Volume Two: A Season of Turmoil Chapter 115: A Heart's Last Wish — Taking the Stage as a Lead Actor

Wen Liangsheng’s mood was somewhat downcast. “It should be that day—after I finished singing and was about to change clothes, someone struck me from behind with a stick and killed me. I didn’t even see who it was. That’s how I died. I had no quarrels with anyone in the theater; it must have been murder.”

“Then why would he kill you? Weren’t you earning silver for him by singing? If he wasn’t supporting you, why kill you?”

“I don’t know the reason. Maybe it was because he wanted me to drink with some important guests, and I refused. I might have offended him.”

“That can’t be right. After all, you were making money for him!” Chen San looked incredulous.

“But I had no grudges with anyone. If anyone was feeling unwell, I would sing for them. There were no arguments. I really don’t know who would be so ruthless.”

“By the way, didn’t you say you needed my help with something? Now’s a good time to tell me. I still have to go out tonight, so I’ll help you and perform your requiem, so you can move on peacefully.”

“I... I’m worried about my Yu Zhu. I want you to take her away from that place. I’m dead now; I can no longer protect her. So you must take her away.”

“Yu Zhu? Take her away?” Yang Chengzi frowned, looking troubled.

Wen Liangsheng saw Yang Chengzi’s hesitation and asked, “Daoist, this is my only unfulfilled wish. Won’t you help me?”

Yang Chengzi waved his hand. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, taking her away is not a problem, but she has to agree. If she refuses and I forcibly take her, wouldn’t that be abducting a woman? Then your wish might be fulfilled, but I’d spend the rest of my life behind bars.”

“She won’t refuse. She and I were devoted to each other. I’m dead, she must be heartbroken and won’t want to stay there. Can you give her some silver so she can leave?”

At the mention of silver, Chen San’s eyes widened as he clutched the silver notes to his chest. “You’re handling this, yet you still want silver?”

Yang Chengzi was straightforward. “If she truly goes with me, I’ll give her twenty taels of silver for her journey. As for where she goes, that’s up to her.”

“Thank you, Daoist. I have no way to repay you. How about we find another brothel and earn some more silver together?”

Wen Liangsheng meant well, but Yang Chengzi grimaced and refused repeatedly. If it weren’t for the necessity of blending in, earning money through fortune-telling suited him better.

By evening, Yang Chengzi ate with Chen San and the others, had a waiter buy some incense and candles. As a wandering spirit, Wen Liangsheng likely hadn’t eaten properly before; Yang Chengzi only then remembered that even a meal of incense candles could satisfy. After eating, night was falling, so he went with Wen Liangsheng to Pan Family Garden.

Before they reached Pan Family Garden, Old Uncle Pan was waiting outside. When Yang Chengzi arrived, he called their troupe leader over.

Unlike the previous night, it wasn’t late yet. Reason and propriety demanded the troupe leader meet Yang Chengzi. After a brief greeting, Yang Chengzi told them all to stay inside and not come out. There was still time; he intended to find this spirit.

Everyone went indoors, leaving the garden empty. Yang Chengzi had no special method, so he took a chair and sat in the garden, carefully sensing the source of the ghostly aura. But the garden was large, and the scattered energies had mostly dissipated after a bright sunny day.

No singing echoed, no voices stirred. Yang Chengzi sat alone in the garden, the cool wind blowing, making the scene unusually desolate. Meanwhile, Chen San and the others enjoyed soft beds and cushions comfortably. Yang Chengzi regretted not bringing him along; at least it wouldn’t look so lonely.

After nearly an hour of cool breeze, a sudden chill swept in. Yang Chengzi was startled.

“It’s coming.”

He closed his eyes to sense carefully: where exactly was the ghostly energy? Where was her body? Another gust of cold wind arrived, and the ghostly aura instantly filled the entire garden.

“...” Then came a strain of operatic singing, but Yang Chengzi couldn’t hear it.

Within his spirit, Wen Liangsheng said, “She’s out. The sound is coming from the south.”

“Sound? Why can’t I hear it?” Yang Chengzi was puzzled, but Wen Liangsheng had asked for his help; there was no reason to deceive him.

