Literary Palace Shattered

The Horse Barbarian showed not the slightest hint of triumph, staring fixedly at Yan Yue.

Guan Yaoyuan staggered to his feet and no longer dared stop Tang Grand Manager. He looked fearfully at that Barbarian Commander. A Barbarian Commander was equivalent to a Human Race Metropolitan Graduate and could command three thousand Barbarian Soldiers. He was already among the upper echelons of the Barbarian Race.

Everyone looked at the unfortunate Yan Yue. He had written a crooked poem mocking Fang Yun for being useless and raised by his child bride, yet Fang Yun not only had a talent for making money but had even drawn the Grand Manager of Profound Court Book Firm here. This matter would surely become a stain on Yan Yue's name. If he could not wash away that disgrace, there would be serious trouble ahead.

Yan Yue clenched his teeth. He believed he still had hope. As long as Fang Yun did not write some famous piece to strike him down, he still had a chance to become a Provincial Graduate and temper his Literary Guts. At least he would not become a second Pan'er.

The people in the alley parted to either side, making way for Tang Grand Manager.

When Tang Grand Manager approached, Fang Yun said, "Fang Yun greets Tang Grand Manager."

Tang Grand Manager merely smiled. "Do you know how I found you?"

Fang Yun blurted out, "Registrar Zhou must have sold me out."

"Haha, I traded an ancient book for your address. What did you think of my earlier proposal? If you do not agree, we can negotiate."

The Academy Students all widened their eyes. Negotiate? Was Tang Grand Manager saying that the terms he had offered were not good enough? Even a Provincial Graduate from a prominent clan would hastily agree. Could Fang Yun possibly still be dissatisfied?

Fang Yun said, "The price is indeed low, but your sincerity is abundant, so we can discuss it. I am rather curious: Profound Court Book Firm is the model of all booksellers. How could it favor publicity methods as unconventional as mine?"

Tang Grand Manager smiled. "Applying what one learns is a rule laid down by the Saints. With your methods, more books can be sold, which is a great achievement in enlightening the people. How can that be called an unconventional path? If Sage Kong had possessed your ingenious publicity methods when he shattered private schooling and established public schools, he certainly would have used them. When rotten Confucians cross the street, everyone shouts and beats them. How could you not know that? The reason I favor your way of selling books and hurried here is because I have selfish motives."

"Please speak, Tang Grand Manager," Fang Yun said.

"I am an inheritor of the Novelists School." Tang Grand Manager's eyes brimmed with sorrow.

Many Academy Students also sighed softly. During the contention of the Hundred Schools, the Novelists School had held the lowest status. To this day, no novelist had attained Saint Enfeoffment. Even Gan Bao, author of the mythological novel In Search of the Supernatural, could advance no further than Great Scholar.

Tang Grand Manager continued, "Your novel allowed me to see signs of the Novelists School's revival. Whether it is the plainness of your wording or the simplicity of your novel punctuation, it can spread by the fastest means possible. Supplemented by novel publicity methods, it achieves twice the result with half the effort. That is why I came at once."

Fang Yun nodded. "Tang Grand Manager, please come inside so we can speak."

Fang Daniu quickly opened the door and saw Yang Yuhuan and Little Fox emerging from the main room, apparently having heard Fang Yun's voice.

Yang Yuhuan curiously walked outside, while Nunu cried out happily and transformed into a streak of white as she pounced into Fang Yun's arms.

Tang Grand Manager looked at Nunu, and a flash of surprise passed through his eyes.

Fang Yun held Nunu and was about to invite Tang Grand Manager inside when someone suddenly shouted from the mouth of the alley, "Is this the home of Fang Yun, Case First?"

Fang Yun found the voice familiar. Turning to look, he saw that it was Academic Examiner Wan, one of the three examiners from the County Examination, who held a post at the Prefectural Academy.

Academic Examiner Wan wore official robes today, and red silk was tied to his official cap, signifying that he was attending an important ceremony. Behind him followed many people draped in bright red silk, carrying several boxes, each of them beaming with joy.

"Lord Wan." Fang Yun cupped his hands in salute. The other students were all from the Prefectural Academy and recognized this Subordinate Seventh Rank Academic Examiner, so they all saluted as well.

Academic Examiner Wan swept his gaze across the alley in surprise, nodded slightly to Fang Yun and Tang Grand Manager, then raised a roll of silk cloth in his hand.

"The Empress Dowager's decree."

Those with Literary Rank immediately lowered their heads and bent at the waist, while those without Literary Rank, such as the coachman and Yang Yuhuan, dropped to one knee in a half-kneel.

