Three days later, the
made its debut, instantly sparking a buying frenzy among the people of Luoyang. The allure of this new publication, a novel concept called a ânewspaper,â quickly spread to other cities, turning it into the most sought-after reading material across the region.
In Shu Yu Palace, Yang Yi strolled in leisurely, greeted by Wu Mingyueâs displeased expression.
âPrincess, why did you call me in such a hurry?â he asked casually.
Wu Mingyue pouted, letting out a soft snort.
âDid you forget to give me the manuscript for the next issue?â
She crossed her arms, visibly annoyed.
âBoth
and
have been a huge hit. Many people are buying the newspaper specifically for them.â
Yang Yi rubbed his temples, feeling an impending headache.
âDonât worry, there are still a few days left, right?â he said dismissively.
Given the transportation constraints of the time, Yang Yi and Wu Mingyue had decided to publish the newspaper on a weekly basis, maximizing the time available to ensure quality.
In this era, a newspaper published every seven days was already considered cutting-edge. If ordinary citizens wanted news through other channels, the delays could stretch to over half a month.
Some government decrees even took six months to reach citizens in remote areas of the Great Zhou, making the newspaper the most popular reading material available.
Despite the weekly schedule, Yang Yi didnât see the time gap as a problem. But his nonchalant attitude only fueled Wu Mingyueâs frustration. She glared at him, her cheeks puffing up in anger.
âPrinting alone will take several days. No, you have to give me the manuscript today!â she demanded.
Yang Yi yawned and stretched lazily.
âYour Highness, my shoulders are a bit sore right now. I donât think I can write.â
Wu Mingyueâs eyes widened in disbelief, her cheeks flushed with indignation.
âDo you want this princess to give you a massage?â
Yang Yiâs lips curled into a playful smirk.
âYour Highness, you wouldnât want your budding career to come to a halt, would you?â
Wu Mingyue glared at him, her frustration palpable. Reluctantly, she stepped behind him, her fingers tentatively pressing into his shoulders. Each movement dripped with resentment, her face a picture of irritation.
Yang Yi, pretending to be oblivious to her anger, smiled slightly. In truth, he already had the manuscript prepared, having exchanged complete versions of
and
from the system store. But just because he had it didnât mean he was going to hand it over without extracting a little amusement.
After a while, Wu Mingyueâs hands grew sore, and she pulled back, rubbing her wrists.
âIs this good enoughâ¦?â
Yang Yi nodded, satisfied.
âAlright.â He reached into his robe and pulled out a stack of neatly bound manuscripts.
âHere, take it.â
Wu Mingyueâs eyes widened in surprise, her finger trembling as she pointed at the papers.
âYou⦠you had this ready all along?â
Yang Yi nodded calmly.
âOf course. To ensure everythingâs ready for the next issue and to allow for printing time, the content naturally has to be prepared in advance.â
Wu Mingyueâs mind spun.
âSo you deliberately lied to me just now?â
Yang Yi maintained a straight face.
âI didnât lie⦠Your Highness, perhaps thereâs a misunderstanding. I never said I didnât have a draft.â
Wu Mingyueâs rosy lips parted, revealing a look of both shock and realization. Now that she thought about it, Yang Yi really hadnât said anything of the sort.
She gritted her teeth, glaring at him with newfound resolve.
âThen hand over all the drafts youâve accumulated!â
Yang Yi shook his head, feigning innocence.
âThereâs not a single drop left.â
Not believing a word, Wu Mingyueâs frustration reached a boiling point. She leaned forward, reaching into his robe, determined to search him for any hidden pages.
Yang Yiâs expression shifted to one of bemusement.
As she leaned in, her round, delicate figure bent over, revealing her elegant curves and the pale, jade-like skin of her exposed neckline.
Wu Mingyue, too focused on her search, paid no attention to her compromising position. She was too vexed from Yang Yiâs teasing to notice or care.
Wu Mingyue let out an exasperated sigh as she continued rummaging through Yang Yiâs robe, determined to find more manuscripts.
After all, she had grown up without even so much as a massage from her royal sisterâthis was already a huge concession on her part. However, after a short while, her eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment. There really wasnât anything more; it seemed like Yang Yi had only prepared this much.
Still, she reassured herself that these manuscripts would at least last for several issues of the newspaper. With a quiet snort, she prepared to get up.
Suddenly, Wu Mingyue felt a chill on her chest. She instinctively glanced down and was met with Yang Yiâs serious, focused expression, as if he were deeply engrossed in solving a complex problem.
Realizing the situation, Wu Mingyue screamed, leaping back a few steps. Her pale face turned as red as a rose, her cheeks burning hot. Though this wasnât the first time Yang Yi had seen her in such a vulnerable state, the embarrassment still washed over her in waves, though not as intensely as before.
Wu Mingyue glared at him, hands planted firmly on her hips, her expression indignant.
âDid you⦠did you just look at my chest?â
Yang Yi straightened up, his face taking on an expression of righteous indignation.
âYour Highness, you misunderstand. I am a gentleman who never lets his eyes wander.â
âYouâ¦â Wu Mingyueâs eyes widened, her black and white irises filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
She was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling utterly flustered. Gritting her teeth, she pointed at him accusingly.
âHuh, still trying to argue!â
Yang Yi furrowed his brows, maintaining an air of seriousness.
âYour Highness, I was merely appreciating the scenery.â
Wu Mingyueâs face turned an even deeper shade of crimson as she spat,
âScoundrel⦠pervert! Iâve long noticed you have a habit of staring at my chest!â
Yang Yi shrugged helplessly, spreading his hands in mock surrender.
âIâm not a pervert, just an ordinary man. What man wouldnât enjoy looking at a womanâs chest?â
Wu Mingyue felt as if she were standing inside a furnace, her entire body burning with embarrassment. She could barely muster the courage to expose him, and now she was utterly at a loss. This was the farthest she could push herself. Stomping her foot in frustration, she snatched up the manuscripts, shot Yang Yi a fiery glare, and bolted from the room as if fleeing for her life, her cheeks flushed.
Yang Yi watched her retreat, rubbing his nose with a faint smile.