Chapter 886: Focus of the Entire Hall

A demon.

The moment Liu Zheng saw Zhang Yuzhen, this single word popped into his mind.

She was indeed a demon.

Because Liu Zheng truly could not find any other word that could describe her so aptly.

At this moment, she was sitting to the right of Li Tun; those luxurious garments could not cover up the bewitching aura about her in the slightest. Even though she had just given birth, her figure remained incomparably graceful. Just sitting there, a unique charm rushed toward one's face. Looking at her face, one could not find a single trace of the years. At first glance, perhaps only Li Xuanya's beauty in the entire hall could be mentioned in the same breath as hers.

Youthful.

Bewitching.

Bewitching eyes, a bewitching figure, a bewitching nose, a bewitching mouth.

This was the true definition of a disaster to the country and the people.

No wonder Li Tun was infatuated with her; perhaps the title of "demoness" only appeared due to the jealousy of other men? Liu Zheng took a stealthy look at all the men present; they all had the same look of having their souls snatched away when they saw Zhang Yuzhen.

It was as if she were everywhere, bewitching everyone. Although you knew she was just looking at you peacefully, when you met her gaze, you still could not help but feel your heart flutter.

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Liu Zheng could not help but smile bitterly.

This was a monster!

"Liu Zheng pays respects to the King!"

Even Min Weizhong could not help but take a deep breath when he saw Zhang Yuzhen.

A monster!

Liu Zheng presented his gift, and a protocol officer immediately took charge of recording it.

Clearly, the name of Vice Minister Liu once again attracted the gazes of many.

Liu Zheng made a bow.

Li Tun laughed heartily: "Vice Minister Liu has arrived, no need for formalities, sit, sit quickly!"

Liu Zheng hurriedly showed some humility.

As an honored guest of Longyan, his seat was naturally not bad; it was the first seat to the left of Li Tun, which also happened to be not far from Queen Inhyeon.

In particular, a beautiful woman to the left of Li Tun also looked over with great interest. This woman had a kind face and was also quite good-looking. Although her style was not as bewitching as Zhang Yuzhen's, she could still be called a beauty who could topple cities. Between her brows, there was a resemblance to Li Xuanya; she was likely the current Queen of the Li Dynasty, Min Weizhong's own younger sister, Queen Inhyeon.

Perhaps having learned that her beloved daughter had fallen for this young man at first sight, she smiled slightly and also looked at Liu Zheng: "I have long been familiar with the name of Vice Minister Liu; seeing you today, you are indeed young and promising."

Looking at the other seats, the Western Faction and the Southern Faction were clearly divided.

The entire banquet was primarily for dining, with theater as assistance.

In such an occasion, seating was also very important. To the right of Zhang Yuzhen sat none other than Li Hang.

Looking at Min Weizhong again, his seat was already one position behind Liu Zheng. In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene felt wrong. Once upon a time, when had Min Weizhong ever sat in such a position? If someone had arranged it this way, he would surely have been furious. But today, on his own home turf, he had arranged it this way himself; it seemed this fellow intended to play the coward to the end?

Everyone echoed the sentiment.

"Congratulations to the King, congratulations to the Wonja!"

Everyone had just taken their seats.

Li Hang, who had been beaming with joy recently, stood up and raised his wine cup: "Congratulations to the King, congratulations to the Wonja!"

After a cup was finished.

The play officially began. A band of more than ten people started beating drums and gongs, and the whole hall fell silent. Liu Zheng also watched with great interest. To tell the truth, since coming to this world, this was the first time he had seen this kind of play, because in Liu Zheng's memory, things like traditional opera only started to become popular during the Qing Dynasty.

Min Weizhong and Liu Zheng also had to stand up.

Li Tun naturally laughed until his face bloomed like a flower: "Good, good, good, you ministers have put in the effort."

During the Wanli period, the creation of *chuanqi* (legendary dramas) reached a climax, and the forms became even richer. Famous works included Gao Lian's *The Jade Hairpin* and Zhou Chaojun's *The Red Plum*.

