Why would they suddenly watch “Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband”?

Everyone present in the theater troupe was also greatly shocked!

It was precisely because of this play that the murder case occurred… causing the Zhao Family Troupe to fall to its current state.

Now Ji Yunshu was saying she wanted to watch this play. Wasn’t this like pouring salt on their wounds!

Director Tao confirmed once more: “Young master, are you certain… it’s ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’?”

“That’s right, this very play.”

“This… how about we change it.”

“We’re not changing it. It’s ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’!” Ji Yunshu was very certain.

Director Tao’s expression wasn’t good as he said: “But Wang Jun is already dead, and Zhang Xiaobai is still in prison. I’m afraid there’s no one to sing the male lead role.”

Jingrong said, “Even so, surely there must be someone who can substitute.”

“There is, but I’m just afraid… they won’t sing well.”

“If they don’t sing well, that’s fine. We don’t mind.”

“But…”

“No more ‘buts’.”

Director Tao insisted: “Xiao Qu’s health isn’t good. She’s still resting and probably can’t perform either.”

Ji Yunshu said, “Substituting someone else is also fine. As long as they can use their voice, anyone will do!”

The standards were set very low.

In any case, they were determined to watch this play today!

In the end, Director Tao could no longer refuse. Plus with that ingot of gold in hand, he had no choice but to agree.

Then he began hurriedly having people prepare.

Ji Yunshu and the others directly sat on the first floor, waiting for the play to begin.

This was Li Wenshu’s first time coming to this kind of place.

She was somewhat curious!

But more than that, she was observing.

Her heart held several points of vigilance.

Li Cheng pulled her to sit alone at a table.

“Elder sister, how is this place?”

“Not bad.”

“I heard their ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’ is performed extremely well.”

Li Wenshu squinted her eyes, looking toward the stage curtained off with drapes, saying, “That white bones case was discovered on that stage?”

“Yes, right there.” Li Cheng said.

Hm?

“You were there at the time?” Li Wenshu asked.

“I wasn’t!”

“Then how do you know?”

“I heard about it.” Li Cheng said.

Goodness!

Li Wenshu stopped questioning him, her gaze inadvertently falling on Bai Yin sitting on the other side.

That man always had a stern face.

Unsmiling and severe!

His face practically wrote “strangers keep away”!

Bai Yin seemed to notice a gaze watching him. He turned his eyes.

Meeting Li Wenshu’s gaze directly!

Their eyes locked.

In an instant, Li Wenshu guiltily shifted her gaze away, her hand within her robe involuntarily tightening several points, then she stared fixedly at the stage.

Waiting for the play to begin.

Bai Yin didn’t think too much of it either.

He withdrew his gaze.

At this moment backstage.

The theater troupe members were already applying makeup.

Changing into costumes.

All hurriedly getting into character!

Suddenly someone began saying: “Those people are too strange. They won’t watch any other play but insist on watching ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’. Knowing such an incident occurred, it’s truly unlucky.”

Someone immediately echoed: “Exactly! Aren’t they afraid something will happen?”

“The murderer still hasn’t been caught. What if something really happens later? I don’t want to die.” Someone was especially worried.

“Don’t scare me.”

“I’m not trying to scare you.”

…Director Tao knew everyone was afraid in their hearts, so he comforted them saying: “I know you’re all worried, but this is probably our theater troupe’s last performance. Everyone should sing well. After we finish singing, the money that young master gave, I’ll divide it all among you. So cheer up. Perhaps there won’t be another chance to perform together in the future.”

Speaking of this, everyone couldn’t help feeling somewhat melancholic.

After all, having stayed with the Zhao Family Troupe for so many years, now having to disband—how could they not feel sad!

So each one summoned their spirits for this final performance.

At this time, Gao Dali was also applying makeup for the clown role.

Actually, he only had scenes in the first two acts!

He walked alone to the curtain at the backstage, lifted a corner of the curtain, his gaze looking forward.

He happened to see Ji Yunshu and the others sitting there. Involuntarily, his eyes tightened bit by bit, filled with complex emotions.

Impossible to fathom.

Soon, the play began.

The theater house’s lanterns were extinguished one by one, leaving only those few on the stage.

Creating an atmosphere of terror.

The curtains on stage slowly opened.

Just like the “Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband” watched before, it first showed the grand wedding ceremony, then the character Liang Sheng in the play encountered the wealthy young lady Xiang Xin, and the two were intimate night after night.

Until the fourth act—

Originally in this act, Liang Sheng should have worn extremely fierce and sinister makeup. For the sake of prospects and money, to be with the wealthy young lady Xiang Xin, he would drug and knock unconscious his own wife Furong in the food, then slash her face before pushing her down a dry well. Furong would scream miserably!

However—

This act had been changed!

It was changed to Liang Sheng and Furong eating one last meal together, the two having a sorrowful conversation, both touched in their hearts.

Afterward, Liang Sheng stood up and sang: “My heart today has swayed elsewhere, I hope my wife will not blame me.”

Furong sang through tears: “My humble origins cannot compare to that noble person, yet you are heartless enough to abandon me.”

But Liang Sheng’s mind was already made up. He stood to leave.

Furong grabbed him, begging him to stay.

Unexpectedly, Liang Sheng pushed forcefully, his palm striking precisely on the ribs at her chest, causing Furong’s entire body to fall backward.

The back of her head violently struck the sharp corner of the table.

With a “bang.”

Furong died on the spot.

Liang Sheng was frightened.

His face pale.

To cover up his crime, Liang Sheng lied to others claiming his wife had died of illness.

Ji Yunshu watched calmly, not feeling surprised at all.

She shook her head slightly.

Frowning, she said, “The performance isn’t particularly outstanding.”

Song Zhi heard this and asked, “Is it because I wrote it incorrectly?”

“No, Young Master Song wrote it very well.”

It turned out this play was the new script Ji Yunshu had Song Zhi revise.

After Gao Dali finished performing in the second act, he stood backstage continuously watching the situation on stage.

He didn’t know why this play had suddenly been changed.

Although the people on stage still wore the original makeup, somehow… it felt like they had been replaced.

But their singing voices hadn’t changed!

At this moment, Gao Dali had already realized something.

The hand gripping the curtain tightened fiercely several points.

Veins visible!

His deep-set eyes grew heavier and heavier.

Carrying murderous intent and hatred!

Staring at the male lead character Liang Sheng on stage.

And not only was this act changed, several subsequent acts were all changed as well.

There was no terrifying plot of Furong crawling out from the bottom of the well. Instead, suddenly all focus concentrated on a clown character.

A clown… wearing makeup identical to Gao Dali’s!

It turned out that clown had always been in love with Furong.

He suspected that Liang Sheng had killed Furong in order to be with Xiang Xin.

Therefore, he put on the clothing Furong loved most when alive, dressed up to look like Furong, and to take revenge on Liang Sheng, killed Xiang Xin. Unexpectedly that night, he was caught by Liang Sheng, who shouted that he had seen a ghost.

Afterward, the clown also killed Liang Sheng.

Finally burying both their skeletal remains in the yellow earth. The clown sang: “Watch you turn to dust and smoke beneath the earth, I can only wipe away tears as I bury you in yellow soil.”