Chapter 294: Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Nine
Zhao Yao originally thought the Li Family’s library was just one building, but it turned out to be three.
These three buildings didn’t appear tall, only having three above-ground levels, but there were also three underground levels, making a total of six. Altogether, the three buildings comprised eighteen levels, all filled with books.
The three towers of the library were called Shui Pavilion, Ningyong Pavilion, and Ningqi Pavilion, respectively.
The Shui Pavilion contained mostly common books, most of which could be found outside.
The Ningyong Pavilion stored ancient art and calligraphy.
The Ningqi Pavilion held rare books that were no longer available outside.
Walking into the library felt like stepping into a world of books.
Zhao Yao was deeply shocked by the collection in the Li Family’s library. He felt that it held more books than the ones in Lanyuan Pavilion.
Books in the Li Family’s Shui Pavilion could be borrowed by friends and family. The ancient art and calligraphy in Ningyong Pavilion were never lent out. The rare books in Ningqi Pavilion could only be borrowed by members of the Li Family, and only with the Li Family Patriarch’s permission.
The Fourth Prince could freely read any of the books in the Li Family’s three towers without needing Minister Li’s approval.
With the Fourth Prince leading, Zhao Yao could follow him into Ningyong Pavilion and Ningqi Pavilion.
Zhao Yao was not interested in the ancient art and calligraphy in Ningyong Pavilion. After browsing for a while, he left, clamoring for the Fourth Prince to take him to Ningqi Pavilion.
At the entrance of Ningqi Pavilion, there was an elderly man with gray hair, but he looked remarkably spirited. His face appeared harmless, but his eyes were exceedingly sharp.
When he looked over, Zhao Yao thought of Lingyun’s gaze full of killing intent. This elderly man seemed ordinary and had no imposing aura, but through that gaze, it was clear he was not a simple old man.
Upon seeing the Fourth Prince, the elder’s plain face immediately revealed a respectful expression. He was about to stand up to salute the Fourth Prince, who raised a hand to stop him.
The Fourth Prince introduced Zhao Yao to the elder: "This is my tenth brother."
"Greetings to the tenth..." The elder was about to salute Zhao Yao, but Zhao Yao stopped him.
"I’ve brought my tenth brother to see the rare books."
The elder nodded slightly and said warmly, "Please."
As the Fourth Prince led Zhao Yao into Ningqi Pavilion, he introduced Uncle Wen to Zhao Yao: "Uncle Wen is an elder of the Li Family, who has spent his life guarding Ningqi Pavilion."
"Then he must be extremely knowledgeable and talented?"
"Indeed, it’s said he has read every book in the Li Family library."
Zhao Yao looked amazed: "That’s truly impressive."
The arrangement in Ningqi Pavilion was the same as in Shui Pavilion and Ningyong Pavilion, with shelves of books surrounding the walls. No, not books—bamboo scrolls.
"Fourth Brother, why are they all bamboo scrolls?"
Zhao Yao walked to a bookshelf on his right, picked up a bamboo scroll, and noticed it was somewhat new, not old at all.
The cover of the bamboo scroll was engraved with characters Zhao Yao had never seen before. Curiously, he opened the scroll to find that the characters carved inside were the same as those on the cover—ones he didn’t recognize.
The characters looked similar to the ones he knew, as if they had been disassembled into parts and then strangely reassembled.
"Fourth Brother, what kind of characters are these? I’ve never seen them before." Nor did they look like foreign characters.
The Fourth Prince took the bamboo scroll from Zhao Yao’s hands and said with a smile, "These are characters created by the Li Family."
"Ah, self-created characters?" Zhao Yao, with his pretty and cute face, was filled with shock, "Fourth Brother, can the Li Family really create their own characters?"
"Yes, an ancestor of the Li Family summarized many characters and then created a script unique to the Li Family."
Zhao Yao was stunned: "They can actually create their own script, that’s amazing!"
"Don’t these characters seem quite strange?"
Zhao Yao nodded and said, "Yes, it’s like they took apart the characters we learn now and then reassembled them in an odd way."
"Exactly, these characters were created by referencing the characters we recognize today and those from the Spring and Autumn Warring States period," the Fourth Prince explained to Zhao Yao, pointing to the characters on the bamboo scroll cover. "This is ’Book.’"
"Book?" Looking at the strange, ancient characters on the bamboo scroll, Zhao Yao said disgustedly, "How does this look like a book?"
"Don’t you think it resembles an open book?"
"In that case, it kind of does." Zhao Yao curiously and doubtfully asked, "Fourth Brother, why did the Li Family’s ancestors create their own script?"
"Firstly, to protect the books, and secondly, for secrecy."
"Secrecy?" Zhao Yao was momentarily stunned, then said, "Is it to prevent others from taking them?"
"Yes," the Fourth Prince explained, "Li Family characters can only be learned by Li Family members."
"Fourth Brother, do you understand all of them?"
"I do," the Fourth Prince continued, "Copying ancient rare books using the Li Family script not only protects the rare books well but also prevents their content from being spread outside."