But to tell the truth.

Of course, the Ming Dynasty also had them.

In the Ming Dynasty, the main content of theater was *chuanqi* opera. The predecessor of *chuanqi* opera was the Southern Drama that originated in the Wenzhou area of Zhejiang, also known as Southern Tune drama, which was the main form of opera in the Ming Dynasty. The name "chuanqi" had a long history. In the Tang Dynasty, it was called *chuanqi*; in the Song Dynasty, some called *pinghua* and *zhugongdiao* *chuanqi*; in the Yuan Dynasty, some called *zaju* *chuanqi*. By the Ming Dynasty, *chuanqi* became the exclusive name for Southern Drama and became the main form of opera in the Ming Dynasty. The development of Ming *chuanqi* can be roughly divided into two periods: before the Zhengde reign and after the Jiajing reign. At the end of the Yuan and the beginning of the Ming, the appearance of the Five Great *Chuanqi* marked the transition from the era of *zaju* to the era of *chuanqi*. The Five Great *Chuanqi* refer to *The Pipa Record* and *Jing* (*The Thorn Hairpin*), *Liu* (*Liu Zhiyuan's White Rabbit Record*), *Bai* (*The Moon-Worshipping Pavilion*), and *Sha* (*The Dog-Killing Record*). Among them, *Liu Zhiyuan's White Rabbit Record*, *The Moon-Worshipping Pavilion*, and *The Dog-Killing Record* show the common, simple, and natural qualities of the folk, while *The Pipa Record* and *The Thorn Hairpin* show signs of becoming more elegant.

Therefore, seeing Li Tun like it so much, Liu Zheng still found it somewhat unbelievable.

At this moment.

During the Ming Dynasty, *chuanqi* opera was also mostly spread in the southern part of Zhongguo.

Very few people in the north were obsessed with this.

However, these actors were graceful and varied, making him sigh that since ancient times, this land of Joseon was truly a place that produced beauties.

"Good!"

On the stage, they were performing the pinnacle work of *chuanqi* opera, *The Peony Pavilion*. Li Tun and the others were watching, mesmerized. Love stories always make people yearn for them.

Liu Zheng had no interest in the content of the opera; it was just that in his previous life, his mother would drag him to watch plays every day, and he was thoroughly bored by it.

At this moment, a segment of the opera had just ended.

Suddenly, Li Hang laughed heartily: "Vice Minister Liu is a popular figure in Longyan, and I hear you have traveled the world. Do you know where there are beauties that can compare to the beauties of my Li Dynasty?"

From time to time, someone would shout "Good!"

But Liu Zheng also knew that these actors were nothing more than playthings under the crotches of these powerful nobles.

Min Weizhong, sitting to the side, gave a cold snort.

This Li Hang had truly been getting carried away recently. Before the play was even finished, he could not help but speak out, having completely replaced Min Weizhong's previous status in the court, without any regard for Li Tun's thoughts.

Everyone laughed heartily.

Liu Zheng, however, gave a bitter smile.

Being watched by so many people, Liu Zheng could only smile bitterly: "In my view, beauties of every country have their own characteristics. Longyan women are bold and spirited, Li Dynasty beauties are as gentle as water, Western Regions beauties have exotic charm, Southern Barbarian women have fiery personalities, Wa women have gentle temperaments, Western women..."

Li Hang had originally just asked a casual question, wanting to put Liu Zheng on the spot; he did not expect Liu Zheng to be so familiar with the subject.

Who would have thought.

Li Tun heard this question and also looked toward Liu Zheng with great interest.

Good fellow.

Had this young master really tried every Beauty out there? Then why was it that he specifically did not want to try her!

The others also listened and looked at each other in dismay.

Even Li Xuanya pouted.

Bad person!

Scumbag Baron!

Before he knew it, Liu Zheng realized that he had actually become the focus of the entire room, so he did not continue with the comments below.