The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

As night deepened, the garden of Princess Yongle's residence was adorned with all sorts of colorful lanterns. Red, yellow, blue, and purple intertwined to create a dazzling display of light and shadow, like a starry dream fallen to earth. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the flower shadows to sway, and the lights danced lightly on the treetops and water's surface, as if the entire garden had been gently awakened and draped in festive splendor.

Chen Mengyao arrived in the garden early, took out dozens of standing solar lamps from her spatial storage, and directed her servants to place them in various corners of the garden. These lamps were of various shapes, some resembling lotus flowers, others like stars. Once the lights were on, the previously dim paths, flowerbeds, and pavilions were instantly illuminated, making the entire garden as bright and warm as daytime. She nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Yongle and smiled, "Tonight's performance cannot be disturbed by any darkness."

Princess Yongle smiled slightly and said softly, "With you here, I feel much more at ease." The two then devoted themselves to welcoming the guests, moving among the flowers and trees, arranging seats, and checking the program schedule, leaving no detail overlooked, all for the sake of a perfect night.

Backstage, the performers were nervously adjusting their makeup and props. A new young dancer whispered, "It's my first time performing in front of royalty, and I'm actually a little nervous."

“Don’t be afraid,” another older actor patted her on the shoulder, “As long as we show our best, we will definitely live up to this effort.”

Not long after, the eldest princess and her family arrived first. She wore a light purple brocade dress, her expression gentle. Her gaze swept over the brightly lit garden, and a smile appeared on her lips: "Yongle has really put his heart into this. This arrangement is absolutely superb."

The second princess and her husband followed closely behind. Looking at the well-arranged lights, she couldn't help but exclaim, "This is no family banquet; it's clearly a grand palace feast!"

The Duan Prince's family also arrived with their children. Several young princes and princesses ran around excitedly in the garden, shouting, "Mother, look! There are stars here!" The An Prince, holding the Wen Prince's arm, walked and laughed, "I heard tonight's program is very special. Can you guess what it is?"

At the same time, Emperor Yongchang, accompanied by his empress and several princes and princesses, slowly entered the garden. Behind them, Chen Mengyao's grandparents, both on her maternal and paternal sides, were also helped in by servants and seated in the most comfortable positions in the front row. The elderly people looked at the brightly lit, joyful scene before them, their faces filled with gratified smiles.

Maids moved nimbly among the crowd, their trays laden with a dazzling array of pastries and the air filled with the fragrant aroma of tea. They deftly filled each table to the brim. Chen Mengyao and Princess Yongle mingled with the throng, warmly greeting each relative with beaming smiles.

"The moonlight is beautiful tonight, and your arrangements are truly ingenious," the eldest princess praised softly, her eyes revealing genuine appreciation.

"Yes, a night like this, paired with a wonderful performance, is just perfect," the second princess agreed with a smile.

Prince Wen and Prince Duan were also full of praise, commending Princess Yongle for her painstaking efforts. Prince An, even more impatient, pressed Yongle, "What exactly is she performing? Tell me quickly!"

Yongle just smiled mysteriously: "You'll find out soon enough, just watch carefully."

As soon as the words were spoken, a melodious piano tune drifted from the direction of the stage, followed by the sound of drums, the rhythm gradually quickening, announcing the imminent start of the performance. Chen Mengyao and Yongle exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with anticipation.

The curtain slowly rose, and the first beam of light streaked across the night sky like a shooting star, illuminating the center of the stage. A group of dancers dressed in Hanfu gracefully entered the stage, their flowing robes creating an ethereal atmosphere. They were performing the "Rainbow Feather Dance," and every spin, every gesture, was exquisitely elegant, as if the ancient charm of a thousand years ago had been revived in this moment.

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience, and even the usually composed eldest princess couldn't help but clap her hands: "So beautiful! She looks like a person who has stepped out of a painting."

The following performance was even more surprising. A young man walked onto the stage, dressed in an elegant long robe, holding a folding fan, his expression radiant. He told a story about loyalty and betrayal in a highly infectious voice, sometimes deep and sometimes passionate, captivating the audience. Even more astonishing was his clever use of stand-up comedy to interpret the dramatic plot, reinterpreting historical figures in modern language, maintaining a sense of solemnity while being full of humor, eliciting waves of laughter and gasps of amazement from the audience.

"So this is how stories can be told," the Queen murmured, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

Next up was an acrobatic troupe, who presented a new program that blended modern technology with traditional skills—aerial silks, fire hoops, and visually stunning effects created using light projections. A girl tumbled and spun in mid-air, as if flying, leaving everyone in awe.

"How... how did they do that?" Prince An stared wide-eyed, almost unable to believe his eyes.

"It was the Western Region artists we invited who improved the technique," Liu'er explained from the side, "combining mechanical arts with the art of light and shadow."

