APSIL -Chapter 133 Zhu Ying Provokes the Princess

Although the history lessons at Banshan Hall were never taught in a systematic chronological order, Zhang Shou always seemed to casually pick topics at will—jumping from one era to another, from one subject to another. Every now and then, he would even say things that went completely against traditional views, leaving the few academic officials who occasionally came to listen so irritated that they nearly lost their minds.

However, whether it was the Imperial Academy Chancellor Zhou or the Vice Director Luo, seeing that attendance at Banshan Hall remained consistently stable, they eventually stopped interfering.

After all, being able to make that group of young aristocrats actually attend class was already a great achievement. Even the emperor did not care whether the Third and Fourth Princes might be influenced by Zhang Shou’s teachings, so why should they worry?

Taking a step back, even if Zhang Chen, who would inherit the title of Duke of Qin in the future, did not necessarily hold a high position in court, and the Third and Fourth Princes seemed destined only to become princes with their own fiefs, what about those noble youths who possessed nothing but family backgrounds and no real ability?

There was even less need to worry about the second daily class—the natural science lessons.

The academic officials were all terrified of hearing or seeing those strange and mysterious things. They feared that their worldview would be completely overturned.

But the students were different.

Ever since they had witnessed Zhang Shou demonstrate the double-slit diffraction experiment and the pinhole imaging experiment, the Imperial Academy students—whose understanding of the world was already not exactly orthodox—felt that they had entered a realm far more miraculous than any so-called sorcery.

The Third Prince and Fourth Prince, two youngsters who had been raised by the emperor to be somewhat innocent and carefree, now could barely focus on studying the Four Books and Five Classics.

Every day at noon, they looked especially resentful that they could not stay behind and continue attending the two elective classes in the afternoon.

Although the Empress Dowager had expressed quite a few objections to Zhang Shou’s course arrangements, after persuading the emperor two or three times, she eventually gave up when he simply replied: “Nothing to worry about.”

As for the other imperial consorts, the First Prince, and the Second Prince…

Who cared what those two young princes—who had almost no chance of inheriting the throne—were learning?

In fact, the majority of people would be perfectly happy if they were simply spoiled into uselessness.

However, one person who did not think that way was someone who had heard too many rumors and increasingly felt that she could no longer ignore the matter.

The Princess Yongping.

Therefore, this noble daughter of the emperor, who should have been busy preparing for another Moonlight Pavilion literary gathering, unexpectedly changed into men’s clothing that day.

She summoned Chang Ning, the trusted steward serving Consort Yu, and quietly arrived at the Imperial Academy.

She brought only two guards with her.

She thought she had already kept a sufficiently low profile.

Yet, beneath the large “Imperial Academy” plaque at the academy entrance, she unexpectedly encountered someone.

It was someone dressed exactly like her—also disguised as a man.

But at first glance, this person looked heroic and full of vigor, with a temperament completely different from her own.

It was Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying had entered the palace countless times since childhood. One could say that she and Princess Yongping had grown up together.

Yet precisely because of this, Princess Yongping felt that the two of them were completely incompatible.

Although she got along reasonably well with her other sisters, she had never been able to stand Zhu Ying.

Her childhood name was Mingyue.

It was personally given to her by her father, the emperor, who had adored her since she was young.

He had even deliberately ignored the taboo of using a name related to the dynasty.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ying’s name “Ying” carried the meaning of “bright and moon-like jade.”

The two names happened to overlap in meaning.

Princess Yongping liked elegance, refinement, and graceful dignity.

Zhu Ying, however, preferred flashy beauty and loved gold and jade ornaments.

She enjoyed reading, playing chess, and music, and was known as a talented woman. Toward the men who admired her, she never showed the slightest interest.

Zhu Ying, on the other hand, loved horseback riding and archery. She laughed, cursed, and acted however she pleased, completely without restraint, and was often surrounded by countless admirers.

Thus, the moment they met, Princess Yongping felt all her old and new grievances surge together.

Without realizing it, her tone became sharp.

“Are you here to watch Zhang Shou teach? Are you really that worried that your teacher cannot control the classroom?”

“Why does that concern you?”

Zhu Ying smiled and refused to yield even an inch.

“The emperor personally allowed me to supervise the academy whenever I wish. If I want to come, I can come anytime.”

