APSIL -Chapter 36 Looking Down on Others Like a Dog!

When Zhang Shou had disguised himself as the old master, he wore flowing robes with wide sleeves, a hemp headscarf, and black shoes. At first glance, he looked every bit the secluded sage of the mountains.

Now, however, he received his guests dressed in simple everyday clothes. His plain attire made him appear modest and unassuming.

Speaking in his own clear, youthful voice instead of the hoarse tone he’d used while posing as the old master, he smiled.

“A friend comes from afar—what a rare occasion.”

“I am Zhang Shou. Greetings, everyone.”

Whether it was the self-assuredly handsome Zhang Chen or Lu Sanlang, who had always been insecure about his appearance, both froze upon seeing Zhang Shou.

He was nothing like the rough country boy they had imagined.

He was graceful, refined, and extraordinarily handsome.

Neither of them had ever bothered to meet the man rumored to be Zhu Ying’s fiancé.

After all, in their minds, Zhu Ying was so proud that she looked down even on the capital’s most distinguished young nobles and treated princes with indifference.

Even if such an engagement truly existed, she would surely deny it outright.

How could she possibly be staying in her fiancé’s home?

That “fiancé” had to be nothing more than an excuse she’d invented to escape the turmoil of the capital.

While the two of them remained speechless in astonishment, the other visitors naturally could not.

The young scholar seated first on the left, dressed in a deep indigo gauze robe, inclined his head slightly.

“I am Tang Ming, last year’s Provincial Examination Champion of Shuntian.”

“Together with my friend, Xie Wanquan, Hall Prefect of the Imperial Academy, we’ve come to pay you an unexpected visit.”

“Please forgive the intrusion, Young Master Shou.”

Zhang Shou smiled faintly.

“Unexpected indeed.”

“Rather presumptuous, I’d say.”

Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan immediately changed expressions at his blunt response.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang exchanged looks before grinning with obvious delight.

Seeing this, Zhang Shou continued calmly.

“You two are famous scholars throughout the capital.”

“I’m merely a country youth living in an isolated village.”

“We’ve never known one another.”

“So isn’t calling this a ‘friendly visit’ rather presumptuous, Champion Tang?”

Tang Ming merely frowned.

Xie Wanquan, however, shot to his feet in anger.

“Tang Ming was simply being polite!”

“Don’t flatter yourself!”

“If you’ve never heard of us, that’s only because you’re ignorant.”

“And the reason we know you certainly isn’t because you’ve earned any honorable reputation!”

“Zhang Shou!”

“You’ve deceived people by pretending to be some hidden mountain sage!”

“You’ve tricked noble youths from the capital into gathering at Cuiyun Retreat!”

“You’ve stolen a reputation that isn’t yours!”

“Can you deny it?”

“Oh.”

“So that’s what this is about.”

Zhang Shou didn’t even blink.

His expression remained completely composed, though his voice became noticeably sharper.

“It’s hardly surprising that people living in the capital have heard that noble youths are studying at Cuiyun Retreat.”

“But how did the two of you conclude that I, Zhang Shou, deceived everyone and stole another’s reputation?”

“Do you possess eyes that see a thousand miles?”

“Or ears that hear the wind?”

He paused before speaking each word deliberately.

“Or perhaps…”

“You’ve secretly planted spies in this little village…”

“…to monitor the movements of the Zhao Duke’s daughter and all those young nobles?”

On the rooftop above the hall, Zhu Ying’s eyes lit up.

The tension in her shoulders melted away.

The corners of her lips curled upward.

What a brilliant counterattack.

Accusing someone of spying on the children of the empire’s greatest noble families…

That was no trivial charge.

Caught completely off guard, Xie Wanquan hurriedly protested.

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

Zhang Shou remained calm.

“If you haven’t planted spies…”

“Then how do two gentlemen living in the capital know every detail of what has happened in this tiny village?”

“How could you know it all so thoroughly?”

Seeing Xie Wanquan driven to the edge of a cliff in only a few exchanges, Tang Ming could no longer remain silent.

He coughed heavily.

After his junior fellow disciple reluctantly sat back down, Tang Ming looked directly at Zhang Shou.

He had traveled widely after years of diligent study.

He had met countless officials and elegant young nobles.

Yet when he faced this village youth—who had supposedly never left his tiny village—he couldn’t suppress the jealousy that rose within him upon seeing that flawless face.

Forcing those feelings down, he finally spoke.

“Young Master Zhang certainly has a silver tongue.”

“No wonder you’re so good at deceiving people.”

“But there’s an old saying…”

“‘If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place.'”

With that proverb, he lightly brushed aside the accusation of espionage.

Then he continued coldly.

