Chapter 50: The Door to Facial Recognition
Chen Bai did not know why Su Jin had come to Great Qian.
Right now, he and Qi Zheng were reporting what had happened during their journey to Lu State. Though Chen Bai felt that even if they did not report it, the king probably already knew seventy or eighty percent of it.
After Qi Zheng left, Chen Bai stayed behind. He quickly took out the box hidden in his sleeve. “Your Majesty, this is the Qishan Pill.”
The king did not even look at it. He only nodded slightly and said, “You may leave. Someone will give you your reward when you exit the palace.”
If Chen Bai had not known about the king’s health, he would have thought the king did not care about the Qishan Pill at all.
As expected, some things had to be seen with the heart. If one only looked at the surface, one could very easily be deceived. Seeing was not always believing.
When Chen Bai left the palace, there really was an attendant waiting for him.
“Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, this is what His Majesty ordered this servant to give you.”
Since it had been a secret order, the reward naturally could not be handed out with great fanfare.
Chen Bai accepted it. Only after the attendant left did he open it and take a look.
He had originally thought it would be a reward like gold notes. He thought the king surely knew that he had paid the price of the Wall Divine Painting to exchange for the Qishan Pill, so the amount of the gold notes could not possibly be too small.
But when he opened it, he found that it was actually a sheet of paper. Chen Bai was very familiar with this paper. It was the same special paper he used when drafting imperial edicts for the king.
The ink on it had not even dried yet.
Chen Bai frowned slightly. “It isn’t a gold note.”
He was a little disappointed, but when he saw the words written on it, his heart clenched.
“When Crown Prince Jiao ascends the throne, a position among the Nine Ministers awaits you.”
This was the king’s promise.
But…
Chen Bai’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Qi Zheng had said that the king knew Crown Prince Jiao had set him up and framed him back then. Even if he did not know, he should at least understand the current situation between him and Crown Prince Jiao.
Then what did this promise mean? The king clearly knew how complicated the situation was, yet he had given such a promise as if nothing had happened.
And there was not even a seal on it. When the time came, if Chen Bai said this was written for him by the king, would anyone believe him?
If it had been an ordinary young noble from a meritorious family, he probably would have lost all reason the moment he saw “a position among the Nine Ministers.” He would surely be so excited that he would want to pledge his life in loyalty.
But to Chen Bai, there was far too much uncertainty behind this little note.
“Two Nine Ministers from one family. Any normal person would probably go mad over that,” Chen Bai muttered.
If Chen Bai had not known that the king knew the conflict between him and Crown Prince Jiao could no longer be reconciled, he might really have fantasized about it.
“An empty promise.” Chen Bai sighed. The projector he had exchanged for the Qishan Pill had truly been thrown into the water for nothing.
However, Chen Bai first held his breath until he was nearly unable to breathe and his face had turned red. Only then did he walk toward the palace gates.
A moment later, inside the palace.
“How did Chen Zixiu react when he saw it?” the king asked the attendant kneeling below.
“Grand Scholar Zhaoxue’s face turned bright red. He looked extremely excited,” the attendant answered truthfully. Although he did not know why the king had ordered him to carefully observe Chen Zixiu’s expression, and not miss even the slightest change.
Only then did the king nod.
Power that made people look forward to the future… was that not the best reward?
As Chen Bai walked down the road, he held his breath from time to time, making his face look terribly flushed.
There was no helping it. This was the expression he ought to have after seeing that note. As the son of a meritorious family destined to enter officialdom, he had received the king’s promise that he would soar to the heavens in a single step. No one could remain calm.
In order for anyone watching to see his current expression, Chen Bai did not even ride in a carriage. Although he had no idea how long this “watcher” would follow him, there definitely was one.
After walking for a while, a person passing by suddenly muttered, “This year, red clothes and masks have gone up in price. They’ve risen by three qian and eight wen. But the Sangluo wine at Fugui Tower is cheaper by one wen…”
Utterly inexplicable.
