20: Chen Pingping: Real men don’t read “Dream of the Red Chamber”!

Chapter 20: Chen Pingping: Real Men Don't Read "dream of the red chamber"!

Kyoto, at the entrance of San Yong Pavilion.

Under the urging of the massive crowd, the doors of San Yong Pavilion finally opened.

Shu Xiong, dressed as a scholar, slowly walked out from inside, and the waiting crowd immediately grew excited.

"Shopkeeper Su, you've finally opened! This humble student arrived before dawn!"

"Finally open! Drunken Immortal Tavern is reserving forty copies of the fourth volume of "the story of the stone"!

If I can't buy them, the girls will drown me in their foot-washing water!"

"Shopkeeper, give me ten copies! One for each of the ten madams of the Jing Country Duke's Residence! Who dares to fight me for them!"

"Old Su, brother specifically rushed here from Danzhou, you must save a copy for me!"

Before Shu Xiong could even speak, he was drowned out by various shouts. The surging crowd in front of him numbered at least a thousand.

However, all of this was within Uncle Prince Yong's expectations, so Shu Xiong wasn't flustered at all.

He cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, this shop has never said that it would release the fourth volume of "the story of the stone" today."

"Su has clarified this many times, why do you always refuse to believe it!"

Although Shu Xiong said this, the crowd did not calm down; instead, it grew even livelier.

"Shopkeeper Su, don't lie! The amount of paper you purchased this month has greatly increased; our small shop keeps track!"

"That's right! Your San Yong Pavilion's ink purchases increased fivefold last month! If you're not printing books, who would believe it!"

"Your ten-chapter storybooks sell for two taels of silver, which is enough to buy two complete storybooks for me!

Everyone doesn't mind your black hearts, so Shopkeeper Su, don't keep it hidden!"

Shu Xiong waited for the crowd to finish complaining before patiently explaining, "Everyone, please listen to Su's explanation."

"Everyone knows how good "the story of the stone" is. Do you think Master Sanyong can write ten chapters in a month?"

"The first thirty chapters were accumulated by Master Sanyong over the years; the existing drafts have already sold out."

At this point, he took out an exquisite thread-bound book from his embrace. The title was prominently "story of the stone · magazine," with the year and month also marked.

Newspapers had not yet been introduced in Qing Kingdom, so people were relatively unfamiliar with monthly magazines.

"Shopkeeper Su, why has the title of the story of the stone changed, and what does 'magazine' mean?"

...In Prince Yong's Residence.

On the flyleaf of the same "story of the stone · magazine," Li Chang'an had written "To my nephew, Little Stone" in slender gold script, with the signature Prince Yong Li Chang'an.

Li Chengze carefully took the magazine, gently blowing on the ink with his mouth. Looking at the elegant and flowing calligraphy, he almost blew out the saliva in his mouth.

What it meant to cherish something, what it meant to treat it as a treasure—this was exactly how the Second Prince looked.

After the ink dried, Li Chengze stared at those words and muttered to himself.

"Uncle Prince Yong's calligraphy can make one's eyes give birth to children!"

Hearing this, Li Chang'an pointed to Xiren and Qingwen, "Little Stone, these two serve me every day when I practice calligraphy, and I haven't seen a second pupil grow in their eyes."

Xiren and Qingwen's faces flushed slightly, embarrassed by Li Chang'an's teasing.

Li Chengze, like a pilgrim, reverently opened the magazine and then let out an excited shriek!

"The forty-first and forty-second chapters of "the story of the stone"!"

"The first three chapters of the adapted storybook of "romance of the western chamber"!"

"The first three chapters of the adapted storybook of "The Peony Pavilion"!"

Although Li Chang'an was poor in his previous life, reading was very easy for him, and he could read his favorite books several times.

After gaining the ability of Photographic Memory, he could easily transcribe books he had read before.

Li Chengze quickly flipped through the entire book, then brought his nose close to it, "Fragrant! So fragrant! The book is truly fragrant!"

