APSIL -Chapter 69 The “Second” Young Master

Listening to Zhu Er’s speech from inside the room, Zhang Shou couldn’t decide whether to laugh or sigh.

Behind him, Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai—who had each occupied one side of the desk, busy with their own assignments—both burst into laughter.

Deng Xiaodai, who had never met Lu Sanlang but had heard plenty about him from Qi Liang, muttered under his breath, “If they really marry Miss Zhu off to that Lu Sanlang—the one who’s good at pretending to be foolish, shamelessly clinging to people, acting, and smiling his way out of everything—you’d really be… losing both your sister and the dowry.”

Zhang Shou shot Deng Xiaodai a glance.

The boy immediately buried his head and resumed writing furiously.

Only then did Zhang Shou turn back toward the doorway, idly stroking his chin with growing curiosity over what Zhu Er would say next.

“Yingying is too beautiful, and her temper is far too headstrong. That’s exactly why she can’t marry into a family that’s too powerful—but neither can she marry some unknown country nobody!

“Grandmother, even if you’re angry enough to throw me out of the family for contradicting you, I still have to say this.

“Lu Sanlang may not be ideal, but Minister Lu is the one most capable of helping Father and Big Brother right now…”

“Ugh!”

The strange sound that followed—half grunt, half groan—made Zhang Shou stop hesitating.

He lifted the curtain and stepped outside.

He had expected to see Zhu Ying rushing over in fury and grabbing Zhu Er by the collar.

Instead, what greeted his eyes was an astonishing sight.

The Grand Madam herself stood before Zhu Er with a sword pressed against his throat.

From the look of it, another inch forward would sever his neck.

The courtyard was brightly illuminated by crystal lamps.

From where Zhang Shou stood, he could clearly see beads of sweat covering Zhu Er’s forehead.

Whether the man had been drunk before or not, every trace of alcohol seemed to have turned into cold sweat.

Only then did Zhang Shou really notice Zhu Er’s features.

The young man actually possessed handsome looks.

As Zhang Shou walked slowly past A-Liu, he caught a glimpse of the usually expressionless youth…smiling.

Whether it was mockery or genuine amusement, Zhang Shou couldn’t tell.

Though he knew he was technically an outsider, Zhang Shou still walked forward unhurriedly.

Stopping five or six paces away from the confrontation, he spoke sincerely.

“Grand Madam, it seems Second Young Master has misunderstood me.”

“Zhang Shou, don’t you dare gloat—”

Before Zhu Er could finish speaking, a flash of cold steel swept before his eyes.

He instinctively snapped his mouth shut.

A lock of black hair drifted slowly to the ground before him.

His soul nearly left his body.

“If you utter one more word,” the Grand Madam said coldly, “the next thing to fall won’t be your hair—it’ll be your head.”

She stared directly at the trembling Zhu Er.

“You think those censors attacking your father are acting on their own? You think Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan—a Provincial Examination Champion and a Imperial Academy dormitory head—went to the countryside to stir up trouble by coincidence? The one behind it all…”

“…is Minister of War Lu Wan—the very man you think you can win over by marrying your sister into his family!”

Zhu Er’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

The Grand Madam withdrew her sword in one fluid motion before continuing indifferently.

“I’m simply curious to see what brilliant schemes you’d come up with and what sort of people you’d befriend. And yet you’ve actually started thinking of yourself as the future master of the Zhu family.”

“You look down on Zhang Shou? When Yingying studied under Grand Tutor Ge, he at least praised her as clever—just unwilling to use her intelligence properly. And you? He summed you up in only three words.”

“‘No perseverance.’ But Zhang Shou?”

“Grand Tutor Ge met him only once. The very next day, he personally accepted him as his final disciple.”

Watching the Grand Madam flick her sleeves and stride back into Qing’an Hall without another glance, Zhang Shou looked toward the utterly devastated Zhu Er.

Without even turning his head, he said, “A-Liu, invite Second Young Master to my room for a chat.”

Having spoken, he turned and walked away gracefully.

He knew perfectly well that A-Liu would handle the matter efficiently.

Sure enough, Zhang Shou had barely stepped back into the eastern wing before A-Liu followed.

