Chapter 75
Chapter 75
‘Excellent! An excellent book! An utterly perfect and exquisite book! Only one with great wisdom could pen such prose and verse. What a pity, what a shame! To think such a classic, a work of such quality, is being sold to the vulgar and the base.
Could they possibly grasp the worldly insight within these sentences? Could the common rabble truly comprehend this book’s contents?
Only someone like me, tempered and forged in the crucible of intrigue and power, could recognize the true brilliance of this work, as one recognizes their own kind. A masterpiece, truly!’
Prefect Yi Fang had thought Zhu Wenhua’s *Mandarin Duck Dream* was a rather entertaining and decent book. But now, after reading Shen Lang’s work, *Mandarin Duck Dream* was nothing more than a pile of dung. Its contents were childish, pretentious, forced, and reeked of smug self-importance. He even began to doubt his own literary sensibilities.
‘How did this happen? Could it be that my literary taste has degenerated from being steeped in the harsh realities of officialdom for too long? Have I reached a point where I can be satisfied by a book like Zhu Wenhua’s *Mandarin Duck Dream*?’
This was akin to a handsome young man, seeking to cool his head, stepping into a strangely lit establishment on the street. After the deed was done, he would enter a moment of profound clarity. Before, desire had blinded him to all else; after, the aged woman's wrinkles would come to mind, filling him with nausea and regret.
‘How dreadful! To think my standards have fallen so low after a few years without proper reading. One must read. Read often, and read good books.’
At last, Prefect Yi Fang picked up the second volume of Zhu Wenhua’s *Mandarin Duck Dream* with two fingers, flung it aside with all his might, and then wiped his hand on his sleeve. He then once again opened Shen Lang’s *Boundless Wind and Moon* and began to read with rapt attention.
‘Ah, what a comfortable feeling. Prose and verse of this caliber are what people of our station and refinement should be reading.’
But the more he read, the more Prefect Yi Fang found himself in a predicament. The region below his belly grew warm. Just as he was considering visiting his concubine to rest, a clamor arose from outside.
Prefect Yi Fang was instantly enraged.
‘Who is it? Daring to shatter a man’s mood in the middle of the night.’
Just then, his aide burst in.
“My lord, it's an emergency! A mob of several hundred scholars has surrounded the Prefect's mansion.”
The hairs on the back of Prefect Yi Fang’s neck stood on end. What do officials fear most? Is it not a unified voice, a gathering of a mob? And scholars causing a disturbance were the biggest headache of all.
“What is it? Was there an unfair examination? Or did some ruffian beat someone to death?”
Then, Prefect Yi Fang asked the most important question.
“Who is leading them?”
“The great scholar, Zhu Wenhua.”
Instantly, Prefect Yi Fang's tension vanished without a trace, replaced by a cynical sneer.
“Let them in. Not all of them. Allow no more than five of them inside.”
* * *
A short while later, Zhu Wenhua entered with four of his most fervent scholars. All were accomplished scholars who had passed the county examinations and served as his staunchest cronies. To be honest, even before Prefect Yi Fang, Zhu Wenhua carried an air of superiority. He was the young master of the Viscount of Nanshan's estate, and though the title was not high, he hailed from an ancient noble family that had been granted a fief.
Though he was actively trying to align himself with the New Government faction, he couldn't hide his sense of superiority, feeling that his status was incomparable to that of a mere official. Moreover, as a provincial graduate, he was not required to bow to officials.
“Greetings, Prefect Yi.”
Zhu Wenhua said with a cupped-fist salute.
“Greetings, Prefect Yi.”
The four scholars behind him bowed at the waist.
“Young Master Zhu, what brings you here?”
“Prefect Yi, as the head of the people of Nanshan City, I implore you to render a fair judgment for the sake of our literary world and restore the righteous path for those who study the teachings of the sages.”
