APSIL -Chapter 64 Seventh Place in the Prefectural Examination

If Zhu Ying hadn’t repeatedly interrupted and dragged him away, Zhang Shou felt that Ge Yong might really have kept him at the Ge residence indefinitely.

Now that they had finally left, Zhu Ying immediately asked curiously,

“A-Shou, that cipher you explained to Grandpa Ge… can it really transmit information that accurately? If I wrote a letter three or five hundred characters long, could other people really be completely unable to read it?”

“Of course.”

“So long as you have a mathematical formula and a copy of the Thousand Character Classic, it’s effortless to create a letter that nobody else can decipher.”

Smiling, Zhang Shou added, “If you’re interested, you can give it a try sometime.”

“I’d rather not!”

Zhu Ying immediately pulled a miserable face.

“My head starts hurting the moment I see numbers. Otherwise, why do you think I kept avoiding Cuiyun Pavilion before? I was terrified those people would ask me to help solve their problems. They would have driven me to death!”

Then she brightened up again.

“But at least this trip to Grandpa Ge’s wasn’t wasted. We got something wonderful from him! Grandpa Ge’s paintings are very rare. When you give it to Grandmother, she’ll definitely be delighted.”

Will borrowing someone else’s gift really make the Grand Madam of the Zhao Duke’s residence happy?

Zhang Shou wasn’t quite as confident as Zhu Ying.

Still, remembering the old lady’s attitude when she’d previously sent gifts to Rongshui Village, he had a feeling that even if he showed up empty-handed today, she wouldn’t display the slightest displeasure.

As for what she truly thought…

That was another matter entirely.

Glancing at the sun, which had already begun sinking toward the west, he said, “We spent quite a bit of time at Teacher’s place.”

“If we go pay respects to your grandmother now, won’t it seem somewhat discourteous?”

“And judging by the time, if we’re planning to return today, we’ll have to hurry.”

“I wonder whether Old Yang and the others at Rice Market Street have already finished…”

Before he could finish, Zhu Ying smilingly interrupted him.

“It’s not often you come to the capital.”

“Staying one night won’t hurt.”

“Zhu Hong is very reliable. He’ll definitely arrange accommodations for everyone.”

Seeing how matter-of-fact she looked, Zhang Shou couldn’t help feeling helpless.

One extra night in the capital meant expenses.

People had to eat.

The horses had to be fed.

There were more than a dozen villagers altogether.

That would cost quite a bit.

If it were anyone else footing the bill, crafty old Yang would certainly squeeze every last coin he could out of them.

But this was the Zhao Duke’s household.

That was different.

“It’s best to send someone to inform them.”

“If they’ve already sold everything they brought and wish to return home, let them go ahead.”

“Living in the capital isn’t cheap.”

“If they don’t want to stay overnight, there’s no need to force them.”

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Ying refrained from grandly declaring that everyone should stay at the Zhao Duke’s residence or that she herself would pay all their expenses.

The Zhu Ying who had first left the capital might have done exactly that.

But after peacefully spending over a month in a tiny village—and personally experiencing a small-scale military rebellion—she felt she’d matured considerably.

So she nodded and instructed one of the guards to ride to Rice Market Street and relay the message.

Just after the guard departed, she was about to urge Zhang Shou to accompany her to the Zhao Duke’s residence when a sudden burst of gongs and drums echoed through the streets.

Immediately afterward, a booming voice shouted: “The Shuntian Prefectural Examination results have been posted!”

Zhang Shou smiled.

“We’ve been so busy these past few days that I’d almost forgotten.”

“Qi Liang came to the capital for the prefectural examination and has been staying with Little Dai.”

“By the way…”

“Why are the results being posted in the afternoon?”

“For something everyone’s waiting for, shouldn’t the list be posted first thing in the morning?”

How would Zhu Ying know something like that?

Given her background and status, she might occasionally hear news about the triennial metropolitan examination.

The provincial examinations of Shuntian Prefecture, however, went in one ear and out the other.

As for the lower-level county, prefectural, and academy examinations…

She barely paid attention to them.

Simply knowing their names was already thanks to the couple of years she’d spent studying under Ge Yong.

So without thinking, she immediately turned to the remaining Zhao household guards.

Unfortunately, under the unmistakable questioning look from their young mistress, they could only shake their heads like rattles.

