Ning Jun's plan to live a small life behind closed doors was destined to fail.
However, he did not expect that the first person to find trouble with him was not anyone else, but Li Shouzhong. This former Imperial Chancellor had written a memorial of 10,000 words when he went back yesterday. There was not a single word in the entire memorial that mentioned King Zhongshun, but every sentence was denouncing King Zhongshun for not respecting propriety and righteousness. He was just short of pointing at his nose and scolding him.
It could be seen that Ning Jun's actions, in Li Shouzhong's eyes, were simply immoral and hopeless!
Unexpectedly, the Emperor had left his memorial behind today!
Li Shouzhong was a pedantic and upright person. He was proficient in Confucianism and did not know much about the affairs of other countries in the imperial court, but he was only concerned about this matter. After Jia Zhen and the other dignitaries were persuaded to leave, he was the only one who was still writing a letter to argue.
The Emperor remembered that he was an old official and had once asked him for advice in the manner of a disciple at the scripture feast, so he could neither beat nor scold him. He simply sent him to the Zhongshun Prince's residence to read the ten-thousand-word memorial to the king.
The eunuch who delivered the decree repeated the emperor's order." You are not allowed to be negligent and rude.”
These words were really timely. Ning Jun was sitting in the warm pavilion in the east wing of the ceremonial door at this moment. He only felt that there were ten thousand flies flying around his ears. His eyelids were still fighting.
Li Shouzhong dragged the memorial with both hands and read it so loudly that his saliva flew everywhere. The people in the room did not know what to say.
"Alas, a gentleman is virtuous because he has a fair heart, while a villain is immoral because he has selfish desires.”
Did this mean that Ning Jun was a despicable person?
Ning Jun immediately woke up and was about to say something.
He cupped his hands and smiled. There was only one thing to ask. A lone servant was filial to his parents, and a servant was loyal to the king. He must do what he said and do what he did. How could he be immoral?”
Li Shouzhong's beard curled up. Ning Jun immediately said,"Sir, have you heard of Liang Zhu's story? Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were a good couple, but Ma Wencai insisted on interfering and forced them to turn into butterflies and leave. Why bother?"
"So Ma Wencai kidnapped the bride?" Li Shouzhong mocked.”
Ning Jun held his breath in his chest and immediately retorted,"Old Master is wrong, it should be Liang Shanbo who steals the bride!”
Li Shouzhong straightened his back." Since ancient times, marriage has been decided by the parents and the matchmaker…"
Ning Jun quickly nodded and smiled." Old Sir, you're right. My father-in-law personally broke off the Jia family's marriage. My father and mother have already recognized Keqing as their daughter-in-law." As for the matchmaker, I'll ask Imperial Brother to make the decision!”
Li Shouzhong's face turned purple with anger. However, Ning Jun's background was too strong, so he could only settle for the next best thing." That also requires first come, first served!"”
"That's right!" Ning Jun clapped his hands. I knew Keqing before, so I should marry her!”
Li Shouzhong slammed the table and stood up.”As the saying goes, different paths cannot work together. If they continued to argue, their lifespan would probably be reduced by many years. He turned around and was about to leave.
He also knew that this matter could only be left unsettled. The reason why he still forced himself to come here was only for the sake of justice in his heart.
Just like his Three Rites and Justice, which was hundreds of thousands of words long, people of insight thought that it was very effective, but it was useless.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel dejected, like Confucius had traveled all over the world but was of no use.
Ning Jun relied on his strong back and sharp tongue to win unfairly. He left a perfunctory sentence,"Aren't you going to sit down before leaving?"
Li Shouzhong twirled his beard." This old man will go back and write this matter down. I will have a fair judgment after a thousand years.”
This time, it was Ning Jun's turn to slam the table and stand up. Old man, how dare you threaten me in front of me?
Imperial Brother respected the old officials and was tolerant of the elders. This one was young and impetuous. He rushed forward and wanted to tear apart a few of his old bones.
Li Shouzhong was a scholar. Even though his body had surrendered, he still had a sense of pride.
Therefore, Ning Jun resisted the urge to make a move. There was a saying that a gentleman could be bullied with a square method. There was nothing more pleasing than letting him collude with him.
He frowned and thought of a plan. He quickly called out to him," Old Sir, I have something important to discuss with you!”
Li Shouzhong glanced at him." Please speak!”
