I really became a king.

Chapter 9 Why is it so?

Princess Duan first sent Ningxue to prepare lunch. After Ningxue left, she told Xiangling to take Jiang Yi to the study and then ask the craftsman to come over.

Jiang Yi did not expect that this treasure would be so easy to obtain. His intuition told him that this study was very important to him.

It's not about those martial arts classics, but about the knowledge of this world.

Although he inherited seventy years of memory, he still knew too little about this world. Even if he wanted to plan for the future, he had to fully understand this world.

"My young prince, the princess is so kind to you. This study room has never been allowed to let anyone in."

Perhaps because of the brief time they had spent together in the morning, or perhaps it was just her nature, Xiangling skipped and skipped along the road, leaning sideways to lead the way, pouting and speaking in a naive manner.

"Really? Is this study so important?"

"Of course. I'll tell you a secret, little prince. Don't tell anyone else." Xiang Ling looked around and whispered:
"Usually, Xiangling cleans this study room. There are many martial arts books in it."

"Oh? Did you learn it secretly?"

"No, no, without the princess's order, why would Xiangling go and learn secretly?" Xiangling jumped away and waved her hands.

"Is there anyone else who knows about this?"

"No, Xiangling has never told anyone..." After saying this, her eyes were a little confused, and she said in a soft voice: "It seems that the princess doesn't like this study room and has never entered it."

Yes, if she knew there were so many martial arts books in there, she probably wouldn't let herself go there to learn to read and write. Looking at Xiangling, who was leading the way in front and jumping from time to time, Jiang Yi sighed secretly.

In the previous life, when Princess Duan returned to Northern Frontier, for some reason she did not bring Xiangling with her, and she naturally became a plaything in Jiang Zhongbao's hands. The once adorable girl disappeared, until one day she could not bear the torture anymore and committed suicide by drawing her sword.

"It won't be like this in this life. In the future, Prince Duan's Palace will be completely different in my hands!"

From the outside, it looks like a very quiet little courtyard. Several big willow trees surround a small pond, which is covered with lotus leaves and a pool of lush green.

Crossing the courtyard and pushing the door in, the room was spotless, indeed someone came to clean every day. However, the rows of bookshelves in the room did not smell of books and ink, but instead had a hint of old musty smell.

"It seems that no one has ever looked through these books."

Xiangling had already gone to call the craftsman, and Jiang Yi was the only one in the study. He walked around the study, and found that there were quite a few books in it.

Most of them are records related to this martial arts world, such as past history, the situation in the wild continent, etc. These are exactly what Jiang Yi urgently needs to know now.

The other small part is related to martial arts. In addition to martial arts classics, there are also descriptions of various natural treasures and, more importantly, some martial arts training notes.

"It would be much better if I had these practice notes. I wouldn't have to cross the river by feeling the stones anymore."

Jiang Yi was just about to take a closer look to see if there were any advanced martial arts books in it, but was interrupted by a slightly panting sound outside the door.

"Young prince, the craftsman is here. Xiangling will go to serve the princess for dinner." After saying this, she didn't wait for Jiang Yi to reply and hurriedly trotted away. I wonder if she really thought she was in a hurry to serve her master.

"I didn't expect that he's such a foodie." Jiang Yi felt a little amused.

When Jiang Yi came to the outer hall from the inner study, he saw an old man with a long beard just stepping into the courtyard. He was running towards them breathlessly, but he obviously couldn't outrun Xiangling.

But looking at the other person's dress, Jiang Yi felt a little confused.

Is this a scholar? Although he is wearing a long gown, it is tattered and not even patched. His expression and behavior are timid. There is no trace of the temperament of a scholar.

"Perhaps in this world, the backbones of scholars have been crushed, and naturally they no longer have the pride cultivated by mountains of books and oceans of learning."

When the old man with a long beard trotted into the hall, Jiang Yi bowed and greeted him, "Sir." The old man with a long beard was stunned, then waved his hands repeatedly and bowed down in panic: "No, no, I am Dong Chengyang, the humble servant, to see the young prince." He crawled on the ground.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi remained silent for a long time, until Dong Chengyang's forehead was covered with sweat. Then he sighed and could only follow the local customs.

"Sir, please get up."

Sir? Dong Chengyang stood up, thinking about these two words in his mind. Although he didn't understand the specific meaning, he always felt an indescribable emotion after hearing them.

"I wonder how old you are this year, sir?"

"I don't deserve the title of old age. I'm one year away from turning fifty this year." Dong Chengyang seemed very reserved.

Fifty... If it were in the ancient world, fifty would be considered old and frail. But in this world, martial arts are flourishing, and even ordinary people who don't practice martial arts will look old and frail when they are seventy or eighty years old.

What kind of hard and miserable life has the other person experienced to look like this?

"I wonder how you make a living, sir?"

"Your Highness, I work as the 'Student Affairs Officer' in the imperial court, in charge of a bookstore." Dong Chengyang replied.

Bookstore Director? Similar to the Minister of Education in the previous life, in the ancient times, he would definitely be a senior official in the hall, and he would be highly respected and have many students all over the world. But now... it can be seen that his status is very low.

"Then you are working as the Director of Education, and also as a craftsman in Prince Duan's mansion... a craftsman?"

Dong Chengyang's eyes lit up: "Yes, my lord. Not only in Prince Duan's mansion, I also have work in the mansions of several other masters to supplement the family income."

To supplement the family income? A high-ranking official in the department actually has to use this to supplement the family income...

"What do you do in their house, sir?" Jiang Yi asked.

“In reply to your Excellency, I mainly answer some questions for them that are not recorded in ordinary books.” When he said this, there was a hint of hidden pride in the depths of Dong Chengyang's eyes.

"The gentleman seems to be very knowledgeable."

"I don't deserve it, it's just that I've read a lot of books and have a wide range of interests." A hint of pride appeared in his eyes.

Jiang Yi was silent for a while, which meant that he was like a living dictionary, coming when called and going when dismissed. It was Jiang Yi's silence for a while that made Dong Chengyang's newly rising arrogance disappear, and he became stiff and panicked.

"Why must it come to this!" Jiang Yi felt a little blocked in his heart. This is the scholar in this world.

"Sir, why do you want to study? Wouldn't it be good to be a warrior, or do business, farm, or even become a slave in the palace?" Jiang Yi continued to ask.

"I have loved reading since I was a child. I have no interest in anything else. Books are more important to me than anything else. I will never give them up."

This is a pure scholar, he has no idea of ​​success or fame, no utilitarianism, he just simply likes it.

"But you are living in poverty now. Is it worth it to study for so many years?" Jiang Yi didn't know how to evaluate this man. He wanted to ask if he had ever considered his family, but he didn't ask in the end.

Is it worth it? Dong Chengyang murmured, and there seemed to be a trace of confusion in his eyes, but it flashed away, and there was only a kind of piety in his eyes: "The sea of ​​learning is sailing, the mountain of books is thousands of miles away, even if the boat capsizes and the mountain collapses, it is my luck!"

At this moment, Jiang Yi saw something in the other person, which seemed to be the kind of pride that belonged to the literati in previous history.

"Please teach me, sir."

(End of this chapter)