APSIL -Chapter 76 No Degree, No Status?

“Grand Tutor Ge is actually here!”

Consort Yu murmured to herself.

Princess Yongping looked thoroughly surprised.

The Dowager Madam appeared completely unsurprised.

As for Zhu Ying, she wasted no time. Gathering up her skirts, she dashed down the stairs in a blur.

By the time she reached the first floor, Zhang Shou had already gone forward and was warmly supporting Ge Yong by the arm. Standing beside the old master was Qi Jingshan, wearing an amused smile.

I used to think you were such an honest, dependable boy.

We’ll settle this after we get home!

Though Ge Yong never said it aloud, Zhang Shou could clearly read those words in his teacher’s eyes.

He couldn’t help coughing awkwardly.

He had never imagined Ge Yong would come today.

Originally, he’d planned to visit his teacher afterward with Deng Xiaodai and Qi Liang, then tactfully confess that he’d been inventing “Master Ge’s famous sayings.”

Instead, he’d been caught red-handed.

Counting the incident with renovating Cuiyun Hall and recruiting students…

This was already the second time he’d impersonated the real thing.

Fortunately, his mathematical knowledge from his previous life had continually surprised Ge Yong.

Otherwise, the old master would probably have exploded in fury by now.

The more Zhang Shou thought about it, the guiltier he felt.

So he sincerely said, “Teacher… regarding the Tianyuan Method, I’ve had a few new ideas.”

Ge Yong’s eyes immediately lit up.

Then he beamed at Qi Jingshan.

“Old Qi, didn’t I tell you? This brat’s got endless treasures hidden inside him! Rather than wasting time at some literary gathering, it’d be much better to drag him back to help us!”

Qi Jingshan almost laughed himself angry.

“To help us?”

“After hearing what Zhang Shou said yesterday, weren’t you happily writing all kinds of mathematical ciphers? You kept me up until the middle of the night!”

“If this is your idea of a disciple who only helps out…”

“Find me a hundred more like him!”

Ge Yong snorted.

“Not a single one!”

“You find them yourself!”

The two old men’s conversation ignored everyone else completely.

Meanwhile, the essay compilers could no longer remain still and hurried forward to pay their respects.

Grand Tutor Ge needed no introduction.

Qi Jingshan was equally deserving of respect.

Before retirement, he’d served as Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Although he’d never presided over the metropolitan examinations, he had taught countless students.

That left Xu Fengyang…

Standing alone like a chicken among cranes.

Seeing Zhu Ying rush out of Moonlight Pavilion like a gust of wind, immediately taking Qi Jingshan’s arm and cheerfully calling them “Grandpa Ge” and “Grandpa Qi,” Xu Fengyang knew there was no turning back.

The “simple task” he’d accepted today had already earned him one slash of the blade.

Even if he wanted to retreat now, there was nowhere left to go.

Taking a deep breath, he declared loudly, “Grand Tutor Ge! Minister Qi!”

“The essays collected in my anthology were all personally praised during the previous Moonlight Pavilion Literary Gathering by numerous judges and renowned essay compilers!”

“Most importantly…”

“Every one of those authors earned their reputations through the imperial examinations. They are true disciples of the Sage with legitimate scholarly credentials!”

As he spoke, Xu Fengyang shot sharp looks toward the other essay compilers.

Not one stepped forward to support him.

Both furious and anxious, he could only continue.

“Young Master Zhang’s student certainly recited an excellent half-essay.”

“But Young Master Zhang himself possesses no academic degree.”

“He attends today’s gathering only because the princess made a special exception.”

“He should have humbly studied the works of his predecessors.”

“Instead, he seeks to overwhelm so many accomplished scholars with merely half an essay.”

“Isn’t that unbearably arrogant?”

“How forgetful.”

Deng Xiaodai, who had remained silent all this time, finally muttered from behind Ge Yong.

“Our teacher already said he knows nothing about examination essays. He came only with eyes to watch and ears to listen.”

“Who was it that suddenly jumped out first, loudly accusing him of misleading his students?”

“Now that you’ve lost the argument, you’ve switched to attacking him for lacking a degree.”

“Shameless.”

His voice wasn’t loud.

Only Ge Yong heard it.

The old master had missed Xu Fengyang’s earlier provocation.

Now his expression instantly darkened as he glared fiercely at the essay compiler.

Faced with Ge Yong’s intimidating gaze, Xu Fengyang’s courage nearly failed him.

He remembered all too well that when Ge Yong had still been an official, he’d verbally torn apart anyone who annoyed him.

Even so, Xu Fengyang forced himself to stand perfectly straight.

There was no retreat now.

Only pride remained.

His mention of academic degrees immediately stirred the crowd once more.

The essay compilers exchanged meaningful glances.

The scholars watching nearby suddenly looked energized.

Someone boldly shouted from within the crowd, “Mr. Xu is right!”

“Someone with neither official degree nor respectable background—what right does he have to lecture everyone here?”

Do you think I wanted this invitation from Princess Yongping’s literary gathering?

If Consort Yu hadn’t personally sent another message afterward, I’d have declined from the beginning!

