"Second," Shen Weiwan said with a wicked smile, "for every copy you sell, you have to give three steamed buns to the beggars in the west of the city."

Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of smiles. Shopkeeper Wang was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed: "Miss, you have a kind heart! I will do it right away!"

After the bookshop owners happily left, Xiao Yu spoke up: "Miss Shen, are you trying to use the storybooks to do good deeds?"

"What else?" Shen Weiwan played with the paperweight on the table. "I can't let His Highness's efforts go to waste. By the way, I can also earn a good reputation. Isn't it wonderful?"

As they were talking, Chuntao rushed in again, holding a crumpled note: "Miss! Li Xiu sent someone to deliver a note! He wants to apologize to you!"

Shen Weiwan took the note and saw the words "I apologize for any offense I've caused you in the past. I hope Miss Shen will forgive me." The handwriting at the end of the note was shaky like sieve chaff. She sneered and tore the note to pieces: "Apologize? Does he deserve it?"

Xiao Yu looked at the cold light in her eyes and knew what she was up to: "How do you want to deal with him?"

Shen Weiwan held her chin, looked at the falling pear blossoms outside the window, and suddenly smiled: "Your Highness, what do you think about incorporating the rumor about Li Xiu's 'broken sleeve' into the storybook?"

Xiao Yu clapped his hands and laughed: "Good idea! This prince will have someone add an illustration, depicting Master Li and the servant in the garden..." He deliberately dragged out his tone, watching Shen Weiwan laugh so hard that she fell backwards.

Three days later, "The Dog Seizing the Bracelet: On the Second Young Lady's Art of Thieves" was officially published. The eight characters "This Story is Purely True" were prominently displayed on the title page. Long lines formed outside the bookstore, and people eagerly passed around copies. The entire capital erupted in laughter when they read the story about Li Xiu's "homosexuality."

"Have you heard? Master Li saw his own story in the storybook and was so angry that he smashed his inkstone!"

"That's right! The maid next door said that no one dared to open the gate of the Li Mansion!"

Shen Weiwan sat by the window, listening to Chuntao recount the street talk while toying with the white jade paperweight Xiao Yu had given her. On the back of the paperweight were engraved the words "Tooth for a tooth"—inscribed by Xiao Yu himself.

"Miss," Chuntao handed over the freshly brewed Biluochun, "Miss No. 2 went crazy over the storytelling at Ciyun Temple. She was so angry that she even pushed down the statue of the Bodhisattva!"

"That's a good suggestion," Shen Weiwan took a sip of tea, "so she doesn't have to pretend."

As he was speaking, Xiao Yu's attendant brought another letter. On the envelope was a picture of a big yellow dog holding a pen. Shen Weiwan opened it and saw that it was a letter written by Xiao Yu:

Miss Shen's personal letter: I heard that Li Xiu was about to commit suicide, and I have sent someone to "keep a good eye on him." Also, I've just discovered a new allusion, "Dong Shi Xiou Pin," and I wonder if Miss Shen would be interested in incorporating it into the next storybook? — Xiao Yu

Shen Weiwan looked at the four characters "东施习颦" on the letter and couldn't help laughing. She picked up the pen and wrote in reply:

Your Highness, thank you for your hard work. If we talk about the most imitating person, Li Xiu is undoubtedly the best. But compared to the storybook, I think it would be more effective to have him go out on the street and listen to the people sing the jingle. - Shen Weiwan

After the attendant left with the reply, Shen Weiwan walked to the window and looked out at the spring scenery in the General's Mansion's garden. A confident smile curled her lips. She knew that with Xiao Yu as her "off-field support," it would only be a matter of time before she dealt with Li Xiu. And those who had bullied her would eventually become the laughing stock of the entire capital under her "silly manipulation."

At that moment, in Ciyun Nunnery, Shen Ruorou wept bitterly over the debris strewn across the floor. She listened to the young nuns whispering about anecdotes from the storybooks, and remembering herself portrayed as a thieving clown, she trembled with rage. Meanwhile, Li Xiu, hiding in his mansion, listened to the children outside the walls singing the jingle, "Mr. Li, you're such a homosexual! Give this handkerchief to the second young lady!" He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The sun in the capital was shining brightly, illuminating Shen Weiwan's smiling face. She knew this was just the beginning. The protagonist of the next storybook was already ready. And she and Xiao Yu's "off-stage support" would continue to perform more hilarious and satisfying dramas on the stage of this capital.