The grand finale was an immersive theatrical performance where actors walked among the audience, interacting with guests and telling a story about family reunion and the continuation of kinship. Several young princes were also invited to participate, running and laughing on stage, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

As night deepened, the last performance came to a close, and the actors took their final bows to thunderous applause. Princess Yongle rose to her feet, walked to the center of the stage, and bowed deeply to all the guests: "Thank you, dear friends, for coming tonight. May the joy of tonight become an eternal memory in our hearts."

Standing to the side, Chen Mengyao watched the heartwarming scenes unfold before her, a feeling of warmth welling up inside her. She knew that this banquet was not just a performance, but also a gathering of emotions, a passing down of culture, and a meeting of minds.

The wonderful performances of all the actors today made her admire Liu'er even more. These programs were not only wonderful but also incredibly creative and refreshing. Chen Mengyao couldn't help but marvel at Liu'er's ability to cultivate talent! The fact that she could come up with so many ingenious programs undoubtedly required exceptional creativity and talent.

This is precisely why the performances at the art gallery consistently attract large audiences. Liu'er's abilities are indeed outstanding, that much is undeniable. The more Chen Mengyao thought about it, the more she felt that Liu'er should be given some substantial reward to recognize her outstanding contributions.

After careful consideration, Chen Mengyao decided to increase Liu'er's monthly salary as an extra reward. This would not only acknowledge Liu'er's work achievements but also encourage her to continue showcasing her talents and bringing more wonderful performances to the art museum.

The princes and princesses departed one by one, chatting in twos and threes about the evening's wonderful programs, their laughter echoing through the garden. As night deepened, a gentle breeze caressed their faces, and the fragrance of flowers and joyful laughter intertwined to create a warm and beautiful scene.

Yongle and Chen Mengyao stood side by side, watching the departing crowd, and smiled at each other, as if to say: This night is worth remembering.

"Tonight was a complete success," Chen Mengyao said softly, her tone full of praise. "Everything you arranged was just right."

"Thanks to everyone's cooperation." Yongle smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "Especially Liu'er, she was the chief planner of this performance."

Chen Mengyao's maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents gathered around and said to her, "Yao'er, the people you found are really amazing! We've never seen such a wonderful performance in modern times. The people who manage the art museum are truly talented."

“Yes, yes,” Grandma nodded with a smile, “I’ve been to many places to see performances when I was young, but tonight’s show can be described as top-notch.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mengyao smiled with satisfaction: "That's all thanks to Liu'er. You should praise her."

Liu'er blushed instantly under everyone's gaze and quickly waved her hand, saying, "Not at all, it's what I should do. I'm just happy that everyone likes me."

"You're too modest." Chen Mengyao smiled and patted her shoulder. "How about this, starting next month, your monthly salary will be increased to one thousand taels. I hope you can continue to work hard and strive to open art museum branches all over the country and recruit more talents to join us."

Liu'er was stunned for a moment, then nodded excitedly, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I will do my best and live up to your expectations!"

Meanwhile, as they spoke, the backstage crew had already begun dismantling the stage, lighting, and sound equipment. Once everything was in order, Chen Mengyao gathered them together, took out stacks of silver notes from her storage space, and distributed them to everyone as a thank you for their hard work that evening.

"You've all worked so hard!" She stood at the front, her voice clear and bright. "These are just a small token of my appreciation. Remember to get some rest when you get back."

Not only that, she also took out many exquisite snacks and delicacies from her space and handed them to everyone one by one: "These are snacks I prepared myself, take them back and enjoy them slowly."

Everyone was deeply moved and bowed to express their gratitude, saying that they would work even harder in the future and would never let Chen Mengyao down.

The steward also timely packed up the pastries and fruits prepared for the day and sent them to them, and each person also received an extra one hundred taels of silver as performance fees. Liu'er even received a special red envelope—five hundred taels—to commend her for her dedication in selecting actors and coordinating the performance.

"Tonight's performance was fantastic," Chen Mengyao said sincerely. "Thank you all for your hard work."

After everyone thanked each other and exchanged a few pleasantries, Liu'er led the actors into a carriage and left the mansion. In the night, their figures gradually disappeared into the distance.

Afterwards, Chen Mengyao and Ouyang Han accompanied their grandparents back to their room to rest. The elderly couples were still reminiscing about the evening's performance as they walked, their faces beaming with happiness.

"Yao'er, you've really grown up," Grandpa said with emotion. "You not only have vision, but also a sense of responsibility."

"Yes, our children are becoming more and more successful." Grandma gently stroked her hair.

On the other side, Yongle and Zhao Wei walked hand in hand towards their respective courtyards. They chatted as they walked, their conversation still revolving around tonight's performance.

"Isn't that dance absolutely beautiful?" Zhao Wei said excitedly. "I was completely mesmerized."

“Indeed, their performance was fantastic,” Yongle replied with a smile. “It seems our plan has succeeded.”

"How about we do an even bigger one next time?"

"No problem, as long as you dare to think it, I dare to do it."

The two smiled at each other, their hearts filled with anticipation for the future.

That night, the lights were dim and the stars were dazzling. Everyone was very satisfied with the performance and quietly made new wishes in their hearts.