APSIL -Chapter 171 As Easy as Turning One’s Hand

As soon as Lu Sanlang returned, he chased Zhang Chen away. At first, he was quite pleased with himself. However, when he discovered that the first seven characters had been deciphered, but the remaining seven characters did not match no matter which poems he tried, and none of them corresponded with the sixty-four groups of numbers Zhang Shou had provided afterward, he became so furious that smoke practically came out of his ears.

Only then did he understand why Zhang Chen had left so willingly.

So that fellow had realized the task was impossible and fled!

Still unwilling to give up, he went through everyone’s calculation results one by one. But while he was checking the answers, he suddenly heard Qi Liang softly say: “Little Teacher is here.”

At once, Lu Sanlang’s back stiffened slightly. The ambition and confidence he had possessed when he first returned instantly turned into bitter frustration.

He carefully turned around and saw Zhang Shou already taking the verification papers from the others and examining them. Lu Sanlang hurried over.

“Teacher, perhaps Marquis Weinan’s side did not collect everything, or perhaps they did not give us all the information. Why don’t I go to the Bureau of Military Weapons again?”

Seeing Zhang Shou wave his hand, Lu Sanlang could not tell whether Zhang Shou was unwilling, had another plan, or perhaps…

That shameless Zhang Chen had deliberately driven a wedge between them.

He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice.

“Since only seven rings remain, why don’t we ask Marquis Weinan to bring the box here? We can just try them one by one. It shouldn’t be too complicated, right?”

“A seven-ring character lock has as many as 16,384 possible combinations.”

Zhang Shou looked at him calmly.

“Moreover, even if the first seven characters have passed verification, that does not guarantee they are actually correct. In other words, after trying all 16,384 combinations, you might still fail.”

“If that is the case, there is no point in trying.”

Hearing this, Zhang Shou glanced at Lu Sanlang.

The young man’s face was full of disappointment, and many of the other students in the room were also clearly discouraged.

Zhang Shou smiled.

“You have all already done exceptionally well. In merely half a day, you completed half of a problem that others had failed to solve for decades. Why look so miserable?”

“As for being unable to find a way through the remaining half, that is not because of your lack of ability.”

He lightly tapped the stack of papers in his hand.

His thoughts rapidly turned.

The phrase “Confucius himself feared the younger generation” after being shifted in position had perfectly matched the words on the first seven rings. It was impossible for that to be a coincidence.

Their approach should be correct.

According to their previous method, they would need to raise the function to a cubic equation, or even a fourth-degree one.

But if they used a cubic function, the number of four-digit combinations they would have to test would rise from sixty-four groups to two hundred and fifty-six.

A fourth-degree function would require checking five-digit combinations—more than 1,024 possibilities.

That would become endless repetitive labor with no meaning.

Besides, ever since he had encountered encrypted texts in this era, he had never seen a cipher method this complicated.

Therefore…

There was no need to overcomplicate things.

Perhaps he should think from a simpler angle.

Zhang Shou stared at the sheets of paper in his hand, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the table.

He had always believed in one principle:

When thought processing reaches its highest speed, a computer would crash—but the human brain would produce a strange phenomenon.

Commonly known as:

A flash of inspiration.

And as he continued thinking, a bold idea suddenly appeared in his mind.

The corner of his mouth slowly curved upward.

---

Inside the eastern warm chamber of Qianqing Palace, the emperor could not help laughing after listening to the exaggerated reports from the Third and Fourth Princes, who took turns adding fuel to the story.

Unlike his two young sons, who viewed everything with innocent simplicity, the emperor naturally saw things differently.

After sending the two princes away, he stroked his beard thoughtfully and looked toward Chu Kuan.

“Whether it is the Empress Dowager or certain other people, it seems they are all dissatisfied with my promotion of Zhang Shou?”

“If that is the case, then release the news. Let everyone know that Zhang Shou is currently attempting to open the box from the Bureau of Military Weapons that has troubled everyone for many years.”

Chu Kuan was startled.

“Your Majesty, previously Chief Director Zhou of the Imperial Academy forbade this matter from spreading, so aside from people inside the Imperial Academy, not many outside know about it…”

“Not many?”

The emperor raised an eyebrow.

“If not many people knew, would so many people be waiting to watch the spectacle?”

“Would those censors be rubbing their hands in anticipation, waiting to strike Zhang Shou a heavy blow—and by extension, slap me in the face?”

“Do you truly think I know nothing?”

Chu Kuan immediately fell silent.

The emperor spoke indifferently.

“I have endured this for a long time.”

“Ever since Zhu Jing initially suffered setbacks in battle, all kinds of demons and monsters have been running wild throughout the court.”

“Do they truly think that because I have spent these years cultivating myself, I no longer understand anything?”

“The news of Zhu Jing’s repeated victories was delivered by the Ministry of War, yet hardly anyone among the common people knows about it.”

“Compared with the previous rumors that spread everywhere, this is nothing short of a joke.”

“Go quietly ask A-Liu beside Zhang Shou.”

“If he says Zhang Shou will definitely solve it, then release the news saying Zhang Shou cannot solve it.”

“Then stir up those impatient people and let them jump around.”

Realizing that the emperor had already made up his mind, Chu Kuan no longer dared to advise him otherwise.

He bowed and accepted the order.

However, just as he was about to quietly leave, the emperor suddenly called him back.

“The position of Minister of Revenue has been vacant for some time.”

“The court recommendation list still has not reached me.”

“Go urge them.”

“If I remember correctly, the previous Minister of Revenue Chen Shang—who went into mourning leave and was a student of Teacher Ge—should have the deepest qualifications.”

