Chapter 43

Ma Manren did not show the slightest hint of satisfaction, but instead stared intently at Yan Yue.

Guan Yaoyuan wobbled to his feet, no longer daring to stop Tang Dazhanggu, and looked at the Manchu general with fear. The Manchu general was equivalent to a Jinshi in the human race, capable of commanding three thousand Manchu soldiers, and was already part of the upper echelons of the Manchu tribe.

Everyone looked at the unfortunate Yan Yue. He had written a twisted poem to mock Fang Yun for being raised by his child bride, but the result was that Fang Yun not only had the talent to make money but even attracted the chief manager of the Xuanting Bookstore. This incident would certainly become a stain on Yan Yue's reputation. If he could not wash away this stain, he would face significant problems in the future.

Yan Yue gritted his teeth, believing he still had hope. As long as Fang Yun did not write a famous piece to attack him, he still had a chance to become a Juren and refine a literary gallbladder, avoiding becoming a second Pan'er.

The crowd in the alley parted to the sides, making way for Tang Dazhanggu.

After Tang Dazhanggu entered, Fang Yun said, "Fang Yun greets Tang Dazhanggu."

Tang Dazhanggu smiled and said, "Do you know how I found you?"

Fang Yun blurted out, "It must be that Zhou Zhubu sold me out."

"Ha ha, I traded an ancient book for your address. What do you think of my earlier suggestion? If you disagree, we can negotiate."

The scholars widened their eyes. Negotiable? Did Tang Dazhanggu mean his offer was not good enough? Even if it were a noble family or a Juren, they would have eagerly accepted it. Was Fang Yun still unsatisfied?

Fang Yun said, "The price is indeed low, but your sincerity is evident, so we can negotiate. I'm a bit curious, why would the Xuanting Bookstore, a model of book merchants, like my unconventional promotional methods?"

Tang Dazhanggu smiled and said, "Applying knowledge is a rule set by the sages. With your methods, more books will be sold, which is a great contribution to education. How could it be considered unconventional? If Confucius had your promotional skills when he broke the private schools and opened public schools, he would have certainly used them. Corrupt scholars are despised by all, how could you not know? I like your book-selling methods and rushed here because I have a personal interest."

"Fang Yun, please speak," said Fang Yun.

"I am the descendant of a novelist," Tang Dazhanggu said, his eyes full of sorrow.

Many scholars sighed softly. During the Hundred Schools of Thought, novelists had the lowest status, and no novelist had ever been ennobled as a sage. Even Gan Bao, the author of the mythological novel "In Search of the Supernatural," could only reach the level of a great scholar.

Tang Dazhanggu continued, "Your novels have shown me the revival of the novel. Whether it's the plain language or the simple and novel sentence structure, they can spread quickly. Combined with your innovative promotional methods, it's twice as effective with half the effort, which is why I rushed here."

Fang Yun nodded and said, "Tang Dazhanggu, please come inside and talk."

Fang Daniu quickly opened the door, and Yang Yuhuan and the little fox were just coming out of the main room, seemingly having heard Fang Yun's voice.

Yang Yuhuan curiously walked out, and Nunu happily called out, transforming into a white shadow and leaping into Fang Yun's arms.

Tang Dazhanggu looked at Nunu, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Fang Yun held Nunu and was about to invite Tang Dazhanggu inside when someone suddenly shouted at the alley entrance, "Is this Fang Yun's residence?"

Fang Yun recognized the voice and turned to see Wan Xuezheng, one of the three examiners for the county examination, who worked at the Prefecture Academy.

Wan Xuezheng was wearing official attire today, and a red silk ribbon on his official hat indicated he was attending a significant ceremony. Many people wearing large red silk ribbons followed him, carrying boxes, all looking cheerful.

"Wan Daren," Fang Yun bowed, and the other students, all from the Prefecture Academy, recognized the seventh-rank Xuezheng and bowed together.

Wan Xuezheng scanned the alley with surprise, nodded slightly to Fang Yun and Tang Dazhanggu, and then raised a scroll of silk.

"Imperial Edict of the Empress Dowager."

