[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291986,4481,"Chapter 23","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>The 29th year of Tianfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>September 20th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elegant prose “Dream of the Red Chamber,” serialized in the Great Zhou Literary Gazette, sparked a nationwide craze in Shangjing, with the first chapter’s “Song of Good and Done” and “Verse of the Stone of Qinggen Peak” being especially revered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you read Dream of the Red Chamber today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This phrase became the most commonly spoken in Shangjing recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a scholar or poet had not read Dream of the Red Chamber, he could not join the conversation at wine tables, and even at entertainment venues like song-and-dance halls, he would be looked down upon by courtesans who demanded extra payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Zhou had no brothels; instead, it had entertainment venues like song-and-dance halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These industries differed from those recorded in previous-era history—they were protected by Great Zhou law, and the female courtesans within were strictly performers, not prostitutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar to previous-era female streamers, they only accompanied guests in reciting poetry, drinking wine, and singing, never engaging in sexual services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone tried to force themselves upon them using power, the law would not tolerate it, and they would earn a terrible reputation—anyone with even a shred of status would never do such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for courtesans being freed through mutual affection, that was considered a beautiful tale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Zhou did have prostitutes, called ji, who were outlawed and belonged to the gray industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent days, a curious incident occurred at the various song-and-dance halls and pleasure boats along the Nanyunhe River in southern Shangjing, and many people spoke of it with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hongxiu” Song-and-Dance Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A courtesan named Liu Piaoxu, after performing a long-sleeve dance on stage, publicly declared her affection for Lu Fang, the author of Dream of the Red Chamber:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I miss you, I long for you, I yearn for you—Lu Fang, Lu Fang, Lu Fang. I read Dream of the Red Chamber often, hoping you will come to me. The mandarin ducks play…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beginning was modest, but her words grew bolder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to a scholar present, Liu Piaoxu’s cheeks flushed crimson, her demeanor shy yet inviting—truly intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this confession, Liu Piaoxu became a celebrated courtesan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Courtesans from other song-and-dance halls and pleasure boats soon imitated her; in recent days, several already-famous courtesans at these places wrote love poems to Lu Fang every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left countless scholars in Shangjing envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where there is good, there is also bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, a group led by the Xiao family harshly criticized the incident, calling Lu Fang nothing more than a “base scribbler” of romantic tales!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether “Strange Tales from Liaozhai: Nie Xiaoqian” or “Dream of the Red Chamber,” both were deemed lowbrow frivolities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They even claimed that the Half-Sage Xu Han Yi was blind to take this man as a disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more absurdly, Xiao Jin, chief lecturer of the Wenyuan Academy, declared before his students that Lu Fang’s “Exorcism Poem” of the Manifest Level was not written by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was well known that poems of the Manifest Level produced supernatural phenomena upon composition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yu and County Magistrate Zhao had witnessed it firsthand—how could it be false? Yet still, many believed Xiao Jin’s claim was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck your mother’s dogshit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Chen Ji’s account of recent events in Shangjing, Lu Fang cursed aloud—how could people be so shameless?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the matter of Xiao Jincheng was settled, Chen Ji specially visited Lu Fang at Li’s residence and had been coming and going from the Li household ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, Li Yu warned that the Xiao family might target Lu Fang over Dream of the Red Chamber, so Lu Fang was confined to his quarters and asked Chen Ji to gather outside information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Xiao family’s descendants behave this way—it’s truly pitiful for General Xiao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ji, indignant, poured himself a cup of water and picked up the recently written copy of Dream of the Red Chamber on Lu Fang’s desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fondness for Dream of the Red Chamber was no less than Li Yu’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the character portrayals, the delicate and rich emotional descriptions, or the poems within the book, he was utterly captivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lu Fang was about to vent again, the voice of the Ink Brush Manuscript Realm’s “Realm Spirit” echoed in his mind: someone had read Dream of the Red Chamber and condensed Book Fragrance, so he too received the same Book Fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ji murmured, pinching his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his index finger appeared a tiny, colorful thread of qi—no thicker than a needle’s point; when pinched, it could be felt but not wiped away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang saw it too and recognized it immediately as Book Fragrance—he never expected the first person to gain it would be Chen Ji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After asking the Ink Brush Manuscript Realm’s Spirit, Lu Fang understood: the more one interacted with him and read the books within the Ink Brush Manuscript Realm, the easier it became to gain Book Fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the Ink Brush Manuscript Realm favored Chen Ji slightly more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Lu Fang asked what the standard for favoritism was, the Spirit gave no answer—no matter how he pressed, it remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Book Fragrance. I have it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang decided to reveal the function of Book Fragrance—others would gain it later, and hiding it was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they gained it by reading his books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Zhou, reading elegant prose could grant extraordinary power; though Book Fragrance was unusual, it was still acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the function of Book Fragrance, Chen Ji’s face lit up with joy. “Lu Brother, you have Book Fragrance too? Why didn’t I see it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang could see Book Fragrance absorbed by others, but no one could see his own unless he deliberately revealed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a special privilege of the master of the Ink Brush Manuscript Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If others could see the Book Fragrance on his fingers, they’d be terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others had a single “dot” of Book Fragrance; he had strands stretching a foot long—there was no comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Book Fragrance had not yet been absorbed, anyone could see it—but initially, it was so faint that only those who looked closely could perceive it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absorbing Book Fragrance was simple: just focus your mind with a single thought. Anyone with half a brain could master it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Guo Mansion, Xiande Street, eastern Shangjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your son Xiao Jincheng is dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beheaded before the eyes of the public?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The killer is Xu Han Yi’s disciple—still at large—and you didn’t inform me immediately about such a grave matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wanlin sat in the grand armchair, his inverted-triangle eyes gleaming with malice; the wrinkles on his face trembled from excessive tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qi stood with hands hanging at her sides, head bowed. “Father was striving for the Half-Sage realm. I feared you’d be distracted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wanlin snorted. His attempt to reach the Half-Sage realm had already failed; now, learning his direct descendant had been murdered, his fury only deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blood must be repaid with blood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we cannot do this, will the Xiao family not become a laughingstock of Shangjing? You may tolerate the shame—I, Xiao Wanlin, will not!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will make every person in Shangjing know: anyone who kills a direct member of the Xiao family will meet no good end!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All nobles connected by kinship to the Xiao family received an invitation—to attend the Xiao family’s banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>",1246,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6c09a24881ee3c5ee60dab207991652d042a51d02dd1bd62d8d48b1db07a20b8","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-24","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-22",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]