APSIL -Chapter 79 One Thing Always Has Its Match

When Princess Yongping hurried up to the third floor, the scene that greeted her was utterly unexpected.

In one corner, Ge Yong was dragging Zhang Shou around while putting on a grand display of a strict master disciplining his disciple. Chu Kuan stood alone by the window, leisurely watching the Eight-Legged Essay contest unfolding below. Chang Ning remained beside Consort Yu, chatting with her casually as though nothing unusual had happened.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Princess Yongping quickly approached her mother. Though countless questions crowded her mind about what had transpired upstairs, the only word that left her lips was the familiar, subdued greeting.

“Mother.”

“Mmm.”

Consort Yu nodded. Seeing Zhu Ying helping the Dowager Lady upstairs behind her, she let her gaze pass over Princess Yongping and smiled warmly at the grandmother and granddaughter.

“It’s rare for me to come out and enjoy a little excitement, but I don’t understand these Eight-Legged Essays, and listening to them isn’t very interesting. Mingyue can’t leave here, so Yingying, why don’t you accompany me to Zhaoming Temple? I haven’t visited Ninth Sister in a long time.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Zhang Shou immediately noticed Zhu Ying’s face light up with excitement.

By contrast, Princess Yongping’s expression darkened considerably.

Remembering that Consort Yu had just spoken of his own late mother, Widow Zhang, by name, yet had referred to Zhu Ying’s mother only as “Ninth Sister” without mentioning where she lived, Zhang Shou suddenly understood.

So… Zhu Ying’s mother wasn’t living in the Duke Zhao Manor at all.

She was at Zhaoming Temple.

“Wonderful! I’ve wanted to take A-Shou to see Mother for ages.” Zhu Ying beamed. “Every time I visit, she only pats my head gently. She never speaks, never smiles, always treats me like a little girl, and refuses to come home. This time, if A-Shou asks her with me, surely she won’t refuse! Wasn’t it just one argument with Father years ago? At worst she can beat him up a little. Why ignore him forever?”

Zhang Shou nearly broke into a cold sweat at the young lady’s bold declaration.

Especially when he saw the Dowager Lady shaking her head helplessly.

He had just coughed, intending to say something, when Consort Yu beat him to it.

“Yingying, don’t talk nonsense. Your mother would never hit your father.” She smiled. “A-Shou still has to stay here with Grand Tutor Ge as one of the judges. After all, he offended one of the essay anthologists today. He can’t very well offend every scholar present as well.”

“It’ll just be the two of us. Your grandmother isn’t coming either. Your mother’s stubborn. Too many visitors will only make things worse. I didn’t bring many attendants today, so I’ll be relying on you to protect me.”

Unable to argue with Consort Yu, Zhu Ying reluctantly agreed.

At once, Zhang Shou called out softly.

“Yingying.”

He gestured toward a quiet corner.

She immediately walked over.

“Don’t worry about me,” Zhang Shou said quietly. “Master is here, and your grandmother is here too.”

“Hmph. I’m not worried about those useless people downstairs.” Zhu Ying snorted. “I’m worried Princess Yongping will keep making sarcastic remarks to needle you.”

After a pause, she sighed reluctantly.

“I really wanted to take you to meet Mother. She’s always been very kind to me. Every visit, she gives me clothes she made herself… A-Shou, it’s settled. Next time, I’ll take you.”

“All right, all right.”

Zhang Shou nodded repeatedly.

Seeing her spirits lift again, he asked, “By the way, where are Master Qi, Little Qi, Xiao Dai, and A-Liu?”

“Grandpa Qi is testing them!” Zhu Ying giggled mischievously.

“Little Qi and Xiao Dai are doing fine, but A-Liu is absolutely hilarious! He keeps pretending not to hear anything, acting like he’s deaf and mute!”

Zhang Shou had been worried about the three boys he’d brought along.

Hearing that A-Liu actually dared to deal with a renowned scholar and former high official like Qi Jingshan in such a manner, he couldn’t help laughing.

After the laughter faded, he looked at Zhu Ying seriously.

“When you see your mother… please say hello for me.”

“If possible, tell her…”

“…I know what happened back then now.”

“These years, I’ve lived safely and happily. I’m completely content.”

A look of astonishment filled Zhu Ying’s eyes.

She stared at him for quite some time.

But seeing no intention on his part to explain further, she could only huff.

“Not telling me, are you? Fine! When I get back, I’ll interrogate you properly!”

Like a gust of wind, the young lady returned to Consort Yu’s side.

After exchanging a few cheerful words, she pulled Consort Yu away.

They bid farewell to everyone present…except Princess Yongping and Zhang Shou.

Then they left without another glance.

Already accustomed to her temperament, Zhang Shou could only smile helplessly.

Not long after the group descended the stairs, Qi Jingshan arrived with Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai.

A-Liu trailed several steps behind.

When he finally reached the third floor, his expression remained as blank and unremarkable as ever.

No one would ever guess that just moments ago, with only a few words, he’d nearly driven someone into a fit of rage.

Only then did Princess Yongping finally let out a long breath.

The oppressive emotions weighing on her heart eased somewhat.