Yi Fang's brow furrowed. He found this sort of thing most vexing. Scholars were always barging in, spouting self-righteous nonsense. Of course, Yi Fang had done the same in his youth. Anyone recalling their younger self would likely have the same thought: ‘What an idiot I was!’
“What exactly is this about?”
Prefect Yi Fang asked coolly. Zhu Wenhua produced a copy of Shen Lang’s *Boundless Wind and Moon*.
“I request that Prefect Yi ban this book, arrest and judge its printer, burn all published copies, and confiscate the print shop that produced it.”
Zhu Wenhua spoke only of arresting the printer, not Shen Lang. Everyone knew that trying to arrest the son-in-law of a Count over a single book was an exercise in self-humiliation. Prefect Yi Fang sneered inwardly.
‘So, the matter is just as I thought.’
He stroked his beard and said.
“Oh? And why should I do that?”
“This book is so vulgar and base that one cannot bear to look at it. It not only defiles the teachings of the sages but also corrupts the hearts of men and undermines social mores. It must be thoroughly suppressed.”
Yi Fang took the book and flipped through it a few times.
“What? Does this book contain passages that deny the teachings of the sages?”
Zhu Wenhua frowned. Who would be foolish enough to explicitly deny the sages in a book?
“Then does this book contain any slander against the state?”
Of course not.
“If it contains neither, on what grounds can I ban it?”
Zhu Wenhua said coldly.
“Isn't being vulgar and base reason enough?”
“There are far more vulgar books than this. Nowhere in the State of Yue is there a law forbidding the publication of stories about the dalliances between men and women. If even erotica can be sold, why not this book?”
“This book uses me as a subject of ridicule, defaming and trampling my reputation. Surely that is against the law?”
Prefect Yi Fang thought to himself.
‘And are you the law?’
“Which part of this book alludes to you?”
Zhu Wenhua flipped to a chapter that described the amorous encounter between a Master Ximen and a certain Zhu Wenshan. He pointed to the passage and said.
“Look here. This Zhu Wenshan! It is clearly meant to be me. Is this not a defamation of my name?”
“This character is clearly named Zhu Wenshan, is he not? What does this have to do with you? We use many characters; it's not uncommon for names to share a few by chance.”
Zhu Wenhua’s gaze turned cold. Prefect Yi Fang was shielding Shen Lang. This was not right.
“Prefect Yi, what is the meaning of this? The truth is obvious. Are you intentionally shielding Shen Lang?”
“Scholar Zhu, I advise you to broaden your mind and not be jealous of the talented. You are now trying to get another man's book banned simply because he wrote better than you. By what right do you do this?”
The words were a direct blow to Zhu Wenhua’s pride.
“Prefect Yi, on what basis do you make such a claim? In terms of prose or verse, how can Shen Lang's book possibly be said to surpass mine?”
Prefect Yi Fang sneered, his expression dripping with disdain.
“Indeed, The Scoffing Scholar of Langling’s *Boundless Wind and Moon* cannot be compared to your *Mandarin Duck Dream*.”
Prefect Yi Fang continued.
“To do so would be an insult to this book. This is a masterpiece comparable to the classics, the kind one might encounter once in a century. How can it be mentioned in the same breath as such a worldly work?”
*Crack!* It was as if the sharp sound of Zhu Wenhua's pride shattering could be heard in the air.
‘Who the hell are you, Yi Fang, to say that? My writing is clearly better, my verse is clearly superior… You call my book worldly? This damn official must be blind.’
Yi Fang wore a sincere expression as he said.
“Young Master Zhu, I urge you to read *Boundless Wind and Moon* with a calm heart. It is truly… a book that makes one want to slap the table and shout in admiration. Its satirical style, its insight into the ways of the world—it is a work of breathtaking genius. I assure you, if you can come to understand this book, it will be of great benefit to you.”
Zhu Wenhua felt Prefect Yi Fang’s words were beneath him.
