Guan Guan closed the notebook and stood up.
"Okay, let's go!"
"Pearl, quickly tell Uncle Xu to prepare the carriage!"
"It's Miss!"
Pearl ran out, and the group waited at the door for a while before boarding the carriage to the bookstore.
...
It had just rained, and there were few pedestrians on the road. The carriage soon arrived at the bookstore.
Yun Duoduo stepped down from the carriage and looked around at the shops.
This street is lined with shops related to bookstores, painting studios, and writing implements.
Guan Guan's bookstore was right in front of them.
The bookstore's signboard was small and made of brown nanmu wood. Dark yellow, stiff coarse cloth hung from the eaves, with the four large characters "Nanyang Bookstore" embroidered on it in dark blue thread.
"Let's go, Duoduo, let's go inside and take a look!"
Guan Guan took Yun Duoduo's hand and walked inside, with Yun Yishu following behind.
Yun Duoduo looked at the bookstore and estimated that it was only about 30 square meters, with bookshelves on three walls, each displaying different books.
On the left-hand bookshelf are booklets such as "Important News of the Capital", "Early News of the Capital", "Comprehensive Guide to the Capital", "Law", "Criminal Law", and "Collection of Poems", which are practical booklets about the laws and decrees issued by the imperial court and the laws and decrees of Nanyang.
"So many books!"
On the bookshelf directly opposite the door are the store's exclusive storybooks.
There are novels and storybooks such as "The Prince Falls in Love with Me", "The Hero of the Jianghu", "The Rise to Power in Chu", "Journey to the East", and "The Idle Clouds and Wild Cranes". They tell love stories among the common people and power struggles in the officialdom. They are also illustrated and are very vivid to read.
"Wow, the prince has fallen in love with me..."
Yun Duoduo picked up the storybook and started flipping through it, her mind filled with all sorts of blush-inducing and heart-pounding scenarios.
On the right-hand bookshelf are books like "Anecdotes of the Capital" and "Unofficial Stories," which tell interesting stories about the princes and nobles in the capital, such as which family's daughter married into which noble family, which family's master took a concubine, and the arrival of a stunningly beautiful geisha at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.
Tables and chairs made of fragrant wood were set up in the open space of the bookstore, and some customers sat on them to read. The bookstore seemed to be very busy, which also attracted the curiosity of passersby who would occasionally go in to take a look.
A cashier's counter was set up at the corner, and the shopkeeper was fiddling with an abacus, instructing the bookstore's servants to take good care of the customers.
"Oh, Miss is here!"
The shopkeeper greeted Guan Guan with a beaming smile as soon as he saw him.
"Where is my father?" Guan Guan nodded and asked the shopkeeper with a smile.
"She's reading in the inner room."
Guan Guan led Yun Duoduo and Yun Yishu into the Wang family's house.
"Father."
"This is the Ninth Princess, Duoduo, and this is the Third Prince."
"Greetings, Ninth Princess; greetings, Third Prince."
Guan Guan's father was a typical scholar, and he gestured for the group to sit down.
"Father, take a look at these books."
Guan Guan placed the book on the table, gesturing for his father to take a look.
Guan Guan's father picked up a book and began to read. Yun Duoduo noticed that he could get into the reading quickly, and in less than half an incense stick's time, he had finished reading the contents of several books on the table.
He let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes shining with excitement: "What a wonderful book! Guan Guan, Princess, the plot is so engaging. After reading it, I felt like the protagonist was my friend. Putting down the book, I even felt a longing for my friend!"
"What a great book!"
"I'll find someone to copy it right away!"
"Then, place it in the most conspicuous spot in the bookstore!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was very happy.
After taking a few steps, Guan Guan's father turned back and instructed Guan Guan, "Guan Guan, there are many interesting shops nearby. Go and have a look!"
Guan Guan nodded and took Yun Duoduo and Yun Yishu shopping.
...
The next morning, the fog dissipated and the sun shone brightly.
In the Golden Palace, during the morning court session, ministers again brought up Yun Duoduo's marriage.
Upon hearing that the Crown Prince of Shu had also come to propose marriage, some ministers quickly joined the Shu camp.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the Shu Kingdom is also a good choice."
A short, round-bellied minister stepped forward and spoke.
My son loves spicy beef from Shu. If the princess marries into Shu, and the two countries trade, my son can eat spicy beef every day!
"If the Ninth Princess becomes the Empress of Shu, she will surely ensure peace in southern Nanyang!"
Lord Ge continued.
A censor stepped forward from behind him, shook his head, and said, "Hey, Brother Ge, you're mistaken. The King of Xijing has already become the King, but the Crown Prince of Shu is still nowhere in sight!"
The princess still has to marry into Western Chu; otherwise, where will the court get so many fine pearls?
My wife already has a pearl necklace, and now all she needs is a pair of pearl earrings.
If Western Chu were to cede five cities, which produce pearls, pearl jewelry could be purchased there.
"I think the King is more reliable!"
"Have you not left the manor for a month? The eldest prince of Shu has now become the crown prince. He is the future heir apparent and will become emperor sooner or later!"
After being refuted, Lord Ge was very unhappy.
"Your Majesty, I also believe that Western Chu is more suitable. As long as the Crown Prince of Shu does not become emperor, there is a great deal of uncertainty!"
"The King of Western Chu is truly offering five cities in exchange!"
"Pshaw, anyone can make empty promises!"
"Lord Pang, I'm offering you all the silver in my treasury in exchange for your daughter marrying me. Would you be willing?!"
Xue Guangjin asked in a cold voice.
"You..." The huge man was so angry that he couldn't speak.
"What, have you run out of things to say?"
“You’re all quite shrewd at scheming to marry off His Majesty’s daughter, but when it comes to marrying off your own daughters, you start making up all sorts of excuses.”
"You're really despicable!"
Xue Guangjin spat on the ground, leaving the officials who had been speaking speechless.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the princess should not marry into the Shu Kingdom, much less the Western Chu Kingdom."
Jin Jinzhi stepped forward and said respectfully.
"Do you really think that once the princess marries into the Western Chu kingdom, the King of Western Chu will keep his promise and hand over five resource-rich cities?!"
I don't think so.
Jin Jinzhi glanced at the ministers who had just urged Yun Beiye to marry Yun Duoduo to Western Chu.
"If the princess marries into that family, in my opinion, she might even become a hostage for Western Chu to threaten my Nanyang."
"Moreover, if word gets out that Nanyang traded the princess's lifelong happiness for the city, Nanyang's reputation will be ruined, and how will it be able to maintain its foothold in the Central Plains!"
"If we can't even protect a defenseless young girl, how can Nanyang protect all the people of this world?!"
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