By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

Chapter 181 Tigers and Poultry

Wu Fengyuan had people around him to shield him from drinking, so he didn't need Wen Zongji.

Wen Zongji's visit this time was really just to attend a wedding banquet. With An Guanglu present, he learned a lot of gossip and chatted with Lu Nian'an for a while. After the banquet, he returned to the Marquis's residence with Pei Rujing.

Back at Yunguang Courtyard, Pei Rujing sat on the couch and said, "How incredibly boring."

Pei Rujing was initially curious about the wedding, but after attending only two, she's already starting to get impatient.

Wen Zongji reminded her, "My lady, you have to attend at least two more times."

Pei Shirong, just once!

Zuo Mingxuan once!

Pei Rujing glared at him: "My husband is always such a spoilsport."

Wen Zongji looked completely innocent: "I was just trying to give you a friendly reminder."

Pei Rujing pounced on him and bit him on the cheek: "You still dare to talk back!"

Wen Zongji laughed heartily and picked up Pei Rujing in his arms, saying, "It's getting late, let's go take a bath."

Upon hearing this, Pei Rujing stopped struggling and obediently stayed in Wen Zongji's arms.

The two had bathed together many times after they had shared a room. The maids all knew that Pei Rujing did not allow anyone to approach Wen Zongji, so after preparing the hot water, they all tactfully withdrew.

The bathroom was filled with steam. Pei Rujing pressed herself tightly against Wen Zongji's chest, her breath sweet as orchids: "Husband~"

Wen Zongji's throat bobbed, and he raised his hand to pinch Pei Rujing's waist, making the two even more inseparable.

……

After a long while, the two, having had their fill of commotion, finally emerged from the bathroom.

Wen Zongji put Pei Rujing down and picked up a handkerchief to help her wring out her hair.

Pei Rujing sat obediently: "Husband, I saw An Si today. She has become timid and doesn't dare to look at me."

Wen Zongji said, "Isn't this good? She won't dare to make her wife angry anymore."

"It's strange. I used to frequently complain about An Si in the palace, and this wasn't the first time Duke Anguo had punished her by confining her to her quarters. Why was it so effective this time?"

Wen Zongji said, "The reason Miss An changed was not because Duke Anguo punished her by confining her to her quarters, but because he was determined to find her a husband."

Pei Rujing suddenly realized: "Although An Si has a bad temper, she was genuinely in love with Zuo San's older brother before, so she definitely wouldn't want to marry just anyone."

Wen Zongji asked curiously, "Since Miss An is in love with Young Master Zuo, hasn't the Duke of Anguo considered asking the Zuo family to arrange a marriage between the two?"

Pei Rujing said, "Of course there is. Duke Anguo dotes on An Si and approached the Zuo family about this matter a long time ago, but Grand Secretary Zuo refused, stating that Zuo Hanyu was already engaged."

"That's really unfortunate."

Pei Rujing said with a wicked smile, "Zuo San secretly told me that there was actually no marriage contract at all. It was just that the Zuo family looked down on An Si and didn't want this granddaughter-in-law, so they made up an excuse."

Wen Zongji asked, "Does the Duke of Anguo's mansion know about this?"

Pei Rujing shook her head: "I don't know. He probably doesn't know, otherwise, given An Si's temper, he definitely wouldn't have been able to keep it from me."

Wen Zongji felt that just because An Qingyan didn't know, it didn't mean that Duke Anguo didn't know either.

After all, it's actually quite easy to investigate whether the marriage is real or not.

However, this matter is in the past, so there's no need to think about it too much.

"Okay."

Wen Zongji touched Pei Rujing's hair to make sure it was dry, then held Pei Rujing and lay down on the bed.

The two talked for a while longer before gradually falling asleep.

……

With August approaching, the Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner.

This is the first Mid-Autumn Festival after Wen Zongji and Pei Rujing got married, and Pei Rujing attaches great importance to it.

Not only did he have people decorate Yunguang Courtyard in advance, but he also discussed the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday arrangements with Wen Zongji well in advance.

There is no curfew in the capital for three days before and after the Mid-Autumn Festival. The market will stay open all night, and you can play as long as you want.

Although Pei Rujing has experienced many Mid-Autumn Festivals, she has never had the experience of staying up all night because her eldest daughter-in-law was strict.

This time, Pei Rujing wanted to experience something special.

Wen Zongji naturally agreed.

The sixth issue of the Beijing Daily is also approaching along with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Ruijintang

Mao Zheng said, "Master, in recent days, more and more bookstore owners from other places have come to ask if the Beijing Gazette Bureau is interested in selling the right to sell the Beijing Gazette to them."

Wen Zongji asked, "Where are they all from?"

"Besides the counties surrounding the capital, there are some other prefectures and counties as well. I estimate that if we wait a long time, there will be even more distant places."

After all, the influence of the Beijing Daily is undeniable.

Wen Zongji nodded: "I understand. Is there anything else?"

Mao Zheng nodded: "Boss, Ruijintang's business is getting better and better, and the current space is probably not enough. I think we should buy the shop next door or add a floor to expand the shop."

Wen Zongji said, "We can do it simultaneously. We can arrange for craftsmen to build the extension, and we can also talk to the shopkeeper next door. As long as he doesn't ask for an exorbitant price, we can buy the shop next door."

Mao Zheng was taken aback: "Isn't this too big? Even Cuiwenzhai isn't this big."

"Changxing Street is already prosperous, so buying a shop here is unlikely to result in a loss... Besides, the other party may not agree, so you should go and talk to them first."

"Yes."

Mao Zheng agreed.

After leaving Ruijin Hall, Wen Zongji went to the palace to meet the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, the time is ripe. We can establish branches of the Capital Gazette Office in each prefecture and grant them the authority to print the Capital Gazette. Then the Capital Gazette can be disseminated throughout the Great Chu."

Wen Zongji's idea for the Beijing Gazette was to circulate within the Great Chu territory. Even if it became popular in the capital, it would only be limited to one place and would not meet his expectations.

The Crown Prince said, "Since you feel the time is right, then go ahead and do it."

Wen Zongji smiled wryly: "The Great Chu has more than a hundred prefectures, and each branch office needs to be staffed with officials. There are so many people, I can't possibly manage them all."

The Crown Prince looked at him and asked, "Do you think it's better to select these people locally, or to have them sent from the capital?"

Wen Zongji cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the Capital Gazette Bureau controls the distribution of the Capital Gazette. Even if the initial branches of the Capital Gazette Bureau only had the power to print the Capital Gazette, they will eventually gain the power to publish it over time. If the locals control the Capital Gazette Bureau at that time, it will be detrimental to the court's control over public opinion."

"Therefore, the Beijing Gazette Bureau must establish an ironclad rule—the heads of the various branches of the Beijing Gazette Bureau must not be locals, but must be appointed by the imperial court."

Even if this method may only treat the symptoms and not the root cause, it's better to have something than nothing.

To put it bluntly, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution in this world.

Whether the public opinion in the Beijing Gazette could be controlled by the imperial court depended on the ability of those in power.

The crown prince also realized this and sighed, "Why do I feel like you've unleashed a ferocious tiger?"

Wen Zongji said calmly, "If you can control it, there's no difference between a tiger and a domestic fowl; in fact, the tiger will be even more affectionate towards its owner."

The crown prince smiled: "You can speak."

Now that we've started, there's no use in regretting it; the important thing is to do our best.