Chapter 140: Submission of the Manuscript

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How could Mo Dun have known that a single comic would cause such a commotion within the imperial palace? When he cheerfully went to present Emperor Li Shimin with the paintings for the Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials, he received not a word of praise, but instead a thorough tongue-lashing.

“Ah!”

Downcast, Mo Dun made his way toward the palace gates, grumbling inwardly about Li Shimin’s stinginess. It was only a comic. Compared with the crude and violent comics of later ages, this one was as innocent as a little white rabbit.

“Mo Dun!”

He was still brooding when he faintly heard someone calling his name. He looked up and searched around, but saw no one.

“Over here?”

A head appeared around the corner of the palace wall to his right.

“Li Zhi!”

The furtive figure was none other than Li Zhi, the precociously mischievous boy Mo Dun had seen outside the Literary Academy. Mo Dun glanced at the eunuch following behind him, who was staring at the sky and pretending not to notice anything, then walked over in confusion.

“Greetings to… all the princes!”

Mo Dun had intended to greet only Prince Jin, but when he turned the corner, he discovered Li Zhen, Li You, and several other princes gathered there as well.

“May I ask why Your Highnesses have summoned me?” Mo Dun asked.

“Ziyi belongs to your household, does she not?” Li You asked. He was only eleven or twelve, yet spoke with an air of authority as though he were a grown man.

Mo Dun nodded. There was no need to hide it. In any case, he had already been scolded by Li Shimin.

“Excellent. Then help me deliver these comics to Ziyi and have her autograph them!” Li You pulled four or five comics from his robes and slapped them into Mo Dun’s hands.

“These are for my imperial elder sister!” Li Zhen added, placing another stack of comics in Mo Dun’s arms.

Mo Dun looked up and caught sight of a colorful hem disappearing around the palace wall in the distance.

“No, no, absolutely not!” he hurriedly protested. He had only just been reprimanded by Li Shimin. If he helped these princes obtain autographs as well, would the emperor not eat him alive?

“Do not worry. These are for Mother and several of the imperial consorts. With them protecting you, nothing will happen.” Li Zhi reached into his robes, produced several more comics, and piled them on top.

Mo Dun eyed the towering stack with deep suspicion.

“I will ask the Crown Prince to confirm everything later. If you dare deceive me, I will confiscate the whole lot!” He pointed at the boys and warned them sternly.

“Do not worry!” Li Zhi assured him, patting his chest.

What Mo Dun did not know was how painfully dull life in the inner palace could be. The arrival of comics had the same allure as the first television broadcasts in later ages. Few people could resist their power. Their creator, Ziyi, had practically become an idol to the younger generation. If the title “beautiful young woman artist” had existed yet, her popularity would have been even greater.

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“Ahem!”

Mo Dun emerged from around the palace wall carrying a huge stack of comics. Seeing the little eunuch still gazing at the sky, he put on an affected expression and said, “His Majesty has just reprimanded this humble servant and brought me to my senses. As there happened to be several books here that encourage idleness and distract people from their studies, I took the opportunity to remove them, lest some young prince happen upon them and become so engrossed that he neglects his lessons.”

Whether or not the eunuch would report the matter, Mo Dun felt it safer to offer an explanation. He did not believe Li Zhi and the others could act so boldly without Li Shimin knowing.

Once he had confirmed the matter with Li Chengqian, everything would be fine if Empress Changsun was involved. But if not—well, it was better to offend a prince than the emperor.

At the thought of Li Shimin’s dark expression, Mo Dun shuddered. He hurriedly broke into a trot and did not breathe easily until he had passed through the Vermilion Bird Gate without seeing any guards pursuing him.

The Mo Residence.

As soon as Mo Dun stepped down from his carriage, he saw Ziyi hurrying out.

“Young Master, if you see Mo San, tell him you did not see me!” Ziyi called, then hastily made for the gate.

Mo Dun watched her leave in bewilderment, then turned to Uncle Fu, who was waiting by the gatehouse.

