Chapter 688: Boorish Fool
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
As a matter of fact, everyone was paying attention to the world map at the moment. They tried their best to stretch their necks to admire it.
All of them knew that they would never see such an expensive and rare thing in their lifetime if they missed this opportunity.
Unfortunately, they could only see the outline of the world map from a distance. They could not see anything else clearly.
“Your Majesty, can we borrow the world map for… one month… No, half a month is enough?” Xiao Yurong was a little unwilling and asked humbly at this moment.
The Emperor was very calm. “Master Xiao, it’s not that I don’t want to give it to you. It’s just that this thing is the Empress’ birthday gift. Young Lady Xie has just given this to my Empress. If she really lent it to you, wouldn’t she feel wronged? So… I have tried my best to give you a chance to come into contact with it. If you want to make a copy of it this month, just come into the palace more often.”
“One month is not enough, Your Majesty.” Xiao Yurong looked innocent.
If it was at the academy, it could be seen day and night. Even if he did not eat or drink, he could finish copying the painting.
However, in the imperial palace, it would take many hours to go back and forth every day.
Unless he lived in the courtyard of the Hanlin Academy.
However, he could not keep up with the teachings at the academy if he did that.
“Then three months it is. In short, I will not agree to send this thing out of the palace.” The Emperor was in a good mood.
The world map…
Master Xiao could only agree to the condition. He could not help but gaze at the world map.
He suddenly remembered that this map was given by the young lady of the Xie family, and he felt a little regretful.
Young Lady Xie’s younger brother was his disciple. He was not smart enough to show his filial piety to him by showing him the world map first.
Now that it had been sent to the Emperor, it could not be taken back…
“How did Young Lady Xie get this thing? Apart from this world map, are there any other paintings from the Baili Family?” Dean Zhao of the Royal Academy asked excitedly.
Xie Qiao shook her head. “My father took this from the barbarian’s camp. The items that my father thought were valuable had long been handed over to the national treasury. He didn’t know that this thing was the world map, so he kept it in the box. It was me who accidentally saw it and took it out.”
“Kept it in the box?!” All the teachers were stirred. “What for?!”
“For damp proofing…” Xie Qiao said in a low voice.
All the teachers felt a throbbing pain in their chests.
Xie Niushan, that boorish fool!
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“No wonder! Your Majesty, Look, the creases on the sheepskin are really too much… There are indeed some stains and scratches here. Bandit Xie… Master Xie was really… reckless!” The teachers were about to cry.
Xie Niushan was not reckless, he was blind.
How could such a good sheepskin be useless? He used it for damp proofing?! Did he lack damp-proofing fabric at home?!
They could not figure it out!
When the teachers thought of that, their hearts ached. It was unbearable. They wished they could invite that Bandit Xie over and give him a good beating with a ferule!
“Everyone, don’t blame my father for not having good taste. This thing was just ordinary sheepskin at the beginning. I soaked it in water and then I placed it on the fire to roast it. Only then did the painting on it appear…”
The teachers felt their heads ringing.
“S-Stop speaking…” The more she said, the more excited they became.
“Thank you, Young Lady. This thing… isn’t invulnerable to fire and water! It’s just parchment. Y-You should find a more capable master to do it. It’s terrible to use fire on your own. What if… the house catches fire?”
What if she burned a big hole in this thing? Would that not be the end of the masterpiece?!
They thanked the young lady in their hearts for discovering such a masterpiece, which made them experience it. However, at the same time, they were also in fear!