"I want to print 10,000 sets of the Four Books and Five Classics," said Ning Jun with a smile. However, she didn't know whose notebook to look for. Lord Li used to be the Imperial College's Chancellor, can you do me a small favor?”
Li Shouzhong's face was still stern a second ago. When he heard that Ning Jun wanted to print 10,000 sets of books, his eyes instantly softened.
He coughed lightly and pretended to think for a while before asking,""Is what your highness said true?"
Ning Jun walked up to him with his hands behind his back." I just said that I will do what I say." If Lord Li doesn't have a good book, I can just ask someone else for help.”
Li Shouzhong was obviously moved, but he had been too confident before and could not change his mind in a short time." Why did Your Highness suddenly think of printing books?”
Ning Jun's face was full of compassion." After listening to the old man's teachings, I realized that not everyone in this world is a gentleman like me. There are also many villains who have lost their morals. In the long run, the country will not be a country! This was all their fault for not studying! In view of this, I am determined to devote myself to the cause of culture and education, so that every scholar has a set of scriptures, which may be beneficial to enlightenment.”
At this moment, Ning Jun felt that his body was shining in all directions, and he was about to become a Buddha.
He looked at Li Shouzhong's excited expression and sighed loudly." I know that I can do very little by myself, but a little is a little. It's better than someone who can do nothing!”
At this moment, Li Shouzhong could no longer be reserved." Your Highness is really interested in this?”His voice was trembling.
Ning Jun nodded heavily. Of course, he wouldn't tell him that he was interested in the side product of this business, money!
"Good!" Li Shouzhong respectfully cupped his hands and bowed to Ning Jun." I thank Your Highness on behalf of all the students in the world!”
It was as if Ning Jun did good deeds without leaving his name and printed books for free!
Ning Jun had no choice but to make it clear,"Although it's cheap, there's still a fee."”
"Of course." Li Shouzhong smiled. This old minister isn't the kind of person who is stubborn.”
Engraving books had never been an easy task, especially a huge project like ten thousand sets. It was something that could only be done by the imperial court.
The bookstores on the market could only print a few hundred sets. Engraving was expensive and required several years of effort.
"As long as Your Highness really engrave 10,000 sets of the Four Books and Five Classics, this old minister will take back what I said just now and fully agree to this matter!”
Ning Jun stretched out his hand." I've already said it."”
Li Shouzhong high-fived him." It's a promise!”
Ning Jun then said,"Since we want to print it, in addition to a good book, please write a preface as a mark of my Zhongshun Prince's mansion."”
Li Shouzhong pondered for a moment before agreeing. "The prologue is easy. We have the Book of Rites now, but we still need to choose the other books carefully. When this old minister returns, I will contact my good friends in the capital and join them in this grand event!”
She couldn't wait for a moment. Without waiting for Ning Jun to reply, she had already walked out of the door and walked away.
Only then did Ning Jun come back to his senses. His stone seal technique seemed to be still on paper, but he had already bragged.
Did you hear what he said?
Not only was he actively running around, but he also had to test it with the other great Confucian masters. If the stone seal technique could not be used, then even the Retired Emperor would lose face.
Thinking of this, Ning Jun felt that he had put a rope around his neck. Was he simply asking for it?
So he returned to the back hall. Ke Qing went forward to catch him and said worriedly,"Husband, I heard that Lord Li Shouzhong is here to criticize you. I've made things difficult for you.”
Ning Jun smiled and said,"It's not a big deal. I, your husband, used a little trick to trick him into coming over."”
"Trick?" Ke Qing laughed,"It's not a good word!"”
Ning Jun took advantage of her surprise and kissed her fair and creamy cheek." Li Shouzhong is a scholar with moral integrity. He won't be able to be beaten or scolded, but as long as he has a great, bright, and correct reason, it'll be easy to deal with. He won't be driven away!"”
But Qing rolled her eyes at Ning Jun." I heard that Old Li is a good person."”
Ning Jun was displeased." He's a good person? He chanted scriptures in my ear for two hours! He looked at me and said that I didn't understand what he was saying. He scolded me so badly! If I don't order him around and squeeze out his remaining value, my surname won't be Ning!”
But Qing gently advised,"Husband, he is old after all. Even the Emperor calls him teacher. We can't go too far!"”
Ning Jun grabbed her soft hand and placed it in his palm." It doesn't matter if he scolds me, but he actually dared to scold you as well. That's intolerable. But Qing, you are too kind. In the future, with your husband protecting you, you don't have to be afraid of anything.”
