Chapter 35: A Sudden Entrance: Wan’er’s Unforeseen Discovery
“Oh? Qianlong is quite determined, but I wonder how he’s managing the chaos…”
Wu Zhao mused, holding a memento thoughtfully.
“Wan’er, where is Yang Yi now?”
Shangguan Wan’er quickly replied,
“I heard he was summoned by the Third Princess.”
Wu Zhao blinked her phoenix eyes in contemplation.
“At my third sister’s place?”
“Go and bring him here.”
Shangguan Wan’er responded respectfully, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wu Mingyue stood with her hands on her hips, confusion clear in her dark eyes as she tried to grasp what Yang Yi meant by ‘white’ in his speech.
She pouted and repeated herself.
“I said I’ll support you. You come up with the ideas, and we’ll make money together. How about it?”
Yang Yi inhaled Wu Mingyue’s scent, raised an eyebrow, and a smile that made Wu Mingyue’s heart flutter appeared on his chiseled face. His gaze was intense, almost as if it could burn into her soul.
“Doesn’t the Third Princess have countless people offering business opportunities?”
Wu Mingyue pursed her lips.
“I don’t want their money.”
Yang Yi blinked, then his expression cleared as he understood.
“I see. Well, if the Third Princess wants to start a profitable business, it’s actually quite simple.”
Wu Mingyue’s eyes sparkled with interest. His words clearly resonated with her.
She bit her lip, leaning in a little impatiently.
“What kind of business?”
Yang Yi’s expression grew serious.
“This business can only be handled by a member of the royal family. It’s of great importance.”
“Please, Third Princess, come closer…”
Without hesitation, Wu Mingyue stood on her tiptoes and leaned in. The beauty was now within reach, and Yang Yi could see the fine hairs on her neck.
He blinked, his gaze lingering for a moment.
Tsk, everything was in full view.
He whispered into Wu Mingyue’s delicate ear,
“This business, I call it a newspaper.”
“Newspaper?” Wu Mingyue’s curiosity was piqued despite the tickling sensation of Yang Yi’s breath.
“Yes, a newspaper… Hmm, a light green dudou,” Yang Yi’s words trailed off abruptly.
Wu Mingyue was bewildered.
Yang Yi cleared his throat, regaining his composure.
“Nothing, nothing. What I meant was that the initial profits from this newspaper won’t be high, but it will require considerable effort.”
Wu Mingyue nodded, her expression serious.
“Don’t worry. I can endure hardship the best.”
Yang Yi sighed inwardly, thinking, “What a turbulent sea.”
He kept his composure and said,
“Besides, the greatest use of a newspaper is to control public opinion. If used properly, the impact of a media campaign can be as significant as a war. Therefore, this newspaper is extremely important, and only the Third Princess can be trusted to run it. Anyone else would be unreliable…”
Wu Mingyue’s expression turned serious at his words.
“Father died early, and my elder sister got married. The entire Great Zhou Clan relies on my elder sister. I must help her. I don’t want to be a useless vase!”
Yang Yi was momentarily speechless.
Who would dare call you a vase? he thought. So young, yet she already grasped such profound truths.
He smiled warmly and reassured her,
“Rest assured, Princess. With the newspaper, you will not only avoid being a vase; you may even become the Empress of Public Opinion in Great Zhou.”
Wu Mingyue’s eyes sparkled, curving into delighted crescents. She was visibly pleased with Yang Yi’s words. While she had no desire for the throne, the title of “Empress of Public Opinion” clearly appealed to her.
Excited, she suddenly turned around, her bright eyes gleaming.
“So tell me, what exactly is this newspaper, and how do we… Uh, what are you looking at?”
Wu Mingyue noticed Yang Yi’s gaze lingering on her chest and was momentarily baffled.
Yang Yi hadn’t expected her sudden movement and didn’t have time to look away. Meeting her gaze, he felt a rare moment of discomfort.
Following his line of sight, Wu Mingyue’s delicate face flushed a deep red. Her rosy lips parted slightly, and she could feel the heat spreading across her cheeks. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
Only then did she realize how close she had come to Yang Yi, feeling the warmth of his breath and the unmistakable presence of his male aura. Her heart fluttered with a mix of embarrassment and panic.
Wu Mingyue suddenly let out a sharp scream and pushed Yang Yi away. However, in her flustered state, she applied too much force, causing her to stumble backward. The sharp, unforgiving tiles of the palace floor loomed dangerously close.
Yang Yi reacted instinctively, grabbing Wu Mingyue and pulling her into his arms just in time.
They collided and toppled over, landing with a soft thud.
Wu Mingyue found herself sprawled on Yang Yi’s chest, her breath coming in quick, ragged bursts. Yang Yi, now flat on his back, breathed a sigh of relief.
Good thing I caught her. He shuddered to think of the consequences if she’d hit her head.
For a moment, the room was silent, heavy with awkwardness. Wu Mingyue, still lying on Yang Yi’s chest, felt his steady breath against her skin.
Her face burned with a deep blush as she quickly pushed herself up, hands pressing against his chest, glaring at him with mortified anger.
“You… you… scoundrel!” she stammered, her voice laced with embarrassment.
Yang Yi smiled wryly, knowing there was no easy way to explain this situation. Just as he was about to speak, a surprised voice broke the silence.
“Minister Yang, Third Princess, what are you…?”