APSIL -Chapter 60 The Incident at the Gates of the Ge Residence

As they passed beneath one memorial archway after another, Zhang Shou listened with great interest while Zhu Ying recounted Ge Yong’s illustrious history.

Although both this teacher and his fiancée had seemingly dropped into his life from the heavens, there was no questioning the importance of having such a renowned master.

“Top Scholar of the Imperial Examination, Unmatched Sevenfold First Place. These two archways commemorate Grandpa Ge’s achievements in the imperial examinations. As far as I know, there’s never been anyone else like him. Normally, passing the provincial examination as a juren was enough to earn an archway in smaller places, but in the capital that wasn’t considered anything extraordinary. Even jinshi weren’t ordinarily allowed to erect memorial archways on city streets. Grandpa Ge was the exception.”

“Teacher for a Hundred Generations. This one honors Grandpa Ge for serving first as the Emperor’s tutor and then as the princes’ instructor, as well as his esteemed status in the Imperial Academy and academies throughout the realm. When he was about to retire, His Majesty felt he hadn’t rewarded his teacher generously enough, so he bestowed the title of Grand Preceptor and granted him this archway.”

“A Family of Literary Excellence Through the Generations. This one’s even more impressive. The Ge family has produced imperial scholars for five consecutive generations. The second generation earned his degree during the final years of the Yuan Dynasty. Dissatisfied with the state of the empire, he resigned his post and joined the founding emperor while he was still a rebel. They say it was thanks to him that the founding emperor won over the scholar-gentry. The Ge family has never been large—usually only one son each generation—so producing five generations of jinshi wasn’t easy.”

“Unmatched Eloquence. This refers to the time Grandpa Ge accompanied Emperor Ruizong on his northern campaign. A diplomat who had defected to the northern tribes returned acting all arrogant, only to be argued into coughing up blood and dying on the spot.”

“When Grandpa Ge was young, he also persuaded barbarian tribes and mountain bandits to surrender. Emperor Yingzong practically used him as a special envoy for pacification. Whenever trouble broke out anywhere, Grandpa Ge was sent to negotiate, and he never failed. He’s amazing!”

“Grandmaster of Mathematics. Only this last archway exists because Grandpa Ge shamelessly pestered several of his disciples until they arranged it for him. He said he didn’t really care about the other archways, but if he died without this one, he’d never be able to close his eyes in peace. Those disciples had all become Grand Secretaries and Ministers by then, so in the end they had no choice but to indulge him.”

As he listened to one glorious accomplishment after another, Zhang Shou couldn’t help thinking that this was practically the standard template for a transmigrator protagonist.

But when Zhu Ying finished telling the story behind the Grandmaster of Mathematics archway, the contrast with Ge Yong’s current childlike personality became too much to ignore.

“So… when he was still an official, was he really like he is now?”

There were many others visiting the archways besides their own group.

Zhang Shou deliberately avoided calling Ge Yong “Teacher,” but Zhu Ying kept referring to him as “Grandpa Ge.” She didn’t care in the slightest when people looked over at them, and hearing Zhang Shou’s question made her laugh merrily.

“They say you can tell what someone will be like at eighty from how they are at three. What do you think?”

“Grandpa Ge became the Top Scholar at nineteen. Then, because he was the eldest grandson responsible for carrying on the family line, he observed three years of mourning. After returning to public life, he casually sat for a special imperial examination and took first place again.”

“The moment he entered officialdom, he contradicted the Grand Secretary to his face and was immediately thrown out to serve as a county magistrate. He spent many years being shuffled from place to place, but everywhere he went, the common people and scholars loved him.”

“Then, once Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, he immediately promoted Grandpa Ge…”

What followed was a long list of Ge Yong’s spectacular achievements in offending people.

Zhang Shou found himself questioning reality.

With a temper like that, shouldn’t the old man have been beaten to death long ago? How did he keep rising through the ranks instead?

Around them, many scholars had quietly pricked up their ears to eavesdrop.

Quite a few of them, especially those from distant provinces unfamiliar with the capital, were equally curious.

Why had the illustrious Grand Preceptor Ge enjoyed such a smooth official career?

The next moment, Zhu Ying answered everyone’s question in one breath.

“The Ge family’s founding ancestor stubbornly refused a hereditary title from the Founding Emperor and died young instead. The Founding Emperor personally ordered him buried alongside the imperial mausoleum and left behind an imperial instruction saying that the Ge family would forever serve as guardians of learning and that every generation must be put to good use.”

“So although every member of the Ge family has been a hopeless bookworm, each one more learned than the last, they’ve all been terrible at being officials.”

“And yet every emperor has valued them highly.”

“Grandpa Ge’s father died young. His grandfather was a censor who blasted absolutely everyone. Emperor Yingzong got scolded by him back when he was still a prince. Emperor Ruizong got scolded too before he became emperor.”

