APSIL -Chapter 61 I Was Just Passing By…

The more time Zhang Shou spent with Zhu Ying, the more he realized that the young lady was far from merely impulsive or headstrong. Every time she flew into a rage, she always had a reason—just like the righteous argument she was making now.

Yet instead of releasing the reins he was holding, Zhang Shou tightened his grip, forcing Zhu Ying to guide her horse a step closer with a displeased expression.

“Insulting me is a trivial matter. Violating an imperial prohibition is not. So insulting me is understandable, but having so many people gather outside my teacher’s residence, knowingly breaking the law and refusing to leave—that isn’t.”

He smiled faintly.

“Have you considered that perhaps every single one of these people crowding the entrance with essays, claiming to seek instruction and apprenticeship—including those scholars who were admiring the memorial arches with us just now—might not possess any official degree at all?”

“You mean…” Zhu Ying froze before her brows shot upward. “They knew about the prohibition, so they deliberately gathered a bunch of people who never intend to sit the imperial examinations? They came to seek a teacher only to disgust people?”

“Exactly.”

She clenched her whip.

“So they found a crowd of people who don’t care about the examination ban just to make trouble!”

“They’re using me as a pretext,” Zhang Shou replied with a chuckle. “And I believe these people are anything but ordinary. They’re probably all genuine mathematical prodigies someone painstakingly gathered from who knows where.”

“That’s impossible!” Zhu Ying’s eyes widened. “Those heavenly books are torture! Aside from Lu Sanlang, everyone complains they’re even harder than the Four Books and Five Classics. How could anyone possibly gather so many people talented in mathematics to come here?”

“Otherwise,” Zhang Shou said with a grin, “how could they use them to make my rather pitiful talent look insignificant?”

Seeing Zhu Ying’s anger steadily rising, he laughed.

“Enough. Since they’re blocking the entrance, we’ll simply come back later.”

He looked at her.

“Are you hungry? Why don’t we stroll around, find something delicious to eat, and fill our stomachs before returning? I’ve heard the capital has countless kinds of local snacks.”

Leave these people behind… and go eat?

Zhu Ying blinked in surprise.

Then she remembered how Zhang Shou had always insisted that food should be both refined and well prepared, even going so far as to cook personally. She gave a light snort and agreed.

Behind them, the guards exchanged glances.

Seeing that A-Liu, who had accompanied Zhang Shou today, remained silent—and remembering how the man had displayed astonishing martial skill that night and had even dared talk back to the fearsome Hua Qi—they had nothing to object to.

Fine.

If the young lady wanted to accompany her future husband sightseeing and eating, so be it.

Besides, they were hungry too.

Going out for food was certainly preferable to having the young lady whip a group of scholars in broad daylight.

Thus, everyone gathered outside the Ge Residence—those presenting their essays and those admiring the memorial arches—soon witnessed an unbelievable sight.

The distinguished visitors, clearly here to pay respects to Ge Yong, chatted among themselves for a moment…then simply turned around and rode away down the street.

As though they had merely been… passing by.

They sampled one snack after another—donkey rolls, pea cakes, tofu pudding, aiwowo, fried liver, and many more.

By the time they were mostly full, Zhang Shou finally began walking back, discussing with Zhu Ying which delicacies were overrated and which suited his taste.

He had to admit that it was oddly comforting to find so many famous old Beijing snacks existing in this era, even though they theoretically shouldn’t.

Even several pastries he had disliked in his previous life somehow tasted delicious now.

When they returned to the Ge Residence, the crowd submitting essays had not dispersed in the slightest.

Neither had the scholars admiring the memorial arches.

The only difference was that, compared to their earlier spirited shouting, everyone now looked exhausted and dispirited.

Only when they spotted Zhang Shou’s group did they force themselves into another brief surge of enthusiasm.

Tilting his head thoughtfully, Zhang Shou suddenly leaned toward Zhu Ying.

“How about this?”

“Let’s go back to that bookstore we visited earlier and buy another whole crate of Teacher’s books.”

Zhu Ying stared at him.

“What? Back to the bookstore? We’re still not going in?”

“Think about it.”

He smiled.

“There are just as many people as before, but look at their energy. There’s an old saying—the first charge carries momentum, the second weakens, the third is spent.”

“I believe that if we take another leisurely stroll and return afterward, these people won’t even have the strength left to cause trouble.”

He glanced toward the crowd.

“Whoever hired them surely isn’t thoughtful enough to deliver lunch right to the Ge Residence gate.”

Zhu Ying burst into laughter.

“This is the first time I’ve ever learned that you can deal with people like this.”

“Fine.”

“Today, I’ll listen to you.”

The well-fed guards looked at one another.

An identical thought crossed every one of their minds.

Whatever happens, never make an enemy of this seemingly gentle young gentleman.

His methods were like a soft knife—drawing blood without anyone noticing.

So, before the helpless eyes of the people outside the Ge Residence…

Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying’s party passed by the residence a second time…and once again rode straight past.

As the sun climbed overhead and hunger gnawed at their stomachs, those hired to perform this little drama no longer had the slightest idea how much longer they were expected to continue.

Confusion spread through the crowd.

They found the same bookstore as before.

This time, however, Zhang Shou had Zhu Ying remain hidden while he sent A-Liu inside.

Using Lu Sanlang’s token, A-Liu once again purchased every newly published book bearing Ge Yong’s name…at another outrageously discounted price.

Just as Zhang Shou had expected, Sansan Bookshop belonged to Lu Sanlang.

After taking over the publishing business from the other young nobles, Lu Sanlang had earned a tidy fortune.

Because of that, the sharp-witted shop assistant—who had nearly hanged himself after mistakenly selling books far below cost earlier—was overjoyed to learn that he wouldn’t have to compensate the loss out of his own pocket.

The owner would be paying for it instead.

As meticulous as ever, A-Liu also asked about the books’ actual price.

A complete set of six volumes cost two strings of cash, with absolutely no bargaining.

Each volume contained sixty pages.

Altogether, they were nearly twice as expensive as comparable books sold elsewhere.

Clearly…the two characters Ge Yong alone justified that extraordinary price.

After purchasing an entire crate of books, the group returned to the Ge Residence for the third time.

The people carrying presentation essays were still there.

The scholars admiring the memorial arches were still there.

Only now, a few had quietly disappeared.

Even the Ge Residence gatekeeper had been replaced.

Some of those outside were sitting on the ground.

Others leaned weakly against the walls.

Compared to the confidence and booming voices of their first encounter—and the forced determination of the second—they now resembled wilted vegetables.

Even seeing Zhang Shou return for the third time failed to stir much excitement.

Having been made fools of again and again, those pretending to present essays and those pretending to admire the memorial arches all waited nervously to see what Zhang Shou would do next.

Almost everyone shared the same thought.

If this group simply treated the place as somewhere they happened to pass by… and left yet again…then this little performance of theirs would have no choice but to end.