The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

As soon as Imperial Censor Li finished speaking, the suffocating silence at the entrance of the academy lasted for a full three breaths.

Then, a deafening cheer erupted.

"Your Honor, the Judge!" Butcher Zheng slammed his butcher knife down on the chopping board, his face trembling with excitement.

"I knew it! Master Guo is a hero who served his country and its people; how could he possibly be spreading rumors and misleading the public!"

"Five thousand characters! Did you hear that? The Imperial Censor has ordered five thousand characters to be written daily!"

"Thank you, Imperial Court! Thank you, Censorate! If even a single word is missing, we'll go to the Censorate and beat the drum to appeal for justice!"

What was originally a crisis that could have easily escalated into a literary inquisition was instantly transformed into a "production urging conference" full of positive energy under the "righteous and awe-inspiring" words of Imperial Censor Li.

Wang Wenxuan, standing at the very front of the crowd, had a face as interesting as someone who had just opened a dye shop.

The colors change in turn: blue, red, purple, and black.

The folding fan in his hand was deformed from being squeezed so tightly, the fan ribs groaning under the strain. He stared intently at Imperial Censor Li's old face, as if he wanted to burn a hole through it.

"Lord Li... Lord Li?" Wang Wenxuan squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, his voice becoming somewhat high-pitched due to his shock.

"Are you...are you mistaken about something? That book is clearly full of the spirit of the underworld, how can that be considered moral education?"

Imperial Censor Li was in high spirits, with a five-thousand-word exclusive draft tucked in his pocket, something that satisfied him more than any gold.

Upon hearing the question, he was not annoyed at all; instead, he gave Wang Wenxuan a meaningful look.

That glance carried three parts pity and seven parts disdain for someone who was a fool.

"Young Master Wang, you're too attached to appearances."

Imperial Censor Li spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice loud enough for everyone around him to hear clearly:

"Does education necessarily require classical Chinese phrases? Although Guo Jing was a commoner, he understood the greater good of the nation and its people; although the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan acted eccentrically, they valued keeping their promises."

"Isn't this kind of loyalty and righteousness a hundred times better than those who only indulge in romantic musings and pointless lamentations?"

Li Yushi emphasized the words "decadent music" heavily, his eyes glancing intentionally or unintentionally at the sachet with erotic words engraved on it hanging from Wang Wenxuan's waist.

Wang Wenxuan felt as if he had been hit hard in the chest with a blunt object, and a mouthful of blood was stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

Who is this person insulting?

This is clearly a blatant insult directed at the "refined culture" championed by the Wang family!

The key point is that the person who was cursing was a staunch ally of the Wang family, whom they had personally promoted!

Jiang Lin stood on the steps, watching the scene before him, a faint smile playing on his lips. He raised his glass to Wang Wenxuan from afar—a glass of herbal tea he had just received from Qian Duoduo.

"Young Master Wang, thank you for your father sending someone to promote the 'Morning Post'." Jiang Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it precisely pierced through the noise and reached Wang Wenxuan's ears.

"I've noted down this 'thank you' fee, and I'll definitely visit you another day to express my gratitude."

Wang Wenxuan trembled all over, and felt his vision go black.

To kill someone is to destroy their spirit.

Not only did they fail to kill Jiang Lin, they became his stepping stone, and even the Censorate was turned against them!

"Walk!"

Wang Wenxuan could no longer bear to stay any longer. With a flick of his sleeve, he led a group of dejected servants, slunk into the carriage, and fled in a sorry state amidst a chorus of laughter.

……

The Wang Family Mansion.

The atmosphere in the study was oppressive and suffocating. Fragments of precious Song Dynasty porcelain were scattered all over the floor, the masterpiece of Wang Kui's recent outburst of anger.

"Idiots! A bunch of idiots!"

Wang Kui sat in the armchair, his chest heaving violently, his white beard trembling.

He pointed at Wang Wenxuan, who was kneeling on the ground, and cursed him, spitting as he spoke: "Even that stubborn old man Li Gang could be turned? What are you all good for? What kind of bewitching potion did Jiang Lin give him?"

Wang Wenxuan knelt on the ground, trembling, not daring to even lift his head: "Father... it's not a love potion, it's... it's a spoiler."

"What?" Wang Kui was stunned.

"Lord Li... he's a big fan of Guo Jing's books. He went there to urge for more updates..." Wang Wenxuan said, his voice trembling with tears.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

Wang Kui felt dizzy. A dignified imperial censor of the Song Dynasty, bowing down for a few pages of a storybook? Did the officialdom of the Song Dynasty have no sense of propriety at all?

