Chapter 1147: Chapter 970, Captivating
“Look, this is the ‘Dictionary’ annotated by your elder brother.”
After several months of work, Yan Wenxiu had marked all of the characters in the ‘Dictionary’ used by Daxia literati with phonetic annotations.
Daohua glanced through it casually and asked with confusion, “Why are you showing this?”
Xiao Yeyang: “Wenxiu’s intention is to have you check if there are any mistakes. If there aren’t any, he is ready to send this ‘Dictionary’ along with the phonetic chart to Beijing.”
Hearing this, Daohua felt a bit of a headache coming on: “Such a big book, how long will I need to check it?”
Xiao Yeyang, with a smile, pinched Daohua’s shoulder: “Can’t be helped, both Wenxiu and I are your disciples, and no one else knows this phonetics system. It has to be you who checks it.”
Daohua, a bit deflated, remarked: “Am I making trouble for myself?” Though she complained, she still asked, “Is it urgent?”
Xiao Yeyang chuckled: “No rush, take your ti. After a while, I plan to have Wenxiu return to Beijing to personally et with His Majesty the Emperor Uncle and report on the phonetics system.”
“Perhaps with this ‘Dictionary’, I can even attract a group of talented individuals to Xiliang.”
Saying this, he shook his head and sighed, “There are simply too few erudite scholars devoted to teaching and nurturing students in Xiliang.”
Daohua got the picture. Even though Xiao Yeyang said there was no rush, she didn’t like to procrastinate. With sothing on her mind, she would want to resolve it quickly. She aid to get the ‘Dictionary’ checked as soon as possible.
After learning this, Xiao Yeyang let Yan Wenxiu take the annotated ‘Dictionary’ and the phonetic chart back to Beijing in early August.
“Going back now, Wenxiu can return sooner as well.”
…
Beijing, Imperial Palace.
The Emperor looked at the ‘Dictionary’ and phonetic chart submitted by Yan Wenxiu, his expression very solemn.
The current ‘Dictionary’ used in Daxia was compiled by the previous dynasty. The Emperor had long wanted to compile an exclusive Daxia dictionary, but unfortunately, it had never been realized.
The Emperor did not imdiately conclude the usefulness of the phonetics system and instead summoned more than ten Hanlin Academy junior scholars to learn phonetics with Yan Wenxiu.
Thinking that the phonetics system was invented by his niece-in-law, and after so thought, he also called so officials from the Imperial College to learn along, among them was Yan Wenjie.
When Yan Wenjie received the news, a wild joy flashed in his eyes.
Ever since his sister divorced Feng Shuo, although Lord Feng had not troubled him in the Imperial College, the way his colleagues looked at him, the private discussions they had about him, and the subtle ostracism and exclusion had been very uncomfortable for him.
He knew why his elder brother ca back this ti.
Compiling a dictionary, even if he was just an assistant, this task would allow him to leave the Imperial College.
The Emperor’s order was urgent, and after telling his superior, Yan Wenjie went straight to the Imperial Palace to report.
Lord Feng, watching Yan Wenjie hurry away, couldn’t help but furrow his brows and at the sa ti, felt so regret.
When his second brother wanted to take a concubine with him on his post, he and Madam should have stopped it.
Although he and Madam did not like Yan Yile’s character and behavior, the Yan Family was a hard-to-co-by good match.
The current tension between the two families wasn’t what he hoped to see.
Sigh…
It’s truly a pity for the Yan Family!
…
After more than half a month of study, the Hanlin Academy junior scholars and the Imperial College officials unanimously agreed that phonetic annotations were much simpler and easier to learn than using homophones with different tones to annotate sounds.
The Emperor also learned the phonetics and recognized its importance. He imdiately put the compilation of the dictionary on the agenda.
Originally, the Emperor wanted to appoint Yan Wenxiu as the person in charge, but Yan Wenxiu did not wish to stay in Beijing to imrse himself in compiling the dictionary. He wanted to govern a place and do concrete things for the people.
In addition to reporting on phonetics, his visit to Beijing this ti was also to report the achievents of the Ganzhou Guard’s work in building the prefecture.
The Emperor looked over the political achievents attained by Ganzhou Prefecture in nearly three years and thought for a mont before looking at Yan Wenxiu: “Does Yeyang plan to comprehensively establish prefecture, province, and county administrative structures in Xiliang?”
Yan Wenxiu nodded: “After three years of effort, most of the unstable elents within Xiliang have been eliminated. Now, establishing prefectures, provinces, and counties will not et opposition.”