Chen Bai paused almost imperceptibly, then climbed into a carriage as if nothing had happened and began circling the streets.
That was the secret signal he and Qi Zheng had agreed on. Once he returned to Shangjing, his identity was that of the imperial writing grand scholar in the hall. It would no longer be convenient for him to have too much private contact with Qi Zheng. But what if they had matters to discuss? So they had arranged a coded way to pass messages.
Chen Bai got into the carriage, went around several times, then had the driver let him down. He dismissed the carriage and began strolling around by himself.
Finally, he arrived at an inn called Fugui Tower and pushed open the door of Room Bing.
Qi Zheng was pouring wine. Seeing Chen Bai enter, he said, “Fugui Tower’s Sangluo wine is the most famous. Come and have a taste.”
Chen Bai said nothing. He also did not ask why Qi Zheng had asked to meet him right after he left the palace. This kind of thing could very easily expose them. But if Qi Zheng wanted to say it, he naturally would. If he did not want to say it, there would be no result even if Chen Bai asked.
The wine entered his mouth. Its flavor was mild but unique, carrying a touch of Sangluo’s greenness and the fragrance of wine. Strangely enough, it was delicious.
Qi Zheng also held a cup of wine and said unhurriedly, “While we were away from Great Qian, some things happened…”
Chen Bai straightened up. He had been worried no one would tell him about the changes in Great Qian during this period. They had not been away for a short time.
“Under Meng Huanchao’s persuasion, Crown Prince Jiao has formed a private army mainly composed of bandits. The number is not small.”
Chen Bai’s eyes shrank. “The king should know, right? Did he not react at all?”
“The king has recently begun to grow close to Prince Zhuo.”
Chen Bai froze. His mouth opened slightly. “The king couldn’t be…”
Whether the king had deliberately leaked news of his health to Crown Prince Jiao, or whether Chief Imperial Physician Sun Huairen had secretly told Crown Prince Jiao on his own, the fact that Crown Prince Jiao had done such a thing was probably something no king could tolerate.
That had also been Qi Zheng’s goal: to let Crown Prince Jiao walk himself onto a road of no return. But… the king had suddenly begun growing close to Prince Zhuo.
At such a critical moment, it inevitably made people think too much.
Then Chen Bai looked at Qi Zheng with a somewhat strange expression. Even now, the king still could not notice Qi Zheng’s existence?
In this chaotic age of constant warfare, Qi Zheng had gradually begun displaying his military talent. He even had the title of Lu State’s Masked General now. Among all the princes, the one most capable of stabilizing and protecting Great Qian seemed to be Qi Zheng no matter how one looked at it.
As for Prince Zhuo, Chen Bai had indeed heard of him. He had quite a reputation in Shangjing. He had no real ability, but his name as a wastrel pressed down upon the entire younger generation of Shangjing.
Qi Zheng continued, “Wei State’s Crown Prince Su Jin has a special status. He is a student of the Former Sage, and all states must treat him with courtesy. This time, the king intends to let Prince Zhuo receive him.”
Chen Bai: “…”
The signal the king was sending was becoming more and more obvious. This should have been part of Crown Prince Jiao’s duties.
But Chen Bai thought again of the note the king had someone give him when he left the palace: “When Crown Prince Jiao ascends the throne, a position among the Nine Ministers awaits you.”
Then whom, exactly, had the king chosen?
Chen Bai could not help asking, “Tell me, what does the king mean by pushing Prince Zhuo forward at this time? Is he warning Crown Prince Jiao, or does he truly have other plans?”
Qi Zheng did not comment. In any case, no matter whom the king chose, it had nothing to do with him. He had to rely on himself.
Qi Zheng continued, “Right now, the only ones who know there is a problem with the king’s health are Crown Prince Jiao and us. But once it can no longer be covered up, all the court officials will inevitably begin choosing sides. At that time, it will be another storm.”
