APSIL -Chapter 35 If Looks Aren’t Enough, Let the Clothes Do the Work

Although Zhang Shou had originally intended to leave Zhu Ying at Cuiyun Retreat as the stabilizing force, after borrowing her prestige the previous night and having her openly endorse him again that morning, he had to admit that his “academy for young dandies” would likely remain in a delicate state of calm for the time being.

No major trouble was likely to erupt.

So when Qi Liang arrived with news from the village, Zhu Ying insisted on accompanying him.

In the end, Zhang Shou could only leave Qi Liang behind—reluctant though he was—to “watch the house” while he quietly departed with Zhu Ying and Zhu Hong.

The hidden footpath beside Still Waters Pavilion was difficult to navigate.

For Zhu Ying—who insisted on looking flawless at all times—it was especially troublesome.

As she carefully gathered up her long skirts to avoid snagging them on the bamboo, Zhu Hong followed behind, too bound by propriety to offer her a hand.

Instead, he could only watch helplessly as his young mistress reached forward and grabbed the sleeve of Zhang Shou, who was walking ahead.

The loyal but inflexible guard was just about to stop her—thinking she was about to flirt with the handsome young scholar in front—when Zhu Ying spoke first in a warning tone.

“A-Shou…”

“You’re not allowed to turn around.”

Zhang Shou looked puzzled.

“Why?”

“This path isn’t like the broad road by the screen wall at Cuiyun Retreat.”

“It’s too narrow.”

“My skirt keeps catching on the bamboo.”

“I need to tuck it up around my waist.”

“It’ll look awful.”

“So you’re absolutely not allowed to look back.”

Her frank complaint made Zhang Shou laugh.

“If I’d known that, I’d have had you and Zhu Hong take the main road instead.”

“Those idiots all think I’m still at Still Waters Pavilion.”

“So they’ll behave themselves.”

“If they discover I’m gone, they might start causing trouble.”

“And besides…”

“Qi Liang said those people headed straight for your house.”

“They’re obviously here to make trouble for you.”

“If Zhu Hong and I leave by the main road, they’ll definitely notice us and be on guard.”

“Wouldn’t it be much better if we suddenly appeared out of nowhere and caught them completely by surprise?”

She spoke with complete confidence.

At the same time, she signaled Zhu Hong to move ahead.

Once both men were walking in front with their backs turned, she quickly gathered up part of her wide pleated skirt, tied it around her waist, tightened the trousers beneath, and carried the remaining fabric in one hand.

Immediately, her movements became far lighter and more agile.

About fifteen minutes later, the three quietly emerged from another exit in the bamboo grove.

Zhu Ying let her skirts fall back into place.

With several villagers discreetly covering for them after spotting them, they eventually reached the rear gate of the Zhang residence.

Zhang Shou pushed on the gate.

Still locked.

His eyes instinctively drifted toward the large tree he’d climbed before.

Do I have to use the same trick again?

Before he could act, Zhu Ying spoke behind him.

“Zhu Hong.”

“Climb over the wall and open the gate.”

Right…

I’d completely forgotten there was an easier way.

Patting his forehead with a smile, Zhang Shou watched Zhu Hong leap effortlessly onto the wall before dropping into the courtyard.

While waiting for the gate to be opened from inside, he lowered his voice.

“I’ll go in first.”

“You and Zhu Hong find somewhere to watch.”

“If nothing serious happens, don’t show yourselves.”

“But if you decide to play the righteous heroes and rescue me…”

“…then make a dramatic entrance through the front gate.”

Zhu Ying nearly burst into laughter.

“So now we’re reversing the usual story?”

“Normally it’s the hero saving the beauty.”

“And you’re planning to let this beauty save the hero?”

“You may be the beauty.”

“But I’m certainly no hero.”

As Zhu Hong pulled open the gate, Zhang Shou strode inside without looking back.

He simply waved over his shoulder.

“At best…”

“…it’s a true beauty saving a fake gentleman.”

“Pah!”

Watching him close the gate again after letting Zhu Hong back out, Zhu Ying clicked her tongue in mock annoyance.

Yet her eyes couldn’t hide the smile within them.

A beauty saving a gentleman…

That actually doesn’t sound bad at all.

Although Zhang Shou had been joking moments before, the instant he stepped into his own backyard, the relaxed smile gradually disappeared from his face.

