Thanks to the groundwork laid by Legend of the Condor Heroes and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wrong Carriage, Right Groom quickly exploded in popularity. Most buyers were maids serving young ladies or wives in noble households.
On the first day, the fifteen bookstores sold over seven hundred copies.
Sales on the second day were even more astonishing, reaching over twelve hundred copies.
Marquis of Puyang Residence.
The Marquis of Puyang, Leonard Wen, is the emperor’s brother-in-law—otherwise known as the imperial uncle.
Leonard Wen took a sip of tea and asked his steward, who was standing respectfully below, "Have you investigated everything? Who’s the owner behind those fifteen bookstores?"
With Ian Song’s books blowing up, it wasn’t just the pirates who started scheming—some of the powerful nobles began eyeing his business too. After all, tens of thousands of taels in monthly income was a temptation few could resist.
Leonard Wen, the Marquis of Puyang, was one of the nobles scheming to get his hands on Ian Song’s bookstores.
However, he didn’t rush in blindly. Instead, he ordered a secret investigation, planning to dig up Ian Song’s background before making his move.
The steward replied, "My lord, I’ve found out that the owner of those fifteen bookstores is Ian Song. He’s a current jinshi candidate, and more importantly, he’s a disciple of Zachary Cai!"
The popularity of those three books also boosted sales of other titles in the stores. Where a bookstore used to earn just over a dozen taels a month, now—even not counting those three novels—pure profit had risen to more than fifty taels.
With fifteen bookstores, the monthly profit was seven or eight hundred taels, adding up to ten thousand taels a year.
No wonder the nobles were envious of the bookstore’s profits.
"So he’s Zachary Cai’s disciple!"
Leonard Wen’s brow furrowed slightly. This was going to be tricky. Sure, he was a marquis and the imperial uncle, but those civil officials didn’t necessarily care about him. If he rubbed them the wrong way, it wouldn’t be surprising if they made trouble for him.
That’s why, unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to offend the civil officials—especially since Zachary Cai was a literary patriarch with huge influence at court.
But giving up now? He just couldn’t bear to lose out on yearly profits reaching into the hundreds of thousands of taels.
The steward, knowing how formidable the civil officials were, rolled his eyes and suggested, "My lord, I also found out that Ian Song only has bookstores in the capital. There aren’t any in the surrounding counties or prefectures, but our marquisate has plenty of businesses. Actually, the reason those fifteen stores are doing so well is all thanks to those three books. If you get the books from Ian Song, our marquisate can take over the bookstores in the nearby counties and prefectures, then have local officials crack down on piracy and confiscate illegal copies. We could make a tidy profit too. If push comes to shove, we can even print our own pirated editions!"
In the capital, the civil officials didn’t give the Marquis of Puyang any respect, but out in the provinces, few local officials dared defy him—so this plan could actually work.
"Alright, take my invitation and bring Ian Song to the marquisate for a banquet!" Although Leonard Wen was ready to go with the steward’s plan, his greed was insatiable—he still wanted to swallow up the capital bookstores as well.
Having served Leonard Wen for so many years, the steward knew exactly what he was thinking. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, worried that his lord might end up with nothing but trouble instead of the prize.
Meanwhile—
Ian Song received the booksellers from the surrounding counties and prefectures, then headed off to the Imperial Academy.
He hadn’t expected the booksellers to be so sharp-nosed, showing up on the second day after the new book launched. Maybe it was because they’d tasted success before—this time, they bought five thousand copies of the new novel and two thousand of the older ones.
The main reason was that, although the pirated books had the same content, their typesetting was poor and the illustrations were blurry. The official editions, on the other hand, had vivid, full-color artwork.
Ordinary folks might save money by buying pirated books, but anyone with a bit of status preferred the real thing.
Sales were a bit slower, but there was no worry about selling out eventually.
"Greetings, Young Master Song. I am the steward of the Marquis of Puyang Residence. My lord has sent you this invitation and hopes you will attend a banquet at the marquisate."
Just as Ian stepped into the courtyard, an elderly man came up to greet him politely. Two martial artists followed behind, but their strength wasn’t impressive—at best, they’d reached the Martial Master level.
"Marquis Leonard of Puyang?"
Ian had stayed in the capital for several months and naturally knew who Marquis Leonard was—the emperor’s brother-in-law, notorious for his greed and lust, with no fewer than seventeen concubines.
He’s inviting me to a banquet? What’s his real motive?
In a flash, Ian thought of the bookstores he’d stirred up.
Still, he’d expected something like this all along, so he wasn’t worried. Besides, as a Daoist Golden Core, he didn’t even fear the emperor—let alone a mere idle marquis.
So he accepted the invitation and said, "Steward, please wait a moment while I change my clothes."
"Of course, Young Master Song. Take your time!"
