The broken rocks are filled with fragrance, and the green lamps are swaying.
Xu Jiang was cleaning the plates of "Tracing the Origins of Cultural Context" and preparing to cut paper and print twenty sets tomorrow for collection.
If this set of books passes the review, the master's original manuscripts and engravings must be handed over to Lantai for safekeeping so that future generations can correct the deviations in the folk version.
While the imperial court prohibited private profiteering from the printing of official books, it did prohibit copying, which inevitably led to errors. Furthermore, bookshops and bookstores, hoping to capture a share of the profits, would not only purchase books from the Imperial College but also print them under false names. Unavoidably, these books would include private works or inappropriate texts, altering the text and confusing the chapters, leading to the circulation of various versions.
The longer it has been circulated, the more versions there are, and the more difficult it is to distinguish the true from the false.
Not to mention the folk books, even the classics published by the Imperial College had no original manuscripts to verify, and were passed down year after year, so it was difficult to unify their versions.
Xu Yuan's set of books had not yet been published. Submitting the original manuscripts and engravings to the court could not only correct later versions, but also prove the origin of the books, making it easier to pass the review of the Ministry of Rites.
So even if Xu Jiang was reluctant, she had no choice but to hand it in. However, before handing it in, she could keep a seal as a souvenir.
The set of plates was well preserved, with little damage except for the slight grasshopper marks. She used a damp cloth to wipe each plate spotlessly clean.
Lou Yunchun was sleeping soundly. The noises of Xu Jiang's men did not disturb him, but instead the melody of the music helped him sleep peacefully.
After tidying up the stereotype, Xu Jiang began to cut paper again. The sound of the bone knife breaking through the rice paper was like rustling rain. She looked back at the person on the wooden couch and continued with the work in her hands.
The incense had burned out. She put down the bone knife, pounded her shoulders and neck, then folded the cut paper neatly, went to the bathroom to wash up, and prepared to go to bed.
After washing up, she was about to go see Lou Yunchun, but she saw that he had woken up and was standing in front of the small door waiting.
"Did it wake you?"
"Thirsty." In fact, he was awakened by the feeling that she had left.
"The water is still hot on the stove. Would you like some sugar water?"
"want."
"Come." Xu Jiang waved at him.
In the kitchen, Lou Yunchun was lighting the lamp while Xu Jiang was making sugar water in cups. She used the syrup left over from the last time she made peony cakes. As the syrup dissolved in the water, the fragrance of flowers filled the air.
Seeing that Lou Yunchun didn't want to sleep for a while, Xu Jiang went in with him to drink.
The night is as cool as water. A bowl of warm sugar water makes you feel fragrant, warm and refreshing.
Lou Yunchun looked at the neatly arranged papers and stencils beside him and said, "Tomorrow is a day off. I'll help you."
Xu Jiang paused, "It's a rare day off, aren't you going home?"
Lou Yunchun turned around and looked at her.
Xu Jiang was confused by his gaze, "What's wrong?"
Lou Yunchun asked in a low voice: "What happened while I was away?"
Too sharp. Xu Jiang was secretly surprised.
But how should she say this? If she said it inappropriately, it would seem like she was breaking off relations with him.
Xu Jiang thought about it for a while, but didn't know how to start. After pondering for a long time, he stammered, "Do you... want to get married?"
My God, it’s better not to consider it. What nonsense is she asking!
"Get married?" Lou Yunchun's eyes lit up instantly, and all his sleepiness vanished. He then grabbed her hand and asked earnestly, "Are you willing?"
Seeing that he had indeed misunderstood, Xu Jiang wanted to cover her face, but her hands were held by him and she had nowhere to hide, and her blushing face was clearly visible to him.
"I..." She looked into Lou Yunchun's eyes full of expectation and could not say no. She blushed and said euphemistically, "It's not the right time yet."
She didn't refuse!
Lou Yunchun picked up Xu Jiang and held her in his arms, kissing her all over the face without any rules, and he couldn't suppress his smile.
Xu Jiang was infected by his joy and couldn't help laughing while dodging his kiss.
Finally, Lou Yunchun held her close to his chest, feeling somewhat unhappy again, "I should have mentioned this to you earlier."
Does this make it seem like the two of them are going to get married right away?
Thinking of the sticking point between them, Xu Jiang sighed, "As long as we love each other, anyone's words are all right. But now is not the right time to get married. You know better than me that we... are not suitable."
"No, we're not unsuitable." They were a match made in heaven. Lou Yunchun kissed her soft lips, his face full of tenderness. "I've already thought about this matter a long time ago, and I've made up my mind."
Xu Jiang stared at him and asked curiously, "Have you thought about it? Have you thought it through? How did you think about it?"
"Once this matter is truly settled and the imperial court is evaluating and awarding prizes, I can exchange my promotion for a favor from the Saint."
"What grace?"
"The bookshops will be incorporated into the Imperial College and used as official engraving studios."
Official engraving studio? Xu Jiang was stunned.
Lou Yunchun made two plans for himself and Xu Jiang.
If Xu Jiang didn't want to get married, then she could continue to run her bookshop, and they could stay together until they grew old. When he retired from office, he could run the shop with her. He could talk to his parents; they would surely understand.
If Xu Jiang wanted to have a home with him, then with this grace, the bookstore would no longer belong to the Ministry of Revenue, but would be directly under the jurisdiction of the Imperial College and supervised by the Imperial College.
Xu Jiang could also get rid of her merchant status and become an official household, and they would no longer be hindered by the law. Xu Jiang could then continue to publish books, and the Lou family would not be implicated by their union.
After the bookstore was incorporated into the Imperial College, the monthly accounts were audited by the Imperial College, thus eliminating the suspicion of corruption and fraud on him.
From now on, she can do whatever she wants freely, and he can stay with her with peace of mind without any worries.
He originally proposed that Xu Jiang hand over "Tracing the Origins of Cultural Heritage" to the Imperial College for official engraving. Besides being the best choice for both Xu Jiang and Xu Yuan, he was also planning for this matter.
Presenting books would not only be beneficial to the court, but would also allow bookshops to deepen their exchanges with the court. In addition, Xu Jiangben and the Imperial College had jointly published "New Collection of Elementary Studies", so asking for grace at that time would have a basis and would be more likely to be approved by the sage.
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