The patriarch of the Ouyang family, Ouyang Ji, fell gravely ill, his life hanging by a thread.
The Ouyang family conceded defeat. Ouyang Ping, representing the family, formally confirmed the terms of the contract with Liang Xiao on the spot. Witnessed by both parties' staff and the gathered dignitaries, Ouyang Ping handed over his family's copy of the contract to Liang Xiao.
Ouyang Ji was carried away for treatment. Ouyang Hong assisted Ouyang Ping in publicly drafting a statement, pledging that the Ouyang family would no longer interfere with the business of the Anguo Bookstore, and allowing the Anguo Bookstore to set any prices for its books.
Liang Xiao departed with the written confirmations from both parties and the contracts from the two families.
Ouyang Ping returned home in a furious rage.
"Quick! Sell those books at a price of one hundred and fifty wen, before Liang Xiao does!"
The Ouyang Bookstore immediately put up signs to sell their books, but no one bought them.
"Books from the Anguo Bookstore are only sold for a maximum of one hundred and fifty wen! Hurry to the Anguo Marquis's bookstore!"
It turned out that after the Ouyang family conceded, Liang Xiao's subordinates had already notified the Anguo Bookstore to begin clearing their inventory!
The books sold by Liang Xiao bore the "Anguo Bookstore" mark, while the books sold to the Ouyang family only had the "Ouyang Bookstore" mark.
When purchasing the same books, the common folk, out of admiration for Liang Xiao, flocked to the Anguo Bookstore, eager to buy before prices rose.
Compared to the previous prices of six hundred or even fifteen hundred wen, these books were practically given away!
Some middle and wealthy farmers, who had waited for a year, finally got to buy books at this price. They were overwhelmed with gratitude and took them home for their children.
The books hoarded by the Ouyang family were now unsellable!
In the main hall of the Ouyang family, Ouyang Hong said with a dejected face, "Nephew, the price is the same as Liang Xiao's books. They're not selling. Should we lower the price?"
Ouyang Ping gritted his teeth and nodded, "Immediately reduce the price of each book by five wen! If that doesn't work, reduce it by ten wen. Let's recoup some losses early to avoid future complications!"
As long as the Ouyang family could sell these hoarded books, they could still recover tens of millions of taels of silver!
An hour later, the butler returned with a mournful report.
"Even with the price reduction, there are still very few buyers! The common people said they don't care about a few extra wen. They'd rather spend a little more to support Liang Xiao's bookstore than buy from the Ouyang family!"
Ouyang Ping nearly fainted. "Lower the price by twenty wen! I don't believe they still won't buy!"
Ouyang Hong reminded him, "The common people in the capital are wealthy; the situation is different elsewhere. Perhaps other regions won't need to reduce prices so drastically. We need to test the waters gradually..."
Ouyang Ping understood and immediately sent word to bookstores across the country.
He believed that even if the common people wanted to support Liang Xiao's bookstore, some would genuinely lack the money and would still buy from the Ouyang family!
Another half-hour passed, and the butler returned, looking even more distraught.
"Still not selling?" Ouyang Ping exclaimed.
"No! The Anguo Bookstore has suddenly launched some kind of 'promotional event.' Those eleven old books will have their prices reduced by at least fifty wen each, starting tomorrow! They say it will be promoted nationwide. Those who bought books today can bring them back for a fifty-wen refund, but they'll need an additional mark next to the bookstore's original mark to prevent repeat refunds!"
Listening to the butler's report, Ouyang Ping slumped back into Ouyang Sheng's arms, his eyes vacant. "He anticipated that we would lower our prices. First, he rushed to sell his books, then he gradually forced us to lower ours! So, Liang Xiao planned this from the very beginning, figuring out how to drive our Ouyang family bookstore out of business..."
"He even prepared for this kind of promotion. Once he sells off his remaining inventory, the common people won't need to buy our books anymore!" Ouyang Hong trembled and collapsed onto a chair, muttering to himself.
At this moment, everyone in the hall was filled with regret and sorrow. "If only we had abandoned the bookstore business earlier, would we have avoided this fate?"