Provincial Graduates and those below them knelt only to Heaven, Earth, parents, and the Saints. They half-knelt before the ruler and did not kneel to anyone else.

Metropolitan Graduates and above did not kneel before the ruler, but half-knelt before Saints.

Those without Literary Rank knelt upon seeing the ruler and half-knelt before kings, the Empress Dowager, and the like.

Sage-front Tongsheng did not kneel before the ruler, and Before-the-Sages Academy Students did not kneel before Saints.

The Horse Barbarian reluctantly bent at the waist and lowered his head. As a Barbarian Race member, his status was two ranks lower than his strength, so before the decree he was only equivalent to an Academy Student.

Nunu curiously looked at everyone, then stood upright and imitated Fang Yun, clasping her two paws and bowing. Yet her pair of sly eyes kept darting about.

"I have heard that Fang Yun of Ji County possesses poetry and prose that overshadow the age, that he combines virtue and talent and understands the greater picture. He is a pillar of my Jing Kingdom and a fledgling phoenix of the Human Race. As he is still too young, it is inconvenient to grant him a title. I therefore bestow upon him one set of imperial writing implements and such items as Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng. I have also heard that his child bride, Yuhuan, possesses natural beauty and is gentle, virtuous, and yielding. Though trapped in hardship, she did not abandon him; when Fang Yun attained wealth and honor, she did not leave him. She is truly a model for the women of Jing Kingdom. I bestow upon her an Imperial Mandate of the eighth grade and confer upon her the title of Anren. I grant her a phoenix crown and embroidered ceremonial robes of a princess's make, as well as one page of my personally written blessing: 'May their zithers and se be in harmony.'"

Imperial edicts ended with "Respect this," while the Empress Dowager's decree did not. So after Academic Examiner Wan paused for a moment, Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan loudly said together, "We thank the Empress Dowager for her boundless grace."

Yan Yue beside them was drenched in cold sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably. If there had been even a thread of hope before, now, unless the Left Prime Minister personally protected him, he was utterly finished. The Empress Dowager's decree praised Fang Yun as "combining virtue and talent" and Yang Yuhuan as "gentle, virtuous, and yielding," yet he had written a crooked poem insulting both Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan. This was a solid, undeniable offense against his superiors.

Though the Empress Dowager of Jing Kingdom possessed no Literary Qi, she now governed from behind a curtain and stood close to the ruler's position. Naturally, she could stir National Fortune. Yan Yue's Literary Rank was not high, and before the Empress Dowager's power, he was too weak to withstand a single blow.

"How could it be like this?!" Yan Yue collapsed onto the ground.

Elsewhere, Guan Yaoyuan, who had been playing the kindly face and pretending to be honest, wiped away his sweat with trembling hands. He knew that after this incident, his literary reputation would suffer a severe blow, and his Literary Qi would wither. He definitely could not pass the Provincial Graduate examination within the next three to five years. He looked at Yan Yue again and knew that Yan Yue was in an even worse state. So long as the Empress Dowager remained in power, Yan Yue would never see the day he could rise again.

Most people turned to look at Yang Yuhuan. Just as the rumors said, she could topple kingdoms and cities, her beauty surpassing Xi Shi's.

Yang Yuhuan's face was crimson at that moment, and her mind was utterly blank. She had always felt inferior because of her identity. After all, she was merely a child bride. Yet now the Empress Dowager had conferred an Imperial Mandate upon her, making her a madam. Though she was only an eighth-grade Anren, it was equivalent to a ninth-grade civil official. Even the principal wives of many prominent clan heads found it difficult to receive such a conferment; ordinarily, only the mothers of prominent clan heads could obtain it.

The phoenix crown and embroidered ceremonial robes made in a princess's style carried even more extraordinary meaning. Normally, only the daughters of Hanlin Academicians or third-rank high officials could receive such a phoenix crown and robes as palace gifts upon marriage, while those who received a handwritten blessing from the Empress Dowager were fewer still.

He Yutang and several other older people looked toward those carrying the gift chests. What drew their attention was not Yang Yuhuan's status or beauty, but the legendary Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng.

Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng was a sea cucumber specialty of the Four Seas Dragon Palaces. Jing Kingdom received no more than ten pairs a year, and nearly all were sent to the palace. Only a very small number of Great Scholars or Grand Academicians could receive them as rewards.

Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng could strengthen the body, prolong life, increase wisdom, and fortify the heart. It was also a great tonic and daily food for the Dragon Race. Both Demon Barbarians and the Human Race could consume it.

