Chapter 46 Qingqing is in a difficult position. ...

Qingqing was in a dilemma.

Although I'm a university student and have studied characters from this era, my classical Chinese translation skills are only at a high school senior level.

Besides, this paper is too expensive. She folds it carefully even when she's tidying up, and she's reluctant to use it for playing with.

Although it wasn't obvious on her face, the tone of her voice was quite telling. Yan Dibai remained silent, glancing at her: "Yang Liuqing, how long have you been in the palace?"

Suddenly asked this... Qingqing was unsure: "Uh...more than a year?"

"How long have you been by my side?"

She was still unsure: "More than half a year?"

Yan Dibai crossed his arms, revealing an unfriendly expression:

"You have a really good memory."

The tone of voice seemed...not very friendly either.

That's mockery.

Before she could decide how to react, Yan Dibai snatched the pen from her hand. "Worrying about paper prices? You really think you're a saint."

As he spoke, he tore down the Gongyang Commentary, asking, "What part of it do you not understand?"

Qingqing was shocked: "What is Your Majesty doing?"

Wasn't she the one copying the book?

Yan Dibai: "I heard you loved reading when you were in the Wende Hall. How come all those daily records went to your head? You were so engrossed in reading my biography that you forgot everything else?"

"This is outrageous!" she exclaimed, bewildered. "Your Majesty... how did you know..."

The young man scoffed, his sharp chin raised high: "If I want to know something, no one can be kept in the dark."

He didn't want to say much, and was very arrogant: "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll play the role of a teacher. Don't push your luck."

Qingqing: "..."

Well, she didn't quite believe his arrogant demeanor: "Does Your Majesty really have a thorough understanding of all these books?"

Yan Dibai choked, and couldn't help but turn to glare at her:

"You question me? I've said it before, I am a genius unlike any other!"

Qingqing stared into his fiery eyes, slowly lowered her head, and suddenly stifled a laugh. To prevent him from noticing, she quickly suppressed a smile.

"Since Your Majesty has condescended to instruct me, I am naturally overjoyed."

She presented the inkstone with a smile: "Please."

Yan Dibai didn't even glance at it, only saying, "I will read all 100,000 books in the world."

His eyes were filled with pride: "Yang Liuqing, you are all ears to listen to me."

The book "Gongyang Zhuan" vividly depicts the myriad aspects of life in that era, and its wise sayings have influenced generations of emperors.

Those in positions of power are all well-versed in this text.

The boy's voice was truly beautiful when he wasn't acting crazy. His explanations of the allusions in the sentences were rambling and lighthearted, yet concise and to the point.

At first, Qingqing thought he was just messing around and wasn't really taking it seriously. But as time went on, she gradually became a little alarmed by the confidence that emanated from his very being when he spoke.

She was inexplicably lost in thought. It seemed to be... the first time she felt that this young man possessed the erudite qualities of an emperor.

He was completely different from his usual self.

When Yan Dibai read the line "To restore order to a chaotic world, one must restore order," he chuckled.

“Yang Liuqing, look at this book. It’s full of rubbish that’s been dug out of the Spring and Autumn Annals and regurgitated.”

He smiled calmly, his long, thick eyelashes fluttered, and his beautiful finger pointed towards her eyes.

Qingqing's heart skipped a beat with the scent emanating from him, and then she heard him lazily ask:

"Tell me, what do you mean by that?"

She glanced at his neatly trimmed short nails, then suddenly snapped out of her reverie, her gaze shifting to the six characters. The question didn't seem difficult. She paused for a second, then stammered:

"To govern a turbulent world, one must guide it back to its original, righteous path?"

Yan Di tore the page out in a flash, chuckling softly. The two had somehow gotten close together; the vibrations of his chest pressed against her clothes, the force sending a slight swirl through their skin.

His unique, mixed fragrance filled her nose and mouth, making Qingqing feel uneasy and embarrassed. For a moment, she forgot to ask Yan Dibai why he tore out that page.

She was still amazed by his erudition when Yan Dibai threw down the book and said:

"I'm not watching anymore."

"Why?" Qingqing didn't understand.

Yan Dibai slumped down beside her, raising an eyebrow: "That's all outdated stuff, just a bunch of bullshit platitudes. And it's not even as sincere as what you've done. What's so interesting about it?"

The more I look at these old things, the more disgusted I get. They spout holy words, yet none of them can truly change the fate of a nation.

He was clearly targeting Yang Liuqing, but now he's the one who's making himself unhappy.

Yan Dibai rubbed his temples, feeling extremely dizzy lately.

Qingqing was silent for half a second, then her eyes suddenly brightened:

"Is Your Majesty praising me?"

Yan Dibai's dizziness vanished instantly: "Are you sick? What did I praise you for?"

