APSIL -Chapter 18 The Hardest Debt Is a Beauty’s Affection

Zhu Ying had just been feeling annoyed that Zhang Shou had once again addressed her as “Miss.” But the moment she heard him describe her as the unrivaled beauty among all women, every trace of displeasure vanished into thin air, replaced by delight. Yet when he finished with his final question, her expression darkened slightly.

Seeing that Zhanjin and Liuyin had both been stumped—or rather, that neither dared answer so casually—she slapped the armrest and said irritably, “So what if there are? Plenty of people admire me, openly or in secret! But they’re either pig-headed idiots or arrogant fools full of themselves. I can’t even be bothered to look at them. Otherwise I’d have to wash my eyes afterward!”

“There are even sanctimonious hypocrites. They secretly stare at me all day long, yet refuse to admit it. Behind my back they sigh about how I ‘attract bees and butterflies’ or ‘bring disaster to the country.’ Bah! Hypocrites! I’ve even slapped two of them in public!”

The angrier she became, the more animated she looked. Zhang Shou couldn’t help laughing.

“A graceful and beautiful lady naturally attracts gentlemen. That’s only human nature. As for those hypocrites who lust after beauty while pretending to be virtuous—if you catch them in the act, they deserve a slap.”

Only after casually agreeing with the forthright young lady did Zhang Shou realize that she had completely led him off topic. Seeing the warmth in her gaze grow even stronger, he quickly steered the conversation back.

“What I really wanted to ask is… is it possible that some of your admirers might come all the way out here to the countryside looking for you?”

That…

For Zhu Ying, this was the first time she had met a man who actually approved of her bold actions—and this man happened to be the “fiancé” her father had inexplicably chosen for her.

When they had first met, she had simply been captivated by his extraordinary appearance. But now she found that his personality and character suited her remarkably well.

The only flaw was that even those who slandered her behind her back would still deliberately try to attract her attention in person.

Yet Zhang Shou always remained just close enough, yet always slightly out of reach.

So although she couldn’t understand why he had suddenly become interested in her admirers, she answered directly anyway.

“My father has been impeached, and my eldest brother is still missing. Those people have always been opportunists. They probably won’t bother pursuing me now… though who knows? There are plenty of fools like that pig-headed Lu fellow. As long as they see a beautiful woman, they start drooling.”

“In any case, don’t concern yourself with them. If anyone actually comes looking for me, just ignore them. Even if my father’s situation worsens, my grandmother is still here. They wouldn’t dare do anything.”

She gave a disdainful snort.

“My grandmother and the Empress Dowager are full sisters. When His Majesty ascended the throne, he was still young, so the Empress Dowager governed from behind the curtain. My grandmother kept my two great-uncles firmly under control and never allowed them to interfere in state affairs.”

“When His Majesty turned fourteen and married, the Empress Dowager immediately returned governing authority to him. Ever since then she’s lived a peaceful retirement. His Majesty respects both the Empress Dowager and my grandmother more than anyone.”

“My father was promoted by Emperor Ruizong. During the early years of the Empress Dowager’s regency, she personally commanded the military. After His Majesty assumed direct rule in the eighth year of Yongchen, she immediately surrendered military authority, only occasionally offering advice on important affairs of state.”

“This time, after repeated defeats at the front, His Majesty personally entrusted my father with the task of taking command at Datong. I believe in him. There’s no way he’ll lose! The Duke of Chu is supporting him from Xuanfu. Even if the two of them have old grudges, neither would ever undermine the other when it truly matters.”

Zhang Shou had already thought the Zhao State Duke’s household stood atop an intimidating mountain.

Now he felt that mountain reached the heavens.

He immediately made up his mind.

“Trying to block trouble is never as effective as guiding it elsewhere. Since these people may well come looking for you, we can’t let them see a noble young lady like yourself lowering herself to live in such a rundown little village.”

Seeing Zhu Ying hesitate, he continued sincerely, “You’ve already seen what the village is like. I’m thinking of raising some money and, now that the harvest season is nearly over, repairing the village properly…”

“Oh? That’s a wonderful idea!”

Zhu Ying’s eyes lit up.

“I walked around the village today. Those houses really are in terrible condition!”

Having tentatively proposed his vague village improvement plan and unexpectedly received wholehearted approval, Zhang Shou paused briefly before shifting to something much more practical.

“There are quite a few clever boys in the village besides Xiao Dai and Xiao Qi. They’re not especially gifted, so I’ve only been teaching them a few poems and basic multiplication. Once the harvest is over and everyone has some free time, I’d like to hold a small competition—reciting poems and solving simple arithmetic problems. As prizes, each winner could receive a new set of clothes.”

Just then, Aunt Liu entered carrying a tray of lotus seed sweet soup, sent by Madam Wu.

The moment she stepped inside, she saw Zhang Shou smiling as he accepted an exquisitely crafted brocade box from Zhanjin.

