World's First Traitor System (451)

Chapter 451 - Good Books Need Frequent Reading

Learning was boundless. The scale of the branch store, truly, was not that large.

Fan Li explained to the two women, "In Great Ming, the scale of the main Rulin Bookstore branch far surpasses this one. The main store has thousands of bookshelves and a million volumes."

"A million?!"

Xiang Ning was astonished, then found it somewhat hard to believe.

"Is that true?"

"Since Pangu created the heavens and earth, could there even be a million classics?"

Fan Li smiled.

"The bookstore's collection doesn't solely pursue classic masterpieces."

"I... cough, the bookstore's founder once established a rule: as long as the content of a book has substance and can be considered a unique perspective, it can be included."

"Gathering the words of a hundred schools, a thousand schools, ten thousand schools – only by doing so can the bookstore truly deserve the character 'Lin' [Forest] in its name."

Xiang Ning listened thoughtfully. As she looked again at the hundreds of bookshelves within the store, an eagerness to dive in sparked in her eyes.

"Little Sister Ning can choose whatever she likes. Anything you fancy, I'll pay for it all," Fan Li said with a touch of mischievous humor, thinking, 'Put it on my tab.'

Unfortunately, Xiang Ning, born into royalty, had been indifferent to money since childhood. Fan Li's rare attempt to show off his wealth before the emperor fell completely flat.

Once Xiang Ning had skipped away happily, Fan Li and Han Yue were left alone again.

"Would you like to browse the bookstore?" Fan Li asked considerately. "Shall I accompany you?"

Han Yue and Xiang Ning possessed entirely different personalities.

One quiet, one active.

One reserved, one outgoing.

As expected, Han Yue shook her head and smiled. "Sword cultivation manuals are already extremely rare in this world. Besides, with the sword intent of the four swords you imparted, it's impossible for any sword cultivation manual in the world to surpass it."

Fan Li thought that made sense. How could the Four Swords of Zhu Xian possibly have an equal in the mortal realm?

"Let's sit for a while," Fan Li suggested, pointing to a nearby double-backed chair.

The Rulin Bookstore he founded actually bore a strong resemblance to the university libraries of his previous life. Besides rows upon rows of categorized bookshelves, it also featured dedicated reading areas, fully equipped with chairs and benches.

However, Fan Li and Han Yue had barely settled down when they saw Xiang Ning returning, puffing her cheeks out in anger.

"Lecher!"

"Libertine!"

"Vulgar!"

Xiang Ning glanced left and right before lowering her voice to criticize Fan Li quietly.

"How did I become a vulgar, lecherous libertine?" Fan Li asked, utterly bewildered.

Han Yue also showed a curious expression.

"Still trying to deny it?" Xiang Ning thrust a stack of books into the man's arms. "You even sell this kind of book, and you still say you're not a lecher?"

Which kind of book?

Fan Li wondered, casually picking one up.

He saw nine large words, written with bold, iron-like strokes on the cover: The Female Emperor, A Plaything in the Treacherous Minister's Palm???

Besides the suggestive and audacious title, the cover featured a painting of an incredibly handsome man, brazenly and forcefully pulling a woman clad in dragon robes into his embrace.

Fan Li broke out in a sweat! He looked at the second book, its degree of exaggeration no less than the first.

Overwhelming Power: How My Qi Condensation Self Married the Female Sword Immortal!?

The cover depicted a man and a woman. The beautiful sword immortal held a glittering precious sword, her aura as pure and holy as a white lotus on a snow-capped mountain. The man, however, was dressed like a profligate second-generation heir, legs crossed, fanning himself, a wicked smile suggesting a belly full of schemes.

Fan Li felt an inexplicable pang of guilt and stole a glance at Han Yue sitting beside him through the corner of his eye.

Her expression was calm and composed, seemingly unaffected by the book titles?
However, her slightly flushed cheeks betrayed everything!