Ke Qing's eyes were filled with tears." Husband, you're so good to Ke Qing!”
Ning Jun held her in his arms and couldn't help but feel restless.
But Qing pouted, scolded but also did not listen, and newlyweds, is like glue, stick can not be separated.
After a long time, Ke Qing's face turned red and she spat,"Husband, let me down. I'll be a joke."”
"In our residence, there are only you and me. The rest are nonexistent." Whoever dared to gossip would have their tongues cut off and sold!”
However, Qing quickly covered his mouth and advised,"There is no such thing as cutting off one's tongue in the law. In the future, husband should be more careful with his words and actions.”Her eyes were filled with love.
Ning Jun sucked again, but Qing spat,""In the future, don't put on powder and rouge.”
Ning Jun pursed his lips." I said it was so sweet!”
It made Ke Qing so angry that she clenched her small fist and hit Ning Jun's chest.
Ning Jun deliberately cried out loudly and asked in panic,"Husband, did you hit me too hard? Let me take a look?"
Ning Jun grabbed her." There's someone living in my heart. Can you help me see who it is?”
"How would I know who it is?"”
Ning Jun turned her over." She is my wife, Qin Keqing." It was said that she was a fairy from the heavens!”
However, Qing's pretty face flushed red, and her heart was filled with sweetness.
Ning Jun brushed the hair on her forehead and looked at her intently.
But Qing helped Ning Jun tidy up his clothes and said with a smile,""Husband, Wang De has already brought them to the east courtyard.”
Only then did Ning Jun remember that he had something important to do. He didn't even drink the tea and rushed to the East Road Courtyard.
Ke Qing looked at his back and smiled. She turned around and asked the old woman below," Is Nanny Zhang here?" When she came, she would take the size of the girls in the inner room and make new clothes according to wangye's instructions.”
When Ning Jun arrived at the front hall of the East Road Courtyard, Wang De came over to pay his respects." Your Highness, there are two carpenters in our manor, two engraving and two ink makers hired from outside. This servant can only find these few in a short period of time. If there are fewer, this servant will look for them again.”
Ning Jun frowned." Are there any stonemasons?”
Wang De was stunned." Yes!" He immediately ordered someone to bring a middle-aged man over." His name is Honest Liu. He's been a stonemason in his family for several generations and has been working in the Imperial Residence for several years.”
Ning Jun didn't listen to his long-winded words and only said to Honest Liu,"Do you know which stones have a fine texture and are close to water and ink?”
Honest Liu quickly knelt down." Your Highness, I know which people are close to the water. But I don't know if I'm close to the ink."”
"Bring back a board from all the stones you know." Ning Jun laughed. The sooner, the better. I want it tomorrow! If you do well, I will reward you with a hundred taels of silver!”
Honest Liu responded in a muffled voice.
Ning Jun then handed the carpenter two drawings, one for the printing machine and the other for the lump machine. Needless to say, the printing machine was actually a water bench used by jade craftsmen to polish jade. It was horizontal and added with gears to polish the stone slabs. After explaining, the two carpenters turned around and went to look for wood.
He then instructed the other two inkers to make the ink, and finally sent away the two proud engraving artists who were waiting for a huge sum of money.
"Your Highness, these two carvings are useless. Should we look for them again?" Wang De advised carefully.”How could it be printed without engraving? Some things had already exceeded his understanding.
Ning Jun glared at him." Do I need you to teach me what to do? I want to see the results tomorrow. If they do well, they will be rewarded. If they don't do well, I will make you pay!”
"Rest assured, Your Highness. We'll definitely have results tomorrow!" Wang De bowed and said with a smile.”
Ning Jun nodded in satisfaction." It's best that way. Otherwise, I don't mind changing someone else to do it."”
How could Wang De not do his best?
After Ning Jun left, his expression changed and he shouted in a sharp voice," What are you guys still doing here? If you can't make it tomorrow, I'll teach you a lesson first!”
After Ning Jun gave a detailed explanation, he let go of the matter. He could only leave the professional to do what he said was professional.
When he returned to the back hall, he happened to see the tailor taking the size of the servant girls.
"Shouldn't you take off your clothes to measure your size?" Ning Jun asked curiously.”
It made the servant girls blush.
"Husband, Mother Zhang and the others know what to do!" Ke Qing spat at the side. Why don't you go out for a walk before coming back?”
"Then you can continue. Pretend I'm not here." Ning Jun smiled.”
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]