The key point is that she's the young ruler of a kingdom, and for her to borrow money from a small-time businessman is like a powerful and wealthy CEO in China asking a female boss of a small company for a loan. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me want to vomit. Oh well.
Fu Wen thought that Leng Qingning had come up with some new idea again, so he quickly chimed in, "Your Highness, please feel free to speak your mind. Don't worry about the shops, let me figure it out."
Leng Qingning nodded awkwardly: "Alright, alright, I'm thinking about it. It's alright, you go ahead and do your work. I'll contact you again when I've thought it through."
"Yes, Your Highness," Fu Wen said and left.
Leng Qingning was wondering what kind of shop she should open.
If I were to open a shop, I would need to prepare and also need capital, which wouldn't solve my immediate problem.
Leng Qingning felt her mind was in complete chaos.
"I've got it!" Leng Qingning had a flash of inspiration. She quickly summoned Fu Wen.
"Young Master Fu, do you know the owner of the biggest bookstore around here? Could you introduce me?"
"Your Highness, that is indeed me. The largest bookstore and painting shop in Chang Le City is owned by my family."
"I've searched high and low without finding it, but it's right here without any effort. Little Fu, you are my family."
"Your Highness, how could you say such a thing? This humble subject would never dare to do so."
Leng Qingning, as if grasping at a lifeline, rambled on and on.
Fu Wen understood. His Highness wanted to write a book, and he needed to start writing it right now. He was asked to pay a deposit first, and the book was to go on sale tomorrow…
Why are you in such a hurry!
"Little Fu, what books are popular in Chang Le City right now?" She didn't want Fu Wen to say anything like "Domineering Wife and Charming Husband".
Fu Wen paused for a moment and said, "There are quite a few popular genres right now, such as the harem intrigue and power struggles, the love story between a man and his wife, the war between two countries, and the supernatural and ghost stories, etc. They are all quite popular."
Leng Qingning's eyelids twitched when she heard the first two. How come melodramatic novels are so popular in any era? Fortunately, Fu Wen said two more.
Leng Qingning thought for a moment and decided to write a war story first. If she started with ghosts and gods, it might cause panic. She had heard some ghost stories from the Dayue Kingdom, but they were so-so and couldn't compare to the stories of Zhenjie and Lingjie from Liaozhai.
"Serve me pen, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Fu Wen was a little confused about the young king. Opening a shop was one thing as long as you had money, but could he really write a storybook so easily? Didn't he need to come up with the core of the story?
…
Cangyuan and Biluo sat there for more than three hours, until it was almost dark.
Cangyuan found the sight of His Highness writing intently incredibly captivating, and stared at her intently the entire time.
Bilu rolled her eyes several times and turned her back to him.
After finishing a chapter, Leng Qingning put down her brush, shook her wrists, and stood up to stretch her back. Then she asked Biluo to summon Fu Wen, gave him the book to read, and lay down on a nearby bench to rest.
Fu Wen sat down where Leng Qingning was writing and began to read attentively. After about an hour, Fu Wen, looking excited, woke Leng Qingning up.
"Your Highness, your writing of this Romance of the Three Kingdoms is truly magnificent. No one in our Great Yue, or even in the hidden world, has ever written such a captivating story. This story is sure to be a bestseller. Your Highness is truly talented!" (Note: Original work: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, by Luo Guanzhong, Ming Dynasty)
Fu Wen's reaction was exactly what Leng Qingning had expected. Of course, the Four Great Classical Novels, selected after thousands of years of accumulation, could not be compared with the historical background that had only been hidden for a little over a thousand years.
Perhaps in the long river of time, she will produce masterpieces, but at present, Da Yue has not yet surpassed this work in the category of political war and intrigue, a point on which Leng Qingning is quite confident.
"Let me correct you, this is not a storybook, it is a great work, please call it a masterpiece or a famous book."
"Yes, yes, that's for sure. I'll have someone copy them overnight, and they'll be available for sale first thing tomorrow morning. Your Highness, what do you think of selling these in three installments?"
Leng Qingning shared the same idea and naturally agreed. The Fu family directly bought out the copyright of the book, giving Leng Qingning 100,000 taels of silver as a deposit. The copyright fee would be discussed between the two and decided upon after the book was completed, based on its market popularity and actual profits.
The later sales would be split 60/40, with Leng Qingning getting 60% and the Fu family 40%. Of course, the market standard was 50/50, but Fu Wen believed the book would be a huge success, and the market wasn't limited to just Dayue. Even with 40%, he was sure to make a fortune. After several refusals, they settled on a 60/40 split.
After all the discussions were completed, the two signed a contract. Fu Wen didn't dare to delay for a moment and urgently arranged for someone to make a copy, so that it could be released and sold by noon the next day.
After Fu Wen left, Biluo stared in disbelief at the 100,000 taels of silver notes: "My God, what a thrilling day! His Highness squandered half the county's food supply in one morning, and earned back the entire county's food supply in one afternoon. Who would believe it?"
Exhausted, sleepy, and feeling cold and lonely, Ning returned to her residence and fell asleep immediately.
Lumingxuan.
Lin Xianzhe has recovered greatly after a few days of rest and just moved into his new courtyard today. People from the Hidden World Continent have a strong healing ability; as long as they receive timely treatment and are out of danger, they recover very quickly.
The little boy happily decorated the room for Lin Xianzhi, and he was genuinely happy.
“Young Master, you’ve finally made it. His Highness dotes on you and has bestowed upon us such a fine courtyard. Brother Fuguang said it’s a courtyard befitting a courtier. His Highness even gave it such a beautiful name. I think it suits you perfectly.”
Looking at the childlike appearance of the boy who was a year younger than him, Lin Xianzhi couldn't help but lower his head and smile.
The child looked innocent: "Young master, what are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"
"Little boy, from now on, you must not speak recklessly outside of Deer Cry Courtyard. If you have something to say, say it when you return to your own courtyard, understand?"
The boy asked in bewilderment, "Why can't we say that His Highness is kind to the young master? His Majesty has bestowed upon you the rank of Attendant, while Young Master Lu is merely a Virtuous Attendant. I feel that His Highness treats you differently."
Lin Xianzhi put down his teacup, and in the instant he lowered his gaze, a hint of loneliness and worry seemed to flash in his eyes.
"Your Highness is of noble status and will have other lords in the future. We should be grateful for Your Highness's kindness to us. Remember, the future lord is the master of Langya Manor, so do not take advantage of his favor."
"Also, don't talk about Brother Shi Yi's rank anymore, or you'll get into trouble for what you say."
The boy nodded in confusion. He would remember what the young master said, but he didn't quite understand it yet.
Lin Xianzhi lay down on the couch, his mind filled with thoughts. He wondered why Lu Shiyi had also entered the manor. However, he didn't mind. Instead, he was a little worried for him. His Highness didn't seem to like Brother Shiyi. He was afraid that it would be difficult for him in the manor in the future.
He had met Gu Nanshu before; he was a gentleman, and he shouldn't be difficult to get along with. He wondered what that righteous ruler was like, and whether he could tolerate them. At least he had His Highness to protect him to some extent, but what about Brother Shi Yi?
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