Normally she loved to gossip, but this time she acted as though she had seen nothing at all. After handing the tray to Liuyin, she quietly withdrew.

The instant she reached the kitchen in the front courtyard, however, she could no longer keep quiet.

“Young Master and that young lady were chatting and laughing together. Who knows? That little box might even contain a token of love…”

Madam Wu jumped in alarm and quickly interrupted her.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Yingying is such a considerate girl, and A-Shou always knows what he’s doing. They must have been discussing something important.”

“Yes, yes!”

Aunt Liu immediately smiled apologetically before beaming once more.

“In any case, Young Master truly is blessed. That noble young lady doesn’t put on airs at all. Tell me, how many girls would allow their future mother-in-law to call them by their given name before the wedding? Then again, it’s all because Young Master is so handsome. Honestly, even back when I lived in the capital, I never saw anyone more handsome than him.”

Madam Wu had already been smiling.

After hearing Aunt Liu praise Zhang Shou’s appearance, her smile became even brighter.

“Before, it was only the villagers who gasped whenever they saw A-Shou. But now, whether it’s Yingying or the others from the Zhao State Duke’s residence, every one of them can’t help taking a second look at him. I’m not boasting—my A-Shou is nothing less than an immortal descended from heaven.”

Passing by the kitchen on his way out of the inner courtyard, Zhang Shou couldn’t help twitching at the corners of his mouth when he heard those words.

By now, he had completely given up trying to persuade his mother to be more cautious about this engagement.

Ever since the Dowager Madam of the Zhao State Duke’s residence had openly supported Zhu Ying staying here by sending a whole group of servants, Madam Wu had gained tremendous confidence. She simply refused to hear anything against the marriage—including anything he himself said.

As for the marriage contract Zhu Ying had mentioned, he still didn’t believe it existed.

Shortly after transmigrating into this world, curiosity about his identity had led him to secretly search the entire house while Madam Wu was away.

He had turned the place upside down.

There had been no marriage contract anywhere.

And the Dowager Madam’s obvious reluctance to produce the original document only convinced him further that there was something suspicious about this so-called engagement.

With that thought, Zhang Shou deliberately coughed loudly outside the kitchen.

The curtain lifted, and Madam Wu emerged looking somewhat embarrassed.

Only then did he calmly say, “Mother, I just discussed something with… Yingying.”

Seeing Madam Wu immediately brighten at the way he addressed Zhu Ying, he continued without haste, “Now that the busiest part of the harvest is almost over, I’d like to give everyone in the village something to do. We’ll repair the houses and make new clothes for several families’ children.”

“But I don’t have enough money, so Yingying lent me one hundred taels of silver.”

Madam Wu froze in shock.

The next instant, she grabbed him and pulled him into a corner of the courtyard, scolding him in exasperation.

“How could you borrow money from her? You’re only engaged—you aren’t even married yet! No… even after you’re married, her dowry belongs to her, not to you! You have no right to touch it! You… you’re usually so sensible. How could you do something so foolish today?”

She snatched the brocade box from his hands and hurried straight toward the inner courtyard, clearly intending to return the money to Miss Zhu.

Watching her go, the corners of Zhang Shou’s lips slowly curled upward into a faint smile.

He had never intended to take advantage of Miss Zhu.

The problem was that Madam Wu had always kept an extremely tight grip on the household finances.

Previously he had never cared much about money. Their family owned some land, and he had been content with a modest, peaceful life. He had never felt any pressing desire either to make a fortune or to achieve fame.

In his previous life, he had gone from being the son of a wealthy family, to having nothing, and finally to becoming wealthy again.

But the price he had paid had been unimaginably high.

Now, however, everything was different.

Even living a quiet, modest life required capital.

He waited, expecting Madam Wu to return the silver to Zhu Ying and then reluctantly hand him a little of the savings she had accumulated over the years.

What he never expected was that the first person to rush out of the hall was not his mother, but a brightly dressed young woman.

Zhu Ying strode straight up to him, visibly fuming, and shoved the brocade box back into his hands.

“First of all, you didn’t ask to borrow this money—I insisted on giving it to you! And even if you had asked, it was for a perfectly respectable reason, not to squander it!”

“My two maids only happened to bring one hundred taels in silver. If they’d brought one thousand—or even ten thousand—I would have lent it to you all the same!”

“I’ve even lent money to that good-for-nothing second brother of mine. Are you somehow worse than him?”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, showing just how agitated she was.

“Your mother’s worries are her own concern. But if you keep arguing with me, then you’re looking down on me, Zhu Ying!”

Looking into those blazing eyes, every bit as dazzling as her beautiful face, Zhang Shou felt genuinely surprised.

Then he smiled in understanding.

It really did feel wrong to play clever little tricks on this young lady.

He accepted the brocade box and nodded with a smile.

“Very well. Then I’ll gratefully accept your kindness.”

“Tomorrow I plan to gather the village elders to discuss a few matters.”

“Would you be willing to come with me?”

“Because there’s something I need your help with.”