APSIL -Chapter 101 He Knows You Won’t Understand

Confidently leaving the task of dealing with Lu Wan to Zhang Shou, Zhu Ying shifted her attention to the Lu brothers instead.

Watching the two men stare at the slip of paper in bewilderment after hearing Zhang Shou’s words—clearly having no idea what he was talking about—she suddenly smiled.

“Everyone knows Minister Lu has always looked down on his youngest son. I never expected you to do the exact opposite this time. How unusual.”

Without even glancing at his two elder sons, Lu Wan calmly ordered, “Eldest, Second, go to Third’s quarters and bring both him and that drunken troublemaker, Second Young Master Zhu, here.”

Whether their father simply didn’t want them hearing the rest of the conversation, or merely intended for them to fetch the two most useful bargaining chips—the fat Third Young Master and Zhu Er—the brothers had no choice but to obey.

They answered meekly and left the room one after the other.

Before leaving, however, each of them couldn’t help casting another look at Zhang Shou.

What on earth was this riddle they were talking about?

Only after they had gone did Lu Wan relax the slightly solemn expression he had been wearing. A hint of ease appeared on his face.

“How can Doctor Zhang be so certain that the letter I showed my youngest son was the original? If it were truly an important document, the Ministry of War has more than enough talented people capable of deciphering it. And if it weren’t important, perhaps I merely copied a few passages to test my son’s abilities.”

He smiled faintly.

“Still, Zhu Gongquan wasn’t wrong. That little servant by your side is remarkably capable. Even my Ministerial residence might as well have had no walls.”

Zhang Shou showed no sign of frustration at Lu Wan’s teasing tone or at the realization that A-Liu had quietly pieced everything together.

He simply stated matter-of-factly, “Perhaps the letter you showed Third Young Master Lu wasn’t the original. But I believe the horizontal lines separating the characters were copied exactly from the original letter, preserving their original positions.”

The moment he exposed this, Lu Wan’s expression darkened.

Smiling, Zhang Shou continued, “Of course, whoever exhausted himself rewriting the entire letter just so the number of characters would perfectly match those horizontal marks… certainly worked very hard.”

Lu Wan had just opened his mouth to retort when Zhang Shou uttered four words that immediately silenced him.

“Grand Academician Kong.”

The four words hung in the air.

Although Lu Wan remained outwardly calm, as if they meant nothing to him, Zhang Shou continued without hesitation.

“Third Young Master Lu’s talent for mathematics is among the very best. But his horizons are still too narrow. After all, he was raised, like everyone else, immersed in the Four Books and Five Classics. Certain ways of thinking have become shackles. If he studied for another two years, he’d easily uncover the secret hidden within that coded letter. But right now…”

“…he can’t.”

Lu Wan narrowed his eyes.

“So you’re saying…”

“…you can?”

“Perhaps.”

Zhang Shou chuckled lightly.

“Provided, of course, that Minister Lu believes those four words I just mentioned have something in common with the cipher you’re trying to decode. Naturally, if you think I’m mistaken, then I’ll simply take my leave. But as long as every horizontal line on that forged copy remains exactly where it was in the original…”

“…I can still decipher part of the message after I return.”

He tapped the paper.

“The important thing isn’t the characters.”

“It’s the little horizontal strokes between them—the ones that look like a child’s scribbles.”

Zhu Ying immediately brightened and eagerly chimed in, “A-Shou, since Minister Lu keeps insisting the Ministry of War has plenty of experts capable of decoding the letter, then let’s just leave. Third Young Master Lu is supposed to become the head student of the Nine Chapters Hall at the Imperial Academy, yet his own father insists on keeping him locked at home instead, letting everyone continue mocking him as a worthless fool. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a father so determined to raise his son into a useless worm.”

“Yingying, don’t say that.”

Seeing Lu Wan remain completely unmoved by the sarcasm, Zhang Shou gently stopped her before speaking in a deeper voice.

“Compared to Minister Lu’s great ambitions, the future of one son naturally doesn’t amount to much. But there is one thing I must remind you of. Today, at the Imperial Academy…”

“…His Majesty was genuinely impressed by your son.”

Having said that, Zhang Shou cupped his hands in farewell and actually began walking toward the door.

Zhu Ying moved even faster, reaching the doorway ahead of him.

Only then did Lu Wan finally lose some of his composure.

“Doctor Zhang truly believes Third is gifted in mathematics?”