Those with literary ranks immediately bowed their heads and bent their waists, while those without, like the stable boy and Yang Yuhuan, knelt on one knee.

Juren and below only knelt to heaven, earth, parents, and the sages, and would half-kneel to the emperor. The rest did not kneel.

Jinshi and above did not kneel to the emperor but would half-kneel to the sages.

Those without literary ranks would kneel to the emperor and half-kneel to the king and the Empress Dowager.

Child students did not kneel to the emperor in the presence of the sages, and child scholars did not kneel to the sages.

The Manchu man reluctantly bowed his head, as he was from the Manchu tribe, his status was two levels lower, and in the presence of the imperial edict, he was equivalent to a scholar.

Nunu curiously looked at everyone, then stood up straight, imitating Fang Yun by clasping her paws and bowing, but her mischievous eyes kept darting around.

"The Empress Dowager has heard that Fang Yun of Jixian County is a man of unparalleled poetry and virtue, a pillar of the Jing Kingdom and a young phoenix of the human race. Due to his young age, it is not convenient to bestow a title, so she specially rewards him with a set of imperial stationery and other items such as Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng. She has also heard that his child bride, Yuhuan, is naturally beautiful and virtuous, enduring hardships without abandoning him and remaining loyal even after his rise to wealth and status. She is a model of women in the Jing Kingdom, and is granted the rank of Anren, the eighth rank of imperial titles. She is also rewarded with a princess's phoenix crown and robe, and a page of the Empress Dowager's calligraphy, 'Harmony in Music.'"

The imperial edict did not end with "By the Emperor's Command," so after Wan Xuezheng paused for a moment, Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan shouted together, "Thank the Empress Dowager for her great kindness."

Yan Yue was drenched in cold sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably. If there was any chance before, now, unless the Left Chancellor personally vouched for him, he was finished. The Empress Dowager had praised Fang Yun for his "virtue and talent" and Yang Yuhuan for her "virtue and beauty," while he had written a twisted poem mocking both of them, which was a clear act of disrespect.

Although the Empress Dowager of the Jing Kingdom lacked talent, she was now ruling behind the curtain, nearly as powerful as the emperor, and could influence the kingdom's fate. Yan Yue's literary rank was not high, and he was powerless against the Empress Dowager's authority.

"How could this be!" Yan Yue collapsed to the ground.

On the other side, Guan Yaoyuan, who had been playing the role of a simple, honest person, wiped the sweat from his trembling hands. He knew that his literary reputation would suffer a severe blow, and his talent would wither, making it impossible for him to pass the Juren examination for the next three to five years. He glanced at Yan Yue, knowing that Yan Yue's situation was even worse, and he would have no chance of redemption as long as the Empress Dowager was in power.

Most people looked at Yang Yuhuan, and indeed, she was as beautiful as rumored, a beauty that could topple a kingdom.

Yang Yuhuan's face was flushed, her mind blank. She had always been insecure about her identity as a child bride, but now, the Empress Dowager had bestowed her with the title of Anren, the eighth rank of imperial titles, equivalent to a ninth-rank official. Many wives of noble family heads could not obtain such a title, which was usually only given to the mothers of noble family heads.

The princess's phoenix crown and robe were even more significant. Generally, only the daughters of Hanlin scholars or third-rank officials would receive such a gift from the palace during their weddings, and it was rare to receive a personal calligraphy from the Empress Dowager.

The older people like He Yutang looked at the people carrying the gift boxes, not attracted by Yang Yuhuan's status and beauty, but by the legendary Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng.

Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng was a specialty of the Four Seas Dragon Palaces, and the Jing Kingdom received only ten pairs a year, almost all of which were sent to the palace. Only a few great scholars or university scholars could receive such a gift.

Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng had the effects of strengthening the body, extending life, enhancing intelligence, and strengthening the heart. It was also a great tonic, a daily food for the dragon race, and could be consumed by both demons and humans.

The Manchu general greedily looked at the gift boxes, sniffed lightly, and stared at the box containing the Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng. After much thought, he finally abandoned the idea of seizing it. Although the Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng was precious, his life was more important. Any slight movement would be detected by the local governor and prefectural officials through their official seals, making it not worth the risk.

