Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In the third year of the Shengyuan era, at the Zhai Xian Lou opera house.

Luo Qianyu lounged lazily in the fourth-floor private box. Waiters streamed in continuously, bearing dish after dish into the elegant chamber. His gaze drifted from the brightly lit stage far below to the golden folding fan resting in his palm.

With a flick of his wrist, the fan snapped open—revealing eight bold characters:

“ACE THE EXAMS, PASS IN ONE GO.”

Strikingly conspicuous.

Luo Qianyu was having a full-blown existential crisis.

Clearly, the original owner had been a provincial examination candidate on the verge of heading to the imperial examinations. Yet despite being deep in preparation, he was here—at Zhai Xian Lou—listening to opera.

Beside him sat another young man, resplendent in an embroidered brocade robe, watching the famed performer onstage with rapt attention—and occasionally chatting animatedly: “Young Marquis, you reserved the entire Zhai Xian Lou today just to hear Liu Er’s single performance—the one whose singing has taken the capital by storm. These guests are enjoying complimentary drinks and refreshments, yet none of them knows which noble lord spent a fortune to make it happen. All they do is gossip.”

Luo Qianyu: “…I booked the whole place?”

“Yes.” Lou Xian, utterly oblivious to the Young Marquis’s odd demeanor, replied calmly, “Speaking of that famous performer Liu Er—I caught a glimpse of her earlier, from afar. She truly is exquisite—no wonder she caught your eye. Calling her the Capital’s First Beauty isn’t an exaggeration.”

…

“That’s wrong.” Luo Qianyu seemed distracted, staring blankly at the stage as he murmured softly, *“In this novel, the Capital’s First Beauty is Wen Yu.”*

His voice was low—but Lou Xian still caught fragments of it.

Young Master Lou’s father was General Lou, a senior commander and trusted subordinate of Grand Marshal Luo Zhenchuan. Naturally, across generations, the two sons had grown up side by side—and become close friends.

“Wen Yu?” Lou Xian blinked, startled. “That name sounds vaguely familiar. A beauty? Do you know him?”

Know him? Luo Qianyu sighed inwardly.

Wen Yu was the novel’s legitimate protagonist—the *shou*.

…

That’s right. Everything before his eyes existed within a book.

The book was titled *Chasing the Crane*, a steamy harem romance featuring a beloved protagonist—wildly popular during its serialization. He wasn’t some pampered, noble-born Young Marquis, but merely a second-year university student sharing the same name, living a monotonous routine shuttling between cafeteria, dormitory, and classroom.

The novel’s protagonist was Wen Yu—the famed Capital’s First Beauty.

Not only was his appearance extraordinary, but he also excelled in both literary and martial arts. Appointed top scholar by the late emperor himself, he was exiled a thousand miles away following his family’s downfall—a celestial crane fallen from heaven into the mud, a classic tale of beauty meeting tragedy.

True to its title, the story began with Wen Yu secretly returning to the capital to seek medical treatment for his ailing mother—drawing the attention of powerful figures and sparking a chain of forced possession, physical and emotional torment—a veritable battlefield of love.

The original novel bristled with so many stock love interests (*gong*) that one hand couldn’t count them all. The Prime Minister coveted him; the General admired him—even the Emperor desired to possess him. Wen Yu was, without question, a heartthrob.

Naturally, this included Lou Xian—the childhood companion seated beside him—who fell head over heels for the beautiful *shou* almost instantly.

As for the Young Marquis—one among many stock *gong* characters—he bore little resemblance to his real-life counterpart, a ruthless academic grinder. Instead, he was an unapologetic, dissolute playboy—fun-loving, frivolous, and carefree by nature.

He held little advantage among rivals. Not only was his martial skill mediocre, but even his poetry left the State Preceptor speechless. Plainly put, he was all charm and no substance—a handsome but hollow shell.

Drinking at brothels, attending opera houses, galloping through night markets—the Marquis Luo’s son was notoriously spoiled, arrogant, and domineering in the capital.

Despite his illustrious lineage and noble status, he’d been raised since childhood with a delicate, frail constitution.

Single-mindedly obsessed with capturing the beauty’s heart, he stopped at nothing—not even drugging the protagonist mid-journey. Yet fate twisted cruelly: he never even tasted the “meat soup,” and was consequently despised by the beauty.

Another stock *gong* felled him with a single punch and crippled his leg with two fingers—after which his spirit and pride shattered completely.

His final fate? Expulsion from the imperial capital—and death on the battlefield.

Surprisingly, he even amassed quite a few CP fans on forums and Tieba. Because the Young Marquis was never seen without his folding fan, his fans composed a tribute poem for him:

*“The folding fan seems to speak yet holds back;

A thousand encounters are not worth one Yu.”*

Luo Qianyu thought: *It’s unnecessary—truly unnecessary.*

With so many vying for the protagonist’s affection, he absolutely didn’t need to board this beauty’s high-speed train.

He couldn’t stomach the bitterness of such love—it was better to cut losses early.

