Zi Yan waited by the door for a while, then heard the door open.
Unexpectedly, another maid in a yellow dress appeared. "The Princess Consort asks you to come in."
She was about to meet the Princess Consort, not expecting to see her until tomorrow on stage.
Zi Yan couldn't help but feel a nervousness, as if she were about to meet an important person.
Indeed, the person lying on the chair was the Princess Consort, just as she had thought.
She was lounging casually on the chair, her hair spread out, and smiled as she looked at Zi Yan. "Are you the lead performer from the theatrical troupe who arrived today?"
Zi Yan immediately lowered her head and bowed. "Greetings, Princess Consort. Your servant is Zi Yan, the lead performer from the theatrical troupe that arrived today."
"You don't need to be afraid. Stand up quickly." As expected of the lead performer, the pillar of the theatrical troupe, her attire was always simple, but her every movement, voice, and demeanor held its own charm.
Moreover, Zi Yan's face was lovely, with a pair of bright eyes on her oval face that drew the gaze.
Seeing Zi Yan's patched clothes when she stood up, Ye Qingcheng couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Looking at Zi Yan before her, although actors were considered a low-class profession in this era, in her time, they were artists.
Zi Yan clearly noticed her patched clothes and awkwardly clenched the corner of her garment.
"Bi Xi, I think this young lady Zi Yan resembles me in figure. Please get me a few of my dresses that I don't often wear and give them to her," Ye Qingcheng said to Bi Xi beside her.
"Princess Consort, this is absolutely not permissible. Your servant is merely an actor, how can I wear the Princess Consort's clothes?" Zi Yan exclaimed in surprise.
She hadn't expected Ye Qingcheng to give her her own clothes.
"Don't worry, I intended to give those clothes away anyway. Bi Xi meeting you on the road means we have a connection."