Chapter 22: If There Is a Fault, It Is Someone Else's

Rongcheng Prefecture, also known as Hibiscus City, is the hometown of the White Snake, Bai Suzhen, and Lady White. As the name suggests, the city is filled with flowers in May. Of course, it is not yet the season for the hibiscus to bloom; that only happens in autumn.

Scholars from all over have gathered here, spending their time composing poetry, painting, admiring flowers, and making friends. No sooner had Ning Yuan arrived at the inn than he was surrounded by acquaintances from afar. After all, he has two older brothers who are already provincial graduates; in the eyes of these scholars, how could the younger brother fail to pass the exams as well? Flattering him in advance is never a bad idea.

Li Yu, however, has no interest in such social obligations; he dislikes such gatherings. After leaving his belongings in the courtyard prepared for him by the Ning family, he took the manuscript of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," which he had been writing for a long time, and went for a stroll through the streets with his servant, Xiao Lu. He had originally intended to rent a small courtyard with Wu Jingcheng, but the Ning family was far too hospitable.

Sigh!

He had been writing "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" for two years and had never taken it to a bookstore to sell. Since he hadn't memorized the entire book, he only remembered the general plot and had spent a long time polishing the details. He often wondered how those fellow transmigrators managed to memorize entire novels; if he ever met one, he would surely have to ask for their tutelage.

After inquiring about the largest bookstore in the provincial capital, "Wanjuan Hall," Li Yu headed there with Xiao Lu. The store manager greeted him immediately upon seeing him.

"What would you like to see, young master? Our shop recently released two volumes of old provincial examination papers. Would you be interested in taking a look?" Manager Qian thought that since the man was well-dressed and accompanied by a study boy, he must be from a wealthy family.

"No need, manager. I came to ask if you purchase novels..." As he spoke, Li Yu took out his manuscript and presented it with both hands.

"A novel? A storybook? It’s this thick?" Although he had no shortage of storybooks to sell, a businessman wouldn't offend a customer—a scholar who writes stories is also a potential patron. "Let me take a look. Please, take a seat, young master." He would decide whether to accept it after reading, but if it was good, there was no harm in taking it.

To his surprise, it was actually quite excellent—the language was sharp, humorous, and witty, yet it avoided current political affairs, meaning he could earn a profit without bringing trouble to his bookstore.

"Young master, how much do you want per hundred characters?"

Per hundred characters? So in the provincial capital, they pay by the word rather than for the whole book? Li Yu could hardly contain his joy; it seemed his decision to refrain from selling it back home was the right one.

"What do you suggest, manager?" He didn't know the market rate. If he asked for too much, he might be kicked out; if he asked for too little, he would lose out. It was better to let the manager name a price and then negotiate upward.

Seeing that Li Yu was unaware of the pricing, Manager Qian was also secretly delighted. "How about twenty wen?"

Hearing the offer of twenty wen, Li Yu added ten more without hesitation. "Thirty wen per hundred characters!" Luo Guanzhong wrote over six hundred thousand words; if he stretched it out, he could easily reach over a million, earning himself thirty or forty strings of cash. How much did his father make from renting all those fields in a year? He wouldn't be losing out! With this money, the psychological burden on his second brother regarding his studies would surely decrease. It was awkward to spend his stepfather's money, but spending his own brother's would surely feel much better.

"This... young master, you are quite the shrewd negotiator." Although Manager Qian feigned difficulty, he was actually overjoyed. "Fine, fine. I wouldn't bother with anyone else, but since we have an affinity, I will give you this price today." With this writing style and plot, he could have easily pushed a local scholar down to fifty wen; he hadn't expected to secure it for thirty.

Seeing Manager Qian agree so readily, three words flashed through Li Yu's mind: *I asked for too little.* Had he known, he would have asked for forty. In the end, he just wasn't ruthless enough.

He had only written the first two hundred thousand words so far. Manager Qian took the manuscript and paid him six strings of cash, instructing him to deliver another two hundred thousand words in two months. "If you deliver on time, our shop will provide a bonus of five hundred wen for your diligence." Li Yu, knowing he had another hundred thousand words in his bag, calculated that writing another hundred thousand in two months was feasible, so he agreed readily.

Feeling elated with his six strings of cash, he decided to treat Xiao Lu to some grilled fish on the street and even let him taste the wine. Seeing the boy's face twist from the spice, Li Yu burst into laughter. "I'm letting you drink early for your own good; how embarrassing would it be if you grew up and couldn't even handle your own wedding wine?"

*Wedding wine?* A flash of confusion crossed Xiao Lu's eyes. Could someone like him ever drink wedding wine in this life? Wasn't it fated that, like the old bachelors in the village, he would simply find a place to end his life once he could no longer support himself? He was a mute—what decent girl would want to be with him?

"Come, come, here you go." Li Yu noticed his sadness and counted out two hundred wen to hand to Xiao Lu. "Save this well for a future wife. You aren't ugly—in fact, you're quite refined—and you have the strength to support a family. Surely some girl will like you for who you are." He had read plenty of news in his past life; it was a fact that love could sometimes transcend barriers, let alone the fact that Xiao Lu was merely mute.

Many years later, when Zhang Xiaolu was successful and had a wife and children, he would always remember this day and the kind-hearted, sunny young Master Li. Even if everyone else spoke ill of him, he would always believe it was those people who were wrong. Li Yu, Li Zixuan—he was never wrong; he was absolutely, completely without fault.

Li Yu made a strict schedule for himself. He used the morning, when his memory was sharpest, for studying, and the afternoon, when the light was best, for writing his novel for Wanjuan Hall to earn money. At night, he continued to study; since the Ning family’s glass lamps were bright and cost him nothing, he had to make the most of the light to "grind."

He read until midnight every night. By the time the hour of the dog arrived, Wu Jingcheng was already snoring like thunder. Even if Li Yu placed onions under his eyes, he would still sleep. Li Yu sighed, "And he wants to be an imperial censor? If he can just pass the provincial exams before thirty and snag a post as an instructor or a county magistrate, then the God of Literature is already looking out for his family."

Despite his thoughts, he still tucked the quilt around his friend to keep him from catching a cold before returning to his desk to continue his work. While a poor boy only thinks of studying before he becomes an official, the children of wealthy families, even without titles, were already concerned with the intricacies of the imperial court.

His study boy, Liyun, trimmed the lamp to make it brighter and then cautiously advised, "With the Crown Prince now gravely ill, everyone is discussing the matter. They are debating whether it is better to appoint one of the Emperor's sons or the Crown Prince's son as the Imperial Grandson."

"There is too much uncertainty in these matters. I think it would be best for you, young master, to refrain from commenting. Do not get mixed up in these discussions." Although Liyun was a servant, he had grown up with him. It was only right to offer advice and warnings when necessary. Seeing as no one knew if the heir apparent would survive, everyone was impatiently debating who the next successor would be, seemingly unafraid of how such talk might damage their future official careers once they passed the examinations. What if you supported the Imperial Grandson today, only for one of the princes to ascend the throne tomorrow?

"I have my own judgment." After Ning Yuan said this quietly, he said no more. In his heart, however, he felt there was nothing to debate. When the founding emperor was alive, he had established the system of primogeniture. If the Crown Prince were to meet with an accident, according to the rites and laws, the Crown Prince's eldest son should naturally inherit the position of successor. If the Emperor were to appoint a feudal prince as the heir instead, it would be far too contrary to the rites and laws.