She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Jiang Mu stared at the two characters "Dream Pavilion" written in a flamboyant style on the plaque, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor in astonishment.

This is this...

He thought of his second grandmother's carriage, which, guided by the servants of the Dream Pavilion, drove into the house, and subconsciously turned his head to look at Zhao Yi.

Jiang Mu stammered, "Second...Second Master, Second Madam..."

Zhao Yi was quite troubled; it seemed that what she feared most had come to pass.

Unlike brothels, Dream Pavilion is a theater for various entertainments.

However, unlike proper theaters, they performed plays that were banned from public performance.

Although the Fourth Madam was from a prestigious family, the pampering she received at home had made her somewhat unconventional.

I just didn't expect her to actually bring Shen Qingtan to a place like this.

Jiang Mu received no response, and seeing his master get off the carriage, he was startled: Is Second Master going in to arrest someone?

"Second Master, please don't be angry. If you get sick from anger, no one can take your place." Jiang Mu racked his brains to make amends for Shen Qingtan: "Fourth Madam is an elder, and Second Madam dared not disobey her elder's orders, so she came to Mengguan just now."

Zhao Yi gave a faint "hmm" with an indifferent expression and stepped into the Dream Pavilion.

Jiang Mu hurriedly followed, his mind in turmoil.

He pondered how to handle the situation when his master arrested someone, so as not to embarrass his second mistress too much.

Then, how could he persuade the Second Mistress to return to the mansion without offending the Fourth Madam, lest she refuse to cooperate and make her mistress sick?

In the short time it took to walk from the door to the stage, Jiang Mu had already come up with several plans in his mind, and he felt they were all in place, just waiting to be implemented.

He saw that his master had chosen a quiet private room and had no intention of arresting anyone.

"???"

Just as Jiang Mu was about to speak, the window of the private room diagonally opposite opened, and he spotted the Second Madam sitting inside.

Oh, so it was surveillance.

He couldn't help but glance at the opposite side several times.

Shen Qingtan keenly sensed that someone was staring at her. She looked up and saw that all the windows of the private room opposite were closed.

"Tan'er, make sure the window is closed, or someone will find you," the Fourth Madam reminded her, then asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Shen Qingtan was unaware of what was going on. She was just watching a play, and so what if she was discovered? It wasn't like she was there to do anything shameful.

Although that's what she thought, Shen Qingtan still closed the window and replied, "What you ordered is enough."

The fourth madam grunted in response, then added a few more fruits and a pot of Fragrant Snow Wine.

The servants withdrew and quickly brought out all the items.

Shen Qingtan looked around. There was a stage set up directly opposite the lobby on the first floor, with rows of tables and chairs placed under the stage. There were more than a dozen private rooms on the second floor.

Yesterday, the Fourth Madam spoke very mysteriously. She thought she was just there to watch someone else's drama, but little did she know she was really coming to the theater to watch a play.

Shen Qingtan turned to look at the Fourth Madam and saw her leaning lazily in the large hexagonal armchair, her arms resting on the armrests, her slender fingers seemingly tapping out a rhythm, looking quite engrossed.

She asked, "Does Fourth Aunt like listening to opera?"

"It's alright." The Fourth Madam's eyes flickered as she gazed at Shen Qingtan's charming face, and she said with a smile, "I think the play performed at the Dream Pavilion today was quite good. You should watch it carefully later."

"What drama?"

You'll find out soon enough.

The fourth wife's tone was somewhat meaningful.

Shen Qingtan had a bad feeling, but before she could think further, the sound of playing wind and string instruments began.

She couldn't help but turn her gaze to the stage, where she saw a young female lead lift her robes and flick her sleeves as she stepped onto the stage and began to sing.

This play is about "Selling Rouge". A failed scholar sees a beautiful woman in a rouge shop and falls in love with her. He uses the excuse of buying rouge to meet her every day.

Shen Qingtan hadn't watched a play in a long time, and she became quite engrossed in it until the scholar used the pretext of buying rouge to flirt with the woman, spouting lewd remarks. Only then did she realize something was wrong.

She turned her head and saw that the Fourth Madam was watching with great interest. Only then did she realize why the Fourth Madam had told her to close the window.

"Fourth Aunt..."

The fourth madam rested her chin on her hand and looked at her with a smile: "How was the performance? Was it better than the opera troupe that was invited to the manor?"

Shen Qingtan: "..."

