Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 95 He actually bit someone's earlobe

Chapter 95 He actually bit someone's earlobe

Just a few days later, "Spring in the Curtain Screen" was reported to the emperor by the censor for being offensive to public morals.

However, this was not taken seriously. Emperor Taizong of Tang only suggested that the ringleader be severely punished, and the Ministry of Rites was ordered to handle the matter.

Therefore, the Ministry of Rites immediately dispatched an order to Yongzhou, commanding the two counties of Wannian and Chang'an to investigate the author of "Lianpingchun".

The reason this matter was handled by the Ministry of Rites rather than the Ministry of Justice is that there was no entry for the crime of obscene books in the Tang Code.

Only miscellaneous laws can be cited: those who do things that should not be done shall be punished with forty strokes of the cane; those who do things that are not stipulated by law or decree and are unreasonable shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane.

This means that if there is no article in the law, but the imperial court determines that you are guilty, you will be flogged forty times, and if the crime is serious, you will be caned eighty times.

This is probably the origin of the saying "both sides are equally blamed" when the case is difficult to judge.

Therefore, the author of "Lianpingchun" already owes eighty strokes of the cane in Wannian and Chang'an counties.

Yang Zhengdao was naturally unaware of the developments in the imperial court.

It wasn't until early that morning, when Yang Zhengdao went to the Wude Hall to practice martial arts, that he learned that the first step of the elaborate scheme he had devised on behalf of Li Er had already begun.

As Yang Zhengdao walked to the gate of the neighborhood, he saw a group of people gathered around the wall in the distance.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be two assistant officials from Wannian County, leading the ward head and other minor officials to paste a brand-new notice onto the ward wall on one side of the ward gate.

As soon as the notice was posted, the older clerk stepped forward with his wooden cane and, addressing the gathered crowd, read aloud, word by word: "By order of the Ministry of Rites: Recently, someone has been writing an obscene book called 'Spring in the Curtain Screen,' which is truly offensive to public morals. All people are permitted to report this."

"Anyone who can identify the name and address of the person who made this false accusation, and whose information is verified, will be rewarded with one hundred strings of cash. This notice shall be posted far and wide so that all may know."

As soon as he finished reading it, an uproar erupted all around.

Perhaps not everyone could understand the announcement, but everyone clearly heard the phrase "a reward of one hundred strings of cash."

The older clerk gestured with his hand and softened his tone, explaining, "Listen carefully, everyone. Recently, a remarkable piece of writing has been circulating, titled 'Springtime Curtain Screen.' Anyone who knows the author of this remarkable piece of writing should come to the county office to report it. Once verified, they will be rewarded with one hundred strings of cash."

After the explanation, the crowd immediately erupted in excitement.

For ordinary people, a hundred strings of cash is a considerable fortune; if converted into grain, it could feed a family of five for thirty years.

Even the head of Xingdao Ward was tempted.

He immediately bowed to the two assistants and asked, "May I ask what this remarkable piece of writing, 'Spring Behind the Curtain,' is?"

"This—" The older clerk looked troubled; he didn't know either.

Another young clerk knew some of the inside story; his brother-in-law worked as a clerk in the East Market and had the good fortune to have seen half a volume of "The Spring Curtain Screen."

.

Intending to show off, he loudly explained, "This 'Spring Curtain Screen' is divided into three volumes, totaling forty thousand words. It is a legendary tale from ancient times, said to contain many bedroom secrets. If one can glimpse even a fraction of it, then one will be a man who understands romance and a woman who knows tenderness—"

The older clerk's face darkened. How could this fellow speak so recklessly? If the county magistrate found out, they would surely be given a good scolding.

He coughed desperately to remind him, and the young clerk finally stopped talking, still not quite finished.

After watching the spectacle, Yang Zhengdao spurred his horse forward.

Tan Feng couldn't help but lean forward and ask, "Young Master, wasn't the extraordinary text that the young master of the Gao family took out that day the 'Spring Curtain Screen'?"

""

"What? You want to go to the county magistrate and sue Gao Dalang?"

