After being expelled from the mansion, I changed the dynasty by writing novels.

However, the popularity of storytelling grew stronger and stronger, and this trend had already spread to the imperial court.

After queuing at the Meridian Gate, the ministers filed in as the gates opened. Once inside the main hall, the civil and military officials bowed to the emperor on the throne and then began to report.

Not long after the morning court session began, the ministers first reported on their duties. When the Censor-in-Chief submitted his report, he mentioned the recent popularity of storytelling in Bianjing.

The imperial court should not discuss such matters of the common people, but recently this matter has become too big a fuss. Many men are very dissatisfied and have petitioned to shut down Zhiyu Bookstore and arrest the person in charge of the bookstore and the writer of the storybooks and imprison them.

"Why should this matter be reported to the imperial court?" This means that you lower-level officials can handle it yourselves, instead of wasting the time that the imperial court would spend reporting to.

The one who suddenly spoke up was a Hanlin scholar standing in a line opposite the Censor-in-Chief.

"If it were just a minor matter, it would be fine to let the lower-level officials handle it. However, it seems that the Princess is intentionally protecting her, so the lower-level officials are unable to make a decision for the time being."

The eldest princess has always been spoiled and willful, so it's not surprising that she would do something like this.

"Oh?" The man on the dragon throne at the head of the table seemed a little curious. "What exactly happened?"

He hadn't expected that a mere storybook could cause such a stir in Bianjing, but it reminded him that reading storybooks and watching operas had recently become popular in the imperial harem, reportedly started by the eldest princess.

The condemnation of vernacular stories continued within the imperial court.

"These stories and their writers are a cancer; if left unchecked, they could turn the entire capital of Bianjing into chaos!"

"It's just a storybook, it won't cause any trouble. Censor-in-Chief, you're exaggerating." Xiao Yulan, standing at the front, glanced at the Censor-in-Chief indifferently.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yulan was the first to speak up, while Qiao Songqing, standing on the other side, frowned imperceptibly.

“How could it not be? The book says that women can serve as officials in the court, and all the readers of the book are women. If that were really the case, wouldn’t the whole court be in chaos? How could women serve as officials in the court? If more people read it, some of them would naturally become eager to do so.” At this moment, several officials stepped forward from the ranks to refute.

This single sentence caused an uproar in the quiet court, with everyone talking at once about it.

"Yes, if it spreads widely, naturally some people will have such thoughts, which is detrimental to the country and its people!"

The attitude of opposition was prevalent in the imperial court.

Bai Zunyue, on the other end, did not respond, and a solemn expression appeared on her usually cool face.

This matter seems to have blown up. Qiao Songqing glanced at Bai Zunyue's expression and sighed inwardly, guessing that Miss Ye was probably in grave danger.

Stopping outside the bookstore, Qi Jingyue walked into a quiet, deserted alley. A person wearing a ferocious beast mask and dressed in black whispered, "Your Highness."

The man then knelt down and reported to him, "There has been an unusual event in the imperial court."

While Qi Jingyue was listening to his subordinates' report, a large group of yamen runners arrived quietly at Zhiyu Bookstore.

These guards from the government office were clearly different from ordinary yamen runners; they had fierce and menacing appearances, exuding an imposing aura even without anger, especially their armor. "Who is Manager Ye of Zhiyu Bookstore?"

When Qi Jingyue returned to the bookstore, before he even reached the door, he heard someone calling "Manager Ye". He paused for a moment and saw the guards outside the bookstore shaking their heads at him.

He immediately realized that something was wrong.

Sure enough, upon entering the bookstore, everyone was standing dejectedly in the lobby. Hua Ping was still silently shedding tears. He originally wanted to chase after her, but Zhang Rouyan stopped him.

"Huaping, don't panic. Uncle Li and Anxin have already gone out to gather information. They'll know what happened when they come back, and then we'll make a plan!"

"I heard from them that they're going to arrest Mr. Wuming? Is it because the storybooks have angered a lot of people recently?" Liang Suxin frowned, increasingly convinced that it was because of this matter.

"No, I have to ask my brother for help." After saying that, Bai Zunxing lifted her skirt and walked outside. Liang Suxin called after her, but she couldn't stop her.

After Bai Zunxing left, Qi Jingyue also left the bookstore without any hesitation.

"Tsk, I didn't expect it to actually be true." Zhang Rouyan said that she had been surprised to find herself so excited.

Hearing this nonsensical statement while being comforted in someone's arms, Huaping was taken aback: What does that mean? What's real or fake?!

Ye Yuwu was initially terrified as she was dragged into the cell by a group of constables, but for some reason, once inside the cell, she felt a strange excitement. She knew something was wrong, but she couldn't control it. After all, this was her first time in prison in her two lifetimes!

I wonder if ancient prisons are the same as those depicted in TV dramas.

Her mind raced with random thoughts, but before long, she knew the answer.

Indeed, whether it's a movie or an ancient prison, the first impression is always one of darkness!

There was also a putrid smell in the air. Ye Yuwu couldn't quite describe what it was, but it just didn't smell good.

Of course, as you pass by the cells, you can see people reaching out from inside. These prisoners are wearing prison uniforms, with messy hair, and shouting, "Innocent!"

They were trying to use this method to lure the prison guards over.

Ye Yuwu, still dressed in blue, was handcuffed and shackled by the jailers and led into a cell.

Only after they locked the cell did Ye Yuwu have a chance to examine it closely.

The cell wasn't large, but it was very high. There was a small window at the top, so high that she couldn't reach it no matter how hard she jumped. But a small beam of light could still shine through the window, at least giving the dim cell a little bit of light.

The cell was filled with a pile of hay, which was very messy and smelled all sorts of things. Ye Yuwu even saw a little bloodstains, which meant that many people had probably lain in it. She wondered if there were any rats in the pile of hay. She hoped there weren't any!

Fortunately, there was a small table in the cell, although it was wobbly and seemed unstable.

She didn't dare sit on the hay, so she found an open space against the wall. She blew the dirt and dust off the floor and sat down there without any regard for her image.

Only after sitting down could she sort out her thoughts.

Hey, I heard they're also going to arrest "Mr. Wuming," which is basically her pseudonym. Nobody's ever noticed it. Should she bring it up now?

Isn't she being punished for multiple crimes? Although she doesn't know what crimes she has committed, she's just a poor bookstore owner who writes books. It's her fault; she only cared about writing stories before.

Now she's in jail! She's heard those literary figures are going around criticizing her online persona, and just thinking about it makes her angry!

I wonder if these constables will be able to discover that Mr. Wuming is her pseudonym.