One Good Turn Deserves Another

Registrar Zhou suddenly fell silent.

Fang Yun knew what Registrar Zhou had wanted to say, because some things were known to everyone.

Half-Sage Chen Guanhai was nearly two hundred years old, and he had been injured while fighting a Barbarian Sage. The hostile Qing Kingdom had once spread rumors that Chen Guanhai would not last more than five years. If he fought a Barbarian Sage to the death again within those five years, he might directly suffer Sagefall.

Without a Sage, there could be no kingdom.

Once Chen Guanhai suffered Sagefall and Jing Kingdom had no Half-Sage, according to the Ten Kingdoms Accord, several neighboring nations could annex Jing Kingdom and assume responsibility for guarding its borders.

Some even rumored that the Left Prime Minister had already colluded with Qing Kingdom, weakening Jing Kingdom's strength in preparation for Qing Kingdom's future annexation of Jing Kingdom.

Fang Yun put the Sage Page into a kraft-paper bag and said, "Please thank Lord Cai for me. As for the publishing permit..."

"Rest assured. I'll issue the publishing permit tomorrow. Are you planning to combine the two novels into one book?"

"Yes. Besides writing a preface, I also need to print tens of thousands of promotional flyers, which need the Literary Academy's review as well. Could you make things convenient for me?" Fang Yun asked.

"Give them to me. I'll issue the paperwork together tomorrow," Registrar Zhou said.

"Can I write them now?" Fang Yun had not expected things to go so smoothly.

"Come to my study." Registrar Zhou led Fang Yun toward the study.

After thanking Registrar Zhou, Fang Yun sat in the study and considered how to advertise the new book. This world had neither television nor the internet. The best method was to hand out flyers everywhere, so the content had to be carefully thought through.

Registrar Zhou flipped through The Western Wing and The Pillow Chronicle, committing their finest passages to memory.

After a quarter of an hour, Fang Yun finally wrote a promotional flyer of over a hundred words. But its content was far too exaggerated. He cautiously handed it to Registrar Zhou and watched his expression.

Registrar Zhou took one look and burst into laughter. "Read The Western Wing and learn romance; read The Pillow Chronicle and become a Great Scholar? Fang Yun, why are you so full of tricks?"

Registrar Zhou kept reading. When he finished, he wore a helpless expression, as though he had been utterly defeated by Fang Yun.

"The journey of the heart of Jing Kingdom's only Double-A Honor Sage-front Tongsheng? The painstaking new work by the only author of Three-Poem Radiance in the Sacred Way monthly? Contains the hidden secrets of the Imperial Examination from a student of the Literary Prime Minister? This year's strongest recommendation from Jiangzhou Literary Academy? A Grand Academician slams the table in praise? The Literary Prime Minister falls silent for a long while after reading it? Fang Yun, aren't you afraid I'll charge you with spreading rumors? Never mind the rest—how could the Literary Prime Minister possibly remain silent for so long?" Registrar Zhou had wanted to use official authority to cow Fang Yun, but this bizarre flyer had left him with not the slightest temper.

The words sounded absurd at first glance, yet on closer thought, they were truly compelling. Registrar Zhou admitted that even if he racked his brains, he could never devise such peculiar phrasing.

Fang Yun said calmly, "Sir, you said The Pillow Chronicle could appear in Sacred Way. This book will certainly be submitted to the Literary Prime Minister, and he likely won't comment on it for some time. Naturally, that counts as remaining silent for a long while."

"But if the Literary Prime Minister finds the book deeply unsatisfactory, wouldn't you be lifting a stone only to smash your own foot?"

"That would be even better. I could say, 'This is a work that left the Literary Prime Minister shocked and furious!'"

"Sophistry!" Registrar Zhou said, shaking his head with a smile.

"Is this promotional content no good?" Fang Yun asked.

Registrar Zhou pondered for a moment before saying, "'Read The Western Wing and learn romance; read The Pillow Chronicle and become a Great Scholar' goes too far. You can have your people say it, but don't put it in writing, lest you hand others a weapon against you. As for 'a Grand Academician slams the table in praise,' that is acceptable. Lord Academy Head thinks highly of you and will not be angered. Delete the part about the Literary Prime Minister. Write another version for me."