Chen Bai nodded. Qi Zheng was telling him to be prepared. When the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers all began to step into the game, that would be when the situation became truly hard to control.
Who would have thought that after they went away for one trip, even Crown Prince Jiao would begin losing favor in Shangjing?
Now that they were back, they might immediately have to face the storm that was about to erupt. Add to that the unclear reason for Crown Prince Wei’s visit to Great Qian, and the situation became even more unpredictable.
Neither of them spoke. They quietly drank.
Chen Bai looked at the sky. “I should go back.”
Qi Zheng gave a sound of acknowledgment, then suddenly said, “When I had free time earlier, I went to look for Mountain Lord’s students. They said that after we left Shangjing, Mountain Lord never appeared again either.”
Chen Bai’s eyes suddenly shrank. Damn it.
On the phone, whenever Qi Zheng chatted with him, he had always said he was working on the greenhouse vegetables. He had not expected Qi Zheng to specifically go and ask the students who had stayed behind in Shangjing. A dignified prince actually had so much free time?
Why was Qi Zheng suddenly saying this in front of him?
Qi Zheng did not even blink. He had been observing Chen Bai the whole time. “You… why are you nervous?”
Chen Bai took a sip of wine and laughed. “How could I be? I just remembered that I exchanged the Qishan Pill for the king, and the king promised me a position among the Nine Ministers. A Qishan Pill in exchange for a Nine Minister position—tell me, is it worth it?”
Qi Zheng narrowed his eyes. “Oh? That is interesting. Judging by your appearance, you already know how you should choose, so there is no need for me to say more. But you still haven’t answered my question. Since Mountain Lord did not appear in Shangjing, where do you think he went for such a long period?”
Chen Bai coughed. “How would I know? I was in Lu State the whole time. As soon as I came back, I went to the palace, and now I’m here with you. I haven’t even had the chance to see Mountain Lord.”
Qi Zheng did not respond directly. “Is that so?”
Chen Bai held his wine cup and drank as if nothing had happened.
Why did he feel so panicked inside, as if someone was about to see right through him?
Chen Bai said, “The journey was tiring. I should return and rest properly. The signs of disorder in Shangjing have already appeared. If there is any intelligence in the future, please have someone send me a copy.”
Qi Zheng watched Chen Bai leave in something of a hurry. His eyelids lowered. As expected, Chen Zixiu and Mountain Lord were hiding something from him.
What exactly was it? It felt as if the truth was right before his eyes, yet he simply could not guess it.
Chen Bai dragged his exhausted body back to the Court Commandant’s residence. In truth, his body was not tired. His heart was.
What was he going to do?
He finally understood how hard it was to keep up a lie.
No. He had to think of a way to dispel Qi Zheng’s suspicions.
When Chen Bai passed by Chen Xiaobu’s courtyard, he looked inside. Surprisingly, no one was there. He found a servant and asked.
“Young Master went out again as soon as he returned to the residence. He said he was going to tell his classmates about his glorious deeds from the study tour.”
Glorious deeds?
The corner of Chen Bai’s mouth twitched. Children really could not stay idle.
Chen Bai returned to his own courtyard. There were quite a few flowers and plants planted inside. His courtyard had always been rather barren, so it looked a little unfamiliar now.
A servant watering the plants seemed to notice Chen Bai’s confusion and said, “Madam ordered us to plant them. Madam said Young Master often has classmates come to the courtyard for some kind of learning seminar, and it would look bad if the courtyard were too plain.”
Chen Bai nodded. Looking at the flowers and plants that had already grown rather well, he muttered, “It’s spring.”
When he had first arrived in this era, it had also been spring. Without realizing it, a year had already passed.
“As expected, human potential is limitless. I actually managed to survive until now in such a difficult situation.”
He had merely been an ordinary original artist. How could he ever have imagined that he would live each day like this, moving step by step with hidden killing intent all around him?
He gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
Chen Bai then could not help remembering that his academy had also been open for a year. When he first recruited students, he had promised that at the end of the year, based on their usual assessments, Chen Zixiu would give the top student an exotic beast.
Also, the studies of those commoner students had come to an end.
In the new year, they probably would not be able to pay tuition.
Chen Bai was no saint. He charged some students ten taels of gold per year in tuition while charging other students nothing. That was already unfair. Back then, he had only made that decision to have their parents move their household registrations into Qi Zheng’s fief. Now Qi Zheng’s fief was already showing improvement. Naturally, people would gradually continue moving in, and there was no need for him to use that method to lure them anymore.
Of course, most importantly, those commoner students were another year older now. Their age had reached the point where they had to start thinking about their family’s livelihood.
Their family circumstances did not allow them to keep studying forever.
This was the sorrow of commoners.
However, as Chen Bai’s students, it was not possible for him to ignore them either.
After thinking it over, the only thing he could do was find these students a fairly decent job. As for the road ahead, they would have to rely on themselves.
Chen Bai hesitated for a moment, but still picked up his phone and sent Qi Zheng a voice message. “How about I discuss something with you?”
Before long, Qi Zheng’s reply came through. “Not busy working on the greenhouse?”
Chen Bai: “…”
This guy was definitely jabbing at him. One hundred percent. How was he supposed to answer that?
There was no helping it. Since he needed to ask for a favor, he could only force himself to keep awkwardly chatting. “It’s… not that busy. There’s still time to chat.”
Who was it before who kept sending him voice messages at every turn, not caring whether he was sleeping or doing something else?
Chen Bai did not wait for Qi Zheng to reply and continued, because he felt that if he gave Qi Zheng time to answer, he would get jabbed again. “A large portion of my students probably won’t be able to pay the tuition for the new year. See if there’s anywhere suitable to place them? You know too. Although they were illiterate before and their progress was a little slower, they have still learned some things.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
More than just “some things.” Even if they had only learned the surface, they had already broken away from the ranks of ordinary people.
Then, the next day, Chen Bai wore that flamboyant red robe, put on his mask and colored contacts, and went to meet Qi Zheng.
It was not only Qi Zheng. His students were there too.
After not seeing one another for many days, the reunion was naturally lively.
One student after another was so excited their heads shook wildly, as if they had been caught in a door.
“Ahhh, master, master! You don’t know how impressive we were in Lu State!”
“Brother Bai taught us too, but he didn’t teach as well as master.”
“Master, we reviewed seriously.”
Chen Bai: “…”
The scene was chaotic. Everyone was saying something different.
Only after quite a while did they barely quiet down.
Besides these students, Qi Zheng had brought quite a few people behind him. Chen Bai froze. Judging from their clothes, they were all wearing official robes. Chen Bai did not recognize them, so their ranks probably were not very high.
Chen Bai did not know what was going on now. He had only told Qi Zheng that he wanted to find his students a way out. Qi Zheng had said to leave it to him, but as for the specifics, he had told Mountain Lord to come and see for himself today.
Qi Zheng said to the officials behind him, “These are the students. Their abilities are well known throughout Shangjing. Choose for yourselves.”
Those officials’ eyes were practically glowing. “We know, we know.”
Chen Bai secretly asked Qi Zheng, “They are…”
Qi Zheng gave a simple answer. “People from the Ministry of Justice. Don’t tell me you don’t know how terrible the artists who used to draw criminal portraits for the Ministry of Justice were? If these students fall into their hands, they’ll be treated like precious treasures. The ones who liked those student paintings the most were not the common people of Shangjing, but the Ministry of Justice. Back then, during the student art exhibition, they surrounded those paintings for several days without sleeping or resting…”
Those commoner students were also stunned. Did this count as entering the Ministry of Justice to become… officials?
Although they would only be minor portrait artists, they would still be registered posts in the imperial court.
