At that moment, the fourth prince felt that there were countless wronged souls lingering in the ancient and modern collection library. He almost subconsciously hugged his third brother's arm. His fearlessness seemed to be gone in an instant. After a moment of shock, the third prince couldn't help but sighed: "Fourth brother, this palace was originally the capital of the Yuan Dynasty. People have died there!"
The fourth prince looked so angry that he was speechless. When he saw the emperor looking back, he hung his head and said, "Even if someone has died in other palaces, it's not as gloomy at night as it is here... No, it's gloomy! Father, can't we come during the day?"
"It's more lively at night." The emperor seemed not to notice the fourth prince's momentary frozen face, and said with a smile, "The first time I came to the Ancient and Modern Collection Library, it was at night when my father dismissed everyone and brought me here alone. He held the lamp and I followed behind. At that time, I looked behind the bookshelves around me and felt that there seemed to be a lot of monsters hiding there."
The fourth prince knew that his father meant that there were at least three people at this time, and he couldn't help but curl his lips, but he didn't agree in his heart. He wasn't really afraid of the dark, the small number of people, or ghosts. Anyway, he had such a powerful father, and this was in the palace, so even if there were monsters, he could beat them. Wasn't he just trying to complement his third brother's wisdom and bravery
However, what he didn't understand the most at the moment was why his father brought him and his brother here, so he let go of the hand that was holding the third prince's arm and pulled his clothes again, then asked in a low voice: "Third brother, I have never been here. Do you know what books are in this ancient and modern collection?"
Although the Third Prince was the Crown Prince, he had rarely been here before, so he really couldn't answer the Fourth Prince's question. But the Emperor didn't say anything, so he could only say uncertainly: "It is said that there are many rare and even unique books in the Ancient and Modern Collection Library. Previously, my father asked the Imperial Household Department to print some of them. Some were given to important officials and some were given to famous people. Many people are very grateful for the grace of heaven."
Hearing his son praising him, the emperor was of course delighted: "Because these things exist here, no one will read them, so of course they must be published. I have already thought about printing a few more copies of the Siku Quanshu compiled during the last years of Taizu and the reign of Taizong, and give a copy to each of the thirteen provincial governments. I will also build a large library in the provincial capital for students to read."
"Father, you are wise!" The Third Prince said this sincerely, "This is better than the library that Lu Jijiu wants to build for borrowing and reading books. After all, ordinary people don't have as many books as the palace! It should be printed out so that all readers in the world can see it."
The emperor caught a glimpse of the Fourth Prince nodding his head desperately behind the Third Prince, and he finally realized that the younger one was trying hard to set off the older one.
With mixed feelings, he touched the heads of his two sons one after another, then turned around and continued walking forward. When he came to a bookshelf in the middle, he casually placed the oil lamp on the large ebony desk beside it, and took down a box from the third shelf. After opening it, he saw a stack of yellowed papers inside.