Linyuan Bookstore occupies an area equivalent to three times the size of Zuixianlou, and it houses tens of thousands of books.
Each row of bookshelves displays a different type of book.
From children's primers like the *Three Character Classic*, *Hundred Family Surnames*, and *Thousand Character Classic*, to classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections, all kinds of books circulating in the market can be found here. Some books not available in the market can also be found in handwritten copies.
Besides the books, the most amazing thing about the bookstore is its walls.
Hanging above are scrolls with words and pictures. Even people who cannot read can understand the words written next to the pictures based on the meaning expressed in the pictures.
For example, mountains and water.
For example, the sun and the moon.
For example, people.
The earliest form of writing was pictographs.
Lin Yuan Bookstore has no entry requirements; anyone, regardless of social status, can freely enter.
With a little effort, one can learn some simple words for everyday life.
Moreover, there are many guards in the bookstore, both to protect the books and to answer questions for those who want to learn to read.
The reason why aristocratic families could be so high and mighty was simply because they monopolized cultural knowledge, and the existence of Linyuan Bookstore broke this monopoly.
The powerful families naturally regarded Lin Yuan Bookstore as a thorn in their side and the source of all evil. However, no matter how much they hated the place, after being taught a lesson by the people sent by the emperor to protect it, no one dared to make any rash moves.
Since the opening of Linyuan Bookstore, whenever he left the palace and had free time, Ye Jingchen would visit Linyuan Bookstore to see the people reading and learning to read there.
His goal was to establish Lin Yuan Bookstore in every prefecture and county of the Nine Provinces. By then, literacy would no longer be an unattainable dream for ordinary people.
In addition to Linyuan Bookstore, Ye Jingchen also opened Tiangong Pavilion.
The name is borrowed from the book "Tiangong Kaiwu" (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature).
There is no book called "Tiangong Kaiwu" in this era, but Ye Jingchen believes that the ingenuity of millions of people, when combined, will become a new "Tiangong Kaiwu".
Pooling wisdom and innovation.
Tiangongge buys all kinds of 'unique' and 'ingenious' items at high prices.
Whether it's an object or a person.
Unlike the Lin Yuan Bookstore, which is well-known in the capital, few people know about the existence of the Tian Gong Pavilion, because it is still in the stage of accumulation and dissemination.
In time, when the world knows about Tiangong Pavilion and appreciates the convenience that 'craftsmanship' brings to people's lives, its status will naturally change.
During these four years, in addition to Linyuan Bookstore and Tiangong Pavilion, inspired by Zhizhi, Ye Jingchen also persuaded the emperor to renovate the original orphanages in the imperial city and open several more. All homeless children on the streets or orphans who have lost their parents or relatives could be sent to the orphanages.
There, there will be people to take care of the children's daily lives, teach them to read and write, and when they are a little older, they will be taught how to be self-reliant and support themselves.
As for Zhizhi and the others, they had been helping him record the prices in the capital for four years without interruption. Moreover, while recording the prices, they also discovered many secrets hidden in the capital, some of which even Xie Chang'an did not know.
I went to the places I wanted to visit, and it was already evening.
The first day of the county examination was the main examination, which lasted a full day, from morning to evening.
When Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an strolled to the vicinity of the examination hall, the examinees were just coming out of the examination hall.
Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an were not the only ones who came to pick up Yun Shu. A carriage bearing the insignia of the Marquis of Zhongyong was parked in the most conspicuous place, with the old lady and the Marquis's wife waiting in the carriage.
Yun Shu came out with the first group of people to leave the examination hall. When she came out, she didn't see her own bright carriage. Instead, she saw Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an first, and ran over happily.
"Your Highness, Xie Chang'an, I think I have a chance this time!" He ran up to them and said with a hint of pride.
"Is there a chance of passing the imperial examination with top honors?" Xie Chang'an deliberately misinterpreted his meaning to tease him.
The joy on Yun Shu's face vanished instantly, and she said quietly, "Xie Chang'an, you'll have to take the exam next year too. I'll be waiting for you to be the top scorer then!"
Unexpectedly, Xie Chang'an dealt him a heavy blow, saying, "I don't need to take the imperial examination."
"Why don't you have to take the exam?" Yun Shu asked in surprise.
"Our family is a military family, why would we take the imperial examination?" Xie Chang'an asked casually.
"Damn it—" Yun Shu gritted her teeth.
In fact, the hereditary title of the Marquis of Zhongyong, with its two characters "Zhongyong" (忠勇), reveals that Yun Shu's ancestors were also military generals, and even generals who followed the founding emperor in pacifying the world. However—
Starting with the old Marquis, due to the difficulty in having offspring, the Marquis's mansion no longer commanded troops or went to the battlefield, and only held positions in the Ministry of War.
Marquis Zhongyong was also the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.
"Yun Shu, the carriage from your residence that's supposed to pick you up is over there—" Ye Jingchen kindly reminded her.
Yun Shu didn't see his own carriage, but the Lady Hou and the Old Lady saw him as soon as he came out. Seeing that Yun Shu ignored the carriage and ran straight here, they didn't disturb him, but just kept lifting the carriage curtain to look in this direction.
Reminded, Yun Shu finally saw her grandmother and mother and waved vigorously at them from afar.
"Go on, we should go too." Ye Jingchen patted Yun Shu on the shoulder.
"Your Highness, rest assured, I am confident now. I will definitely pass the county examination this time and will absolutely not let you down!" Yun Shu assured him with full confidence.
"I've always believed in you," Ye Jingchen said with a smile.
"Your Highness, you are so kind!" Yun Shu was moved to tears. She waved goodbye and then skipped and hopped towards her carriage.
Watching him climb onto the carriage, Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an also left.
"I've noticed that you're quite biased," Xie Chang'an suddenly said, making no sense at all.
"Whom did I favor?" Ye Jingchen asked, somewhat amused.
"Among your brothers and sisters, you favor the little madwoman the most, and among us who are your study companions, you favor Yunshu the most," Xie Chang'an said.
"How did you come to this conclusion?" Ye Jingchen asked Xie Chang'an curiously.
"Your favoritism towards the little madwoman is obvious to all. As for Yun Shu—why didn't you come to see Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen off when they were taking their exams?"
"The county and prefectural examinations are a piece of cake for them, why would they need to send gifts? Besides, too many people are watching them, I don't want to reveal my identity."
"Why are you trying to hide it? Is your identity as the Crown Prince something to be ashamed of?" Xie Chang'an said, not quite understanding.
Back at the Xishan Palace, he slipped away after the horse race, unaware that Ye Jingchen had given them another identity.
Later, he ran into Zhang Zhe in the capital city, who immediately called him "Young Master Lin," leaving him completely bewildered.
Ye Jingchen rolled his eyes upon hearing this. "If I hadn't been so secretive, do you think our plan would have gone so smoothly?"
An outstanding crown prince will not only arouse the emperor's suspicion, but also the jealousy of powerful families.
If he hadn't never appeared in public and kept his presence low, would he be living such a comfortable life now?
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