APSIL -Chapter 115 The Principles Governing the World

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

Seeing Zhu Ying once again step forward in anger to rebuke him, Zhang Shou merely smiled and said, “Yingying, don’t argue.”

He did not even spare a glance at the old man who had turned his head and glared at him furiously. Instead, he walked directly toward the Emperor. After giving a deep bow, he calmly said:

“I do not know this elderly official, but when I heard him call this ‘demonic sorcery’ just now, I truly could not remain silent. If using a water tank to determine an object’s purity and whether it is hollow counts as demonic sorcery, then I have many more such ‘sorceries.’”

As he spoke, Zhang Shou glanced around at the familiar faces present.

There was Imperial Academy Chief Supervisor Zhou Xun, Minister of War Lu Wan, Chu Ying who had clearly come purely to watch the excitement, Qi Jingshan, and several other officials he did not recognize.

Only then did he turn toward his teacher, Ge Yong.

“Teacher, may I ask whether your household has any eggs and salt?”

Ge Yong was still furious because of the words “demonic sorcery.” Hearing Zhang Shou’s completely unrelated question, he was momentarily confused.

After thinking for a moment, he immediately gestured toward a mute servant standing nearby.

As the servant hurried away, Ge Yong coldly said: “You have at least studied books, yet you shout about ‘demonic sorcery’ like some ignorant commoner. It seems all your learning has gone into a dog’s stomach!”

The white-haired old man instantly became furious.

“Ge Yong! Others may fear you, but I, Zhang Huaili, do not! It is all because your eyes were blind and you recklessly accepted disciples. How could you allow him to spread such absurd words—”

“Bah! Bah! Bah!”

Ge Yong’s beard nearly stood on end with rage. He stepped forward and actually spat directly into the old man’s face.

“You’re the one who is blind! Blind in your eyes and blind in your heart!”

“You think that despite your old age, you became Minister of Revenue because of your ability? That position would never have been yours if my outstanding disciple had not gone home for mourning!”

“You cannot even clearly read or remember taxation figures anymore. Every time you report before His Majesty, you stumble and ramble for half a day. If I were you, I would have been too ashamed to remain in office and would have resigned long ago!”

“You… you foul-mouthed old bastard! You have no respect for scholars!”

Zhang Shou ignored their childish verbal battle.

At that moment, the mute servant returned, carrying two eggs in one hand and a bag of salt in the other.

Just as Zhang Shou was about to step forward and take them, Zhu Ying unexpectedly moved ahead of him.

She took the items and then turned around with a bright smile, handing them to him herself.

Zhang Shou accepted one of the eggs from her hand. With a faint smile, he displayed it to everyone before walking to the small wooden basin that had previously been used for the gold, silver, and copper density experiments.

He casually placed the egg into the water.

“Everyone, look. The egg has sunk to the bottom.”

Seeing everyone gather around to confirm the result, Zhang Shou removed the egg and handed it back to Zhu Ying.

Then he took the salt from her hand and poured a generous amount into the basin.

Rolling up his sleeves, he stirred the water directly with his hand.

Only after he felt the salt had mostly dissolved did he place the egg back into the basin.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the oval egg sank into the water, floated around unsteadily for a moment, and then—

It slowly rose to the surface.

Among the surrounding officials, some frowned while others exclaimed in surprise.

The Emperor, however, remained calm, as if he had expected this.

Ge Yong had already abandoned the kneeling Minister of Revenue Zhang Huaili and walked over. Watching the floating egg while lightly stroking his beard, he calmly asked: “Water is still water. The egg first sank, then floated. Is this also ‘demonic sorcery’?”

The white-haired Zhang Huaili immediately stood up and rushed over.

After only one glance, he angrily shouted: “Of course this is because you used some kind of sorcery—”

“The wandering tricksters on the streets who retrieve coins from boiling oil,” Zhang Shou interrupted calmly, “are they also monsters who know demonic magic in Minister Zhang’s eyes?”

“The so-called trick of retrieving coins from boiling oil is merely because those fraudsters place vinegar beneath the oil.”

“Vinegar has a greater density than oil, so it sinks beneath it. However, vinegar’s boiling temperature is lower than oil’s, causing people to mistake boiling vinegar for boiling oil. That is how they deceive others.”