His expression was even more joyful than an alpaca seeing grass; he was indeed an artistic youth.

"The forbidden books "romance of the western chamber" and "The Peony Pavilion" mentioned in "the story of the stone" actually exist!"

"Uncle Prince Yong is truly a heaven-sent genius! He can even write forbidden books! And he can think of such a way to sell books!"

"First, make a book's name appear in "the story of the stone," and then write that book as well!"

"Now, this magazine contains content from three storybooks, so more people will buy it."

Li Chang'an said seriously, "This is called a serialized magazine, published once a month, hence it's called a monthly."

Li Chengze suddenly said cautiously, ""romance of the western chamber" and "The Peony Pavilion" are forbidden books that Jia Baoyu secretly read..."

"Can an eleven-year-old child like me read them?"

Li Chang'an said, "Don't worry, there's nothing too stimulating."

Li Chengze looked regretful, then nodded helplessly, and opened the latest chapter of the story of the stone.

However, he had barely read a few words before he quickly closed the book again.

He said mysteriously, "Such sacred words, Chengze must bathe and fast, then read them with full concentration in a quiet place."

Listening to Li Chengze's words, Li Chang'an's eyelids twitched. This guy was too obsessed, truly having the potential to be a fanatic.

After speaking, Li Chengze held the brand new magazine high, then thanked him repeatedly and took his leave... Imperial Study.

After Li Chang'an established his residence, he had always been relatively low-key. This time, he had created quite a spectacle.

Emperor Qing held the first volume of "the story of the stone" in his hand, and after flipping through a few pages, he threw it on the table.

"What nonsense! How can such a tedious, tearful thing be loved by so many people!"

"Noble Consort Shu loves it, Consort Yi loves it, even The Eldest Princess loves it!

So many talented scholars and beauties love it! Why can't I even get through the first chapter!"

"I heard even the little emperor of Northern Qi loves this thing. What taste! That little emperor isn't a woman, is he!"

Chen Pingping, sitting not far away, smiled slightly, "It says on this book, also known as "dream of the red chamber."

It's normal that Your Majesty can't get into it, because Your Majesty is not a talented scholar or a beauty, but a peerless hero."

After speaking, he took out the latest "story of the stone · magazine" from his embrace and had Eunuch Hou hand it to Emperor Qing.

Emperor Qing was greatly surprised to see it, "Chen Pingping, do even you like to read it?"

Chen Pingping said seriously, "Real men don't read dream of the red chamber. I can't appreciate this broken book."

Hearing Chen Pingping say this, Emperor Qing's expression changed slightly, but he gave a thumbs up, "Well said!"

Chen Pingping continued, "Your Majesty, please see, on the last flyleaf of this latest issue, there is an entry ticket."

"Half a month later, Uncle Prince Yong will hold a calligraphy and painting exhibition at San Yong Pavilion, showcasing his latest paintings: "ode to the goose," "ode to snow," and "ode to the needle."

Emperor Qing quickly picked up the magazine and turned to the last page. Indeed, it was an exquisitely patterned card.

"Heh! Prince Yong can write poetry, and his calligraphy is not bad. Does he also know the Dao of painting?"

"What exactly does he want to do by holding this calligraphy and painting exhibition? Increase his reputation? A ten-year-old child, so eager for fame?"

Chen Pingping, however, smiled and said, "Uncle Prince Yong is dedicated to revitalizing the literary world. It's a good thing that he has achievements in poetry, calligraphy, and painting."

After Chen Pingping left, Emperor Qing tapped on the table alone.

Given the great influence of "the story of the stone," he had actually read it carefully a long time ago.

"The Twelve Beauties of Jinling... he used the names of the twelve beauties around him. My third brother now writes poems about beauties, and the books he writes are also about beauties..."

"The protagonist, Jia Baoyu, is written as a useless fop. Hehe! It seems my honey trap is effective!"

"My third brother is holding a calligraphy and painting exhibition... It won't be that simple. What exactly does he want to do?"