What innovation, what breakthroughs, what importance—
Everything that Ye Qing'an had just explained in great detail, Yun Chuhuan only half understood at best.
But that last sentence, he understood perfectly.
It meant that his Fifth Elder Sister was now officially allowed to skip her homework!
How could he miss out on something so marvelous?
Yun Chuhuan shot up in his seat and eagerly blurted out, "Grand Preceptor Ye, can I join too?"
"If Your Sixth Highness can prove your capacity for innovation and breakthrough, then naturally you may also be exempted."
Ye Qing'an gave a mild smile and clasped his hands behind his back as he walked to the front of the room.
"But before that, let us begin the lesson."
—
While the sound of Confucian classics once again lulled the students of the study chamber into sleepy stupor...
Elsewhere, the very first issue of Capital Weekly, neatly hand-bound, had already been delivered to the various noble households across the capital.
Of course, as this was the very first expedited edition, the papers had not yet been printed through the usual means. Instead, Eunuch Wang had arranged for a group to copy them out by hand overnight.
Even the couriers delivering them were just ordinary townsfolk hastily hired from the streets for the task.
Which led to a rather comical scene: when these raggedly dressed messengers appeared at the manor gates claiming they had something for the ladies of the house, the gatekeepers nearly chased them away.
Fortunately, each courier had memorized a single, crucial line before setting off—
"This was sent on behalf of Her Fifth Highness the Princess and His Sixth Highness the Prince!"
The gatekeepers froze. That one line, backed by two lofty titles, was all it took to let the Capital Weekly safely pass through the gates and into the hands of the noble ladies of the city.
That very day, wherever groups of noblewomen gathered for tea and chatter, the topic of conversation shifted entirely.
"Did your manor receive a copy of Capital Weekly? The content is simply delightful. I've never read anything like it!"
"Right? My father always used to lecture my brother, saying we should all learn from Young Master Tang's scholarship. I had no idea Young Master Tang was so dashing even in martial arts!"
"If I remember correctly, Young Master Tang should be of age to discuss marriage soon, yes? I wonder which lucky young lady will end up with him."
"Speaking of perfect matches, I think that Young Master Cao is the real gem here. So many scholars exist, but how many men love their wives with such devotion and treat them so tenderly in all things?"
"You're not wrong. That eldest daughter of the Tang family must have been born under a very lucky star! Though now I'm curious—will the scholar the princess marries in that final story be even more exceptional than Young Master Cao?"
"Of course! Think about it. The Capital Weekly is published under Her Fifth Highness and His Sixth Highness' name. The story's protagonist is even a princess. Be honest, if you were writing your own tale, would you really let your character live a miserable life?"
"Ah, I can't wait for the next issue! I want to see just what kind of man is supposed to outshine Young Master Cao."
"Didn't they say the next issue will be sold at the Tang family bookstore in a few days? We can just send someone to line up early."
—
Outside the palace, the buzz around Capital Weekly was already sweeping through the circles of noble ladies like wildfire.
Inside the palace, it was finally time for the midday meal.
As Ting Xue began laying out her favorite dishes one by one, Yun Shu hadn't even picked up her chopsticks before she saw Xiao Anzi sprinting over from the opposite corridor with a paper booklet clutched in hand.
"Your Highness! The first issue of Capital Weekly, just as you requested!"
Yun Shu blinked. She had indeed said she wanted the first issue completed as soon as possible yesterday...But this was a bit too fast, wasn't it?
Before she could react, Yun Chuhuan was already bouncing in his seat, eyes sparkling as he grabbed the booklet and flipped directly to the second page.
Yun Shu stood up, thinking it might be best to step away for a bit, perhaps wait until Yun Chuhuan had burned through the peak of his excitement. But just as she moved to rise...
"Hey! This second article is about me! Ziming, come look!"
Yun Shu froze mid-step.
Wait. That was... not the reaction she'd expected?
She slowly sat back down, picked up her chopsticks, and decided to observe for now.
A moment later, Yun Chuhuan started muttering, "Why did they only write about my carriage? Why didn't they write about me?"
Not long after that, he ordered Xiao Anzi to bring his food over to Yun Shu's table so they could sit together. Yun Chuhuan trotted over first, all grins and bright eyes.
"Fifth Sister, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?" Yun Shu lifted a brow.
"So..."For once, Yun Chuhuan actually hesitated, looking almost sheepish.
"...In the next issue of Capital Weekly, could we publish an article written by me?"
"That depends on what you write," Yun Shu replied smoothly.
She knew exactly how to navigate his emotions, even turning down a request without sounding harsh. "After all, this paper is meant for the entire city to read. You wouldn't want your writing to be ridiculed, would you?"
"Who would dare ridicule this prince?"
Yun Chuhuan puffed up with bravado, though a trace of uncertainty still flickered across his face.
"I'll... I'll think about it more. I will write something good!"
Still, before he started writing, it was best to finish reading this issue thoroughly. He could learn a thing or two from the others.
With that in mind, Yun Chuhuan lowered his head and flipped to the third article.
"Capital's Most Devoted Husband: Young Master Cao Loves Deeply"
Yun Chuhuan blinked.
Then again.
Then slammed the paper down.
"Fifth Sister!"
His voice rose in a huff of outrage.
"You praised that Cao fellow?! You know he's not a good person, and you still wrote something flattering about him?!"
"Calm down. Have some food."
Yun Shu calmly picked up a piece of meat and placed it in his bowl.
"Sometimes, praise isn't always a good thing."
"...What do you mean?"
Frowning, Yun Chuhuan carefully read the entire article from start to finish. Finding nothing amiss, he shoved it toward Liu Ziming.
"Here, you read it too. Is there anything bad in there about that Cao fellow?"
"Um..."
Liu Ziming had already started eating but obediently put down his chopsticks. He read the article word for word, then wore the exact same baffled expression as the Sixth Prince.
"I don't see anything wrong either..."
"Exactly!" Yun Chuhuan turned back to Yun Shu, still fuming. "Fifth Sister, what does this mean—"
"You really don't get it?"
Yun Shu let out a quiet tsk.
"There's a kind of fun in not understanding right away. Just wait. You'll see soon enough."