The Beacon of Kyushu

Zhao Tingmei said without hesitation: "My dear nephew, Yun Qingxiang is most famous for "The Fighting of Magicians in Guigu Valley". I heard that Yun Qingxiang's most famous actor Feng Yichen became famous for singing this play in the past. If it weren't for this play, how could he have the opportunity to meet Li Cunxu, and how could he become a general and the head of a sect."

Zhao Defang nodded, "Boss Lou, did you hear that? We want to order "The Fighting of Ghosts in the Valley of Evil". After so many years, will you still sing this play?"

Lou Mingli said with a smile: "Don't worry, my lords. Even if Yun Qingxiang smashes the signboard, he will never throw away this play! Apart from this play, do you have anything else to do?"

Zhao Defang and Zhao Tingmei looked at each other, neither of them could come up with anything. Zhao Yuanxi was unhappy at the moment and had no intention of choosing a play. Zhao Yuanxiu stood up, took the playlist and said, "I see there is a play called "The Music of This Place" on it. It's probably quite interesting. Please sing it for us."

Zhao Yuanxi looked at Zhao Yuanxiu coldly and said in a deep voice: "There is a play called "Xuanwu Gate" by Emperor Taizong of Tang in the playlist, but you didn't choose it and chose "Here is the Music" by Liu Chan. You are such a loser!"

Zhao Yuanxiu was frightened by his second brother and his whole body trembled. The opera in his hand fell to the ground. "Okay... okay, I won't order "Music Here" anymore. I'll order "Xuanwu Gate" instead."

Lou Mingli bent down to pick up the play list and said repeatedly: "Okay, I'll arrange it for the princes right away. I make sure you are satisfied!" After he said that, he trotted back to the nearby stage to notify the actors.

Soon, the actors put on their costumes, and the drum and music masters each held their instruments. They filed out under the leadership of the troupe leader and began today's performance. "The Duel of Guigu" mainly depicts the duel between Pang Juan and his senior brother Sun Bin, and "The Gate of Xuanwu" mainly depicts the three brothers of Li Shimin fighting against each other in front of the Gate of Xuanwu. Both of these plays are complete, with both literary and martial arts. Only a troupe like Yun Qingxiang, which has been famous for a hundred years, dares to perform them, and only such a troupe can sing out the charm of them.

The actors on the stage sang, chanted, sat, and fought, their movements were smooth and flowing, and their voices were sometimes gentle like the chirping of an oriole, and sometimes high-pitched like cracked clouds and piercing stones, matched with the perfect music, which was really wonderful. The two plays lasted for a whole day. After the play, Zhao Defang invited a few people to the Nanqing Palace for a banquet. While eating, they discussed the wonderful and unique aspects of the play until the middle of the night, when Zhao Defang was drunk and unconscious, and then they stopped.

The next day, the sun rose three poles.

The bright sunlight shone directly into the bedroom, shining on Zhao Defang's fair face, making him look even more noble. He drank too much last night, so he was still not sober at this moment, lying on the bed with his eyes closed to rest.

Suddenly, he smelled a faint fragrance and knew that Qingyu had come. He slowly raised his eyes and said, "Qingyu, why are you here so early in the morning? Do you have something to ask me?"

Qingyu smiled and pointed at the sun above her head, "Your Highness, it's already noon. The boss of the Lou Troupe asked me to ask, what play will be performed today?"

Zhao Defang looked at the sky and finally realized what was happening. He quickly put on his clothes and stood up. "Qingyu, go take care of Uncle Wang and the two cousins. Don't neglect them."

Qingyu shook her head and said, "My lord, it's true that you drank too much last night, but you can't have forgotten everything, right? After the banquet yesterday, they all left, and now you want me to take care of them. Do you intend for me to change my job and become a singer in their house?" Zhao Defang slapped his forehead and laughed, "Haha, I'm really confused, confused! People say that fake wine harms people, but drinking too much real wine can also harm people. If a thief sneaked into the bedroom last night and stole the golden mace given to me by my father, I would definitely not know it!"

Qing Yu smiled and said, "That's right. You should quickly look for your lifeblood, don't lose it. With the golden mace in your hand, you are second only to the emperor and above all others. But if you lose the golden mace one day, you will have to change your title to a turtle wherever you go!"

Zhao Defang pointed at Qingyu and pretended to blame him, "Qingyu, you are really becoming more and more disrespectful to me. You even dared to call me a cuckold! If you keep talking nonsense like this, I will sell you to a brothel. With your appearance, you will have to receive at least eight customers a day if not ten. I'm afraid you will be so tired that your back and waist will ache and you won't be able to get out of bed."

Qingyu blushed with embarrassment and said angrily, "Prince, why are you talking nonsense again! Since Qingyu has entered the Nanqing Palace in this life, I am your woman, Prince. If you really sell me to a brothel, your name as a cuckold will be confirmed!"

Zhao Defang chuckled and gently pinched Qingyu's face, "Okay, okay, I can't argue with you. But as a punishment, I must let you run errands, otherwise I will suffer a lot."

Qingyu nodded, "Okay, Your Majesty, do you want to send me to inform troupe leader Lou to take a day off today and order another play tomorrow?"

"We are so in tune with each other!" Zhao Defang said as he simply tidied up the bed. He was originally a cheerful and easy-going person, and now he was flirting with Qingyu, a beautiful and refined young girl, and his face was filled with a bright smile.

But when he finished tidying up the bed, the smile on his face suddenly froze, and cold sweat broke out on his temples. "Oh no, it's terrible! My golden mace, my golden mace is gone!"

"No way!" Qingyu's face changed, and he searched carefully in the hall, but he didn't even see the shadow of the golden mace. "Your Highness, think carefully about where you put your golden mace yesterday. Such an important thing would not be lost just like that."

Zhao Defang tried to recall for a long time before he was sure: "When I was watching the play yesterday, I was worried that my uncle and the others would be hesitant to see the golden mace, so I didn't bring it with me and placed it on the bed in the bedroom. After the banquet ended last night, I seemed to see it again... Yes, that's right. I fell asleep with it in my arms last night. I can't be wrong!"

Qing Yu was surprised and said, "My Lord, do you mean that someone stole the golden mace from your arms while you were asleep? But you have repeatedly warned that no one is allowed to enter the bedroom after you have rested. I am sure that even though there are many singing girls and servants in the palace, no one would dare to do this."

Zhao Defang nodded and said, "I believe that no one in the palace would dare to do this. It must be the actors in the troupe. Qingyu, go and ask if anyone has stolen my golden mace. If so, return it to me quickly and I will forgive them. If anyone dares not to return it, I will find the golden mace and kill them all!"

Qingyu ran out of the bedroom as he was told and headed straight for the garden. Zhao Defang was alone in the palace, and he searched carefully from top to bottom several times, but still couldn't find the golden mace. He couldn't help but sigh and walked quickly to the garden. (End of this chapter)