Zhou Chen did not ask Shi Yi's birth date. In this ancient time with strict etiquette, a woman's birth date could not be easily told to others, especially women.
However, although he didn't know the specific birthday of Shi Yi, he had seen the TV plot and knew that it was after becoming a disciple, so he had already started preparations in advance.
Today, I just took advantage of the fact that everyone else came to give birthday gifts and took advantage of the situation.
"Follow me to the library. The gifts I prepared for you are there. There are quite a few."
With doubts in mind, Shi Yi followed Zhou Chen to the library in the backyard. She often went to the library but didn't find any gifts.
Because she is now the only daughter in the Shui Fang of Jianshiwu, many people give her birthday gifts every year, and she has long been used to it.
She didn't care about the gifts given by others, but Zhou Chen gave them to her, and she was really full of expectations.
In the library, Zhou Chen took Shi Yi directly to the second floor, and then pointed to the two large wooden boxes on the ground.
"Eleven, I know you like reading. Nanchen Wangjun can't stay in the palace all the time. If we leave for something, you will definitely be lonely if you stay alone in the palace. I have thought of many gifts that I can give you.
But in the end I decided to give you a book."
'Book?'
Shiyi looked surprised. She really liked reading. Although she was not very young, she had read countless precious classics.
Zhou Chen said with a smile: "The book I want to give you is different from the saints' classics you have read before. If you want to describe it, it is more precisely a short story book, a special long book about gods and demons.
I don’t know if you like reading novels, but if you don’t like them, I will consider giving you something else.”
Although he hadn't read it yet, Yu Shiyi replied without hesitation: "I like it. I like whatever Master gives me."
That is to say, she cannot speak, otherwise, her emotional tone will definitely be more excited.
"I haven't even read it yet, but I just said I like it."
Zhou Chen walked over and opened the two large boxes. There were bamboo slips placed inside. At a glance, there were hundreds or thousands of them.
The novel he wants to give is Journey to the West. He doesn't care what era this is or whether such a novel will be regarded as alien. This is his gift to the time. Whatever he wants to give, he can give it.
Because he was worried that the paper would not be preserved well, he did not mind the trouble. He spent a long time and engraved the entire novel of more than 800,000 words on the bamboo slips, arranged them neatly, and marked them so that it was easy for Miao Shiyi to read them.
.
Of course, a complete restoration is impossible, but his current literary quality is not bad at all. He has lived for several hundred years and is familiar with the narrative methods of this era. Therefore, it is not a big problem to restore the novel according to the plot.
More than 800,000 words, this is a big project, but with his physical fitness and wood carving skills, it is dozens of times faster than ordinary people.
"This novel is called Journey to the West. It may be a bit unconventional for you, but it should still be very interesting."
Ji Shiyi's face was filled with joy. She didn't care if it was deviant or not. She only knew that it was given to her by her master and specially prepared for her.
'Thank you, Master.'
Zhou Chen first picked up two volumes and handed them to Shiyi: "Read it first. If you find it interesting, continue reading. If you find it boring, leave it here and I will prepare it for you again."
Ji Shiyi took the bamboo slips handed over by Zhou Chen, walked aside, opened them and started reading.
When she saw the handwriting carved on the bamboo slips, she was very surprised and asked Zhou Chen.
'Master, did you carve these yourself?'
"Well, since I want to give it to you, I can't borrow it from others."
Shiyi's eyelashes trembled slightly, feeling very uneasy, moved, and happy...
If Zhou Chen had burned so many letters by himself, how much time and energy would have been consumed.
Just to prepare a birthday gift for her?
"You read it first, and I'll read other books as well."
The two found a seat and sat down. Shiyi calmed down her mood, and then began to carefully watch the Journey to the West that Zhou Chen gave her.
After reading it for a while, she was attracted by the content of Journey to the West.
In fact, there are myths and legends in every era, but there is no systematic integration. The gods believed in in each dynasty and in each place are different, and scholars always say that "the son does not talk about strange powers and confuses the gods", so it is generally
Think gods are fictitious.
When she saw that the protagonist of Journey to the West was actually a monkey, her expression was very shocked and she looked more seriously.
Yan Shiyi read it very carefully, almost word for word, and sometimes looked back and thought about it, so he read very slowly, especially when he saw some poems, he studied them carefully.
In one afternoon, I didn't finish watching a single round.
Rubbing his eyes, Shiyi raised his head, looked at Zhou Chen, and expressed joyfully in sign language: 'Master, why did you write about a monkey?'
