APSIL -Chapter 186 Then You Owe Me a Beauty!

When Zhang Shou stepped into the Half-Mountain Hall, he was greeted by row after row of faces that looked ready to die.

Not merely gloomy—they looked utterly devoid of the will to live.

Only a handful of students were still stubbornly scribbling away with their brushes, muttering calculations while counting on their fingers. Zhang Shou had to cough several times before he finally drew part of the room’s attention.

The slowest to react was Zhang Chen, who stood at the front of the room clutching a ruler and glaring fiercely at everyone.

When he finally turned and saw that Zhang Shou had returned, he couldn’t even wipe the intimidating expression off his face in time.

“Something came up last night, so I stayed at the Lu residence,” Zhang Shou explained as he walked toward the lectern. “Then, unexpectedly, I was summoned to court together with Lu Sanlang early this morning, so I didn’t have time to let everyone know. That’s why I missed half a day’s lesson.”

Seeing Zhang Chen hurriedly trying to vacate the teacher’s seat, Zhang Shou suddenly quickened his pace, grabbed him by the arm, and smiled.

“I didn’t expect you to be this capable.”

Turning toward the rows of wooden boards behind the lectern, now densely covered in freshly written problems, Zhang Shou chuckled.

“These are the very arithmetic exercises I taught Zhang Chen and the others back when we were studying The Ten Mathematical Classics together at Cuiyun Retreat in Rongshui Village outside the capital.”

“Of course, there were so many problems back then that most of them probably don’t remember everything anymore, so making mistakes is perfectly normal.”

“And it’s equally normal that the rest of you couldn’t solve them.”

“After all, Half-Mountain Hall’s required subjects have always been history and natural studies—not mathematics.”

“But today, Zhang Chen gave everyone so many questions, and yet not a single person managed to solve five of them and stride proudly out the door to enjoy a half-day holiday.”

“So I have no choice but to say a few words.”

He paused before speaking slowly and deliberately.

“If you govern a prefecture, you must know how much land there is, how many people live there, how much tax is collected, how many postal roads there are, and how many bridges and irrigation canals exist.”

“If you command an army, you must know how many soldiers serve under you, how many horses you possess, and how much equipment you have.”

“If you manage a great household, you must know how many servants there are, your monthly income, and your expenditures.”

“So a solid grasp of mathematics is fundamental.”

“Otherwise, a local magistrate will be manipulated by his clerks.”

“A general will be controlled by his subordinates.”

“A household master will be deceived by his servants.”

“Even if many of you never actually enter official service, I doubt any of you would enjoy being played like fools by a handful of servants.”

“So beginning tomorrow, every other day’s Natural Studies class will be replaced by mathematics.”

“We won’t focus on complicated theories. We’ll focus on practical applications.”

At that point, smiling, Zhang Shou recounted Lu Sanlang’s “remarkable adventure” from the previous night before briefly describing what had happened at that morning’s court session.

The reaction was spectacular.

The Third Prince and Fourth Prince were still too young to understand much beyond the fact that the Second Prince had tried to bully someone and ended up thoroughly crushed.

Everyone else, however, already knew bits and pieces of what had happened the previous evening. Hearing the complete story left them utterly stunned.

Lu Sanlang?

The same Lu Sanlang whose reputation had always been terrible?

Not only had he managed to marry the beautiful youngest daughter of Vice Minister Liu—

The Emperor had personally rewarded him.

He had even promised to bestow a courtesy name upon him when he married.

Most importantly…

Lu Sanlang had openly stood against the Second Prince—

And won.

If reforming themselves could earn them both a beautiful wife and imperial favor…

They would gladly turn over a new leaf too.

Wasn’t that exactly why they’d returned to Half-Mountain Hall to become diligent Imperial Academy students in the first place?

Especially those noble youths who had once studied at Cuiyun Retreat and had been acknowledged by Ge Yong as his grand-disciples.

They immediately remembered the promises Zhang Shou had once made.

Back then, they’d believed Zhang Shou to be Duke Zhao Manor’s trusted adviser, recruiting talented young men on Zhu Ying’s behalf.