Seeing that Chang Ning—who had conveniently vanished when trouble started—had hurried back into Moonlight Pavilion, Zhang Shou guessed the imperial ladies were probably coming downstairs.

He was just about to answer sharply when a somewhat shrill voice echoed from inside the building.

“Who says Zhang Shou has no background?”

Zhang Shou had expected Princess Yongping.

Or perhaps the inscrutable Dowager Madam of the Duke Zhao Estate.

Even Consort Yu.

Instead…

A broad-shouldered man in richly embroidered robes strode out.

Judging by the voice, Zhang Shou suspected he was a eunuch.

Yet unlike the round, smiling Chang Ning, this man possessed broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and an unmistakably martial bearing.

Had he sported a beard, Zhang Shou would have mistaken him for Xiong Yi, Commander of the Left Battalion of the Swift Cavalry Camp.

The newcomer gave Zhang Shou a brief nod before sweeping his sharp gaze across everyone present.

Only then did he speak.

“On the night of the fourteenth day of the eighth month…”

“When the fleeing rebels from Linhai Camp attacked Rongshui Village, nearly causing a catastrophe…”

“It was Zhang Shou who devised the strategy.”

“Together with Zhang Chen, several noble youths, and the villagers, he captured all thirty-two rebels.”

“Six were killed.”

“One committed suicide.”

“The rest were taken alive.”

“His Majesty remarked…”

‘Such an achievement has never before been seen among commoners. Even within the army, it is exceedingly rare. It deserves reward.’

The moment he quoted the Emperor…

Every whisper ceased.

Zhang Shou himself looked surprised.

Zhu Ying, meanwhile, nearly burst with delight.

She immediately asked, “Eunuch Chu, what reward?”

The man replied, “His Majesty originally considered awarding military merit.”

“But after learning Zhang Shou was Grand Tutor Ge’s disciple and exceptionally skilled in mathematics…”

“He laughed and said…”

‘Grand Tutor Ge is the nation’s foremost authority in mathematics, yet constantly laments having no worthy successor. The Mathematics Division of the Imperial Academy has become little more than an empty shell.’

“So…”

‘Appoint Zhang Shou as Doctor of the Imperial Academy and have him rebuild the Mathematics Division.’

“Before I accompanied the princess here, the Grand Secretariat had already drafted the imperial edict.”

Zhang Shou was startled.

He immediately intended to decline modestly.

Before he could speak, however…

Ge Yong gave him a fierce pinch.

Zhang Shou winced in pain and swallowed the words.

The old master then smiled broadly.

“His Majesty truly possesses remarkable insight.”

“Once the imperial decree arrives, I shall personally bring this disappointing disciple of mine into the palace to offer thanks.”

Calling him disappointing while looking that proud…

What an exaggeration.

Qi Jingshan silently complained.

Seeing Zhu Ying beside him beaming with joy as well, he could only sigh inwardly.

The old one and the young one…

Hopeless.

Xu Fengyang’s face, however, turned deathly white.

Ordinary people might not understand what the title Doctor of the Imperial Academy meant.

Scholars certainly did.

When the Founding Emperor established the dynasty, he had overruled all opposition and dramatically elevated the status of the Imperial Academy.

The Chancellor became a Second-Rank official.

The Vice Chancellor, Fourth Rank.

Doctors of each discipline held the prestigious Seventh Rank.

Assistant instructors ranked Eighth.

Even disciplinary supervisors ranked Eighth.

After every palace examination held once every three years…

Aside from the fortunate few selected into the Hanlin Academy as Shujishi…

Only the very best Second-Class Jinshi, and only those blessed with exceptional luck, could hope to receive appointment as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy.

That was a full Seventh-Rank official post.

How could the Grand Secretariat have approved this?

How could they have drafted such an edict?

Princess Yongping unknowingly voiced the very same question.

“The Imperial Academy is the highest institution of learning in the realm.”

“This is no trivial appointment.”

“The Grand Secretaries… none of them objected?”

She was genuinely astonished.

Chu Kuan was the Senior Brush Holder from the Directorate of Ceremonial who accompanied her to every Moonlight Pavilion gathering.

Yet he had always sat silently, saying nothing.

Over time, she’d practically forgotten he existed.

Who would have imagined that today he would suddenly step forward—and announce an imperial decree?

Xu Fengyang losing face was one thing.

But Zhang Shou being elevated directly from an ordinary commoner to a Doctor of the Imperial Academy…

Wouldn’t that make today’s literary gathering itself into a joke?

Chu Kuan merely chuckled.

“His Majesty said…”

‘If Zhang Shou can successfully discipline a group of notorious Imperial Academy students—young nobles who wouldn’t even bother pretending to study, spending every day racing horses and chasing pleasure—then who could be more qualified to serve as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy?’

“As for the Grand Secretaries…”

“After court this morning, only Grand Secretary Wu remained.”

“The others were either on leave or presiding over meetings in their respective ministries.”

“So Grand Secretary Wu personally drafted the imperial decree.”

“The decree has likely already been delivered to the Duke Zhao Estate.”

“Since someone insisted on questioning Zhang Shou’s background and qualifications…”

“I simply announced it a little early.”

“It saves us from listening to people argue endlessly that he has no status.”