Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

The first rays of dawn quietly tore through the curtain of night, and the eastern sky gradually turned a pale white.

A soft ray of light pierced through layers of clouds, announcing the arrival of a new day.

At this moment, Lingyan and Lu Yanqing were preparing to return to the city.

After returning to the city, the two parted ways in a secluded place and then went their separate ways.

Upon returning to Prince Rui's residence, she found that Xiao Muyao had not yet returned from court, so she took a bath and went to rest.

I slept until evening before waking up.

When she woke up, she felt refreshed and full of energy.

Xiao Muyao was sitting at his desk, holding a book, looking focused, but he was also keeping an eye on her every move.

Seeing that she was awake, he immediately put down the book he was holding, walked gently to her side, and asked with concern, "Are you hungry? I'll have someone bring you a meal right away."

A warm feeling welled up in Ling Yan's heart.

Later, when she sat down at the table to eat, she saw that Xiao Muyao was also eating.

She frowned at him and gently scolded, "Don't wait for me in the future. Eat by yourself when you're hungry."

Xiao Muyao replied softly, "It's alright, I'm not hungry. I enjoy dining with you."

Lingyan stopped trying to persuade him after hearing his answer.

Because it was no use trying to persuade them.

After finishing her meal, she asked, "Was anything happening at the shop today?"

Xiao Muyao replied, "Don't worry, everything is running smoothly and nothing else has happened."

Ling Yan was satisfied.

Then Xiao Muyao continued, "Seventh Sister and the others have invited you to go out for a stroll tomorrow."

Lingyan smiled and nodded to indicate that she understood.

The first rays of dawn quietly pierced the sky.

When the hour of Si (9-11 AM) arrived, Lingyan went to meet her girlfriends on time.

It was the same group of people as last time, and they gathered at the same restaurant.

After lunch, we went to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to watch a play.

Baihualou was the most famous opera troupe in the capital, and was loved by men, women, and children of all ages.

The building is always packed, with every show full and the place bustling with noise.

If they weren't of such high status, they probably wouldn't have been able to get a seat today, let alone a private room.

There wasn't any particular reason for their gathering today; they just wanted to get together.

Because they are always happy and relaxed when they get together or go shopping.

As for the Seventh Princess's wedding, the Ministry of Rites will handle everything, so as a princess, she doesn't need to prepare anything herself.

So today, everyone just got together and had fun, just like any other day.

The atmosphere inside the private room was warm and harmonious.

The delicate pastries exude an enticing aroma, while the fragrant tea wafts through the air.

They ate and chatted, sometimes whispering and laughing, sometimes intently watching the opera being performed on stage, looking very peaceful and content.

The story being performed on stage now is the tale of Chen Shimei and Qin Xianglian.

When the plot progresses to the scene where Chen Shimei marries the princess.

The Ninth Princess was filled with righteous indignation and angrily cursed, "This Chen Shimei is truly a scoundrel! How could this princess have fallen for such a person?"

The Eighth Princess nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, I am also a princess, and I would never fall for someone like that."

The Seventh Princess spoke softly yet with a profound insight into the ways of the world: "This princess has been deceived; she simply doesn't know Chen Shimei's true nature."

Lingyan nodded slightly and continued, "That's true. We have God's perspective, examining everything from the viewpoint of an outsider, so we can see things more clearly, while those who are in the midst of it can't see clearly."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Muxue joined the discussion, her voice gentle yet firm: "It is precisely because those involved are often confused while bystanders see things clearly. In the world of emotions, the balance between reason and emotion is often difficult to maintain, making it hard for people to make the right choice."

Xie Zhiyi nodded in agreement, then sighed, "It's just a pity for Qin Xianglian and her two children; fate is truly unpredictable."

Lingyan looked towards the stage, where the scene depicting Qin Xianglian and her children eating coarse food was being performed.

She turned to the group and smiled, “So women, you must keep your eyes open. Don’t be love-struck, don’t be blinded, and don’t be misled by one-sided opinions. You must have your own judgment and your own thinking.”