The Emperor fell silent for a mont: “Then do as Yeyang has reported. I entrust Xiliang to his governance, trusting that he will give a satisfactory answer.”
Yan Wenxiu did not participate in the compilation of the dictionary, but the Emperor has taken note of his contributions.
The final responsibility for the compilation of the dictionary was taken up by an old scholar from the Hanlin Academy, and Yan Wenjie was also transferred to Hanlin Academy. At the sa ti, the Pinyin alphabet began to circulate in a small scale among the literati.
Yan Residence.
Upon learning that her husband was transferred to the Hanlin Academy, Zhu Qiyun repeatedly gave thanks to the heavens and the earth.
Her younger sister-in-law’s separation had the greatest impact on him. In just a few short months, he had lost a lot of weight.
“This transfer to the Hanlin Academy, we owe it to eldest brother’s assistance. Eldest brother will soon return to Xiliang, should we prepare so more items to send back with sister-in-law and older sister?”
Zhu Qiyun discussed with Yan Wenjie.
Yan Wenjie thought for a mont and said: “Let’s prepare a bit more, though elder brother and elder sister won’t lack anything, this is also a sign of our heartfelt intentions.”
Zhu Qiyun nodded her head, then began drafting a list.
After a while, Yan Wenjie added, “I might get quite busy afterward, so you’ll have to take a bit more care of our parents and younger sister.”
Zhu Qiyun’s expression paused, forcing a smile: “What is husband talking about? Caring for my parents-in-law is naturally my duty as their daughter-in-law.”
Yan Wenjie sighed inwardly, Zhu Qiyun only ntioned their parents and did not ntion his younger sister.
It was understandable though, no one could be completely untroubled by a sister-in-law returning ho from a separation.
Thinking about the sister-in-law coming ho due to the separation made Yan Wenjie’s head ache.
Zhu Qiyun said: “Now, our parents are accompanying my younger sister-in-law living on a rural estate outside the city. I will often send soone to deliver things to them, so husband need not worry about ho affairs.”
“This opportunity to join the Hanlin Academy is rare, husband must seize it fully.”
Now, the main branch of the family still retained family sentints towards the second branch, but even the greatest sentint cannot endure endless taking.
Having married into the Yan Family for so many years, she had seen the main branch supporting the second branch all along, and whenever the second branch faced troubles, it was the main branch that sorted things out.
This ti with the younger sister-in-law’s separation, she could clearly feel the dissatisfaction from her uncle and aunt towards the second branch and their impatience, otherwise, they would not have been forbidden from staying in the residence.
If the second branch continues like this, they would eventually exhaust the main branch’s patience.
Thinking of Yan Yile, Zhu Qiyun really could not muster any sympathy.
In her view, all of the misfortunes that befell her younger sister-in-law today were caused by her own actions.
Hopefully, this separation can lead to a change in her temperant!
…
In mid-November, when the first snow of the season fell in Beijing, Yan Wenxiu set out on his journey back to Xiliang.
Yan Zhigao and Madam Li braved the cold to personally escort their son to the city gate.
Yan Wenjie and Zhu Qiyun were there as well.
After bidding farewell to Yan Zhigao and Madam Li, Yan Wenxiu walked up to Yan Wenjie and patted his shoulder: “Do well in Hanlin Academy, the second branch ultimately depends on you to uphold.”
Yan Wenjie’s expression showed a bit of sha: “I’ve caused uncle and elder brother concern.”
Yan Wenxiu said: “Family doesn’t talk about two family affairs.” After thinking, he advised, “Learn more from Grand Scholar Du; his knowledge is indeed profound.”
After saying farewell to his family, Yan Wenxiu boarded the carriage and left.
Not long after leaving Beijing, he encountered a convoy of carriages.
“Could these be Officer Yan’s carriages?”
After the Pinyin system began to spread on a small scale, so well-inford households received the news and ca seeking.
With the Hanlin personnel busy with the dictionary compilation and unavailable to teach, everyone turned their attention to Yan Wenxiu.
Yan Wenxiu lifted the carriage curtain and saw the people stopping the carriage. He recognized them as scholars at a glance, and smilingly said to the head of the household: “I am Yan Wenxiu.”
Imdiately, soone stepped forward: “We are masters from Baichuan Academy, and we’ve heard that Officer Yan has invented the Pinyin annotation thod. We specifically ca to seek instruction.”
Yan Wenxiu: “The Pinyin annotation thod was not invented by ; it was a chance discovery by Prince Residence of Wei Yuan. If you gentlen wish to learn, you are welco to accompany to Xiliang.”
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