Playing Around (1)

Entering Wanxiang Library, if not a staff inside, then need to have a library card.

The process for obtaining a library card wasn’t particularly strict, but it also wasn’t relaxing either. Aside from the basic information, one also needed to leave a small portrait. The processing deposit was even ten taels of silver, the money getting returned upon termination of the library card, and every time borrowing, you can’t take out more than three books. The time also can’t exceed over a month. If overdue, then they will deduct from the deposit the corresponding amount, and when returning the book, you can have this amount made up, or just continuously have the deposit deducted to the end. If you continuously fail to meet the deadline three times in a row, then you will just end up on Wanxiang Library’s blacklist. Of course, if the book gets damaged, you similarly need to compensate. If this occurs multiple times, then you will also end up on the blacklist.

And for those that don’t have money, there’s another set of procedures, and that is helping Wanxiang Library copy books.

Additionally, the library was also open to girls. Of course, the place they will go will certainly be different from the men, and the staff in charge will also be women. After all, for girls, even their personal name needs to be kept a secret, so other information, naturally can’t let an outside male know. Moreover, they were even allowed to take in up to two ‘servant girls’. As for whether this servant girl was a real servant girl or a good friend, that was just their own business.

If Jing Wan wanted to get a library card, it certainly will be easy. However, right now, it was certainly impossible for her to just take two people in. But, people of special status existed everywhere.

After entering the specially set up entrance, the ‘little crown prince’ just began looking at the various installations and structure inside. He was never a narrow-minded person, so naturally can make out the numerous benefits from within, as well as certain insufficient areas. Some words didn’t seem like it can come from a five year old child, but Jing Wan seemingly didn’t have any suspicions at all, just like a mother that completely pampered her child. Her child, no matter what he said or did, it all made sense.

The ‘little crown prince’ lightly smiled, yet on that little face, he appeared exceptionally childish.

The library was much bigger than what the ‘little crown prince’ had thought, the book collection also very abundant. It can be seen, on this matter, an enormous amount of effort and thought was put into it.

And Jing Wan naturally also looked over the suggestion book, as well as checked the borrowing record for the various types of books. Actually, the more fundamental, the lower the borrow count. The reason within, Jing Wan also knew. For the people that were able to enter the library, they all had a foundation. For a beginner, if one doesn’t even recognize that many words, then what use is there borrowing books. That’s why, learning how to read also required a teacher. Thus, widely opening schools was very necessary. After all, for character based languages, it was the same everywhere, needing to learn character by character. Just looking at it, you forever won’t be able to know how it reads and what it means.

However, towards learning how to read, Jing Wan felt that there was a necessary tool, and that was a dictionary.

Of course, it’s not like this kind of thing didn’t exist, and moreover, quite a few have came out before, but it wasn’t all-rounded, and also didn’t have a complete definition. Related books can’t be described using one word, but rather, split into two types following their focus. The ones that focused on the character meaning and form were generally called ‘character books’, and the ones that focused on the phonetic value of a character were called ‘rhyme books’. And from there, related books were produced, such as shenglei[1], phonetic collections, and so on. However, these books all have flaws, and beginners certainly weren’t able to use either.

Back when Jing Wan was learning how to read and write, she’d actually contemplated this problem before. In fact, she’d even once organized and summarized before on her own. Of course, it was all just on a small-scale. However, she was very clear, this thing, at the time, certainly can’t be brought out. In fact, this kind of concept can’t even be mentioned back then. That’s why, after coming to the capital, she also never once mentioned to her grandfather.

A completed dictionary, and the far-reaching significance it brought about, wasn’t something the Luo family can shoulder several years ago. However, at present, it was the perfect time. Moreover, this kind of thing similarly won’t have anyone opposing.

“Mother, what are you thinking about?” The ‘little crown prince’ lightly tugged Jing Wan’s sleeve.

Towards her own son, Jing Wan didn’t hide in the slightest, seemingly also not afraid of him not understanding, methodically explaining to him in detail.

Based on her explanation, how this dictionary will be compiled, there was already a format.

And the ‘little crown prince’ naturally knew what it will mean for such a book to come into the world. It will certainly pass on for thousands of years. “Mother, you’re really incredible.” The ‘little crown prince’ really felt this way. In the past, he felt that his imperial father was already very impressive, but sometimes, he felt that his imperial father was actually quite lazy. Clearly, he can achieve one-twenty or even more, but he at most would just stop at sixty. However, even if just this, in the years his imperial father ruled over, he still initiated Qi Yuan’s golden age. Now, having such an incredible imperial mother assisting him, Qi Yuan certainly will become even stronger.

TN: All

Jing Wan lightly smiled, “It’s not that mother is incredible, mother is just standing the shoulders of giants. Knowledge, that is something that belongs to the people of the world. If switch with someone else, they similarly can achieve this.”

“But, they all didn’t do it, yet mother did it.”

Jing Wan smiled, declining to comment, “Mother is able to because of having your imperial father. As you know, if not for your imperial father’s support, or if I have a different identity, then some things absolutely can’t be done.”

“Imperial father is open-minded and has good eyesight.” Towards his imperial father, the ‘little crown prince’ has never denied his abilities.

Jing Wan rubbed her son’s head. This little guy.

After coming out from Wanxiang Library, Jing Wan took her son to the estate. The things inside the city, for the ‘little crown prince’, were just novel. After experiencing for himself once, it was also enough, and won’t continue to maintain interest and excitement. On the estate, however, there really were lot of things to play.

The constructed horse tracks were still being used to this day, and on the first of every month, it was still very lively, the popularity not going down.

Even though the horse tracks weren’t open today, but as the owner of the horse tracks, if Jing Wan wants to open, it naturally was just a matter of a word.

In the enormous stables, there naturally were quite a few good horses raised, so picking a small pony for the ‘little crown prince’ naturally wasn’t a problem. But, the original host was just five years old, and towards horseback riding, he’d merely just started. However, Jing Wan didn’t let anyone carry him, giving him his own set and letting him ride on his own.

The ‘little crown prince’ looked at his imperial mother who seemingly particularly trusted him, slightly tilting his head. Afterwards, he revealed a big smile.

The imperial palace also had its own horse tracks, but how can it compare with this place.

Jing Wan also didn’t restrict him, just letting the others look after his safety. Thus, the ‘little crown prince’ just played with all his might.

After running around on horseback, Jing Wan took the ‘little crown prince’ into the forest to hunt. Just, spring was the season when the birds and animals reproduced, so for hunting, it will certainly require a certain extent of selectiveness. Of course, they were also just playing around. Whether or not they can catch anything, it actually didn’t matter. However, the ‘little crown prince’ originally thought that his imperial mother should be the paragon of wisdom, yet he never thought that she was also quite skilled in using the crossbow, his eyes repeatedly glistening. However, recalling that on the other side that was completely different, his imperial mother similarly did many things, even having gone onto the battlefield before, it seemingly wasn’t that strange anymore.

Their prey in the end weren’t many, just enough for all of them eat their fill.

And that night, Jing Wan also took the ‘little crown prince’ barbecuing. It couldn’t be more pleasing.

[1] Shenglei – Sheng(sound) Lei(type/similar), the earliest chinese rime dictionary with 11,520 single-character entries, released in the 3rd century.