APSIL -Chapter 152 Neck Curved, Singing to the Sky

Zhang Shou truly hadn’t expected Zhu Ying to arrive ahead of him.

When she strode out openly, dressed in a man’s robe and official cap, he couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

Before he had time to react, Lu Sanlang swiftly fetched a chair and placed it beside Zhang Shou. Zhu Ying sat down next to him without the slightest hesitation.

Half amused and half exasperated, Zhang Shou asked, “Didn’t I have A-Liu deliver a message to you?”

“I was worried!”

Zhu Ying shot the Marquis Weinan, Zhang Kang, a sharp glare.

“You have no idea how dangerous places like this can be.”

“Back then, why do you think I insisted on dragging my second brother out of those establishments?”

“Wasn’t it because certain women were so desperate to marry into wealthy families that they drugged men and then cried that they were carrying their child?”

“Tingyu Pavilion may have a better reputation…”

“But who knows whether someone here might harbor the same foolish dreams?”

She paused before casting an unfriendly sideways glance at Zhu Er.

“More importantly…”

“Why did you bring my second brother with you?”

“What if he did something foolish and dragged you into trouble?”

Well then…

Since everyone in your family thinks Zhu Er is so unreliable, I simply won’t bring him next time.

Zhang Shou sighed inwardly before speaking earnestly.

“Yingying, you shouldn’t always judge people by the past.”

“Your second brother isn’t the same frivolous playboy he used to be.”

“He even told me recently that he wanted to start thinking seriously about his future.”

Zhu Ying hadn’t expected Zhang Shou to defend her brother.

Seeing Zhu Er nodding desperately while looking at her with an ingratiating smile, she finally gave a small snort.

“Fine.”

“I’ll consider it proof that you’ve realized your mistakes.”

“We’ll see how you behave from now on.”

Watching the exchange, Zhang Kang finally became convinced.

The capital’s notoriously spoiled and willful young lady…

Had truly been wrapped completely around the finger of this country-born young scholar.

But after Zhu Ying had forced her way in earlier, compelling him to bring everyone to Tingyu Pavilion, he hadn’t come merely to observe their relationship.

Clapping his hands lightly, he smiled.

“All right, all right.”

“Since Yingying has come out, everyone is finally here.”

“Old Wan.”

“Invite the Twelve Rain Maidens inside.”

“Have them perform the Twelve Heavenly Demons dance they’ve been rehearsing for so long.”

After Wan Yuanbao left to make the arrangements, Zhang Kang chatted amiably with Zhang Shou.

Curiously, he never once mentioned the craftsmen.

Instead, he asked a series of questions about mathematical classics.

As expected…

Zhu Er and Zhu Ying quickly grew impatient listening to such topics.

Only Lu Sanlang occasionally joined the discussion with a cheerful remark or two.

When the Twelve Rain Maidens still failed to appear after some time, Zhu Ying suddenly stomped hard on Zhu Er’s foot.

Nearly crying out in pain, Zhu Er noticed her giving him a meaningful look.

With no choice, he obediently stood up and followed her over to admire the fierce tiger painting hanging on the folding screen—a painting that did absolutely nothing for him.

Only then did Zhang Kang seize the opportunity.

Lowering his voice, he asked, “Doctor Zhang…”

“What exactly are you planning to make by seeking out skilled craftsmen?”

This Marquis Weinan really doesn’t resemble the so-called ‘barbarian’ people describe at all.

Slowly turning the wine cup in his fingers, Zhang Shou noticed that Lu Sanlang had already begun quietly keeping watch.

Or rather…

Making sure Zhu Ying and Zhu Er didn’t suddenly come back.

Smiling, Zhang Shou replied, “It’s merely an immature idea.”

“Could it be that, besides the large and complicated machinery produced by the Imperial Armory Bureau…”

“Your Lordship is also interested in all sorts of ingenious little inventions?”

“Pure curiosity.”

Zhang Kang answered naturally.

“You seem to have appeared from nowhere, Doctor Zhang.”

“No one knows anything about your past.”

“Yet the moment you emerged, Grand Tutor Ge declared you a rare mathematical genius.”

“Naturally, I’m curious.”

“I’ve always been like that.”

