After watching the grand opening of the Ice Tower, Li Jingyun was about to return to the palace. At this moment, Su Gui came over and told her that the construction of the library in Chang'an City was about to start. Instantly intrigued, Li Jingyun was eager to rush to the site and take a look.
Li Shimin was also curious. After asking a few questions, he was almost tempted to go as well. Only Princess Gaoyang, who needed to manage the business of the Ice Tower, was left behind.
When the group rushed there in high spirits, it was the hottest part of the afternoon. They all took shelter under the shade of the trees and watched the workers start the construction from afar.
Tang Jian's courtyard was right across from the library site, just a short distance away. The young servant at the gate was lying on a chair. Despite the continuous noise around him, he looked very comfortable. From time to time, he would look up to check the progress of the construction, with a big smile on his face.
Li Jingyun was puzzled. She quietly walked over. Just as the servant looked up, instead of seeing the workers, he saw a cute little child, which gave him quite a shock.
"Ouch, whose child are you? Why are you running around outside at this time? What if you get sunstroke? It's no joke. Hurry back home." The servant gave her a long and earnest lecture.
Li Jingyun was just curious. "It's so noisy next door. It must be hard for you to even sleep. Why are you still so happy?"
"What's a little lack of sleep? Little girl, do you know this is a library? Our Lord Tang Jian has almost emptied his fortune and donated all his collected books to satisfy the princess and the emperor, so that the library could be built right across from our house. In my ears, this noise is not annoying at all. It sounds as beautiful as heavenly music."
Once he started talking about this, the servant rambled on, speaking with great passion and pride.
In a restaurant across the street, Yan Lide and Tang Jian were drinking together, keeping an eye on the progress of the project. When they saw the familiar figures, they quickly went out to greet them.
The group gathered together and chatted for a while.
Yan Lide was now convinced that the little princess had real talent. At first, he thought the cement was just a rumor or a fabrication. Who would have thought that it was already in use? Several generals on the Western Frontier had highly praised the cement.
The little princess was also proficient in papermaking and the new printing technique. Now, the craftsmen in the villa were working at full capacity to print books. They were just waiting for the completion of the library so that the books could be stored inside.
That Cui Tian from the Cui family dared to make a bet with the little princess. He wasn't afraid of being criticized by the other families of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans in the future.
If the library was really built, how many scholars would voluntarily sing the praises of the little princess?
And he, Yan Lide, would be a witness to all of this.
Thinking of this, he felt excited and full of motivation.
It was hot and sunny outside. After checking the progress of the library construction, Li Jingyun followed her father, elder brothers, and sisters back home.
After the construction of the library started, the ridicule of the Cui family never stopped, and there were new rumors every day. Li Jingyun often traveled between the imperial city and the villa, so she heard these rumors the most. But after a while, she didn't really care.
On a scorching summer day, Li Jingyun had just woken up from her afternoon nap when she heard voices coming from Taihe Hall. She went over to have a look.
A young man in his early twenties was sitting below Li Shimin, discussing poetry and literature with him. Li Jingyun didn't want to interrupt, so she quietly walked over and casually pulled a stool to sit next to Li Shimin. Only then did she have the chance to take a good look at the young man.
He looked so familiar. Where had she seen him before? But where exactly?
"Hongxuan, why are you looking at Dr. Wang like that? There's nothing on his face." Li Shimin was also attracted by Li Jingyun's expression. He had noticed his daughter coming in earlier, and his mind had been on her rather than the poetry and literature.
Hongxuan obviously had just woken up. Her hair was a bit messy, her eyes were listless, and it seemed like she hadn't fully opened them. She had managed to get here only by relying on her past memory.
Caught by her father, Li Jingyun smiled flatteringly. "Father, I just think Dr. Wang looks familiar. I seem to have seen him somewhere."
"I am Wang Fuzhi, the courtier and the Imperial Academy Doctor. Greetings to Your Highness the Princess. I have never met the princess before. How could I look familiar to you?" Wang Fuzhi first bowed and then said so after being told to rise.
He didn't expect that during this summons, he would have the honor of meeting the little princess. It was rumored that this princess either served the queen in the deep palace or supervised the printing and production of books in the villa outside the palace. She was so elusive that even the emperor and the princes often couldn't find her.
How could he have met the little princess? If he had, he would definitely have a deep impression.
"I remember!" After looking at him for a while longer, Li Jingyun clapped her hands and cheered. "He looks similar to the old gentleman Wang Ji from Shuren Academy! No wonder I always thought he looked familiar."
"Hahaha, so that's it."
Li Shimin was amused and burst out laughing.
Wang Fuzhi said, "Your Highness, Wang Ji is my uncle. That's why the princess may find us similar."
Li Jingyun suddenly understood. So he and the old gentleman Wang Ji were from the same family.
"Your uncle educates the younger generation, and you will serve our Great Tang loyally. In the future, whether it's guarding the frontiers or governing the people, you will both be meritorious. I summoned you today because there is still a vacancy for the county magistrate in Jiaozhi County. Go back and pack up. Then set off for Jiaozhi immediately."
Li Shimin had been chatting about poetry and ancient texts for a long time before, but it had nothing to do with today's main topic. It was just casual talk.
Jiaozhi was by the sea and had a port. The goods from the countries in the South China Sea had to pass through Jiaozhi to enter the Great Tang. They needed a smart and capable person to go there to control the situation and carefully inspect the incoming and outgoing goods and foreign travelers.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I receive the order and thank Your Majesty. I will surely guard Jiaozhi well for Your Majesty."
Wang Fuzhi felt mixed emotions. The position of the county magistrate in Jiaozhi and his current position as the Imperial Academy Doctor were both of the seventh rank. This was just a lateral transfer. The position of the Imperial Academy Doctor was a leisurely and prestigious one. But he didn't know what it would be like in Jiaozhi.
Just as he was about to step back and prepare, the system suddenly spoke. Li Jingyun suddenly widened her eyes and woke up.
System: Since you're going to Jiaozhi, pay more attention to the Champa rice and cotton. They are very useful. I'll draw two pictures for you.
A moment later, two pictures suddenly appeared in Li Jingyun's hands. They were exquisitely drawn. One looked like rice, and the other was a bit strange, looking like a flower but also furry.
There was no sweet potato because sweet potatoes were originally from South America. At most, Wang Fuzhi could cover South Asia. South America was out of his reach. It would only be possible when more advanced ships appeared.
Wang Fuzhi was too far away to see, but Li Shimin saw everything clearly.
It must be that the immortal had given another order. Last time, there was the new papermaking and printing technique. The time before that, there was cement. He wondered what good things it would be this time.
"Magistrate Wang!" Li Jingyun rushed over in a flash and handed the two pictures to Wang Fuzhi. "Just now, the immortal gave me these two pictures and told me to tell you that, cough, you should look for the things on these pictures carefully. This rice can be harvested three times a year, and this is called cotton, which can be used to make cotton-padded clothes. It has a very good cold-proof effect."
She imitated the words of the system in her ear, posing grandly and speaking word by word with cadence.
Li Shimin couldn't stay calm either. He quickly came over to take a look. What good things could be harvested three times a year? With this rice, how many people could be fed!
And cotton could be used to make cotton-padded clothes! Although the Great Tang had become much richer, there were still people freezing to death every winter.
"Yes, Your Highness. I will surely find these two things." Wang Fuzhi's expression changed. He bowed seriously in response.