APSIL -Chapter 66 Spending the Night at Qing’an Hall

In his previous life, Zhang Shou had toured countless royal palaces, castles, and grand estates across the world. So even as he walked through the deep courtyards of the Zhao State Duke’s residence—where uniformed servants moved with disciplined precision amid stately halls—he scarcely batted an eyelid. He treated the opulence as though it didn’t exist, instead musing with quiet amusement over the little mystery surrounding A-Liu.

Qi Liang and Little Dai, however, were a different story.

Both were genuine country boys. Although one had now taken both the county and prefectural examinations, and the other had already served for more than a month as a minor clerk at the Shuntian Prefecture Office—strictly speaking, spending even longer in the capital than Zhang Shou had—they had never before set foot inside the residence of a noble house. The nervousness on their faces was impossible to conceal.

Having returned ahead of the party to report to the Dowager Madam, Zhanjin and Liuyin were waiting outside the inner ornamental gate together with Yutang and Yulan, the senior maids of Qing’an Hall.

As Zhang Shou slowly rode toward them, Liuyin proudly raised an eyebrow.

“See? I wasn’t exaggerating. Just look at Young Master Shou. Does he look anything like someone raised in some tiny country village? You won’t find a second gentleman in the entire capital with such bearing and elegance.”

Yutang and Yulan stared at Zhang Shou for a long moment before realizing how improper they were being, hurriedly looking away.

Yulan, who was especially close to Liuyin, pinched her hard.

“And you still have the nerve to talk! When we asked about Young Master Shou earlier, you kept rambling nonsense instead of telling us anything useful!”

Zhanjin spoke softly as well.

“Just look at those two students beside Young Master Shou. They’re obviously much more restrained. I used to believe that people were shaped entirely by the land they grew up on, but now I don’t believe that anymore. Second Young Master keeps insisting that Young Master Shou is nothing but an embroidered pillow stuffed with straw. But if that were true, then why has Lu Sanlang—the very man he desperately wanted Miss to marry—chosen to stay in Rongshui Village instead of returning?”

Yulan pondered for a moment.

“Young Master Shou’s talent in mathematics is certainly extraordinary. It’s a pity he isn’t versed in the Confucian classics and history, or entering officialdom through the examinations would be difficult. Still, that’s not really a problem. As long as the Dowager Madam is here, Miss only has to petition His Majesty and any prestigious official appointment could be obtained…”

At the front stood Nanny Li and Nanny Jiang, who had previously visited Rongshui Village.

They paid no attention whatsoever to the whispered gossip behind them.

Only after Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou drew near, and the maids finally fell silent, did the two nannies step forward together.

“Greetings, Miss.”

“Greetings, Young Master Shou.”

Seeing Zhu Ying leap gracefully off her horse without hesitation, Zhang Shou sighed inwardly.

He rather regretted that during the most carefree days of his previous life, he’d never really taken horseback riding seriously.

Performing such a graceful dismount himself was completely impossible.

Fortunately, A-Liu was already holding his horse.

As Zhang Shou swung himself down, A-Liu supported him at precisely the right moment, allowing him to land steadily.

Smiling, Zhang Shou nodded politely to those welcoming him.

The next instant, Zhu Ying abandoned him entirely and disappeared through the ornamental gate in a flash.

At once, he found himself surrounded by a flock of young maids.

For a brief moment, he felt rather like Lin Daiyu making her first visit to the Rong Mansion, almost buried beneath clouds of powder and perfume.

Taking a deep breath, he resisted the urge to move immediately.

He would proceed at his own pace.

“Qi Liang and Little Dai are my students, and A-Liu has followed me for many years.”

Looking at Nanny Li, he asked politely, “May I bring them with me to pay respects to the Dowager Madam?”

The request completely caught the welcoming servants off guard.

Qi Liang and Little Dai were even more stunned.

They had assumed that after Zhang Shou met the Dowager Madam, he would return to discuss the prefectural examination results with them.

Neither had expected him to immediately ask to bring them along.

Nanny Li recovered first.

Seeing A-Liu’s calm expression, she immediately smiled.

“Of course. The Dowager Madam has always loved having young people gathered together. At her age, who doesn’t enjoy a lively atmosphere? Miss hurried in first because she was anxious. Young Master Shou, everyone, please follow me.”

Not knowing whether she already had permission or was simply adapting on the spot, Zhang Shou nevertheless smiled and thanked her.

Then he nodded reassuringly toward Qi Liang and Little Dai.

He had no illusions that they wouldn’t still be nervous.

As for the expressionless A-Liu…

Zhang Shou didn’t believe for a second that the boy even knew what nervousness was.

Beyond the ornamental gate stood a spacious main hall of five connected rooms.

As dusk settled, bright glazed lamps throughout the courtyard had already been lit, illuminating the ancient buildings surrounding them.

Following Nanny Li along the bluestone pathway, Zhang Shou walked at an unhurried pace.

Occasionally, his gaze drifted toward the towering, luxuriant tree growing in the courtyard.

An entirely unrelated thought entered his mind.

There’s an old saying that planting a tree inside a courtyard forms the character for “trapped.”

The Dowager Madam certainly wasn’t someone bothered by such taboos.

