APSIL -Chapter 28 Provocation

“Please forgive us, Sir. We were rude and disrespectful earlier.”

If Zhu Ying hadn’t been smiling as she deliberately treated him with the utmost respect, as though he were an esteemed elder and teacher…

If Zhanjin and Liuyin hadn’t been standing attentively at his side, respectfully fanning him…

If Lu Sanlang hadn’t looked absolutely ecstatic after receiving a single word of praise…

Zhang Shou was certain that the three spoiled young nobles who had barged in would never have obediently stood before him, bowing and apologizing so sincerely.

Not only would he never have been in a position to lecture Lu Sanlang, Zhang Chen, Zhang Lu, and Zhang Wu…

On the contrary, the moment his disguise was exposed, he would have been in for a world of trouble.

Chuckling softly, he said, “Those who do not know are not to blame. Since mathematics clearly isn’t your calling, the three of you may return.”

Zhang Chen’s face immediately darkened.

When he noticed Zhu Ying shooting him a vicious glare, he regretted his reckless behavior more than ever.

At that very moment, Lu Sanlang suddenly spoke.

“Sir, you can’t let them off so easily! They barged in here and spoke so arrogantly. How can they go unpunished?”

As though he hadn’t even noticed the livid expressions on the faces of Zhang Chen and the Zhang brothers, Zhang Shou calmly asked, “Oh? Then tell me, Lu Sanlang. How should they be punished?”

Ever since the old gentleman had silenced him two days earlier with the question, “What makes you think I want fame throughout the realm?” Lu Sanlang had finally realized that this was a truly lofty gentleman with no interest in wealth or reputation.

He had been racking his brains ever since, trying to persuade the old man to change his mind.

Now that the trio of spoiled young nobles had practically delivered themselves to his doorstep, how could he possibly let such a perfect opportunity slip away?

His eyes rolled once before he spoke confidently.

“This disciple loves mathematics and therefore sought instruction under you.”

“As for these three—they may be ignorant and incapable, unable to solve even a single problem—but let them copy every question they removed and failed to solve a hundred times!”

“However…”

“Our teacher believes in educating all without discrimination.”

“Why not let them remain here and receive some proper guidance as well?”

“As for tuition…”

“They can simply pay the same amount that I do.”

Zhang Shou had always known Lu Sanlang was clever.

What he hadn’t expected was that the fellow still hadn’t given up on his dream of turning him into a famous teacher with countless disciples throughout the capital.

Leaving aside the fact that his current role was that of an aloof hermit indifferent to fame…

Even his original plan had merely been to lure wealthy young nobles here with difficult mathematical problems and charge them exorbitant lodging fees.

He had never intended to open a classroom for idle aristocratic youths.

Immediately, he frowned.

“Nonsense!”

“Have I not already told you never to mention taking more disciples again?”

Yet before he could firmly refuse…

Miss Zhu smoothly took over.

“The three of them?”

She deliberately frowned with obvious disdain.

“They want to study under Sir?”

“They couldn’t solve even one problem.”

“They’re not even as capable as I am.”

The moment they had arrived, Zhang Lu and Zhang Wu had been swaggering proudly.

Now they behaved with complete obedience.

Only Zhang Chen, spoiled from birth, was an exception.

Already provoked by Lu Sanlang…

Then rejected outright by the old gentleman whom even Zhu Ying respected…

And finally looked down upon by Zhu Ying herself…

The hesitation in his heart exploded into anger.

“If Lu Pighead can learn it, why can’t I?”

“I’ll even pay Zhang Lu’s and Zhang Wu’s tuition as well!”

“Sir, don’t let that fat pig fool you!”

“Nobody knows what’s inside his head better than I do!”

“Compared to that mountain of fat he’s carrying around, I’ve studied under my father ever since I was little.”

“My foundation is far better than his!”

Afraid Zhang Shou might reject him again, Zhu Ying immediately added, “Sir rarely accepts disciples.”

“He never even charges tuition.”

“It was only because Lu Sanlang shamelessly insisted on staying and stubbornly forced tuition upon him that Sir reluctantly accepted him to observe his future conduct.”

“If you’re willing to pay the same tuition as Lu Sanlang, then fine.”

“If not…”

“Forget about it.”

Zhang Chen was overjoyed.

“I am!”

“Of course I’m willing!”

Only then did Lu Sanlang sneer lazily.

“Joining under Sir isn’t that simple.”

“Studying is one matter.”

“But staying here isn’t free.”

This time Zhang Chen couldn’t hold back.

“These drafty bamboo huts cost money?”

Looking reverently toward Zhang Shou, Lu Sanlang replied with complete seriousness.

“Sir is a man of noble character.”

“How could he care about money?”

Seeing the almost fanatical admiration on Lu Sanlang’s face, Zhang Shou developed a splitting headache.

Never mind the fact that the fat boy had completely immersed himself in his role…

Lu Sanlang and Zhu Ying working together like this were turning everything upside down.

Yet Lu Sanlang continued righteously.

“Sir has long established the rules.”

“Solve one problem, and you may stay one day.”

“Solve two problems, and you may stay two days.”

“And so on.”

“I’ve already solved two problems.”

“As long as I continue solving more, I can stay free of charge.”

“As for the three of you…”

He chuckled.

“If you can’t solve them…”

“Then it’ll simply be ten taels of silver per day.”

“It’s all meant to encourage you to devote yourselves wholeheartedly to learning.”

