Half an hour later, the carriage arrived at the intersection of Zhuangyuan Street. Yun Wan got off the carriage with A Sui.
Da Qi had open social customs where people lived and worked in peace. Jingdu, being prosperous and densely populated with abundant goods, allowed women to walk the streets just like men without needing to wear Mi Li.
Yun Wan chose a renowned bookshop to enter.
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up when he saw her dressed in brocade clothing with pearl hairpins, accompanied by servants—clearly a lady from a wealthy family. He immediately greeted her warmly:
“What would Madam and the young master like to buy?”
Yun Wan looked down at A Sui and said, “My son will soon begin his elementary education. We’d like to select some suitable writing materials.”
The shopkeeper beamed and said, “You’ve come to the right place, Madam! If our writing utensils claim to be second best in Jingdu, no one would dare claim first!”
“Please follow me, Madam and young master. Take your time choosing—I guarantee your satisfaction!”
He made a ‘please’ gesture and led the way.
In the inner hall, shelves were neatly organized with various study supplies: brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, Brush Washers, Ink Boxes… an dazzling array of items.
Yun Wan released A Sui’s hand and said softly, “Pick whatever you like, A Sui.”
There weren’t many customers in the shop at this hour. A Sui wandered around for about fifteen minutes before making his selections.
Yun Wan was surprised to see that A Sui had only chosen the basic four treasures of the study (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone), leaving everything else untouched.
“Just these? Don’t you want to look at Brush Bags or Book Bags?”
A Sui shook his head, his hair ribbon swaying with the movement. “What Mother made is already perfect. I don’t want to use anything else. These are enough.”
Yun Wan nodded without pressing further. She knew A Sui was a child with strong opinions—if he said he didn’t need something, it meant he didn’t like it.
After a moment’s thought, she said, “Then let’s pick a book box to store your books and important things. This is something your mother doesn’t know how to make.”
A Sui thought it reasonable and went to the book box section, eventually choosing a small square ebony book box with openwork sea patterns.
During the spare time, Yun Wan added a few more items and placed them on the Stationery Tray.
As she prepared to pay, she felt a tug at her sleeve.
A Sui pulled Yun Wan’s sleeve and said, “Mother, I’d also like to buy some books.”
Yun Wan glanced around but didn’t see any bookshelves. Remembering the shop was called a bookshop, she inquired, “Shopkeeper, do you have books here?”
“Uh,” the shopkeeper hesitated slightly before answering, “Yes, on the second floor. Take the stairs on the left. Feel free to browse.”
“But please keep quiet,” he reminded. “There are readers in the partitioned rooms who prefer silence.”
Yun Wan nodded. “We’ll come down after selecting our books.”
Upon stepping onto the second floor, the surroundings immediately became much quieter.
There were few book buyers—only a handful of people, plus cleaning and organizing attendants, totaling no more than seven or eight.
When they heard someone coming upstairs, they all glanced over but quickly looked away, returning to their previous activities.
Yun Wan couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but these people didn’t seem like scholars at all.
Not only did they have rough appearances, but one of them even seemed to be holding a book upside down.
However, this had nothing to do with them. Perhaps it was just their reading habit.
Shoes inevitably made slight noises on the wooden floor. Yun Wan circled around and found a round stool by the window in the inner area to sit down, letting A Sui choose the books he wanted.
Ever since coming upstairs, A Sui’s eyes had been shining brightly. Seeing the numerous bookshelves was like a fish returning to water for him. He immediately trotted off on his short legs to find the books he wanted to read.
Yun Wan wasn’t worried. Though A Sui was only four years old, he already recognized many characters—perhaps even more than children aged six or seven. She could roughly guess what books A Sui wanted to buy.
Sure enough, moments later, A Sui came shuffling over with several books in his arms.
The weight of the books was too much for him, leaving his handsome little face flushed with exertion.
“Mother, I’ve picked them out!”
Yun Wan reached out to take a few books from him and glanced down. They were indeed the Four Books, and all were Grand Scholar Xu’s annotated editions.
