APSIL -Chapter 181 Utter Nonsense!

After being paraded around by Zhang Shou as the perfect student, Lu Sanlang’s mind went completely blank.

The only thing he could think of was how Ge Yong had once proudly shown Zhang Shou off to everyone. Lu Sanlang had always been confident in his own talents, but because Zhang Shou was about the same age as he was, he’d never imagined that one day his teacher would become just like Ge Yong.

So when the unexpected challenge came, Lu Sanlang’s first thought was—

I’ve actually become Teacher’s prized melon?

Seeing him momentarily stunned, Zhang Shou calmly turned toward Assistant Director Chen of the Ministry of Personnel.

“If I remember correctly, Marquis Weinan only entrusted the matter privately. The students of Jiuzhang Hall have been calculating day and night, and most of them haven’t even stepped outside the Imperial College. Your information network is remarkably efficient.”

Chen naturally refused to fall into that trap.

With a faint sneer, he replied, “Doctor Zhang simply couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He leaked it to the students of Banshan Hall, and those ignorant youngsters spread it all over the capital. Yet now you blame me for hearing about it?”

Smiling, Zhang Shou nodded.

“That’s true. Since you don’t even think much of Lu Zhu, the genuinely gifted head student of Jiuzhang Hall, naturally you would have even less regard for children as young as the Third and Fourth Princes, or for someone like Zhang Chen, who is merely the nominal heir of Duke Qin and head student of Banshan Hall.”

“I never said that!”

Chen nearly exploded in anger.

Only then did he notice the subtle expressions of the surrounding officials, and inwardly cursed his own carelessness.

He had always viewed Banshan Hall as nothing more than a gathering place for idle young nobles. The truly elite aristocratic sons merely registered their names and never even attended classes.

But ever since the Emperor’s decree, every truant student had obediently returned to school.

Quickly changing his approach, Chen said, “In any case, everyone outside knows Jiuzhang Hall claims to be solving the Arsenal Bureau’s puzzle box. And you’ve praised Lu Zhu to the skies. Surely you aren’t going to claim that you and he have accomplished absolutely nothing?”

Before Lu Sanlang could respond, Zhang Shou stopped him with a gesture.

Then he smiled lightly.

“May I ask, do you know how many years that puzzle box has remained unopened in the Arsenal Bureau?”

The moment those words were spoken, Chen’s heart skipped a beat.

Being the first to charge into battle had one major disadvantage—

The lightning struck him first.

If Zhang Shou started listing all the renowned figures who had failed before the puzzle box, then even if Zhang Shou himself ultimately failed, what right did an outsider like Chen have to criticize him?

Wouldn’t that amount to insulting every predecessor who had failed as well?

Seeing Chen trapped between advancing and retreating, Vice Minister Zhao silently cursed him as an idiot before finally rolling up his sleeves and stepping in himself.

“So, Doctor Zhang believes that because all your predecessors failed, it’s perfectly acceptable if you and Lu Zhu and the students of Jiuzhang Hall fail as well? What a ridiculous argument! Those predecessors of yours—including Grand Preceptor Ge—all rose step by step through honest effort.”

Zhang Shou simply looked at Zhao with an easy smile, saying nothing, as though he hadn’t understood the accusation at all.

Whether Zhang Shou was genuinely confident or merely bluffing, Zhao no longer cared.

All he knew was that he wanted nothing more than to crush this young man who stood there like a beautiful painting—and that dead-fatty Lu Zhu beside him—and trample them into the ground.

Nearly roaring, he shouted, “Those predecessors each had official duties. They couldn’t possibly spend endless time on a single box! But your rank and position were all bestowed upon you by His Majesty’s repeated favor. How can you not devote yourself entirely—even unto death—to repay such grace? You have the time and energy. You should be working on it day and night!”

Faced with this righteous condemnation, Zhang Shou merely chuckled.

“So, Vice Minister Zhao believes that one mysterious box in the Arsenal Bureau—whose contents nobody even knows—is more important than Jiuzhang Hall, founded to fulfill the Founding Emperor’s will? More important than Banshan Hall, which educates the sons of the nobility?”

“You’re twisting the issue!”

By now Zhao was convinced.

Without question, Zhang Shou had only used the Arsenal Bureau’s assignment to elevate Jiuzhang Hall’s reputation.

There was no way he could actually solve it.

With a violent sweep of his sleeve, he displayed the imposing presence he had cultivated during his years as a Censor.

Turning toward the throne, he bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty, Zhang Shou repeatedly relies on sophistry and deliberately confuses right and wrong. It is clear he is a fraud who deceives the world and steals undeserved fame. His previous achievements were merely fortunate accidents. Such a man is utterly unfit to be a teacher.”

After a brief pause, he finally revealed the trump card he had been saving for days.

“Previously, because of his merits, Your Majesty promoted him to Hanlin Lecturer and Left Assistant Academician of the Court of the Heir Apparent. I respectfully request that if it is proven he is incapable of opening this puzzle box, those appointments be stripped from him! If rewards are to be given, there are plenty of official posts under Heaven. Why chill the hearts of scholars everywhere by favoring such a man?”

Hearing Zhao’s malicious intentions, Lu Wan—despite not particularly liking Zhang Shou—could no longer remain seated.

He had already asked someone to propose marriage on behalf of his chubby son, and the proposal had even been made before the Emperor himself.

There was no turning back now.

Rising angrily, he shouted, “Zhao Hanxuan, what gives you the right to speak for all scholars? Doctor Zhang earned those appointments by risking his life to capture traitors, exhausting himself to decipher secret communications! As for you—what exactly have you accomplished in twenty years as an official? Don’t forget that when you served as Governor of Ningxia, your actions provoked one of the Mongol tribes into rebellion and nearly plunged the Hetao region into chaos!”

