My palace is full of female protagonists.

Mei'er lowered her head, remained silent for a while, and then slowly said, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, young master, but I really don't know how old I am. I was sold to a madam by a slave trader. I was too young then to even remember my own birthday. Here, I lived the same life every day until one day, I secretly learned to dance, and only then did the madam agree to accept me as her daughter and give me a name—Mei'er. Actually, I know I'm just a slave and have no right to be a mother's daughter, but having a home and a name is enough for me."

Hearing this, the third young master was deeply moved. He thought of his own plight, also adrift in this world, without anyone to rely on. So he asked, "Then, how much money would it take to redeem you? Perhaps I can help you break free from this bondage."

Upon hearing this, Mei'er's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, but she immediately shook her head and said firmly, "Young master, even if I am redeemed from my slave status, I am still a slave. In this world, without a free identity, it's all the same no matter where you go. I don't ask you to redeem me. I would be happy as long as you can stay here with Mei'er for a while."

Although Mei'er resolutely refused the Third Young Master's offer to redeem her, a thought lingered in his mind—on the day he had to leave the capital, he would take this child, with her tragic past yet unyielding spirit, with him and fly far away. He knew that although Mei'er was in a brothel, she possessed an untainted heart; her soul was far purer and nobler than those high-and-mighty, hypocritical nobles.

That day, the Third Young Master and Mei'er, full of anticipation, went to the most prestigious theater in the capital, hoping to reserve seats for the latest performance to celebrate their precious time together. However, fate seemed to always deliver a blow unexpectedly. When they arrived at the theater, they were told that all the seats were already reserved, and even if they made a reservation on the spot, they would have to wait five days. This undoubtedly dampened the Third Young Master's enthusiasm, but he was not discouraged. Instead, he smiled and comforted Mei'er, "It's alright, we can come back in five days. Maybe we'll catch an even better show then."

The Third Young Master had long been accustomed to this seemingly unrestrained yet utterly helpless life. Every day, he would take Mei'er to wander through every corner of the capital, sometimes enjoying tea and music in brothels, sometimes exploring the alleyways of the city to discover stories forgotten by time. Although these days seemed like a waste of time, for the Third Young Master, they were the most real and joyful times of his life.

Meanwhile, the Third Young Master's two henchmen were also busy. Following his instructions, they inquired about the whereabouts of the military officers the Master had known during his lifetime. Most of those comrades who had fought alongside the Master, sharing life and death, were no longer in the capital; some had vanished without a trace. This made the Third Young Master lament the coldness of the world and the fragility of human relationships. Even so, he did not give up hope, for he knew that in this chaotic world, only by finding those truly trustworthy people could he protect himself and Mei'er from harm.

As night fell, the Third Young Master and Mei'er walked side by side on their way home. The moonlight, like water, bathed them in its glow, seemingly veiling their tumultuous relationship with a mysterious and romantic veil. The Third Young Master held Mei'er's hand tightly and whispered, "No matter what the future holds, I will always be with you, to the ends of the earth." Mei'er's eyes reddened slightly upon hearing this, but she only smiled gently, burying all her emotions deep within her heart.

Five days later, as dawn broke and the streets and alleys of the capital were still shrouded in tranquility, Mei'er and the Third Young Master were already dressed and ready, heading joyfully towards the theater they had failed to visit that day. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, illuminating their figures walking side by side, adding warmth and hope to their relationship, which was not favored by the world.

Upon arriving at the theater, they found themselves in the midst of the bustling pre-show preparations. The waiter, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the two distinguished guests and quickly approached them, leading them with a beaming smile to a rather secluded yet unique box on the second floor. The box was elegantly decorated, with a window directly facing the stage, offering an excellent view. It provided respite from the noise of the crowd while allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the joys and sorrows of the performance.

The moment Mei'er stepped into the box, her eyes lit up instantly, as if she were captivated by every detail. She walked lightly to the window, peering through the exquisitely carved lattice at the stage about to open its curtains, her face radiating childlike excitement and anticipation. Her hands unconsciously clasped in front of her chest, her heart pounding with the clamor of the theater, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and longing for the unknown plot.

"Third Young Master, look how wonderful this private room is! From here, you can see everything on the stage clearly, even the expressions on the actors' faces!" Mei'er turned around and said excitedly to the Third Young Master, her eyes sparkling with happiness, as if at this moment, all the hardships and helplessness were shut out by this small private room.

The Third Young Master smiled and nodded, understanding Mei'er's feelings at that moment. For Mei'er, this was not just a play, but a release for her soul, an opportunity to temporarily forget her past and immerse herself in beautiful fantasies. He gently held Mei'er's hand and said tenderly, "If you like it, that's good. Today, let's enjoy this moment and let all our troubles go with the wind."

As the drums and gongs sounded on the stage, a magnificent play slowly began. Mei'er was completely absorbed in the story, sometimes moved to tears by the characters' joys and sorrows, and sometimes applauding and cheering for their bravery. The Third Young Master silently accompanied her, sometimes handing her a handkerchief, sometimes sharing his thoughts on the plot with her. Their hearts were drawn closer together during this performance.

This scene not only allowed Mei'er to temporarily forget the constraints of her identity, but also made her feel an unprecedented happiness and fulfillment. All of this was thanks to the Third Young Master's meticulous arrangements and silent protection, which allowed this relationship, which was not favored, to shine with the most dazzling light amidst the theater lights and applause.

As the drums and gongs sounded on the stage, like ripples in the long river of history, a magnificent play slowly began. The drumbeats, like war drums urging on a charge, were stirring and powerful, instantly captivating Mei'er's heartstrings. She was completely absorbed in the plot, as if she had traveled through time and space, becoming a part of the characters in the play.

