Profound Court Book Firm

"Oh?" Fang Yun poked his head out the carriage window. More than twenty carriages followed behind, all belonging to the students from the ci poetry gathering.

"They might simply be headed the same way. Ignore them for now; let's take Brother He home first," Fang Yun said.

He Yutang hurriedly said, "My home is quite far from here. Once we reach your home, I can walk back myself."

"How about this? We'll take me home first, then have Da Niu take you home."

"That works," He Yutang said.

The horses' hooves clopped against the ground as they entered the city district, and the carriage slowed.

A peddler's cry suddenly rang out ahead of the carriage.

"Read The Western Wing and learn how to court love; read The Pillow Chronicle and become a Great Scholar! Fang Yun, the Double-A Honor Before the Sages Licentiate, has published a book! Come and buy it! Buy The Western Wing, and get Sacred Way and the Literary Gazette at their original prices!"

He Yutang heard every word clearly. He turned to Fang Yun and said furiously, "Why is someone using your name to sell books? And that line about becoming a Great Scholar—this is simply outrageous! Come on, let's get down and hand them over to the authorities. This is far too improper."

"Ahem! I did write those books. Many booksellers throughout the city are now working with my bookshop," Fang Yun said.

"This..." He Yutang gaped, unable to understand why a Before the Sages Licentiate with such a boundless future would use such arrogant words for promotion.

"Studying costs a great deal of money. I can't simply sit around and eat away at my savings, so I wrote two popular novels to sell. I came up with that advertising line. Ah, 'spreading the word far and wide' for short is called an advertisement," Fang Yun said.

He Yutang fell silent for a moment, then asked, "It won't affect your studies, will it?"

"No. I only write those popular novels while practicing calligraphy," Fang Yun said.

"That's good, then. If you really wrote them, I'll buy a copy too."

Fang Yun said, "If you want to read them, I'll bring the books to the clan school tomorrow."

"Sage Kong said: do not worry over scarcity, but over unevenness. If you give one to me, what will the other teachers think? If I make you give so many books away to others, that would not be good. How about this: I'll buy your book, and you write an aphorism for me as a gift," He Yutang said.

Fang Yun thought, Isn't this a signing event? Then he said, "All right."

"You came up with those ad... advertisement lines too, didn't you? No one else would be as bold as you." What Fang Yun considered perfectly ordinary was earth-shattering in He Yutang's eyes.

"Since it's about spreading the word far and wide, naturally it has to be A Single Cry That Astonishes."

"What if someone uses those advertisements to attack your literary reputation?" He Yutang was gradually accepting Fang Yun's explanation.

"I'm the bookstore manager. The clerks handle the business. At most, I can be accused of failing to inspect them. How could that harm my literary reputation?"

"That's true."

As the carriage drew near the handcart, He Yutang saw the words on its advertisement: "Lord Swordbrow Li Grand Academician invites you to read next month's divine article in Sacred Way, The Pillow Chronicle, ahead of time." His face turned pale with fright.

"Fang... Fang Yun, did you really get Lord Swordbrow's permission for this?"

"No, but I believe Lord Li won't care."

"You truly aren't afraid of death. Your courage is greater than a Demon King's." He Yutang shook his head helplessly.

The carriages behind them passed by as well. Their occupants heard the bookseller's cries and even saw Fang Yun's name on the banner.

Yan Yue said disdainfully, "You and Liu Zicheng both thought too highly of Fang Yun. Look at these methods of his—they are only a shade better than vile. Who sells books like this? I'd say he has been poor for so long that he fears poverty itself. Now that he has finally gained some literary fame, he is draining the pond to catch every fish. He will never amount to anything great."

Guan Yaoyuan glanced at the bookseller's handcart and nodded. "No wonder he came from a Cold Gate family in some tiny county. He certainly has plenty of lowly tricks for courting the crowd. If I published a book, I would go directly to the managers of the three great booksellers. By then, thirty percent of the bookstores in Dayuan Prefecture would promote my book. Selling them this way, he could earn at most a few hundred taels of silver a year. What use is that? Tell the coachman to keep close. Don't lose him."

Yan Yue stuck his head out and said, "Fang Yun's carriage is right ahead. We won't lose it."

After twisting and turning through the streets, Fang Yun's carriage stopped before his home. Fang Yun stepped down and said to He Yutang, "Farewell, Brother He."

