Chapter 957 Library

Chapter 957: Library Chapter 957: Library Editor: Atlas Studios Qi Xiuyuan felt that his brother and sister-in-law were born to cause him problems.

He was still feeling conflicted about the children’s education when Qi Haoran found something else for him to do.

Qi Haoran really thought that it was easy building a royal library.

There were so many scholars in the world, distributed all over the world.

Meanwhile, this library was in the capital.

Although he claimed it would benefit the commoners of the world, it would actually only be beneficial to the commoners in the capital and those living near the capital.

It wasn’t possible for everyone to swarm to the capital just to read books, because just the traveling expenses alone would cost a lot.

To the poor commoners, this was impossible.

Therefore, he directly refused and told him that unless he could build a library in every state capital, this would only be a waste of money.

If Haoran wanted books, he was free to access the books in the palace library and he could print whichever book he wanted.

Before Qi Haoran could respond, Fan Zijin was the first to get excited.

He first listed a series of books and handed this business to Mu Yangling’s book bureau.

“Get your book bureau manager in the capital to handle this.

I’ll figure out how much it costs and hand you the money later.” Mu Yangling glanced at the book and realized that even the Hundred Schools of Philosophy were all included.

There were even a lot of chorography and miscellaneous books.

She immediately said, “I’ll just charge you the cost.

I’ll get them to print ten books each, and our families will each take one copy each.

The rest will be stored in the publishing house first.

Although Royal Brother said that it’s a huge expense, I don’t mind lending him this sum first.” This was like forcing a duck onto a perch.

Fan Zijin’s lips twitched.

“Up to you.

However, don’t blame me for not reminding you if you can’t recoup your costs in the end.

It’s indeed not easy to set up the royal library.” Mu Yangling was very open-minded.

“At most, I’ll sell the books in the bookstore.

Do I have to worry about having no takers for the books?” Unlike her previous life, in this era, books were one of the things that one did not have to worry about being unable to sell.

Now that the Great Qi Kingdom was gradually strengthening, the country needed talents.

Considering the reading culture was flourishing, books would only become more and more popular.

Moreover, what they were printing were books from the palace’s library, some of which could not be found in bookstores outside.

Hence, Mu Yangling got her subordinates to print more copies.

She was not afraid of losing money at all.

It was just that more funds would be used up.

After all, paper and ink were not cheap in this era.

However, Mu Yangling was not worried about money at all because the first batch of mirrors in her glass factory had already been officially put up for sale.

The watch factory had also launched clocks and pocket watches.

In short, Mu Yangling was not short of money now.

Mu Yangling, who was not short of money, readily asked the book bureau manager of the capital to go to the palace to get the books.

She wanted them printed as quickly as possible, and she also asked Zhu Liang to personally return to the capital to tidy up a few courtyards in the Prince’s estate to make space for a library.

This was so as to have a place to store the books properly.

In addition, Mu Yangling also asked Zhu Liang to be in charge of the sales of glass and clocks.

On top of selling them to merchants everywhere, they also intended to open two shops to specially sell the things produced by these two factories.

The glass factory and watch factory were located in Guangdong, which was a little far from the bustling Jiangnan.

The people there did not know that such things actually existed, so Zhu Liang had the heavy responsibility of promoting mirrors and watches when he returned to the capital this time.

Zhu Liang also took with him five carriages of goods to the capital.

Two of them contained gifts for the palace and relatives in the capital.

The remaining three carriages were samples for Zhu Liang to discuss business.

Most of the items in the two carriages were for Li Jinghua and the children.

Most of them were Western items that Little Bear and his three younger brothers had selected.

There was also a pink fluffy dress that was picked for Princess Mingzhu.

When Zhu Liang returned to the capital, he first handed the token to the palace before returning to the residence to freshen up.

Almost as soon as he changed his clothes, he was summoned to the palace to speak.

Zhu Liang did not dare to be negligent.

As he got someone to pack the things and send them to the palace for security check, he entered the palace to reply.

