Jiangnan's Opera Garden.
A troupe of actors in elaborate makeup sang onstage, while the audience below applauded and cheered from time to time.
Some wealthy patrons even tossed gold and silver jewelry onto the stage.
But in a private box on the second floor of the Opera Garden, someone had no interest in the performance: a Taoist nun who still retained her charms, and a young, beautiful woman.
"Hongdou, this is quite a good place to hide!"
The Taoist nun nodded in satisfaction. She was none other than Immortal Aunt Bu Chuan, whom Ye Chen and the others were looking for.
The young woman beside her was Lin Hongdou, the girl Qin Hao had stumbled upon.
In truth, she and Immortal Aunt Bu Chuan were master and disciple. The reason she had been in such a hurry to leave the grasslands last time was that she had received her master's orders.
"Master!"
Lin Hongdou watched the audience below applauding and cheering, hesitating before she spoke. "The people are living and working in peace. Why do we have to start another war against Qin?"
"Don't be fooled by appearances!"
Immortal Aunt Bu Chuan's expression turned icy. "This is nothing but a vanity project put on by the local officials to curry favor with the Qin Emperor. Behind the scenes, they oppress the people, bleed them dry, and use their power to bully others. They can make black sound like white."
"Master!"
Lin Hongdou pressed urgently, "If the corrupt officials are to blame, then let's find a way to alert the Qin Emperor. Why reignite the flames of war?"
"You're dreaming!"
Immortal Aunt Bu Chuan gave a cold snort. "When the leaves of a great tree turn yellow, it doesn't necessarily mean autumn has come. Its roots may be rotting. Even if