The princess was ordained by Heaven.

[However, this is not the fault of Second Sister. She did not know that Yiguan Academy was such a scoundrel. She was extremely unlucky because Yiguan Bookstore was targeted by the Seventh Prince of the Brown Kingdom. According to the book, after her country was destroyed, she would be forcibly taken from, abused, and tortured both physically and mentally. How tragic.]

Zheng Jiao: What book does she keep talking about? A book of prophecy? I'd like to see it.

Empress: Forced acquisition?! Physical and emotional abuse?! Her poor daughter! How heartbroken she would be if she knew she had become an accomplice of the Brown Kingdom!

However, the emperor and Zheng Jin reacted the most strongly upon hearing this.

Emperor: No wonder Xia Wan was so naive, actually believing the Brown Kingdom people were some kind of good person! How come no one noticed such a big thing before?!

It's his incompetence that such a large-scale operation was allowed to take place right under the emperor's nose in the capital!

Zheng Jin was in a daze and almost tripped because she wasn't paying attention to her footing. Luckily, Zheng Jiao caught her in time.

Zheng Jin slowly turned her head and murmured, "It's my fault."

Zheng Jiao slapped her on the back of the head: "What does this have to do with you?! Are you stupid? You didn't instigate it. You were completely unaware of the whole thing. Ignorance is no excuse, you know?"

Zheng Xun sighed: "Second sister, I'm telling you this not so you'll blame yourself, but so you can prepare yourself. This matter can't be kept secret any longer. If others find out about your cooperation with Yiguan Bookstore, there will definitely be endless gossip. I know you're upset, but don't be upset yet. I have something I need your help with."

She gestured for Zheng Jin to lower her head, and then whispered a few words in her ear.

After listening, Zheng Jin pondered for a moment and said, "Alright. But before that, I need to cut off the spice supply to Yiguan Bookstore."

Zheng Xun nodded, then looked at the emperor: "Father, there is more than one Yiguan Bookstore in Dayong."

She told him what had happened to Tao Heng.

She couldn't possibly investigate this matter on her own, as it would require too much manpower and resources, which was beyond her current capabilities. Therefore, it was best to leave it to the Emperor.

The emperor nodded: "Don't worry."

He paused for a moment, then said seriously, "Thank you."

Everyone knows that the Great Yong Dynasty is now a mess riddled with problems. She has said to herself many times, "What does the fall of the country have to do with me?" But when something happens, she never thinks of ignoring it.

As a princess, she has already done enough.

This matter couldn't be resolved with a snap decision, so the emperor still gave her the token to enter and leave the palace: "Summon Tao Heng here; there are some things I need to clarify with him."

Zheng Xun accepted the token: "I will bring those books back with me on my way back."

Next, the Emperor went to the Imperial Study, the Empress went back to rest, Zheng Jin was worried about the palace servants, so he personally went to oversee the removal of the trumpet creeper flowers, while Zheng Jin went to handle the cooperation with Yiguan Bookstore.

An hour later, she entered the palace with Jianyang and Tao Heng.

A group of high-ranking civil and military officials had gathered in the Imperial Study. They sat on both sides in order. They were all people in high positions, and their aura was very imposing. People with a little courage would probably be scared to death by such a scene.

“Princess,” Liao Hongsheng bowed respectfully, looking directly at the books she was holding, “are these the books?”

Zheng Xun gave him a copy, and together with Tao Heng, they distributed the remaining books.

The emperor also received a copy, and coincidentally, the copy he received was a romantic tale.

The more he read, the deeper his brow furrowed. After quickly flipping through it, he slammed the book to the ground: "Brown people..."

He stood up, paced back and forth twice with restraint, suppressing his violent emotions: "His intentions are absolutely despicable!"

"Minister Wan, Chief Clerk Tan! Do you have anything to say?"

The position of Duzhi (度支) was under the Ministry of Revenue and was in charge of commercial affairs in the capital region. All approvals for traveling merchants had to go through him.

In fact, the Ministry of Finance is only responsible for approval. He knows that the bookstore sells books, but he doesn't know what the bookstore is actually selling. It would be difficult for him to be in charge.

With a bitter expression, Qin Duzhi knelt down with Wan Shangshu, the head of the Ministry of Revenue, not daring to breathe loudly.

Which shop owner in the capital doesn't have a powerful backer? He's just a lowly finance official, basically a living seal, only responsible for stamping documents. He can't control things, and he has no way to control them.

In reality, the Great Yong Dynasty lacked effective commercial control regulations, which was normal given that it was an agricultural society. However, when enemy states tried to exploit this loophole, they succeeded every time.

"Are you mute? Speak!" After scolding Minister Wan and Chief Minister Qin, the emperor was still not satisfied. Then, wherever his gaze fell, they all knelt down with a "plop".

"Don't you have any children in your family who go to school? Don't you usually go to bookstores? Why didn't anyone notice anything unusual?"

Actually, this can't be blamed on the officials.

The emperor swallowed back the furious curse he was about to utter because of this thought.

Zheng Xun's words were very timely, and the adults who considered themselves innocent were extremely grateful.

The number of books published by Guanshupu was countless, but only a few were tampered with; most were just storybooks and travelogues.

[These stories were mainly circulated among women. Ministers wouldn't discuss these matters with their juniors, and the wives in the household usually had to manage the household affairs, raise children, and worry about the family's businesses, so they didn't have much free time to read leisurely books.]

As for their daughters, they wouldn't concern themselves with their private affairs; the young ladies would read these books in secret.

As for those romantic tales, men wouldn't go around telling everyone they read them.

The only easily noticeable clue is in travelogues, but travelogues are usually a cover. People who really enjoy reading travelogues don't appreciate this kind of content, so it's normal that they don't notice anything unusual.

The ministers nodded repeatedly: Yes, yes, that's right, speak more if you can!

【but……】

But what is it? What is "but"?

Shut up!

However, Zheng Xun did not hear their inner cries, nor could she shut up, because she did not open her mouth at all.

However, some people are not innocent. It's not like no one has reported problems with the books at Yiguan Bookstore. At least three or four people have spoken to Qin Duzhi about it. But the bookstore has powerful backers. That Duke of Zhuguo is no ordinary person. Although he is old, his words still carry weight. Qin Duzhi really can't afford to offend him.

The ministers breathed a sigh of relief: Phew... thank goodness it wasn't us.

Wait! Who? Who isn't innocent?

Pillar of the State!

Those were the most trusted nobles of the Emperor!

The Emperor had little affinity with elders; his birth mother died early, his adoptive mother held absolute power, and his biological father disliked him. The Duke of Zhuguo didn't place much bet on the Emperor, but he genuinely taught him for a period of time. He taught him quite diligently, and naturally, a teacher-student relationship developed between them.

The emperor is both ruthless and sentimental; this small favor is enough for him to grant him a lifetime of wealth and honor.

Of course, this is on the premise that he behaves himself and doesn't cause trouble.

[The previous generations of Dukes of the State were low-key, diligent, and worked hard to maintain their wealth and status. But the heir of the Duke of the State was greedy for money. He actually dared to accept a 70% share of a bookstore offered to him.]

Oh, so he's the heir apparent of the Duke of Zhuguo!

It's good that he's not a Pillar of State Duke... What a blockhead!