According to their original fate, if they had not entered Mountain Lord’s academy, they would have been just like their parents: after exhausting themselves with hard labor, they still might not have been able to feed themselves. Faced with famine, they might have become refugees too, drifting from place to place.
But now it was different. They could support themselves, and even support their families.
Chen Bai looked at the students’ flushed little faces and felt somewhat gratified. They could rely on what they had learned to live better lives than before. This was also what a master hoped for and wanted to see.
The Ministry of Justice officials looked as if their eyes could eat people. When they looked at the students, they grabbed at them directly, able to pull two with one hand. Anyone who did not know better might think they were human traffickers from somewhere.
The Ministry of Justice was also divided into many departments. The competition was fierce. Only with these little portrait artists could their performance be guaranteed.
Did anyone know what kind of things the old portrait artists used to draw? The portraits were pasted on notice boards, and the criminals themselves could stand beneath those notice boards and admire them with great interest without anyone recognizing them.
“Don’t pull me, don’t pull me! I’m from the Chamberlain for the Imperial Stud’s family! Why are you dragging me to the Ministry of Justice?”
The person who had been grabbing in a daze smiled awkwardly, then went to grab someone else. Really, why were children from meritorious families standing among these students? He had been grabbing until his eyes blurred. How could he have time to distinguish them one by one?
Gan Xin hid behind Chen Bai, swallowing. “So… so scary. It’s like they’re snatching children.”
In just a short while, Chen Bai’s commoner students had been divided up cleanly. Even Chen Bai’s mouth twitched at the sight. Chen Bai said, “They are all students I taught seriously. I hope everyone will not slight them because of their birth.”
The officials quickly said, “How would we dare? Just the title of Mountain Lord’s students alone is something we can only look up to. How could we possibly look down on them?”
They were not saying that carelessly. Who was Mountain Lord? He was a renowned scholar whose name had spread throughout the world. Now even the various states were passing around stories of the miraculous Wall Divine Painting.
And look at who Mountain Lord’s students were. Were there not many descendants of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers among them?
So although the students they were fighting over now were born commoners, as long as they could say they were Mountain Lord’s students, could that be the same?
To be honest, even they were terribly envious. Being the student of a famous scholar known throughout the world was a golden signboard. They had heard that in Shangjing Academy, one after another was rubbing their fists and waiting for Mountain Lord to recruit students. Such envy could not even be envied into existence.
But they were destined to wait in vain, because Chen Bai currently had no plans to recruit new students. He already could not finish teaching the students he had.
Besides, these students truly had real ability that could not be ignored. They had seen that during the student art exhibition.
Then came the registration. The students’ names were registered into the court’s official rolls and stamped.
The students were still somewhat dazed. From now on, they were portrait artists of the Ministry of Justice?
They were still so tiny.
Chen Bai watched the whole process go through the proper official procedure before finally feeling at ease. After all, they were his students, so he naturally cared a little more.
After those commoner students were taken away, the remaining students swarmed over.
“Master, master, this is our tuition for this year.”
They sounded rather impatient, because they had heard that in Shangjing Academy, there was a group of shameless people waiting at all times to snatch their places.
Their parents had told them about this, urging them to pay the tuition earlier so they could breathe a sigh of relief.
These students’ parents really had their hearts in their throats. Could Mountain Lord now be compared to the past? To become the student of such a famous scholar was something one could only dream of.
Go look at other famous scholars. Their requirements for accepting students were simply sky-high. It was not that they thought their own children were inadequate, but there were always exceptionally talented students trying to fight for places.
Chen Bai also found it somewhat amusing. He could not help remembering when the academy was first established and he had to think of all sorts of ways just to recruit students.
There were not many students left now. They were all students he had taught for a year and who had some foundation.
Chen Bai accepted the tuition. Only then did the students breathe a sigh of relief. Were they people who lacked this little bit of money? What they lacked was a master like this.