“It is the comics that have caused all this trouble. I hear Mo San has already printed three additional editions, and they are still selling out as soon as they appear. He has decided to take advantage of the momentum and release a second volume, so he has come several times to press Ziyi for the manuscript,” Uncle Fu explained helplessly.

Only then did Mo Dun understand. He turned to Tie An, who was carrying a bundle of Mo Publications, and ordered, “Take these to Ziyi’s room. When she has some free time, have her sign them.”

Tie An nodded and followed Mo Dun into the residence with the stack of comic books in his arms.

“Ah, Young Master,” Uncle Fu added, “Doctor Shen Hongcai of the Imperial College has come to see you. He has been waiting for quite some time.”

“Doctor Shen Hongcai, the mathematician?” Mo Dun asked in surprise.

Uncle Fu nodded.

Mo Dun wondered what Shen Hongcai could possibly want with him.

“Master, what brings you here?”

In the reception hall, Mo Dun found Shen Hongcai sipping fragrant tea, a comic open in his hands. He hurried forward to greet him.

“In my lessons today, I confiscated ten copies of this book alone. Why do you think I have come?” Shen Hongcai closed the comic and spoke at his leisure.

“Ah!”

Mo Dun was utterly astonished. He had never imagined that even the students of the Imperial College would have comic enthusiasts among them.

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“It is merely a form of entertainment. I never expected it to disturb you, Master.” Mo Dun hurriedly apologized. Whatever the case, the comics had indeed caused trouble.

“They are certainly a form of amusement. I am not some fossilized old pedant, so I have not taken the matter to heart. But you should be careful. Quite a few people at the Imperial College have strong objections to comics,” Shen Hongcai cautioned him.

“Thank you for the warning, Master,” Mo Dun said gratefully.

Still, he did not take the matter too seriously. The comics contained nothing improper. At most, they had the same effect on students as extracurricular books in later ages, bringing both benefits and drawbacks. Besides, only this single volume had been published, and it could be read in the space of a quarter of an hour. Even if it posed some danger, it could hardly stir up much trouble.

Seeing that Mo Dun remained unconcerned, Shen Hongcai said no more. Instead, he took a book from the table and handed it to Mo Dun, indicating that he should look through it.

“Mathematics? You have finished compiling it already, Master?” Mo Dun asked delightedly.

“How could it have been done so quickly? I have merely completed the mathematics curriculum for the first year.” Shen Hongcai spoke modestly, though a pleased smile appeared on his face.

Mo Dun opened the book. Sure enough, it contained the simple numerical operations with which he was familiar.

They were simple, yet their significance was immense. Compared with the obscure and difficult Ten Classics of Mathematics, this new mathematics was far better suited to beginners.

“With this book, countless students will receive a great blessing. It will make an immense contribution to the spread of mathematics,” Mo Dun praised sincerely.

“Mo San!” Mo Dun called toward the courtyard, where Mo San had been waiting for some time.

“Young Master!” Mo San hurried inside at once.

“As for the second volume of the comics, wait until this excitement has passed. For now, have the printing house work at full capacity and print this book instead,” Mo Dun ordered.

“Mathematics?” Mo San picked it up and looked at it in confusion.

“Print two thousand copies to begin with. Once they are finished, send them immediately to Mo Village and to every Mo family enterprise in Chang’an. Anyone under the age of thirty must study it, and sit for an examination once every quarter.”

Mo Dun had originally intended to print only fifteen hundred copies, but after thinking of the soon-to-open women’s medical academy, he added another five hundred.

“I must thank the Mo family on behalf of mathematics for your generous support.” Shen Hongcai rose and expressed his gratitude. He had heard with his own ears that Mo Dun intended to spare no effort in promoting mathematics.

“It is only what a student ought to do.”

Mo Dun was the one who had pushed Shen Hongcai into this undertaking. Naturally, he was also obliged to help draw him out of it.