Or rather…

Dragged Zhu Er in.

The man’s collar was clenched tightly in A-Liu’s grip.

Forget shouting—his face had already turned pale from being strangled, and even breathing seemed difficult.

The instant A-Liu released him…

Thud!

Zhu Er crashed heavily onto the floor.

Even Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai couldn’t help looking up.

The moment they saw Zhu Er lying there groaning miserably, they immediately lowered their heads in perfect unison and pretended nothing had happened.

Zhang Shou sighed helplessly.

After all, he had been the one who ordered A-Liu to bring the man in.

Since no one from the Zhu household had objected—not even sending someone inside to question this guest’s presumptuous behavior—he simply shot A-Liu a helpless look.

The cold-faced youth calmly dusted off his hands and walked back outside as though nothing had happened.

Only then did Zhang Shou walk over to Zhu Er.

“Lu Sanlang is now my student.”

Zhu Er jerked his head up, ready to curse.

Yet the instant he met Zhang Shou’s cool gaze, he suddenly remembered the icy expression on his grandmother’s face when she had pointed a sword at his throat.

His courage vanished.

It felt as though someone had seized him by the neck.

“And…”

“Lu Sanlang is a mathematical genius.”

Zhu Er nearly exploded with rage.

Mathematical genius?

That fat Lu idiot?

The most notorious wastrel in the capital?

More useless than me?

If he’s a genius, then everyone under heaven is one!

“You don’t have to believe me.”

Zhang Shou spoke casually.

“But my teacher, Grand Tutor Ge, certainly will.”

He was bluffing shamelessly.

Although he hadn’t yet told Ge Yong about Lu Sanlang’s talents, once the old master saw the truth for himself, Zhang Shou was confident Ge Yong would happily welcome another outstanding disciple.

“S-So what!”

Gathering what little spirit he had left, Zhu Er protested.

“If he’s truly outstanding, then he’d be even more worthy of Ying—”

He stopped abruptly.

Zhang Shou had slowly crouched down in front of him.

“Lu Sanlang told me himself that he only pretended to be infatuated with Yingying in order to fool his father. And just now, your grandmother said that while his father publicly encouraged Lu Sanlang to pursue Yingying…he was secretly impeaching your father and targeting your family.”

“The father and son are certainly interesting.”

“But don’t you think…”

“…the one who’s been kept completely in the dark is even more amusing?”

Zhu Er’s face turned the color of pig’s liver.

He wanted to spit out a few harsh words.

But beneath Zhang Shou’s calm, unwavering gaze…what came out instead sounded pitifully weak.

“Y-What exactly do you want?”

Why does that sound exactly like something an innocent heroine would say to an overbearing male lead?

Zhang Shou couldn’t help mocking inwardly.

Then he smiled warmly.

“Your grandmother just pointed a sword at you. That alone tells you how disappointed she is. And if Yingying finds out you came here causing trouble…”

“How angry do you think she’ll be?”

“Lu Sanlang, even without his father’s support, is still a mathematical prodigy. He also secretly runs bookstores and numerous businesses.”

“But what about you, Second Young Master?”

“I…”

“You want to become the pillar supporting your family. That intention is admirable. But intention alone isn’t enough. You need resolve. You need responsibility. So…”

“Shouldn’t you go apologize to your grandmother first?”

“And then go see Yingying as well?”

“After all…”

“…family shouldn’t become strangers.”

After what could only be described as a complete counseling session, Zhu Er finally struggled to his feet and shuffled toward the door.

Just as Zhang Shou breathed a sigh of relief at finally getting rid of this troublesome fool—

Without turning around, Zhu Er snorted.

“Don’t think this means I’ll agree to let Yingying marry you! You’re poor as dirt. You don’t deserve her!”

The words had barely left his mouth when he lifted the curtain…and came face to face with an icy expression.

Before he could flee, Zhu Ying’s hand shot out like lightning and seized him by the ear.

She dragged him away despite his frantic yelps.

Watching the scene unfold, Zhang Shou couldn’t help smiling.

It seemed Zhu Er truly occupied the very bottom of the family hierarchy.