Soon, Ian changed into a cream-colored long robe and boarded the carriage sent to fetch him.
Half an hour later—
The carriage arrived at the Marquis’s Residence.
It stopped in front of a grand hall, and the steward’s voice came from outside: "Young Master Song, we’ve arrived. Please step down from the carriage."
"Alright!"
Ian replied and stepped down from the carriage.
Led by the steward, he entered the grand hall.
Inside, two delicate-faced maidservants waited on him.
"Please wait, Young Master Song. I’ll go notify my lord."
"Go ahead, steward."
Ian waved it off, unconcerned, and leisurely took in the lavish hall—its decor screamed nouveau riche.
Rumor had it that before becoming the emperor’s brother-in-law, Leonard Wen was a butcher—just like his father-in-law.
Time ticked by.
Just as Ian was beginning to get impatient, Leonard Wen finally appeared.
Surrounded by attendants, Leonard strode in with a hint of arrogance. Ian couldn’t help but think of a monkey dressed in a crown.
"You’re Ian Song—Ziyu?"
Leonard plopped down at the head seat and asked bluntly.
"Greetings, Marquis."
Ian didn’t bother with much courtesy and offered only a perfunctory fist salute.
Seeing Ian so dismissive, Leonard’s temper flared. He slammed the table and shouted, "Ziyu, why don’t you kneel and pay your respects to me?"
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Ian couldn’t help but laugh. The steward, who’d followed him in, just looked speechless.
"You dare mock me? Guards, seize him!" Leonard roared, furious.
"Pfft!"
"Hold on, Marquis!"
The steward hurriedly called out.
Just then, Ian’s voice rang out: "There are rules in the empire—any scholar with official rank need not kneel to anyone but the emperor. Marquis, are you claiming to outrank the Son of Heaven? If you admit as much, I’ll kneel and bow right now!"
Leonard’s face flushed red. He’d only wanted to intimidate this scholar and push him into discussing the bookstores, leaving no room for refusal.
He’d forgotten that scholars with official rank weren’t required to kneel before a marquis.
"I heard you used to be a butcher, Marquis?"
Ian pressed on.
At the word ‘butcher,’ Leonard’s face turned black with rage, his eyes flashing with murderous intent—he hated anyone bringing up his past.
"Ian Song, do you really think I wouldn’t dare kill you?"
Ian replied, "Don’t misunderstand, Marquis. I meant no insult—my own father-in-law is a butcher. Knowing you were one too, I actually feel a bit of kinship."
Leonard was stunned, unable to get a word out—he was left choking, unable to vent his anger.
Ian smiled. "Marquis, you invited me here to discuss the bookstores, didn’t you? Am I right?"
"Nonsense! Why would I be interested in your bookstores?" Leonard retorted.
"Oh? Then I must have misunderstood. I was going to invite you to invest, but if you’re not interested, forget it!" Ian said with a grin.
Leonard’s face turned purple with frustration.
Ian seemed not to notice and continued, "Honestly, even though the bookstores make tens of thousands of taels a month, to me, that’s just pocket change."
A monthly profit of tens of thousands—yet Ian called it pocket change. Leonard’s eyes nearly popped out.
Ian glanced around. "Marquis, I have a big business proposal for you. Are you interested?"
"Everyone else, leave us."
Now Leonard finally caught on. He waved the others away, then turned to the steward: "Steward, Ian’s tea is cold. Why haven’t you replaced it yet?"
"No need. I actually prefer cold tea," Ian replied.
He waved his hand dismissively.
As they spoke, Ian produced eight exquisitely crafted glass goblets and set them on the table. He smiled, "Marquis, what do you think of these wine cups?"
Leonard couldn’t take his eyes off them. He picked one up, examining it and praising, "Treasure—these are absolute treasures!"
Then he looked at Ian. "Young Master Song, are these wine cups a gift for me?"
Ian rolled his eyes—this Marquis really was something else. He couldn’t help but laugh. "Marquis, how much do you think this set is worth?"
"At least several tens of thousands of taels!" Leonard declared.
"My business is related to these wine cups. I’ll give you ten sets to sell, eight thousand taels per set. However much you make is yours, Marquis."
Hearing this, Leonard’s breathing quickened. Even selling a set for twenty thousand taels wouldn’t be a loss. If he managed to sell all ten, he’d earn over a hundred thousand taels.
He looked at Ian. "Ten sets isn’t enough. Give me more, and I’ll pay ten thousand taels per set!"
"You can’t eat hot tofu in a hurry. If you want more, sell these first!" Ian laughed. "Here’s a suggestion: why not host a banquet and serve wine in these cups?"
An hour later, Ian rode Marquis Wen’s carriage back to the Imperial Academy. He hadn’t brought the glass cups to make money, but to give Leonard a chance to stir up trouble—only then would Prince Cao Kui have an opening.