Yet when she saw Ge Yong immediately call Qi Jingshan over, seize the large writing desk as though it belonged to him, spread out paper, and begin furiously scribbling calculations, irritation once again welled up inside her.

Zhu Ying only judges people by their looks.

Mother has always treated her better than her own daughter…

Great scholars like Ge Yong and Qi Jingshan are obsessed with the trivial study of mathematics…

Father Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager have clearly been at odds for years, yet I have no idea what either of them truly wants…

Even those high-ranking officials who helped build my reputation among the capital’s talented scholars all harbor hidden motives…

By the time the Moonlight Pavilion Literary Gathering finally ended, it was already mid-afternoon.

Throughout the event, Zhang Shou had been dragged around by Ge Yong, working through an absurdly complicated repetitive calculation problem.

Even though the luncheon had been carefully prepared by Moonlight Pavilion’s renowned chefs, he barely tasted any of it.

He simply swallowed a few bites absentmindedly.

I came here for a literary gathering…

How did it turn into a mathematics seminar?

While Zhang Shou merely found the experience amusing, most of the scholars attending left feeling thoroughly dejected.

When the more than ten Eight-Legged Essays selected by the anthologists were presented before Ge Yong and Qi Jingshan…they were criticized from every conceivable angle.

In the end, only three essays survived the relentless scrutiny.

After praising those three, Grand Tutor Ge stood above the assembled scholars and declared in a booming voice, “When I passed every examination in succession and ultimately achieved the unprecedented distinction of placing first in all seven major examinations, many people thought it glorious.”

“But think carefully.”

“From the Tang and Song dynasties until today, how many Number One Scholars have there been?”

“How many of them can you actually remember?”

“The purpose of Eight-Legged Essays is to demonstrate your understanding of the teachings of the sages.”

“But after understanding them…”

“If one day you truly achieve success and enter government service…”

“…will you be able to write works worthy of being remembered for a thousand years?”

“My final disciple, Zhang Shou, has no intention of competing with you in the imperial examinations.”

“So don’t let certain people stir you up with promises of fame and use him as an easy target.”

“Yesterday, among those pretending to present essays outside my residence, someone already confessed on the spot that he had been acting under another person’s orders.”

“A man should live openly and honestly.”

“Don’t fail the examinations…”

“…only to earn yourselves a lifetime of disgrace.”

“Do you really think being called a salary parasite is some glorious title?”

Only after leaving Moonlight Pavilion did Zhang Shou finally feel a great weight lift from his shoulders.

The Dowager Lady invited him, Ge Yong, and Qi Jingshan into her carriage.

No sooner had everyone taken their seats than Ge Yong shot the Dowager Lady an irritated glare.

“It isn’t appropriate for Zhang Shou to continue living at your residence.”

“In a few days, make arrangements for him to move into mine.”

“Otherwise people will gossip.”

The Dowager Lady’s smile remained as serene as ever, but her response left no room for argument.

“Your residence was besieged just yesterday.”

“Can you guarantee such incidents won’t happen again?”

“Everyone now knows he’s your final disciple.”

“Yet people still challenged him today.”

“Besides…”

“A-Shou is Jing’er’s future son-in-law.”

“Wherever he lives, that fact won’t change.”

“So why worry about gossip?”

She turned to Zhang Shou with a gentle smile.

“A-Shou, what do you think?”

A headache immediately came over him.

On one side was Zhu Ying’s grandmother—the woman connected to Duke Zhao’s family, who had raised him all these years.

On the other was his teacher, who had treated him exceptionally well and never truly lost his temper despite repeatedly being forced to shoulder the blame for his antics.

Whose side could he possibly take?

Only for a moment did he hesitate.

Then he made up his mind.

“I’m planning to return to Rongshui Village today.”

Before either elder could continue arguing, he calmly explained, “Even if I’m going to become a Imperial Academy Doctor, I should first return home and tell Mother.”

“As for where I’ll stay the next time I come to the capital…”

“We can decide then.”

“No rush.”

Qi Jingshan, who had remained smiling silently all this time, finally spoke.

“I have a small two-courtyard residence in Tangzi Alley on the western side of the capital.”

“It was my old home.”

“After I moved, it became little more than a storage place.”

“If Zhang Shou has nowhere suitable to stay, I can have it cleaned up.”

“I’ll rent it to him cheaply.”

As though completely oblivious to Ge Yong’s murderous glare, he nodded politely toward the Dowager Lady.

“Tangzi Alley is just behind Zhao Manor Street.”

“It’ll be convenient for everyone to look after one another…”

“Qi Jingshan!”

Seeing his teacher instantly on the verge of exploding, Zhang Shou hurriedly grabbed the old man by the arm and gently patted his back.

“Master.”

“If I really do start teaching at the Imperial Academy, how often would I have time to come back?”

“Master Qi is only asking the Dowager Lady to help look after my mother.”

“Think about it.”

“Is the Imperial Academy closer to your residence…”

“…or to the Zhao Manor?”

Almost instantly, Ge Yong’s mood brightened.

The Dowager Lady and Qi Jingshan exchanged amused smiles.

It seemed Zhang Shou had already discovered exactly how to handle Ge Yong.

In the future…

…whether the master disciplined the student…

…or the student managed the master…

…was becoming increasingly difficult to say.