"Farewell." The moment He Yutang finished speaking, he noticed Fang Yun turning to look back in the direction they had come from, his expression somewhat cold.

"What is it?" He Yutang followed him out of the carriage and saw a great many carriages crowding the alley entrance. The people inside were getting down one after another and walking toward them.

At the very front was Guan Yaoyuan, the organizer of the ci poetry gathering. He wore a friendly smile, as though nothing had happened earlier, while the few people behind him looked displeased.

Behind them stood many Academy Students from the Prefectural Academy. Gao Minghong from Ji County was among them, and he shouted, "Fang Yun, we were preparing to leave, but Guan Yaoyuan and the others kept following you. They might mean you harm, so we followed them here."

Guan Yaoyuan immediately complained, "You have truly misunderstood me. I came here to apologize to Fang Yun once more. Fang Yun, rest assured, once I return today, I will immediately spread word of your literary talent! I'll pay for it myself and print ten thousand copies of your Butterflies in Love with Flowers: Spring Scenery, then distribute them among scholars. Do you believe me now?"

Fang Yun remained unmoved. "Brother Guan, you are too courteous. Before long, I will publish a collection of ci poems myself, so there is no need to trouble you. My home is humble, and I have prepared neither wine nor refreshments, so I will not invite you all inside."

As Fang Yun spoke, he saw more people appearing at the alley entrance. Among them was a Horse Barbarian clad head to toe in armor, exceptionally tall, gripping a massive axe a full zhang long in one hand. His eyes were like two enormous bronze bells.

Standing before the Horse Barbarian was a fairly tall man, yet he only reached the barbarian's chest. The man wore a black robe, had a plump build and a kindly face, and looked over with a smiling expression.

Guan Yaoyuan said, "Sigh, you still do not believe me. Very well, time reveals a person's heart. I shall take my leave."

Yan Yue, however, said angrily from the side, "Fang Yun, even if you are a Double-A Honor Before the Sages, you are still only a Licentiate. Guan Yaoyuan has already humbled himself so thoroughly. Why are you still refusing to let the matter rest? Do you look down on the Academy Students of our Literary Academy that much? Do you so despise our noble families and the Elite Society?"

"Yan Yue, you can let your farts fly as wildly as you please, but you cannot speak nonsense. You and Guan Yaoyuan are playing one the villain and one the hero. Do you think we can't see through it?" Fang Yun had grown utterly disgusted with Yan Yue.

Guan Yaoyuan hurriedly pulled Yan Yue back. "Say no more. Let's go. Fang Yun, we can talk again another day. I was in the wrong this time; next time, I will certainly drink with you and apologize."

Yan Yue immediately shouted, "Fang Yun, you despicable and shameless wretch! Today, I'll compose a poem for you! Listen well: Four bare walls, yet no shame he knows; with only his tongue, he plays the hero's role. Is it a child bride who raises the boy, or a wife who feeds a Licentiate?"

Everyone present was stunned. Yan Yue's words were far too venomous. If this poem spread and others added fuel to the fire, Fang Yun would surely become a hypocrite, useless and concerned only for himself while ignoring whether his child bride lived or died. Once the labels of forgetting kindness and abandoning his first love were pinned on him, no matter how great his literary reputation became, he would be despised by all.

"You bastard!" Guan Yaoyuan slapped Yan Yue across the face, sending him staggering backward until he crashed into the wall.

"You..." Yan Yue seemed afraid of Guan Yaoyuan. He lowered his head and said nothing.

Guan Yaoyuan immediately said to Fang Yun, "Fang Yun, I never expected matters to turn out like this. I know you are still a Cold Gate student, and that even the carriage and travel expenses for coming to Dayuan Prefecture were given to you by others. You may be somewhat poor, your home may be humble, and you may even use methods that scholars disdain to sell books for money, but I believe you are a person with backbone."

Everyone could hear that the map had been exhausted and the dagger revealed. Guan Yaoyuan was openly attacking Fang Yun.

Before Fang Yun could speak, the slightly plump man outside the alley shouted, "Who says that is a method scholars disdain? Our Profound Court Book Firm has decided to purchase the entire set of Fang Double-A's book-selling methods for five thousand taels of silver, paid in one sum. In addition, we are willing to pay another five thousand taels of silver to acquire the sales rights for The Western Wing throughout the Saint Origin Continent. If Fang Double-A is willing to sign a contract giving all his future works to our Profound Court Book Firm for sale, we can give him an additional five percent of the revenue! Now, who says Fang Yun relies on his child bride?"

