APSIL -Chapter 77 As If I’d Believe That!

The tide had turned…

That was the only thought running through Xu Fengyang’s mind.

Offending the Duke of Zhao’s household behind Zhang Shou wasn’t a major concern. The faction backing him was already locked in a life-or-death struggle with the Duke’s family.

Offending Ge Yong was troublesome, but the old man had always been an upright gentleman. Aside from verbally tearing people apart, he never stooped to underhanded tactics.

Besides, Princess Yongping and Zhu Ying, the Duke of Zhao’s granddaughter, had never gotten along. Surely the princess wouldn’t side with Zhang Shou out of old grudges.

Standing his ground today had been risky, but it had at least seemed worthwhile.

But Chu Kuan—the Senior Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who had accompanied Princess Yongping to every Moonlight Pavilion gathering and always sat there like a silent guardian deity—had suddenly dropped news powerful enough to flatten him.

Even if chaos at Linhai Camp had enraged the Emperor to the point of illness…

Even if Zhang Shou really had captured dozens of rebel soldiers with astonishing ease…

Even if Zhang Shou was the Duke of Zhao’s future son-in-law…

With the Duke of Zhao’s faction standing on such shaky political ground, why would the Emperor suddenly value Zhang Shou so highly?

Was it because of Ge Yong?

Or something else entirely?

Xu Fengyang’s head throbbed. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t make sense of it.

Unlike him, however, some people neither needed nor wanted to think that hard.

“Thank you, Eunuch Chu, for bringing such wonderful news.”

Ge Yong smiled warmly at his old acquaintance Chu Kuan, then nodded toward Consort Yu and the Dowager Duchess of Zhao, who had only just reached the entrance of the pavilion, before turning to Princess Yongping.

“Your Highness has honored my disappointing final disciple far too much by inviting him here to serve as a judge.”

“This boy is different from my other students. He was sickly since childhood, so I practically raised him free-range. I merely tossed him a few books and let him figure things out himself.”

“So… compared to my other disciples, he has a bit more natural talent.”

Calling Zhang Shou disappointing while praising his natural talent in the same breath…

Qi Jingshan frowned deeply at Ge Yong’s shamelessness.

Zhu Ying, on the other hand, beamed with delight.

Meanwhile, the Dowager Duchess, supported by her maid Yutang, finally stepped forward.

“Grand Tutor Ge, since you and Minister Qi have rarely come together, don’t leave immediately. At least come upstairs and watch the younger generation display their talents.”

Knowing Ge Yong well, she continued before he could refuse with another excuse about needing to return to mathematics.

“I know you’re busy. The pavilion already has brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones prepared. It won’t delay your teaching.”

Ge Yong glanced toward the entrance.

Consort Yu had already disappeared from sight.

Though he had no idea how the Emperor had allowed his favored consort to leave the palace, considering Chu Kuan—the second most influential eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial—was present as well…

After a long silence, he finally relented.

“Dowager Duchess, you’re always finding difficult tasks for this old man…”

“Very well. I’ll do it for Your Highness’s sake.”

“But let me say this first.”

“Today I only brought my eyes and ears.”

“I didn’t bring my mouth.”

“So don’t mention judging.”

The moment those words left his lips, Xu Fengyang’s face turned even paler than paper.

Those were exactly Zhang Shou’s own words from moments earlier.

He had seized upon them to launch his attack…

Only to smash headfirst into an iron wall.

Princess Yongping, however, ignored Xu Fengyang completely.

Her complexion finally eased.

If the Dowager Duchess hadn’t persuaded Ge Yong to stay, today’s Moonlight Pavilion gathering would truly have become a laughingstock.

She immediately smiled and inclined her head.

“With Grand Tutor Ge and Minister Qi honoring us with their presence, I’m sure everyone invited today will produce their finest essays.”

Feeling Zhang Shou suddenly give his arm a subtle pinch, Ge Yong shot his disciple a sidelong glare.

Trying to get revenge for me pinching you earlier?

Then he heard Zhang Shou mutter quietly, “Isn’t this like showing off your axe before Lu Ban?”

Ge Yong let out a snort.

“People all think that at my age, writing examination essays is like rowing upstream—if you don’t improve, you fall behind. They probably believe I can’t match young scholars anymore.”

“Only you, you reckless brat, still insist that this old man remains the same person who once achieved the unprecedented Seven First Places and whose eight-legged essays were unrivaled beneath heaven.”

His voice wasn’t quiet at all.

