Chapter 66 - Envy In The Shadows
The moment Minhwa was chosen, envy spread quickly throughout Hanshen Ge.
Whispers rose. Glances sharpened.
Out of all the girls, only Dunluo looked genuinely happy for her.
Inside her mind, Vira was even more excited.
Unable to hold back, she began playing one of her "special congratulatory songs" from her world.
The strange, loud melody echoed in Minhwa's head.
Minhwa frowned slightly.
"…What sort of headache-inducing singing is this?" she asked flatly. "Turn it off."
Vira gasped in shock.
Host! How dare you! How dare you call the best congratulatory song from my time a headache-inducing song?!
But Minhwa didn't care.
She ignored Vira's overdramatic protests and refocused on the present.
After making her decision, Madam rose without another word. Without sparing a glance at Lin Yue—whom she had asked to stand aside—or the other judges, she left.
Once Madam was gone, Master Du Dufu and Zhao Liang approached Minhwa.
"Congratulations," Master Du said, his tone calm but firm.
Then, after a brief pause, he added,
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew—you were meant for greatness."
Minhwa said nothing, but her gaze remained steady.
"From today onward," he continued, "you will be personally trained by me."
A ripple went through the remaining girls.
"Your training will be… different."
At those words, the jealousy around Minhwa became impossible to hide.
Some girls frowned. Some whispered.
"She doesn't deserve it…"
"She did not even do anything special..."
But none of it reached her. Minhwa's focus had already shifted tothe upcoming performance.
That was all that mattered.
.
.
.
.
.
For an entire month, from morning until night, Minhwa trained under Master Du Dufu.
The training was relentless.
Her steps were corrected again and again—refined, sharpened, perfected.
Mistakes were not tolerated.
Sometimes, they skipped meals.
Sometimes, they trained until exhaustion blurred her vision.
But neither of them complained.
Because both understood— Just how important this was.
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After a full month of relentless training— dress testing and adjustments made.
Only one day remained until the performance.
After training, Minhwa didn't linger.
The moment she was dismissed, she turned and walked straight back to her room. Her steps were steady, but her body felt heavier than usual—drained from the day's intensity.
After she entered, she closed the door behind her.
Silence.
Without hesitation, she moved to her bed and lay down, not even bothering to wash or change.
Her limbs sank into the mattress. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Host… tomorrow is the day", Vira muttered quietly.
Minhwa said nothing.
Her mind had already drifted far away—
Back to another time. Her past life.
Fragments surfaced.
Faint. Blurry.
But enough to make her chest tighten slightly.
Yes… tomorrow…
Her lips parted softly.
"Yes… tomorrow," she whispered. Then her eyes slowly closed.
And soon, she fell into a deep, heavy slumber.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile
The corridors of Hanshen Ge had long fallen silent.
Only the faint glow of lanterns lit the passageways, their soft light stretching into shadows that clung to the wooden walls.
Tomorrow was the performance. Every act had been assigned its own space.
Each room carefully prepared. Costumes arranged neatly. Accessories placed with precision.
Nothing left to chance.
Minhwa's assigned room sat quietly at the far end of the corridor.
Undisturbed. Still.
Then— A soft sound broke the silence.
Creaaak…
The door opened.
Slowly. Carefully.
As if whoever stood outside had no intention of being heard.
A girl stepped in.
Her face hidden beneath the dim light. Her movements deliberate.
Measured.
She paused, looked around.
Then— Her gaze landed on the costume prepared for the performance.
For a moment, She did nothing.
Then— She stepped closer.
The door behind her remained slightly open.
The lantern light flickered.
Casting shadows that danced along the walls.
And in that quiet room— Something shifted.
By the time the door closed again— Everything seemed the same.
Except for the costume.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Next Day
After a full month of relentless training— The day finally arrived.
From the early morning into the late evenings, arrangement were made in Hanshen Ge, as it's was entirely transformed.
It's was the night of Hanshen Ge's grand performance.
By the time the clock struck seven, guests had arrived from all corners of Great Liang.
Nobles. Officials. Wealthy merchants.
Even those who rarely showed themselves in public found reason to attend.
The only absence— Was the Emperor within the palace.
But even so— It could not be said that the event lacked importance.
When news first spread that this year's performance would be open to both men and women—
The reactions had been… mixed.
The women scoffed.
"A gisaeng house?" they said with disdain. "What business do we have in such a place?"
The men laughed.
"What will our wives even do there?" they joked openly.
But— If one were to truly ask those same wives— Their answers would differ.
Curiosity.
That was the truth.
A quiet, unspoken curiosity about the place that continuously drew their husbands in.
And so— When night fell— The grand hall of Hanshen Ge was filled.
Men and women alike.
Side by side.
Watching. Waiting.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile— Inside the palace.
The Crown Prince sat before his desk, listening to his lesson.
Across from him stood his teacher—
Great Scholar Yu, the imperial instructor of all princes. His voice was steady, his teachings precise.
