"Today, the two Lord Cuis still uphold such great righteousness. They're willing to contribute 700 taels of gold and all their family's collected books for the scholars across the land. Their noble character is truly admirable. Even His Majesty is deeply touched," Liu Bei said, his words pouring out. Both Cui Renshi and Cui Gan were beaming with smiles, waving their hands repeatedly, saying that it was what they should do after years of studying the classics and following the sages' teachings.
Liu Bei immediately grinned and said, "His Majesty has given an order. He'll spread the names of the two Lord Cuis in Chang'an City and Henan Circuit. He'll make sure that everyone knows about their act of funding the construction of the library, so that they'll be praised by all."
"Thank you, thank you."
At this moment, they had no idea what was about to happen. They only thought that they were going to become famous across the land and leave their names in history.
"Everyone, receive the imperial edict!" Liu Bei opened the edict and loudly announced, "Considering that Cui Renshi, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments from the Boling Cui Clan, has always been concerned about the scholars across the land and is determined to fund the construction of the library, and also considering his righteous deeds in Henan Circuit, His Majesty orders Cui Renshi to supervise the construction of the library in Henan Circuit. He shall choose the location and fund the construction."
All the members of the Cui Clan who had knelt down were stunned upon hearing this edict.
Wasn't the library supposed to be built in Chang'an City? How did it become a library in Henan Circuit?
This was a huge difference!
Just like that, 700 taels of gold were gone? What a big loss!
Cui Renshi felt a tightness in his chest and almost couldn't catch his breath. No wonder Princess Chengyang finally said to select the top ten!
It was because there were ten circuits in the Tang Dynasty!
He had been pushed to Henan Circuit. Presumably, the others were in a similar situation.
Liu Bei had delayed announcing the edict just now to pave the way for his past experiences in Qingzhou, Henan Circuit.
Whose scheme was this? His Majesty's? Or Princess Chengyang's? Even if Princess Chengyang wasn't the mastermind, she should have known about His Majesty's plan.
"Two Lord Cuis, have you been so overjoyed that you've forgotten to receive the edict?" Liu Bei's voice rang out again.
Cui Renshi and the others gritted their teeth and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Your subject receives the edict and expresses gratitude."
"Good. Now that the matter is settled, I'll take my leave." Liu Bei bowed and turned to leave. To some extent, he was the real close subject of Li Shimin.
Everything returned to normal. Except for the imperial edict in Cui Renshi's hand, it seemed as if what had just happened was just a nightmare.
Cui Xian didn't care whether the library was built in Chang'an or in Qingzhou, Henan Circuit. He only cared about his Cuizong.
Gathering his courage, he asked, "Uncles, will today's banquet still be held?"
The scene fell into complete silence. Only Cui Xian was speaking.
"Humph, what's the point of holding it? Everyone, go back!" Cui Gan's face darkened. The banquet was originally held to celebrate obtaining the right to build the library in Chang'an City. They thought it was a sure thing, but who would have thought it would turn out like this!
That was 700 taels of gold! 700 taels!
Even for a noble family like theirs, taking out 700 taels would make them feel pain for a long time!
If the library was built in Chang'an City, they wouldn't say anything. They could pass by it on their way to the yamen every day, see the scholars inside, and hear people's praises.
But now it had become Henan Circuit?
Cui Renshi had indeed gone to Qingzhou to investigate a case, but what did that have to do with Cui Gan? He would have to contribute at least half of the 700 taels! Wasn't this just doing things for others?
Cui Xian quickly ran back to his courtyard. It was completely dark, so dark that he couldn't see his own hand in front of him. There were two lanterns hanging at the door, and the light swayed with the south wind.
When he reached the door, he seemed to hear someone sobbing inside.
He quickly pushed the door open. A pungent smell of blood hit his face. He saw Cuizong being held in the arms of another maid, Daiying. Her face was so pale that she didn't look like a living person at all. There was a pool of bright red blood under her.
Daiying was crying heart - brokenly, gasping for breath. Her makeup was all smeared.
"My lord, you're finally back," Daiying said with tear - blurred eyes. Looking up and seeing that it was Cui Xian who had returned, she said, "Come and take a look quickly. Cuizong is gone!"
"Gone what?" Cui Xian quickly rushed over. Not caring about the blood, he pulled Cuizong's arm, but Cuizong didn't show any reaction at all.
Her body was cold and a bit stiff.
"Cuizong was pregnant, but she knelt for too long. The baby couldn't be saved. Just now, the doctor came to take a look and kept shaking his head, saying that she was too young and the injury was too serious to be saved. I gave him my two hairpins, and he reluctantly agreed to write a prescription and boil some medicine."
At this point, Daiying couldn't speak anymore, but she still endured and continued, "But just when he finished boiling the medicine, Cuizong passed away. Cuizong had such a tragic fate!"
Cui Xian had suffered several blows in a row. He slumped to the ground, and tears welled up in his eyes involuntarily.
He had come too late. He had been delayed by that meaningless banquet for so long and hadn't been able to see Cuizong for the last time.
And the baby in Cuizong's belly, that was his eldest son! Just like that, it was gone!
It was all Cui Tian's fault! It was all her fault for acting so high - handedly! If she hadn't made Cuizong kneel for so long, Cuizong and the baby wouldn't have had an accident!
Why wasn't it her who lost the baby and died today?
Without her, the Cui Clan would have one less person who threw her weight around!
At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared outside the window. Cui Xian was very familiar with it. Isn't this the Cui Tian he had just cursed?
"Don't be busy crying. Go to Princess Chengyang's villa tomorrow morning and take a look! See what her cement floor looks like. Also, take a look at the papermaking and printing. Do you understand?" After saying that, Cui Tian slapped the window lattice hard.
"Understood."
Cui Xian replied in a low voice, with tears streaming down his face.
After getting the reply, Cui Tian left. In fact, she didn't understand why Cui Xian was crying. Was he crying for the family's collected books? Or for the 700 taels of gold?
She had indeed taught her younger brother well. He knew to worry about the family.
If the new papermaking and printing techniques were developed, the Cui Clan's collected books could just be copied when lent out. If not, these books might be gone forever.
By then, the court officials would surely be dissatisfied. She didn't know how His Majesty and Princess Chengyang would deal with it.
Early the next morning, the weather was clear and pleasant. Li Jingyun and Li Zhen set off from Anfu Gate. They deliberately went to take a look at the mansions that Li Shimin had bestowed on the three of them. While eating silver - thread candies, they met Li Yin. Li Yin was worried about his younger brother and sister's safety, so he accompanied them out.
The carriage moved forward and left Chang'an City. Li Zhen had been eager to come out and take a look for a long time. He was extremely excited at this moment.
This was all farmland. There were large stretches of flat land, green and lush. The millet was growing very well.
"Eighth brother, look! All these fields belong to my manor!"
Li Jingyun waved her little hand, encompassing the whole stretch of land.
"Wait, isn't there a carriage parked on the farmer's field in front?" Li Jingyun was originally very happy, but as soon as she saw a spacious and luxurious carriage crushing the green seedlings not far away. From the marks, it had crushed a large area.
She felt heart - ache just looking at it. She couldn't imagine how sad the farmer who owned this land must be.
"The carriage has a symbol on it. It belongs to the Cui Clan. Acting so recklessly, it must be a descendant of the Boling Cui Clan," Li Yin said.
Li Zhen immediately thought of Cui Xian. It couldn't be him, could it? It was okay to see him every day in Hongwen Museum, but how could they even meet outside Chang'an City? How unlucky.