Zhang Chun had only been in Fairy's Capital for a short period of time. In just two months, he had been promoted from Divine Capital Commandant to Fairy's Capital Magistrate. This was already an unbelievable speed.
It was impossible for him to hold the position of Imperial Ancestral Temple's deputy.
However, Li Mu's attitude was clear. He would not give this position to Zhang Chun. He would not care about the imperial examinations anymore.
This was a blatant threat, but the six of them could do nothing about it. He had the right to threaten them.
For this matter, it didn't matter if any of the six Imperial Secretaries of the Secretariat were missing, but Li Mu couldn't be missing. Even if he was threatened, he could only grit his teeth and accept it.
It was just a small Imperial Ancestral Temple's deputy. Compared to the imperial examinations, it was not worth mentioning.
After an hour, Li Mu left the Imperial Secretariat.
Cui Ming paced around the assistant minister's office and muttered, "Imperial Ancestral Temple, it's Imperial Ancestral Temple again. Why is it always the Imperial Ancestral Temple? What is this person trying to do?"
After leaving the Imperial Secretariat, Li Mu did not return to the office or go home. Instead, he went to the Great Music Bar.
"Brother-in-law, you haven't been here in a long time."
"I just learned a new song. I'll play it for you later."
"Where's your little follower? Why isn't she here today?"
…
In the backyard of the Great Music Bar, Chimey, Little 76, and the other girls surrounded Li Mu and chattered. Li Mu said, "I've been busy with work recently. I'll visit you guys when I have time."
He called Chimey to the side and asked, "Do you have a theater in Fairy's Capital?"
Chimey was puzzled. "Why are you asking this? Do you want to watch a play? The owner has a theater, and business is not bad …"
Li Mu said, "Call your owner out."
Chimey did not know what Li Mu wanted to do, but it still obediently called the owner of the Great Music Bar over.
The owner of the Miaoyin Lane was a middle-aged woman. When she saw Li Mu, her face was full of smiles. She jogged over and said, "Oh, Lord Li, what wind blew today that brought you here …"
In the past, the Great Music Workshop was just an ordinary workshop in Luoyang. There were dozens of such workshops in Luoyang. The musicians in the workshop would sometimes be bullied when they met guests with power and influence.
Ever since Jiang Zhe was beheaded, such a thing had never happened.
All of this was naturally because of Li Mu.
The owner of the Miaoyin Lane had already instructed that as long as Constable Li came here in the future, the lane would not take a single cent from him and would even arrange the best seat for him. With such a backer in Luoyang, she would be able to earn money in peace in the future.
Li Mu went straight to the point and asked, "I heard that you have a theater in the Fairy's Capital?"
The middle-aged woman was stunned for a moment but quickly reacted. She said, "Does Constable Li like to listen to plays? I'll arrange it for you right away. Just tell me what you want to listen to and I'll arrange it for you …"
Li Mu explained, "I'm not here to listen to plays. I have a favor to ask of you."
…
The Pear Blossom Pavilion was located in the Rosy Lane of Luoyang. It was a rather famous theater in the Fairy's Capital. The cultured people of Luoyang liked to hang out in theaters and music halls.
Although actors and actresses were of low status and were often looked down upon by others, theater was an elegant art in the eyes of the influential people in Luoyang. Many influential people had musicians and actors and actresses in their homes so that they could listen to them sing and dance at any time, especially the women.
Some of the noble ladies in Luoyang were good at this. It was said that in the Western Palace, one of the concubines of the late Emperor was a famous actress in Luoyang. Later, the late Emperor took a fancy to her and she became a phoenix …
When the late Emperor was still alive, he liked theater very much. He would often gather his officials to watch the performances in the palace together. The theater culture in Luoyang rose at that time and had not declined to this day.
"He abandoned his wife and child and even wanted to kill his wife and child. Such a beast is not worthy of being a human …"
"There are such stories in theater. How can there be such a heartless person in reality?"
"Reality is often scarier than theater. However, the scene of the heartless person being struck by lightning at the end was too satisfying …"
…
A few guests walked out of the Pear Blossom Pavilion and were still discussing a new play that had just been released a few days ago.
The play was called "Chen Shimei." It was about a heartless man who abandoned his wife and child in order to get close to a princess and enjoy the glory and wealth. He even killed people to keep them quiet. In the end, he was judged by an upright official and was struck to death by the heavens.
The plot of the play was complicated and bizarre. The story was interconnected and had many twists and turns. The ending was satisfying. Once it was released, it quickly spread in Luoyang. Many theaters had already smelled the business opportunity and bought the script from the Pear Blossom Pavilion at a high price, preparing to imitate it …
The storytellers in the teahouses and brothels were one step ahead of them. They turned the play into a story and acted it out vividly to attract customers.