If they failed to enroll this year, even if they had to roll shamelessly on the ground, even if they turned their homes upside down, they would never accept it.
The students were all smiling as if they had eaten honey.
Chen Bai said, “Last year, the academy promised that according to the usual assessment results, the student with the highest overall score would receive an exotic beast from Chen Zixiu of the Court Commandant’s residence.”
“Ah!”
This time, the students truly went wild.
Their faces flushed with excitement.
Oh my god, they were so excited. It was like a grand prize drawing.
Chen Bai said, “The student with the highest overall score last year is Gu Bao’er.”
Everyone froze. “Who?”
Wasn’t Gu Bao’er that tiny little one who usually never showed himself, always lowered his head and wrote assignments nonstop, and occasionally secretly looked at others in a rather sneaky way?
Actually, Gu Bao’er was not unfamiliar. He was the son of Third Master Gu from the Court Chamberlain for the Imperial Stud’s household, one of the Nine Ministers’ families. Back then, he had nearly died from heatstroke outside the city, and it had been Chen Xiaobu and the other students who saved him using finger-pricking bloodletting and gua sha.
Perhaps because he had gone through that experience, he paid extra, extra attention to everything Chen Bai taught.
“Ah! Gu Bao’er, you sneaky ghost! No wonder you covered your assessment results every time and wouldn’t let anyone see them.”
“We all thought Gan Xin would get first place. Who would’ve thought you were hiding in the shadows! You, you, you little scheming ghost.”
It was not that the other students’ grades were bad, but some of them were a little biased in certain subjects. Gu Bao’er did not seem to have the best score in any single subject, but his average was good. That was where he won.
Gu Bao’er was indeed tiny. He twisted his little hands together and stood there with a shy face. He had secretly calculated all the other students’ results. Hehe. Every time he saw the grades, his heart would thump for a long time. To avoid being discovered, he had even kept his head lowered for an entire year, making everyone treat him like a little invisible person.
The surroundings were full of denunciations. This Gu Bao’er was so small, yet so sly. He hid it well.
Chen Bai smiled as he watched. This could count as giving these students a lesson too.
Then he took an exotic beast from the carriage and handed it to Gu Bao’er.
Gu Bao’er stretched out his palms to hold it, and his whole body went silly. So… so small. It was like a little fairy, even sticking out its tongue to lick his palm.
He stood in the middle of the crowd, shrinking his tiny body while grinning foolishly. It was ridiculously funny.
It was a Yorkshire terrier. Even when fully grown, it would be only about the size of a palm. Paired with Gu Bao’er’s small frame, it actually suited him quite well.
The other students were so angry they rolled on the ground. “This little fairy is way too adorable.”
“Look at that little tongue. It’s so pretty.”
They had missed it by just that much.
Ahhh!
No. They had to hold Gu Bao’er down and beat him up. He never made a sound usually, but the moment he did, he was this formidable.
Chen Bai looked at the students roughhousing. Gu Bao’er had already prepared a basket, placed a piece of clothing inside to make a nest, and put the dog in it.
A tiny person carrying a big basket, with an equally tiny dog inside.
There really was no image quite like it.
The other students tried to argue their case, but that was impossible. Gu Bao’er just had one sentence: “I won it. Master already said it’s mine. Who told you not to study seriously?”
Too infuriating.
At this moment, Qi Zheng said from the side, “I heard you’ve been busy growing things in the greenhouse. Since you happen to have time today, why don’t we go take a look?”
Chen Bai’s raised smile stiffened. “…You have that much free time? It’s just the right season to plant potatoes now. Shouldn’t you be busy planting potatoes and cultivating seed potatoes?”
That was the important matter.
Qi Zheng simply looked at Chen Bai. Let’s see how you pretend today.
Chen Bai gritted his teeth. “I really have been busy planting in the greenhouse. If you don’t believe me, go ask my students. Oh, right, those students have gone to the various departments of the Ministry of Justice. They probably can’t all be gathered in a short while. Tsk, tsk. I only planted the greenhouse with some of the students.”