Zhang Huaili’s mouth twitched, and his face turned completely pale.

But Zhang Shou continued without hurry: “The egg sinking in water and floating in salt water relies on the same principle. The densities of water and salt water are different, so the buoyant forces acting upon the egg are different.”

“It is no different from the method we just used to test the purity of gold, silver, copper, and iron.”

“You study the classics of sages and claim that from childhood you have learned the principles governing all things in the world.”

“Since that is so, the idea I proposed and the experiment my teacher is now conducting are merely the eternal laws by which the world operates.”

“So why are you completely ignorant of them?”

Seeing Zhang Huaili’s face turn red as he was unable to answer, Zhang Shou calmly added: “If you have time, perhaps later you should read the Ge Clan Terminology Manual that my teacher will soon publish.”

“Learn what density means, what buoyancy means, what volume means, and what mass means.”

“Seeing something you have never encountered before and immediately shouting ‘demonic sorcery’ is nothing but ignorance.”

The Emperor immediately clapped his hands in admiration.

“Excellent! Excellent!”

He nodded repeatedly.

“Back when I was young and listened to the Empress Dowager tell stories about Emperor Taizu, I often heard that Taizu lamented how scholars merely memorized dead texts and few truly understood the principles governing the world.”

“Now, after so many years, it seems nothing has changed!”

His expression turned cold.

“A dignified court official who does not understand something and immediately calls it demonic sorcery—how ignorant!”

Compared with the Emperor’s attitude when Imperial Academy Chief Supervisor Zhou Xun had previously been falsely accused of locking away Taizu’s inscription plaque to uncover hidden documents, his words this time were far harsher.

Poor Zhang Huaili.

First, he had exchanged insults with Ge Yong.

Then Zhang Shou had overwhelmed him with talk of “eternal principles governing the world.”

And now even the Emperor had personally branded him ignorant.

Ashamed and furious, the elderly official suddenly tilted his head.

His entire body went limp and collapsed.

But what happened next surprised Zhang Shou.

The Emperor reacted instantly.

He caught Zhang Huaili before he hit the ground, then squatted down and carefully laid him flat.

Only afterward did he casually say: “Someone, pinch his philtrum…”

He paused.

“No, bring two people. Take turns performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Minister Zhang.”

“The technique left behind by Emperor Taizu—this is a rare chance for you all to practice!”

Emperor Taizu actually left behind a method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation…

Seeing two middle-aged attendants who looked like palace servants rush out from behind the Emperor, kneel beside Zhang Huaili, and prepare to act, Zhang Shou could not help coughing lightly.

Then he lowered his voice and said: “Your Majesty, I seem to have heard people in the common folk mention this cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique of Emperor Taizu. Is it the method where one blows air mouth-to-mouth and then presses on the chest?”

As he said this, the corner of Zhang Shou’s eye clearly caught the old man lying stiffly on the ground.

The old man’s eyelids trembled slightly.

Obviously, he was not truly unconscious.

But the words “mouth-to-mouth” had frightened him so much that he could not immediately “wake up” without losing face.

The Emperor glanced at Zhang Shou.

He immediately understood.

“Indeed,” the Emperor said solemnly. “And when pressing the chest, one must use enough force. Otherwise, it will not be effective.”

Zhang Shou deliberately asked curiously: “But I heard that if the force is too strong, there is a possibility of breaking ribs?”

The Emperor almost burst out laughing.

However, he maintained an extremely serious expression.

“When saving a person’s life, how can one worry about such things?”

“I remember that during Taizu’s time, while saving someone, he once pressed hard enough to break five of that person’s ribs…”

“Quickly, use the cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique on Minister Zhang. It is rare to encounter such a perfect example!”

Under the Emperor’s urging, the two attendants no longer hesitated.

One of them immediately reached toward Zhang Huaili’s chest.

However—

Before he even applied any strength, the old Minister of Revenue lying on the ground suddenly let out an extremely loud groan.

Then, with a speed almost comparable to a carp jumping upright, he suddenly sat up.

The sudden “resurrection” nearly frightened the attendant who was preparing to perform the procedure.

Only after sitting up did Zhang Huaili realize that everyone present—from the Emperor to Zhang Shou and all the surrounding officials—was staring directly at him.