"Alright." Fang Yun removed what needed removing and added a line: This is a lingering, heartrending love story; this is a twisting, moving legendary tale, wholeheartedly presented by Fang Yun, Double-A Honor Before the Sages and Three-Poem Radiance!

When Fang Yun finished writing and examined it carefully, he felt the bizarre aura of a melodramatic period drama rush straight at his face.

Registrar Zhou stared at the final sentence for a long while without speaking. Fang Yun had truly pushed his literary reputation to its utmost; he was not modest in the slightest.

After quite some time, Registrar Zhou finally said, "Once The Western Wing comes out, the Novelists School of Jiangzhou may starve to death. Let this be the last time. In the future, I will ban such bewitching words that ensnare people's hearts! If young scholars and women see this, they'll buy a copy even if they have to go without food."

Fang Yun laughed inwardly. That final passage had been designed specifically for women. The Western Wing was merely the beginning; Dream of the Red Chamber would be the great pit into which lovesick men and resentful women plunged one after another.

"What date will this book go on sale?"

Fang Yun gave a light cough and said, "The Sacred Way monthly is sold at the Literary Academy on the first day of every month. Sir, could you make things convenient for me and allow me to sell books outside the Literary Academy gates for one day?"

"You..." Registrar Zhou was rendered speechless by Fang Yun's shrewdness.

Sacred Way was sold on the first of every month, while the Literary Gazette was sold on the first, tenth, and twentieth. Neither publication was delivered to homes; they were only sold at the Literary Academy's bookshop. On the first of every month, the area in front of the Literary Academy was at its most crowded.

"The Literary Academy explicitly forbids the sale of anything in front of its gates. I can't help you with that."

"Then if I drive ten ox carts to the Literary Academy's printing workshop to collect books, and people want to buy books from me as I pass the main gate, the Literary Academy can't punish me, can it?"

In Registrar Zhou's mind arose the bizarre sight of ten ox carts stuffed with The Western Wing, linked together and parading ostentatiously through the streets. His head immediately began to ache. Fang Yun was truly too skilled at exploiting loopholes, so he answered vaguely, "Then be careful. If trouble arises, I won't be able to protect you."

"Thank you, sir!" Fang Yun said delightedly.

"How many copies will the first printing have?" Registrar Zhou asked.

"Dayuan Prefecture's capital alone has nearly a million people, and there are far more readers here than in Ji County. I plan to print fifty thousand copies at once," Fang Yun said.

"What price?"

"This book is not ultimately needed for the Imperial Examination, so the price cannot be too high. Fifty copper coins per copy will do," Fang Yun said.

"Not bad. Did someone help you plan this?"

"Of course. I opened a Three-Flavors Bookstore and discussed it with the clerks at the bookshop," Fang Yun said.

Registrar Zhou said, "Leave the manuscript here. I'll stay up tonight and rush out a preface. Before you leave, I'll write you an authorization slip. Tomorrow, use it to collect the publishing permit from Literary Exchange Hall, then go directly to the printing workshop to collect the books."

Fang Yun's gaze fell on his manuscript, and he thought, This is bad. He said, "The Literary Academy printing workshop needs the manuscript. I can't go empty-handed tomorrow."

With a grand sweep of his hand, Registrar Zhou gathered Fang Yun's novel manuscript and the two advertisement drafts, then stuffed them into his clothes with "righteous dignity." Watching Fang Yun warily, he said, "I'll have someone deliver the manuscript to the printing workshop. When the time comes, you can simply collect the books."

"Sir, that's not very honorable. I spent ten days and ten nights writing that manuscript, revising it again and again. I nearly worried myself gray-haired," Fang Yun hurriedly cried in distress.

Registrar Zhou said, "Let us not speak of this matter for now. In the future, remember to come to me whenever you need a preface."

Fang Yun stared into Registrar Zhou's eyes and said, "County Magistrate Cai gave me a Sage Page. I heard the Four Seas Dragon Clan's highest offer for one was fifty thousand taels!"

Registrar Zhou's eyes immediately flashed with ferocity as he displayed his official might.