Qi Zheng probably had only asked a few individual students. If he said it like this, he did not believe Qi Zheng would truly be so free as to ask them one by one.
Qi Zheng: “…”
What exactly were Mountain Lord and Chen Zixiu hiding? “Very well. Asking them one by one isn’t difficult.”
Chen Bai was stunned. You are a dignified prince. Are you so idle your balls hurt?
Fortunately, at this moment, the group of students finished denouncing Gu Bao’er and gathered around again.
“Master, master, we want to build a magic tower, exactly like the magic tower in Lu State.”
“We want to study on top of a tall tower like that in the future, okay?”
Their eyes were all sparkling. The magic tower they had built with their own hands—a miracle-like high tower. Since they could not move it back, they would simply build another one.
Chen Bai froze. Build a magic tower as the academy?
This…
Their current academy was indeed rather ordinary. It was just a courtyard with a few slightly larger rooms. It looked quite lonely too.
Chen Bai paused. In truth, when he first built the multifunctional electronic classroom, it had not been very wise. There were too many things inside that could not be shown to others. It was not exactly that they could not be shown, but rather that people would not understand them, and who knew how much trouble they might cause. It was only fortunate that the academy was remote.
If they could build a tall tower and move all the equipment inside, plus that place was Qi Zheng’s fief. If he issued an order forbidding unrelated people from entering the tower, it would be much safer.
Right. He could also buy a face-recognition door. Anyone whose facial data had not been entered would not be allowed in. That would make it even more secure.
Some research-oriented classes did indeed require a quiet environment.
But then again, building a tower like that would definitely cost a lot of money.
Chen Bai looked at Qi Zheng.
In the end, Qi Zheng said one word: “Build.”
Those things of the demon’s were indeed far too likely to cause a sensation. They truly needed a proper place to be stored. As for the current academy, it was far too easy for others to pry into it.
Besides, when he thought of that tall tower, his heart also burned hot.
Building such a miraculous tower in his fief would not be bad either.
Chen Bai opened his mouth. How nice to be rich and willful.
Chen Bai felt a little guilty. In ancient times, there were plenty of projects that wasted labor and money. One more would not make a difference, right? Besides, he was doing this to raise Great Qian’s level of knowledge, was he not? Knowledge was priceless. How could it be measured by a little gold and silver?
After thinking for a moment, he said, “…Actually, the one built in Lu State was a little too simple. The interior was really plain and dull. Since we’re going to build one, we should build something practical. It’s just that it’ll be a bit more expensive.”
He looked at Qi Zheng.
Qi Zheng said, “I was sent as an envoy to Lu State, and the king has yet to give me any reward. Let the court help me build a tower in my fief.”
Chen Bai’s eyes lit up. If that was the case, then he would spend the money without feeling polite. Building a magic tower as an academy—no matter how one put it, it was still to cultivate talent for Great Qian. To be honest, he himself was not gaining any benefit from it.
He said, “It might be a little expensive.”
Qi Zheng replied, “The more expensive, the better.”
Whether it was his mission to Lu State, his earlier offering of potatoes, or his victory over the Ba army at Shanggu City, had the king ever truly rewarded him with anything concrete?
Some things had to be requested by himself. Exchanging so many merits for the construction of a tower in his fief was already a great loss.
Chen Bai sighed as well. The court did indeed owe Qi Zheng. No matter how well a tower was built, to the treasury of an entire country, it was still only a drop in the ocean. They were not on the same scale.
The students were overjoyed. “We still kept the blueprints from before. This time, we don’t need to redraw them. The construction speed will definitely be faster.”
Some students who had not gone to Lu State asked curiously, “Can it really be built that high?”
Oh my god. What kind of tall tower would that be?
Qi Zheng had to be busy with potato breeding. No matter what, that matter could not be messed up.