‘Hmph! I am a man of immense talent who has read more books than would fill five carts. And you want me to read the trash written by Shen Lang? Ridiculous.’
Seeing that Prefect Yi Fang was determined to protect Shen Lang, Zhu Wenhua said coolly.
“I fear the Prefect's actions may alienate the hearts of Nanshan City's scholars.”
It was a clear threat. If Prefect Yi Fang did not give him a satisfactory outcome, the several hundred scholars would raise a ruckus under Zhu Wenhua’s command. They would demonstrate outside the Prefect's mansion, and perhaps even stage a collective boycott of their classes.
With enough money, you could make ghosts turn millstones; gathering a few hundred scholars to cause a disturbance was not a difficult task.
“Zhu Wenhua, what are you planning?”
Prefect Yi Fang asked in a cold voice.
“Haha. Since Prefect Yi will not stand up for the scholars of Nanshan City, then I suppose we must take matters into our own hands.”
Prefect Yi Fang picked up a brush and drew a line on a white sheet of paper.
“Protests at the Prefect's mansion are forbidden. Protests at the academy are forbidden. If anyone crosses this line, I will have them arrested on sight.”
Hearing this, the four scholars behind Zhu Wenhua instantly recoiled. Money was good, but not at the expense of their safety and future prospects. Zhu Wenhua said.
“I am not so ill-mannered.”
He then shouted loudly.
“The person responsible for this vulgar book is none other than Deng Xian of the Spring Hue Print Shop. To rectify the literary world and restore the pure spirit of Nanshan City, let us go together, smash this print shop, and burn every copy of *Boundless Wind and Moon*!”
With that, Zhu Wenhua stormed out, leading the way. The hundreds of scholars who had followed him excitedly marched after him toward Deng Xian's print shop.
“Let’s go, let’s smash the Spring Hue Print Shop!”
“Burn Shen Lang’s vulgar book!”
After Zhu Wenhua left, the Prefect's aide entered and said.
“My lord, why did you not stop Zhu Wenhua from causing a scene? Instead, you seemed to fan the flames.”
“I wish to test Shen Lang's character. He is surely an extraordinary man; it would be a disappointment if he could not weather a storm of this magnitude, would it not?”
* * *
Inside Deng Xian’s Spring Hue Print Shop.
“Young Master Shen, do you think Zhu Wenhua's mob will come?”
Deng Xian asked, a mix of excitement and nervousness in his voice. Shen Lang replied with a smile.
“They will. They most certainly will!”
For the past ten days, he had been preparing a set of schemes for Zhu Wenhua. One of them is bound to suit you, to trap you to your doom!
“Is everything ready?”
“As you instructed, Young Master, everything is prepared. I guarantee that if Zhu Wenhua comes, he will walk right into a fatal trap.”
“We can't kill him outright, but we can half-kill him!”
The shabby-looking head of the erotica world seemed to have a pang of conscience as his inner thoughts slipped out.
“Young Master Shen, you seem rather… insidious.”
“What was that?”
Shen Lang’s handsome face turned to Deng Xian with a cold gaze. Deng Xian immediately corrected himself.
“No, no! My benefactor, Shen, your strategies are truly unparalleled!”
* * *
Zhu Wenhua led over two hundred scholars, marching grandly toward the Spring Hue Print Shop, mentally calculating how much this would cost him. At an average of three silver coins per person, it would come to thirty gold coins. An ordinary person couldn't afford such a sum, but to Zhu Wenhua, it was nothing.
Even though it was night, their procession was so impressive that the common folk of Nanshan City looked on with curiosity. The bolder gossips among them began to join the ranks one by one.
As expected, with the curious masses joining in, the crowd had swelled to several thousand by the time they reached the Spring Hue Print Shop. Prefect Yi Fang had secretly dispatched several hundred soldiers to maintain order, while he waited in his mansion for the show to begin.
“Shen Lang, you must not disappoint me!”