APSIL -Chapter 184 The Young Lady Who Came Bearing News

As Zhu Ying hurried through the corridor and passed through a gateway, she saw Zhang Shou strolling toward the exit from the opposite direction.

The ordinary blue official robe he wore somehow looked anything but ordinary on him. It was like a willow tree in spring putting forth fresh shoots—lush, vibrant green that immediately pleased the eye.

Her brows curved, and before she realized it, a radiant smile blossomed across her face.

“A-Shou!”

Seeing the young lady jogging lightly toward him, Zhang Shou smiled and walked forward to meet her.

“Yingying, you’ve worked hard.”

To anyone else, it was just an ordinary expression of thanks.

But to Zhu Ying, it instantly brightened her whole face.

“As long as you say that, it wasn’t hard at all!” she said happily. “Besides, I slept quite well in the palace last night. I didn’t even have to get up early this morning—I actually got to sleep in for once!”

After exchanging a few casual words, she suddenly remembered why she had come.

She quickly stepped closer. Seeing that the Liu family’s servants had tactfully withdrawn, she nodded in satisfaction and motioned for Zhang Shou to lean in before whispering, “After court ended and His Majesty returned to Qianqing Palace, he had that hateful Second Prince tied up in the courtyard. He personally supervised the punishment and had him caned thirty strokes!”

Zhang Shou drew in a sharp breath.

The emperor had actually flown into such a rage that he’d resorted to family discipline.

Zhu Ying raised her eyebrows proudly.

“The Eldest Prince even pretended to plead for mercy. But the Second Prince became furious from embarrassment and insisted it was the Eldest Prince who had leaked the information and egged him on to trouble Liu Qing.”

“His Majesty didn’t say whether he believed him or not. He only said that anyone pleading for someone else should share their punishment.”

“So he had the Eldest Prince caned ten strokes as well.”

“The Empress personally came to beg for mercy, but by then the beating was already over. His Majesty even reprimanded her for failing to educate her sons properly!”

Her voice dropped much lower on that last sentence.

Speaking ill of the two princes was one thing—everyone knew she had never looked favorably upon either of them.

But criticizing the Empress…

Though the Empress’s family had long since declined, she was still the empire’s foremost woman. Some respect had to be maintained.

Seeing Zhang Shou’s astonished expression, she secretly winked at him.

“Since His Majesty personally supervised the punishment, the two executioners who wanted to fake the beating to curry favor with Kun Ning Palace were exposed. The two princes ended up taking the full force of it.”

“The Eldest Prince got off easier. His Majesty said that since he insisted on protecting his younger brother, ten strokes would serve as a lesson.”

“But the Second Prince…” She grimaced. “His backside and legs were beaten until they were torn open.”

“The emperor hasn’t used family discipline in years. Back then, he beat the two of them until they cried for their fathers and mothers!”

Zhang Shou looked genuinely surprised.

“Oh? His Majesty used to beat the Eldest and Second Princes too?”

“They were still little then,” Zhu Ying explained. “They got into a fight, accidentally broke a vase while shoving each other, and then each tried to pin the blame on the other. Neither would admit it.”

“His Majesty got so angry that he grabbed the handle of a whisk and beat both of them until their bottoms were covered in welts. By the time the Empress rushed over, she cried her heart out.”

“Later, they still caused plenty of trouble, but His Majesty stopped bothering with them. Most of the time, he just left the Empress to handle it.”

She gave a mocking laugh.

“It wasn’t until they secretly encouraged officials to support them over the matter of princely titles that His Majesty truly became angry. He confined both of them to the palace for three whole months.”

“They seemed to settle down after that.”

“But look how long they’ve been out?”

“And now they’ve caused something as ridiculous as this. Liu Qing is really unlucky.”

She edged even closer and lowered her voice.

“Oh, right, A-Shou. I need to ask you something.”

“Among the students at Banyuan Hall, who has a good temperament and is dependable?”

“I promised Princess Deyang I’d help find her a suitable husband. But look at the mess things are in now. I haven’t accomplished anything yet, so I’m too embarrassed to go see her.”

This was the first Zhang Shou had heard of it.

He blinked before bursting into laughter.