“You possess me, just like at Tianxiang Courtyard. You’ll be able to see her clearly. Go find her and ask where her body is.”

Wen Liangsheng hummed in agreement, and Yang Chengzi’s demeanor softened, becoming more androgynous.

Following the sound, a woman in white with flowing water sleeves appeared before him, her back turned. With Wen Liangsheng’s spiritual sight, Yang Chengzi could see her clearly.

“Qing Huai? Is that you?”

Though Wen Liangsheng recognized the voice, he couldn’t be certain without seeing the face.

At Wen Liangsheng’s call, the ghost woman lifted her sleeve, half-covering her face, slowly turning around. Her half-visible delicate features looked toward Yang Chengzi; though unclear, she appeared ethereal.

The ghost woman said little, only asking quietly, “Who are you?”

Seeing the ghost was indeed Liu Qinghuai, Wen Liangsheng no longer felt unfamiliar.

“It’s me, Wen Liangsheng. I was wronged by a villain and became a wandering spirit here. Why are you still here? Weren’t you long gone…”

Seeing Wen Liangsheng was like meeting an old friend. She lowered her sleeve, expression mournful.

“I was harmed by Qin Liujia and cannot reincarnate.”

“Qin Liujia? Troupe leader Qin? Why did he kill you?”

Liu Qinghuai touched her stomach, lost in memory.

Five or six years ago, Liu Qinghuai was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old maiden from a poor family. Her only parent left was an elderly mother; her father had passed early, leaving no men in the household, which meant frequent bullying.

Though she was unmarried, many coveted her. But given her poverty, wealthy families might only consider her as a concubine. Yet she was a headstrong girl who knew that being a concubine was worse than finding a man who loved her wholeheartedly. That way, she wouldn’t bring shame to her parents.

Since childhood, Liu Qinghuai had a childhood sweetheart surnamed Wu, a year older than her. Their families were both in decline but matched socially. When it came time to marry, a local bully intervened. In a confrontation, the bully accidentally killed Wu. However, the bully escaped justice due to collusion with corrupt officials, leaving Liu Qinghuai powerless.

Day after day, heartbroken and grieving, her mother wished to send her far from this troubled place, hoping she could find a better life elsewhere. But Liu Qinghuai worried about her mother, who was unwilling to leave the home she had lived in all her life. So she promised her mother she would one day return victoriously and provide a good life.

With resolve, she took a bundle and left under cover of night, leaving the place that had both nurtured and broken her heart.

She left, but where to? Where was her true home? She saw the beauty of Three Immortal Mountain and arrived at Yutai Town, a bustling, prosperous place warm as spring, where the hills were adorned with red decorations, seemingly helping her forget her sorrow.

Carrying her bundle and watching the crowd, Yutai Town was not small. Confused, Liu Qinghuai wandered many times, like a spectator watching flowers pass by, feeling disconnected from everything around her. Watching the crowds made her more lost.

Just as hope seemed elusive, a delightful operatic voice reached her ears. Following the sound in this unfamiliar place, she arrived at the theater. Though the gates were open, timid Liu Qinghuai didn’t dare enter, but she liked the singing coming from inside.

While she lingered, captivated, she met a special person—a benefactor but also the one who harmed her—Old Uncle Pan.

Old Uncle Pan saw a young girl with a bundle at the theater gate and approached her. Learning she had nowhere to go and loved opera, with a decent voice, he asked if she wanted to stay and learn opera here. If she succeeded, she might perform on stage and rise quickly.

With nowhere else to turn, Liu Qinghuai gladly stayed in this place that might give her mother a better life. Old Uncle Pan then took her to meet their troupe leader, Qin Liujia. Since someone wanted to learn, and her looks and voice were acceptable, Qin had no objections.

Liu Qinghuai stayed at Pan Family Garden, doing chores while learning opera. Within half a year, she had made some progress and secured a role as a leading young female character.

She had hoped that after just six months of progress, becoming a famous leading actress would be easy. But fate is unpredictable: small success is easy to achieve, but becoming a star is not as simple as she imagined.