Everyone was shocked. Even if Yan Yue's and Guan Yaoyuan's families were prominent, they earned at most seven or eight thousand taels a year. Fang Yun could sell one book-selling method and the sales rights to one book for ten thousand taels? Could this man be someone Fang Yun had hired to put on a show?

Everyone looked at the man closely.

All those present were Academy Students of the Prefectural Academy and often saw the notable figures of the prefectural city. Nearly all of them recognized the man.

"Tang Grand Manager!" Every Academy Student bowed with clasped hands, showing him the utmost respect.

Guan Yaoyuan and Yan Yue also saluted Tang Grand Manager with trembling hearts.

Profound Court Book Firm was one of the three great book firms of the Saint Origin Continent, holding more than twenty percent of the continent's market share. Its shareholders included several Half-Sages, and Chen Guanhai was one of them. Thus, Profound Court Book Firm was also the largest book firm in the Jing Kingdom, controlling fifty percent of the Jing Kingdom's book market.

Profound Court Book Firm had a chief overseer in every province, whose position was Grand Manager.

The largest bookseller in a province was nothing remarkable, but if multiple Half-Sage Families stood behind it, even a provincial governor or the head of a provincial academy would not wish to offend it.

Gao Minghong looked at Yan Yue with delight at his misfortune. "Didn't you insult us Cold Gate students? Didn't you say Fang Yun could not make money? With Tang Grand Manager here, what can you possibly say now? The sales rights alone are worth five thousand taels of silver. This book can sell for at least two hundred thousand taels of silver in total."

Yan Yue immediately felt flustered. Liu Zicheng had taught him to attack Fang Yun for being lazy, gluttonous, and incapable of earning money, but he had never expected Fang Yun alone to earn more than the entire Yan Household. If this spread, that crooked poem might not only fail to damage Fang Yun's literary reputation—it might instead make more people interested in Fang Yun's novels.

Tang Grand Manager looked at Yan Yue and asked, "Your name is Yan Yue, correct? I've met your father. You look down on Fang Yun? Very well. I'll give you half a quarter-hour. If you cannot produce ten thousand taels of silver within half a quarter-hour, I'll smash your mouth! Then I'll give you three days. If you cannot earn ten thousand taels of silver by yourself within three days, I'll break your legs! Old Ma, keep a close eye on him. If, after three days, he cannot write a good book like The Western Wing, chop off both his legs!"

"Mm." The Horse Barbarian answered and stared fixedly at Yan Yue.

Leaning against the wall, Yan Yue's face was bloodless. He had never imagined that he would fail to humiliate Fang Yun and instead be humiliated himself, even facing an unknown punishment. He had heard many stories about Tang Grand Manager. People used eight words to describe him: ruthless and vicious, raking in gold by the day.

Despair filled Yan Yue's heart.

It's over. Since he knows my father, he must know I come from a prominent family. Yet he still dares to chop off my legs. That means Fang Yun can help him earn an enormous sum of money. He is willing to give Fang Yun ten thousand, so he must be confident he can make twenty thousand or even more from Fang Yun. Would my father turn against Profound Court Book Firm for me? Impossible! To curry favor with a mere Licentiate, he is threatening me, a dignified Academy Student! Just how highly does he value this Fang Yun?

Guan Yaoyuan stepped forward and respectfully said, "I am Guan Yaoyuan. My uncle serves as a fifth-rank director in the Ministry of Personnel in the capital and is a disciple of the Left Prime Minister. This matter is a misunderstanding. I hope Tang Grand Manager will give Yan Yue a chance."

"You wish to stop me?" Tang Grand Manager asked gloomily.

"No..." Before Guan Yaoyuan could finish, the Horse Barbarian several zhang away suddenly opened his mouth and spat.

That spit actually tore through the air with a shrill, piercing whistle as it flew toward Guan Yaoyuan. Before Guan Yaoyuan could react, it struck him squarely in the forehead.

Guan Yaoyuan screamed as his body flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground. His forehead became a bloody mess of mangled flesh. He clenched his teeth against the pain and struggled to sit up.

"Barbarian Commander." Someone spoke the words, and everyone looked toward the Horse Barbarian who had wounded a man with a gob of spit.