Huanxi Lou was a famous opera house in Jincheng, and its resident troupe was the renowned Liu Family Troupe, led by Liu Wu. Since the opera house also operated at night in Liuxiang, the music and opera performances featured vulgar jokes and indecent content, unsuitable for polite company.
The most famous among these was "Nan Ping Diao," a story about a concubine named Lady Liu who manipulated the father and son duo, the Wangs, to her will. In the end, she not only lost her own life but also brought ruin and death to the father and son.
Coincidentally, "Nan Ping Diao" was being performed at Huanxi Lou that day. By Shenshi, the hall was already packed with guests.
Xiao Er Liu Gouzi, standing at the front door of the opera house, spotted Lu Wuxie's carriage and a fawning smile spread across his face. He hurried forward, saying, "Young Master, you've arrived?"
Lu Wuxie glanced at Liu Gouzi. Before he could speak, Tian Lianxue, following behind him, stepped forward and asked, "Gouzi, is the Young Master's room ready?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Gouzi bowed quickly. "The Young Master's room has always been kept vacant. Without your permission, we wouldn't dare let anyone else in. Please follow me, the performance is about to begin."
With that, Liu Gouzi flicked his sleeve, no longer bothering with other guests entering Huanxi Lou. He summoned a tea-serving maid and hurried towards the second floor.
Tian Lianxue smiled sweetly and reached out to support Lu Wuxie. However, as soon as she made the gesture, her fingertips met empty air. At some point, Lu Wuxie had already bypassed her and appeared beside the escalator on the second floor of Huanxi Lou.
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. After suppressing her emotions for a long time, she concealed the anger in her eyes and followed him up with a charming smile.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Lianxue, the courtesan from Huanmalou?"
As Tian Lianxue walked in, someone with sharp eyes spotted her. Their voice, like a loudspeaker, boomed through Huanxi Lou.
Instantly, all eyes in the hall turned to her, including Xiao Sheng Shen Hong, who was already taking his position on stage.
Tian Lianxue curtsied to the crowd, her gaze sweeping over Shen Hong. She smiled charmingly before following Lu Wuxie towards the private rooms on the second floor.
"Today is Lady Wei's performance. Young Master, you've arrived just in time," Gouzi said respectfully as he served tea to Lu Wuxie and Tian Lianxue.
Everyone knew that the Liu Family Troupe had two renowned actors: Wu Xiuchu, who specialized in "hua shan" roles, and Wei Fu, the "hua dan" actor Gouzi mentioned.
Wu Xiuchu was older and had played many roles, favored by the older generation. As for Wei Fu, she was a newcomer to the Liu Family Troupe. Her looks were only average, but she possessed a captivating charm and a sweet tongue, which had captivated many young masters in Jincheng. Lu Wuxie, in particular, came to Huanxi Lou every time to hear her sing.
"Is it? Still 'Nan Ping Diao'?" Lu Wuxie casually glanced at the audience below. Seeing Wei Fu in familiar attire, he asked.
"Replying to the Young Master, everyone likes 'Nan Ping Diao,' so the troupe leader decided to perform it for a few more shows," Gouzi replied.
Lu Wuxie smiled without speaking.
Liu Gouzi blushed. How could he not understand the meaning of Lu Wuxie's smile? After all, "Nan Ping Diao" was different from others. It not only contained vulgar jokes but also suggestive performances. Most people came simply for visual pleasure.
"The Young Master's clear wine is ready. Please enjoy it at your leisure," Liu Gouzi said, bowing low, preparing to leave.
"Wait." Lu Wuxie stopped him. He casually took a gold ingot and some loose silver from his purse and threw them onto the plate held by Liu Gouzi. "The gold is a reward for Lady Wei. Dispose of the silver as you see fit."
Upon seeing this, Liu Gouzi quickly pocketed the loose silver and, bowing repeatedly, left the private room.
Seeing that only she and Lu Wuxie were in the room, Tian Lianxue finally dared to pick up a wine cup and was about to say something when the cup in her hand was suddenly nudged. Startled, she realized it was Lu Wuxie tapping his own wine cup against hers.
"Young Master..." Tian Lianxue was somewhat taken aback. Before she could utter the rest of her words, Lu Wuxie had already downed the wine in his cup.
Tian Lianxue had no choice but to accompany him.
As soon as she finished drinking, the wine cup before her was refilled. Each time, before she could ask a question, the wine would be gone.
This repeated. Downstairs, "Nan Ping Diao" played, stirring the hearts of the audience, while upstairs, the pair raising their cups pushed them back and forth, becoming increasingly tipsy.
Tian Lianxue was relatively fine. Having grown up in the world of entertainment, a couple of pots of wine only made her slightly dizzy, not uncomfortable. As for Lu Wuxie...
She looked at the man sleeping beside her, a slight smile playing on her lips.
A morning breeze blew in from the second floor of Huanxi Lou, causing the window lattices to bang against the wall with a crackling sound.
Lu Wuxie clutched his head, propping himself up. Not yet fully awake, he heard the sound of a door opening, and the next moment, a heart-wrenching scream echoed through the room.
"Ah!"
The scream jolted Lu Wuxie completely awake. He looked up and met Wei Fu's terrified gaze.
Before he could react, a shout of "Murderer! Call the officials!" resounded throughout Huanxi Lou.
Lu Wuxie followed the sound and looked intently. Not far from his bed lay a person. The individual was dressed in stage costumes, their face heavily made up, eyes wide open, and blood blooming from their chest.
As if unable to believe what he was seeing, thinking he was mistaken, he tried to get out of bed to investigate. However, as soon as he stood up, a sharp headache struck him, causing him to fall back onto the bed.
Simultaneously, the sound of shuffling footsteps was heard outside the private room. When he looked up again, Zhong Li, dressed in a woman's fitted outfit, stood before him, followed by Lan Heng.
"Li'er, why are you here?" Lu Wuxie asked, holding his head, his expression tinged with pain.
Soon, he seemed to recall something and chuckled. "Look at my memory. You reported to Dali Temple yesterday, and today you are the forensic examiner for Dali Temple. Isn't it natural for you to be here?"
As Lu Wuxie spoke, his gaze swept over the male corpse on the floor, and he let out a sneer.
Zhong Li glanced at him indifferently. "Didn't Young Master return to his manor yesterday? How did you end up at Huanxi Lou, and dressed like this?"
Lu Wuxie followed her words and looked down. He saw that his clothes, which had been neat and tidy yesterday, were now hanging loosely, his belt nowhere to be found, and his boots by the bed were one standing and one fallen over, as if he had done something improper last night.
"Li'er, last night..."
Just as he was about to explain, Zhong Li put on her gloves and extended her hand, stopping his words. "How the Young Master conducts himself in romance is not for Zhong Li to manage. However, with a death in Huanxi Lou, and a death in the Young Master's room, Zhong Li must intervene."
As she spoke, she turned and walked towards the male corpse. Her seemingly impartial words masked a fleeting look of disappointment in her eyes that no one noticed.
Lu Wuxie watched her crouch beside the male corpse. Lost in thought, he was about to get up when Lan Heng stepped in front of him. "Young Master, the deceased was found in your room. Dali Temple is investigating the case. It would be best for the Young Master to remain calm."
Upon hearing this, Lu Wuxie looked up and met Lan Heng's indifferent gaze, a dismissive smile forming on his lips. "According to Lord Lan's implication, you suspect I killed this person?"
Lan Heng turned and glanced at the male corpse on the floor. "Based on the current situation, the Young Master is the primary suspect."
"Very well," Lu Wuxie nodded. "Then I shall await Lord Lan's judgment."