“When I was younger, curiosity once led me to secretly follow several suspicious-looking fellows while I was out alone.”

“They stabbed me.”

“If Lu Sanlang hadn’t happened to pass by…”

“I would’ve died.”

Zhang Shou immediately looked toward Lu Sanlang in disbelief.

Somewhat embarrassed, Lu Sanlang nodded.

“I really did just happen to be passing by.”

“His Lordship survived.”

“But the people eventually arrested because of that incident weren’t the street thugs he originally suspected.”

“They turned out to be child traffickers.”

“Of course…”

“His Lordship never claimed any credit.”

“So almost no one knows the story.”

That’s curiosity taken to the point of not fearing death…

For a moment, Zhang Shou genuinely didn’t know what to say.

Still…

He had never been the sort of person who laid bare his entire life merely to satisfy a stranger’s curiosity.

So he answered casually.

“I lived quietly in the countryside for most of my life.”

“I only recently learned the truth about my own background.”

“My mother once owned an embroidery workshop and worked in weaving and dyeing.”

“So I wanted to find skilled craftsmen familiar with those trades.”

“I’d like to create a few practical items for her.”

Zhang Kang was clearly unconvinced.

“Oh?”

“With Doctor Zhang’s current salary…”

“You think it’s still not enough to support your honored mother?”

“That was my mother’s life’s work. Just because I don’t need her to support the family anymore doesn’t mean she should spend the rest of her days idling at home, playing with cats and waiting for old age. Just as some people love reading, some enjoy touhu, some love playing the qin, and others delight in the se.”

Seeing Zhang Shou answer so candidly, Zhang Kang glanced at Zhu Ying. Remembering that she had personally helped recruit apprentices for Zhang Shou’s mother, he thought there might well be some truth to what Zhang Shou was saying. With a hearty laugh, he let the matter drop.

Beside them, Lu Sanlang stole a glance at the composed Zhang Shou. Somehow, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Zhang Shou’s true purpose wasn’t nearly so simple.

Still, although he received a generous share of Zhang Kang’s profits, he had no intention of helping the Marquis probe further.

When Zhang Kang had caught him searching for skilled craftsmen, Lu Sanlang had been forced to reveal Zhang Shou’s request. Then he’d had to grit his teeth and arrange this meeting here.

He’d already done more than enough.

Just then, voices drifted in from outside.

A moment later, the doors swung open.

More than a dozen musicians filed inside in two orderly rows.

Seeing this, Zhu Ying, who had vacated her seat earlier so Zhang Shou and the others could discuss mathematical classics, quickly dragged Zhu Er back to their places.

As the musicians took their seats one by one, her eyes fixed expectantly on the entrance.

The Twelve Rain Maidens of Tingyu Pavilion were said to be peerless beauties.

She wanted to see just how beautiful they really were.

Having witnessed beauty pageants from the VIP section in his previous life—and never being particularly interested in song and dance to begin with—Zhang Shou simply noticed that Zhang Kang had stopped asking questions.

As exquisitely beautiful maidservants entered carrying wine and delicacies, his attention shifted to the feast before him.

Every dish looked meticulously crafted.

Still, after years of seeing artistic cuisine that looked better than it tasted, he carefully examined them before finally picking up a piece of fish.

The flavor, fortunately, lived up to its presentation.

Just as he silently praised it, a sharp beat of a drum suddenly echoed through the room.

Instinctively looking up, he saw all four doors fly open almost simultaneously.

Twelve graceful figures sprang into the hall with astonishing lightness.

As they landed, their flowing sleeves drifted down like dispersing mist, revealing one natural, unpainted face after another.

If Zhu Ying was dazzling by virtue of her natural beauty and commanding brilliance…

Then these women resembled white lotuses blooming in the rain—fresh, elegant, and quietly enchanting.

And there wasn’t just one.

There were twelve of them.

Even Zhang Shou, who had initially shown little interest, set down his chopsticks and watched with genuine curiosity.

The first impression was indeed breathtaking.

But after that initial surprise wore off, despite the elegance of the choreography, Zhang Shou gradually lost interest in what was called the Dance of the Twelve Heavenly Demons.

His tastes had long since been spoiled by countless master choreographers who had drawn inspiration from every conceivable tradition.