“No amount of clever rhetoric can hide your theft of another’s reputation.”

“If nothing suspicious were going on…”

“Then why has the so-called old master of Gentle Breeze Hall at Cuiyun Retreat never shown his true face?”

“What is he hiding?”

Zhang Shou noticed Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang staring at him with growing uncertainty.

Smiling faintly, he replied, “Then let me ask you something, Champion Tang.”

“If I really impersonated that old master…”

“How exactly did I convince so many noble youths from the capital to come here?”

“And what do I stand to gain?”

Before Tang Ming could answer, Xie Wanquan sneered.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“You relied on that pretty face of yours…”

“To bewitch the Zhao Duke’s daughter—a woman already famous for favoring handsome men.”

“Then you used her to make yourself famous.”

“Now you dream of becoming the teacher of all those young nobles.”

“Only wastrels like Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang could possibly fall for such tricks!”

The moment Zhang Shou heard the words “you people,” everything became clear.

As expected…

I’m not the real target.

Their hostility is aimed at Zhu Ying.

On the rooftop, Zhu Ying reached exactly the same conclusion.

She clenched her fists in anger, almost punching a roof tile before stopping herself at the last instant.

Only now did she truly appreciate how wise Zhang Shou’s warning had been yesterday.

Her own impulsive efforts to spread his reputation…

Might actually have dragged him into danger.

For a brief moment, she wanted nothing more than to jump down and shoulder all the blame herself.

Then Zhang Shou’s calm voice floated up from below.

“Interesting.”

“Calling them ignorant wastrels…”

“Young Master Xie, have you mistaken Young Master Zhang and Young Master Lu for students under your authority at the Imperial Academy?”

He continued without pause.

“One comes from the family of the Duke of Qin…”

“Whose ancestors shed blood for the empire and earned a hereditary title.”

“The other is the son of Minister Lu…”

“Whose success in the examinations and distinguished service carried him all the way to Minister of War.”

His eyes settled on Xie Wanquan.

“May I ask…”

“What accomplishments do your ancestors possess?”

“You’re merely a Hall Prefect at the Imperial Academy.”

“Your studies are not yet complete.”

“Your character has yet to earn universal respect.”

“You’ve achieved nothing that benefits either officials or common people.”

“So what gives you the right to dismiss the descendants of great ministers and heroes as ignorant wastrels?”

His tone sharpened.

“How do you know they lack ambition?”

“How do you know they have no aspirations?”

“Judging people solely through prejudice…”

“Speaking recklessly without understanding them…”

“Isn’t that simply looking down on people like a dog?”

The more Zhang Chen listened, the more delighted he became.

He completely forgot that Zhang Shou might have deceived him.

He even forgot this handsome fellow might be his romantic rival.

Unable to stop himself, he blurted out, “Well said!”

“Exactly!”

“That’s how these so-called scholars always act!”

“Looking down on everyone like dogs!”

Even Lu Sanlang, who had long been accustomed to being mocked himself, felt those words strike directly at his heart.

Though he looked slow-witted, he was anything but foolish.

Remembering how the mysterious old master had tried recruiting people for Zhu Ying the previous night, and seeing these two young scholars arrive today with all their attacks aimed squarely at Zhu Ying…

He made up his mind immediately.

Who cares whether Zhang Shou is really that old master?

First, let’s deal with these two obnoxious scholars.

Grinning broadly, he called out in the same flattering tone Zhang Lu and Zhang Wu usually used.

“Brother Chen’s absolutely right.”

The fat on his cheeks even jiggled with disdain.

“You’re the ones who failed to recognize a true master…”

“Yet you mock us for sincerely seeking knowledge.”

“What a joke.”

“So what if you’re a Hall Prefect?”

“If you’re really capable…”

“Go solve ten or eight of the problems hanging outside the bamboo houses at Cuiyun Retreat.”

He folded his arms.

“Otherwise…”

“You’re the ignorant one.”

Even Zhang Shou—who had always believed Lu Sanlang to be a surprisingly clever fat fellow—felt like giving him a thumbs-up.

Perfect timing.

Sure enough…

Before Tang Ming could stop him…

The thoroughly enraged Xie Wanquan reacted exactly as expected.

“Fine!”

“I’d like to see these so-called problems!”

“If I can’t solve them…”

“I’ll acknowledge the master of Cuiyun Retreat as my teacher!”

Up on the rooftop, Zhu Ying’s foot suddenly slipped.

Had Zhu Hong not hurriedly caught her, she might have rolled right off the roof laughing.

This is too hilarious!

No…

I need to hurry back immediately…

I’ll gather a huge crowd to witness this.

Otherwise, if Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan lose…

They’ll probably refuse to admit it!