Imperial Treasure

Chapter 524 - 345: Book Pavilion Tower, Fragments_2

"Biographies of ancient figures, historical records of dynasties, it would be good if there were also some related to archaeology," Sui Yi read many kinds of books, but his favorite were indeed these.

Uncle Wen was also surprised; there were quite a few young people who liked to read books these days, but very few who read this kind of book.

"These kinds of books are over there; Teacher is aware of it. He will take you there, and I won’t need to intervene," Uncle Wen said.

So Mr. Yi amiably took Sui Yi over...

Ancient manuscripts seemed to be particularly valuable, hence a large book cabinet had been specifically allocated for them.

However, next to the large cabinet was another shelf where several boxes were placed.

"Those are ancient artifacts that accompany some of the books... Mankind passes on knowledge through words, and uses objects as a strategy, the stories behind each of these artifacts could be compiled into several books..."

Sui Yi nodded in agreement.

In the following days, she would regularly be here reading books. Initially, Uncle Wen thought that she was just a woman treated unusually by Yi Chilian, who happened to like reading and would just stroll in here, pick a few books, and that would be it...

Who would have thought that she was really just here to read books; Yi Chilian, on the other hand, was put out of mind...

Of course, Yi Chilian was also a book lover. The two were content to immerse themselves in the sea of books, and after five days...

While reading, Sui Yi suddenly frowned, her gaze lingering on a page of the ancient book she held in her hand for a long time.

"What’s the matter, is there a problem?" Yi Chilian noticed her unusual behavior and spoke up, but realized in the next second that he had inadvertently revealed something.

Like... whether he was really reading the book or watching her.

However, Sui Yi obviously didn’t notice this. She just looked up and asked with a slightly serious tone, "Is this a biographical record of someone from your family?"

She turned the book towards him, showing a page on which a slightly yellowed thin paper was conspicuously inserted.

Yi Chilian needed only a glance to say, "It’s my uncle’s handwriting. It appears to be a casual bookmark he left behind, with some notes on it..."

Clearly, the issue wasn’t with the book, but with this note...

He glanced at Sui Yi and then looked back down at the text...

"In youth, upon obtaining an ancient artifact like this old book, I was greatly delighted; it came with another object, a fragment of a shattered mirror, shaped like a crescent moon. Due to its peculiar origin, I became plagued with doubts. Upon further investigation, I found out that the essence of this object was extraordinary, hard to match with any substance in this world. Therefore, out of curiosity, I carefully stored it away..."

By the time he read this, he knew the source of Sui Yi’s heightened attention.

"Do you know what this fragment is?" he asked.

Sui Yi nodded but didn’t speak it aloud. Yi Chilian didn’t press further and just looked at her, "Do you want this object?"

"Do you have it?"

"I do. My uncle has passed away... his belongings were left to me, so it’s in my possession," Yi Chilian said, observing that Sui Yi’s normally calm expression remained unchanged, although her eyes flickered with emotion.

Indeed, she was extremely eager...

But in the end, Sui Yi did not speak out because after all it was a relic, and it was her first visit... although not quite her first, under these circumstances it was indeed inappropriate to speak.

Neither to beg nor to barter.

Sui Yi wasn’t a person who would go to any lengths, so she let it go, about to turn back to her book, when the other end of the book was held down.

"If you want it, I can give it to you," Yi Chilian said.

Sui Yi looked up, "But this is your uncle’s relic..."

Yi Chilian gave a slight smile, "He has left behind many relics, among them many odd items with unknown origins. I’m at a loss as to their provenance, leaving them idle without knowing how to deal with them... I would rather exchange it for an answer."

"What answer?"

"What is it?"

What is it? In the past, others may not have received an answer from Sui Yi. Because it’s too arcane; she knew very little herself, and now that it involved the High Priest, it was bound to be a great secret of Cangwu...

"A piece from a shattered mirror called Cangwu," Sui Yi said.

Cangwu?

Before Yi Chilian could ask more, Sui Yi had already spoken, "I indeed need this fragment, but I don’t want to involve you... It’s very dangerous."

Yi Chilian, who would normally be displeased, just watched her intently and then suddenly smiled, "As much as I’m pleased, it seems I have no choice but to get involved..."

"Sui Yi, I must tell you, my uncle disappeared while searching for the secrets behind it. It has been ten years and he hasn’t returned. This is my family’s hidden agony, and he bequeathed this Book Pavilion to me... One of his lifelong desires was to find a trace of him... so I cannot agree to your request on this matter," Yi Chilian said.

If it were anything else, I would surely agree...

But as expected, Sui Yi simply nodded, "Okay."

This man... perhaps he was too indulgent towards others, his mind open and calm, making him even harder to fathom.

Thinking this, Yi Chilian stood up, took a small box from a secret compartment in the artifact shelf, and handed it to Sui Yi,

"Open it and take a look."

Sui Yi didn’t need to look; her touch on the box gave her a sensation. She glanced at it and said, "It’s the one."

"I have no other desire. I’ll give you this fragment and this ancient book. I just hope that if you find some clues about it one day, you can let me know... Sui Yi, this is my request," Yi Chilian said with utmost seriousness, setting aside his affectionate thoughts for her.

It seemed his uncle meant a great deal to him.

Indeed, why else would a person like him, if he didn’t truly value someone, stay in a place like this guarding this Library for so many years...

"Alright, I promise you," Sui Yi responded readily.

Yi Chilian sighed with relief, a smile emerging as he asked, "I thought you wouldn’t agree."

"You’ve helped me several times; of course, I must agree with you at least once..." Sui Yi spoke slowly.

"Don’t worry, if it’s dangerous..." Yi Chilian began to say that he could fend for himself, even...

"I will protect you," Sui Yi interjected, making Yi Chilian’s words catch in his throat, and she stood up.

"As long as I live, you will be safe."

With that, she left.

Uncle Wen, who had come out with tea, stood to the side and watched before approaching, "Teacher’s insight is truly exceptional..."

Yi Chilian picked up the tea, an unconscious smile appearing on his lips, "I think so too." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)