Chapter 151: Watching the Opera

Chapter 151

Watching the Opera

When Xiao Hua Hua returned, Xu Shi immediately took her into her arms. The little girl had fallen asleep in her grandmother’s embrace, and everyone who saw her couldn’t help but feel charmed.

Chen Yuelan had also attended the event with her parents. She hadn’t expected to see her old rival, Nie Shuang. Wasn’t she supposed to stay hidden at home after being the subject of such scandalous rumors? Seeing Nie Shuang appear so composed left Chen Yuelan flustered. Xu Shi pretended not to see her and her mother, and Chen Furen didn’t dare to approach them, marking the first time there was such a clear distance between the two families.

“There’s still a while before the meal is served. Why don’t we go watch the opera in the meantime?”

Elder Wen Furen, who was in particularly high spirits today, invited everyone to join. Xu Shi stayed behind since Xiao Hua Hua was sleeping, fearing that the opera’s noise might startle her awake. Nie Shuang followed the other ladies to watch the performance.

Today, Nie Shuang wore a simple light pink dress embroidered with plum blossoms. Her thick, soft hair was tied into an elegant cloud bun adorned with the precious jade hairpin that Song Qilin had gifted her. Despite being pregnant, she looked graceful and radiant, drawing second glances from many. Nie Shuang didn’t appear nervous despite attending alone. With Xiao San’s support, she carefully made her way to her seat at the opera stage. As was common among wealthy families, the Wen family had a private opera stage in their home.

The performance was about to begin, and the orchestra played to set the atmosphere. The noblewomen in attendance whispered among themselves, with some casting disdainful glances at Nie Shuang. However, Nie Shuang smiled and met their eyes directly, causing them to look away awkwardly. What was there to care about these people? They could only mistreat the weak. She remained calm and composed, waiting relaxedly.

From a distance, Chen Yuelan observed this with mixed emotions. She had hoped that Nie Shuang would never be able to face society again, yet here she was, unperturbed by the rumors. How could she remain so shamelessly calm? Seeing that Xu Shi wasn’t present, Chen Yuelan saw an opportunity to taunt her rival and left her mother’s side to sit next to her.

The seat next to Nie Shuang was still vacant, and when she noticed someone taking a seat beside her, she glanced over, only to see it was Chen Yuelan. She promptly averted her gaze, uninterested and even bored. Chen Yuelan sat down and sneered while whispering,

“After causing such disgrace, you still dare show your face at public events?”

Fearing that the others would overhear that she was the one who tried to provoke, Chen Yuelan lowered her voice. Yet, Nie Shuang continued to watch the stage without acknowledging her.

“Young Miss Chen, I offer you some advice. From now on, you should stay quiet and follow your parents’ wishes. Don’t bring any more trouble to yourself or your family.”

“Hmph! Bring trouble?! You ruined my life. Don’t think I don’t know. Song Ren called off the wedding because you arranged for him to be with Princess An Le, didn’t you?!”

“Young Miss Chen, it seems your memory is failing. Do you not remember what happened at the Hou’s birthday celebration? Was it I who spread nonsensical rumors at the host’s event? After everything that happened, did you really think Yong An Hou would still want you as a daughter-in-law? The fact that the Hou didn’t punish you was merciful enough. It’s only right that the Second Young Master canceled the wedding. Who would want a wife with the intelligence of a pea? Tell me, what have I done to you? Everything that’s happened, you brought upon yourself.”

Just as the performers took the stage and the first act of the opera began, Chen Furen spotted her daughter sitting next to Nie Shuang and immediately turned pale. She hurried over.

“Young Furen, I hope Yuelan hasn’t disturbed you. The opera is about to start, so please enjoy it at your leisure.”

Chen Furen grabbed her daughter’s hand, trying to pull her away, but Chen Yuelan shook her off.

"Shameless! You wretched woman! You’re the one who stole Brother Qilin from me. While he was off at war, you didn’t even follow him, and yet here you are pregnant by another man. Look at you now. Everyone is talking about your disgraceful behavior, and you still have the nerve to show your face here!"

Overcome with rage, Chen Yuelan pointed her finger and insulted Nie Shuang in the middle of the opera house. The audience, distracted from the stage, turned their attention to the commotion. Chen Furen, pale with shock, quickly reached out to tug at her daughter’s arm, attempting to drag her away. Chen Yuelan resisted, ready to continue her tirade, but when she noticed the stares of those around her, she finally realized the inappropriate timing. This was someone else’s joyful occasion, and causing a scene here was unseemly. Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be led away by her mother.

"What on earth has gotten into you? Why are you picking a fight with her?"

Her mother scolded her sternly as they stepped outside.

"Mother! I’ve thought it over. It has to be her. She must have been the one to arrange the match between Song Ren and the princess. It wasn’t enough that she stole Brother Qilin from me—she had to steal Song Ren for her friend as well. How can you expect me to swallow such a grievance?"

"No one did anything! A’Lan, do you still not realize? If you don’t learn to control your temper and stop speaking nonsense, how will you ever get along with others? These people—none of them are perfect. They all have wicked thoughts, but none of them say things as idiotic as you do. When will you finally grow up?!"

Chen Furen’s voice cracked, and tears began to flow. Chen Yuelan had never seen her mother cry, so she was shocked and fell silent, unable to argue. Chen Furen dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and composed herself for a moment before leading her daughter back to the opera house. The two found seats near the back. By the time they returned, the opera had been underway for a while, and it took some time for them to catch up with the story. After a few scenes, however, both mother and daughter began to frown.

The female protagonist of the opera wept and lamented as the man she loved married another woman. He was a soldier, and while she waited for him to return from battle to marry her, he came back with another woman instead. They were like the green plum blossoms and bamboo horse—though they had never made promises, it was understood how the woman felt. After the scene ended, accompanied by music, Chen Yuelan glanced at her mother.

"It’s nothing, just a coincidence,"

Chen Furen reassured her daughter. Stories like this were common in melodramatic novels, weren’t they? She held her daughter’s hand and continued to watch the performance. But the more they watched, the more the plot eerily mirrored Chen Yuelan’s life. The protagonist’s family begged the man’s family to take her as another principal wife, but the man refused, and even planned to elope with his wife. The wife, however, enraged with her husband’s family, fled before they could elope together, leaving the husband to search for her for a year, all the while lying to others, claiming he had taken her to the border with him.

Chen Yuelan made a move to stand up and shout, but her mother grabbed her arm. By this point, the audience had started whispering among themselves. Who didn’t know about the Chen family’s attempt to make Chen Yuelan another principal wife? Now, she could barely keep her composure. Anger and humiliation surged within her, and the sight of Nie Shuang watching the opera calmly only added to her fury, to the point of wanting to scratch Nie Shuang’s face. Chen Yuelan trembled with rage, and Chen Furen had to embrace her tightly.

"It’s okay. I’m here. Just stay calm. If anyone is deliberately targeting you, I won’t let it slide,"Chen Furen consoled her daughter. She was beginning to realize that someone was indeed attacking Chen Yuelan, and that person was none other than the Hou’s daughter-in-law—Nie Shuang!