"Excellent. In just ten days, thirty thousand of the fifty thousand copies had sold. The rest had been handed to Profound Court Book Firm to sell on commission. In a few more days, The Western Wing would spread across the Ten Kingdoms. According to Tang Grand Manager's estimate, sales could reach five hundred thousand copies a month," Fang Yun said.
"From now on, I can call you a little tycoon. Come, I'll dictate and you write," Li Wenying said.
Fang Yun picked up the brush and paper from the table, waiting for Li Wenying to recite the poem.
"Ten thousand trees freeze, ready to snap; one lonely root warms, returning alone.
"Deep in the snow of the village ahead, several branches bloomed last night.
"The wind carries out their hidden fragrance; birds peer at their plain beauty as they come.
"If next year they answer the season's rhythm, let them bloom first upon Spring Viewing Terrace."
It was quite a while after Li Wenying finished reciting before Fang Yun completed writing down this poem, Early Plum Blossoms. His expression, however, was slightly strange.
The poem first described the setting of the early plum blossoms, then their blooming. It went on to describe how their fragrance and beauty stirred the birds, and finally both sent a message to the plum blossoms and revealed the poet's wish to go to "Spring Viewing Terrace"—the capital.
Fang Yun thought of last year's struggle in court and guessed that Li Wenying had wanted to go to the capital then to meet the Left Prime Minister. Yet Jiangzhou had the Yangtze River and Qing Kingdom to the south, the Eastern Sea to the east, and Demon Mountain to the west. It was a place of utmost importance, and only Li Wenying was suited to hold it