Zhu Liang was brought all the way to the side hall of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

He knew that the Empress wanted to see him, but the moment he entered, he heard a child’s laughter.

Not daring to raise his head, Zhu Liang only took two steps forward before kneeling and kowtowing.

The female official said, “You may dispense with these formalities.” Only then did Zhu Liang stand up with his head lowered.

He secretly looked up and saw the Empress sitting up there with the princess in her arms.

Meanwhile, there were three boys sitting on the soft couch at the side.

He figured they were the Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince.

Zhu Liang lowered his eyes and bowed, while waiting to be spoken to.

With a smile, the Empress asked, “I haven’t seen the Princess Consort in a long time.

How is she?” “Thanks to Your Majesty, Her Highness is in good health.” “What did she send us this time?

She even sent you back to the capital.” Li Jinghua was very curious about this, but when she asked Ah Ling, Ah Ling always said that she would understand it when she saw the things.

Little Treasure obviously knew something, but he also hid it from her.

On the other hand, the Second Prince only knew half of it and only said the word ‘treasure’.

Hence, she was very curious about what treasures had Mu Yangling entrusted her chief butler to personally escort to the palace.

One had to know that most of the matters in the Prince’s estate were handled by Zhu Liang.

Just as Zhu Liang was about to answer, from outside, someone announced the arrival of the Emperor.

Zhu Liang quickly retreated to the side while Li Jinghua brought the four children to the door.

The Emperor held Little Treasure’s hand and entered.

“Didn’t you say that Ah Ling brought us treasures?

Where are the things?” The items were quickly sent to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility after passing the security checks.

Overjoyed to see so many exotic Western toys, the children sat on the carpet to choose what they liked.

Meanwhile, Li Jinghua held a mirror and looked at herself in surprise.

She touched her cheek and only let out an exhale after a long time.

However, Qi Xiuyuan toyed with an exquisite pocket watch and asked calmly, “Are these all from the Prince’s estate’s factories?” “Yes, they were only developed this spring.

They’ve been in stock for four months and are currently selling well in Guangdong.

Her Highness asked me to return to the capital to look for merchants and see if the merchants in Jiangnan are interested in cooperating.” “These are treasures indeed.” Qi Xiuyuan smiled.

“No wonder the couple dared to suggest building a royal library.” He put the pocket watch into the box and closed it again, then looked at Zhu Liang and asked, “What else did you come back to the capital for besides business?” “The Prince’s estate and the Duke’s estate have discussed printing a batch of books for collection.

Her Highness said to print a few more volumes and store them first.

If we want to build a royal library in the future, we can just move those books.

There’s no need to reprint them to avoid wasting manpower and increasing the cost.

Even if we don’t end up building a royal library, we can send those books to various publishing houses to sell.

The books from the palace are sought-after, so we don’t have to worry about not being able to sell them.” “The Prince’s estate has money on hand now, so she’s not worried that those books will take up the funds.” Qi Xiuyuan knocked on the table and said, “Since the Princess Consort has instructed so, print a few more books.” After Zhu Liang left, Li Jinghua hurriedly asked, “Your Majesty, are you really planning to set up the royal library?

I’m afraid the officials in the court are unwilling to use money from the national treasury for this purpose.

Although you still have money in your inner treasury, it won’t last long with you spending like this.” Smiling, Qi Xiuyuan said, “Even if I stop Haoran and Ah Ling from doing what they want to do now, they’ll continue to raise it in the future.

I might as well agree now.

I might not have money, but I have plenty of houses and manpower.

They don’t want to make a huge commotion about it right away either.

In that case, it’s fine to build a smaller library at the beginning.

At most, it can be expanded when there’s money in the future.” “I remember that the Imperial Academy has a residence left behind by the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs.

Let’s put the books there first.

Didn’t the students of the Imperial Academy recently ask me to reduce the number of soldiers?

I’ll let them manage the loaning of these books.

This way, they’ll be kept busy and won’t have so much time on their hands to keep causing trouble for me.”

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