An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

"This... this is actually a library?"

Jing Chunxi raised her head, the firelight dancing in her shocked pupils, illuminating the sandalwood bookshelves towering to the dome.

This warehouse, which is ten times larger than an ordinary house, is like a sleeping giant. Each row of bookshelves is as neatly arranged as soldiers in a line, casting long shadows in the dim light.

She tentatively reached out her hand, her fingertips lightly brushing across the surface of the bookshelf. Surprisingly, there wasn't a speck of dust on it, not even a trace of cobwebs. The air was filled with the unique aroma of camphorwood and old paper, with a faint hint of the fragrance of herbs. The whole place was so quiet that she could hear her own heartbeat.

Xu Zize's steady voice echoed in the empty space. He walked slowly around with a torch in hand, and the soles of his boots made a subtle echo on the bluestone slabs.

"Look at those sacks around here," he pointed to the neatly stacked bags against the wall. "They're filled with moisture-proof charcoal. There's a pile every ten steps."

The firelight passed over the corner of the wall, illuminating the gray-white powder scattered on the ground. "This powder is specially used to repel insects and ants. The material used must be very special."

He squatted down and carefully examined the ground, his fingers running over a few barely noticeable charred marks. "The ground has been repeatedly baked by intense fire. Every crack has been carefully cleaned, and even the tiniest cracks have been filled with special clay."

"With such careful arrangement, the books here must be priceless." Jing Chunxi gently stroked the books tightly wrapped in oil paper. The oil paper was thick and flexible, and the books were wrapped tightly.

She suddenly understood why these books were hidden deep underground—if they had remained in the palace, they would have been destroyed by the usurper family. It was truly a blessing that these precious books could be preserved here intact.

Xu Zize's Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he responded in a low voice: "They can even kill their own flesh and blood to seize power, how can they cherish these treasures of civilization." His voice produced a slight echo in the empty library, with unspeakable heaviness.

His eyes swept across the bookshelves arranged like a military formation like a hawk, and finally stopped in front of a plaque marked "Water Conservancy". The plaque was carved from fine rosewood, and the words were still clearly visible.

His voice suddenly burst with irrepressible joy, "Water conservancy! There must be a water conservancy map here!" As he said this, he reached out impatiently to take down a scroll tied with silk and slowly spread out the oil paper on it.

At this moment, Jing Chunxi was standing on tiptoe, carefully removing the bronze candlesticks fixed to the stone pillars. The candlesticks were ingeniously designed, with each lamp holder away from the books and a wide, stable base.

She was pleasantly surprised to find a full supply of tallow candles on the candlestick, and she expertly lit them with a torch. Clusters of flickering candlelight lit up one after another, illuminating the library with increasing brightness. "Brother Xiaokang, take a look first. I'll take care of the torch." Her voice was particularly brisk in the candlelight.

Xu Zize carefully unfolded the yellowed river map, his eyes following the graceful figure moving through the candlelight. As she moved briskly to light each candlestick, he couldn't help but gently remind her, "Be careful, don't knock over the candlesticks."

"I've seen it. It's very solidly made. The tallow candles are very short and will burn out in the candlestick."

When he saw her put the extinguished torch into the space, a gentle smile appeared in his eyes, as if he saw thousands of stars illuminating the way ahead in this deep palace.

The candlelight cast a warm halo on his focused face, interweaving with the fragrance of books wafting from the bookshelves to create a peaceful picture.

"Xi'er, do you think these books would be safer if stored in a space?" Xu Zize flipped through a dozen scrolls, his eyes gleaming with unconcealable joy. His slender fingers gently stroked the yellowed pages, as if touching some rare treasure, and even his brows curved with joy.

When he looked up, he found that his girl was not reading, but staring at him quietly. The candlelight and his figure were reflected in her bright eyes.

This focused gaze made Xu Zize's heart leap, as if a deer were fluttering in his chest. He asked with forced composure, but his voice softened unconsciously.

"Ah!" Jing Chunxi was immersed in his focused profile, and was caught off guard. She immediately panicked. She felt her cheeks burning, and even her ears were stained with red.

He hurriedly lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously twisting the corners of his clothes.

"Xier~Xier~I think~this place is safer than the space. Look, it's been so many years and nothing has happened." She stammered, "There are still insects and ants in the space, but~you can also use medicine." Her voice became smaller and smaller, and in the end it was almost as thin as a mosquito's hum.

Seeing her shy look, which was completely different from her usual self, a hint of smile flashed across Xu Zize's eyes. He suddenly realized that occasionally teasing a girl who seemed much more dignified because she had learned the rules was actually such a pleasant thing.

"Then let's take these water conservancy ones first! I have to send the useful ones to the Ministry of Works." He gathered his thoughts and gently put the scroll aside. "I will report the rest to my father, and then help Xier find a reason to donate them." Before he finished speaking, he saw Jing Chunxi frowning in disapproval.

"Our families are already quite prosperous now," she said urgently, "please don't flatter us any more. If word gets out that we're too powerful and hurt ourselves, we can't afford it."

At this point, her voice trembled slightly, "Do you remember why the General's Mansion was convicted? Xier just...just wants all her relatives to be safe and sound." The words "live a new life" that almost came out of her mouth were swallowed back by her in time and turned into a sigh.

Xu Zize gazed at her worried expression, his heart softening. "Well, I was thinking of donating a library in the name of Princess Anping," he explained gently, then changed the subject, "But some merits must be claimed! Next time, ask father for a golden medal of immunity from death. If Brother Xiaokang ever must ascend the throne, I'll cast hundreds and thousands for you. Don't worry, Xi'er."

Seeing that she was about to object, he continued firmly: "If it weren't for Xier, Brother Xiaokang would never find this mechanism in his eight lifetimes, and father would not be able to ascend the throne smoothly. If Brother Xiaokang doesn't keep his word, he will be beaten on the fifth day..." Before he finished speaking, a soft hand had already gently covered his lips.

Jing Chunxi raised her eyes and looked into his, her gaze gentle but firm: "If that day really comes, just think that Xier has made a mistake and leave on your own." Her voice was very soft, but with unquestionable determination, as if she had already made the worst plan in her heart.

She was originally a dead soul that had already gone to another place. Now that she had avenged her great hatred and was able to save her mother, brother, and maternal grandparents, she had already made a lot of money, and she was content.

But the prerequisite is that both Emperor Wu of Yan and his brother Xiaokang must be wise rulers.

"Hurry up and clear out all the bookshelves related to water conservancy." Xu Zize put away his teasing expression and spoke in a serious and urgent tone. His slender fingers quickly ran across the edge of the bookshelf, his eyes scanning the yellowed water conservancy books.

The dim candlelight in the dark passage danced on his angular profile, illuminating his slightly furrowed brow.

Upon hearing this, Jing Chunxi immediately stood on tiptoe and stretched her slender arms upwards. She didn't want the books to become messy once they entered the space, so she had to collect them layer by layer.

Seeing that she was struggling, Xu Zize shook his head gently, stretched out his long arms and picked her up, allowing her to reach the top shelf easily. With a few whooshing sounds, hundreds of books on several layers of shelves disappeared, and the scent of aged ink wafted in the air.

They had indeed been delayed in the secret passage for quite some time; it must have been already noon outside. If they delayed any longer, the servants who had rushed to read the imperial edict would have returned. Without further ado, Xu Zize grabbed Jing Chunxi's wrist and hurried toward the exit of the secret passage.

It was not until they walked out of the secret passage and gently pressed Jing Chunxi to rest on the bluestone bench under the rockery that Xu Zize breathed a sigh of relief.