He had never underestimated an opponent.

The front courtyard was strangely quiet.

There was none of the noisy commotion that had accompanied Nanny Zhao’s earlier visit.

But Zhang Shou knew perfectly well—

Noise did not necessarily mean a difficult enemy.

Silence certainly did not mean an easy one.

So the very first thing he did…

…was go back to his room to change clothes.

He washed his face.

Cleaned his hands.

Combed his hair.

He replaced his coarse headscarf with a simple bamboo hairpin.

The padded hemp robe he usually wore became an ordinary blue cotton garment, slightly worn from use.

His mud-stained thick-soled shoes were exchanged for spotless cloth shoes with layered soles.

When he had finally finished, he examined himself in the bronze mirror.

The young man reflected there remained handsome and refined.

Yet now he looked far more simple and unpretentious.

Perfect.

Just then, A-Liu’s dull voice came from outside.

“Young Master.”

“The guests wish to see you.”

Zhang Shou blinked in surprise.

He was certain Zhu Hong’s wall-climbing hadn’t alerted anyone.

His family should still think he was at Cuiyun Retreat.

Opening the door, he studied A-Liu for a long moment.

Knowing there was no point asking how A-Liu knew he’d returned, he changed the subject.

“Mother isn’t home?”

“And who exactly has come?”

“Madam took Aunt Liu and several village women to sell silk thread.”

“Only Old Liu and I are here.”

After a pause, A-Liu added evenly, “There are two scholars from the capital.”

“Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang accompanied them.”

“But they clearly dislike those two…”

“…while also being wary of them.”

“I heard them say…”

“One is last year’s top scorer in the Shuntian Provincial Examination.”

“The other is the youngest study hall director at the Imperial Academy.”

Zhang Shou couldn’t help smiling.

To deal with one country bumpkin…

They actually dispatched a provincial examination champion and the youngest supervisor from the Imperial Academy?

Most famous local scholars wouldn’t survive a lineup like that.

Even with trouble knocking at his door, he still had the leisure to entertain such ridiculous thoughts.

Chuckling, he stepped outside.

Passing A-Liu, he smiled.

“You normally keep silent all day.”

“But when it comes to gathering information…”

“…you’re astonishingly capable.”

“Exactly how many talents are you still hiding?”

He hadn’t expected an answer.

Sure enough, A-Liu simply followed behind him in silence.

After a few steps, Zhang Shou suddenly remembered something.

“When did they arrive?”

“Just now.”

A-Liu answered with only two words before adding, “When they reached the village entrance, they didn’t come straight here.”

“They first asked around about you.”

“Elder Yang deliberately arranged several small accidents to delay them.”

“That gave Qi Liang enough time to reach Cuiyun Retreat and warn you.”

“They were delayed…”

“…and ended up rather disheveled.”

“On the way here…”

“Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang even mocked them for it.”

Zhang Shou stopped in his tracks.

Turning around, he glared at A-Liu with an expression halfway between amusement and exasperation.

“Why didn’t you tell me something this important earlier?”

“If there’s anything else you’ve left out…”

“…say it now.”

“No.”

This time A-Liu returned to saying as little as possible.

“There isn’t.”

Lifting the bamboo curtain covering the rear entrance to the reception hall, Zhang Shou’s gaze swept calmly across the room.

The four visitors sat in two clearly separated groups.

Even the attendants standing behind them were distinctly different in bearing.

A perfectly measured smile spread across his face.

He noticed very clearly…

…that while he was observing them…

…they were also quietly observing him.

It was the first time both Lu Sanlang and Zhang Chen had seen Zhang Shou’s true appearance.

Both momentarily lost their composure.

Compared to them, however, the two young scholars seated opposite remained calm and collected.

Of course…

Zhang Shou preferred to believe that the Provincial Examination Champion and the Imperial Academy study hall director had already prepared themselves mentally before coming.

Otherwise…

Why would two grown men arrive dressed like peacocks competing for attention?

One wore a deep indigo robe.

The other, rich purple-brown.

Both garments were expensive gauze robes woven with intricate hidden patterns.

Their faces had been carefully powdered until they looked as smooth and pale as jade.

Even their hairpins were carved from fine jade.

So…

If your looks aren’t good enough…

You let your clothes make up the difference?

Planning to show off your scholarship…

…while quietly flaunting your wardrobe at the same time?