“This afternoon, while I was visiting my teacher, he complained that throughout his entire life he’d accepted countless disciples, yet those truly gifted in mathematics were exceedingly rare. Many who possessed talent were more interested in fame and official rank. He even said I was extraordinarily fortunate to have found three gifted students so easily.”

Zhang Shou paused.

“Perhaps everyone else sees Third Young Master Lu as rotten wood beyond carving.”

His voice became firmer.

“But in my eyes…”

“…he is a pearl hidden among fish eyes. And all this time—”

“including Minister Lu himself—”

“none of you ever noticed how brightly he shines.”

Outside the study.

Third Young Master Lu had happened to meet his two older brothers halfway there and had only just arrived at the doorway.

Hearing those words, his eyes immediately became moist.

He had always believed that a real man should never cry.

Still…he sniffed hard.

For the first time in his life, a strange thought surfaced.

No wonder people say a gentleman would die for the one who truly understands him.

Damn…

This feeling is incredible!

Meanwhile, Zhu Er wore a deeply disgruntled expression.

The world’s gone mad.

Even Pighead can become a genius now?

Madam Lu, Lady Zhen, who had always doted on her chubby youngest son, quietly wiped away tears with her handkerchief.

Her affection for Zhang Shou instantly soared beyond measure.

For so many years…

Her youngest son had driven away teacher after teacher.

Yet now…

Someone had called him a brilliant pearl.

For that reason alone, she had already decided she would support this young teacher no matter what.

Not to mention…

She had secretly feared that her husband might actually marry Zhu Ying into the family as her daughter-in-law.

Now even that hidden worry had disappeared.

Inside the room, Minister of War Lu Wan paid no attention to whether Zhang Shou had deliberately spoken loudly enough for those outside to hear.

He simply stood there silently.

Trying to accept the possibility…that the youngest son he had always despised…might actually be a genius.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“Doctor Zhang intends to trade the portion of the cipher you’ve already deciphered…for my permission to let Third attend the Imperial Academy’s Nine Chapters Hall as your student? Since His Majesty and Grand Secretary Ge already think highly of him, I couldn’t keep him at home forever anyway. Don’t you think you’re getting the worse end of this bargain?”

At the doorway, Zhu Ying had been hesitating over whether to leave or stay.

The instant she heard those words, she immediately turned around.

An expectant gleam flashed across her face, clearly hoping Zhang Shou would seize the opportunity to ask the question she wanted answered.

But meeting her hopeful gaze, Zhang Shou simply shook his head before turning back to Lu Wan.

“Not at all.”

“Trading one coded letter—whose contents are unknown and whose authenticity is uncertain—for a student whom even my teacher praises and who may one day bring glory to the Nine Chapters Hall…”

“…is unquestionably worthwhile.”

He smiled.

“In fact, after deciphering those four words earlier, I simply couldn’t be bothered to continue.”

“I can tell Minister Lu exactly what those horizontal lines represent.”

He pointed at the paper.

“Treat every horizontal line as a one. Treat every space without a line between two characters as a zero. Each punctuation mark marks the end of one number.”

“Then convert those binary numbers into decimal numbers.”

Lu Wan frowned.

“What do you mean by binary?”

“Simple.”

“Decimal is the counting system we use every day.”

“It carries once every ten.”

“Binary…”

“…carries once every two.”

At first, Zhu Ying frowned deeply.

When Zhang Shou actually began explaining the decoding method to Lu Wan, she became annoyed.

But…

The longer she listened…the stranger her expression became.

Because…

She couldn’t understand a single word.

Yet when she looked at Lu Wan—

The Minister of War, renowned throughout court for his scholarship—

His face gradually changed…

From gloomy…to utterly lifeless…to looking like a dead man.

Zhu Ying suddenly burst into laughter.

She felt wonderfully satisfied.

It was now painfully obvious.

Third Young Master Lu possessed extraordinary mathematical talent.

Lu Wan…

Possessed absolutely none.

Zhang Shou had done it on purpose.

He knew that even if he explained everything plainly…the Minister of War still wouldn’t understand.

While Zhu Ying was secretly reveling in Lu Wan’s misery, Third Young Master Lu outside the door was equally delighted.

Watching his usually arrogant elder brothers stand there with utterly blank expressions while desperately pretending they understood…he had never felt happier.

He glanced at the dark-faced Zhu Er beside him and grinned mischievously.

“Second Young Master Zhu…”

“Want me to explain what ‘carry once every two’ means?”