“Do you know that when you matched Lu Sanlang with Miss Liu this time, the Liu girl you picked was already the daughter-in-law Minister Lu had chosen for his family?”

“…What?”

Zhu Ying froze.

After Zhang Shou quietly explained the entire story, she became so exasperated that she repeatedly smacked herself on the forehead.

Fortunately, Zhang Shou reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist before she could continue. Though he immediately let go again, she still huffed angrily.

“That old fox Lu Wan is unbelievably crafty!”

She had thought she had successfully arranged a mutually affectionate match.

Only to discover that Lu Wan had planned it all from the very beginning.

The realization thoroughly deflated her.

Fortunately, Zhang Shou’s teasing immediately swept away her frustration.

“If you take over all this matchmaking work in the future, what will become of those professional matchmakers who spend all day visiting families and arranging marriages with nothing more than their eloquence?”

“As for Princess Deyang—since you agreed to help, she must be a fine young lady.”

“Do you have any particular requirements?”

“If not…”

“I know it sounds like a vendor praising his own wares, but both Zhang Chen and Zhang Wu are good candidates.”

Zhu Ying laughed.

“Everyone knows the melons in your garden are the sweetest!”

“News has already spread about Lu Sanlang calling Vice Minister Zhao of the Ministry of War ‘utter nonsense’ in court today.”

“And the way he explained those mathematical examples—he talked until all those elderly officials were completely bewildered. People are even discussing it in Qingning Palace.”

“They’re all saying that a worthy teacher naturally produces worthy students.”

“No wonder he’s your disciple.”

After the compliment, she frowned.

“Zhang Chen doesn’t seem suitable.”

“His status is too high. He might not be willing to marry a princess.”

“And even if he were, his father probably wouldn’t agree.”

“As for Zhang Wu…”

“He’s only a concubine’s son.”

“But that’s not really a problem.”

“He’s hardworking, has a decent personality, and wasn’t he the very first one to come see you that night at Cuiyun Pavilion?”

“How about this?”

“When you get back, quietly sound him out first…”

As Zhu Ying cheerfully described Princess Deyang’s personality and character, Zhang Shou listened with a smile, occasionally asking a question or two.

When they were almost at Vice Minister Liu’s study, he suddenly stopped.

“I almost forgot.”

“Weren’t you here to visit Fourth Miss Liu?”

“Would you like to come in with me and see Minister Lu and Vice Minister Liu?”

“Uh…”

“I’d better not.”

Zhu Ying stopped in her tracks immediately.

She was reasonably familiar with Liu Qing’s father.

But Lu Wan?

She had absolutely no desire to see that old fox.

Just as she turned to leave, another important matter suddenly came to mind.

She hurried back and glared at Zhang Shou.

“It’s all your fault for constantly changing the subject!”

“You almost made me forget the important part!”

Zhang Shou couldn’t help laughing.

Your train of thought changes every other sentence, and somehow that’s my fault?

“The emperor has decided that from now on, princes and members of the imperial clan may only choose wives from families of officials ranked seventh grade or lower.”

“And if someone’s close relatives include serving Grand Secretaries, Ministers, Vice Ministers, provincial Governors-General, Governors, or Provincial Administration Commissioners, they’re excluded too.”

“That includes relatives within five generations by blood and three generations by marriage.”

“Grand Secretary Wu is already drafting the imperial edict himself.”

“So this doesn’t count as leaking state secrets.”

“Heh.”

“That really vented my anger!”

The Second Prince had looked down on Zhang Shou for being merely a third-rank official’s future son-in-law?

From now on, the highest-ranking father-in-law any prince could have would only be a seventh-rank official.

Zhang Shou immediately understood one of the emperor’s intentions.

In some ways, the emperor truly did whatever pleased him.

At the same time, he knew that in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the standards for selecting imperial consorts would eventually become even stricter.

That greatly reduced the danger of powerful imperial in-laws dominating politics.

But it also made it nearly impossible to expect imperial consorts to properly educate their children.

He had only just revealed a faintly conflicted expression when Zhu Ying quietly launched into an astonishing theory about child brides.

She specifically noted that these had been the emperor’s own words to the Empress Dowager before adding, “So, A-Shou, if you weren’t so outstanding, His Majesty never would have thought of this.”

