<h4>Chapter 1953: The Yan Residence!</h4>


    Tranted by: Hypersheep325


    Edited by: Michyrr


    Sovereigns had a special status, and the records rted to them were of extreme importance, demandingpleteness. One could say that the history of the Central ins was created by joining together the reigns of different sovereigns.


    And the records of a sovereign’s actions were even more important. Even when the sovereign was in his bed chamber, there was a eunuch posted outside to record his deeds. From this, one could see just how rigorous the records were.


    But now, the records of the Sage Emperor, one of the wisest sovereigns in the history of the Central ins and the Great Tang’s most outstanding Emperor, were iplete, the important information pertaining to his life before his ascendance to the throne missing. This was simply inconceivable.


    Wang Chong subconsciously nced at Xu Qiqin, and they could see the shock in each other’s eyes.


    “No wonder Old Master Yao was so ambiguous with his words. It seems that he was referring to this?”


    Xu Qiqin looked like a fairy in her white dress, and her eyes shone with intelligence.


    In Four Quarters Embassy, Old Master Yao had told Wang Chong to search the pce records from thirty-some years ago. At the time, the two of them had not understood, but now, the historical records of the Sage Emperor seemed highly suspicious.


    “The pce records are different from the records kept by the historians, and not even historians can defy thews. In addition, the historical records kept in the pce are very special. Not only are there particr people meant to keep records, the records are guarded by the Imperial Army, and outsiders have an extremely difficult time gaining entry. In addition, once the records are taken, not even major officials have the authority to review or edit them. Right now, ten-some scrolls’ worth of the Sage Emperor’s records have gone missing. This is far from normal!”


    Wang Chong frowned as he solemnly spoke.


    “The question is why and who would do this!”


    Xu Qiqin’s brows knitted together.


    The recording andpiling of a sovereign’s history had nothing to do with the court or any factional dispute, and these were records from decades ago. Who would go out of their way to steal or destroy them?


    Moreover, the records of the other Emperors were allplete. Why was it only the Sage Emperor’s records that were iplete?


    More importantly, this was somehow connected to the Sage Emperor’s recent abnormal acts. What was Old Master Yao hinting at?


    At this moment, the minds of the pair were buzzing with countless theories.


    The major shifts taking ce in the realm and within the court were growing more and more iprehensible.


    Before this, neither of them would have ever imagined that all of this went back as far as thirty-some years, nor had they imagined that the records of the Sage Emperor would ever go missing.


    Destroying important records in the pce carried the death penalty. Who could possibly be so bold as to do such a thing?


    Heavyyers of fog swept in, and the people in the hall fell silent.


    After a few moments of thought, Xu Qiqin suddenly raised her head.


    “Although I don’t know what secret is hidden in those missing records, there’s still another way of finding records from thirty-some years ago!”


    Wang Chong nodded, and the two of them spoke in unison:


    “The Yan Residence.”


    The records in the pce primarily rted to the words and actions of the Princes and Princesses, including how well they did in their homework, the teachers that taught them, and the question-and-answer sessions with the sovereign.


    Of course, the daily life and conduct of the sovereign was also recorded.


    Many of these incidents took ce in the pce, where the historians had no ess.


    However, so long as the Princes and Princesses took part in activities outside the pce, interacting with the noble scions of the capital, the historians could still obtain the relevant information and record it, though it would differ somewhat from the records in the pce.


    ......


    In the Great Tang, there were quite a few people who did not know of some Duke or other high noble, but trifling few did not know of the Grand Scribe’s Yan n.


    Even though Wang Chong had grown up in the capital and lived there for ten-some years, this was his first time paying a visit to the Yan n Residence.


    The reason was very simple. For the various scions of the capital, the Yan n was a ‘dragon pond’, a ‘tiger cave’, the forbidden ground of the capital.


    Though the members of the Yan n did not know martial arts, being part of a schrly n, the brushes they gripped were sharper and more frightening than any sword.


    The moment harmful words or conduct reached the ears of the Yan n and were entered into the historical record, the person in question would forever be a pariah of their n.


    “What arge estate!”


    When Wang Chong arrived and saw the many buildings of gray stone and porcin tile, he could only sigh.


    The Yan n Residence was not as extravagant as other noble estates, and there were no stone lions in front of the gate. It seemed very inconspicuous, but it was muchrger in scale than the estates of other nobles.


    As everyone knew, the Yan n was a n of civil officials that had always been very inconspicuous, dressing so inly that many people forgot that the Yan n was a true great n that had held the position of Grand Scribe for generations.


    Dynasties might change, but as historical observers who stood outside of the court, the Yan n had always stood firm.


    A significant part of the Yan n Residence had been gifted by a previous sovereign, and future sovereigns had approved, even adding to thend.