On stage, the various actors—male, female, painted-face, old man, and clown—took turns on stage, their every smile and gesture captivating Mei'er's heart. As the characters experienced joy and sorrow, Mei'er's eyes welled with tears, swirling but refusing to fall. She felt as if she could empathize with their pain and struggles, each emotional outburst shaking her to her core. And whenever the characters displayed bravery and fearlessness, Mei'er couldn't help but applaud and cheer, applauding their courage and determination.

Whenever a character in the play utters a classic line or makes a moving gesture, Mei'er can't help but imitate it. Her eyes become deep and full of emotion, as if she can see into the character's inner world; her gestures are elegant and powerful, as if she can capture every subtle change in emotion; her voice rises and falls with the plot, trying her best to imitate the charm and emotion. At this moment, Mei'er seems to become one with the character in the play, experiencing the ups and downs of the story together.

“Third Young Master, look how beautiful this aria is! ‘The world is so laughable, infatuation is the most pointless.’ It speaks to the hearts of so many!” Mei’er said to the Third Young Master, mimicking the female character’s singing. Her voice trembled slightly, a testament to her love and reverence for theatrical art. Her eyes shone brightly, as if in this moment she had found her inner peace and emotional refuge.

The Third Young Master listened quietly to Mei'er's sharing, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection. He understood Mei'er's love for theatrical arts and admired her innocence and persistence. He gently held Mei'er's hand and said softly, "Yes, Mei'er, you sang so well, it was as if you were the character in the play."

Upon hearing this, Mei'er's face blossomed into a radiant smile—a long-lost, genuine smile. She felt the Third Young Master's encouragement and support, and her heart was filled with gratitude and happiness. She knew that in this complex and chaotic world, having the Third Young Master by her side, accompanying and protecting her, was her greatest fortune and happiness.

As the plot unfolds, conversations between Mei'er and the Third Young Master rise and fall, as they share their love and insights into theatrical art. This performance not only allows Mei'er to temporarily forget the constraints of her social status and worldly views, but also lets her experience unprecedented freedom and joy. All of this is thanks to the Third Young Master's meticulous arrangements and silent protection, allowing this initially unfavored relationship to shine brightly amidst the theater lights and applause.

Looking at Mei'er's absorbed and sincere expression, the Third Young Master felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that although Mei'er came from a humble background, her yearning and pursuit of a better life were stronger than anyone else's. Seeing her excited expression because of the drama, an idea came to him. He gently said to Mei'er, "Mei'er, if you like opera so much, why not hire a famous opera singer to teach you a few excerpts? That way you can experience the charm of opera more deeply, and maybe you can even become a well-known opera enthusiast in the capital."

Upon hearing this, Mei'er froze, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She abruptly raised her head, her eyes gleaming with disbelief, her lips trembling slightly, too excited to speak for a long time. After a while, she finally found her voice, which was choked with emotion: "Third Young Master, you...you mean it? I can really learn opera? You'll hire famous opera singers to teach me?"

The third young master smiled and nodded, his eyes full of doting and encouragement: "Of course it's true, Mei'er. As long as you're willing to learn, I'll find a way to help you realize this dream."

Upon hearing this, Mei'er could no longer control her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. These were tears of happiness, tears of dreams. She tightly grasped the Third Young Master's hand, her voice trembling with sobs, "Third Young Master, thank you, thank you so much! This is something I never dared to imagine. You've given me such a wonderful surprise and opportunity. I... I really don't know what to say."

Seeing this, the third young master quickly wiped away Mei'er's tears with a handkerchief and gently comforted her, "Mei'er, don't cry, this is a good thing. You should be happy. Don't worry, I will have my mother arrange everything to ensure you receive the best education."

Mei'er kept thanking him, her voice filled with gratitude and happiness. She knew she had met someone who truly understood and cherished her.

In the next room, Consort Yi was intently calculating accounts, her head bowed. The ledger in her hands was densely filled with records of various expenses and trivial matters in the harem and the theater. Her brows were furrowed, her expression focused, as if the whole world was immersed in numbers and accounts. However, a burst of intermittent noise inappropriately broke the tranquility.

"Why are the guests in the next box so noisy?" Consort Yi looked up, frowning in displeasure, her gaze peering through the window lattice, trying to discern the commotion next door. She could vaguely hear the sounds of opera singing coming from next door, sometimes rousing, sometimes somber, and interspersed with faint cries. This piqued Consort Yi's curiosity; she wondered what kind of guests dared to be so unruly in the theater.

Seeing this, a palace maid standing nearby quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, should I remind them to lower their voices?" Upon hearing this, Your Highness gently shook her head, a gentle smile appearing on her face: "Never mind, they're probably too engrossed in the play. These people rarely have the opportunity to come to our theater; they must really enjoy it to be so absorbed. Why should we spoil their fun?"

Hearing this, the palace maid secretly admired Consort Yi's magnanimity and understanding. After she withdrew, Consort Yi lowered her head again and continued working on the account books. However, not long after, Consort Yi looked up at the window, a hint of hesitation on her face. She thought for a moment, and finally said to the palace maid, "Go and prepare three snacks to settle my accounts, and send them over. Perhaps they will understand my meaning and be more mindful of their behavior in the future."

After receiving the order, the palace maid quickly prepared three exquisite pastries, carried them on a tray, and tiptoed towards the adjacent private room. She pushed open the door and saw the room brightly lit. Mei'er and the Third Young Master were engrossed in the performance, seemingly oblivious to her arrival. The palace maid coughed lightly, placed the pastries on the table, and said softly, "Honorable guests, these are a small token of our Consort Yi's hospitality. Please enjoy."

Mei'er and the Third Young Master then noticed the arrival of the palace servants, and they quickly stood up and bowed.