“But I told His Majesty that you aren’t some child groom raised by your future wife’s family.”

“You became talented by teaching yourself from Grandpa Ge’s books.”

“You’re remarkable because of your own talent, character, and integrity.”

“My father only contributed a little money.”

“And besides, your mother once helped both my mother and Consort Yu.”

“You deserved everything you’ve received.”

Zhang Shou smiled once more.

How could a girl who always stood firmly on his side, no matter the situation, not be lovable?

“Then I’ll have to become even more outstanding.”

“Otherwise…”

“Wouldn’t people laugh at your poor judgment?”

Zhu Ying stared blankly for a moment.

Then joy overflowed from her eyes.

She beamed brilliantly at him before turning and walking away with energetic strides.

Clearly, she intended to visit her close friend, who had experienced overwhelming joy, crushing despair, and then joy again, all within the span of a single day.

When Zhang Shou returned to the Liu family study, he said nothing whatsoever about the punishment of the two princes or the new marriage policy that Zhu Ying had just revealed.

Zhu Ying hid nothing from him because she trusted him.

There was no need for him to discuss such sensitive matters in front of two people who were neither relatives nor close friends.

Of course…

Had the exceptionally perceptive Lu Sanlang been present instead, he might have hinted at a thing or two.

Meanwhile, Lu Wan and Vice Minister Liu, who had just finalized another point of agreement, likewise made no mention of the fact that Zhu Ying had come to the Liu residence only to seek out Zhang Shou first.

It was as though they had completely forgotten such an important visitor had ever appeared.

Instead, they simply expressed their heartfelt gratitude for Zhang Shou’s assistance in bringing the two families together through marriage.

After exchanging several more rounds of official pleasantries, Liu Qing came out to pay her respects.

Zhang Shou then excused himself, saying he needed to return to the Imperial Academy to teach.

Vice Minister Liu insisted on escorting him out.

Lu Wan also smiled, saying it was time for him to return to the Ministry of War.

The three left together and arrived at the Liu residence’s front gate.

After bidding farewell to Vice Minister Liu, Lu Wan smiled and pointed toward the Lu family’s carriage.

Zhang Shou, however, politely declined.

“I’m heading north to the Imperial Academy.”

“Minister Lu is returning south to the Ministry of War.”

“We’re going in completely opposite directions.”

“It really isn’t on the way.”

“My own carriage has arrived.”

Following Zhang Shou’s gaze, Lu Wan noticed the famous young servant, A-Liu, sitting expressionlessly in the driver’s seat of another carriage with a box resting in his arms.

He immediately held his tongue.

Earlier, when they had returned to the Lu residence together, Zhang Shou had handed the imperial-bestowed box containing the Founding Emperor’s relics directly to A-Liu the moment he saw him.

Even after coming to the Liu residence, he had never asked for it back.

That level of trust spoke volumes.

Besides…

His son Lu Sanlang had already told him that this young servant was an expert martial artist.

Accustomed to avoiding troublesome people and troublesome matters, Minister Lu hurried away.

Zhang Shou walked over to A-Liu.

The young man jumped down from the driver’s seat, first handing him the box before helping him into the carriage.

As Zhang Shou climbed aboard, he casually asked, “Did you look inside the box?”

“No.”

A-Liu steadily helped him into the carriage.

After closing the door and taking his seat outside again, his back against the carriage, he lightly flicked the whip before adding, “I even locked it.”

Zhang Shou blinked.

Then he couldn’t help laughing.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll forget those fourteen characters?”

“You can just calculate them again.”

Faced with such an earnest reply, Zhang Shou found himself speechless.

Even so, his fingers swiftly manipulated the combination lock.

A moment later, the box clicked open.

He took out the watch inside and rubbed the winding crown on its right side before unconsciously turning it several times.

When he saw the hands begin to move, a smile spread across his face.

A mechanical watch…

And it still works?

Now that’s quality.

Next…

It was time to see what the Founding Emperor’s letter actually said.

Since the cipher for the Thousand Character Classic had been used as a transposition code…

Could the handwritten letter that the current emperor had evidently given up deciphering also be encrypted?