APSIL -Chapter 33 Borrowing the Tiger’s Might

The meal A-Liu had brought into Still Waters Pavilion had all been left for Qi Liang.

As for Zhang Shou…

He certainly wasn’t going to let himself go hungry.

Now that so many young nobles had gathered at Cuiyun Retreat to study, a separate bamboo cottage had been converted into a small kitchen.

Every noble youth had brought attendants from home, and among them was always at least one capable cook whose daily duty was to prepare exquisite dishes and deliver them to Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying.

They weren’t really trying to curry favor with their teacher.

The real person they wished to please was Miss Zhu, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhao.

That evening, after Qi Liang quietly returned home carrying the empty food box, Zhanjin entered Still Waters Pavilion as usual with a large three-tiered food carrier.

“Today’s cook showed up with a black eye and a swollen face.”

“It looked like he got into a fight just to deliver this meal.”

She smiled mischievously.

“He secretly slipped me a jade pendant and begged me to tell Master that his young master would be coming later.”

As Liuyin unpacked dishes one by one onto the small table, Zhang Shou smiled.

“And which young master does he serve?”

Zhanjin burst into laughter.

“There are so many cooks.”

“If he’d come looking like usual, I might have recognized him.”

“But he’d been beaten into a pig’s head.”

“How was I supposed to know who he belonged to?”

“So you picked up a jade pendant for free?”

Zhu Ying laughed until she nearly doubled over.

“You’re such a wicked girl!”

“It’s not even worth much.”

Zhanjin spread the pendant across her palm before Zhang Shou with obvious disdain.

“Master, look at the quality.”

Watching mistress and maid banter while deliberately dragging him into the conversation, Zhang Shou could only laugh helplessly.

At that moment, Liuyin gently pushed Zhanjin aside before placing a small dish in front of him.

It contained braised pig’s trotters—the one dish he had happened to eat a little more enthusiastically than the others the day before.

Seeing her prepare to serve him personally, Zhang Shou quickly raised both hands in surrender.

“No need.”

He finished dinner as quickly as possible while keeping his eyes resolutely fixed on his own bowl.

Just as he began wondering how to tactfully hint that Zhu Ying and her two maids should head back…

The young lady suddenly stood up.

Smiling triumphantly, she said, “They originally came here because of me.”

“But if they sneak over to seek your advice and I happen to catch them…”

“It wouldn’t just be their pride they’d lose.”

“They’d lose all their dignity.”

“I’ll have Zhu Hong or Zhu Yu secretly keep watch nearby in case anything happens.”

“As for me…”

She waved cheerfully.

“I’ll take Zhanjin and Liuyin back first.”

“Tomorrow I’ll come ask exactly what wonderful advice you gave everyone.”

Seeing her leave as decisively as she had arrived, Zhang Shou smiled.

“You aren’t worried I’ll borrow your authority to accomplish my own goals?”

“That’d be perfectly fine!”

Zhu Ying’s eyes curved into crescents.

“I used your name to lure everyone here in the first place.”

“If you use mine to deal with them now…”

“Then at least I won’t have caused trouble.”

After Zhanjin and Liuyin packed away the empty dishes, the three of them departed without the slightest hesitation.

Watching them go, Zhang Shou couldn’t help admiring their straightforward personalities.

Then he laughed bitterly to himself.

Earlier today…

When he’d spoken of people possessing nothing at all…

He had actually been referring to himself.

Yet the young lady hadn’t realized it in the slightest.

Not long after Zhu Ying left, Zhang Shou paced slowly around the room to aid his digestion.

Soon, he heard faint rustling outside.

Then came an extremely cautious voice.

“Old Master…”

“May I come in?”

It wasn’t Lu Sanlang.

Nor was it Zhang Chen.

The voice belonged to someone Zhang Shou remembered well—

Zhang Wu, the fifth illegitimate son of the Marquis of Nanyang and one of Zhang Chen’s followers.

“Come in.”

The next instant, Zhang Wu slipped inside with surprising agility.

After quickly scanning the room and confirming that Zhu Ying and her attendants were nowhere to be seen, he immediately knelt.

Getting straight to the point, he said, “Master…”

“I’ve come seeking guidance.”

Seeing that Zhang Shou wasn’t surprised in the least, Zhang Wu steadied his nerves before speaking quietly.

“I’m fifth among my brothers.”

“I’m also born of a concubine.”

“My mother died long ago.”

“My father barely remembers I exist.”

“I have almost no future.”

“The reason I’ve always followed Zhang Chen…”

“…was because I hoped he’d someday help arrange a respectable marriage for me.”

“But…”

He took a deep breath.

“Your words today woke me from a dream.”

“What good can a favorable marriage truly do for me?”

He lowered his head.

“I’ve achieved nothing in either literature or martial arts.”

“I’ve wasted sixteen years.”

“I don’t know what I can do.”

“I don’t know where my future lies.”

“Please…”

“Teach me.”

Seeing Zhang Wu prepare to kowtow heavily, Zhang Shou slapped the armrest sharply.

“Sit up straight!”

Startled, Zhang Wu immediately obeyed.

Then…

To his astonishment…

Zhang Shou removed both his bamboo hat and face veil.

The youthful, ethereal face revealed beneath left Zhang Wu’s mind completely blank.

Wasn’t this supposed to be an old master?

“If you want to accomplish something…”

“The first thing you need…”

“…is to straighten your backbone.”

“Among all the high-ranking officials serving in court today…”

“Do you think every one of them was born into nobility?”

“No.”

“Many of them were poorer than you.”

“They suffered more than you.”

“They endured greater humiliation than you.”

