On the second day, the Carefree Young Master's new story "The Righteous Mistress Discerns Right from Wrong" was released.

It told the tale of a fallen noble lady who was unfortunately married off by her relatives to a vicious man with a handsome facade. After enduring endless torment in her marriage, just as she was on the brink of despair, she happened to meet an old family acquaintance - a wise and discerning lady. Upon learning of the noble lady's plight, this lady immediately stepped in to help, rescuing her from danger and ensuring the villain received his just deserts. It was a story of chivalry and justice.

With half a month having passed since the previous story, eager readers rushed to bookshops to purchase copies as soon as they heard the news. In just one day, it had been reprinted four times, with all copies selling out completely.

After reading this intricate and fascinating tale, readers unanimously praised it, exclaiming how satisfying it was! Besides storytellers reciting it in teahouses, theater troupes adapted it into plays, performing it at various entertainment venues for several days to great acclaim.

Of course, when the Empress Dowager received news of the new story, she promptly had someone buy a copy as usual. And Yanshu once again unsurprisingly took on the role of exclusive storyteller in the Palace of Benevolent Peace.

After she vividly recounted the story, the Empress Dowager remarked with surprise, "Isn't this just like Hong Tianzong's affair from yesterday? Is the righteous mistress in this story... meant to be me?"

Yanshu quickly flattered her, "Your servant thinks it does seem so. After all, who else but you has such a chivalrous heart and decisive methods!"

The Empress Dowager glanced at her, "You girl, always know how to sweet talk."

But thinking back, after listening to so many stories, she never expected to become the protagonist herself - it was quite novel indeed.

The Empress Dowager sighed as she pondered, "What was this Carefree Young Master thinking, making me the main character?"

Yanshu eagerly continued her flattery, "Because you're the key figure in this story! It was you who noticed something amiss and discovered Wanjun's injuries, you who ordered Hong Tianzong to receive due punishment, and now you who has made proper arrangements for Wanjun. If you're not the protagonist, who else could be?"

Such praise made one feel almost embarrassed.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but smile, "When all is said and done, this Carefree Young Master truly knows how to write. Especially the part about beating that man - just hearing it is so satisfying! I'd like to meet him now."

Oh?

Yanshu was taken aback - the Empress Dowager wanted to meet the Carefree Young Master?

But then she heard the Empress Dowager sigh, "I wonder how old he is, what kind of person he is, to be able to write so well. I simply must see him in person."

Yanshu jolted to attention and quickly said, "You already know His Majesty instructed someone to write it, so the credit doesn't really lie with the Carefree Young Master. There's no need to praise her so much."

But the Empress Dowager replied, "It's not the same. Though the material may have been ready-made, his writing is excellent. See how satisfying it is to read between the lines! Especially making me the protagonist... I ought to reward him properly."

Yanshu: "..."

Tsk, had she gone too far with the flattery?

She hurriedly added, "If the Carefree Young Master heard Your Highness's praise, she would surely be overjoyed! But given her profession... as you know, she's written so many stories denouncing evil, she must have made many enemies! So she likely can't easily appear in public. If you were to summon her suddenly, and ill-intentioned people found out, it might put her in danger."

"However, regarding the reward..."

She...

cleared her throat and smiled, "His Majesty could pass it on to her."

Tsk tsk, the Empress Dowager was always generous - who knows what kind of reward she'd get, hehe.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager considered for a moment, then nodded and sighed, "What you say makes sense. Alas, come to think of it, this Carefree Young Master dares to expose so much evil - he can be considered a righteous person indeed."

Yanshu quickly nodded, "Your Highness's words are most apt. She fearlessly fights evil and protects the good, bearing the curses and resentment of villains single-handedly. It's truly not easy for her."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, "People actually curse him?"

Yanshu nodded again, "Yes. Some people with guilty consciences see themselves in the stories, or they're jealous that her works are so popular, so they're always speaking ill of her, openly or in secret. As they say, fame breeds detractors - it's unavoidable."

The Empress Dowager snorted, "Why get so worked up if you've done nothing wrong? They must all be people of poor character! The Carefree Young Master must not let them influence him. The more they curse, the more he should keep writing."

Yanshu quickly nodded, "Your Highness speaks truly. I'm sure she will overcome these evil forces, especially with the support of so many chivalrous and enthusiastic readers like yourself."

