APSIL -Chapter 45 Bad News Before the Birthday

Lu Sanlang happily copied the textbooks and exercise books, then became completely immersed in the increasingly complex mathematical system.

Soon, he finally experienced the true meaning of the “sea of problems” tactic that had once driven Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai to the brink of despair.

Zhang Chen began deeply reflecting on his past decision of “accomplishing things and leaving without a trace, hiding his achievements and reputation.”

Why had the matter leaked?

Would it bring enemies or harm to his father and family?

And how should he become an excellent Qin State Duke with true influence in the future?

As for the book Zhang Shou gave him—supposedly the secret teachings of the Ge School regarding the conduct of nobles—he claimed he would not read it, but in reality, he kept it hidden in his sleeve and secretly glanced at it from time to time.

The useless young masters who had no particular talents received various rare manuscripts on algebra and geometry.

Some had the second volume, some had the third. After exchanging and combining them, they managed to assemble several complete sets.

They then decided to find a printing workshop and have the books engraved and distributed, spreading the fame of their grandmaster, Mr. Ge.

Naturally, this business was taken over by Lu Sanlang without hesitation.

He even promised that the name of the person who printed the books would be written on them.

As for Zhang Shou…

The young masters reluctantly admitting him as their teacher was one thing.

Voluntarily helping spread his reputation was another.

Whether his engagement with Zhu Ying was real or not was still something they were holding onto a grudge about!

Of course, although staying behind would certainly bring limited benefits, they still did not want to leave.

After all, as descendants of the Ge School, they had to stay with their teacher for a while longer.

Therefore, among the six people who had spoken privately with Zhang Shou that night and had seen his true identity without feeling deceived at all, they considered themselves the most extraordinary group in Cuiyun Pavilion.

Especially Zhang Wu.

He had been the first person to visit Zhang Shou that night, and his feeling of “everyone else is drunk while I alone am awake” was especially strong.

So much so that he abandoned the position of Zhang Chen’s follower—a role he once considered incredibly desirable.

When Qi Liang was sent away by Zhang Shou to participate in the prefectural examination, Zhang Wu wished he could replace him.

Therefore, even though he initially could not understand the business plans Zhang Shou gave him, he still desperately tried to study them.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shou himself became much more relaxed.

Over these three years, since he could not leave the village, he had studied agriculture, improved the villagers’ food, taught children, and whenever he had free time, copied down books whose contents he still remembered.

After all, he had never been certain how long this extraordinary memory ability granted by transmigration would last.

Now, after distributing a pile of books like handing out beginner reward packages, he irresponsibly announced:

“For now, I won’t hold large classes. Everyone should read the books first. If you don’t understand something, ask me.”

As for himself, since Zhu Ying had requested two horses from the Zhao State Duke Manor, he simply borrowed one to practice riding.

The horse was extremely docile.

After several days, he was already able to ride slowly without any problems.

The peaceful days passed one after another.

The weather gradually became colder.

The village houses were almost fully renovated.

The large number of bamboo houses in Cuiyun Pavilion, which originally emphasized elegance but had poor insulation and heating, had also been completely transformed after the young masters hired villagers to help.

From the outside, they still looked like bamboo houses.

But inside…

The differences in wealth between the various families were now fully displayed.

The most luxurious Qingfeng Xulai Hall naturally remained empty.

It was only opened during lessons.

During the day, Zhang Shou would go there to answer questions, and every evening he would return to the Zhang family residence as usual.

That day was August 14th.

In the past, Zhang Shou would not have felt anything special about the next day.

But this time, sitting alone inside Qingfeng Xulai Hall without his most familiar student Qi Liang, he unconsciously began thinking.

“Born in the same year, same month, same day…”

“That means Zhu Ying and I have the same birthday? Speaking of which, does the old madam of the Zhao State Duke Manor really have such a big heart? Her granddaughter’s birthday is coming, yet she doesn’t even bring her back?”

“And Zhu Yu has already been sent to the Shuntian Prefecture court for half a month. Why haven’t I heard anything about it?”

“A-Shou!”

Following this cheerful voice, Zhang Shou looked up.

A figure happily lifted the bamboo curtain and walked in.

In this countryside where the chill had already deepened, she wore a bright orange-red dress.

Against her snow-white skin, she looked as if she had brought both sunlight and warmth into this room filled with green bamboo decorations and coolness.

“Oh? The honored guest of our Rongshui Village has arrived!”

Zhang Shou smiled and joked.

But it was also the truth.

Ever since the day Ge Yong left, Zhu Ying rarely came to Cuiyun Pavilion.

Most of her time was spent wandering around the village.

She had supervised children reciting poems and multiplication songs, rewarding the winners with stationery and clothing.

After generously lending the first one hundred taels of silver, she later lent another five hundred taels for the second phase.

She had even visited the silkworm rooms and weaving workshops without showing the slightest disgust toward the dirty environment.

In short…

Young Miss Zhu had now become the most popular honored guest in Rongshui Village.

