NOVEL NEXT Chapter 431
Chapter 431: The Chancellor Leads the Charge, All for the National Advisor!
In the Xi’an Palace, the grand main palace of the Great Qin Empire,
It served as the political center and a national symbol of the Qin Dynasty.
In the twelfth year of Duke Xiao of Qin’s reign, the capital was moved to Xi’an, and the palaces were constructed.
“Because of the Northern Tombs’ Palace,” it was where the First Emperor conducted his administrative affairs.
The vastness and grandeur of the Xi’an Palace were beyond ordinary imagination.
Starting from Tower Hill in the west, traveling northeast across the Xi’an Plateau, to the junction of the Jing and Wei Rivers, then diverting south over the Wei River, the entire area centered around Xi’an formed its extensive grounds, with hundreds of palaces.
Walking from Ying Zheng’s study to the library would take at least half an hour.
Along the way, the Empress Dowager and Uya chatted about the local customs and experiences.
Finally, after traversing a section of the corridor,
A palace covering hundreds of zhang appeared before their eyes.
The guards stationed at the entrance spotted someone approaching from a distance and instinctively wanted to step forward to inquire.
However, upon closer inspection, they became flustered and dashed back inside the palace.
Moments later, a large group of officials and attendants orderly filed out from within,
Standing neatly along the pathway to welcome them.
In unison, they shouted, “We greet the Empress Dowager! We greet the National Advisor!”
“Please, no need for formalities.”
In front of others, Zhao Ji quickly resumed her high and mighty demeanor.
“Li Si? What brings you here?”
Li Mo instantly spotted Li Si among the crowd in front and asked with mild surprise.
Li Si stepped forward, and upon seeing Li Mo’s normal appearance, he was momentarily taken aback.
But he quickly regained his composure and respectfully replied, “Reporting to the National Advisor, His Majesty received your message a few days ago and instructed me to have the officials in the library investigate the texts as per your request. I wouldn’t dare slack off; I haven’t stepped out of the library for even a moment these days.”
Li Si didn’t dare be the slightest bit careless regarding Li Mo’s affairs.
Except for using the restroom, he had even moved his meals and lodging here these past few days.
Li Mo couldn’t help but feel touched.
Although Ying Zheng wasn’t able to accompany him due to pressing state duties,
The fact that he had arranged for Li Si to take lead on this task showed how much he valued Li Mo’s matters.
What was Li Si now?
He was the Chancellor!
To be blunt, he essentially held the position of Prime Minister, overseeing significant state affairs.
The fact that a Prime Minister was dispatched to research texts due to a single letter was a level of respect never seen before in history.
Li Mo unhurriedly said, “Thank you for your hard work, Chancellor Li, and everyone else.”
“Serving the National Advisor is our honor,” Li Si took the lead in expressing.
Not wanting to engage in excessive pleasantries, Li Mo walked towards the library while directly asking, “Have there been any findings in the past few days?”
The library was expansive, with various shelves organized by different times and topics.
Li Si guided him and the Empress Dowager towards the back.
In the front were the rubbings, while the original bamboo scrolls and rare copies were hidden behind.
“Reporting to the National Advisor, I found over three hundred volumes of different types of atmospheric literature and over twelve hundred volumes on cultural fortunes, among five hundred and twenty volumes recording ancient legends. Any related documents I found have been cataloged nearby, totaling three thousand three hundred and eighteen volumes.”
Li Si was meticulous in his work.
His search could be described as thoroughly detailed without missing a single thread concerning what Li Mo had mentioned.
“Very good.”
Li Mo nodded in satisfaction.
Uya looked at the neatly arranged books, her heart stirring.
Surely within all these texts, they could find some clues?
“National Advisor, do you need someone to read them aloud?”
Seeing Li Mo pick up a bamboo scroll, Li Si kindly inquired.
With so many scrolls, reading them all alone would take a century!
Li Mo put the bamboo scroll down, pointing towards the neatly arranged tables and said, “No need to read. Move all these tables aside and clear some space.”
The tables were used by officials to search for bamboo scrolls.
Though Li Si didn’t know why he needed them moved, he simply followed the National Advisor’s orders.
“Understood. Everyone, move the tables out.”
Before long, various miscellaneous items were cleared away.
A large expanse of space opened up.
Li Mo casually picked up a bamboo scroll and walked to a corner of the cleared area.
Thud, he squatted down and unfurled the bamboo scroll on the ground.
The Empress Dowager and her newly-made sister, Uya, sat leisurely nearby sipping tea, curiously watching Li Mo.
Could it be that this guy wants to read all by himself?
With so many scrolls, by the time he reads them all, Uya’d probably turn to stone!
Just as Zhao Ji was about to ask what he was up to, Li Mo stood up and pointed at the scrolls he had just laid out, instructing Li Si, “Have them stack all the scrolls found like this.”
“Understood.”
Everyone exchanged confused glances, unsure of what he was getting at.
Li Si didn’t care about that and directly directed the attendants to begin working.
Bundle after bundle of bamboo scrolls were continuously moved and laid flat on the ground.
In less than a tea’s worth of time, the ground was completely covered.
Seeing that the ground was full, Li Mo waved his hand to signal everyone to step back.
Then, in the midst of everyone’s perplexed gazes, he closed his eyes.
At that moment, the bamboo scrolls on the ground seemed to be activated, and the characters inscribed upon them shone with a radiant light!
Shimmer 