Chapter 1, The Flying Dragon in the Sky

He threw the book on the table and casually picked up another book to read

It is indeed teasing, not only with frivolous words but also with hands touching the face. Poor Tang Tianyuan, having lived for over twenty years, has never truly touched a woman. Suddenly being teased like this by a group of girls is truly embarrassing and difficult to bear. However, such matters are not suitable for reporting to the authorities. As a grown man, he cannot argue with the women, so he can only hide from a distance. When he cannot escape, he simply climbs over the wall.

Tang Tianyuan was originally a handsome man, especially with the aura of heroism between his brows. Just placing him among a crowd would instantly create a striking contrast. The top scholar was a man in his forties with a beard, while the second place was short and had very dark, even-toned skin. In comparison to these two, Tang Tianyuan appeared even more exceptionally handsome.

It must be a ghostwriter

The runner-up brother was already eagerly seated at his official position, his eyes shining as he opened his precious new book.

Tang Tianyuan stood with his hands behind his back, and although he was on the wall, his grace remained undiminished. He looked up, quietly gazing at the fish-scale clouds in the sky, tinged with a layer of copper-red by the sun. A gentle breeze blew, stirring his robes, and an unknown floral fragrance wafted through the air. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his mood slightly lifted by the refreshing scent of the flowers, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint arc, but as if recalling something, that arc quickly faded away.

He thinks that they are probably just a passing whim, and once the excitement fades, it will become quiet again

The clerk received the money and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your patronage. Each person can buy a maximum of three copies. Would you like to buy one more? It would save me the trouble of giving change."

To speak frankly, Tang Tianyuan suspects that Miao Miaosheng is a perverted individual who enjoys engaging in same-sex relationships. A normal man would not write such romantic novels. Whenever Tang Tianyuan reads Miao Miaosheng's works, he is always left with an uncomfortable feeling as if he is being targeted by a pervert. The gangster in this book is likely a projection of Miao Miaosheng himself, seeking to indulge in his perverse desires through the plot of the story

Just right, Tang Tianyuan has not yet taken a wife

Tang Tianyuan could no longer bear to look at him, so he lowered his head, resting his forehead on his hand, and his gaze fell once again on the book "The Chronicles of Tang Feilong's Campaign Against Bandits" on the table

There is a bookstore opposite the Hanlin Academy, which has not yet opened its doors at this hour, but a considerable number of people have already gathered at the entrance, forming a long queue. They must be vying for some good books. Tang Tianyuan curiously glanced into the line and was surprised to see that the person at the very front was none other than his former classmate, who is now his colleague, the second place winner.

At last, he reached out for it

In the seventh year of Jinglong, the world was at peace

Two years ago, Tang Tianyuan was twenty years old. He performed adequately in the palace examination and achieved the rank of third place, naturally feeling quite pleased with himself.

The number of carriages at the entrance of the Tang residence is increasing, with even the back door not being overlooked. As the crowd grows, the composition becomes more complex, and some have even seen women from the brothels come to watch. Finally, some women who are not particularly concerned about their reputation, unwilling to merely observe from a distance, begin to step out of their carriages to tease Tang Tianyuan.

It is always like this, it is always like this! Tang Tianyuan shouted in despair within his heart. He never wanted to look, yet every time he could not help but take a glance

At the same time, Tang Tianyuan is also fondly talked about and deeply remembered by the common people of the capital for his family background: he is the son of the Prime Minister.

He really can hardly bear it any longer

... surprisingly quite good

Tang Tianyuan stood on the wall, feeling melancholic for a while, then hurriedly jumped down and took a shortcut to the Hanlin Academy. His home was not far from the Hanlin Academy, and riding a horse was not worth it; he also did not enjoy taking a sedan chair

Early in the morning, Tang Tianyuan went to the Hanlin Academy for his duties as usual. With summer having arrived, the days had grown longer. When he stepped out, the sun had already risen halfway, radiating a warm, reddish glow, resembling a scorching palm gently caressing the world.

Untied, exposed, bound on the bed

To be precise, all those inside the carriages should be women

"I will not cut in line, you may continue." Tang Tianyuan turned his head and intended to leave

Fame comes with its price, and Tang Tianyuan understands this principle well. He truly does not mind being written about, but what on earth has that Miao Miao Sheng written! In the first book, Tang Feilong appears to be a modest gentleman, yet deep down he enjoys being teased by women; in the second book, Tang Feilong is portrayed as a frail young master, the kind who coughs up blood after walking just three steps; the third book is even more bizarre, depicting Tang Feilong as a lunatic, being one person by day and another by night. Now, as the fourth book is being written, Tang Feilong has begun to eradicate bandits. Eradicating bandits is one thing, but what does it have to do with romance!