Zhu Ying gave a small snort and ignored his teasing.

After entering, she looked around and smiled.

“These fellows actually spent so much money renovating Qingfeng Xulai Hall. They really spared no effort to please Grandpa Ge!”

“Heh, anyway, during the renovation period I was staying at Shuibo Wuxing Pavilion. As long as they were happy.”

While saying this, Zhang Shou thought to himself:

He would absolutely never tell them that Ge Yong’s period of living here as a hidden hermit had actually been a complete tragedy.

Zhu Ying only casually commented on it.

As someone with a good eye for gardens and architecture, she naturally looked down on the taste of those spoiled young masters.

In fact, even for Cuiyun Pavilion, the only thing she truly liked was the panda screen wall outside.

The bamboo houses inside were only something she appreciated because of Zhang Shou.

Now that certain truths had been revealed, every time she thought about the origin of these bamboo houses, she found it amusing.

After laughing, she directly said: “A-Shou, tomorrow is our birthday. Grandmother sent over longevity noodles!”

“There are some for me and some for you. She also sent longevity peaches.”

“Sixteen each. They are about the size of a thumb, crystal clear, and very cute!”

Although Zhang Shou had already vaguely guessed it, he was still surprised.

“On such an important day, the old madam really didn’t ask you to return?”

“Sixteen years old isn’t some major occasion.”

“More than a month ago, didn’t I already say I was turning sixteen?”

She spoke confidently and naturally.

Yet a trace of anxiety appeared in Zhu Ying’s eyes.

“Zhu Yu has been sent back for so many days, but the Shuntian Prefecture court still hasn’t sent any news.”

“Everything is completely silent.”

“When I asked about Father, Grandmother only gave me two words: ‘deadlocked.’”

“When I asked about my elder brother, I only got two words: ‘missing.’”

“It’s driving me crazy!”

No matter how cheerful Zhu Ying appeared, deep down she still could not let everything go.

Zhang Shou remained silent for a moment before softly saying: “Sometimes, no news may not necessarily be bad news.”

“I once heard you say to Zhu Gongquan inside the carriage that your father might not have truly suffered defeat, and your brother might still return after achieving merit.”

“So think positively.”

“Tomorrow, release a lotus lantern and make a wish.”

“You actually believe in that?”

Zhu Ying finally laughed again.

“I stopped believing in releasing lanterns and making wishes when I was nine.”

“Because someone deliberately stepped on my lotus lantern before I even put it into the water.”

“Then she mocked me, saying I would have bad luck for the entire next year.”

“So I got angry and directly threw a stone and smashed her lotus lantern.”

“If I was going to have bad luck, then she could accompany me!”

Zhang Shou wiped his sweat.

“Who would be foolish enough to provoke you?”

“Who else could it be? Princess Yongping!”

“She thinks being a princess means she can bully me.”

“But Grandmother and His Majesty often helped me, so she could only use underhanded tricks.”

“I get along well with the other princesses.”

“Only she is the most annoying.”

“She always acts weak and delicate, and many of the bad things people say about me came from her spreading rumors!”

Zhang Shou was curious about palace matters, but he knew this was not the right time to ask further.

So he coughed heavily and changed the topic.

“If you don’t believe in it, then don’t release one.”

“My mother likes these things.”

“Every year on my birthday she releases lanterns and keeps saying she hopes I live to a hundred.”

“Personally, I’m not very interested…”

“It’s still fun if you treat it as a game.”

Zhu Ying’s eyes turned mischievous.

“In previous years, I always released lanterns with someone annoying like Princess Yongping.”

“This year I’ll do it with you. How can that compare?”

“But I’ve already seen all kinds of beautiful lotus lanterns from the palace.”

“They’re boring.”

“I think we should make our own lanterns using bamboo tubes. That would be much more interesting!”

Zhang Shou had originally been wondering how to make lotus lanterns.

Hearing Zhu Ying lower the difficulty herself, he immediately agreed.

However, after escorting the delighted Zhu Ying out of Qingfeng Xulai Hall, he saw Zhu Hong pacing back and forth at the entrance.

Clearly, he had already been waiting for quite some time.

When he saw Zhang Shou coming out together with Zhu Ying, he hesitated before approaching.

“Miss, Young Master Shou.”

After solemnly saluting, he spoke in a heavy voice: “Something has happened.”

“The coastal camp under the Tianjin Guard Maritime Patrol Division has suffered a military revolt.”

“Twelve officers have been killed.”

“Although the Zhenhai Camp dispatched troops and suppressed the rebellion, roughly a hundred soldiers escaped.”

“It is said that some of the rebels are heading directly toward the capital.”

“The outskirts of Beijing may no longer be safe.”

“Miss and Young Master Shou should immediately return to the capital to avoid danger.”

Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying almost simultaneously thought of the same thing.

This was getting ridiculous.

What would fall from the sky next?

A group of rebel soldiers had fallen from the sky this time…