She had just spoken from her heart, but unexpectedly the Empress Dowager replied, "Mere support isn't much help if you can't meet the person. We should do something more practical."

She then instructed her lady-in-waiting Zhushu, "Issue an edict: bestow upon the Carefree Young Master a set of Hu brushes, Hui ink, and Duan inkstone, along with 100 taels of gold. Send it to Qianming Palace and ask His Majesty to pass it on for me."

Zhushu promptly agreed and led people to deliver the rewards to Qianming Palace.

Yanshu was so excited she could barely control herself, but she held back and tried to calmly praise her generous patron, "With your affirmation, the Carefree Young Master will surely be delighted."

Ah ah ah, a set of Hu brushes, Hui ink, and Duan inkstone, plus 100 taels of gold!!!

The Empress Dowager was truly so generous!!!

As "The New Story of the Righteous Mistress Discerning Right from Wrong" became a bestseller, speculation among the public about the real-life inspiration for the story once again reached a fever pitch.

At this time, a very timely piece of news appeared before everyone -

The headmaster of Xiangyang Tiande Academy, Hong Yusheng, who had come to the capital to participate in the academy's grand meeting, had incurred imperial wrath for allowing his son Hong Tianzong to willfully abuse his wife, a member of the imperial clan. He was sent back to Xiangyang, while his son Hong Tianzong had his scholarly rank stripped away for his vile conduct.

Not only was he banned from future imperial examinations, but he was also sentenced to a caning punishment, receiving 80 strikes in the vegetable market before the eyes of the capital's citizens.

Hong Tianzong's bottom was nearly beaten to a pulp.

After thoroughly losing face, the Hong family of three slunk back to Xiangyang in disgrace.

As for his wife Lady Chen, she was adopted by the Ankang county lord as her daughter and remained in the capital to start a new life.

...

When this news came out, readers finally understood who had inspired the Carefree Young Master's latest story.

People couldn't help but sigh - this Hong Tianzong had relied on his scholarly status to abuse others at will, thinking he could bully his wife just because she was related to a criminal official.

Little did he expect that the Empress Dowager in the palace valued loyalty and righteousness, angrily punishing his crimes. Now his future prospects were completely ruined.

Of course, with the affair causing such a stir, not only did the capital's citizens learn of it, but so did the famous scholars and literati who had recently arrived from other regions.

Seeing how the previously high-spirited Hong father and son had met such a fate, everyone was shocked and surprised.

On this day, taking advantage of the second meeting at Wenyuan Pavilion, the renowned scholars couldn't help but lament -

Ji Yuanzhuo from Jinling City waved his fan and said, "Who would have thought that a man so eloquent could treat his wife so cruelly! He truly read all those years of classics in vain!"

Yu Jingwei, a great scholar from Nanyang, also nodded and said, "If Headmaster Hong couldn't even teach his own son well, how could he teach students? I fear Tiande Academy's future is bleak!"

Everyone chimed in agreement, "Exactly!"

However, as the voices died down, Gu Hongbai, the great scholar from Lanling, asked quizzically, "But... speaking of which, who exactly is this Carefree Young Master? I hear his stories always take the capital by storm, and each tale can find its prototype in reality. How can a mere story writer be so formidable?"

Immediately, someone well-informed lowered his voice and said, "What Master Gu doesn't know is that this Carefree Young Master is actually acting on His Majesty's orders. The material used all comes from the Imperial Guard, Imperial Censorate, and other such places. The stories are only written with His Majesty's authorization, with the goal of publicizing the misdeeds of certain individuals to warn both commoners and officials."

"I see,"

Master Gu stroked his beard and sighed, "His Majesty truly has the people's best interests at heart. Having such an enlightened ruler is a blessing for the nation and its people."

Everyone echoed their agreement.

Someone joked, "Looking at it this way, if commoners want to report something, finding the Carefree Young Master would be equivalent to reaching His Majesty, wouldn't it? This could be seen as a window between His Majesty and the common people."

The group laughed and responded, "Well said indeed."

From beginning to end, Qi Shuguang only listened without saying a word.

In his heart, he thought, so the Mistress in that story was her.

It was indeed her appearance. After all these years, she still despised evil and cherished kindness.

That's good.

The next morning, while Yuwen Lan was reading memorials in the imperial study, he saw Hanlin Academy Scholar Zou Mozhong carrying a burlap sack to him.