So the matter of building the academy had to be handed to Mountain Lord, and Mountain Lord handed it over to Chen Zixiu.
Chen Bai no longer dared to stay with Qi Zheng too much. He always felt that Qi Zheng’s eyes seemed as if they were about to see through something any moment now, making him feel a chill down his spine.
The next day, the court’s reward for Qi Zheng truly came down. So many merits had been exchanged for the construction of a tower.
The king actually agreed to it. Even Chen Bai felt somewhat chilled by it. Qi Zheng must have long since become utterly disheartened too.
Since that was the case, Chen Bai would not be polite either. He gathered up the excited students and began work.
Because it was exactly the same matter as before, Chen Bai only needed to coordinate things a little. The students were already familiar with the process.
With the support of the Great Qian court, manpower and financial resources were even more convenient than in Lu State. The project began very quickly.
The location was right beside the original academy, between the two mountains, beside the little stream. When the water flowed more fiercely, it could even splash against the tower’s foundation.
They could not find the same white stone that Lu State had, but that was fine. Great Qian’s black stone could also be used, and it happened to match Great Qian’s cold-toned architectural style.
During this period, the Wei crown prince Su Jin arrived in Shangjing. Chen Bai had no time to watch the excitement. He was busy and enjoying himself immensely.
The tower was basically identical to the one in Lu State, but the interior was completely different. When Chen Bai said it would be expensive, the cost was mainly in the interior.
The construction speed was also faster than the one in Lu State. After all, when they built the one in Lu State, everything had been in the exploratory stage.
With no concern for manpower or money, a tall tower rose from the ground. It took only a little over a month to complete the top.
During this period, Qi Zheng, busy with potato breeding, still took time every day to come take a look.
At first, the people of Shangjing merely thought that an ordinary building was being constructed. That was, until the tower grew taller and taller.
So tall that it exceeded what people’s hearts could bear.
So tall that even from Shangjing, if one looked up on a clear day, one could vaguely see the shape of the tower.
This caused no small uproar. The whole of Shangjing was shaken.
The students pretended to be calm. “It’s nothing, nothing. We already helped them build one like this in Lu State.”
“Lu State already has one?”
“Yes. We built it.”
Even with the students’ explanations, people still ran over to watch the excitement. While they were at it, they bought some rabbits from the mountain to take home. Two birds with one stone.
Astonishment was contagious, especially when this miracle could be seen simply by raising one’s head in Shangjing.
Then someone would mutter, “It doesn’t seem like that much. Doesn’t Lu State already have one?”
It was as though saying that could suppress the amazement and disbelief in their hearts.
And it was not only the common people of Shangjing who were amazed. Chen Bai’s students were much the same.
Because Chen Bai was currently recording their faces. “This is facial recognition. Only after your faces are recorded will you be able to enter and exit freely.”
The students: “…”
Chen Xiaobu stood at the doorway and aimed his face at a black screen. Then the door opened automatically.
Truly, it opened just like that.
After Chen Xiaobu went inside, the door closed again.
In truth, it was just an ordinary facial-recognition electronic door.
If Chen Bai had not stopped them, these students could have played at the door endlessly.
He said, “From now on, be careful when entering. Don’t let anyone follow you in.”
The students were still swallowing. “Brother Bai, does that mean anyone who isn’t a student of our academy can’t enter?”
Chen Bai nodded. “As long as you don’t open the door for them, they can’t come in.”
Add to that Qi Zheng issuing an order forbidding people from trespassing, and this place would become very safe.
“Oh my god, this door really recognizes us.”
Chen Bai found it funny. In modern times, this was only common knowledge, but explaining it clearly in ancient times would be troublesome. So he could only let these students get used to it themselves.
Many things that seemed magical would become part of daily life once people grew used to them. After all… the unknown and the unfamiliar were the true sources of fear.
After entering the tower, it was a completely different world. The interior was precisely where it differed entirely from Lu State’s simplified version.
