Within a few days, news came from the Chu State that the romance novel "She Came Back After Five Years" had sold out in Chu's bookstores.
Princess Yunwu alone placed a large order, pre-purchasing 5,000 complete sets, saying she wanted to read them herself and give them as gifts.
Moreover, the Sisters of the Ji Family, having received the news early, rushed to open a bookstore in anticipation of obtaining the first batch of distribution rights for subsequent volumes.
"Your Majesty, who would have thought that our Jing Country's novels would sell even better in the Chu State," said Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue. He had been walking with a spring in his step these past few days, speaking with a smile, indicating that the Ministry's involvement had brought in considerable profits.
"Many bookstore owners in Chu have pre-ordered the second volume and requested additional prints of the first. They've even paid deposits."
"It appears that Chu will account for the majority of sales this time! Chu's wealth truly doesn't disappoint," Jiang Li concluded.
Xiao Yunzhou looked at the sales report Jiang Li had submitted, his mouth twitching involuntarily.
Jing Country still needed to continue its low-key development.
After his report, Jiang Li proposed his next creative idea, "Now that we're reprinting our novels, we could add phrases about their bestseller status in Jing and Chu on the covers, then sell them to other neighboring countries to expand our market."
Since Jing's unique literary gathering, the Ministry of Revenue seemed to have unlocked new potential, coming up with numerous ideas to increase revenue.
Jiang Li was busy and fulfilled every day, but still had higher aspirations for the current situation. "Your Majesty, I believe our most pressing matter now is to increase male consumption."
"The latest survey from the Ministry shows that male consumption in both Jing and Chu has stagnated somewhat."
Xiao Yunzhou thought this was perfect timing. "Ahem, Minister Jiang, I've actually been considering this issue."
"After the top scholar left that day, I also thought about how if women can be strong, men should be too. Why not write a novel about male self-improvement?"
"As soon as I mentioned it, the Hanlin Academy helped write over a hundred chapters."
Xiao Yunzhou felt his acting skills were now at an Oscar-worthy level as he casually said, "Take this book, 'The First Immortal Lord,' jointly written by eighteen scholars from the Hanlin Academy, and have it printed for sale."
"!!"
Jiang Li was greatly impressed and hurriedly accepted the manuscript with both hands, reverently tucking it into his sleeve. "I will do my utmost to make it happen!"
He quickly left the palace and got into his sedan chair.
The sedan bearers moved steadily, and before long, they arrived at the Ministry of Revenue.
"Master, we've arrived."
"Minister Jiang, we're here."
"Hmm? Master?"
"Minister, are you awake!?"
The sedan bearers gradually raised their voices. After waiting for half a cup of tea's time, they finally couldn't resist lifting the curtain. They found Minister Jiang Li neither unconscious nor asleep, but rather engrossed in reading the thin manuscript.
Even with the curtain lifted, his reading remained uninterrupted.
"Don't rush, let me finish this chapter."
"Oh my, wait a bit more, let me get through this crisis."
"Ah, this is brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Marvelous!"
"Hold on, let me read one more chapter!"
The sedan bearers were dumbfounded.
It wasn't until he reached the last page that Minister Jiang finally came to his senses. But the moment he did, he nearly lost his composure, almost stamping his feet and beating his chest.
"How can it end here?"
"How can it stop right at the crucial moment of foundation building?"
At the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue, Minister Jiang's laments could be heard.
"When will the next volume be ready?"
"Ending the chapter here, is this deliberate? Eighteen Hanlin Academy scholars!"
Jiang Li burst out of the sedan chair, his eyes unfocused.
"Someone, go to the Hanlin Academy and demand the next installment! The scholars aren't allowed to rest until they write!"
"You, you, you, copy this immediately and send it to the four major publishing houses for printing, post-haste!"
"This is the ultimate novel, it must be a hit, it must!"
"Even if the King of Heaven himself came, one couldn't stop reading!"
*
In the palace of the Zhou Xing Kingdom, King Zhou Ling was receiving the King of Chu, who had arrived after more than thirty days of spring travels.
"Brother Chu, you really believe that Jing Country has great talents? You truly want to establish long-term diplomatic relations with Jing?"