"Brother, I wouldn't dare. Besides, that young master Gao isn't the author." Tan Feng scratched his head and then began to ponder again.

Su Hongyi couldn't help but smirk.

Yang Zhengdao shook his head. If you don't have a brain, don't try to be as cunning as others.

After thinking for a moment, he gave Tan Feng a suggestion: "If you have the time, call Gao Kan. He writes well. You can copy a few volumes and sell them at a high price once there are rumors of banned books."

"How did Dalang know this book would be banned?"

"The court's move is intended to punish the ringleaders and set things right. Since the author, Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng, used a pseudonym, how could he be found so easily? If he cannot be found, the next step will naturally be to ban the book."

Upon hearing this, Tan Feng was overjoyed and immediately flattered him, saying, "Young Master is very insightful. Once I make money, I will definitely repay your kindness."

In a single day, 108 reward notices were posted in 108 wards of Chang'an.

Overnight, the name "Spring Curtain Screen" became known to everyone.

That night, the lights were lit again in the ancestral hall of the Yan family.

Inside the study in the east wing, the four Yan brothers were sitting around a table on either side, and on the table was the scroll of "Spring Screen" that they had discovered from Yan Xianfu.

Yan Shigu tapped on the table and said slowly, "Fourth brother, have you seen it?"

Yan Yude shrank his neck and forced himself to speak: "The manuscript is in the Crown Prince's palace. I studied it on behalf of the Crown Prince, and after reading it, I found that it was not suitable for the Crown Prince to read, so I hid it."

Yan Shigu shook his head, saying with disappointment, "How come you're not even as good as Zhou Qing? At least he knows to use his family's scholarship to refute heresies and correct wrongdoings."

"Ah!" Yan Yude was shocked. He never imagined that his usually upright nephew would become so cunning!

Yan Shigu glared at Yan Yude again, and Yan Yude immediately backed down: "Brother, I'll go copy the 'Yan Family Instructions'."

After Yan Yude left, Yan Shigu tapped the table again and looked at Yan Qinli.

Yan Qinli quickly cupped his hands in apology: "Elder brother, it is my fault for failing to properly educate my son, which is why he secretly kept this obscene book."

Yan Shigu sighed and said calmly, "Third brother, have you seen it?"

Yan Qinli immediately said seriously, "Elder brother, one should not look at or listen to what is improper. I have not seen it, but I brought it here to you."

Yan Shigu's eyes narrowed: "How do you know this article is disrespectful?"

Yan Qinli immediately sensed something was wrong and had no choice but to answer truthfully: "It was said in the document from the Ministry of Rites."

"One should not make rash judgments without having read all the books in the world! What does this mean? It is a tradition passed down from generation to generation, but when asked, no one knows the reason. Shi Anshi was also at a loss."

What does this mean?

Yan Qinli immediately broke out in a cold sweat: "Elder brother, I'll go copy the 'Yan Family Instructions' too."

At this point, only Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi remained in the study.

Yan Shigu exhaled a breath of stale air and sighed, "Fourth brother is too carefree, third brother is too rigid. What does second brother think of this matter?"

Yan Xiangshi smiled slightly and said softly, "This matter is probably Xiang Zhuang's sword."

Yan Shigu nodded in satisfaction: "Second brother, what do you think of the Yan family's future?"

Yan Xiangshi cupped his hands and said, "I will certainly write annotations for the book, discarding its dross and upholding its correct interpretation. However, Zhou Qing's knowledge is still shallow, so I will do it myself."

Yan Shigu shook his head slightly: "This matter concerns the reputation of my Yan family, and we cannot tolerate the slightest mistake."

Yan Xiangshi smiled slightly and said seriously, "If my elder brother assists me with righteousness, this matter will be without worry."

That night, inside the Yan family ancestral hall, Yan Qinli, Yan Yude, and Yan Xianfu sat in a row, burning the midnight oil and writing furiously.

That night, in Yan Shigu's bedroom, a shy and angry voice rang out from Madam Yin: "Tell me quickly, from which vixen did you learn that trick? You even bit someone's earlobe."

>