Seeing her blushing cheeks, more beautiful and charming than the budding red peonies in the garden, the Fourth Madam said in a sweet voice, "You're always so reserved, it must be tiring. Occasionally indulging yourself in pleasure and happiness will make this life worthwhile."

She carried the wine pot, poured two cups of wine, and pushed one of them towards Shen Qingtan.

“Every woman is bound by the rules of female precepts. If she does not abide by them, she is considered a heretic and a woman who does not follow the rules.”

The fourth wife took a sip of wine and felt completely refreshed: "We just need to be dignified and virtuous in public, but in private we can let go of all the dogmas that bind us."

Shen Qingtan listened silently and realized that the Fourth Madam was indeed a rebellious and unruly woman, otherwise she wouldn't have brought her to see this kind of play.

However, everyone has their own way of living.

Some people are carefree and unrestrained, not bound by worldly constraints, and only seek pleasure.

Some people follow the rules and regulations, burdened with layers of shackles, enduring hardship and making compromises for the sake of their families and children.

The fourth wife was the former.

Shen Qingtan lowered her eyes to look at the wine glass in front of her, and saw the Fourth Madam drinking with great gusto.

She said, "I can't hold my liquor very well. I can only drink one glass at most. If I drink another glass, I'll get drunk."

"This is fruit wine, it won't make you drunk," the fourth madam coaxed her. "Try a sip and see if it's as I said."

Shen Qingtan smelled a sweet aroma of wine and took a small sip from her glass.

The drink was sweet and pleasant to the taste.

Although fruit wine wouldn't make you drunk, Shen Qingtan still restrained herself from overindulging and only took one sip before putting down the glass.

At that moment, cheers erupted from the audience.

Shen Qingtan turned her gaze to the stage, where she saw the female lead enter a large tent erected on the stage. The play was about to reach the part where they consummate their marriage within the tent.

She saw the curtains swaying gently, and heard the delicate and seductive voice. Her cheeks burned as if on fire, and her heart pounded.

Shen Qingtan turned her gaze away in a panic, only to meet the Fourth Madam's staring eyes, as if she were being teased: You can't even handle such a small scene?

She blushed instantly, became somewhat uneasy, and subconsciously took a few sips of wine to suppress the embarrassment in her heart.

"Fourth Aunt, shall we go back to the manor?" Shen Qingtan gripped the cup in her hand tightly. "Second Master... Second Master told me to go back to the manor as soon as possible."

"Why are you going back so early?" Fourth Madam raised an eyebrow and said, "Is he reading a book while you're copying Buddhist scriptures?"

Shen Qingtan: "..."

The fourth madam raised her chin towards the main hall: "The play isn't over yet. If we go out, all the guests in the Dream Pavilion will know that we came here to watch the play."

Shen Qingtan: "..."

She never imagined that, after being reborn in this life, she would no longer have to worry about her life, but instead about losing her reputation.

Seeing that Shen Qingtan believed it and laughed heartily, the Fourth Madam stopped teasing her.

"Let's go, we can't leave our second nephew alone in an empty house."

The fourth madam took two veiled hats from the side, gave one to Shen Qingtan to wear, and the two left the Dream Pavilion under the guidance of the servants.

In the private room diagonally opposite, Zhao Yi's calm expression finally cracked when he saw the same scene.

He frequently glanced at the private room where Shen Qingtan was, and several times tried to get up and ask her to leave.

But the opera was still being performed on the stage, and if he went over now, it would be too awkward for the two of them to meet.

He took a couple of sips of water from his cup, but eventually couldn't resist getting up.

Shen Qingtan and the Fourth Madam emerged from the private room.

His tense expression relaxed, and he left with Shen Qingtan.

-

Shen Qingtan finally breathed a sigh of relief after getting into the carriage, thinking to herself that she would never come to the Dream Pavilion again.

"Even if someone saw us, they wouldn't dare spread the word that we went to the Dream Pavilion. Wouldn't that expose that they went to the Dream Pavilion too?"

The fourth madam laughed and said, "Besides, we will have someone lead us away so we won't run into anyone else."

Shen Qingtan forced a smile, her head spinning slightly, and leaned uncomfortably against the car wall.

She was fine after drinking a cup of nuptial wine.

Surprisingly, this fruit wine, which has no alcohol content, made me feel a bit tipsy after just one glass.

The fourth madam watched as Shen Qingtan's fair face flushed slightly, and her misty eyes revealed a hint of intoxication.

No way?

Is he drunk?

How should she explain this to her second nephew?