It was clear how much A Sui admired Grand Scholar Xu.
“Huh?”
A Sui flipped to the second page and let out a surprised sound.
Yun Wan was puzzled: “What’s wrong?”
A Sui pulled out the bamboo tag inside with the price carved on it and said, “Mother, these books are so expensive! One actually costs a whole string of silver coins!”
He half-covered his mouth as he whispered, his eyes wide open, unable to hide his astonishment.
Yun Wan also found it expensive, but… “Grand Scholar Xu’s annotated editions are naturally more costly.”
After all, he was a renowned great scholar of the current dynasty, full of learning, having served through three reigns and repeatedly held the position of imperial tutor. Now with disciples everywhere, he had unique insights into books like the Four Books and Five Classics, and reading them was immensely beneficial. Thus, he was highly sought after by countless scholars.
It was somewhat understandable that they were priced higher.
But A Sui, who had already learned from his mother at a young age that money doesn’t come easily, couldn’t understand.
Frowning with an air of premature seriousness, he said, “But this is just too expensive! Ordinary ones cost only a hundred coins, and this is several times more!”
After speaking, he shook his head in disappointment and whispered to Yun Wan, “Mother, let’s not come to this shop again.”
“Why?”
A Sui’s little face showed a complex expression: “Because the owner of this shop seems like a profiteer…”
Yun Wan couldn’t help but chuckle, pinching his cheek as she asked, “Do you even know what a profiteer is?”
“Someone like this,” A Sui declared, hands on his hips and pointing triumphantly at the price on the bamboo tag.
Indignantly, he added, “If Scholar Xu knew his annotated manuscripts were being used for such profiteering, he’d surely be very angry!”
Yun Wan found it amusing: “Whether Scholar Xu would be angry or not, Mother doesn’t know, but what I can say for sure is that if the shopkeeper heard what you said, he’d be furious. So you mustn’t say such things carelessly, especially when we’re still in his shop. It wouldn’t be good if the shopkeeper heard, understand?”
A Sui quickly nodded, whispering meekly, “I’ll only say it to you, Mother.”
“When I grow up and become an imperial official, I’ll definitely crack down on such merchant practices, so that all the people in my jurisdiction can afford to read and buy books!”
Yun Wan nodded: “Alright! Our A Sui has great ambitions. Mother believes in you.”
“It’s getting late, let’s go downstairs.”
Encouraged, A Sui hugged the books and went downstairs to pay.
Behind a closed door, in a secluded tea room.
The room was filled with the delicate fragrance of tea, warm and cozy, yet the attendant waiting nearby felt as if he were in the depths of winter, trembling with fear.
Rustle—
The turning of a page broke the tranquil air.
“Jiang Fusheng, do I look like a profiteer to you?”
The Jing Xuan Emperor reclined lazily on the couch, legs casually crossed, his wide sleeves draping to the floor, his posture the picture of nonchalance, his tone unhurried.
Jiang Fusheng, who had been addressed, lifted his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and forced a smile: “Your Majesty, children say the darndest things… children say the darndest things.”
This young master of the Lu Family is truly a living ancestor. Yesterday he attempted an “assassination,” and today he called Your Majesty a profiteer. Although outsiders are unaware that the owner behind this bookstore is actually Your Majesty—ignorance may be excused— but— why did it have to be overheard by Your Majesty?
Originally, Your Majesty had only ventured out of the palace on a whim for a casual stroll. Growing bored, he decided to stop by the bookstore, never expecting to overhear such childish remarks.
Jing Xuan Emperor curled his lips: “Hah.”
How dare this wet-behind-the-ears brat be so insolent and even become an Imperial Official? Never mind whether he can smoothly participate in the imperial examinations—it’s uncertain if he can even pass the mid-term exam organized by Hongwen Academy three months from now.
Let’s see if he doesn’t fail the exam and go crying back home.
Jing Xuan Emperor sneered.
With a sharp snap, he closed the book, stood up, and left.
Seeing their master emerge, seven or eight disguised guards immediately put down the books in their hands, dropped the rags they were using to wipe tables, and followed in succession.