    The majority of the buildings in the residence were used to hold records.


    After some thought, Wang Chong headed into the Yan n Residence, and all of the Yan n disciples came out to wee him with pomp and ceremony.


    However, the one who came to wee Wang Chong was not Yan Wenzhang, but his son, Yan Wenzhen.


    “Father is very old, and his body has grown weaker and weaker, requiring more rest and quiet. He no longer records many incidents, turning to this one to record them. The Sage Emperor has already approved of all this. If Your Highness needs anything, you may directly ask me.”


    Wang Chong was surprised, but when he thought back to the elder Yan, he realized that the man really was at an age when the body grew stiff and tired.


    “Lord Yan, thank you for the trouble. I would like to inspect some historical records rted to the court. I hope that Lord Yan can amodate me on this.”


    Wang Chong looked around at the other Yan n members as he exined his purpose.


    Yan Wenzhen appeared hesitant.


    Once written, the historical records of the Yan n were sealed away so that members of the reigning government could not read them. This was a rule that existed precisely so that officials could not see records that painted them in a bad light and attempt to edit them so as to improve their appearance in history.


    Such incidents had happened in the past.


    Some nobles were utterly unscrupulous when it came to embellishing the historical record, sending assassins in the night to steal the records, and even going so far as to hire master giarizers to recopy entire texts. But in the end, the Yan n still found out.


    Even sovereigns had attempted to embellish their reputation, deleting records unfavorable to them.


    After all these incidents, the Yan n had long ago decreed that all historical records were to be sealed and not to be read. There were no exceptions, not for sovereigns or for high officials.


    This was the prerequisite for the members of the Yan n to take on the responsibility of historians, and a prerequisite that all sovereigns had epted.


    History was not merely a writing exercise. The Yan n also needed to ensure the authenticity of their historical records.


    “I know of the Yan n’sws, and I do not intend to read my own records. Before the age of sixteen, Wang Chong was known as a hedonistic wastrel throughout the capital, someone who had even assaulted a woman. Everyone in the capital knows, and Wang Chong did note with the intention of modifying this ount,” Wang Chong directly stated, seeming to know what Yan Wenzhen feared.


    Yan Wenzhen and the other Yan n members sighed in relief upon hearing this. As long as Wang Chong had note here for this purpose, everything was still negotiable.


    Yan Wenzhen bowed and sincerely said, “Your Highness, it is not that our Yan n is unwilling, but the Yan n’sws forbid even members of the Yan n from reading the records, let alone outsiders. An incident like this also took ce in Emperor Taizong’s reign, and everyone in the court knows about this. I am sure there is no need to exin what happened afterward. Your Highness, please forgive me!”


    Even though Wang Chong was the King of Foreign Lands and one of the supreme figures of thend, there were some things that the Yan n could notpromise on.


    Wang Chong looked around and gravely said, “Lord Yan, can I speak with you alone?”


    Yan Wenzhen’s heart leaped as he stared in shock at Wang Chong.


    “Everyone, withdraw!”


    On Yan Wenzhen’s order, all the other members withdrew. Yan Wenzhen quickly turned to Wang Chong.


    “Can Your Highness speak now?”


    “Lord Yan, this one has note for personal reasons, but for a matter of the court. Wang Chong wishes to inspect the records pertaining to the early life of the Sage Emperor.”


    Wang Chong quickly exined how the records regarding the Sage Emperor’s life before he took the throne had been stolen.


    “What?”


    Yan Wenzhen trembled, his eyes flying open.


    While the records in the pce were not the property of the Yan n, historical records were always managed under a strict system, both inside and outside the pce.


    Moreover, for the sake ofpiling the histories, all of the pce’s records were sent from the imperial household to the Yan n so that they could be inspected, referenced, andpiled. This was another of the Yan n’s important roles.


    And these were the records of a sovereign. No matter who had done this deed, once they were found, they would face the death penalty.


    “This is an extremely important matter, and there are many things that only your honored father might know about. Thus, if it is possible, I hope to see the honored Grand Scribe,” Wang Chong sincerely said.


    “Your Highness, it is not that I am unwilling, but unable. To tell the truth, my father is nearly eighty years old, and because he spends long nightspiling histories, he has ced a heavy burden on his body that he does not have the energy to sustain. There are even times when he bes very forgetful.”


    Yan Wenzhen bitterly smiled.


    Wang Chong was stunned. He had never predicted a situation like this.


    Wang Chong was not unfamiliar with the condition Yan Wenzhen had described. In another world, it was known as ‘Alzheimer’s Disease’, or senile dementia.


    It also meant that Wang Chong’s attempts to learn the Grand Scribe’s thoughts on this matter hade to naught.


    Wang Chong’s heart sank.


    “This is actually the true reason this one hase in ce of Father,” Yan Wenzhen said.