Just then, a soft sound came from outside the door.

It turned out Liu Er had finished her song. Led by Manager Yu of Zhai Xian Lou, she arrived at the private box specifically to pay respects to the guest who had reserved the venue that day.

Light footsteps approached, followed by a soft, delicate female voice: “This humble one has come to pay her respects to the two young masters.”

Manager Yu beamed, rubbing his hands together as he bowed deeply: “The presence of you two Young Masters graces our humble establishment beyond measure. It is a blessing accumulated over countless lifetimes for old Yu… Quick, Liu Er—before the next act, let the two young masters have a look.”

The main event had arrived.

The original owner harbored a little-known weakness: he adored beauties—above all else.

The reason he’d reserved the venue today was, in fact, to see this famed performer from Zhai Xian Lou.

Yet at this moment, the Young Marquis hadn’t yet met Wen Yu—so naturally, he regarded Liu Er as peerless in beauty. All this occurred before the protagonist *shou*, Wen Yu, made his entrance.

Once Wen Yu appeared, every beauty previously encountered would fade into insignificance. As the saying goes: *“Amidst the crowd, a single glance from her outshines all; compared to her, the world’s colors are but dust.”*

But that lay ahead.

As the footsteps drew nearer, both young men lifted their heads simultaneously.

Candles burned brightly in the private box. Before them stood the renowned *dan* performer, clad in a magnificent opera costume, her headdress shimmering with light. It was no exaggeration to say *“her brows like distant mountains veiled in mist, her eyes like autumn waters brimming with feeling”—*as if she’d stepped straight out of a classical painting.

“…Young Marquis, Young Master Lou.” She bowed gracefully, her reserved voice laced with quiet tenderness. “This humble girl is Liu Er. I’ve specially come to pay my respects to you two young masters.”

Luo Qianyu thought: *No wonder she became a star performer. With a face like that, even if her voice sounded like Zhang Fei’s, the place would still be packed.*

Yet the person beneath the Young Marquis’s skin had long since changed—so naturally, he felt no genuine attraction toward the beauty either.

“Please rise.” Luo Qianyu lacked the original owner’s weakness. His heart remained calm and still—as he offered polite small talk: “It’s been a few days. You’ve grown thinner, Miss.”

Liu Er paused, visibly startled—as if she hadn’t expected such a personal inquiry. After a brief silence, she replied softly, “Thank you for your concern, Young Marquis. I’ve been diligently practicing my singing lately—I feared making a fool of myself today and becoming the young masters’ laughingstock.”

“How could that be?” the Young Marquis said awkwardly. “Your health is your greatest asset. You must take good care of yourself.”

Liu Er curtsied: “Yes.”

“And how is your family?”

“Thanks to the young master’s kindness, all is well at home.”

Lou Xian stood by with his arms crossed, watching the back-and-forth exchange that was cloyingly sweet, as if his presence had been completely forgotten.

Boss Yu chimed in from the side, urging, "Liu Er, you'll be on stage soon. Hurry and offer a toast to our distinguished guests."

This was the unwritten code of the theater: before a famous dan (the star female impersonator) took the stage, they would first visit the wealthy patrons who had splurged on them. Under the guise of offering a toast, they might sneak a waist hug or a hand squeeze—as long as it wasn’t too excessive, it was generally tolerated.

Liu Er picked up the nu'erhong wine, poured two cups, raised one herself, and handed the other to the Young Marquis.

But the Young Marquis was as dense as a block of wood, clueless about romance, and simply drank the wine. So she had to take the initiative, her small hand reaching for the Young Marquis’s hand hanging by his side.

Luo Qianyu’s scalp tingled, and he hastily took a step back, pulling away to avoid Liu Er’s touch.

Boss Yu: "?"

Liu Er: "?"

Lou Xian also froze for a second.

Luo Qianyu was mortified.

It wasn’t that he wanted to snub the beauty—it was because, having read the original novel in advance, he knew that the capital's hottest star was actually a man through and through!

Liu Er’s real name was Liu Cixue, a famously cross-dressing character in the book, a trope beloved by readers, and he even had significant roles in the middle and later parts of the original story.

He was straight, and he knew that beneath the floral crown and makeup, this famous dan was a man. That’s why he couldn’t help but recoil from Liu Er’s intimate advances. Watching a play at the theater was fine, and renting out the theater was one thing, but he really couldn’t handle men—not even men dressed as women.

Liu Er, having been rebuffed, was momentarily stunned before gritting his teeth discreetly and withdrawing from the private room with Boss Yu. After downing a cup of warm wine, the heat rushed straight to his throat and chest. Luo Qianyu glanced at the stage below, his thoughts growing clearer.

It all started when the Young Marquis had charged his horse through the night market, nearly trampling a little girl buying candied hawthorns. Wen Yu had stepped in to save her, and the Young Marquis had fallen in love at first sight with the beauty.

Come to think of it... that unruly horse that caused him so much grief was actually a gift from Lou Xian.

It hadn’t arrived yet.

