A few days later, the results were finally released. Although Qin Jiyuan did not make it into the top three, he still ranked fifth, which was a good result. Everyone in the Qin family was very satisfied, especially after learning from Qin Qianluo's thoughts that all the people who participated in the imperial examination this time were extremely talented. Being able to get fifth place was already very good. Mother Lin happily rewarded the servants, and for a time the Prime Minister's mansion was filled with laughter and joy.
Qin Qianluo was even happier. Her eldest brother could now accompany her and their father to court. Finally, someone would accompany her to work again. Overjoyed, she thought of going for a walk in the streets to buy some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for her brother. Leaving the mansion, she walked along the street, passing the place where the results were posted. She saw many unsuccessful candidates weeping with their heads bowed, including many impoverished scholars who might not even have the money to travel to the capital for the next exam. She couldn't help but sigh, feeling a pang of pity. She wondered if she could open a shop to employ impoverished students so they could take the exam again in three years.
Thinking this, he approached the scholars dressed in tattered clothes and asked softly, "Would you like to work for me? You can also participate in the imperial examination again in three years."
Upon hearing this, the scholars looked up at Qin Qianluo with disbelief in their eyes and asked in trembling voices, "Is this young lady really telling the truth? Is she really willing to take us in as laborers and allow us to continue participating in the imperial examinations after three years?"
Qin Qianluo nodded with a smile: "Really!"
Upon hearing the affirmative answer, the scholars, without asking what they were to do, quickly stood up and expressed their willingness. Qin Qianluo instructed her maid to record the names. When she received the list, she found there were over thirty people. She sighed inwardly and arranged for these thirty-odd people to stay temporarily in the villa given to her by Lin's mother. Fortunately, the villa was large enough, otherwise, it would not have been able to accommodate them all. After settling these people in, she bought writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones and returned home. She gave the gifts to her eldest brother and then returned to her own courtyard. It wasn't that Qin Qianluo was reluctant to give away the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from her spatial storage, but rather that she was worried about how to explain it. Fortunately, the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones sold in the capital were of quite good quality. Although they could not compare with those in her spatial storage, they were still acceptable.
Back in his courtyard, a thought struck him, and he entered his spatial dimension. He grabbed a few books, lay down on the massage chair, and asked, "001, what kind of shop should I open? One that allows scholars to study without interfering with their work?"
001 didn't know either; it had no idea what ancient scholars could do. "What kind of shop does Luo Bao want to open? I see there are both men and women among those people; surely there's someone suitable for any kind of shop."
Qin Qianluo slightly bent her fingers and tapped the armrest of the massage chair, pondering as she said, "A grain shop is definitely out of the question. The newly planted grain hasn't been harvested yet, and opening a grain shop would easily arouse suspicion about the grain's origin. We could open an ancient-style library, though the books would be a bit of a hassle. We could also open a factory to manufacture writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. The writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones produced could be sold in the library. The Emperor knows about the new papermaking technology, and the paper used now is all improved, so this wouldn't be too conspicuous. The only problem is that we'd need to hire some people; a factory with only scholars probably won't be enough."
001 chimed in, "Luo Bao, I can photocopy the books. I'll pick out some that appeared in this dynasty to photocopy later. Since Luo Bao wants to sell books, we need to bring out the movable type printing technology first, otherwise there might be unnecessary trouble. The factory can print books while making writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. What do you think, Luo Bao?"
Qin Qianlu nodded. "For now, use these photocopies. I'm thinking of opening a dedicated factory for printing books. The two factories can be together, but they can't be mixed up, otherwise the accounts will be quite complicated. I plan to keep separate ledgers for pens, ink, paper, and books, and I'll also need to teach them how to do the accounting. Ugh, it seems so complicated."
001 comforted Qin Qianluo, saying, "Luo Bao is so soft-hearted. She could have just ignored them, but she still found a way out for them. Luo Bao is the best!"
Qin Qianlu chuckled upon hearing this, already having a plan in mind. She read a book in her spatial dimension for a while, took a bath, and then came out to rest. Unexpectedly, just as she was about to fall asleep, the sound of fighting erupted outside the door. Qin Qianlu was startled and went out to investigate. She found more than fifty men in black. Her lips twitched, and she was furious. Who sent these people? They really thought highly of her, sending so many to take her life all at once. Seeing that her side was about to be defeated, she took out a muscle-relaxing powder from her spatial dimension and shouted, "Cover your mouth and nose!"
Upon hearing the sound, the royal guards and the Prime Minister's guards instinctively covered their mouths and noses. A cloud of smoke swept by, and those who hadn't reacted before falling to the ground, never to rise again. The remaining men were also subdued by the guards. Seeing that the surroundings were safe, Prime Minister Qin dropped his weapons and went to Qin Qianluo's side. Qin Qianluo took out the antidote and treated those who had been accidentally poisoned with the muscle-relaxing powder. Seeing several others injured, she took out some wound medicine and tossed it to the guards, asking them to help apply it. Only then did she look at her father: "Father, whose men are these?"
With a gloomy expression, Prime Minister Qin glanced at the man in black who had already fallen to the ground and said in a deep voice, "So he's from the Ministry of Personnel."
Upon hearing this, Qin Qianluo pursed her lips, not understanding why that person was targeting her. She thought he was out of his mind. After having 001 sense the surroundings and confirming that there was no danger, she said, "Then these people can be left to Father to handle."
Prime Minister Qin nodded. Just as Qin Qianluo was about to enter the room, the leader of the royal guards spoke up: "Young Master Qin, I wonder if you could give me some more of this wound medicine? Also, what was that you just scattered? Could you give me some of that as well?"
Upon hearing this address, Qin Qianluo paused slightly, looked at the guard who had spoken, and after a moment's thought, realized that he must be one of the Emperor's men. She nodded and said, "Okay, what I just scattered was a muscle-weakening powder. Anyone who smells it will feel weak all over and temporarily unable to use their internal energy. I made it for fun when I was bored. Wait a moment, I'll go get you some."
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