That night, Zhang Wu and several others had all received hints that Zhang Shou could help arrange suitable marriages for them.

Now that Lu Sanlang had enjoyed such astonishing fortune…

Who could say Zhang Shou hadn’t been quietly guiding everything from behind the scenes?

Thus, when Zhang Wu became the first to stand up and solemnly express his support for changing the class schedule, Zhang Chen finally realized what was happening and immediately joined him.

In the enormous Half-Mountain Hall…

Not a single dissenting voice remained.

Everyone silently accepted the temporary curriculum change.

Even when Zhang Shou dismissed class early, many students didn’t leave.

Instead, they crowded around him, eagerly asking for details about the morning court session.

Naturally, Zhang Shou had no intention of boasting.

He casually brushed them off, telling them to ask Lu Sanlang instead.

Then he called Zhang Chen and left.

Rather than returning to the instructors’ office, Zhang Shou brought Zhang Chen to his own quarters.

The room was clean and orderly.

A woven insulated basket sat atop the central table.

Opening it, Zhang Shou found a pot of still-warm tea inside.

A-Liu had clearly stopped by.

Taking two teacups from the nearby tray, Zhang Shou poured one and handed it to Zhang Chen.

The young man froze briefly before hastily accepting it.

As Zhang Shou poured himself another cup, he asked casually, “You did well establishing your authority as dormitory head today.”

“But weren’t you worried that acting so forcefully would earn you plenty of enemies?”

Then he suddenly changed subjects.

“Lu Sanlang is already engaged.”

“What about you?”

“The number of people who dislike me is already beyond counting.”

“I don’t have time to worry about one or two more.”

Zhang Chen answered the first question confidently enough.

But when he heard the second…

His expression immediately grew complicated.

After all…

Lu Sanlang had already proven through his own actions that although he’d originally pursued Zhu Ying only for appearances…

Zhang Chen himself had genuinely admired the eldest daughter of Duke Zhao Manor.

Even now…

Whenever Zhu Ying appeared…

She still dazzled him.

After hesitating for a long while, he snorted.

“My father isn’t in a hurry.”

“So why should I be?”

Duke Qin Zhang Chuan…

During that morning’s court session, Zhang Shou had specifically looked over the ranks of the hereditary nobles.

He vaguely remembered seeing such a person.

A civil-official noble whose father had been one of Emperor Ruizong’s greatest strategists.

But the man himself…

Was astonishingly low-profile.

Almost so ordinary that nothing about him stood out.

Keeping that thought to himself, Zhang Shou said calmly, “Yingying has recently become rather enthusiastic about matchmaking.”

“After helping Lu Sanlang, she now wants to help some of the young men who studied at Cuiyun Retreat as well.”

“So, if you’re really not in a hurry, then whenever you hear that someone has a girl they fancy, let me know.”

“If it’s suitable, Yingying can help.”

“I asked you here precisely because of this.”

“As dormitory head, pay attention.”

Zhang Chen was dumbfounded.

Managing Half-Mountain Hall wasn’t enough?

Now he was supposed to keep track of everyone else’s marriages too?

But Zhang Shou’s next words unexpectedly moved him.

“After all, there are far too many people in Half-Mountain Hall who, like Lu Sanlang, weren’t valued much by their families.”

“Rather than allowing their relatives to arrange unsuitable marriages—whether for political advantage, neglect, or simple suppression—and leaving them resentful for the rest of their lives, or driving them to make foolish decisions in a moment of frustration…”

“…it’s better to try helping them first.”

Hearing such heartfelt words…

Zhang Chen finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

“The truth is…”

“My father…”

“Even though I’m his only son…”

“I’ve always felt he doesn’t really care about me.”

“Even someone like Zheng Huaien shamelessly begged his family to seek Zhu Ying’s hand from Duke Zhao Manor.”

“But my father never once considered anything like that.”

“He never cares what I’m thinking!”

With a loud bang, he slammed his fist onto the table.

The tea cups rattled noisily.

“He doesn’t even care who I want to marry!”