Then again… perhaps planting a tree inside a gate simply forms the character for “idle.”

A maid lifted the curtain at the entrance.

The moment Zhang Shou stepped inside, he immediately noticed how different this room was from most homes of the era.

Instead of sinking into darkness after sunset, it was brilliantly illuminated.

Glazed lamps hanging overhead and around the room cast light in every direction.

Though not quite enough to make the spacious chamber as bright as daylight, it was more than sufficient to make someone who had always preferred well-lit rooms feel comfortable.

Truthfully, ever since transmigrating here, the thing he had found hardest to adapt to was how impossibly dark everything became after nightfall.

Because the lighting was so bright, once he passed the central screen and entered the inner chamber, he immediately saw the elderly woman seated in the place of honor.

Zhu Ying, dressed in sapphire-blue men’s attire, radiated youthful brilliance and beauty.

Yet beside her, the elderly woman—with hair already streaked silver—was somehow even more striking.

She sat quietly, both hands clasping Zhu Ying’s.

A gentle smile rested on her lips, warmth filling the eyes of an elder.

Yet beneath that profound tranquility, Zhang Shou sensed something else.

Like a blade hidden within its sheath.

Then, the instant their eyes met, he distinctly felt the scrutiny in hers suddenly change.

“A-Shou, this is my grandmother!”

Zhu Ying’s cheerful introduction pulled Zhang Shou from his thoughts.

He stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“Zhang Shou greets the Dowager Madam.”

Yet compared with Zhang Shou, it was the Dowager Madam who took several moments longer to recover herself.

A somewhat forced smile appeared on her face.

She released Zhu Ying’s hand, rose from her seat, and personally helped Zhang Shou to his feet.

Nor did she stop there.

Like an elder greeting a beloved junior, she gently placed both hands upon his arms, studying his face again and again.

Finally, she spoke softly.

“So many years have passed… and you’ve grown into this already. I almost couldn’t recognize you.”

“They all came back saying how refined and ethereal you are… how outstanding your character is… how gifted you are in mathematics…”

“But none of that compares to seeing you with my own eyes.”

Zhang Shou could clearly feel the grip on his arms tightening ever so slightly, revealing the emotions stirring within her heart.

Meeting her for the first time, he considered his response carefully.

In the end, he decided the less said, the better.

He merely smiled gently.

“You flatter me, Dowager Madam.”

Those six simple words, accompanied by Zhang Shou’s clear and sincere smile, caused the Dowager Madam to fall briefly into another daze.

Only when Zhu Ying affectionately wrapped herself around her grandmother’s arm did she finally recover, gently scolding her granddaughter before once more turning toward Zhang Shou.

“Yingying has always been spoiled by both her father and me.”

“She was fortunate to have you and your mother looking after her before.”

“And because of her impulsiveness, she’s dragged you into no end of trouble. Even those rebel soldiers only ended up in Rongshui Village because of her association with those young nobles.”

“Since you’ve happened to come to the capital this time, stay for several more days. There’s no need to rush back.”

The Dowager Madam had already returned to her seat with Zhu Ying’s support.

Meanwhile, Nanny Li had placed a cushion on a chair below for Zhang Shou.

He took the seat naturally.

“I only came to escort the villagers into the capital to sell grain.”

“My original plan was to return after paying respects to my teacher and to you.”

“But after leaving my teacher’s residence, we happened to encounter today’s prefectural examination results.”

“The student I’ve taught for two years, Xiao Qi, unexpectedly made the list.”

“He ranked seventh.”

As he spoke, Zhang Shou beckoned to Qi Liang and Little Dai.

The pair stepped forward together and respectfully saluted the Dowager Madam.

Only then did Zhang Shou suddenly realize A-Liu had disappeared.

Turning his head, he found the elusive youth had somehow silently appeared behind him once again.

“Seventh place in the prefectural examination.”

“The younger generation truly is formidable.”

The Dowager Madam nodded for Nanny Li and Nanny Jiang to help Qi Liang and Little Dai to their feet.

Although she spoke words of praise, the Buddhist prayer beads continued rotating through her fingers, while her eyes narrowed slightly.

“I heard from Yingying that when you visited Grand Tutor Ge earlier today, you encountered a large crowd outside his residence delivering manuscripts and seeking discipleship.”

“Yes.”

“It was only a small matter.”

“It’s already been resolved.”

Zhang Shou made no mention whatsoever of how he had resolved it.

Instead, he said casually, “Although Xiao Qi received some valuable guidance from my teacher and has recently studied many more books, his foundations remain rather weak.”

“As for Little Dai, ever since he entered the prefectural office, I haven’t had the opportunity to continue teaching either of them.”

“So I’d like to make a rather presumptuous request.”

“Would the Dowager Madam permit them to stay here tonight, so that I may give them another lesson?”

The Dowager Madam looked at Zhang Shou in surprise.

Then a broad smile spread across her face.

“For such a tiny matter, why use the word ‘request’?”

“The east and west side rooms of my Qing’an Hall are completely empty.”

“The three of you…”

She paused, then corrected herself with a smile.

“No, I should say the four of you.”

“You shall all stay here in the east and west wings tonight.”