Page 146

"After all, I've been begging to perform in operas for so long."

"Mmm-hmm." Xiaodie squatted on the ground, her chubby little face cupped in both hands as she fretted. "It's such a rare opportunity; if we miss it, who knows when we'll get another chance?"

Seeing Xiaodie's distress, Guo Fengdan smiled gently and pulled her up. "Don't worry, Sister Dan Dan will think of something."

"Great!" Xiaodie clapped happily.

Although she said that, she still hadn't made up her mind.

Guo Fengdan loved performing in operas; she hadn't had enough of it yet, so why would she want to go make movies? Although the film company had promised they could let her sing in operas while filming.

But...

Was it truly possible?

She was hesitant, fearing she might lose one for the other.

Heavy boots creaked against the wooden planks with each step.

In the next instant.

A gun pokes through the curtain.

Guo Fengdan jumps in fright, embracing Xiaodie. Then, the theater troupe's manager leads in a group of armed warlords dressed in yellow.

At their head is a man in his forties, who, upon seeing Guo Fengdan, puts away his gun and smiles, "You must be Miss Guo?"

The manager promptly steps forward to introduce, "Dan Dan, this is General Dashuai Sun. He just finished watching 'The Purple Hairpin' downstairs and was very impressed. He even brought a gift especially for you."

As soon as the manager finishes speaking, a soldier emerges with a box brimming with jewels.

"Please accept this, Miss Guo," General Sun says with a faint smile.

"General Sun's gesture is too generous. Fengdan dare not accept," Guo Fengdan replies, well aware of the general's intentions. The sight of the treasure-filled box doesn't bring her joy but instead fills her with fear.

She has heard that this General Sun is a warlord from the north, notorious for his ruthlessness and having twelve concubines. She can't fathom why he would want to give her anything.

Dashuai Sun, having been rejected, indeed wore a chilly expression.

"The Miss Guo truly has an impressive presence."

The troupe leader, anxious, discreetly signaled at Guo Fengdan with his eyes while keeping his back to Dashuai Sun. "No need, Dan Dan will definitely accept. Dan Dan?"

The troupe leader had long explained that warlords were inhumane and could unleash massacres if they were displeased.

For the sake of the opera troupe, Guo Fengdan had no choice but to accept.

After that,

Dashuai Sun's visits grew more frequent, and the gifts he brought became increasingly extravagant.

One day,

he instructed his people to present the Three Books and Six Rites, along with the Four Gifts and Five Types of Metal. He said, "Guo Fengdan, after tomorrow, you must not ascend the stage to perform."

"Why?" Guo Fengdan had just put on her makeup, her brows delicately drawn. "Why can't I perform on stage anymore?"

"You're about to become my Thirteenth Concubine in the Sun household," General Dashuai Sun declared sternly. "As a general, how can my concubine be out in public, entertaining others?"

Guo Fengdan's shock caused her eyebrow pencil to drop to the floor as she quickly rose from her seat, her robe swishing around her.

"Has General Sun misunderstood? When did I ever agree to become your Thirteenth Concubine?"

Dashuai Sun, his hand resting on his gun, looked down at her with a cold smile. "In any case, the wedding date has been chosen. You will become my concubine whether you like it or not."

With that, the soldiers roughly dragged Guo Fengdan out the door.

Chapter 54

Upon seeing Guo Fengdan being bullied, Yu Feiyang rushed forward to intervene, swinging his fist at the soldier who was pushing her.

The warlord's soldier's head disintegrated instantly.

He lowered his hand in surprise. "How is this possible?"

"All of this has already happened in the past. You can't change it," Chu Yuening explained.

Yu Feiyang, thinking of Guo Fengdan being bullied by Dashuai Sun, slumped to the ground dejectedly. "What about Dan Dan? Is she just supposed to endure... Dashuai Sun's harassment?"

Chu Yuening shook her head but realized they still needed some means of protection entering the bamboo grove.

She took out the charms she had prepared beforehand and glanced at Zhou Fengxu hesitantly.

Zhou Fengxu looked over with a sidelong glance. "What's up?"

"Oh, I didn't originally prepare one for you," Chu Yuening said as she separated the four charms, handing one to Zhou Fengxu and asking, "Did you bring your gun?"

Who would have thought that on a feng shui mission, they would encounter an old acquaintance?

Zhou Fengxu softly acknowledged, "Yes, I did."

"In case it becomes necessary, you can wrap the charm around your gun and use it," Chu Yuening suggested.

"Okay," Zhou Fengxu tucked the charm away, "I will."

The light gradually dimmed.

Guo Fengdan's clothing vanished from sight as the curtain fell into place.

Moments later.

The dim space illuminated once more, but the setting was no longer the Pear Garden Theater. It had transformed into an estate.

Guo Fengdan slumped against the door, dressed in a traditional buttoned robe with her long, lustrous black hair cascading down to the floor. She wrapped her arms around her legs, burying her face on one side.

Ever since Dashuai Sun had announced his intention to take her as his thirteenth concubine, she had been confined to her room for a week.

A maid knocked on the door. "Miss, Dashuai Sun is here. Master and Lady request your presence in the main hall."

Guo Fengdan's arms tightened around herself, and she turned her head. "I'm not going. I want to go to the Pear Garden and perform."

The maid looked distressed. "But... Lady said you're forbidden from singing anymore. You're to stay home obediently and wait for your marriage."

"To whom? To Marshal Sun?" Guo Fengdan shot up in astonishment, so agitated that she reached to pull at her hair. "He's old enough to be my father."

"But... Marshal Sun holds power, and he treats his wives well..." The maid shuddered at the memory of the fearsome Marshal Sun with his distinctive mustache, but realizing there was no other choice, she tried to reassure her mistress.

"Yes, he's good," Guo Fengdan replied with a bitter smile. "So good that he has twelve consorts – terrifyingly good, too good for me to even contemplate."

"Miss, try to focus on the positive aspects," the maid pleaded, having grown up alongside her mistress like a sister. How could she bear to see her constantly in distress?

"Perhaps you could have a conversation with the Marshal and ask him to allow you to continue performing after marriage?"

"No way," Guo Fengdan sighed.

"How could someone who wields military power and adheres to traditional masculinity understand, let alone our parents?"