On the streets of Luoyang, there were also passersby who hummed the lines from "Chen Shimei" as they walked. It had been a long time since such a good play had appeared in Luoyang. Once it was released, it had a very high popularity among the common people.
Imperial Secretariat.
A manager sat in the yamen. As he organized the plan for the imperial examination, he hummed, "Sue the current emperor's son-in-law. Deceiving the emperor, disrespecting the emperor, killing his wife and child, losing his conscience …"
This was the new play that he had heard with his wife in a theater in Luoyang yesterday during his break. The lines in the play were very classic. He remembered it after listening to it once.
As he hummed, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He could not help but shiver.
He turned his head and saw Left Assistant Minister Cui Ming standing behind him. His face was as dark as water.
The manager was shocked. He immediately stood up and said respectfully, "Lord Assistant Minister!"
Cui Ming's face was cold. He asked, "What did you say just now?"
The manager said nervously, "It's just a few lines from the play. I just sang it casually …"
Cui Ming said coldly, "Sing it again."
The manager was stunned for a moment. He then sang honestly, "Sue the current emperor's son-in-law. Deceiving the emperor, disrespecting the emperor, killing his wife and child, losing his conscience …"
Seeing that the Lord Assistant Minister's face was getting darker and darker, he finally realized something. His face turned pale. He quickly explained, "Lord Assistant Minister, please don't misunderstand. The emperor's son-in-law who killed his wife and child was the emperor's son-in-law in the play. It's definitely not referring to you!"
Cui Ming's face turned even uglier. He asked, "Which theater in Luoyang is this play from?"
The manager said, "It's called Chen Shimei. Almost all the theaters are singing it. It's said that it even spread to the palace yesterday. A few concubines in the Western Palace specially called a troupe to perform in the palace …"
As soon as he finished speaking, a palace maid knocked on the door and walked in. She said, "Emperor's son-in-law, the concubines have called a troupe to watch a play in the Western Palace. Her Highness the Princess has also entered the palace. She asked me to invite you …"
Cui Ming asked, "What play?"
The palace maid said, "It's called Chen Shimei. It's been sung outside the palace."
Cui Ming's face darkened. He said, "Go back and tell the Princess that I have something important to do here. I can't leave. I won't be going …"
…
"You killed your wife and child, losing your conscience. You forced Han Qi to her death in the temple. You put the indictment in my hall. You're so determined. Which one are you …"
Li Mu hummed the opera and came to the Luoyang yamen.
He asked the owner of Miaoyin Lane to help promote Chen Shimei. A classic was a classic. Once it was released, it became popular in Luoyang. He had to thank the late Emperor. If he didn't like opera and supported the arts industry in Luoyang, there wouldn't be such a popular culture today.
The case of the chopping of beauties was just a prelude to what he was about to do. The real highlight was yet to come.
The Ministry of Personnel didn't act quickly. It took Zhang Chun half a month to receive the appointment from the Ministry of Personnel.
From today onwards, besides being the Luoyang Magistrate, he had another identity. He was the deputy of the Imperial Clan Temple.
In the Luoyang yamen, Li Mu looked at Zhang Chun and asked seriously, "Old Zhang, are you sure? This time, you'll offend Princess Yunyang, the royal family, the old party, and many, many people …"
Zhang Chun's eyes were firm. He said, "Say no more. Cui Ming and I are absolutely irreconcilable!"
Li Mu nodded and said, "Then let's go …"
Zhang Chun said, "I have another question."
Li Mu asked, "What is it?"
Zhang Chun looked at him and asked, "Why haven't I heard of Her Majesty summoning you recently?"
Speaking of this, Li Mu was a little embarrassed. Ever since the Empress broke into his dream and saw something she shouldn't have, they hadn't met again.
Whether it was in reality or in his dream.
The closest they were to each other was when they went to court. There was still a curtain between them.
Li Mu said, "Her Majesty and I have some misunderstandings."
"Misunderstandings?" Zhang Chun's face turned pale. He asked nervously, "What misunderstandings?"
Li Mu shook his head and said, "It's not convenient for me to tell you."
"Not convenient?" Zhang Chun thought about it and seemed to realize something. As a middle-aged man, he knew very well what could affect the relationship between a man and a woman the most.
If one aspect wasn't harmonious, it would be difficult for other aspects to be harmonious.
He looked at Li Mu and said reluctantly, "My jar of medicinal wine is under the table in my room. Take it with you when you go back …"
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