APSIL -Chapter 47 The Ge Family’s New Book and a Season of Troubles

In the capital, only someone like Ge Yong—a three-dynasty elder with an age and seniority beyond ordinary people—could live such a carefree life that it made others jealous.

Even the emperor had moments when he was scolded by censors.

But this old man?

He scolded whoever he wanted.

Most officials in the court could only endure their anger in silence. If even one or two of his disciples or grand-disciples stepped forward to support him, whoever opposed him would inevitably suffer.

Most importantly, despite his advanced age, the old man was still incredibly healthy.

Ever since the emperor personally took control of government affairs, Ge Yong had completely withdrawn from politics.

He sought no power, fought with no one, and simply enjoyed eating, drinking, playing, and arguing with others over trivial matters.

His greatest hobby these days was mathematics.

A respected elder who possessed the childish temperament of a mischievous old man—who would be foolish enough to provoke him?

Therefore, after Ge Yong returned to the capital, he visited old friends everywhere and proudly announced that he had accepted a closed-door disciple who was proficient in mathematical classics.

The entire scholarly community of the capital was thrown into an uproar.

Especially those direct disciples who had already become Grand Academicians or Ministers.

They could only laugh helplessly.

As for Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan, who had been chased back in disgrace by Ge Yong, they received even more questioning afterward.

Then, when Zhu Ying openly sent the traitorous servant Zhu Yu to the Shuntian Prefecture office, the discussions became even louder.

“What about the Zhao State Duke’s future son-in-law?”

“Zhu Jing may be a military general, but his calligraphy is excellent, and his knowledge is respectable.”

“I accepted his future son-in-law as my final disciple, and he himself has no objections. What business is it of yours?”

“My disciple is mine. If I’m happy with him, that’s all that matters!”

At this moment, Ge Yong was sitting with his legs crossed, boasting to two of his few remaining old friends.

He proudly flicked a letter Zhang Shou had sent him a few days earlier.

“Look at this!”

“These problems he sent me last time—you two couldn’t solve them, could you?”

“Blue comes from indigo but surpasses it.”

“You two are just jealous because you don’t have such a good disciple!”

The two old men beside him exchanged glances and simultaneously chose to ignore the boasting Ge Yong.

Instead, they happily admired chrysanthemums and drank tea.

Only after Ge Yong impatiently knocked on the armrest did the short, plump old man finally glare at him.

“Fine, fine.”

“Your disciple is better than you, so you’re proud.”

“We lost. Are you satisfied now?”

“You clearly know that Zhao State Duke Zhu Jing is already overwhelmed with trouble, yet you still jumped into this muddy water.”

“Aren’t you afraid your own disciples will suffer because of you?”

“If they suffer, what does that have to do with me?”

“Besides, didn’t I already return from Rongshui Village?”

“I’ve already given them enough face.”

Ge Yong confidently argued.

At that moment, a young servant suddenly rushed in from outside.

He was holding two books in his hands.

When he reached Ge Yong, the child first glanced secretly at him, then walked over to the other two elders and bowed respectfully.

“Sir, Mr. Chu, Mr. Ge’s new book has been released.”

The moment these words were spoken, the three famous scholars of the current era—whether they had been chatting happily or arguing fiercely—could not help but look at each other.

Then, the short and plump Mr. Chu angrily cursed: “Good you, old Ge!”

“You published a new book and actually hid it from us?”

“What, were you trying to surprise us?”

Ge Yong himself was completely stunned.

After a long while, he angrily shouted: “Nonsense!”

“I published a new book?”

“How come even I don’t know about it?”

Faster than the two arguing old men was the tall, thin elder beside them.

He silently took the two books from the servant’s hands.

After casually flipping through a few pages, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Then, seeing that the old Ge—who was still proud of his appearance and dignity despite his age—was continuing to argue with Old Chu, the tall elder lightly coughed.

He then handed one of the books over.

“Take a look first.”

“There’s something interesting here.”

The moment Ge Yong heard this, he immediately snatched the book.

He had originally suspected that someone was using his name to deceive people.

But now curiosity overcame anger.

He quickly flipped through the pages.

Ge Yong had the ability to read ten lines at a glance and never forget anything he saw.

At first, he rapidly skimmed dozens of pages.

But then he suddenly froze.

He flipped back.

Then forward again.

He repeatedly examined the contents.

After a long while, his brows furrowed deeply in thought.

Seeing his old rival’s unusual expression, Mr. Chu immediately shamelessly snatched the book from the tall elder.

He hurriedly skimmed through it.

