Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 445 Fighting Incident
However, the waiter didn't see that while he was rambling on, the student's eyes didn't show any gratitude, but rather extreme eagerness.

"In that case, please take me inside quickly."

He had brought enough silver with him today, intending to buy more books for the imperial examinations at Minshuo Bookstore, but he hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise on the way. As for the waiter, he wasn't unfamiliar with this bookstore; his attitude towards him had never been like this before. Perhaps it was because Minshuo Bookstore had become so popular lately that they had to lower their prices.

Not getting the expected response, the shop assistant was somewhat surprised, but could only smile and lead the customer inside. He thought it was just an isolated case, but unexpectedly, he saw countless people like him afterward. Yes, just as the owners behind these bookstores had thought, their bookstores were indeed selling like hotcakes. They couldn't fathom where ordinary people, who were usually frugal and didn't have much money in their pockets, had accumulated the silver to buy so many books. As a result, the tens of thousands of copies they had prepared in advance were completely sold out.

As a result, the owner of the bookstore had to source books from various bookstores to sell in the capital. Meanwhile, upon hearing the news, Minshuo Bookstore also lowered its prices, leading to several price wars, which pleased the students who wanted to buy the books. Finally, all the major bookstores controlled the price at two hundred coins, and Minshuo Bookstore finally stopped lowering its prices, allowing the owner to breathe a sigh of relief, though they were practically bleeding money from the loss.

Is it easy to make money these days? Printing a book requires so much manpower and financial resources, yet they can only sell it for 200 coins, not even enough to cover costs. If this continues, they'll go bankrupt! And Minshuo Bookstore probably couldn't hold on much longer; it's already closed down.

While the powerful families behind the various bookstores were feeling both pain and secret joy, little did they know that their bookstores had been surrounded by people eager to buy books.

"Didn't we agree to sell books? Why are you closing down? Minshuo Bookstore was already forced to close down by you guys, why are you closing down? Open the door now, what kind of business doesn't operate with its doors open?"

"Exactly! We've been waiting for days, just wanting to buy the books, and you're saying you won't sell them? If you really don't have the ability, don't try to compete with Minshuo Bookstore on price reductions!"

"No, sirs, it's not that we don't want to sell, it's just that we're completely sold out. You've seen so many people coming and going these past few days. It's not that we don't want to sell, it's just that we don't have any left..."

The anxious shopkeeper, sweating profusely, couldn't understand why these people weren't targeting the long-closed Minshuo Bookstore, but instead coming to make things difficult for them, the honest bookstores that had persisted until now. Wasn't this bullying honest people?

Who would have thought that the middle-aged scholar in a gray robe across from them would be so angry right now?

"Minshuo Bookstore is just a newly opened bookstore. They sold at low prices to attract customers, but you followed suit and lowered your prices. Now you can't stay in business and have to close down, right? But isn't your owner the Xie family? One of the five families and seven surnames, a famous and prestigious family. Don't you even have this much background? How is that possible?"

"I……"

The boss felt a chill run down his spine. How did they know that his employer was a member of the Xie family?
After much pleading and cajoling, the boss finally got the truth out of the door, and upon learning it, he nearly coughed up blood.

It was actually people from Minshuo Bookstore who said this?! They're resorting to spreading rumors because they can't compete with them. But what they said isn't wrong; their master is indeed a member of the Xie family. But no matter how you look at it, it feels strange.

In short, the capital city is bustling with activity today. These powerful families want to gain a good reputation among scholars, so they've drastically lowered prices. Let them sell their books then. The printing costs of their books are far higher than the current selling price; they lose money on every book sold. Jiu Que wonders how long they can keep doing this. These powerful families are essentially being held hostage. Who told them to make such a grand promise, claiming they were lowering prices so that all scholars could afford to read? Those who bought books earlier are naturally overjoyed, but those who waited so long and couldn't buy them are even more furious. Why can't they buy them? Is this about a single book? This concerns their future official careers; this is their path to success!

The five powerful families and seven prominent clans couldn't understand what Prince Chen was trying to do. They said he wanted to compete with these powerful clans, but his efforts were all bark and no bite, lasting only a few days before stopping – something seemed off. Now they wanted to cut their losses and lower the price back to the usual three taels per book, but nobody was buying it. They even received unanimous condemnation from scholars and intellectuals.

"It was 200 coins a book yesterday, why has it gone up to three taels today? You guys are so greedy!"

"Exactly! My home is a full 220 li away from the capital! I only came here on foot because a friend told me that the imperial examination books were cheap in the capital. But when I finally got here, you said the price had gone up?! And it's gone up to three taels a book! Are you robbing me?!"

"But, but that's how we've always sold them..."

"The past is the past, the present is the present. If you lowered the price so much before, it means you didn't need to sell it for such a high price in the first place. Where did all that difference go? Didn't you still make a profit?!"

"That's not how it works. This book was printed by our boss, and he can set whatever price he wants. If you can't afford it, you don't have to buy it."

"How did you talk?"

"Please don't be angry, sir. Mr. Yu, I'm from the capital, and I've seen what's been going on these past few days. It's true that the books at Minshuo Bookstore are cheap, but they've been forced to close down. We can't say that a book has to sell for 200 coins, but could you lower the price a bit more? Three taels a book is just too expensive..."

The boss's eyes flashed, and his tone became extremely rude.

"It's no use talking to me about this; I'm not the real owner! I'll say it again: if you can afford it, buy it; if you can't, don't come in. Do you really think just anyone can afford to read these classic texts? Some people are born lowly, yet they dream of rising to the top overnight—what a pipe dream!"

"What did you say?!"

Even the scholar who had spoken so politely couldn't stand it anymore. With the pride of a scholar, and with so many passionate scholars gathered there, they simply joined forces and beat up the rude shopkeeper and waiter. If this weren't a bookstore, they might have even thrown the books inside a few times.

The Xie family was stunned when they heard the news.

"Who told him to say that? Didn't I say the price could be increased at the discretion of the authorities? Discretion, discretion, don't you understand?!"