Today was Lu Sanlang’s first time attending court.

For the first time, he experienced his father’s fierce protectiveness.

For the first time, he watched his father openly clash with another high-ranking official.

And for the first time, he witnessed his father digging up someone else’s old scandals.

He found today’s court session unbelievably exciting.

His only regret was that everyone kept shielding him behind them, leaving him with almost no chance to speak.

Just then—

Clang!

A ceremonial chime echoed through the hall.

The shouting and whispers instantly disappeared.

The Hall of Fengtian fell completely silent.

Then came the Emperor’s lazy voice.

“Have you all had enough? I merely asked you to discuss the Second Prince’s public humiliation of Miss Liu. Instead, you’ve wandered so far off topic that you’re digging up scandals from who knows how many years ago.”

His gaze settled on Lu Sanlang.

“Lu Zhu, your teacher has just praised you extensively. Now tell me—what do you think of Vice Minister Zhao’s remarks?”

Lu Sanlang froze.

Then his eyes lit up with joy.

Casting Zhao a look of complete disdain, he answered without hesitation,

“Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness…Everything he just said is complete bullshit!”

Even Lu Wan, who knew his son’s temperament well, nearly had a heart attack at such coarse language before the throne.

Zhang Shou simply covered his forehead with one hand.

Lu Fatty will always be Lu Fatty.

Once he reverted to his old self, nobody could stop him.

Before Zhao and the shocked officials could rebuke him, however, the Emperor asked with obvious amusement, “Oh? How exactly is it bullshit?”

Lu Sanlang snorted.

“That son of his, whom he brags about as some great talent, can’t even do efficient repeated addition or repeated multiplication! The three questions he submitted to the Shuntian Prefecture were copied from someone else! And yet he has the nerve to accuse my teacher of deceiving the world? What a joke! Vice Minister Zhao doesn’t know a damn thing about mathematics. Put the Fourteen-Ring Character Lock in front of him and all he’d do is stare at it with his mouth open. Talking big is the only thing he’s actually good at!”

Lu Sanlang was a strange person.

Sometimes he was a slippery, crafty fat fellow.

Sometimes he was deeply sentimental and acted impulsively.

But more often than not—

He was as tough and impossible to deal with as a seasoned rogue.

After thoroughly berating Zhao, he raised his chin proudly.

“If failing to open that box means my teacher should lose every office His Majesty rewarded him with… Then what if we do open it? Will you give up your post as Vice Minister of War and let him have it?”

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly shifted to Chen.

“If our teacher and students solve it, will this Assistant Director Chen also hand over his position to me, the head student of Jiuzhang Hall? Will the other students who have worked day and night finally receive official appointments too? It’s easy to criticize when you’re risking nothing yourself. No—that’s not it. If you’re just jealous, then stop making excuses!”

Hearing that, Zhang Shou suddenly remembered the interview day, when Lu Sanlang had said: “If you’re stupid, stop making excuses.”

Unable to help himself, he smiled.

That smile finally pushed Chen over the edge.

“You insolent brat!”

Chen’s face flushed crimson.

“If you can solve that puzzle, I’ll gladly give you my post as Assistant Director of the Ministry of War!”

He had completely committed himself.

Your father is already serving punishment with six months’ salary suspended.

Zhang Shou’s position isn’t secure either.

I refuse to believe that while you’re busy preparing for marriage, you’ll still have the time to solve such a thing!

As Chen and Lu Sanlang glared fiercely at one another, the Emperor suddenly laughed.

“Excellent. Shall I serve as witness to this wager?”

Just then, from the ranks of the nobles who had been quietly enjoying the spectacle, Marquis Weinan, Zhang Kang, slowly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I would indeed ask that you serve as witness. I met Lu Sanlang last night. He told me that the puzzle box should be solvable.”

Lu Wan was instantly stunned.

He had been about to say that his son must have reported the wrong information, but the words caught in his throat.

Last night, Lu Sanlang had secretly gone out somewhere with others.

When he returned, he and Zhang Shou had stayed up until midnight working on something.

Could it have been this?

The Emperor’s eyes finally brightened.

“Oh? Is that true?”

Looking at the dumbfounded Chen and the gloomy-faced Zhao, Zhang Shou said cheerfully, “May I trouble Marquis Weinan to bring in the box?”

As a highly favored noble during Emperor Ruizong’s reign, Zhang Kang naturally could not carry such a heavy box into court himself.

Instead, he had entrusted it beforehand to Chief Eunuch Chu Kuan.

Now, before everyone’s eyes, Chu Kuan respectfully carried the box into the hall and presented it before the throne.

The Emperor accepted it and placed it upon his knees.

His fingers slowly traced the familiar carved patterns before he smiled and nodded.

“Minister Zhang certainly works efficiently.”

Zhang Shou smiled.

“Rather, it should be said that Marquis Weinan’s previous attempts were not in vain.”

Then he added sincerely, “After completing our calculations, Lu Zhu, the students, and I never actually tested them on the box itself. If there is any mistake, it is entirely my responsibility, not theirs.”

“Very good!”

The Emperor nodded decisively.

“Proceed.”

Zhang Shou drew a slow breath.

“If our calculations are correct, then the fourteen characters should be—

Qing. Jin. Ci. Ke. Wei. Lun. Li. Chen. Cai. Ling. Nian. Xi. Shang. Shu.”

The Emperor, thoroughly familiar with the mechanism, rapidly turned each of the fourteen character wheels.

When the final character—

Shu (庶)—

clicked into place…

Click.

The faint sound echoed through the utterly silent hall.

The senior officials nearest the throne heard it clearly.

A heartbeat later, even those standing in the back heard the Emperor laugh.

Then came his unmistakable praise.

“Excellent. The box has finally been opened!”