Chapter 31

PS: It's a bit tragic, the contract has already been sent out, but it will probably take a few more days to arrive. So, as the first volume is about to end, I'm still labeled as unsigned, which is really sad!

I'm still hoping for some favorites and votes to comfort my wounded heart! Thanks a lot, everyone!

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Li Chunfeng left without anyone noticing, as everyone's attention was on Zhao Chen's experiment.

Zhao Chen did notice, but he also felt a sigh of relief. After all, the "Tui Bei Tu" made him wary of Li Chunfeng.

Emperor Li Er was very interested. He took the oil lamp from Zhao Chen, imitating what Zhao Chen had done, and aimed the lamp at the small hole in the cardboard. Immediately, just as before, an inverted flame appeared on the wall behind the cardboard.

"Your Majesty, as you can see, this is the principle of pinhole imaging! The so-called ghost shadows in the hall are the same!" Zhao Chen, seeing Emperor Li Er's high interest, took the opportunity to explain with a smile, "Just like this experiment, the sun is like the oil lamp, and the wall is like this piece of paper. When the sun and the small hole on the wall are in a straight line, the light passes through the hole into this hall. Coincidentally, there is a large Eastern Palace between the light and the wall, so when the light passes through this hole, it projects the image of the Eastern Palace onto this hall."

"I know you are reminding me of my previous promise!" Emperor Li Er, listening to Zhao Chen's explanation, suddenly handed the oil lamp to a nearby attendant, turned around, and looked at Zhao Chen seriously, saying, "However, this matter will have to wait until you come of age before we discuss it further!"

Why? Zhao Chen looked at Emperor Li Er with a dumbfounded expression, wanting to loudly question why he was hesitating when he knew that the study of natural philosophy was beneficial to the country and its people.

However, seeing Emperor Li Er's serious expression, Zhao Chen wisely kept his mouth shut.

Since the "ghost shadows" in the hall had been resolved, Emperor Li Er didn't want to stay any longer and walked out of the hall with his hands behind his back.

"Feeling disappointed?" Changsun deliberately lagged behind Emperor Li Er by a step. When the disappointed Zhao Chen approached, she spoke.

Suddenly hearing Changsun's voice, Zhao Chen immediately became extremely cautious. He hadn't forgotten how Changsun had taken his life with just a few words earlier.

Seeing Zhao Chen's sudden wary expression, Changsun bit her lip in annoyance but, considering that this boy had just solved the "ghost shadows" in the hall, she patiently said, "The Emperor is the ruler of the country and must think carefully before acting. You want to promote the study of natural philosophy, which is fine, but convincing the Emperor alone is not enough!"

Seeing Zhao Chen's puzzled look, Changsun had to patiently explain, "I ask you, if the Emperor agrees to establish the study of natural philosophy in the Tang Dynasty, what will happen when a large group of Confucian scholars start criticizing it? Do you want to debate them alone, or do you want the Emperor to help you put out the fire?"

Zhao Chen was stunned! He had only thought about convincing Li Er, but he had overlooked the most powerful force of this era: Confucianism!

As Changsun said, if Li Er placed the study of natural philosophy on par with Confucianism, it would inevitably provoke the criticism of the entire court, which would be like competing for the livelihood of Confucianism!

But, should he just give up?

Suddenly, he remembered Changsun's words, "Do you want to debate the scholars alone?" A flash of inspiration came to him, and he suddenly looked up at Changsun, his disappointment vanishing, and he smiled at her.

Changsun was right; he had been too hasty. Putting the study of natural philosophy on the table at this time would inevitably provoke a collective attack. With his limited strength, how could he cope?

The study of natural philosophy in the Tang Dynasty was just beginning, like the tender sprouts of potatoes in a few pots, capable of withstanding only limited pressure. Only by making the study of natural philosophy more widely accepted in the Tang Dynasty, allowing the sprouts to grow strong and robust, could it truly take root.

At that time, more people would stand up to support the study of natural philosophy and fight for its place in the Tang Dynasty!

So, what he needed to do now was not to push the study of natural philosophy too early, but to carefully nurture it, allowing it to grow quietly!

Seeing the relieved expression on Zhao Chen's face, Changsun knew that the boy had understood the situation. She couldn't help but nod slightly, admiring his intelligence. Some things didn't need to be explained in detail; he would understand on his own.

Then, Changsun suddenly remembered the glass rabbit in her arms. This glass rabbit, she had heard, was a gift from Zhao Chen's teacher, but the boy had sold it to get money for the Natural Philosophy Academy!

Now, it was the perfect time to give it back to him. First, it could be a reward for solving the "ghost shadows" in the hall. Second, it could compensate for the gold medal she had taken from him earlier!