Luo Qianyu looked up and shot a glance at the culprit.

Lou Xian was holding a wine cup, feeling uneasy under the gaze. "Young Marquis, why are you staring at me? It’s giving me the creeps."

"Lou Xian." Luo Qianyu didn’t answer but leaned in slightly.

"?!" Lou Xian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, frozen in place, unsure whether to move or stay still.

"You haven’t been thinking about what to give me lately, have you?"

As soon as the words were spoken, Lou Xian’s heart skipped a beat.

He was indeed planning to give the Young Marquis a hawk.

But he had kept it strictly under wraps, telling no one—only heaven, earth, he himself... and his personal attendant knew.

"Not at all, what are you talking about?" Lou Xian glared at his attendant.

The servant gave a slight shake of his head, innocently indicating he hadn’t said a word.

Luo Qianyu, having seen through it, felt a headache coming on and admonished, "You’d better drop that idea."

"I don’t want anything, and I lack nothing. If you give me something, I’ll only get angry, understand?"

Lou Xian couldn’t hide his surprise, nodding perfunctorily, unsure if he’d taken it to heart.

Soon, with a clear and melodious singing voice, Liu Er slowly stepped onto the stage, her vermilion lips parting.

The door to the private room was half-open when a servant hurried over, bowed to the Young Marquis, and then scurried to Lou Xian’s side, whispering in his ear, "Young Master, the hawk merchant has arrived."

"Please go and see him."

Lou Xian raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingers on the table edge, and said softly, "Just pay him. Why should I go?"

The servant broke into a sweat. "We can’t communicate well, and the foreigner insists on meeting the real buyer before handing over the goods."

Lou Xian cursed under his breath, glanced at the Young Marquis who was engrossed in the performance, hesitated for a moment, then stood up and left. "I’m going downstairs. I’ll be right back."

Luo Qianyu, thoroughly absorbed, grunted in response.

As the song ended, he was left wanting more.

There was usually a quarter-hour break between performances, during which guests could discuss the opera, chat with acquaintances, enjoy tea and snacks, or even attend to personal matters.

Luo Qianyu noticed that Lou Xian had been gone for a long time, leaving only his attendant behind. Feeling bored, he thought he might as well go downstairs to relieve himself. If that guy still hadn’t returned by the time he finished this song, he’d just head back.

Zhaixian Tower was one of the top theaters in the capital. The restroom wasn’t far, and regular distinguished guests even had a finely decorated private lavatory. But on the way back to the fourth-floor private room after relieving himself, he inevitably had to pass through the bustling staircase.

Just as he reached the landing by the second-floor corridor railing, he ran into five or six people coming down.

They were dressed lavishly—some wore brocade cloaks with intricate embroidery on their lapels, their inner garments made of silk. Unlike ordinary spectators, these men clearly had the air of high-ranking officials or nobles.

Luo Qianyu paid no attention and brushed past the group.

However, the man closest to him suddenly spoke up from behind:

"This famous Zhaixian Tower—we’ve actually encountered a beauty like an immortal descended to earth. I wonder if that celestial being would allow mere mortals to pluck her?"

"Really?! Compared to Liu Er, who’s famous throughout the capital for her singing, who’s more beautiful?"

...

Luo Qianyu paused in his steps.

As soon as the words fell, he heard another person’s teasing, the voice grating and coarse.

"Beautiful women are as numerous as stars in the sky." The man pointed upward and chuckled with ill intent. "But a beauty who is both scholarly and martial, unyielding and upright—there’s only one such person in the world."

The others nodded in agreement. "We’d heard the top scholar was a peerless beauty, but seeing him in person is even more extraordinary. Truly worthy of his reputation as the most stunning in the capital."

"But how could such a beauty willingly bow his head?"

"Does he dare not yield?" The leading man snorted coldly, sneering. "This time he returned to the capital to seek medical treatment for his mother. Lord Quan has detained the life-saving old doctor here at Zhaixian Tower, refusing to release him. No matter how much backbone he has, let’s see if he’ll compromise for his gravely ill mother!"

"Ah, Lord Quan has taken a life before—a commoner woman. Her family sought justice but got nowhere... It seems the top scholar is in for a rough time."

"But if things escalate today, it won’t be good for any of us..."

"What’s there to fear? If the sky falls, Lord Quan will hold it up for us. Even if it’s a disgraced top scholar, or even the newly appointed number one scholar of the court—once he enters Lord Quan’s private room, not even a sparrow flying by could leak a word!"

...

Luo Qianyu came to a complete stop.

He abruptly turned around, watching the retreating backs of the men as they headed toward the carved pavilion on the third floor. Boss Yu chased after them to the door, pleading desperately about something, only to be slapped several times by the leader, cursed at, and driven downstairs.

The Young Marquis pursed his lips, hearing the frantic pounding of his own heart.

That top scholar?

Going to find a doctor for his mother?

The infamous Carved Pavilion used to humiliate beauties?

Luo Qianyu's fists clenched.

...

Damn it, they had to be talking about Wen Yu?!