To this day, the dance that remained most deeply engraved in his memory was still Thousand-Hand Guanyin.

So although a dozen breathtaking beauties danced mere steps away, with the occasional tantalizing glimpse of skin as their movements flowed…

To someone who had seen countless swimsuit models and far more revealing performances…

There simply wasn’t much to stir his heart.

His gaze returned to the dishes on the table.

The fish is quite good.

I wonder how the braised lamb tastes.

That crystal-clear aspic looks delicious…

Hopefully it’s not all appearance and no substance…

Every now and then, he’d glance toward the dancers.

But his chopsticks continued moving leisurely from one dish to the next.

From the perspective of the Twelve Rain Maidens, the performance had begun perfectly.

Their entrance had captured everyone’s attention.

But only moments later…

Doctor Zhang—the refined, elegant scholar everyone described as looking as though he had stepped out of a painting—began lowering his head to sample the dishes and wine every so often.

It was as if ordinary food interested him more than twelve peerless beauties dancing before him.

They knew perfectly well that he was the fiancé of the capital’s famous young lady, Zhu Ying—and that Zhu Ying herself was sitting right there.

Yet…

Watching this unfold…

Every one of them found her competitive spirit stirred.

Huayu kept throwing flirtatious glances until her eyes nearly grew sore.

Feiyu repeatedly flicked her sleeves aside, revealing skin as smooth as polished jade…

Only to discover she couldn’t compete with a plate of chilled lotus root.

Chunyu subtly displayed the rosy lacquer on her delicate toes…

Just in time to see Zhang Shou happily sampling the aspic.

Only Qingyu, who deliberately emphasized the long, graceful line of her neck, finally received what she wanted—

A smile from Zhang Shou.

Unfortunately…

The comment that followed nearly caused her to miss a step.

“This must be what they mean by…”

“‘Its curved neck raised proudly toward the sky in song.'”

…

The creature with a curved neck singing toward the sky…

Was a goose.

Not a person.

How could there possibly be a man this hopelessly devoid of romance?

Lu Sanlang, who had overheard Zhang Shou’s muttering, nearly burst out laughing.

He had to bite his lip to keep himself under control.

Zhu Ying, meanwhile, took a moment longer to understand.

She blinked.

Then collapsed onto the table, laughing so hard her shoulders shook.

Only Zhu Er remained completely oblivious.

He nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Exactly!”

“‘Its curved neck raised proudly toward the sky in song.'”

“The dance is beautiful, and the verse is even better!”

Zhu Er…

If every entertainment house in the capital eventually blacklists you, don’t blame me.

Zhang Shou himself quickly realized he’d used the completely wrong quotation on impulse.

He’d probably be cursed as a venom-tongued critic behind his back.

But words spoken couldn’t be taken back.

Seeing the dance finally come to an end, he simply smiled.

“The dance is beautiful.”

“The dancers are even more beautiful.”

“They truly live up to Your Lordship’s endless praise as the Twelve Heavenly Demons.”

“Thanks to Your Lordship’s invitation, I was fortunate enough to witness this performance.”

“It was well worth the trip.”

Zhang Kang could only laugh helplessly.

To him, Zhang Shou’s praise sounded like the most blatant nonsense imaginable.

He even began wondering whether Zhang Shou simply lacked any innate appreciation for feminine beauty.

How else could someone calmly sample dishes, drift off into thought, and lose focus while everyone else watched the dancers in rapt fascination?

And that line…

“Its curved neck raised proudly toward the sky in song…”

Did he really think they were twelve white geese?

At that moment, Zhu Ying finally straightened up.

Thoughtfully studying the twelve equally stunning beauties before her, she suddenly turned to Zhang Shou.

“A-Shou…”

“Which one do you think is the prettiest?”

Seeing the mischievous look on her face—the unmistakable expression of someone eager to stir up trouble—Zhang Shou merely smiled and asked in return, “What do you think?”

Zhu Er quietly let out a sigh of relief.

For a moment, he’d been worried Zhang Shou would shamelessly answer, “You’re the prettiest.”

Fortunately…

It seemed his future brother-in-law still had some sense of shame.

Then, in the very next instant, Zhu Ying answered without hesitation.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Of course you’re the prettiest!”