novelhk Page 18
Page 18
Xu Lingyue wore a light blue silk dress, which made her look pretty and delicate.
"Hmm? Lingyue, have you finished breakfast?"
Wei Changxuan wore a gentle smile and spoke with great concern.
Xu Lingyue bowed slightly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze:
"Reporting to Young Master Wei, we have already finished breakfast and were just about to go out to buy some paper and pens for Lingyin so she can practice her calligraphy."
"Oh, I see! I'm just about to head out to the printing shop anyway, let's go together!"
As Wei Changxuan spoke, he seemed to suddenly remember something and continued.
"Also, please stop calling me Young Master Wei from now on; it sounds too distant."
Call me Changxuan, or Brother Xuan, it's fine either way.
Upon hearing this, Xu Lingyue's blush deepened, turning her face as red as a ripe apple.
She lowered her head slightly, hesitated for a moment, and said in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "Then let's call him Brother Xuan!"
"Yes, that's right!"
Let's go! Actually, we don't have many clothes that fit you both well at home, so this is a good opportunity to buy a few.
Wei Changxuan smiled and nodded, then stepped out the door first.
Afterwards, Wei Changxuan led Xu Lingyue, Janet in a black robe, and the dashing Qingniao toward the bustling market.
Along the way, the crowds were dense, and the shops on both sides of the street were lined up one after another, displaying a wide variety of goods. The shouts of vendors rose and fell, weaving together a lively symphony of the marketplace.
Xu Lingyue's gentleness, Janet's mystery, and Qingniao's heroic spirit drew the attention of passersby.
Wei Changxuan, with his imposing presence, walked in the middle, exuding an air of nobility that made him the center of attention.
In the market, a rather large printing shop came into view.
This printing shop was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, so it could be considered a semi-state-owned enterprise.
After all, the Ministry of Rites was in charge of key affairs such as education and the imperial examinations, and its connection with paper and printing was inextricably linked.
Wei Changxuan chose this place because
It was precisely because of the official resources and strong capabilities behind it that they were attracted.
They also understood the principle that having connections in the central government makes things easier.
He walked with steady steps, leading the women into the store.
The shop was filled with the faint scent of ink, and the craftsmen were busy with their tasks in an orderly manner.
Wei Changxuan first observed the movable type printing technique in the shop with great interest, and saw rows of neatly arranged movable type.
Under the skilled hands of the craftsmen, the objects seemed to come alive, quickly assembling into exquisite pages of a book.
"With this advanced movable type printing technology, printing my vernacular novels will definitely be twice as easy."
He pondered to himself, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
As Wei Changxuan and his group stepped in, the shop manager immediately greeted them with a beaming smile.
In this era, although paper and printing have gradually become widespread,
But for ordinary people, it is still a considerable expense.
Therefore, the steward had long since developed a keen eye and could tell at a glance that the boy in front of him was no ordinary person.
"Summon your chief steward here and tell him the night watchman has come to visit!"
Wei Changxuan remained calm, but his voice carried an undeniable authority.
This sentence, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a thousand ripples.
The manager's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he almost lost his balance.
In this society, whether one is a government official or a business tycoon...
Once you're targeted by the night watchman, it means you'll be lucky to escape with your life.
The steward dared not delay for a moment and hurriedly ran to the backyard to report.
A short while later, a slightly plump elderly man dressed in official robes walked out hurriedly.
With a face full of apology, he quickly approached and said:
"I am Hu Dehai, a Principal Officer of the Ministry of Rites. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly upon your arrival!"
As the old man spoke, he kept glancing at the boy in front of him.
Wei Changxuan was imposing and handsome, with a tall and straight figure, dressed in a silk robe.
His every move exuded the nobility and elegance of a young master from a prominent family.
Hu Dehai pondered to himself that the person before him was probably more than just a night watchman.
More likely, he was a scion of a powerful family, coming to the watchman's place for training and experience.
"Ministry of Rites Principal?! A sixth-rank official position, I suppose that's barely acceptable!"
Wei Changxuan didn't put on airs; he calmly revealed his identity.
"My name is Wei Changxuan. My uncle is Wei Yuan of the current dynasty. I have come today to discuss a business deal with Manager Hu."
Hu Dehai paused slightly at the name "Wei Changxuan," quickly searching his mind for relevant information about it. He seemed to have heard of it vaguely, but not in great depth.