“I’m here to see whether my second brother is behaving himself.”

“As for how A-Shou teaches, there is no need for me to worry.”

“These past few days, every class at Banshan Hall has had full attendance. Not a single person has skipped class.”

“Placed in the past, who would have believed such a thing possible?”

Princess Yongping was immediately rendered speechless.

What annoyed her even more was that after saying this, Zhu Ying completely ignored her.

She simply walked straight into the Imperial Academy toward Banshan Hall.

Normally, Princess Yongping always maintained excellent composure in front of others.

But now she was so angry that she immediately chased after her.

Unfortunately, she had always preferred elegant scholarly activities and had a delicate physique.

There was no way she could catch up with Zhu Ying.

After finally arriving at the entrance of Banshan Hall, Princess Yongping saw Zhu Ying speaking with a somewhat familiar young boy.

After thinking for a moment, she remembered.

It was the quiet young servant who had appeared beside Zhang Shou during the Moonlight Pavilion gathering.

He rarely spoke and had almost no presence.

Naturally, Princess Yongping did not consider such a person worth paying attention to.

After the boy quietly withdrew, she adjusted her breathing and walked forward.

However, Zhu Ying did not enter the classroom.

Instead, she turned around and faced her directly.

Her gaze was sharp as a blade, as if she wanted to pierce two holes through Princess Yongping.

Already irritated, Princess Yongping refused to show weakness and raised her head coldly.

“I encountered an assassin with A-Shou when we were attacked by that group of rebels.”

Zhu Ying did not bother with any indirect words.

She immediately went straight to the point.

“After Uncle Hua captured that assassin, he was brought back to the capital by Xiong Wei.”

“Now that assassin has confessed that you ordered him to do it.”

“He said your purpose was only to scare A-Shou.”

Princess Yongping’s face instantly turned pale with anger.

“That is slander! Why would I ever be so bored as to do something like that?”

Zhu Ying stared at the princess, whose body was even trembling slightly, for a long while.

Then she suddenly gave a mocking laugh.

“Although you and I have disliked each other since childhood, I also believe you are not someone who would do something so pointless.”

“So?”

“How does it feel to be framed by someone for the first time in your life?”

“Remember, that assassin is still alive and well.”

“The emperor directly sent him to the outer office of the Directorate of Palace Attendants to work as a servant.”

Princess Yongping immediately realized something was wrong.

Even if the assassination attempt had failed, considering her father’s usual favoritism toward Zhu Ying, and his apparent appreciation for Zhang Shou, he should have severely punished the assassin.

How could he casually send him away to work as a servant and consider the matter settled?

Furthermore…

If the assassin truly confessed that she had ordered him to act, why had the emperor not said a single word to her?

Perhaps Father simply did not believe it.

Perhaps Father already knew who was truly behind it.

Perhaps the person involved was someone Father could not easily punish.

But why should she take the blame?

Even if Zhu Ying said right now that she did not believe Princess Yongping was responsible, as long as that assassin remained alive, once such rumors spread in the future, where would she put her reputation?

Princess Yongping was so angry that her teeth almost hurt from grinding them.

But right after that, Zhu Ying’s next words were like pouring oil onto a raging fire, causing the anger she had desperately tried to suppress to flare up again.

“Also, that little eunuch who tried to frame A-Shou by planting evidence on him last time—according to what I heard, the emperor also handed him over to the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate, Wang Datou.”

“Look at this. Even something as serious as an assassin has been pinned on you by someone else.”

“For a small matter like that, perhaps people will naturally assume it was because you disliked A-Shou and were taking your anger out on him.”

The phrase “taking your anger out on someone because you dislike the person close to them” was a made-up expression from Zhu Ying herself.

Under normal circumstances, Princess Yongping would definitely have criticized it as improper and looked down on it.

But right now, she had no mind to care.

Because Zhu Ying was absolutely right.

If someone dared to throw such a huge crime as hiring an assassin onto her, then what about a much smaller matter?

At that moment, she forgot that her original purpose for coming here was to discuss the studies of her two younger brothers, the Third and Fourth Princes.

She forgot about the long list of required books she had stayed up late preparing, intending to guide Zhang Shou.

She simply turned around, flicked her sleeve, and walked away.