Knowing that his act of pretending to faint had already been completely exposed, he could only turn red with embarrassment as he supported himself up.

Then he said dejectedly: “Since Your Majesty refuses to listen to this old minister’s loyal advice, then this minister can only…”

“If you wish to resign, then resign,” the Emperor interrupted.

“It has nothing to do with whether I listened to your ridiculous claim that someone was using demonic sorcery.”

The Emperor raised his eyebrows.

His tone became unusually sharp.

“The purity of the gold stored in the Ministry of Revenue has already proven problematic. Originally, I had no intention of immediately investigating who was responsible.”

“But since you insisted that I investigate, then I shall grant your request.”

“Someone, go to the Ministry of Revenue and deliver my verbal decree.”

“Minister Zhang reported that the Ministry of Revenue’s stored gold was counterfeit. I have decided to conduct a thorough investigation!”

Zhang Huaili’s face instantly turned pale.

His body swayed as if he might collapse again.

Only then did the Emperor reveal a pleasant smile.

“All the others present can testify.”

“Minister Zhang personally reported this matter to me, correct?”

This time, Zhang Shou saw a group of officials exchange glances.

Yet not a single person stepped forward to challenge the Emperor’s blatant distortion of the truth.

Facing this devastating blow, Old Zhang finally could not endure it.

He clutched his chest and fell over.

This time, the Emperor did not even need to say anything.

The two attendants who had failed to perform their cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately moved.

One grabbed Zhang Huaili’s shoulders.

The other grabbed his feet.

Together, they carried the old Minister of Revenue away as quickly as possible.

As for whether he would receive another round of “cardiopulmonary resuscitation” afterward…

Only heaven knew.

Only after Zhang Huaili had disappeared did the Emperor lazily remark: “Heartbroken accusations, indirect insults, exaggerations…”

“And then, whenever things do not go their way, they faint.”

“After so many years, do they really have no new tricks?”

Everyone remained silent.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shou was looking down at his right hand.

It turned out Zhu Ying had quietly grabbed onto his sleeve.

The Emperor noticed this and could not help smiling.

Then he turned toward Ge Yong.

“Teacher, the troublesome person is gone. Continue.”

“I want to see whether this plaque personally inscribed by Emperor Taizu truly has a hollow compartment inside where something can be hidden.”

Ge Yong quickly accepted the reality that one of his opponents had been completely defeated.

He did not even have time to celebrate that another of his students, who would soon complete his mourning period and return to office, might once again take control of the Ministry of Revenue.

Instead, he immediately gave an order.

The Taizu inscription plaque, which had been hanging in midair for quite some time, was finally lowered into the large wooden water tank.

The moment it entered the water, a huge amount of water overflowed from the calm surface.

Everyone completely forgot about the earlier argument.

All eyes were fixed on the experiment before them.

Because once the plaque was lifted out of the water again—

The truth would finally be revealed.

At this moment, Zhu Ying stood beside Zhang Shou with a radiant expression.

Unable to resist, she whispered: “A-Shou, when you spoke just now, you were so calm and confident.”

“And when you worked together with His Majesty to put on that little performance, it was even more amusing.”

“That was because His Majesty cooperated too perfectly,” Zhang Shou replied with a chuckle.

Then he heard Ge Yong shout: “Lift it!”

As the plaque slowly emerged from the water, Zhang Shou immediately made a quiet gesture toward Zhu Ying.

Then, almost holding his breath, he watched the water level slowly descend.

Finally—

A clear voice sounded.

“The water level is below the mark. The difference is estimated to be at least one fen!”

Ge Yong first froze.

Then he thoughtfully said: “This water tank is one zhang long and half a zhang wide.”

“One fen, converted into volume, would equal…”

“Oh right. You people probably do not understand terms such as length, width, and volume.”

“You can read my terminology manual later.”

He continued calculating.

“Using chi as the unit, the volume difference should be approximately one twentieth of a cubic chi.”

“Converted back…”

“This plaque and a piece of scrap wood of equal weight differ by at least a hidden compartment measuring one chi long, half a chi wide, and one cun high.”

“Of course, it may not be exactly that size. This is only an estimate.”

“But to be precise, mark the current water level first.”

“Measure it with a ruler.”

“Then we will repeat the experiment several more times.”