The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 143
Translated by Pure (ko-fi)
Chapter 143 The Senior Ministers and Generals Watched with Relish (2)
Since it was only the first week of the second lunar month, the temperature outside was still extremely cold. For the more susceptible ones, it was still necessary to don on a cloak when going outside.
While Wen Yantong was wrapped in a heavy cloak, Mu Yang was already only wearing a sleeveless vest over his top.
If it wasn't for hearing that the troupe had only entered the city today, Wen Yantong would not have wanted to come out on such a cold day.
This was this very troupe that assassinated Cheng Yanchuan.
This troupe should not have been formed overnight. There are many hitman organizations that cultivated their people from an early age. While honing their killing skills, these children were also taught other things. Some were disguised to be courtesans in brothels while others mingled in with the troupe actors. They would perform their disguised duties during the day and sneak into other people's houses to kill their assigned targets at night.
Cheng Yanchuan invited this troupe to the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and they rehearsed for half a month to perform the skit <Ascending Immortal>. During the banquet, they hoisted the assassin's body high using thin silk threads. The assassin spun seven times while elevated into the air, and while in momentum, the assassin threw out a sharp, piercing straight into Cheng Yanchuan's throat.
Because the speed was too fast, no one reacted fast enough to save him.
In fact, if the assassin's flying blade missed, Cheng Yanchuan’s death remained inevitable. This was because his tea was also poisoned.
There were two groups at the Hundred Flowers Banquet who wanted to attack Cheng Yanchuan at the same time. Hence, Wen Yantong knew that if she wanted to save Cheng Yanchuan, she couldn’t do it alone.
She and Mu Yang went to the Prime Minister's Mansion first. They went to a side door and requested the guards to relay the message.
What she didn't expect was that they would meet Prime Minister Fu.
Mu Yang hurriedly got out of the carriage and took two steps forward. Using his body, he blocked Wen Yantong from the other’s sight and saluted Fu Sheng. "This junior Mu Yang greets Prime Minister Fu."
Seeing Mu Yang, Fu Sheng smiled and asked, "Why are you here at the Prime Minister's Mansion? Are you looking for Little Six[1]?"
Mu Yang nodded and answered truthfully, "Jiaren Building will be hosting several performances. This junior wanted to bring Fu Zixian to go and see it."
Wen Yantong continued to stand behind Mu Yang. Her head was lowered, not daring to speak; she was feeling very puzzled.
Fu Sheng would leave through the side door? Or did he hear that Mu Yang came to look for his son, so he came to the side door specially?
Just as she was contemplating this question, Wen Yantong heard Fu Sheng say, "It so happens that I'm going to see the troupe too, so why don't we all go together?"
After he finished speaking, he ordered his servants to call Fu Zixian.
Mu Yang naturally didn't dare to refuse; his eyebrows twitched a bit before he had no choice but to agree.
Wen Yantong didn't know if it was her own illusion, but she always felt that Fu Sheng was very kind when he interacted with Mu Yang, just like an ordinary elder. When he had appeared in New Moon Tower earlier, he was obviously very imposing, increasing the tension in the room.
Fu Zixian soon appeared, but Mu Yang didn't dare to hook his arm around Fu Zixian like before. He greeted him honestly, and then got back into his carriage.
Fu Sheng and Fu Zixian sat in one carriage, while Wen Yantong sat in Mu Yang’s carriage which followed behind the Prime Minister Fu’s carriage.
When Mu Yang got into the carriage, he wilted. He remained silent and leaned against the window with weary eyes. The current Mu Yang made Wen Yantong think of Lin Daiyu, who was soft and weak[2].
She smiled and asked, "Why so sad?"
Mu Yang answered, "My father lectures me constantly about getting close to Fu Zixian. Now that Prime Minister Fu is tagging along with us, my father will surely beat me up when I go home."
"He won’t." Wen Yantong said, "If your father beats you up, wouldn’t that mean he was refusing to spare Prime Minister Fu’s face? Although it is rumored that your father and the Prime Minister Fu are at odds, your father will surely give him this little bit of face."
Mu Yang was a little hesitant, but also somewhat believed her words. He couldn’t help but add, "My father will seize any opportunity to make Prime Minister Fu lose face, he is a very narrow-minded person."
Wen Yantong was in between laughter and tears. "Your father must never hear those words."
The two of them followed Prime Minister Fu's carriage to Qiying Street, and saw many people around the street corner from afar. The roads in Chaoge were extremely spacious, enough for three large carriages to drive side by side. The roads and sidewalks were clearly separated, so even if the street corners were full of people, the roads would not feel crowded.
Jiaren Building was situated in a very optimal area; there was a large open space at the corner. There was a temporary stage set up, which was currently surrounded by many people, discussing about the empty stage.