But as a seasoned veteran of officialdom, Wang Kui quickly forced himself to calm down.

He paced back and forth in the room, his eyes gradually turning sinister.

"It seems that the hard approach won't work." Wang Kui stopped and his gaze fell on a painting of a lady hanging on the wall.

"Jiang Lin may seem lazy, but he's actually quite cunning and unyielding. But that Su Shi…"

Wang Kui's lips curled into a meaningful, cold smile: "I've heard that Su Zizhan is young and impetuous, fond of flaunting his refined and elegant lifestyle, and quite yearns for the bustling places of Bianjing?"

"Yes." Wang Wenxuan raised his head, seemingly understanding something. "These past few days, Jiang Lin has been keeping him in a small dark room to write. After all, he's still a young man, and I guess he's been holding back for a while now."

"Young men are fond of pleasure, and talented men are often passionate; this is a good thing." Wang Kui tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Since he wants to be that romantic and talented man, we'll grant his wish. Inexperienced youngsters are most easily lost in this world of splendor."

Wang Kui pulled a gold-embossed invitation from his sleeve and threw it in front of Wang Wenxuan.

"Have everything been arranged at Fanlou?"

A ruthless glint flashed in Wang Wenxuan's eyes, and he quickly nodded: "Father, don't worry, she's the newly crowned courtesan of Fanlou."

"This woman is proficient in all the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—and is also well-versed in Buddhist principles. She is most adept at dealing with self-important literati. Once Su Shi falls for her..."

"Then let him sink deeper." Wang Kui turned around, his back to his son, his voice as cold as the wind in an ice cellar, "Let him be so happy that he forgets everything, let him forget that Guo Jing, let him be utterly disgraced."

"As soon as Lianhe Zaobao stops supplying newspapers, the people who have been eagerly anticipating its arrival will tear down the newspaper office in Jianglin."

"Go ahead, make the performance convincing."

That night, the moon rose above the willow branches.

At the back corner of Jingshi Academy, a furtive figure was trying to climb over the wall.

"Heave-ho..."

Su Shi struggled to hang his slightly plump body on the wall, panting heavily.

These past few days, being confined by Jiang Lin to write manuscripts has been more exhausting than taking the imperial examination. Especially that Imperial Censor Li, who actually sent two yamen runners to guard the gate, ostensibly for "protection," but really to supervise!

"Five thousand words... even the donkeys in the production team wouldn't dare rest like that!"

Su Shi muttered indignantly, then jumped off the wall.

The moment his feet touched the ground, he took a deep breath of the air filled with the feeling of freedom, and his eyes gleamed with a light that could be described as "fallen".

"Tonight, I'm going to drink the finest wine and listen to the most beautiful music. Nobody can make me write about that foolish Guo Jing!"

Su Shi straightened his clothes, took out a borrowed folding fan from his pocket, opened it with a "whoosh," and strode towards Fanlou, the most prosperous den of extravagance in Bianjing.

Fanlou is still brightly lit, filled with music and dance.

Su Shi skillfully made his way into a private room. As soon as he sat down, he was greeted by a unique fragrance, unlike the sweet and cloying scent of ordinary cosmetics. This fragrance was delicate and cool, like plum blossoms in the snow.

"But was it Scholar Su in person?"

A clear and melodious voice rang out.

Su Shi looked up and saw a beautiful woman sitting behind the beaded curtain.

She wasn't wearing heavy makeup, just a simple white dress, her black hair casually tied up, holding a guqin in her arms. Her temperament was aloof and otherworldly, like a fairy from the moon palace who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.

Su Shi was instantly captivated. He considered himself a romantic and talented scholar, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone with such a temperament.

"My name is Su Zizhan." Su Shi quickly stood up, wiping the playful smile from his face and adopting what he considered his most dashing posture. "May I ask your name, young lady?"

"This humble servant is Qin Cao."

The woman nodded slightly, her delicate hand lightly plucking the strings of the zither. With a "zheng" sound, the notes fell like jade beads onto a plate.

"I have long admired your talent, young master, and seeing you today confirms that the rumors are true." Qin Cao's voice carried a hint of arrogance.

"I've only heard that you've been writing those vulgar stories lately, young master. Wouldn't such commonplace things sully the pen you used to write 'Nian Nu Jiao'?"