If not for the veil covering his face, Zhang Shou was certain everyone would have seen the priceless expression of someone choking to death.

A duke’s daughter…

And the son of a Minister…

The two of them are even more ruthless than I, a poor country boy who’s only trying to make a little money!

Before Zhang Chen could answer, Zhang Lu and Zhang Wu grabbed him by both arms and dragged him aside.

Lowering his voice, Zhang Lu whispered, “Brother Chen, Lu Pighead is deliberately provoking us. He’s trying to drive us away.”

“Think about it.”

“Miss Zhu clearly respects this old gentleman.”

“If Lu Pighead gets to stay here alone…”

“Won’t he have the perfect opportunity to get close to her?”

Zhang Chen’s expression changed dramatically.

Zhang Wu quickly added, “Brother Lu’s absolutely right.”

“Brother Chen, don’t fall for Lu Pighead’s tricks!”

“If even Lu Pighead can learn this stuff…”

“No…”

“If he can, then what could possibly stop you?”

As the only son of the Duke of Qin, Zhang Chen had grown up wanting for nothing.

His father never interfered in anything.

His mother indulged him in every way.

The only thing she kept under strict control…

Was women.

Even now, he only had a single gentle senior maid attending him.

And she wasn’t even his bedmaid yet.

He wasn’t allowed to touch her.

As a result, his feelings toward Zhu Ying—the acknowledged greatest beauty in the capital, famous for her fiery temper—were nothing more than rebellious defiance.

His mother had absolutely no desire to see someone like Zhu Ying become her daughter-in-law.

Thus, after his two lackeys egged him on, Zhang Chen turned around dramatically and shouted, “Fine!”

“I accept!”

“Lu Pighead!”

“With your pathetic little abilities, you think you can compete with me?”

“Just wash your neck and wait!”

Lu Sanlang grinned, revealing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“I won’t use the fact that I entered two or three days earlier to gain an advantage over you.”

“Come.”

“I’ll show you which bamboo cottages the three of you may choose from.”

“If you can’t solve the problems…”

“You can simply owe the fees for now.”

“You can repay them later.”

Watching Lu Sanlang proudly lead the way, chest puffed out, while the three young men surnamed Zhang followed behind him with gloomy faces…

Even pausing to bow respectfully toward him before leaving…

Zhang Shou couldn’t help silently mourning their fate.

He could already foresee the miserable future awaiting the trio.

Qi Liang had been astonished by Lu Sanlang’s progress.

Even Qi Liang had reluctantly admitted that, compared to himself and Deng Xiaodai, Lu Sanlang possessed even greater natural talent for mathematics.

Those two hundred problems…

He probably wouldn’t need more than a few days before he understood them all by analogy.

After all…

They were little more than elementary-school word problems.

Unless every spoiled noble youth in the capital turned out to be an unparalleled mathematical genius…

Zhang Chen and his companions were only staying here to suffer.

Just then, Zhang Shou heard an odd series of thump, thump sounds.

Turning around, he found Zhu Ying sitting on the bamboo couch, pounding its smooth surface repeatedly with her tiny fists.

“If they hadn’t left just now, I really wouldn’t have been able to hold it in any longer!”

“Oh…”

“My stomach hurts from laughing!”

“I’d love to see the expressions on their faces when they eventually discover that you’re the old gentleman!”

“Lu Pighead thinks he’s so clever…”

“And Zhang Chen’s group are even more hopelessly stupid.”

“No wonder Father always says that the noble youths of today are worse than one generation before.”

Ever since meeting Zhu Ying, Zhang Shou had discovered that she was always like this.

She spoke whatever came into her mind.

She laughed whenever she wanted.

Bright.

Lively.

Completely carefree.

His mood had been somewhat gloomy moments earlier.

Now he couldn’t help smiling.

“In troubled times, heroes emerge.”

“In peaceful times, spoiled young masters flourish.”

“That’s simply how the world works.”

“But if this continues…”

“Won’t Cuiyun Retreat eventually become a classroom for idle aristocrats?”

“We already have four students.”

“So what if it does?”

Zhu Ying sat upright, wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, and still looked dazzlingly beautiful.

“In the future, whenever those swaggering young nobles from the capital see you…”

“They’ll all have to bow respectfully and address you as Sir.”

“The more I think about it…”

“The more perfect it sounds.”

She pictured the scene in her mind.

A refined, elegant young gentleman standing amid a bamboo grove…

Followed by a crowd of pot-bellied, self-important noble disciples.

It was rather amusing.

Just as Lu Pighead had said…

Those old ministers at court all looked down on everyone else.

If Zhang Shou climbed the official ladder step by step…

The graceful, almost immortal elegance he possessed now would gradually be worn away by reality.

Just imagining it felt disappointing.

Rather than becoming a high-ranking official second only to the emperor…

Wouldn’t it be better to become a revered teacher like that certain old master she admired?

Yes!

As long as the idle young nobles of the capital learned that Zhu Ying herself deeply respected a mysterious hermit living here…

They would surely come flocking here in droves.

Thinking of that, she smiled brilliantly at Zhang Shou.

“A-Shou…”

“Don’t worry.”

“In the future…”

“Even more people will be calling you Sir.”

Looking at the confident young lady before him, Zhang Shou suddenly developed a very bad feeling.

His original, simple plan to fleece a few wealthy sheep…

Had already been twisted completely out of shape.

Now…

Just what else was Zhu Ying planning?