The Horse Barbarian Commander greedily eyed those gift boxes, lightly sniffed, and looked toward the box containing Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng. After weighing it over and over, he ultimately abandoned the thought of seizing it. The Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng was precious, but his life was more important. If he made even the slightest suspicious move, the prefect and provincial governor, along with other high officials, would detect it at once through their Official Seals. The loss would outweigh the gain.

Academic Examiner Wan hurriedly said, "Read the gift list," ordering someone to begin reciting the specific gifts. Then he quickly came before Fang Yun and Tang Grand Manager, handed the decree to Fang Yun, and asked, "Fang Double-A, what exactly happened?"

Fang Yun briefly recounted what had happened.

Academic Examiner Wan flew into a rage. Though he did not wish to offend the Left Prime Minister's faction, he had also been one of Fang Yun's examiners in the County Examination. He could be considered half of Fang Yun's teacher.

Academic Examiner Wan looked directly at Yan Yue. "As a student of Jing Kingdom, you do not think of serving the country. Standing beneath the Sacred Academy, you know neither benevolence nor propriety. You even attack the character of one whom the Empress Dowager has praised. You are simply a belly full of sour vinegar and a heart full of foul water—detestable and hateful! Tomorrow, I will petition the Academy Lord to strip you of your position in the Literary Academy! Get out!"

Yan Yue and Guan Yaoyuan were about to leave when Fang Yun suddenly said, "Please stay a moment, you two. Tang Grand Manager has finished scolding you to his heart's content, and Academic Examiner Wan has lectured you. Yet I have not said a single word. Better dissolve enmity than tie it tighter. Though you two serve Liu Zicheng, I will eventually enter the Prefectural Academy in a few days, and we will still be fellow students. After thinking it over, I shall write an inscription to declare my aspirations. I also hope that you two, my future classmates, will not look down upon us children of the Cold Gate. Daniu, go inside and bring out a table and the four treasures of the study."

Guan Yaoyuan and Yan Yue groaned bitterly inwardly, but they did not dare leave and could only wait.

Academic Examiner Wan said, "Since it is an inspirational inscription, write it with the four treasures of the study bestowed by the Empress Dowager. You possess great talent. If this inscription can leave its name in Jing Kingdom, it will best display the Empress Dowager's ability to recognize talent."

"Very well."

Fang Daniu rushed inside to move out a table, while Yang Yuhuan had been nervously clutching Fang Yun's sleeve all along. Like a shy young wife, she had yet to fully process today's joyous news.

Fang Daniu soon carried out the table and brush washer. Academic Examiner Wan ordered someone to arrange the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone granted by the Empress Dowager, then personally poured water into the inkstone. Holding an ink stick, he slowly ground the ink.

"Lord Wan, you must not!" Fang Yun said.

"I have never used tribute ink from the imperial court. This time, I shall indulge myself a little. Do not spoil my pleasure. This tribute ink does not disperse in water and does not deteriorate over time. Its fragrance is light and elegant, its color black and lustrous. Just looking at it satisfies me." Academic Examiner Wan felt no shame at all over a Provincial Graduate grinding ink for a Licentiate. Instead, he delighted in it.

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

This set of the four treasures of the study contained ten writing brushes, twenty sticks of tribute ink, two hundred sheets of tribute paper, and one Glazed Koi Inkstone. All were treasures.

Fang Yun examined the brushes one by one. Rabbit hair was too soft, wolf hair too hard, so he chose a brush made from both rabbit and wolf hair.

Fang Yun did not close his eyes to meditate.

No one around them spoke. Only the sound of Academic Examiner Wan grinding ink could be heard.

Before long, Fang Yun said, "Today, I shall use this humble dwelling as my inscription, to encourage myself alongside you all."

Fang Yun raised his brush and wrote Liu Yuxi's world-passing masterpiece, Inscription of the Humble Abode, while Academic Examiner Wan slowly recited it beside him.

"Inscription of the Humble Abode."

"A mountain need not be high; with a Saint, it gains renown. Water need not be deep; with a dragon, it gains spirit."

"This is but a humble abode, yet my virtue fills it with fragrance. Moss traces climb the steps in green; grass hues enter through the curtains in blue."

"Great scholars laugh and speak within; no commoners come and go. One may tune a plain qin here, or read the Golden Scripture."

"No music of silk and bamboo to disturb the ears, no official documents to weary the body."

"Zhuge's cottage in Nanyang; Ziyun's pavilion in Western Shu."

"Confucius said: 'What humbleness could there be?'"

The writing was complete. Every character glimmered faintly. Literary Qi surged within a radius of thirty feet, while the clean fragrance of brush and ink was magnified without limit, spreading its scent for three miles.

Then two crisp cracking sounds rang out from the heads of Guan Yaoyuan and Yan Yue.

Their Literary Palaces had shattered!