Before Zhu Ying could get angry, Zhang Shou laughed.

“I was only asking casually.”

“Judging from all the shouting, the notice board should be just ahead.”

“Why don’t we take a quick look?”

“No matter how Little Qi did, we can visit the Zhao Duke’s residence afterward.”

Deep down, Zhu Ying would have preferred Zhang Shou to meet her grandmother immediately.

More precisely…

She wanted her grandmother to see Zhang Shou with her own eyes so she could finally probe the truth about that so-called marriage agreement.

By now, if she still hadn’t realized there was something unusual about the engagement arranged during their childhood…

Then she’d truly be pig-brained.

Even so, she was equally curious whether Qi Liang—whom Zhang Shou had taught for three years—had managed to pass the prefectural examination.

After only a brief hesitation, she nodded cheerfully.

“All right.”

“Let’s go see the examination results first!”

Earlier that day, Zhang Shou had entered the Inner City through Chongwen Gate.

Old Yang and the villagers had gone with Zhu Hong toward Rice Market Street near Chaoyang Gate in the eastern district.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shou had accompanied Zhu Ying to Ge Manor near Dongzhimen Street.

Leaving there, they traveled westward toward the Shuntian Prefectural Office.

That was how they happened upon the announcement of the examination results.

Just as Zhang Shou had suspected, people gathering from every direction were loudly complaining about why this year’s results were being posted at a different time than usual.

But once the lengthy results sheet was finally hung up…

No one cared anymore.

Everyone’s attention was fixed entirely upon the list.

Only then did Zhang Shou discover a problem.

There were simply too many people.

Three layers inside, three layers outside.

He couldn’t possibly squeeze through the crowd.

Much less search among the densely packed hundred-plus names for Qi Liang’s.

Just as he was considering asking the Zhao household guards for help, he saw A-Liu silently dismount.

Without a word, the young man headed straight into the sea of people.

From atop his horse, Zhang Shou couldn’t even tell how A-Liu managed it.

Every time the crowd surged and jostled…

A-Liu naturally advanced another couple of steps.

Rather than forcing his way in…

It almost looked as though the crowd itself parted to carry him forward.

Before long, he was standing in the very front row.

Knowing A-Liu would certainly return with the answer, Zhang Shou finally relaxed.

But immediately afterward, two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

“Little Master!”

Turning his head, he saw Qi Liang and Little Dai running toward him one after another.

After bowing respectfully, they only then seemed to notice Zhu Ying and hurriedly greeted the young lady as well.

Zhang Shou couldn’t help smiling.

Unfortunately, with A-Liu absent, dismounting quickly wasn’t exactly easy for him anymore.

So he simply nodded to the pair from horseback before teasing them.

“What?”

“Living so close gave you no advantage?”

“Little Dai, you couldn’t find out Little Qi’s results in advance?”

Little Dai scratched his head awkwardly.

“I’m only a civilian clerk.”

“How could I possibly learn something like that ahead of time?”

Lowering his voice, he continued, “Little Master…”

“This time Magistrate Song recommended the examination papers, while Prefect Wang personally oversaw and evaluated them.”

“That’s why everything was delayed for several days before the results were finally posted this evening.”

“I heard from my uncle…”

“Prefect Wang even specifically selected Little Qi’s examination paper to read.”

Zhu Ying immediately interjected, “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Even if he isn’t admitted, having the Prefect personally read your paper is something everyone dreams of.”

“Besides…”

“The two of you are now considered junior disciples of Grandpa Ge’s lineage.”

Little Dai naturally knew that Ge Yong had accepted Zhang Shou as his final disciple.

After all, he’d personally been dragged before both the Prefect and the legendary Imperial Tutor to answer countless questions, nearly scaring him to death.

Yet because of that very experience, his heart was now even more unsettled.

“Little Master…”

“Nothing will go wrong with Little Qi’s examination this time… will it?”

To begin with, Zhang Shou hadn’t expected Qi Liang to pass the prefectural examination on his very first attempt.

Now that Little Dai had revealed this inside information, he felt even less certain.

At that very moment…

A-Liu emerged from the crowd just as effortlessly as he’d entered.

Reaching the group, he glanced once at Qi Liang before speaking his usual two concise words.

“Seventh.”