Fang Yun showed no fear whatsoever.

On Saint Origin Continent, literary rank came first and official rank second. Not even the rulers of the Ten Kingdoms could strip a Licentiate of his literary rank. Thus, even though Fang Yun had offended the Left Prime Minister, whose power shook the court and countryside, the scholars of Ji County were still willing to associate with him.

Once scholars gained literary rank, they gained backbone. Many scholars who did not care about official rank remained neither servile nor overbearing before power. Precisely because of this, no matter how forceful the Left Prime Minister was, more than eighty percent of the military and Literary Academy factions still opposed him.

After a moment, Registrar Zhou shot Fang Yun a vicious glare and said, "In the future, books published by your Three-Flavors Bookstore will receive immediate review, with results within twelve hours. You will also receive priority printing at the printing workshop."

Fang Yun continued staring at Registrar Zhou.

Helplessly, Registrar Zhou said, "I'll ask Lord Academy Head to have this book pass the Sacred Academy review at once. Then you can contact the three major booksellers and sell books in other countries! As for your The Pillow Chronicle, I'll request Lord Academy Head to make it required reading at every academy and Literary Academy in Jiangzhou. This alone will quickly spread your literary reputation throughout Jiangzhou, and nearly ten thousand standalone copies of The Pillow Chronicle can be sold as well."

Fang Yun was exceedingly satisfied inside. Making The Pillow Chronicle required reading throughout an entire province carried tremendous significance, more important even than a Nation-Quelling Poem, yet his expression did not change.

At last, Registrar Zhou revealed a reluctant look and said, "I'll take one final step back. I cannot retreat any further. I am one of the editors of the Literary Gazette in Jiangzhou, and I can do my utmost to have some information published in it. So long as you need it and it meets the Literary Gazette's requirements, I will do my best to get it into the Literary Gazette."

Fang Yun immediately smiled. He had not expected such a harvest. More clearly than anyone in this world, he understood the value of the Literary Gazette—or rather, the media. The media could even become a principal force capable of overturning a nation.

"Many thanks for your trouble, Lord Zhou. This student takes his leave." Fang Yun cupped his hands in thanks.

Registrar Zhou wrote Fang Yun an authorization slip with an unhappy expression, then saw him out. But the moment he turned back, the smile on Registrar Zhou's face blossomed like a flower. He carefully took out Fang Yun's manuscript and gazed at it in intoxication.

"Good stuff, good stuff! What gold, silver, jewels, antiques, or rare treasures could compare to the wisdom of scholars? Merely looking at it and touching it leaves me utterly content. Excellent, truly excellent. I must help him more in the future."

The more Registrar Zhou looked, the more excited he became. Unable to restrain himself, he carried the original manuscript of The Pillow Chronicle straight to the residence of Jiangzhou's Academy Head, Li Wenying, Li Grand Academician.

Not long afterward, Registrar Zhou's pained and furious shouts suddenly rang out from within the Li Residence.

"Li Wenying! You dared seize my... manuscript gifted to me by Fang Yun! I'm going to impeach you! You are a dignified Grand Academician, a third-rank high official, yet you robbed the private property of a mere sixth-rank registrar with the literary rank of a lowly Provincial Graduate. You are utterly heartless and insane!"

"You actually used War Poetry to force me away? I'll smash myself to death right outside your gates! Return The Pillow Chronicle to me! Otherwise, I'll bring an imperial complaint!"

"Despicable! Despicable to the extreme!"

"Lord Academy Head, Li Grand Academician, please show mercy and return The Pillow Chronicle to me!"

"Fine! Fine! Fine! I'll lock away The Western Wing at once, so you will never see the original manuscript for the rest of your life! I'll also write to Cai He and tell him that even if I die, I won't let you see the original manuscript of Early Departure from Ji County!"

"Li Wenying, you old bastard, this isn't over between us!"

After Registrar Zhou had exhausted himself from cursing, he muttered resentfully, "Is this retribution?" Then he went home in low spirits.

Having gained his benefits, Fang Yun returned home happily. Before sleeping, he lit two sticks of incense and peacefully fell asleep.