However, when he heard the name "Wei Yuan," his eyes widened instantly, and his face was filled with shock and awe.
Wei Yuan is a legendary figure known to everyone in the entire Great Feng Dynasty!
In the Battle of Shanhai Pass, Wei Yuan single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, earning him widespread fame.
His deeds are widely known throughout the streets and alleys of Dafeng, making him a revered military god of Dafeng.
"It turns out to be Young Master Wei himself! Our humble shop is truly honored!"
"I wonder what kind of business Young Master Wei wishes to discuss?"
Hu Dehai smiled broadly and became increasingly respectful.
"Here are two vernacular novels. You can arrange for them to be printed into books."
As Wei Changxuan spoke, he took out the first 50 chapters of the two novels, "In the Snow" and "Mystery," from the wooden box and gently placed them on the table.
In a society lacking entertainment, Wei Changxuan knew that as long as a free and wonderful novel was published, it would inevitably cause a sensation and be widely popular.
Moreover, he later planned to bribe storytellers in brothels to tell the stories of "Snow in the Sky" and "Mystery" to more people in a vivid and engaging way.
To further expand the influence of these two novels and thus earn more shock value.
.......
Chapter 23 The Great Confucian Scholar's Shock! Turbulence Stirs Again in the Capital!
On the other side, Yunlu Academy.
This academy, which carries the dreams and talents of countless literati, exudes a unique scholarly atmosphere amidst tranquility and peace.
Inside the academy, there is an exquisite and elegant pavilion with flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams and painted rafters, surrounded by lush green trees and abundant flowers and plants.
Inside the pavilion, there were the great master Li Mubai, the military strategist Zhang Shen, and the great Confucian scholar Yang Gong, dressed in purple robes.
The three sat facing each other, with exquisite tea sets laid out on the stone table in front of them, and the aroma of tea rising gently.
Li Mubai, with a solemn expression, was the first to break the silence:
"Ziqian, you are leaving the day after tomorrow. Jinyan and I will definitely see you off."
This mission, seemingly an important appointment by the court to make you a high-ranking official in charge of a prefecture,
In reality, the road ahead is fraught with thorns, the future is uncertain, and dangers lurk everywhere.
Yang Gong nodded slightly, his eyes filled with worry, and sighed softly.
"Yes, the situation in the court is unpredictable and the stakes involved are really hard to predict."
Li Mubai waved his hand, trying to dispel the slightly heavy atmosphere, a look of joy appearing on his face:
"Sigh, let's not talk about these troublesome things."
I recently came across two exquisite poems and lyrics, and I've come to share them with you two.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Shen's eyes flashed with curiosity: "Oh? Poems that Brother Mu Bai values so highly must be extraordinary."
Li Mubai smiled and took out a meticulously crafted book of poems from his sleeve. The ink on the book was still wet, indicating that it had just been copied.
He gently opened it and handed it to the two of them:
"Please take a look, both of you. One of these poems is titled 'A Gift to Fu Xiang,' and the other is yet to be named."
A Gift to Fu Xiang
There is a beautiful woman in the south, peerless and independent.
Regardless of the city, consider the country.
Would you rather not know how to captivate a city and a country? It is hard to find a beautiful woman again!
After reading the poem, both the erudite scholars in purple robes, Yang Gong and Zhang Shen, were filled with astonishment.
While the imagery in the poem didn't quite blow their minds, it was enough to catch their eye.
Compared to the poems and lyrics written by those pretentious, affected scholars and writers in the academy,
This poem is clearly of a much higher standard.
What's even more ingenious is that the poem created the new phrase "倾城倾国" (qīngchéng qīngguó), which describes the beauty of a woman, and it was simply a stroke of genius.
Yang Gong couldn't help but exclaim, "This poem has a beautiful artistic conception and exquisite word choice. I wonder who wrote it?"
Although it is merely a poem describing the beauty of a fair maiden, its rhyme and imagery are truly unmatched by ordinary poetry.
Zhang Shen frowned slightly and asked in confusion:
"Fu Xiang? Who is this person? To receive such a fine work as a gift."
Li Mubai smiled wryly and explained with a hint of embarrassment:
"This Fu Xiang is a top courtesan who has recently emerged in the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution)."