Watching her leave, Zhu Ying finally raised her eyebrows proudly and let out a cheerful laugh.

Then she gave a small snort.

“Normally, you are always the one making others take the blame.”

“This time, it’s your turn.”

The moment she finished speaking, a faint voice came from behind her.

“Miss, you’re amazing.”

Zhu Ying turned her head and saw that A-Liu had appeared behind her at some unknown time.

She immediately smiled brightly.

“If something like this happens again in the future, remember to tell me directly!”

“A-Shou really is something else.”

“Even if the Imperial Academy is far from my home, so what? Riding a horse back and forth every day is perfectly convenient.”

“He insists on moving into those cramped little dorm rooms instead.”

“Even sending messages has become inconvenient.”

Regarding Zhu Ying’s complaints, A-Liu maintained his usual expressionless face.

Only after she looked toward Banshan Hall did he suddenly ask: “How is Minister Lu doing?”

Although she did not know whether Zhang Shou wanted to ask this or whether A-Liu himself was curious, hearing someone suddenly mention Lu Sanlang’s father still made Zhu Ying grit her teeth.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Because Grandpa Ge, Grandpa Qi, and Grandpa Chu all heard what happened, after I returned home I had no choice but to tell Grandmother everything.”

“As a result, Grandmother scolded me, saying I was too impulsive and reckless!”

“Lu Wan really was lying to me.”

“What Qin Duke Zhang Chuan coveting my father’s and Duke Chu’s positions…”

“What Imperial Scholar Zhang and Commander Zhang secretly working together against my father…”

“All of it was complete nonsense!”

“And Grandpa Ge and the other two were there too. That fellow still dared to lie through his teeth!”

Knowing that this was a public place, Zhu Ying had controlled her voice carefully when speaking with Princess Yongping earlier.

She continued doing the same now.

For the usually reckless and free-spirited Miss Zhu, this was already a very rare improvement.

After complaining for a while, she eventually stopped.

Although her elder brother still had no news, and the messages from her father—who had just led troops beyond the border—were always delayed by many days, she had constantly been worrying about them.

But she did not want to endlessly complain.

Zhu Ying turned around and walked toward Banshan Hall.

Standing quietly at the entrance, she listened to Zhang Shou’s lecture for quite a while.

She watched several experiments without blinking.

Only after that did she quietly turn around and descend the steps.

Seeing that A-Liu was still waiting there and had not left, she smiled slightly at him.

“Tell A-Shou that the residence Grandpa Qi lent to him and Aunt Wu has finally become peaceful these past two days.”

“Aunt Wu has moved back.”

“I have already found several suitable apprentices for her.”

“Some are skilled at embroidery, some specialize in mending and weaving, and some are good at dyeing fabrics.”

“She is very happy.”

“She said that before her family encountered their troubles, she used to work in weaving, repairing, embroidery, and dyeing.”

“She has always dreamed of rebuilding her family’s business.”

A-Liu nodded to show that he had remembered her words.

Miss Zhu immediately smiled.

“As for the matter of someone delivering a sword to threaten him, Grandmother and Mother both said they will thoroughly investigate it.”

“As for the assassin and the lawsuit involving the stolen enamel box used to frame him, Zheng Mingyue is keeping an eye on it.”

“She hates taking the blame for others more than anyone. She definitely won’t let it go easily.”

“Tell A-Shou that he can rest assured.”

“Everything is under control with me here.”

“But…”

She hesitated slightly.

“When he has free time, he shouldn’t keep going to Grandpa Ge’s place.”

“Grandpa Ge will definitely grab him and make him help calculate things…”

At this point, Zhu Ying felt slightly guilty.

But immediately afterward, she heard a laugh.

“I’ve already been caught by my teacher for two consecutive nights, helping him derive water management formulas.”

“So I really was hoping to steal some free time.”

Standing on the lecture platform, Zhang Shou had noticed Zhu Ying long ago.

Taking advantage of the moment when he had assigned Zhang Chen and the others to conduct an experiment, he had slipped out of Banshan Hall.

Yet he showed no awareness that he was avoiding work.

Instead, he smiled warmly.

“Yingying.”

“Tomorrow Banshan Hall is closed for rest.”

“How about we go outside the city to enjoy the autumn scenery?”