Lin Shi ignored her. At this moment, the couple in “The Ballad of the Swaying Lady” on stage had reached the height of their argument, and the sound of strings and bamboo instruments became increasingly intense. Suddenly, a man dressed as a bailiff walked onto the stage, took out chains to arrest the husband, saying that after getting drunk, he had beaten someone to death. Li Yuan said in surprise: “How do I not remember ‘The Ballad of the Swaying Lady’ having such a scene?”

Lin Shi laughed lightly: “If it were the same as what My Lord knows, wouldn’t that be too boring? Just watch—the best part is yet to come.”

Li Yuan’s interest was now piqued. “Good, then let’s continue watching.”

On stage, after the bailiff took the husband away, another man from a gambling house came to demand from the distraught Swaying Lady the money her husband owed the gambling house. If she couldn’t pay, they would sell the Swaying Lady to a brothel to settle the gambling debt.

The family was already destitute, so how could they possibly come up with the money? The Swaying Lady could only weep as that man forcibly escorted her toward the brothel. At this moment, someone blocked their path—a man named Han Yi who lived near the Swaying Lady’s home. He righteously intervened and paid the gambling debt for the Swaying Lady.

Cui Shi watched the two dancing together on stage and sighed: “If only the Swaying Lady had married this man from the beginning, she wouldn’t have suffered so much.”

Lin Shi smiled and said: “Until the very last moment, one cannot know whether the person one marries is right or wrong.”

While they spoke quietly below, the scene changed on stage. After the gambling debt incident, the man showed the Swaying Lady every kindness and revealed that he had long admired her, hoping she would remarry him.

The Swaying Lady’s natal family also felt that although Han Yi already had a wife, his character and family background were thousands of times better than her previous husband. They urged the Swaying Lady to divorce her husband, who was awaiting execution in prison, and marry this man as his concubine.

Just as the Swaying Lady was hesitating, the authorities discovered that her husband had only beaten someone a few times while drunk and hadn’t killed anyone. The reason that person died was because Han Yi had secretly struck the killing blow. It turned out he had long coveted the Swaying Lady’s beauty, but because she was a chaste woman, he had been unable to achieve his desires. He had finally devised this scheme, and even the debt collector had been arranged by him.

In the end, Han Yi was imprisoned for murder, and the Swaying Lady’s husband was released without charges. Just when everyone thought the couple would reunite, new troubles arose. The Swaying Lady’s parents refused to let their daughter continue suffering and firmly demanded that the Swaying Lady divorce her husband.

The husband said that through this imprisonment, he understood how terribly wrong he had been before and was willing to reform completely from now on, treating the Swaying Lady well. Unfortunately, the Swaying Lady’s parents remained resolute, refusing to let their daughter continue with him no matter what, and finally took the Swaying Lady away.

While the actors went to prepare for the final scene, Cui Shi frowned and said: “These parents are too heartless. Since their son-in-law is willing to reform completely, they should give him a chance. Why must they tear them apart?” Then she asked: “Sister, did the couple ultimately reconcile in the end?”

Lin Shi smiled and turned to Li Yuan: “What does My Lord think? Are the Swaying Lady’s parents right or wrong?”

After Li Yuan handed the sleeping Li Chengdao to a maid to carry away, he said: “To recognize one’s errors and reform is the greatest virtue. Since he’s willing to repent, why not give them a chance?”

Lin Shi leaned forward slightly in her chair: “My Lord speaks truly. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand this principle, stubbornly clinging to immediate rights and wrongs, thereby separating a pair of lovers.”

Lin Shi’s pointed words made Li Yuan’s brows twitch as he looked at her: “Miaoyin, you…” As he spoke, the curtain slowly opened. Lin Shi pointed to the stage and smiled: “My Lord, please continue watching the performance.”

Seeing her response, Li Yuan could only swallow the words on his lips and continue watching the stage. Not only him, but everyone else nervously stared at the stage, wanting to know whether the Swaying Lady and her husband would ultimately separate or reunite.

The husband knelt in the snow for a long time, while the Swaying Lady pleaded desperately in her chamber, begging her parents to show mercy. Hearing the mournful music on stage and watching the couple separated from each other, unable to meet, everyone couldn’t help but tear up, continuously hoping the Swaying Lady’s parents would soften their hearts and let the couple stay together.

Unfortunately, this wish was not fulfilled. In the end, this “Ballad of the Swaying Lady” concluded with the husband freezing to death in the snow and the Swaying Lady becoming a nun. The Swaying Lady’s parents watched their daughter’s figure departing from the mortal world with deep regret, but it was too late—everything was beyond redemption.

As the last note of music faded, soft weeping arose from the audience. Cui Shi wiped tears from her eyes and said indignantly: “What kind of parents are these? To be so heartless toward their own daughter and son-in-law—they deserve to grow old alone with no daughter to see them to their final rest.”

One of Li Jiancheng’s concubines also said: “Exactly! The Swaying Lady endured for so many years, finally reaching the moment when the clouds part and the moon shines bright, only to be ruined by her own parents into this state. It’s truly pitiful.”

Li Yuan took a deep look at Lin Shi and left with a sweep of his sleeves. Wan Shi walked up to Lin Shi and said with a half-smile: “For their sake, sister has truly gone to great lengths, even thinking up such a method.”

Cui Shi blinked in confusion: “Them? Sister, who are you talking about?”

Wan Shi glanced at her and said coolly: “Ask her yourself.” With that, she too left Changyue Pavilion with Zhaixing’s support. After them, the others also departed in small groups. Before leaving, Ji Rong and others all looked at Lin Shi with meaningful glances.

Soon, only Lin Shi, Cui Shi, and Changsun Shi remained in Changyue Pavilion. Changsun Shi stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lin Shi: “Thank you, Third Lady.” With her keen mind, how could she not understand the true purpose behind Lin Shi’s arrangement of this “Ballad of the Swaying Lady”?

Lin Shi helped her up: “Alright, go back and rest. I’ll go persuade the King again, hoping to bring about their happiness.”

Hearing this, Cui Shi finally understood and opened her eyes wide in surprise: “Sister, you want to use this performance to persuade the King to approve Second Young Master and Princess Jinyang’s marriage?”

“Correct.” Hearing this, Cui Shi said somewhat frantically: “Then… then those things I said earlier, wasn’t I talking about the King? Oh no, what if the King blames me? This time sister has truly brought about my ruin. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

Lin Shi smiled: “The King knows you spoke without thinking and won’t blame you.” Before Cui Shi could say more, she continued: “Alright, I still need to see the King. Sister, please return on your own.”

After Cui Shi agreed, Lin Shi walked with Ji Chun through the night, winding their way to Li Yuan’s residence. Pushing open the door, she saw Li Yuan standing with his hands behind his back at the open window, cold wind occasionally howling in from outside, causing the charcoal brazier in the corner to flicker bright and dim.

Lin Shi stepped forward to close the window and said softly: “My Lord, be careful not to catch cold.”

Li Yuan turned around and stared at her coldly: “Do you think that by arranging such a performance, I will agree to their marriage?”