Chapter 704: Read More Books

Imperial Household Department were kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.They had witnessed with their own eyes how Wei Xian, the powerful and domineering eunuch who ruled the Imperial Household...Chapter 704: Read More Books

Wan Jiaojiao was overjoyed. She propped her chin with her palm, her big eyes sparkling with admiration as she said to Li Chen, "Your Highness, how do you know so much"

"Read more books."

Li Chen said irritably, “Stop reading those romance novels and read something useful. I saw you engrossed in a novel the other day, and I've looked everywhere for all the palace romance novels.”

Wan Jiaojiao said a little shyly: “I've already read everything in the palace. Recently, I've been having people go to the market outside to get them for me. Some of them are very well written.”

Young girls tend to be romantic. In this era, there aren't many ways to entertain themselves. At most, they might read love stories or tales of the supernatural to pass the time.

Li Chen didn't hold Wan Jiaojiao to too high a standard either. Seeing that she genuinely liked it, he just let her have her way.

"Send for Su Zhen'ting and Su Pingbei. This palace has matters to discuss with them."

......

On the banks of the Qinhuai River in Jinling, spring rain falls steadily. A middle-aged man, wearing a conical hat and a raincoat, looks no different from an ordinary fisherman as he holds his fishing rod.

Green hills are reflected on the green water, and occasionally a pair of Mandarin ducks or mallards swim across the tranquil river surface. Occasionally, fish leap from the water to peck at food floating on the lake. The scene is peaceful and harmonious.

Footsteps sounded behind the old man.

Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many towers and pavilions amidst smoke and rain.

The visitor was about the same age as the elderly angler. A faint smile played on his face as he said, "The misty rain of Jinling is indeed softer and more gentle than that of other places."

This old man speaking, upon closer inspection, was actually Duan Jinjiang, the former Grand Scholar of the Eastern Pavilion who had fled from the capital!

The old fisherman didn't even turn back as he said, "To add these two touches of tenderness, when the current emperor first ascended the throne, he spent a great deal of money and went against the opinions of many to have this Qinhuai River dug in Jinling. Do you know why"

Du Jianjiang replied, “This matter caused quite a stir back then. I've heard about it. It is said that the emperor believed Nanjing, as the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, possessed too much imperial aura. Since the previous emperor had already granted Nanjing to the prince as his fiefdom, the current emperor, unable to change this fact, sought out a sage and devised a plan to introduce water from the Qinhuai River, thus sullying the imperial aura and damaging the dragon's foundation, preventing it from producing a true dragon strategy.”

"Ten miles of Qinhuai River, six dynasties' gold powder."

The old fisherman said calmly, "In recent years, the business of pleasure boats and brothels on the Qinhuai River has become increasingly booming. Many scholars and writers have taken this place as a treasure trove of romantic elegance, to the extent that there is a saying that even drinking a sip of water from the Qinhuai River tastes like rouge. I imagine that our current emperor, if he could still open his eyes and see this scene today, would surely be grateful to the wise man who advised him back then."

Duan Jinjiang bowed to the elderly fisherman and said, “Every sip and every peck is predetermined by fate. Now he holds the highest position in the land, yet he can only lie in bed like a living dead man. But the prince resides in Nanjing, gathering strength and preparing to rise. Who will be the ruler of the world remains to be seen.”

The old fisherman remained unfazed and simply said, “Just half an hour ago, I received news from the capital that Junze is dead.”

This statement caused Duan Jinjiang's expression to stiffen.

Duan Jijiang and the old man before him, revered as the King of Literature, were old friends. Whether it was a genuine friendship or a political alliance, their secret connections and cooperation had spanned decades.

It was during these decades that Duan Jinjiang came to understand King Wen's character very well. Among his many sons, he valued and placed the most hope in his eldest son, Li Junze.ey entered Xízhèng Hall, then hurriedly ran off to get Zhang the imperial physician to wait at the door. She was thinking that once His Royal Highness finished his business, she would immediately have...