The theater troupe most likely hired a few shills to spread the word that this troupe was very famous outside. As word got out, more and more people believed their false claims to be true, so most people present really thought that this was really a famous theater troupe.
Fu Sheng was relatively low-key and did not bring many guards with him today. After getting off the carriage, he asked his guards to open the way, and that was how they all successfully entered Jiaren Building.
There are three performances on the stage inside the building, and only one performance on the outside stage, so the ticket price of the Jiaren Building was higher than usual. There were additional seats in the building; the front row i\was empty, but the back row was filled.
Prime Minister Fu had the highest status of the people present in the building. When he appeared, many people recognized him and stood up to greet him. Of these people, some Fu Sheng just nodded and passed by, while others, he would make some short pleasantries. It was easy to figure out the official status of those people just from the way Fu Sheng interacted with them.
Fu Sheng led Wen Yantong, Mu Yang, and Fu Zixian to sit in the front row, the seat closest to the stage. The stage was still empty at the moment, the people above were just preparing the props for the show.
When they were seated, Mu Yang was just about to sit beside Fu Zixian when Fu Sheng beckoned him over. Without much of a choice, Mu Yang stiffly sat down by Prime Minister Fu, and looked at Fu Zixian pitifully.
But in front of his father, Fu Zixian remained staid, the kind that wouldn’t speak much, so he didn't receive Mu Yang's distress signal.
After Wen Yantong sat down, she leaned closer to Fu Zixian and asked in a low voice, "The Prime Minister also likes to listen to operas?"
Fu Zixian nodded. "Father does enjoy watching it."
Wen Yantong frowned slightly. The original book never mentioned that Fu Sheng liked to listen to operas! The Fu Residence was a scholarly family. When Fu Sheng was born, he was the eldest legitimate grandson, so the Fu Residence were very strict when cultivating him. He had been reading the Book of Songs since he was a child. Entertainment such as dialogue books, Chinese operas, and storytelling were viewed as trifling that destroyed the will as excessive attention to trivia saps the enthusiasm for learning and bettering oneself.
What was going on? Could it be that Prime Minister Fu's character design also collapsed?
Fu Zixian continued, "Next time if you are looking for me, you can tell the guards to look for Xiao Dou. He is my personal servant, he will come to inform me if there is anything."
Wen Yantong nodded. She noted to be more careful next time, otherwise who knows who will tag along with them in the future.
Mu Yang was so nervous that he almost turned into a statue, he looked very pitiful.
But Fu Sheng seemed to wholeheartedly want him to relax, and asked a lot of irrelevant questions. He laughed whenever he received an answer, and looked to be in a good mood. Gradually, Mu Yang became less tense, and could now chat with Fu Sheng with a smile.
Fu Zixian was very quiet, except for a few words with Wen Yantong, his expression remained calm.
Not long after, there was commotion at the door. Wen Yantong looked back curiously, and saw a few guards entering the door with the curtain lifted, followed by Cheng Yanchuan in an almond-yellow robe.
Following closely behind were Cheng Xin and Chi Jingxi.
Wen Yantong's eyes lit up the moment she saw Chi Jingxi.
He was dressed a bit formally today, presumably because Chi Jingxi had to enter the imperial palace today. He was wearing a black-colored, cotton-padded gown that was decorated with gold embroidery, and a snow-colored collar. His hair was tied up with a red jade crown with silver silk, his face looked indifferent, contrasting his signature smiling eyes.
The officials stood up to salute the three of them, but Cheng Yanchuan excused them from doing the long winded ceremony. When they made their way to the front row, Fu Sheng got up from his seat first, followed by Mu Yang and Fu Zixian.
Fu Sheng stood still, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Crown Prince, Fifth Highness, and Little Marquis. What luck to meet the three of you’m here."
Cheng Yanchuan replied with a smile, "Prime Minister, you don't need to be too polite. It's just that the reputation of this troupe has really spread far and wide, so I came to spectate with my younger brothers."
Fu Zixian stepped forward to salute them and Wen Yantong hurriedly to follow in his footsteps. They made their salute in the midst of the surrounding people, but Mu Yang was a beat behind, afterall it was quite tedious and very strict.
Cheng Yanchuan quickly excused them, and soon they all took their seats one by one.
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Footnote:
[1] Little Six - raws used xiao niu, which is literally little six. I'm assuming this is FZX's order in line, as he's the sixth son of the prime minister. Though most might think this is a cute nickname, it might also be because FS might not even know his son's name. Everything's in the air, so it's up to the reader's discretion.
[2] Lin Daiyu - female character in The Dream of Red Mansions, cousin and thwarted lover of Jia Baoyu.