Seeing this, he knew these were letters for the "Carefree Young Master."

— Ever since the storybooks became wildly popular, Yanshu had accumulated a group of loyal readers. Many of them would write letters expressing their thoughts after finishing each book and send them to the bookstore, which Zou Mozhong would then deliver to him.

At first, he was surprised to receive these letters on her behalf. However, gradually, as the letters increased from one or two a month to dozens every fortnight, it became somewhat troublesome.

— After all... most of these letters were written by men.

Although they all thought the "Carefree Young Master" was also a man, that wasn't the case!

Moreover, while most just shared their views on the stories, there were some with impure intentions who even expressed admiration for her in their words!

— And this was while thinking she was a man!

However, Yanshu found this amusing and would eagerly read each letter she received, completely forgetting about him.

Yuwen Lan wanted to intercept the letters for her, but feared she would become suspicious if she stopped receiving them. How could he not have a headache?

Now, he saw Zou Mozhong smile at him and say, "Your Majesty, these are recent letters from readers to the Carefree Young Master. Please have someone deliver them."

Yuwen Lan grunted, "Put them there."

Zou Mozhong complied, reported a few more matters of state, and then left the imperial study.

It was still morning, with some time before the imperial visit to Ganlu Palace in the evening. Fu Hai took the initiative to ask, "Shall this servant deliver these letters to Consort Yi?"

Yuwen Lan grunted in agreement, "Go ahead."

They had to be delivered sooner or later anyway, and leaving them here was an eyesore that might arouse the ministers' curiosity.

Fu Hai acknowledged and left carrying the burlap sack.

Yuwen Lan continued reading the memorials.

However, the more he read, the less he could focus.

He couldn't help but wonder if there were more improper love confessions to his beloved consort in those letters.

Tsk...

After some time, Xiao Shunzi, standing by, suddenly heard a thud. He glanced up discreetly and saw that the emperor had put down the memorial he was holding.

Then, he unexpectedly stood up and left the imperial study.

When Yuwen Lan arrived at Ganlu Palace, he indeed found Yanshu engrossed in reading the letters.

She was so focused that she didn't even notice him entering the hall. It wasn't until Rendong reminded her that she saw him. Only then did she put down the letter in her hand, stand up to greet him, "This consort pays respects to Your Majesty."

Yuwen Lan grunted, "Didn't go to the Empress Dowager today?"

Yanshu replied, "The Empress Dowager didn't summon this consort today."

Yuwen Lan grunted in acknowledgment, then glanced at the letter she had put on the table, pretending to ask casually, "Are there any interesting contents in today's letters?"

She replied, "Nothing special, most are just praising this consort's storybooks."

In her heart, she thought, [Oh no, my writing must be too good. There are even more confessions this time than last! Tsk, I never realized there were so many 'cut sleeves' in the capital. I wonder what they all look like, are they tops or bottoms?]

Yuwen Lan: "..."

So there were more confessions!

And she was even curious about their appearances?

This won't do. When he gets back, he'll have to tell Zou Mozhong not to let the bookstore accept these letters anymore!

As he was pondering this, he heard her ask, "Why has Your Majesty come at this hour? Is the imperial study not busy today?"

Yuwen Lan made a sound, "Indeed, it's not busy, so I came out for a walk."

As they were talking, he saw her pick up another letter and start reading.

Yuwen Lan felt an itch in his heart.

He wanted to stretch his neck to look with her, but worried she might laugh at him. He could only resist the urge and just listen intently to her thoughts.

Unexpectedly, as he listened, he heard an exclamation of surprise.

Hm?

Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow. Before he could ask, he saw her look at him with a shocked expression and say, "Your Majesty, someone has exposed information about Ge Yuanhua, the famous scholar from Luzhou."

Yuwen Lan didn't quite understand, "What does that mean?"

Yanshu quickly rephrased, "That is, someone has revealed a secret about Ge Yuanhua, the famous scholar from Luzhou, to this consort."

Yuwen Lan now understood and asked, "What secret?"

— Come to think of it, this Scholar Ge was the candidate recommended by many court officials to be the headmaster of Songhe Academy.

To his surprise, Yanshu said, "It's said that he once took a liking to a student's wife, so he used threats and inducements to make the student sell his wife to him as a concubine."

Yuwen Lan: "???"