Without giving Zhang Wu time to react, Zhang Shou continued, “You followed Zhang Chen because you hoped someone powerful would support you.”

“And the fact that he even paid tuition for all of you proves he does care about his followers.”

“But…”

“He hasn’t even planned his own future.”

“The most he can offer you…”

“…is a decent marriage.”

“But what counts as a decent marriage?”

“And what marriage would actually suit you?”

“Do families joined by marriage never betray one another?”

“You know exactly what those great aristocratic houses in the capital are like.”

“They discard daughters whenever it’s convenient.”

“So why would they hesitate to abandon a son-in-law?”

He leaned forward.

“What you need isn’t marriage.”

“What you need…”

“…is a benefactor.”

“Someone willing to support you.”

“Someone willing to invest in you.”

“That kind of person is far more dependable than in-laws.”

“But to gain such a benefactor…”

“You must first show them everything you’re capable of.”

He smiled.

“Think carefully.”

“Do you truly possess nothing?”

“You were the very first person to come here tonight.”

“That alone means you possess more courage than everyone else.”

Zhang Wu had long since forgotten Zhang Shou’s age.

Or his identity.

Completely immersed in his words, he instinctively asked, “Master…”

“Where does one find such a benefactor?”

Zhang Shou smiled.

“Far away…”

“…yet also right before your eyes.”

Seeing Zhang Wu widen his eyes—clearly wondering whether Zhang Shou himself meant to become that benefactor—he shook his head gently.

“You’ve stood before Miss Zhu countless times.”

“Do you really believe…”

“…she isn’t such a person?”

“She comes from the highest nobility.”

“She’s upright.”

“Courageous.”

“Acts decisively.”

“The palace is as familiar to her as her own home.”

“Her connections stretch everywhere.”

“In the past…”

“People only noticed her spoiled temper because her father and brothers overshadowed everything else.”

“They never saw her strengths.”

“But…”

“You should.”

By the time Zhang Wu finally left Still Waters Pavilion after their long conversation…

His thoughts remained a complete muddle.

Then the cool night breeze struck his face.

Suddenly…

Everything became crystal clear.

Those words echoed endlessly in his ears.

His entire body trembled with excitement.

Stand on Zhu Ying’s side?

Of course!

Did he honestly believe a few rumors could ever shake the Duke of Zhao?

If that were true…

He never would have followed Zhang Chen all the way here.

Compared to the father who barely acknowledged his existence…

The Zhu family was an unimaginably stronger backing.

Normally, someone of Zhu Ying’s status stood completely beyond his reach.

Now…

Why wouldn’t he seize the opportunity?

As for that astonishingly handsome “Old Master”…

There was only one possible explanation.

He had to be the Duke of Zhao’s trusted confidant, secretly helping Zhu Ying build her own influence.

Zhang Wu’s visit was only the beginning.

Soon…

Visitors arrived one after another throughout the night.

Each brought only a single trusted attendant, who remained outside while the young master quietly entered to seek advice about his future.

When they emerged…

Some looked deeply troubled.

Others completely dazed.

Some beamed with joy.

Others radiated newfound confidence.

Those who had secretly been watching—and still hesitating over whether to seek the Old Master’s guidance—gradually joined the procession as well.

Everyone carefully staggered their arrival to avoid meeting the previous visitor.

That made life miserable for the attendants standing watch outside.

Each had to judge precisely when to escort his young master forward, hoping to secure the next available opportunity to enter Still Waters Pavilion.

By the time dawn painted the eastern sky pale white…

Zhang Shou, who had spent the entire night acting as everyone’s personal counselor without closing his eyes once…

Finally watched Zhang Chen leave as the last visitor.

He immediately yawned several times in succession.

The night’s guests had ultimately fallen into three distinct categories.

The first consisted of people like Zhang Wu.

Their family backgrounds were mediocre.

They had been ignored by their households.

They felt confused about the future.

Yet…

They still possessed determination.

Awareness.

And genuine ability.

To these people…

Zhang Shou revealed his true face and quietly recruited them on Zhu Ying’s behalf.

With only a little guidance…

A few opportunities…

And some support…

Such people could someday stand on their own.

They were talents worth cultivating.

The second group consisted of people like Zhang Chen.

Proud.

Arrogant.

Ambitious beyond their actual abilities.

To them…

Zhang Shou fed a generous helping of political survival strategies, profound-sounding life philosophy, and motivational encouragement.

After making himself appear wonderfully mysterious…

He simply sent them away.

Fortunately…

Among all the young nobles who had chased Zhu Ying here…

There were only two of this type, Zhang Chen included.

The third group consisted of people like Lu Sanlang.

People who sincerely believed…

“Heaven gave me talent for a reason.”

And…

They actually possessed genuine ability.

These people were likewise recruited on Zhu Ying’s behalf.

However…

He never revealed his true appearance to them.

People who were too clever weren’t nearly as easy to intimidate…

Or fool.

Stretching lazily, Zhang Shou glanced up toward the roof.

Then he suddenly asked, “I remember Miss Zhu saying she’d send someone to watch over this place tonight.”

“Is anyone still on the roof…”

“…or outside?”

Silence lingered for quite some time.

Eventually…

Zhu Hong’s familiar, hesitant voice drifted down.

“Young Master Shou…”

“Do you need something?”

Zhang Shou chuckled.

“Nothing.”

“But since you’re here…”

“Go back.”

“Tell Miss Zhu everything you saw and heard tonight.”

He smiled mischievously.

“Tell her…”

“I recruited quite a number of people under her name before asking for permission.”

“If she’s angry…”

“…she’s welcome to come settle the score with me.”