He soon realized that he had been too naive

Tang Tianyuan did not have any particular eccentricities; he used to prefer entering through the main door. ... However, now ... . ... He turned his head to look towards the east, and as expected, there were indeed several carriages crowded at the entrance.

As if completing a certain ritual, Tang Tianyuan let out a sigh and slowly closed the book. With such a shocking plot emerging in just the third chapter, he truly lacked the courage to continue reading

His gritted voice was drowned out by the chatter of the crowd. The thoughts of Brother Bangyan were entirely focused on the buns and the books, and he did not notice Tang Tianyuan's unusual behavior. He continued, "In fact, this book can also be purchased elsewhere, but today this bookstore is selling an exclusive edition with poems. Each book's front page features a handwritten poem by Miaomiao Sheng, along with a private seal. It is the only one in the entire capital, and there is no other branch... Would you like a copy?"

The second place brother took three books and left the group, stuffing one of them into Tang Tianyuan's arms, "Don't be so polite with me"

At this time, Tang Tianyuan would usually walk briskly with his head down, pretending to know nothing. Some bolder young ladies would deliberately drop a handkerchief or a pouch in front of him as he passed by. In response, he could only pretend to be blind.

Look up and see the second place brother opposite, who is quite engrossed. Due to excessive excitement, the second place brother squats on the chair, holding a book in one hand and covering his mouth with the other, his eyes sparkling, letting out bursts of silly laughter. That gesture, that expression, combined with his naturally dark and profound aura, truly resembles the Monkey King encountering a favored female monkey.

Thinking of this reason, he felt even more powerless, truly not wanting to bring it up at all

Tang Tianyuan took out a handkerchief and wiped his face, squinting his eyes and gritting his teeth

In fact, regardless of how outstanding Tang Tianyuan is, he alone cannot create such a bizarre scene. The reason for Tang Tianyuan's growing fame and the multitude of admirers is due to other factors.

The popularity of Miao Miao Sheng's books can be partly attributed to the favorable winds brought by Tang Tianyuan. In each of his books, the protagonist is named "Tang Feilong." The Book of Changes states, "The flying dragon is in the sky," which could very well refer to Tang Tianyuan. Of course, this interpretation may seem a bit forced, but one only needs to open the book to understand. ... Tang Feilong shares the same birth year and month as Tang Tianyuan, is also the son of the Prime Minister, and similarly achieved the rank of third place in the imperial examination at a young age, with several other details being quite similar ... ? Certainly, this explanation may seem a bit forced, but one only needs to open the book to understand. ... Tang Feilong shares the same birth year and month as Tang Tianyuan, is also the son of the Prime Minister, and similarly achieved the rank of third place in the imperial examination at a young age, with several other details being quite similar ... ? ... Is this not obvious enough? ? At least the vast majority of readers of Miao Miao Sheng's books will unconsciously imagine Tang Feilong as Tang Tianyuan.

"Good book!" Brother Bangyan replied with shining eyes, "It is the new book 'The Tale of Tang Feilong's Wind and Moon Campaign Against Bandits' by Miao Miao Sheng." The title of this book is somewhat tricky, resembling a tongue twister, and Brother Bangyan spoke it with considerable effort, spitting several times as he did so

Tang Tianyuan entered the Hanlin Academy holding a hot book. He truly could not understand why so many people were willing to pay two or three times the price just to buy an extra page of poetry. That Miaomiao Sheng was a pervert; how good could his calligraphy possibly be? As Tang Tianyuan thought of this, he deliberately opened the book, intending to look down on Miaomiao Sheng's handwriting.

Tang Tianyuan walked over and greeted the second place in the imperial examination.

Because he is standing on the wall

Some carriages are simple while others are luxurious, and there is one adorned with pink tassels and decorated with flowers, as if to ensure that everyone knows a woman is seated inside

As he was speaking, the bookstore opened its doors. Due to the large number of people queuing outside, the clerk had no choice but to set up a table at the entrance and display stacks of new books. The words on the cover were precisely those that made Tang Tianyuan unable to bear looking closely: "The Record of Tang Feilong's Wind and Moon Bandit Suppression"

Don't go! The second place brother, being very righteous, pulled him back and threw a piece of silver to the bookstore clerk, saying, "I will buy two copies!"