The Ouyang family's Four Books and Five Classics, along with the "Shi Zhou Pian" and "Cang Jie," were hoarded in excessive quantities. Across all their bookstores nationwide, the cumulative total exceeded three hundred million volumes, enough to sell for a century...
However, the people of Da Gan simply didn't need so many. What they needed were new types of books!
This meant that for the Ouyang family to recoup their investment through these hoarded books in the short term was nothing but a pipe dream.
These books, piled up together, had become virtually immovable assets. If they later seized an opportunity to rebel, these books would naturally be confiscated and nationalized by Xiao Qing.
This was Liang Xiao's scheme. Even if the Ouyang family intended to incite officials and gentry in various regions to cause trouble, or even rebel, they would be hesitant to act.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qing was beaming with joy in the palace, snuggling into Liang Xiao's embrace.
"As expected of Brother Xiao, you've cornered the Ouyang family so completely. Poor Ouyang Ji~"
Liang Xiao couldn't help but laugh. "Wolves who harm the nation and its people are not worth pity. If we are to show mercy, it should be to those who deserve it, like the common folk!"
"Mmm~" Xiao Qing's heart bloomed with happiness, and she obediently agreed.
Zhen Mi, standing nearby, watched the cooing Xiao Qing and felt a pang of jealousy. She couldn't help but say, "Brother Xiao, my 'Chronicles of Da Gan Heroes' is finished. 'Heroes of Da Gan' is tentatively the first part. I hope to try publishing it..."
Liang Xiao nodded. "The common people of Da Gan will surely love your books, Mi'er! However, you are now Consort Mi. Writing about me and the soldiers like this might cause some opinions among the populace."
Zhen Mi lowered her head in distress, her heart a complex mix of emotions.
For Xiao Qing's promise to her, she had unhesitatingly become Consort Mi, but she had forgotten this aspect.
Later, the Da Gan Daily dared not publish her "Chronicles of Da Gan Heroes" and "Heroes of Da Gan" anymore, as continued publication would imply an ambiguous relationship between the Imperial Consort and Liang Xiao, bordering on cuckolding Emperor Xiao Qing in the public eye.
"Chronicles of Da Gan Heroes" featured an ensemble cast, but the protagonist was still "Liang Xiao."
Even if the public didn't think in that direction, it was inappropriate for Zhen Mi, as a consort, to publish such a popular novel.
"It's not without a solution! Mi'er could also adopt a pen name. You can reveal your true name later," Liang Xiao comforted.
Zhen Mi's eyes lit up. After a moment's thought, she smiled, "Then Mi'er's pen name will be... Luo Shen!"
"Luo Shen?" Liang Xiao was taken aback, then chuckled and nodded.
The name "Luo Shen" became renowned as that of a talented woman, with the serialization of "Heroes of Da Gan" and "Chronicles of Da Gan Heroes."
Some informed citizens no longer had any objections, as the Consort Mi was originally Liang Xiao's younger sister.
Liang Xiao, Xiao Qing, and Zhen Mi chatted and laughed in the West Palace Villa, a stark contrast to the Ouyang family's grim despair!
Ouyang Ping and the others kept vigil by Ouyang Ji's sickbed, looking at their patriarch, who was breathing his last, and the wooden tub on the ground filled with blood. Grief washed over them.
Not long ago, they were the ones who bullied others with their status. When had they ever suffered such humiliation!
In just one day, the pillar of their family...
The four physicians attending to Ouyang Ji knelt before Ouyang Ping, their faces filled with fear. "We have truly done our best. Your father... he might not survive today!"
As soon as they finished speaking, everyone was overcome with grief.
Ouyang Ji, in a final surge of strength, grasped Ouyang Ping's hand and weakly said, "He has destroyed the foundation of my Ouyang family. Even as a vengeful ghost, I will not forgive Liang Xiao!"
With that, Ouyang Ji breathed his last, and the entire family erupted in wails of sorrow.
Ouyang Ji, once the Minister of Revenue and a man of imposing authority, had been angered to death by Liang Xiao. The position of Minister of Rites was suddenly vacant...