He laughed bitterly.

“Do you know something, Teacher?”

“Lady Zhao spent years living away from home, and Duke Zhao himself once had unofficial concubines.”

“My father, though, has only my mother.”

“He doesn’t even have a single concubine.”

“But that’s not because he and my mother are deeply in love.”

“It’s because…”

“He simply doesn’t care about women.”

“Beautiful women…”

“Ugly women…”

“They’re all exactly the same in his eyes.”

“The only thing he ever sees…”

“…is the ever-growing mountain of books in our house.”

“His eyes have never left them.”

“So when I was little…”

“I swore to myself…”

“I’d marry the most beautiful woman under heaven.”

“I refuse to believe he could remain such a rigid scholar that he wouldn’t even look at her once!”

Zhang Shou felt sweat forming on his forehead.

What kind of logic is that?

You want to marry a beautiful wife… just to make your father jealous?

Perhaps because he’d never spoken these thoughts aloud before…

Once the floodgates opened, Zhang Chen couldn’t stop himself.

Without even thinking, another sentence burst out.

“Teacher…”

“Since you stole Yingying away…”

“…you owe me a beautiful woman!”

Zhang Shou stared at him for a long moment.

Then said lazily, “Repeat that.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Zhang Chen had already realized he’d made a terrible mistake.

Hearing Zhang Shou’s calm tone only made his heart skip a beat.

Yet his pride wouldn’t let him back down.

“Teacher, you already solved Lu Sanlang’s lifelong problem.”

“You can’t play favorites.”

“My father isn’t rushing me into marriage, and neither am I.”

“But when I do marry…”

“My wife must be a peerless beauty with both talent and looks!”

“You’ve certainly got lofty dreams.”

Zhang Shou laughed.

“And what if that talented beauty doesn’t suit your personality?”

“What if the two of you simply can’t get along?”

“The Book of Songs, in ‘Shuo Ren’ from the Airs of Wei, praised Lady Zhuang Jiang as a woman of incomparable beauty.”

“They also say she was gifted in both poetry and literature.”

“So how did her marriage with Duke Zhuang of Wei turn out?”

“They still became a miserable couple.”

“That was because Duke Zhuang was cruel and unworthy!”

Zhang Chen slapped the table.

“Someone as beautiful and talented as Lady Zhuang Jiang was every man’s dream.”

“Only a fool would cast her aside!”

Then, before thinking, he blurted out, “For example, Teacher.”

“If someone as breathtaking as Miss Zhu truly loved you…”

“Wouldn’t you be moved?”

The brat actually dares use me as an example?

Without hesitation, Zhang Shou flicked him sharply on the forehead.

Clutching his head, Zhang Chen hurriedly jumped backward, glaring indignantly.

For a brief moment, Zhang Shou almost replied—

Back then, I wasn’t moved…

But after thinking about the lively, radiant girl who had gradually become an inseparable part of his life…

He found he couldn’t honestly say that anymore.

Instead, he smiled faintly.

“If you’re determined to marry a beauty, you should at least have someone in mind.”

“Otherwise, how can the two of you even meet?”

“When both man and woman are interested in each other, that’s when matchmaking works.”

“Otherwise, if it’s merely an arranged marriage, and after lifting the bridal veil you’re delighted while she’s disappointed…”

“Wouldn’t that simply become another unhappy marriage?”

“Since you’ve taken Miss Zhu…”

“I…”

“I’ll marry Princess Yongping!”

Inspired by a sudden flash of brilliance, Zhang Chen immediately thought of Princess Yongping—the other famed beauty often mentioned alongside Zhu Ying, equally renowned for both talent and appearance.

Seeing that Zhang Shou wasn’t shocked at all, but instead looked him up and down with an exceedingly strange expression, Zhang Chen grew embarrassed and angry.

“I’ll inherit the title of Duke Qin one day!”

“What part of me isn’t worthy of her?”

Remembering Princess Yongping’s literary gathering at Moonlight Pavilion, Zhang Shou simply chuckled.

“Can you write the eight-legged essay?”