The emperor practically stated outright that Chen Shang was the most suitable candidate.

Chu Kuan immediately understood.

He acknowledged the order and left Qianqing Palace.

Normally, the selection of a Minister of Revenue was an important matter. However, he knew there was almost no suspense, so he merely sent an attendant to ask the Grand Secretariat.

As for checking Zhang Shou’s progress…

He decided to go personally.

After all, when he had discovered the writings of Emperor Taizu in the Ancient and Modern Complete Library, he had already tried to recruit Zhang Shou.

Looking back, perhaps he should have expressed himself more clearly back then.

Of course, personally entering the Imperial Academy was impossible. He did not want to attract endless criticism.

Following the emperor’s instructions, he would simply go find A-Liu—the person who had previously barged into the outer office of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

It was not until evening that Zhang Shou learned from A-Liu that Chu Kuan had come to inquire about their progress.

He raised an eyebrow.

“How did you reply to Eunuch Chu?”

A-Liu looked at Zhang Shou strangely, then answered as if it were obvious: “As easy as turning one’s hand.”

Even though Zhang Shou had already guessed that would be the answer, he still felt his teeth ache with irritation.

“You should at least ask me before making decisions!”

“What if your careless words get me killed?”

“After he asked me, I went to the Nine Chapters Hall to find you.”

A tiny, almost invisible curve appeared at the corner of A-Liu’s mouth.

“I saw you smiling, so I went back and told him.”

Zhang Shou was speechless.

The students in Nine Chapters Hall all thought he was merely forcing himself to smile to encourage everyone.

Lu Sanlang and Qi Liang thought the same.

But A-Liu actually believed his smile had come from genuine confidence.

Did this kid have the ability to read minds?

Zhang Shou sighed deeply.

He was about to signal A-Liu to come closer, planning to suddenly launch another surprise attack and lecture this boy properly.

But then—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Someone was knocking loudly on the door of his study.

Before Zhang Shou could react, A-Liu moved like a ghost, instantly appearing at the door and pulling it open.

The next moment, Zhu Ying entered.

“A-Shou, where is Lu Sanlang? Why isn’t he in the study?”

Zhang Shou was slightly stunned.

Then he smiled.

“Yingying, you came here looking for him. Aren’t you afraid I’ll misunderstand?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized the unbelievable flaw in what he had just said.

Previously, when uncontrollable emotions overwhelmed him, he had hugged Zhu Ying without thinking, and later held her hand and spoken words of concern and affection.

But now…

This teasing remark seemed equally natural.

Was it merely a joke?

Or had it carried a tiny trace of dissatisfaction that even he himself had not noticed?

Zhu Ying also froze for a moment.

Then her flawless brows curved slightly, and a delighted smile appeared on her face.

So even someone like the immortal-like A-Shou could feel jealousy?

That feeling was surprisingly pleasant.

She blinked lightly.

“I’m looking for him because there is an urgent matter. I need him to help save the situation!”

“Who told me you can’t handle this matter?”

What kind of situation could Lu Sanlang possibly save?

Zhang Shou finally recovered, but Zhu Ying’s explanation still sounded unbelievable.

The next moment, Zhu Ying smiled brightly.

“However, although you can’t do it, I was planning to drag you along to watch the fun anyway.”

“I heard you have been tormented by that problem these past few days until your head is spinning. Consider it a chance to relax.”

Zhang Shou lightly tapped his forehead.

Then he smiled in understanding.

“That fellow should be fighting through the night in Nine Chapters Hall.”

“By the way, Nine Chapters Hall could not even afford candles. He personally spent his own money to buy three candles for every person there.”

“I told him it would damage his eyes, but I still couldn’t stop him.”

“Who would have thought that Lu Sanlang actually has some perseverance…”

Zhu Ying paused.

“But this is not the time to bury himself in hard work!”

With that, she stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Shou’s hand without hesitation, and pulled him outside.

“The lifelong happiness of two people, plus the involvement of an extremely annoying person, is far more important than solving some mysterious box.”

“Besides, those rumors spreading everywhere saying you and Marquis Weinan definitely cannot solve it—who knows, that person may be secretly stirring things up…”

Zhang Shou was about to remind her that this was the Imperial Academy.

Fortunately, once they left the building, Zhu Ying released his hand.

As they headed toward Nine Chapters Hall, Zhang Shou learned from her that rumors had already begun spreading.

Rumors saying he was:

• overly ambitious,
• rushing things beyond their proper time,
• seeking fame,
• putting on a false show.

And by evening, these rumors had already spread throughout the households of officials.

“So you think someone is deliberately causing trouble?”

“Of course.”

Zhu Ying looked annoyed.

“You and Marquis Weinan never went around announcing this. How could it spread so widely?”

“When I was checking accounts, Liu Qing came to see me. Even a sheltered young lady like her had already heard about it!”

Zhu Ying suddenly realized she had revealed the name and coughed awkwardly.

“She is that girl who is rather interested in Lu Sanlang.”

“The youngest daughter of Vice Minister Liu from the Ministry of Works.”

She paused, then snorted.

“She is also currently discussing marriage.”

“Normally, with parents arranging the marriage, she naturally trusts her own parents.”

“Her father is a good man, but her biological mother is someone who longs for wealth and status.”

“The Ministry of Rites is currently selecting consorts for the two princes, and her mother has been making arrangements behind the scenes.”

“She was frightened badly.”

“If not for this matter, even if she was curious about Lu Sanlang, she would never have acted so urgently.”