So, Changsun took the glass rabbit from her arms and said with a smile, "This glass rabbit, I heard, was a gift from your teacher, but you sold it, which is truly unfilial! Fortunately, it ended up in my hands. I will now return it to you. Take good care of it and don't make such a mistake again!"

Changsun continued to speak earnestly, expecting the boy to be moved to tears upon seeing the glass rabbit. She was very skilled at this.

However, after waiting for a long time, she didn't hear the boy's sobs. Looking up, she saw Zhao Chen staring at the glass rabbit in her hand with a strange expression, his facial muscles trembling.

Changsun's eyebrows immediately shot up. If she didn't understand what was going on now, she wouldn't be the first virtuous empress of Li Er!

"I have sinned, please forgive me, Your Majesty!" Seeing Changsun's raised eyebrows, Zhao Chen immediately fell to his knees, crying out in panic.

He was a thousand times unwilling to admit it, but if this thing became as common as dirt in the Tang Dynasty in the future, it would be impossible to explain to Changsun then.

It would be better to confess to Changsun now, before the glass rabbit became too common!

"Many?" Changsun's face instantly darkened, and she bit her lip hard, looking at the exquisitely crafted glass rabbit in her hand. She glared at Zhao Chen, her teeth gritted.

"Yes!" Zhao Chen wiped a bead of sweat, not daring to meet Changsun's fiery gaze, and said nervously.

"How many?" Changsun continued, her teeth still gritted.

"Many!" Zhao Chen thought for a moment and said cautiously, "If I am willing, I can fill your treasury with them!"

Hearing this, Changsun's eyes widened in disbelief. However, in an instant, she was so angry that her whole body trembled. Not only had she been cheated out of hundreds of strings of cash, but she was now trying to do a favor with the very thing she had been cheated with.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Seeing Zhao Chen right in front of her, she bit her lip and fiercely twisted his ear, causing him to scream like a pig being slaughtered.

"Young as you are, you have learned to deceive and cheat. Was this taught by your teacher?" Changsun, furious and embarrassed, twisted Zhao Chen's ear and scolded him harshly.

"It hurts, it really hurts!" Zhao Chen, feeling a burning pain in his ear, didn't dare to struggle and could only cry out, "I am truly wronged, Your Majesty. This glass rabbit is indeed mine, but I intended to sell it to those unscrupulous foreign merchants!"

"Hmph, you are slick-tongued and still dare to argue. Should foreign merchants be cheated by you?" Changsun, hearing this, snorted in anger but released Zhao Chen's ear.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhao Chen, rubbing his sore ear, said hurriedly, "I will remember Your Majesty's teachings and never do such a heinous thing again!"

"Does it hurt?" Changsun, seeing Zhao Chen's pained expression, seemed to feel a bit guilty and softened her tone, "I only punished you a little because you are young. I hope you will remember this lesson from now on!"

"Your Majesty's care for me is deeply appreciated, and I will always remember Your Majesty's teachings!" Zhao Chen bowed slightly, his eyes fixed on the glass rabbit in Changsun's hand, his facial muscles twitching as he watched her put it away.

He quickly bowed again, his attitude sincere, "However, I hope Your Majesty can return this glass rabbit to me, so I can keep it as a reminder!"

He had to take this opportunity to get it back! If he missed this chance, he wouldn't know how Changsun would extort him in the future! Keeping it with Changsun gave him no sense of security at all!

"This glass rabbit is not a gift from your teacher, and I like it very much, so I will keep it!" Changsun's lips curled slightly, her eyes flashing with a light that made Zhao Chen's heart race.

"To be honest, I have a better piece of glassware than the one Your Majesty has. I can bring it to you later, if you like?"

"I like this one!" Changsun refused to budge.

"Ah, I suddenly remember, I have a set of twelve zodiac glass figurines, which are even more exquisite than the one Your Majesty has!" Zhao Chen, seeing Changsun shake her head, suddenly seemed to remember something and said with a look of realization.

Changsun's eyes flickered, but she still shook her head firmly and sighed, "As the head of the six palaces, I should set an example for the other concubines. You should keep that set of zodiac figurines."

How ruthless! Zhao Chen inwardly lamented, looking at the calm Changsun, and sighed deeply. He said dejectedly, "If Your Majesty has any skilled palace attendants, perhaps you could send them to me in a few days, and I can teach them how to make glassware. This way, Your Majesty can get the best glassware without breaking the rules!"

"You are indeed a clever child, able to come up with such a win-win solution!" Changsun, clearly delighted, tried to maintain a serious expression.

Zhao Chen, hearing this, almost spat out a mouthful of blood!

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