Reborn As Super Heiress

Capítulo 1487: Chapter 1471: Yongle Encyclopedia Fragmented Pages

Ouyang Jun was left speechless by Huo Sining’s remarks, looking at him both amused and exasperated.

Even Su Qingqing couldn’t bear it anymore and jestingly scolded, “What do you mean Empress Dowager Cixi’s demise? It was the burning of Yuanmingyuan!”

“The burning of Yuanmingyuan? Oh, I know this, it’s in the literature textbook. It’s what the Anglo-French Alliance did when they invaded, burning, killing, looting, and taking many national treasures.”

After Ouyang Jun finished, his eyes stayed on the scraps in Huo Sining’s hands, unable to believe as he asked hesitantly, “I say, my dear sister-in-law, you wouldn’t be saying these scraps were looted by the Brits from Yuanmingyuan, would you?”

Huo Sining raised an eyebrow, “Why, is that hard to imagine?”

Ouyang Jun couldn’t help but swallow, “Is this stuff valuable?”

“Valuable?” Huo Sining first nodded and then shook her head.

“So is it or isn’t it?”

Seeing Ouyang Jun jumping up and down, Huo Sining couldn’t help but chuckle, but when she lowered her head to look at the large stack of materials in her hand, her face involuntarily sank.

“Let me put it this way, this thing collected seven to eight thousand kinds of books from ancient to modern times, and was once called the largest encyclopedia in world history. Do you think it is valuable?”

Huo Sining sighed long and deeply, “This thing is a great classic of Huaxia Country, bringing together the most glorious achievements of the Han culture of the Ancient Huaxia Country. If it weren’t for that war, its status today would certainly be unshakable.”

“You only know the burning of Yuanmingyuan, but you don’t know that the burning did not just destroy Yuanmingyuan, but also set ablaze the three hills and five gardens of the capital’s western royal area, with a scope far bigger than Yuanmingyuan alone. Longevity Hill, Yuquan Mountain, Fragrant Hills, Garden of Clear Ripples, Yuanmingyuan, Garden of Eternal Spring, Garden of Tranquil Brightness, Garden of Tranquillity and Pleasure, all were turned to ashes.”

“Those robbers plundered half of the civilization of the Ancient Huaxia Country. The stuff in my hands is merely one insignificant piece. I once read an English report in which an old French soldier recalled the invasion, saying soldiers recklessly destroyed and discarded antiques and treasures, even using jade and ancient books for construction.”

“That report imprinted deeply in my memory, yet I have been unwilling to believe it. Now seeing the condition of the booklet in my hands, it’s truly hard not to believe. The things that our people cherish as treasures and hold dear were filled in trash pits here. Isn’t that somehow a tragedy?”

Huo Sining’s mood turned heavy, and she didn’t blame Windsor Reed for these events, as the harm brought by war to the people was not Windsor Reed’s responsibility.

Yet, seeing these remnants, Huo Sining didn’t know whether to feel angry or relieved. Were it not for Windsor Reed’s ignorance, these remnants might never have landed in her hands, but such precious classical solitary volumes being treated so rudely, Huo Sining couldn’t suppress her inner anger.

Outsiders may not understand that feeling; only those who engage in antiques and love collectibles would have intense resentment towards that catastrophe, towards the barbaric acts of the invaders, towards the burnt-down art treasury, all mixed with complex emotions.

Huo Sining could even imagine those cultural relics archaeologists carrying cameras, visiting museums worldwide to photograph ancient Huaxia relics and classical images to secretly study upon returning, likely with bloodshot eyes refusing to bow or yield.

Upon hearing Huo Sining’s words, others exchanged glances, only Su Qingqing grasped it somewhat, looking at the badly battered papers in Huo Sining’s hand with wide eyes, incredulous, “Ningning, the thing you talked about, could it be… the ‘Yongle Encyclopedia’?”

Huo Sining nodded, pointing to one of the remnants in her hand, “Look here, you should recognize the words ‘Wenxian Dacheng’, right? The ‘Yongle Encyclopedia’ was initially named this, only renamed by Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di after it was completed.”

Upon hearing, Su Qingqing and others gathered to look at the residue Huo Sining pointed to, indeed seeing the striking words of ‘Wenxian Dacheng’ on that remnant.