Xie Zhiyi, the Eighth Princess, and the Ninth Princess listened attentively and nodded frequently in agreement.

The Seventh Princess and Jiang Muxue seemed to have grasped a deeper meaning in Lingyan's words and fell into deep thought.

Ling Yan glanced at the different reactions of the group and smiled without saying a word.

at the same time.

The princes who had been keeping an eye on Lingyan's whereabouts knew that she had gone out and was currently watching a play at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

Although he felt it was a rare opportunity to spy on her whereabouts, he was somewhat restless, thinking that this was a rare chance to make a move against her.

However, knowing that there were several other princesses and noblewomen on the trip, and that there were also royal guards in the shadows, they decided to back down.

Forget it, there will be other opportunities in the future, so let's not take the risk.

It is not advisable to act rashly, lest one lose more than one gains.

However, one stubborn person refused to give up, because it was too difficult to find out her whereabouts.

This person is the tenth prince.

He was stubborn, capricious, impulsive, and extremely reckless.

He also knew that there were royal guards in the shadows, so he planned to make his move after she separated from them.

At this moment, at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch during the climax of the opera.

On the stage, the scene of Chen Shimei being beheaded was like a thunderclap piercing the sky, drawing cheers and thunderous applause from the audience.

The audience was incredibly excited, as if they had personally experienced this battle between justice and evil, and their long-suppressed indignation and exhilaration were released to the fullest extent.

Indeed, how could they not be excited by such a thrilling plot?

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion, in particular, lived up to its reputation. The actors were all very talented in every aspect, easily immersing the audience in the story and evoking their emotions.

Whether it's the righteous and awe-inspiring Bao Zheng or the cunning and treacherous Chen Shimei, both actors portray their characters with superb acting skills, bringing them to life in a vivid and detailed way.

It makes the audience feel as if they have traveled through time and space to personally experience that love and hate.

So everyone is completely engrossed in watching it.

The Eighth Princess and the Ninth Princess couldn't help but be moved by each other's feelings, experiencing joy and anger as the plot unfolded.

They even went so far as to tip the actor who played Bao Zheng to express their appreciation, while casting angry glances at the actor who played Chen Shimei, completely immersed in the dramatic plot.

This clearly shows that they've lost sight of the real person and the role.

Not only them, but many others are like this.

Lingyan smiled as she looked at the scene.

Although she always clearly distinguishes between roles and actors, a role is a role and an actor is an actor, they are not the same person, she does not project the role onto herself, and she keeps the distinction very clear.

But let alone people in ancient times who couldn't separate reality from fiction, even in modern times, some people can't distinguish between reality and fiction.

In short, they've gone completely intoxicated.

Since you're already so engrossed, there's no point in saying anything more.

As the opera ended and the actors took their bows, the audience's emotions gradually calmed down.

The Ninth Princess exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Today's show was truly exhilarating!"

The Eighth Princess nodded vigorously in agreement.

The Seventh Princess and Xie Zhiyi expressed their approval in a more reserved way.

Jiang Muxue turned her gaze to Ling Yan, her eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.

She asked in confusion, "Your Highness seemed detached from worldly affairs throughout. I wonder what Your Highness thought of today's performance?"

Even she, Xie Zhiyi, and the Seventh Princess, who were usually not one to show their emotions, couldn't help but let slip a hint of their feelings.

In contrast, Princess Rui remained calm and composed throughout, showing no signs of joy or sorrow.

She was incredibly curious and wanted to know what she was thinking.

In response to Jiang Muxue's question, Ling Yan gently put down her teacup.

With a gentle and sincere smile, she said, "This play is truly magnificent. Every actor has poured their heart and soul into it. Whether they are the protagonist or the antagonist, the main character or the supporting character, they all demonstrate extremely high professionalism. The name of Baihualou is indeed well-deserved and truly breathtaking."