Until— A servant's voice broke the calm.
"Your Highness, the Queen has arrived."
The moment the words were spoken— The atmosphere shifted.
Great Scholar Yu paused, then immediately stood.
Just as he prepared to excuse himself— The doors opened.
The Queen entered.
Without hesitation, the scholar bowed deeply. "This subject greets Your Majesty."
Receiving no need for further words, he quietly withdrew, leaving the room in silence.
The Crown Prince's eyes lit up the moment he saw her.
"Mother!"
A bright smile spread across his face as he quickly stood and rushed toward her.
He reached out, taking her hands into his.
"You're here—why are you here?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine happiness.
But— The Queen gently pulled her hands away.
The movement was calm. Deliberate.
And with it - His smile dimmed.
"Get ready," she said. Her voice was neither warm nor cold.
"We have somewhere important to be." A brief pause. "I will be waiting outside."
And just like that—She turned and left. Silence filled the room.
The Crown Prince stood where he was. Alone.
The trace of his earlier joy disappeared completely.
Slowly— He closed his eyes.
Taking a quiet breath, he composed himself.
Then— He turned and walked into his inner chamber to change.
Not long after— He stepped out once more.
Dressed appropriately, His expression calm.
Controlled.
Outside— The Queen was already waiting inside the carriage.
He stepped inside, without another word— The carriage started moving.
The palace gates opened.
And the carriage carrying the Crown Prince and the Queen rolled into the night.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
The moment the Crown Prince realized where they were heading— Hanshen Ge.
His heart skipped.
For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes.
He had never thought… he would be brought here again. Not like this.
Not beside the Queen. Not openly.
His fingers tightened slightly on his sleeve, but outwardly—he remained calm.
He did not ask a single question.
They stepped down as soon as the carriage stopped.
They stepped inside.
A performance had just ended. The lingering notes of music still hung faintly in the air.
Applause followed.
Soft. Refined.
A servant seeing them quickly approached, bowing respectfully before guiding them to their assigned seats.
The moment they sat— Another performance began.
The performances continued for hours.
Dance after dance. Song after song.
The hall glowed with elegance.
Graceful movements. Delicate melodies. Beautiful faces.
Everything Hanshen Ge was known for was on full display.
But the Crown Prince— Mo Tian— Saw none of it.
Or rather, He looked… But he did not see.
Because his heart was somewhere else.
Where is she…?
Even as he sat there, composed, dignified— His thoughts drifted.
Searching.Yearning.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile outside Hanshen Ge.
Another carriage soon arrived. Then another.
Then another.
The Third Prince stepped down from his carriage, his presence drawing quiet attention.
Not long after— The General of Northern Liang arrived.
One by one— Carriages lined the entrance.
Ministers. Officials. Military commanders.
Princes.
The most powerful figures of Great Liang gathered under one roof.
It could be said— Hanshen Ge, on this night— Held the empire within its walls.
All— Except the Emperor and the Second Prince.
Inside Hanshen Ge — The atmosphere was no less intense.
Gisaengs hurried through corridors.
Some adjusting their robes. Some fixing their hair.
Some steadying their breathing.
Behind the stage— It was controlled chaos.
One stepped off— Another stepped on.
No pause. No delay.
Everything flowed exactly as planned.
Hours passed , One performance after another ended.
The audience remained.
Watching.
And then— It was time for the final group.
The young trainees.
In the middle of their performance—There would be a break.
A moment. A shift. Minhwa's moment.
Minwha stepped into the dressing space assigned to her.
Calm.
Ready.
But the moment she entered— She stopped.
On the floor, layed her costume.
Shredded. Completely ruined.
Only the white inner garment remained untouched.
"Host—who did this?!" Vira gasped, her voice filled with shock.
"We have to inform Master Du!" she added quickly.
"Mmm," Minhwa replied calmly.
No panic. No anger.
Just—Acceptance.
Then movement.
They left immediately to inform Master Du.
When Master Du heard— His expression changed instantly.
"What?!"
Without wasting another second, he rushed over with Zhao Liang.
They entered the room and saw it. The torn fabric scattered across the floor.
The air felt heavy. Stifling.
Master Du's lips parted slightly but no words came out.
Zhao Liang frowned deeply, his brows tightening.
"What do we do now…" he muttered under his breath.
There was no time. None.
The performance was already nearing its final stage.
Master Du's eyes reddened slightly. "I—this—how could this—"
He was on the verge of breaking down.
Then — Minhwa stepped forward.
"I have an idea." She said
Both men froze. They turned to her instantly.
Hope— Desperation— Clung to their expressions.
"What idea?" Master Du asked quickly, stepping closer.
Minhwa glanced once at the shredded costume on the floor.
Then— At the untouched white garment.
Her eyes remained calm.
Steady.
"We don't need the costume," she said.
A brief pause.
"I'll perform… in this."
Was all she said as she pointed to the white garment.