Chapter 291 – The Pipa Performance
The poetry gathering was in full swing even as the moon reached its zenith. By dinnertime, Li Yuqi had somehow sourced a group of elaborately dressed women from a nearby brothel, making the event even more lively.
Su Yi, however, was in no mood to join the merriment.
By dinnertime across the street, the stage theater was in the process of being dismantled after finishing its performances of the day. Ye Fan without speaking to anyone after the performances were over; his expression suggested he was quite satisfied.
Su Yi considered calling out to him but thought better of it. He intended to investigate Ye Fan's motives, and didn't want to risk tipping Ye Fan off. Furthermore, Ye Fan's identity could be problematic, and exposing their relationship might lead to trouble.
Mind preoccupied, Su Yi spent the poetry gathering in a distracted daze. He scarcely noticed the deliberate advances made by several women, leaving Li Yuqi somewhat anxious, fearing that Su Yi had somehow been offended during the gathering.
The next day, Su Yi went to Jinxia Street again. He was dressed casually in cloth shoes and a linen robe. His hair was loosely tied into a bun without any adornments, making him indistinguishable from any ordinary commoner.
Sure enough, the theater stage had been set up again.
At a teahouse that sat diagonally across from the theater, Su Yi found a seat at a table and ordered a pot of tea.
When the waiter came with the tea, Su Yi took a small silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"How long has that theater stage across the street been set up for? I don’t recall seeing it before."
The waiter understood quickly, glanced around, and slid the silver ingot into his pocket with a sweep of his hand. Smiling broadly, he replied, "Sir, that troupe arrived in the capital just half a month ago. I heard they came from the southern Shu region."