dognovel Chapter 1035 The Last Moments (Part 2)
Chapter 1035 The Last Moments (Part 2)
This companionship lasted until late at night.
In the flickering candlelight, the old man's profile was focused and serene, and the only sound in the study was the rustling of turning pages.
He was still looking at those mathematical concepts.
For a mathematician who has dedicated his life to the study of mathematics and has always persisted in learning, this knowledge is more mellow than the finest wine in the world.
Until he could no longer hold on, his hand holding the pen slowly fell down, and his head began to nod.
He eventually leaned back in his chair and fell into a deep sleep, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Li Che then gently got up, took a thin blanket to cover him, and blew out the extra candles, leaving only one.
He lay down fully clothed on the tatami mat next to her, quietly watching over her.
Looking at the teacher who was breathing faintly, Li Che's thoughts were complicated and hard to understand.
Where do people go after they die?
Perhaps, like myself, the teacher will also travel to another world.
If possible, Li Che hopes that his teacher could go to the era of Wang Yuanshan, so that he could perhaps compete on the same stage with a group of mathematical geniuses such as Hua Luogeng.
As he pondered, Li Che's eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.
. . . . . .
On the last day, the sky was crystal clear.
On this day, Qian Bin seemed to be in exceptionally good spirits.
He did many things: he bid farewell to his colleagues in the court, gave instructions to his family about his final affairs, and personally organized his manuscripts.
He then personally selected his burial site.
Although Li Che repeatedly stated that his teacher could be buried in the imperial mausoleum, Qian Bin still refused.
"The imperial mausoleum now contains the remains of the late emperor. This old minister fears the late emperor and dares not be buried with him."
Li Che couldn't help but laugh and said, "Who said you were with the late Emperor? Of course you'll live with me after I die."
Qian Bin's expression turned solemn. He looked at Li Che and shook his head, saying, "Your Highness? No... Your Highness, may you live ten thousand years."
Li Che fell silent again.
After finishing all his business in the afternoon, Qian Bin was finally able to rest for a while.
He sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the vast blue sky outside the window, and suddenly said to Li Che, "Your Majesty, this old minister wishes to climb to a high place and take a look."
Li Che understood that this was his teacher's last wish.
Without any hesitation, he immediately made arrangements.
There was no grand procession, just a simple carriage and a few plain-clothed guards following at a distance.
Our destination was Purple Mountain, the highest point in the capital city.
The mountain path was gentle, and Li Che helped Qian Bin walk very slowly.
The old man walked slowly, stopping occasionally to look back at the unfolding panorama of Beijing behind him, his clear eyes filled with longing.
By the time we finally reached the viewing pavilion at the top of the mountain, it was already afternoon.
The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing, carrying the warmth of summer.
Leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, the entire capital city comes into view.
The houses stand in neat rows, the streets are straight and crisscrossed, the market is like a chessboard, the river meanders like a jade belt, and the golden roof of the imperial city shines brightly in the sunlight in the distance.
Further away, there are vast plains and faint wisps of smoke rising from village chimneys.
Qian Bin stared at it for a long time, his gaze sweeping over every familiar corner, as if trying to etch this magnificent landscape into his soul.
After a long while, he sighed softly, "This land is so beautiful, it's truly unforgettable."
Li Che stood beside him, also gazing at this land, his eyes slightly warm.
He suppressed the stinging in his nose, nodded vigorously, and said firmly, "Teacher, rest assured, I promise you, I will make it better and better."
"To ensure that every citizen can live and work in peace and contentment, that the young are educated, the elderly are cared for, and that everyone can enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life."
Upon hearing this, Qian Bin slowly turned his head and looked at Li Che beside him.
The child who was once not good with words is now much taller than me, and even carries the whole world on his shoulders.
A relieved smile spread across the old man's face, washing away all traces of illness and leaving only pure pride.
He raised his slightly trembling hand, just as he had done many years ago, wanting to pat his disciple on the shoulder.
In the end, it simply landed lightly on Li Che's arm that was supporting him.
He looked into Li Che's eyes, his voice gentle yet resolute, and slowly said, "Yes, my prince will surely become a sage ruler, possessing virtue surpassing the Three Sovereigns and achievements exceeding the Five Emperors... You, you will definitely achieve it..."
His voice was soft, yet every word carried immense weight.
"Your Majesty, those two imperial physicians... meant well, showing some consideration for this old minister, and did not intend to deceive you."
"After this old minister departs, I earnestly hope Your Majesty... will not pursue the matter further... lest it tarnish your reputation for benevolence..."
Li Che agreed with tears in his eyes.
After saying this, Qian Bin seemed to have used up all his strength.
He maintained his smile, his gaze returning to the magnificent landscape before him, his eyes gradually becoming distant and peaceful.
“Okay, okay,” he said slowly.
Li Che wiped away his tears and continued talking to Qian Bin:
"Teacher, look over there. I plan to build an even larger library over there next spring, to house all the classics from Yunmeng Mountain and the rarest books in the world, and open it to all students..."
Li Che pointed into the distance and continued to explain his ideas, as if his teacher was simply listening quietly.
However, the old hand that was supporting his arm was gradually losing its strength.
The focus in those peaceful eyes slowly shifted.
The faint rise and fall of her chest had stopped at some point.
The autumn breeze still gently caresses the pavilion, bringing the scent of grass and trees from the distant mountains.
The sun shines brightly, illuminating every household in the capital, and everything is as peaceful as ever.
Only Li Che's voice stubbornly continued to speak, speaking of the future, of construction, and of ideals.
However, due to the extreme suppression, his voice inevitably began to tremble.
He didn't dare stop.
Because as long as I'm still speaking, the old man who always listens silently and occasionally offers insightful opinions is still by my side.
Until he felt a subtle change in the weight of the body he was leaning against in his arms.
Until that familiar warmth, belonging to the teacher, was irreversibly slipping away, growing colder and colder.
"And as for the East Market over there, I plan to drive out those barbarians and make room for the people outside the city to trade..."
Li Che's voice finally stopped.
He slowly lowered his head and looked at the old man leaning on his shoulder.
Qian Bin continued to gaze into the distance, a contented and peaceful smile on his face, as if he were simply immersed in a beautiful dream and had fallen asleep peacefully.
On Purple Mountain, clouds drift and gather.
[In the fourth year of Tianxing, in the summer.]
Qian Bin, a founding hero, the head of the civil officials, the emperor's teacher, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Glory, and the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, passed away peacefully at the viewing pavilion on Zijin Mountain in Beijing.
The emperor was overcome with grief and nearly fainted.
He then suspended court for three days, personally determined the posthumous title "Wenzheng", posthumously conferred the title "Duke of Shu", and the funeral was extravagant, with the deceased being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
His advocacy of mathematics has benefited future generations, continuing uninterrupted and laying the foundation for Daqing's scientific and technological reforms.
He was historically known as 'Qian Wenzheng Gong'.
—From "The Record of Loyal Ministers" in the History of Qing