Everyone nearby heard every word.

“When we get back, finish writing out that essay and let me have a look.”

“I refuse to believe you could teach yourself mathematics…”

“…and then somehow teach yourself examination essays too.”

Zhang Shou answered without hesitation.

“It wasn’t written by me.”

“It’s just someone else’s practice essay.”

Behind him, Qi Liang’s mouth slowly formed a perfect O.

Little Master… don’t tell me…

You had me memorize ten flawless examination essays last night… just to build my reputation?

The next moment, he hurried after Ge Yong and Zhang Shou.

“Grand Master Ge, it wasn’t my—”

Ge Yong cut him off without even turning around.

“I know perfectly well it wasn’t yours.”

Then he turned and glared at Zhang Shou.

Only to find his youngest disciple looking back with complete sincerity.

“Actually…”

“It was one of the essays you left behind in Qingfeng Xulai Hall years ago.”

“I think it was something you wrote in your youth.”

“Teacher… don’t you remember?”

Your nerve keeps getting bigger and bigger…

As if I’d believe that!

Ge Yong immediately grabbed Zhang Shou by the collar and hauled him upstairs at top speed.

Watching the scene, Zhu Ying, who had been supporting Qi Jingshan, finally burst into laughter.

At that very moment, however, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and gently pulled her aside by the shoulder.

Qi Jingshan noticed the movement and looked back.

Seeing that it was the Dowager Duchess quietly speaking to Zhu Ying, he paid it no further attention.

“Yingying.”

“Go keep Princess Yongping occupied for a while.”

Seeing Zhu Ying’s astonishment, the Dowager Duchess lowered her voice.

“Let your Grandpa Ge bring Zhang Shou to meet Consort Yu first.”

“Zhang Shou’s birth mother once saved Consort Yu’s life.”

“Very few people know about it.”

Zhu Ying inhaled sharply.

Then she gave an indignant snort.

Nevertheless, she obeyed her grandmother’s instructions and immediately stormed toward Princess Yongping, blocking her path.

After discreetly confirming that her grandmother had intercepted Grandpa Qi…

That Chu Kuan had wandered downstairs with Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai, chatting leisurely…

And that A-Liu had gone back to standing silently in a corner facing the wall…

She finally relaxed.

Then she glared fiercely at Princess Yongping.

“You invited A-Shou here today…”

“…didn’t you have bad intentions from the very beginning?”

Hearing such a ridiculous excuse for picking a fight, the Dowager Duchess couldn’t help laughing inwardly.

Even if Princess Yongping wanted to hurry upstairs now, with Zhu Ying deliberately causing trouble, there was no chance of that.

Satisfied, she withdrew her attention and began cheerfully asking Qi Jingshan about his opinion of Zhang Shou, looking every bit the loving grandmother preparing to marry off her granddaughter.

Meanwhile, following Ge Yong, Zhang Shou arrived directly on the third floor.

When he saw Chang Ning—the palace steward who had welcomed him earlier—standing respectfully beside a plainly dressed woman with a simple coiled hairstyle…

His heart skipped a beat.

The next instant, Ge Yong stepped away from him, cupped his hands, and bowed.

“Greetings, Your Highness, Consort Yu.”

“Grand Tutor Ge.”

Consort Yu smiled gently.

Seeing her carefully studying him, Zhang Shou couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

He quickly bowed deeply.

“This humble one greets Your Highness.”

“Please, stand.”

“Please.”

She instinctively reached out as though to help him up.

Only then did she realize the impropriety of her action and quickly withdrew her hand.

“In the blink of an eye…”

“…sixteen years have passed.”

“…and you’ve grown so much.”

Those words were almost identical to what the Dowager Duchess had said when they first met.

Remembering that Zhu Ying shared his birthday…

Remembering that Princess Yongping also shared that same birthday…

Zhang Shou’s mind immediately exploded with every melodramatic possibility imaginable about his own birth.

But what happened next completely caught him off guard.

Consort Yu suddenly let out a long sigh.

Covering her face, she began to weep.

In a trembling voice, she said, “Yingying’s mother… and I…”

“…met your mother during a time of great turmoil.”

“If not for her…”

“…both of us would likely have died.”

“Even Yingying…”

“…and Mingyue…”

“…were able to come safely into this world because of your mother’s kindness.”

At that moment, Zhang Shou suddenly remembered something.

Zhu Ying often spoke about her grandmother…

Her father…

Her eldest brother…

Her second brother…

But she had almost never mentioned her mother.