High Martial Arts Three Kingdoms: The Incompetent Strategist

"Quickly, make some tea for Young Master Tang!" Dong Dahai hurriedly called out.

Tang Ke glanced around and saw that the huge theater was empty, with not a single audience member. Several actors sat listlessly in the front row, lost in thought.

"Let's skip the tea and get straight to the point: where is Miss Ruyun now?"

"Upstairs, let me show you the way." Dong Dahai led Tang Ke upstairs quickly, and when they reached the door of the room at the corner, he knocked lightly twice: "Miss Ruyun, Young Master Tang has arrived."

"Please let him in!" The speaker's voice was clear and intriguing.

Dong Dahai opened the door and gently pushed Tang Ke from behind, ushering him into the room.

Inside the room, a woman dressed in elegant white stood with her back to the door. The room was decorated warmly and tastefully, with an antique-style carved bed occupying one corner, covered with a soft brocade quilt that exuded a faint fragrance.

Could this be my dream room with the king-size bed? Tang Ke couldn't help but start daydreaming.

Dong Ruyun turned around and asked, "Young Master Tang, which scene would you like to try first?"

A hollowed-out gold hairpin, adorned with specks of purple jade, was tucked diagonally into her hair, its tassels cascading down her dark locks. Her eyes were like spring water, clear and deep; her skin was so smooth it seemed to break at a touch; her fingers were like slender scallions; her lips were like vermilion; her waist was as slender as a silken thread; and when she rose, she moved with light, graceful steps, swaying with captivating charm.

Tang Ke was so captivated by the sight that he became completely mesmerized.

"Young Master Tang, Young Master Tang?"

"Huh?" Tang Ke rubbed his eyes, still not quite understanding.

Dong Ruyun smiled and said, "What I mean is, which scene would you like to try first?"

"Huh? Audition? Whatever." Tang Ke had no interest in auditioning anymore; he couldn't wait for night to fall so they could go to bed together.

"Oh dear, we don't have plays like this here. How about I sing you a section of 'The Grandmaster of Immortals'?"

Seeing Tang Ke nod, Dong Ruyun parted her lips and began to sing softly. Her voice was like a nightingale singing in a valley, clear and melodious, indescribably beautiful.

Tang Ke, a person accustomed to modern song and dance films, couldn't help but be captivated by her, feeling that every smile and frown of hers was breathtaking.

Just as the song reached its climax, the sound suddenly stopped.

"Huh? Why did you stop singing? Keep singing!" Tang Ke finally came to his senses and urged.

Dong Ruyun smiled and slowly walked over, gently stroking Tang Ke's cheek: "Young Master Tang, you didn't come here just to listen to music, did you? Why don't you sit down first, and I'll keep you company for a few drinks?"

"Alright, alright." Tang Ke walked to the table and sat down, pinching his thigh hard, cursing inwardly, "Tang Ke, what the hell did you come here for? What's the point of listening to this show? Get to the point!"

Dong Ruyun poured a full glass of wine and held it to Tang Ke's lips, saying, "Young master, please drink this cup to the brim."

Tang Ke had never been treated like this before, and hurriedly grabbed the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Dong Ruyun drank a cup herself, then offered another to Tang Ke, her eyes filled with a distant longing. "Young Master Tang, you must be aware of our shop's current predicament. If you are willing to take care of me, I will be yours tonight."

Tang Ke suddenly came to his senses. He had disguised himself as a pockmarked face. How could a beauty like Dong Ruyun possibly give herself to an ugly servant for a business deal?

He put the wine glass back on the table and said with a smile, "Sister, isn't it a waste to risk yourself for a business deal? Just say what you have to say, otherwise I dare not drink this glass of wine."

“Young master, you are so suspicious at such a young age. You are mature beyond your years.” Ru Yun smiled bitterly. “The opera troupe is indeed in some difficulties. We have offended Lord Yuan. If you do not help us, we are afraid that the whole troupe will starve to death.”

"Lord Yuan? Which Lord Yuan? Yuan Shao?"

"Lord Yuan Shu is young and promising, how could he possibly get angry with a small opera troupe like ours? It's Lord Yuan Shu who has taken a fancy to me, but after failing to win me over time, he's become furious and has declared that anyone who dares to support our Dong family troupe is going against the Yuan family. Their family has held high office for four generations, who in the capital would dare to disrespect them?"

"So, you mean my sister is a woman of strong character? And what about you now..."

Tang Hakka realized it was impolite to speak halfway through, so he swallowed it back.

“We can’t let a living person die from holding their pee. We lowly opera singers are like duckweed, and we shouldn’t be at odds with powerful families. Lord Yuan is just trying to force me to beg him, but I’m not going. The only people who can resolve our feud with the Yuan family right now are His Majesty and General He.”

"So you want to take advantage of this time of opera performance to ask them to reconcile your two families?" Tang Ke hesitated for a moment. It was really inappropriate for an actor to ask for imperial orders in person in this kind of occasion. He might offend both He Jin and the Yuan family.

"We are just ordinary people, how dare we ask for that? Wouldn't that put you in a difficult position? We only ask for a chance to perform. If His Majesty sees it and gives us a 'good' comment, then this matter will be settled. Who would go against someone praised by His Majesty?"

Dong Ruyun picked up her wine cup, lightly sat on Tang Ke's lap, and leaned against him with a soft, boneless grace. She held the wine cup to her chest and said, "If you agree, young master, and drink this cup, then Ruyun will be yours."

Tang Ke hesitated, remaining silent. Xiang Yu would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted, but the risk of offending the Yuan family for the sake of a woman was too great.

Seeing his expression, Dong Ruyun stopped trying to persuade him and simply raised her hand to drink cup after cup.

Tang Ke was not a man of much capacity for alcohol, nor was he a gentleman who could remain unmoved by temptation. After a few cups of wine, he became flushed and could no longer resist the beauty who was throwing herself into his arms. He began to grope her, forgetting all about gains and losses.

The next day.

When Tang Ke woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. He had a splitting headache and shook his head hard before he could barely open his eyes.

Exquisite and luxurious bed curtains came into view, and the bed beneath me was wide, soft, and exceptionally comfortable. The pale yellow silk quilt felt like nothing was covering my body.

He suddenly woke up with a start, lifted the covers, and saw that he was lying naked in bed!

"Young Master is awake?" Ru Yun was dressing in front of the mirror when she heard the noise and turned around, her eyes full of spring.

"You? Me?" Tang Ke was a little incoherent. His first time after transmigrating had been lost so in a daze?

Ru Yun smiled, turned around, and whispered, "I never imagined that you, young master, would be so dissolute last night, yet become such a gentleman this morning."

"Me, indecent? How could that be? I'm more virtuous than Liu Xiahui, able to resist temptation even with a woman in my lap." Tang Ke noticed her ambiguous expression and realized something was wrong. He reached out and touched her face; it was smooth as jade. Sure enough, the human skin mask she wore had been removed.

"Stop touching me. I took the clothes off for you last night before you went to sleep. I really don't understand why such a handsome man would pretend to be covered in pockmarks." Dong Ruyun walked slowly to the bedside, placed the clothes hanging in front of the bed, and reached out to help him up.