Zhou Chen said with a smile: "Watch it slowly by yourself, it would be pointless to spoil it in advance."
Although Master often spoke in a strange style and used some strange words, Shi Yi could still generally understand him.
'Thank you, Master.'
Time passed very quickly. Since receiving Zhou Chen's gift, Yang Shiyi has taken time to come to the library to read a little bit of Journey to the West every day.
Originally, she had no interest in those weird things, but after reading Journey to the West, she was deeply attracted. She felt that the master's writing was really good and the story was told very well, especially
That monkey is really interesting.
As for the birthday gifts given to her by the palace and family, she asked Cheng Xi to keep them and didn't take them to heart at all.
On this day, Zhou Chen received intelligence from the frontline border. Nan Xiao suddenly stationed troops at the border and had the intention of marching to Beichen. The two sides were about to break out, so the border guard immediately sent a message to Nanchen Prince's Mansion, requesting support.
After reading the letter asking for help, he handed it to military advisor Xie Chong, but he remained silent.
After reading it, Xie Chong looked serious: "Thanks to His Highness, the border between Nanxiao and Beichen has been stable for several years. Why did Nanxiao suddenly start an attack again?"
Nanxiao and Beichen are the two most powerful countries in China today. Both sides have the idea of ​​​​devouring the other. Unfortunately, the strength of the two countries is not much different. There have been many wars, but each has its own victory.
Negative, no one can do anything to anyone.
In recent years, because the Northern Chen emperor ascended the throne and had insufficient control over the government and the country, the country was weak and unable to become strong in the face of Southern Xiao.
But because of the Nanchen King's army on the border, Nanxiao had no way to defeat Beichen. The two sides fought several times, and it was only in the past two or three years that no large-scale war broke out.
Now Nan Xiao is the first to make a move, and no one knows what their purpose is, but no matter what, the Nanchen King's army is definitely going to the border.
Zhou Chen said calmly: "No matter what the reason is, sending troops is necessary. Xiaoyu, Tianxing, and food are left to you to prepare, and the defense of Xizhou City must also be done well."
"Yes, Master."
Xie Chong reminded: "Your Highness, there is another person to consider."
Zhou Chen nodded: "I know, Eleven, Xiaoyu, how is the person I asked you to find?"
Hong Xiaoyu immediately replied: "According to Master's request, I have found a dozen women with innocent family backgrounds. As long as the junior sisters agree, they are willing to sell themselves to the palace; but, Master, will the recruitment of maids in the palace have any impact on your reputation?"
Influence?"
In the past, there were no maids in Prince Nanchen's palace. There were only two girls in the palace, her and the fourth junior sister. The reason for this was because little Prince Nanchen was afraid.
But now Zhou Chen is recruiting maids for the sake of Shiyi. If word spreads about it by someone who is interested, who knows what the arrangement will be like.
But Zhou Chen said indifferently: "I'm looking for a maid for my apprentice, not for myself. Outsiders can just say what they want. I can't stop everyone from talking."
Xie Chong sighed with emotion: "Your Highness, you have really changed. Before, you would never have said such a thing."
Hong Xiaoyu and Zhou Tianxing nodded in agreement. In the past, Zhou Shengchen was not afraid, but he didn't want to get into trouble. He knew very well how afraid Zhongzhou was of him.
But Zhou Chen doesn't have so many scruples, as long as everything is fine with him over there, if he really wants to force him, he will definitely teach them how to behave.
According to Zhou Chen's instructions, Hong Xiaoyu selected four maids the next day and arranged them to go to Shiyi's yard.
And Zhou Chen also looked for an opportunity to say goodbye to Yan Shiyi.
"Eleven, I have to leave."
When Jian Shiyi heard this, he immediately panicked and asked hurriedly.
'Master, where are you going?'
"I don't usually live in the palace. I lead troops out for eight or nine months of the year. It's always been like this. It's very rare that I can't leave for nearly half a year this time, so you have to get used to it in the future."
Ji Shiyi was very reluctant to give up, but she also knew that she couldn't change this, so she could only nod calmly.
Zhou Chen said softly: "When I leave, the palace only has guards. I have found four more maids for you and have sent them to your courtyard."
Jian Shiyi hurriedly said that he didn't need it, but Zhou Chen smiled and said: "People are already here, so we can't send them back. It's been prepared for you, so don't feel embarrassed."
"After I leave, you must take care of yourself. I hope you can call me Master next time I come back."
To be continued...