Chapter 343: Baiting the Hook

Chapter 343: Baiting the Hook

The painting official was indeed in high spirits.

Not to mention these idle minor officials who had nothing better to do, even many of the higher-ups, who appeared prosperous in public, would be left penniless after a few visits to Fengwei Lou with their salaries alone.

"They say Fengwei Lou's signature dish is the crab roe buns. We wondered how good they could be, but wow, they are absolutely delicious!" the painting official choked up.

Such delicious crab roe buns, yet his poor son couldn't taste them.

The poetry Dai Zhao, his mouth greasy from eating, felt no discomfort whatsoever about working alongside a woman.

If all women were like Lady Xin, he would gladly live among them!

"Of course they're delicious—a basket of crab roe buns costs one tael of silver!" the chess Dai Zhao said, feeling the pinch even though he wasn't paying.

Is this eating crab roe buns? This is eating silver itself!

"If you four enjoy them, take two baskets each when you leave," Lady Xin said, sipping half a cup of wine, her brows relaxed and a smile on her lips.

Although the four West Hall Dai Zhao might seem eccentric to others, Lady Xin found them easy to get along with.

"This is too generous," they protested, but upon leaving Fengwei Lou, each carried two baskets of crab roe buns at Lady Xin's insistence.

The next day at the office, "crab roe buns" became the hot topic among the four West Hall Dai Zhao.

"My son cried eating the crab roe buns. It's my failure as a father. If it weren't for Lady Xin, I would never have been able to let my son taste Fengwei Lou's crab roe buns in this lifetime," lamented the painting official.

Seeing someone from the East Dai Zhao Hall approaching, the poetry Dai Zhao deliberately raised his voice, "Brother Painter, you're mistaken. It's because you're on good terms with Lady Xin that your son got to eat the crab roe buns that cost one tael of silver per basket. So, your son still owes it to you, his father."

An official from the East Dai Zhao Hall passing by nearly stumbled.

How much? One tael of silver per basket?

As soon as he entered the East Dai Zhao Hall, he couldn't wait to share the news.

The East Dai Zhao Hall fell silent for a moment before someone stood up, "Cough, I'm going out for a walk."

What's all this talk about backbone? Even Xie Chengan, the head of the academy, had specially cleared a room for Lady Xin to work in. Does that mean Xie Chengan also lacks backbone?

The shadow of yesterday's court rod incident had not yet dissipated, and Lady Xin was already the center of attention. Thus, news of her hosting the painting Dai Zhao quickly spread quietly throughout the Hanlin Academy's Dai Zhao Hall.

Suddenly, the number of people wandering near the Dai Zhao Hall's office increased sharply.

These people didn't really intend to do anything, much like when something novel happens somewhere, or someone finds a gold brick. Even knowing they couldn't possibly find another, they would still go for a stroll.

The autumn sun was warm, the office window wide open, with rice paper spread out on the desk. A young woman in a green official robe was diligently writing something.

"Everyone, please don't disturb Lady Xin's peace. She's writing a book," whispered the poetry Dai Zhao.

"Writing a book? What is Lady Xin writing?"

"That's unknown, Lady Xin just started today."

"Probably a storybook like 'Journey to the West'?"

"No."

"How do you know it's not—" The speaker abruptly stopped mid-sentence upon realizing.

Xin You walked over, her expression serious: "I have received much guidance from my late mother, and recently I plan to compile some of her thoughts into a book for publication."

"Late mother? You mean the late empress, Lady Xin's mother?"

The curiosity of the Hanlin scribe was sparked: "I heard that the secret technique Lady Xin used to save the Third Prince was taught by the late empress. Is Lady Xin planning to write about that?"

The others perked up with interest.

It was said that Empress Xin was knowledgeable about many novel things. If she were to publish a book, it would surely be a must-read.

The poetry official listened but felt compelled to advise against it.

Empress Xin was gone, and those were Lady Xin's own skills. How could she just write them down for everyone to see?

"Not those," Xin You shook her head, "It's about some ideas on governance and benefiting the people."

Governance and benefiting the people?

Some lost interest upon hearing this, but others' eyes lit up.

"I need to continue organizing my thoughts," Xin You said politely, then turned and went back to her room.

The bait had been cast, and it would take some time for both big and small fish to catch the scent. What kind of fish would it attract when the time comes?

For several days, the young girl, who had a room to herself, wrote intermittently, crumpling up discarded papers and tossing them on the table and floor.

One day, Xin You pushed the door open and casually glanced around, her eyes glinting.

A crumpled paper near the screen was missing.

She pretended not to notice, walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, leisurely grinding ink.

When it was time to leave, the painting official came on behalf of the four of them to ask: "Does Lady Xin have any plans today? If not, we'd like to invite you for tea."

Having enjoyed several meals at her expense, though they couldn't afford Fengwei Lou, they felt they should return the favor at least once.

"Today I need to visit a bookstore."

"Is it Qingsong Bookstore?" the poetry official asked, stepping closer.

As someone talented but not skilled in the eight-legged essay, he had a soft spot for storybooks and travelogues, and Qingsong Bookstore had made its name through such stories.

"Yes. I've been working on a book, and these past few days I've been finalizing my ideas and will start writing soon. I'll go to Qingsong Bookstore later to let the manager know that when the sixth volume of 'Journey to the West' is released, my book will be included as a complimentary copy."

"Free of charge?" the painting official exclaimed in shock.

The poetry official advised: "'Journey to the West' is a sensation in the capital, and even people from other places entrust others to buy it. Many are eagerly awaiting the sixth volume. If every copy of 'Journey to the West' comes with a complimentary copy of Lady Xin's book, it would cost a lot of money!"

"That's why I need to discuss with the bookstore manager to see how many complimentary copies would be appropriate," Xin You's tone was slightly heavy. "My late mother was harmed by villains, and many of her propositions are unknown. As her daughter, if I can make more people aware of her thoughts, it would be a way to fulfill my filial duty."

In reality, she had no such intention.

Those who come to buy books are mostly scholars, and those who can read and write are mostly from wealthy or at least well-off families.

They are not the beneficiaries of her mother's propositions; in fact, they are the opposition. It can be said that this reform can only be pushed from the top down, and spreading it among the common people would not be of much help.

The poor and illiterate would find it difficult to understand her ideas, and even if they did, it wouldn't make much of a splash.

However, it was still possible to force the other party to act in haste, as evidenced by the missing paper ball in the office.

"Then Miss Xin, you can go ahead with your duties. We'll meet another time."

Since Xin You was no longer in the west hall, these words were spoken while walking out. It's hard to say how many people, apart from the four in the west hall, heard them.

Xin You left the Imperial Academy and headed straight to Qingsong Bookstore.

At this time, the bookstore was bustling with activity, with students from the Imperial Academy and officials who had just finished their shifts being the most common customers.

As Xin You got off the carriage and walked towards the bookstore, someone hailed her.

"Kou—Miss Xin?"

The voice sounded familiar. Xin You stopped and turned around, recognizing the young man who called her: "Young Master Meng."

Meng Fei walked over: "It really is Miss Xin. I was a bit worried I might have been mistaken."

Xin You raised an eyebrow slightly.

She hadn't interacted much with Meng Fei, but his tone was friendly, likely due to his friendship with Duan Yunlang.

Thinking of Duan Yunlang, Xin You casually asked: "Why isn't Second Young Master Duan around?"

"Miss Xin, you don't know?" Meng Fei looked surprised.