“Even so, he still served all the way up to Left Chief Censor.”

Zhang Shou couldn’t help laughing.

A founding meritorious family…

Nearly every generation had only one heir…

Generations of loyal officials who belonged to no faction…

Outstanding scholarship…

And willing to criticize anyone.

How could emperors not make use of people like that?

Of course, the two emperors who had endured the Ge family’s sharp tongues before later promoting them must have been remarkably broad-minded.

Looking at the Ge residence just ahead, Zhang Shou asked one final question.

“So what official positions did our Grand Preceptor Ge actually hold?”

“Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, Chancellor of the Imperial Academy…”

Zhu Ying frowned thoughtfully before remembering.

“Oh, right! Grandpa Ge also served in the Censorate.”

“No… actually, he only held the title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief.”

“He was sent out as an imperial inspector, traveling throughout the empire on the emperor’s behalf.”

“He offended people everywhere he went and survived countless assassination attempts.”

“After he came back, he spent the rest of his career teaching the Crown Prince—who later became our current emperor.”

So that was it.

Teacher Ge had indeed served exclusively in the ranks of the upright scholar-officials.

He’d never held offices like Grand Secretary or Minister.

Otherwise, no matter which emperor he had served under over those three reigns, the entire court would probably have descended into chaos.

Zhang Shou finally understood.

His teacher possessed immense influence and disciples throughout the empire…but judging from all this, he probably had just as many enemies.

What puzzled him, however, was something else.

If previous generations of the Ge family had all been solitary, independent officials, how had Ge Yong become revered as the Teacher for a Hundred Generations?

Shouldn’t responsibilities like presiding over the metropolitan examinations have gone to Grand Secretaries and Ministers instead?

While he and Zhu Ying chatted, they finally arrived at the front gate of the Ge residence.

Earlier, near the memorial archways, Zhang Shou had noticed many scholars admiring Ge Yong’s achievements.

Now, however, there were even more people gathered here.

At first he assumed they had come seeking instruction.

Only when he drew closer did he realize that everyone was holding long scrolls.

“Grand Preceptor Ge, please read my essay! I’ve written annotations to The Mathematical Classic of Master Sun!”

“Master Ge, I’m from Jinling Academy! These are my notes on The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Arts!”

“I’ve studied all ten Mathematical Classics! I know Liu Hui’s circle-cutting method!”

None of them were actually shouting.

Each spoke politely and with restraint.

But dozens of voices speaking at once still created quite a commotion.

Even so, the gatekeeper remained perfectly composed.

He neither answered nor so much as blinked.

Behind him stood the tightly shut gates of the Ge residence.

Pasted upon them was a boldly written notice.

Those seeking instruction, look elsewhere.
Those presenting essays, do not enter this gate.

Reading the notice from across the crowd, Zhang Shou softly repeated it under his breath.

He couldn’t help recalling how Ge Yong had slipped away from Qi Liang’s home with nothing more than a note.

The feeling of déjà vu was overwhelming.

At that moment, Zhu Ying gently tugged at his sleeve.

“Grandpa Ge’s raised the white flag again.”

“He was always famous, but there were never this many people outside his house before.”

“Wait here.”

“I’ll go ask the gatekeeper.”

“If Grandpa Ge isn’t home, he’s definitely at Grandpa Qi’s place.”

“Then I’ll take you there.”

Hearing her whisper, Zhang Shou nodded thoughtfully and was just about to agree when someone among the scholars who had been admiring the archways suddenly spoke up indignantly.

“We’ve heard all about Grand Preceptor Ge refusing to accept recommendation letters or personal introductions.”

“But if the great Grand Preceptor can take some country bumpkin with a so-called marriage arrangement to Duke Zhao’s family as his last disciple…”

“…yet won’t even glance at the essays of all the people gathered here…”

“…then isn’t he just like every other powerful noble household, valuing pedigree over talent?”

Their timing is rather precise.

They waited until we arrived at the gate.

The thought flashed through Zhang Shou’s mind.

Turning his head toward Zhu Ying, he saw the young lady lightly tapping her riding crop against her palm.

She didn’t erupt immediately.

Instead, her bright black eyes fixed unerringly on the man who had spoken.

Zhang Shou didn’t need to guess.

The young lady was about to explode.

He instinctively reached out and caught hold of her reins.

Sure enough, Zhu Ying immediately spun around, her face filled with indignation.

“The Founding Emperor personally erected an iron plaque outside the examination compound forbidding recommendation letters and private submissions, declaring that the examinations must be absolutely fair!”

“When His Majesty ascended the throne, he reaffirmed the ban!”

“These people knowingly break the law, and now they even dare slander you.”

“I’m going to teach them a proper lesson!”