“Your Majesty,” she hesitated slightly, then added with an unusual hint of defiance, “Your Majesty just said that what I did was sincere. Your Majesty meant that I was truly sincere towards Sister Deng and towards my friends. How could that not be a compliment?”

Yan Dibai used to criticize Yang Liuqing the most for being scheming and presumptuous in her attempts to understand the Emperor's mind.

This casual remark made her realize that the boy had changed his prejudices.

She refused to yield, increasingly rejecting her silent, wooden, and timid self, displaying a kind of aggressive persistence, yet genuinely seeking an answer:

"Is the word 'sincere' an insult?"

The girl straightened her back as she spoke, and their eyes met, making it seem absurdly as if they were equals.

In fact, there is no one who can look Yan Dibai in the eye like that.

Yan Di swallowed hard, surprisingly unwilling to answer the rhetorical question. Yet, he didn't put on his imperial airs and rebuke her for her arrogance.

…When Yang Liuqing is being stubborn, she's even more annoying than before.

His forehead twitched, and he suddenly clutched his forehead, his head throbbing with pain.

"Want to be praised by me? Maybe in your next life! Ouch! Ouch! I'm tired!"

Wo Xue came running immediately, carrying her pipe. Qing Qing pursed her lips as Yan Dibai left her behind. She remained silent, a strange feeling creeping into her heart. She didn't chase after him.

After a while, the ink on the brush tip was half dry. She sighed for no reason, patted her uncomfortable chest, and pressed down slightly with her fingertips. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, add some water, and go to get ordinary Xuan paper. She then began to copy the Gongyang Commentary, which she had picked up again, stroke by stroke.

This copying took place for a whole day, with heavy snow falling.

With Yan Dibai's instruction, rereading this book reveals a slightly different meaning.

In particular, the six characters "【潔乱世，反之正。" were written with utmost seriousness.

But Yan Dibai did not return even as night fell.

As Qingqing returned to her room with the paper she had written, she suddenly felt that the snow was very cold today.

It hasn't melted yet.

The green sprout that almost broke through the soil was ultimately pressed back into the damp mud.

-

Before we knew it, the first month of the lunar calendar was over, and the Green Sprouts Act had already been implemented.

This caused a huge uproar among the people of the Great Jin Dynasty.

The Green Sprouts Law, as the name suggests, primarily concerns green sprouts.

Although this order was only on a trial basis, hundreds of thousands of seedlings were distributed. Everyone likes things that are free.

The situation is even worse for poor peasants.

Although many people had doubts, they received seedlings and registered their names thanks to Lin Xiang's strong promotion.

Within two months, as expected, no one came to collect taxes in any different ways.

Therefore, in April, the Green Sprouts Act was reinstated, this time with a much greater scope than the one implemented in early March.

Meanwhile, a group of palace servants left the palace, and the imperial city began recruiting new people again. This time, surprisingly, many more people eagerly signed up.

At this time, the Great Jin Dynasty seemed to be thriving.

Qingqing hadn't spoken much with Yan Dibai for a month.

Because he has been very busy since that day.

Because of the jade incident, Prime Minister Lin praised him highly and came to visit him every day afterward, practically living in Xianning Palace. Yan Dibai seemed to have really changed his personality; he just let Prime Minister Lin spew spittle at him without resorting to his sharp tongue to chase him away. The two of them barely made eye contact all day, at most exchanging glances while serving tea and water.

Time passed too quickly, so quickly that she thought the information from the beginning might never come to pass.

As I was daydreaming about the future, an electronic voice pierced my brain.

[Feedback on the Emperor's Aura is in progress]

[Proof of Buddhahood +20, Promotion of Young Seedlings +25. Total value 50. The aura of an emperor is beginning to take shape. The people are overjoyed; the conquerors should keep up the good work.]

50?!

Although it seems I'm not as good as Xiao Yuanjing, it's still acceptable!

However, it is still delayed, depending on the public's feedback... No wonder there was no response after doing a good deed.

Qingqing suppressed her joy and secretly glanced at Yan Dibai inside. The young man sat quietly cross-legged on the couch, while Prime Minister Lin and his students were talking eloquently beside him.

He listened attentively with his eyes lowered, his sharply defined face showing no sign of impatience.

Perhaps it was the light, but his stunningly beautiful face was no longer as androgynous as it had been at first glance.

His facial features seemed unchanged, but his bone structure was more defined, and he had lost weight. His skin and flesh were firm, and his eyes occasionally held a coldness reminiscent of Xiao Yuanjing, a mature man.

It's as if they matured suddenly.

But… she thought of the fleeting darkness in his eyes. It felt strange.

Yan Dibai has been having trouble sleeping lately, feeling particularly excited, and he doesn't know where the energy comes from.

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Author's note: Sorry for the long wait π_π

Well, before a great calamity strikes, there is often a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2023-10-18 23:56:47 and 2023-10-25 23:01:55!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Xie Ning (1 landmine);

Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Moonrise 2 bottles;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!