Wan Xuezheng hurriedly said, "Read the list of gifts," and had someone start reciting the specific items. Then he quickly came to Fang Yun and Tang Dazhanggu, handed the imperial edict to Fang Yun, and asked, "Fang Shuangjia, what exactly happened?"

Fang Yun briefly recounted the events.

Wan Xuezheng was furious. Although he did not want to offend the Left Chancellor's faction, he was also one of the examiners for Fang Yun's county examination and could be considered Fang Yun's half-teacher.

Wan Xuezheng looked at Yan Yue and said, "As a student of the Jing Kingdom, you do not think of serving the country; standing under the Holy Academy, you do not know the principles of benevolence and propriety. You even attack the character of someone praised by the Empress Dowager, filled with jealousy and malice, which is despicable and hateful! I will petition the Academy Master tomorrow to revoke your position in the Academy! Get out!"

Yan Yue and Guan Yaoyuan were about to leave, but Fang Yun suddenly said, "Please wait a moment. Tang Dazhanggu has scolded you, and Literary Examiner Wan has disciplined you, but I haven't said a word. It's better to resolve conflicts than to hold grudges. Although you two were working for Liu Zicheng, I will eventually enter the Prefecture Academy, and we will be classmates. After much thought, I will write an inscription to express my aspirations and hope that you two future classmates will not look down on us from humble backgrounds. Daniu, go get a table and the stationery."

Guan Yaoyuan and Yan Yue secretly groaned but did not dare to leave, only waiting.

Wan Xuezheng said, "Since it's an inspirational inscription, use the stationery gifted by the Empress Dowager. With your great talent, if this inscription can become famous in the Jing Kingdom, it will best demonstrate the Empress Dowager's ability to recognize talent."

"Alright."

Fang Daniu quickly rushed into the house to get a table, while Yang Yuhuan nervously tugged at Fang Yun's sleeve, like a shy young wife, still unable to fully digest the good news of the day.

Fang Daniu soon brought out the table and a pen washer, and Wan Xuezheng had someone arrange the Empress Dowager's gifts of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He personally poured water into the inkstone and slowly ground the ink.

"Wan Daren, you shouldn't!" Fang Yun said.

"I have never used imperial tribute ink before, so I'll treat this as a treat. Don't ruin my fun. This tribute ink does not disperse in water and lasts long, with a delicate fragrance and a lustrous black color. Just looking at it satisfies me," Wan Xuezheng said, not feeling ashamed to grind ink for a child scholar, but rather enjoying it.

Fang Yun could not stop him and began selecting a brush.

This set of stationery included ten brushes, twenty sticks of tribute ink, two hundred sheets of tribute paper, and a glass carp inkstone, all precious items.

Fang Yun examined each brush, finding the rabbit hair too soft and the wolf hair too hard, so he chose a mixed rabbit and wolf hair brush.

Fang Yun did not close his eyes to meditate.

No one spoke, only the sound of Wan Xuezheng grinding ink.

After a while, Fang Yun said, "Today, I will inscribe this humble abode as an encouragement to all."

Fang Yun picked up the brush and wrote Liu Yuxi's famous work, "Inscription of the Humble Abode," while Wan Xuezheng slowly recited it.

"Inscription of the Humble Abode."

"Mountains need not be high, as long as there is a sage, they are famous. Waters need not be deep, as long as there is a dragon, they are spiritual."

"This is a humble abode, but my virtue makes it fragrant. Moss creeps up the steps, green, and grass colors the curtains, blue."

"Scholars of great learning converse here, and no uneducated people come and go. I can play a simple zither and read the golden scriptures."

"No music disturbs my ears, no official documents tire my body."

"Like Zhuge Liang's cottage in Nanyang and Ziyun's pavilion in Xishu."

"Confucius said: What is humble about it?"

Upon completion, each word emitted a faint light, and within ten meters, the talent aura surged, the fragrance of the ink and paper was infinitely amplified, and the scent spread for three miles.

Then, two crisp cracking sounds came from the heads of Guan Yaoyuan and Yan Yue.

The Literary Palace Cracked!

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Pushing for votes, thank you.

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