You were taken hostage, why pursue the Enemy's Empress?

The bookstore was bustling with activity, with each shop assistant trying to sell books to customers. Not only were there "Strange Tales of Mountains and Seas," but also Ah Qiang, who was sharp-eyed, quickly greeted another assistant to serve the customer, while he himself welcomed someone else: "Mr. Xun!"

Xun Zhiyin nodded in satisfaction. "How's business been lately?"

Ah Qiang smiled and said, "It's been good! Mr. Xun, you don't know, ever since we started following the young master, our paper shop and bookstore have both been thriving."

Xun Zhiyin nodded in satisfaction. "You've done well! Quickly bring me the account book to look at."

"Ah?"

Ah Qiang hesitated. "Um...that might not be appropriate. The young master said that only he and Miss Hua Chao can access the account book."

Xun Zhiyin frowned. "What? Even I can't see it? Are you going to listen to the young master or to the business seal?"

"Of course I'm listening to the business seal!"

Ah Qiang sighed. "Sir, please don't make things difficult for me. It's true that the young master calls the shots here at the bookstore, but Miss Hua Chao is also here..."

"Fine! I won't blame you."

Xun Zhiyin dismissed the thought. He could use the business seal to pressure his subordinates, but he didn't dare to be impolite to Hua Chao. Besides, if Ying Wuji was the one in charge of the bookstore, he felt even more relieved.

And if Ah Qiang said he was going to listen to the business seal, then his own guess was probably correct.

But he still looked at Ah Qiang and said, "You've been working here for a while now. Quickly tell me how much you've earned!"

Ah Qiang looked around and pulled Xun Zhiyin into a corner, lowering his voice and holding up a finger. "To be honest, at least 300 taels a day!"

300 taels a day!

Wouldn't that be 9,000 taels a month?

This...this...

Which other industry in Kingdom Qian could reach such a level of income?

"Good! Good! Good!"

Xun Zhiyin was overjoyed.

Ah Qiang became more and more excited as he spoke. "That's not all! I overheard the young master say last time that they haven't even opened up the production line yet. Once their reputation is established, all the countries will come to us to wholesale books. It's not impossible for the profits to increase tenfold!"

Tenfold!

Wouldn't that be 100,000 taels a month?

Xun Zhiyin's breathing became rapid.

"But...," Ah Qiang hesitated.

Xun Zhiyin urged him with a frown, "But what?"

"I said, sir, please don't get angry!"

"Speak!"

A Qiang sighed softly, "It's just a pity for Young Master. He often drinks to drown his sorrows, lamenting that he is full of talent but can only be a lowly merchant here. All the credit goes to Lord Xun. He's not content and wants to snatch the merchant seal, but he's stuck with no way out."

Xun Zhiyin felt like something was pulling at the corners of his mouth, causing it to rise uncontrollably. But he couldn't appear too pleased with himself, after all, he wasn't a petty person.

He put on a calm demeanor, "Young Master comes from a noble background, how can he be involved in such lowly business? It would be a laughingstock if it were to be known in Kingdom Qian. Young Master is the key figure in the diplomatic relations between Qian Li and the sea here. Let me handle the business for you."

Xun Zhiyin walked around the bookstore with a fearless look, comforting the staff before humming a tune and leaving. The more talented Ying Wuji was, the more credit he could take for suppressing him.

He had already sent the information back to Kingdom Qian through a secret technique.

During the Hundred Schools of Thought Conference, someone important from the Ying Wuque faction would take over the paper and bookstore, and he would earn great merits.

A Qiang watched him leave and quickly went to the accounting room, "Boss! Xun Zhiyin has left."

"Okay..."

Hua Chao responded lightly.

A Qiang didn't understand, "Why did you tell me to tell him how much money we made?"

Was I fawning?

I was pretending!

After the last trial of the major bookstores, A Qiang felt that his acting skills were pretty stable. But he didn't understand why he had to tell Xun Zhiyin the truth.

He wasn't a person who didn't know how to be grateful. He knew who treated him well and who treated him badly, who treated him like a dog and who helped him make money. If it weren't for Hua Chao's instructions, he would have just nodded to Xun Zhiyin for the sake of the merchant seal.

Hua Chao smiled, "Don't worry about it, just do as I say!"

How could Xun Zhiyin feel the gap if his emotions weren't stirred up?

She really wanted to help Ying Wuji breathe a sigh of relief.

My good younger brother is handsome and kind-hearted. He can even put aside his prejudices and make money with me. How can such a good person be bullied by a fence-sitter like you?

She waved her hand, "Alright, go entertain the guests!"

A Qiang could only nod, "Okay, Boss!"

"Wait!"

"Boss, do you have any other orders?"

"A boss is a boss, and a manager is a manager. Don't call me the wrong thing in the future!"

"...Okay, Boss!"

"Boss sounds too harsh."

"What should I call you then...""Call me the boss lady, like you do with the other workers."

"Okay, boss lady!"

Hua Chao pursed her lips and finally showed a satisfied smile.

She sat down and looked at the full account book, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace.

These days, she had less pursuit from so-called talented scholars, but her heart was extremely fulfilled.

There was someone who could give her an unparalleled sense of security just by standing beside her.

And she was not useless to him either.

"If I could be with him..."

Hua Chao stopped and spat lightly, "Don't be shameless! Even thinking about my little brother's idea."

She smiled and shook her head, taking out a bronze mirror from her bosom. The woman in the mirror was still gentle and charming, like peach blossoms in March, in full bloom.

Unfortunately, in a few rounds of cold and heat, the blooming period may have passed.

When picked, there might be some excitement.

But with picking comes discarding.

Rather than that, it's better to stay where she should be and wither alone.

"That's fine."

...

Jiangcheng is the capital of a flourishing era, and countless students come from all over with ambitions to become virtuous officials.

Although the court does not have as many positions for them, there are many wise men who take in followers.

There are ten thousand followers in Jiangcheng, including three thousand from the Minister's Mansion, three thousand from Pingling Jun, and four thousand from other noble families.

The Minister's Mansion is naturally very lively. Usually, Luo Yan often drinks and talks with his followers, discussing topics such as astronomy, geography, politics, and military affairs in depth and in a simple way.

However, today Luo Yan did not talk with his followers. Instead, he rarely returned to his own yard.

Stone table, stone stool.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ".

Plain congee, small dishes.

Although Luo Yan was not yet sixty, he had become white-haired due to years of excessive fatigue.

But even if he looked a little old, he still had the bearing and majesty of a prime minister. Even sitting so simply in coarse cloth and linen, he still gave people a sense of extraordinary bearing.

The spicy radish was very crispy, and he ate it with relish.

After taking a sip of the plain congee, his stomach was extremely comfortable.

Only then did he glance at Luo Ming standing beside him, with a solemn and solemn expression, "Third son, please sit down."

"Yes!"

Luo Ming respectfully nodded and walked to the opposite side of Luo Yan, sitting upright on the stone stool.

Luo Yan raised his eyelids, "Third son, serve yourself!"

"Yes!"

Luo Ming responded and the father and son ate in an orderly manner.

After finishing their meal, Luo Yan asked, "What have you gained in recent days, third son?"Luo Ming reported seriously, "Following the teachings of Confucius, we debated with the scholars of the school of names."

"What about Hua Chao? What happened?" @@novelbin@@

"This is a long story..."

Luo Ming recounted everything that had happened in the past few days.

Luo Yan didn't comment, but looked a little disappointed.

"My lord! Third young master!"

At that moment, the gatekeeper hurriedly ran over. "Young master Ji Su of the Flame Kingdom and Wei Teng are here to see you!"