Good looks, a respectable family background, good character, and talent with ambition—these are undoubtedly the ultimate criteria for women when choosing a partner

Tang Tianyuan inadvertently conjured an image of an old man with a face full of beard, gleaming with oil, leering and writing furiously, which instantly sent chills down his spine

With the wicked interests of Miao Miao Sheng, Tang Tianyuan truly did not know what he would write this time; in any case, he could not bear to look.

Thus, there exists a remarkable reciprocal influence between Miao Miaosheng's book and the individual Tang Tianyuan. Thanks to Miao Miaosheng, the number of people wishing to bear children for Tang Tianyuan is countless, enough to circle the capital three times and tie a bow. Therefore, it is not surprising that so many people gather at the entrance of the Tang residence, with some even coming to tease Tang Tianyuan.

As a result, the matchmakers visiting Tang Tianyuan to propose marriage gradually increased. This was nothing unusual, as it is natural for men to marry and women to be married off. However, it is unclear when it started, but a number of young ladies, drawn by reputation, began to gather at the entrance of the Tang residence, waiting for a glimpse of Tang Tianyuan's impressive figure as he came and went. They sat in their carriages, keeping their faces hidden, only lifting the curtains to take a look when Tang Tianyuan passed by, accompanied by their delicate laughter.

This Miao Miao Sheng is quite extraordinary. He emerged shortly after Tang Tianyuan, the top scholar of his high school, gained fame throughout the land. No one knows his background, nor has anyone seen his true appearance, yet his name resonates like thunder when mentioned. This Miao Miao Sheng has authored several works, which, while also romantic novels, differ from the typical tales of talented scholars and beautiful women; the male and female characters within are depicted with remarkable authenticity and depth. The plots are unique and surprising, accompanied by some fresh and commendable poetry that caters to the tastes of the refined. Consequently, his books have become immensely popular over the past two years, and each new release sparks a buying frenzy. This is naturally welcomed by booksellers across the regions.

As he opened the book, the beginning was surprisingly normal. This was not in line with Miao Miaosheng's style. Tang Tianyuan looked down with a heavy heart and upon reaching Chapter 3, Miao Miaosheng finally revealed his true colors. Tang Feilong, as a court official, unexpectedly fell into the hands of bandits during a suppression operation; however, this was not the main point. The key detail was that the bandit leader was a homosexual. This homosexual crime lord had stripped Tang Feilong and tied him to the bed, just as he was about to engage in unspeakable acts, the female protagonist of the story arrived in time to rescue him. Tang Feilong, as a court official, unexpectedly fell into the hands of bandits during a suppression operation; however, this was not the main point. The key detail was that the bandit leader was a homosexual. This homosexual crime lord had stripped Tang Feilong and tied him to the bed, just as he was about to engage in unspeakable acts, the female protagonist of the story arrived in time to rescue him

You ask him how he sees the sun

According to tradition, the top three of the first degree—namely the champion, the second place, and the third place—are to parade together. The script states that the champion is "famed throughout the world in one successful attempt"; however, this time, the third place has overshadowed the champion. The reason is simple: among the three, the third place is the most handsome.

Wonderful, wonderful, life

A commotion arose among the crowd. A person standing behind the second place in line, upon hearing their conversation, cast a hostile glance at Tang Tianyuan and said, "Do you want to cut in line? Although we all know that Tang Feilong is indeed you, Tang Tianyuan, you still cannot cut in line."

Tang Tianyuan has considerable accomplishments in calligraphy and is quite well-known. At this moment, upon seeing Miao Miao Sheng's writing, although it is somewhat hurried, it possesses a clear and elegant style, distinctly unique and exceptional

Who has been polite to you ... . ... Tang Tianyuan was quite speechless, wanting to return the book to him, but he absolutely refused to accept it.

The Prime Minister is equivalent to the Chancellor, an absolute minister wielding power over the state, second only to the emperor. Tang Tianyuan has such a father, yet he still strives to study diligently and successfully passes the imperial examination to become a Jinshi, which shows that he is both studious and ambitious. In contrast to the young aristocrats in the capital who spend their days indulging in cockfighting, dog racing, and drinking, Tang Tianyuan's image shines brilliantly.

Tang Tianyuan and the second place scholar were appointed as editors at the Hanlin Academy at the same time, holding equivalent positions, and thus shared an office. The two desks faced each other, allowing them to see one another whenever they looked up. According to the second place scholar, every time he looked up, he saw someone a thousand times more handsome than himself, and he had to find some mental support to survive. Thus, he met Miaomiao.

Brother Bangyan was eating steamed buns when he saw Tang Tianyuan and cheerfully asked him if he wanted to eat some buns. Tang Tianyuan shook his head and asked, "What are you all queuing up to buy here?"