The Zhou Xing Kingdom was located northeast of Jing Country, bordering it in the wilderness.
Usually, Zhou Xing didn't have close ties with Jing, but instead frequently traded copper, iron ore, and grain with Chu on the other side, despite not sharing a border.
King Zhou Ling looked at the King of Chu, already in his sixties with graying hair and beard, and felt somewhat dismissive.
The King of Chu had aged, not only planning to pass his position to a princess but also seeking to establish relations with Jing Country.
King Zhou Ling sighed inwardly, "We've known each other for many years, Brother Chu. Let me warn you, Jing Country can barely fend for itself."
The King of Chu narrowed his eyes, "Is there any unusual activity in the surrounding areas? Sheng Country? Yuan Mo?"
King Zhou Ling's gaze flickered, then he chuckled, "Nothing gets past you, you old fox."
"The Yuan King has repeatedly asked about the affairs of Jing's court through my Zhou Xing Kingdom, even inquiring about Xiao Yunzhou's harem." King Zhou Ling stroked his wine cup.
The King of Chu was startled, "Does the Yuan King intend to attack Jing Country?"
"I don't know the Yuan King's intentions," King Zhou Ling shook his head, but quickly set down his wine cup with a bang, shaking the wooden table. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice.
"But Brother Chu, after numerous investigations by my spies, guess what I discovered?" King Zhou Ling's eyes glinted.
"The former Imperial Noble Consort of Jing, Xiao Yunzhou's woman, seems to have once traveled to my Zhou Xing Kingdom for leisure."
"It happened to be raining heavily at the time, and she stayed with a peasant family. And guess what, I found out that during that period, the Yuan King's whereabouts also seemed to be in that area."
"What?" The King of Chu was shocked.
He had never heard of this before.
But did Xiao Yunzhou know about this?
Jing Country had great talents who could even predict their own death, let alone matters close to Xiao Yunzhou.
After a brief moment of shock, the King of Chu quickly regained his composure.
His calmness surprised King Zhou Ling, "Brother Chu, you know about this and still want to maintain good relations with Jing?"
"Do you know that the former farmhouse has been bought and is now guarded by skilled warriors?"
The King of Chu took a deep breath. It seemed the Yuan King had set his sights on Jing's Imperial Consort. He must be out of his mind.
The King of Chu shook his head, "Could it be that the Yuan King wants to steal Xiao Yunzhou's Imperial Noble Consort?"
King Zhou Ling narrowed his eyes, his tone becoming grave, "Brother Chu, what you don't know is that just last year, this Imperial Noble Consort was suddenly demoted to Consort and confined to her palace."
The King of Chu was astonished.
King Zhou Ling closed his eyes, "Yuan Mo Country is far from Chu, so you might not know, but our Zhou Xing Kingdom is separated from Yuan Mo only by mountains and rivers, with merchant caravans traveling between us from time to time."
"I've heard that recently, these merchant caravans often see soldiers drilling there."
"!!"
The King of Chu stood up abruptly.
Was the Yuan King preparing to attack Jing Country?
All for a woman?
The King of Chu's expression wavered. If so, could Jing Country survive?
He had sought good relations with Jing for two reasons: first, out of respect for their great talents, and second, seeing Jing's current prosperous development as an opportunity to strengthen Chu alongside them.
Chu would not die with Jing!
"So, Brother Chu," King Zhou Ling leaned forward, "To be frank, since you've come to my Zhou Xing Kingdom, I want to hear your opinion as a ruler of a country—"
"Is Jing truly worth befriending?"
King Zhou Ling asked, emphasizing each word.
His gaze couldn't help but shift towards a confidential letter on his desk.
It was from Yuan Mo Country.
The Yuan King wanted to borrow a route through Zhou Xing, claiming he wanted to conduct long-distance military exercises in the wilderness!
The compensation offered was one million taels of gold!
And on the map, just beyond the wilderness area lay Jing Country's territory!
"In your opinion, is Yuan Mo stronger, or is Jing?"
The King of Chu was momentarily speechless, but quickly took a deep breath, "Would you believe me if I told you?"
"Brother Zhou, why don't you join me in traveling incognito to Jing's territory and see for yourself?"
"?"
"!"
King Zhou Ling was stunned.