Then he suddenly exclaimed: “No wonder you, Old Ge, were hiding this!”

“So you were planning to drop a bombshell!”

“Before this, you kept talking about counting rods every day.”

“But look at this book!”

“You clearly used those foreign numbers from overseas to explain the mathematical classics long ago!”

Old Ge was so wronged he almost wanted to cry.

He truly had no way to explain himself.

He wanted to say that this book was not written by him.

But he had already seen the beginning.

The book contained a long, overly formal preface written by some so-called famous scholar.

He still remembered the names of the people who printed it.

They were exactly those spoiled young nobles studying at Cuiyun Pavilion.

Previously, when he taught them, they had looked completely clueless.

Yet now they had published books under his name.

How could there possibly be another explanation?

There was only one possibility.

His newly accepted closed-door disciple, Zhang Shou, had directly borrowed his reputation to publish these books.

Although Ge Yong was furious and his teeth itched with annoyance, already planning to scold this little disciple for three days and three nights the next time they met…

When the usually less irritating Old Qi sincerely praised several parts of the book, saying that some of the ideas were truly original and innovative, Ge Yong still could not help becoming proud.

“Hmph.”

“Of course!”

“The disciple I chose is naturally a mathematics genius!”

This time, Mr. Chu was genuinely shocked.

“What?”

“This book wasn’t written by you?”

“It was written by your closed-door disciple Zhang Shou?”

“Of course!”

Ge Yong lifted his chin proudly.

“I, Old Ge, have never taken credit for my students’ achievements!”

“The people who printed this are my grand-disciples.”

“Do you really think they could write something like this?”

“Obviously my disciple wrote it as a gift to his teacher, and placed it under my name.”

“Who else could it be?”

“If that’s really true, then your student does have real ability…”

“But it’s also possible he copied it from somewhere!”

Mr. Chu first praised him, then habitually criticized him.

However, before he could provoke Ge Yong’s anger, he stood up, snatched another book from Ge Yong’s hand, stuffed it into his robe, grabbed both books, and ran away.

Where was the dignity of a famous mathematics scholar?

He was gone in an instant.

Ge Yong first cursed angrily twice.

Then he snorted disdainfully.

“What’s the use of stealing them?”

“I’ll just ask Zhang Shou for the original manuscripts later!”

Qi Jingshan watched the two old men fool around and shook his head.

This time, he carefully asked Ge Yong about Zhang Shou.

After learning that the young man was handsome like an immortal descended to earth, possessed extraordinary mathematical talent, yet had spent all these years hidden away in the countryside without ever appearing in society, Qi Jingshan became even more curious.

Just as he was wondering how to convince Ge Yong to bring Zhang Shou to the capital so he could meet him…

Someone hurried in from outside again.

This time, it was Qi Manor’s chief steward, Qi An.

Before he had even steadied himself, he quickly reported the news from the Linhai Camp.

At first hearing the warning, the two old men—whose combined ages exceeded the history of the current dynasty—remained completely calm.

Ge Yong even smiled coldly.

“Has there been another major case recently?”

“Could this so-called military mutiny actually be a cover for someone silencing witnesses?”

But when Qi An spoke his next sentence, Ge Yong’s smile instantly froze.

“When the news reached His Majesty, the emperor became furious and smashed several things.”

“Then he suddenly fainted.”

“Now the Empress Dowager has ordered the city gates closed and summoned many officials into the palace.”

“It is said she has also sent people to your residence, Old Master Ge.”

“Why are they looking for me…”

“I already retired and no longer involve myself in politics…”

Although he said this, Ge Yong immediately stood up with a dark expression.

But almost the moment he straightened his back, he suddenly thought of something extremely important.

“If the capital gates are closed, the court may not immediately send troops to suppress the rebellion.”

“Although the escaped soldiers from Linhai Camp are not many…”

“But if they scatter in all directions, won’t ordinary civilians suffer?”

“And if by chance Little Yingying is staying in the countryside…”

“And the news that those spoiled noble youths are studying under Zhang Shou spreads…”

“They will definitely become targets!”

Thinking of this, Ge Yong sucked in a cold breath.

He no longer cared about saying goodbye to his old friends.

He rushed outside like the wind.

The Empress Dowager too…

She had once governed from behind the curtain for many years.

How could she choose such a method when the emperor suddenly collapsed?

Wait…

If she did not seal the city gates and summon the old ministers…

Then she would probably have to personally return to court and decisively solve the crisis.

But if that happened, once the emperor woke up, he would definitely suspect that his mother was seizing power.

Sigh…

This trouble truly came at the worst possible time.