Sensing Fan Li's gaze, Han Yue even subconsciously turned her face away, trying to escape his stare!

"The most outrageous one is this book!"

Xiang Ning, impatient by nature, pulled out the third book and slapped it down heavily in front of Fan Li.

Fan Li merely glanced at the title and nearly fainted.

Meeting the Man Head-On: He Kidnapped the Enemy Emperor!

The cover illustration showed the devastatingly handsome faces of two men, drawn so close they were almost touching.

What kind of utter nonsense was this?!

Fan Li nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood!

"Ahem!"

"The bookstore has over ten thousand volumes. Why couldn't you find any other books? Why specifically pick these few?"

As he said this, Fan Li felt incredibly guilty.

He actually knew these types of books were in the store, located in the "Romance Section."

The bookstore's sections were broadly categorized into Industry, Agriculture, Commerce, Academia, and Military, with smaller categories like Formations, Feng Shui, Medicine, and Mechanisms.

Beyond these, Fan Li had thoughtfully added a Romance Section, much like the "study materials" folder on his computer in his previous life.

"The Romance Section is clearly in the furthest corner of the bookstore!"

"Instead of looking for proper books in the main categories, you sought out these... anyway, you can't blame me!"

Fan Li felt quite like a thief caught red-handed, his rebuttal lacking any force.

"How was I supposed to know?" Xiang Ning cried foul as well. "I just went where the crowd was!"

She pointed towards the Romance Section bookshelves. Fan Li looked over.

Indeed!

Despite being the most remote corner of the store, groups of young men and women were shyly walking in, then emerging clutching a few books, striding quickly to the counter to pay.
Fan Li understood that shopping mood all too well.

"Sigh!"

"As the Master once said, 'Appetite and sex are human nature.'"

Fan Li was about to launch into a lecture but was cut off by Xiang Ning waving her hand.

"I have a question."

Xiang Ning glanced left and right, then leaned close to Fan Li's ear, her face flushed, asking in a voice only the three of them could hear.

"Why... why are we written into books?"

This question, Fan Li could answer.

"Because of sensationalism. It's like on a stage; they love to perform stories about emperors and generals."

"The more inaccessible the figures are to common folk, the more their curiosity is piqued."

"So, Your Majesty, don't mind that these books seem... bizarre. Their sales are actually excellent."

"As your subject said before, as long as we earn money, we can equip Great Chu's army and contend with Emperor Jiajing."

Fan Li finished speaking seriously, hoping to quickly end this topic. He had brought Xiang Ning here to broaden her horizons, yet it had nearly turned into some kind of censorship campaign.

"Brother Li, I think what you said makes sense."

Xiang Ning surprisingly agreed readily. Just moments ago, her pretty face was flushed with anger, yet now she actually concurred with Fan Li.

Fan Li was both surprised and pleased that she was persuaded so easily.

"Good, then quickly put these books back where they belong!"

The titles were too jarring; Fan Li really didn't want to keep holding them.

But Xiang Ning shook her head. "Put them back? Why put them back? I also want to support the equipping of the Chu army."

Eh?

What did she mean?

Fan Li's mind felt a little fuzzy. He stared at Xiang Ning, and Xiang Ning stared back at him.
Their eyes met. After a long moment, Fan Li finally understood.

"These books?"

"Buy them all."

Fan Li's mouth twitched.

"Buying other books can also support the army."

Xiang Ning pouted, but clutched the book The Female Emperor, A Plaything in the Treacherous Minister's Palm tightly.

Helpless, Fan Li turned to Han Yue for assistance.

"Quickly help me persuade..."

He didn't finish his sentence before clamping his mouth shut. Because Han Yue, at some unknown point, had picked up the other book, Overwhelming Power: How My Qi Condensation Self Married the Female Sword Immortal.

Only the book Meeting the Man Head-On remained untouched, tacitly ignored by all three.

"It's getting late." Xiang Ning hugged her books and urged, "Go pay for these. We should return to the palace... home!"