APSIL -Chapter 83 Doctor Zhang Heads to the Capital

Early the next morning, Zhang Shou had barely finished washing and dressing when A-Liu came hurrying over with a message that sent him straight to the front gate before he had even eaten breakfast.

There, he found nearly every boy in the village between the ages of eight and twenty standing outside, escorted by their parents and elders.

There were nine of them in total.

The older boys’ faces were filled with anticipation, while the younger ones simply looked bewildered.

A headache immediately came over Zhang Shou.

He stepped forward and patiently explained the situation to everyone.

In the end, he chose only two.

One was Yang Hao, the second grandson of the crafty old Yang.

The other was Qiao Dang, the son of Qiao Hu, the village’s strongest plowman.

Both were thirteen years old—strong enough to work, old enough to understand instructions, yet still young enough to be obedient.

Only after everything was settled did Zhang Shou realize that every child who had come was a boy.

There wasn’t a single little girl among them.

As he packed up the books in his house, he casually mentioned this to Madam Wu.

Her answer left him both amused and speechless.

“When those young noble masters came to study at Cuiyun Residence, didn’t they all bring male servants instead of maidservants?”

“So I figured that’s simply how things are in the capital.”

“And I think that’s the proper way.”

“A real man should have masculine spirit.”

“What kind of man spends all day surrounded by women?”

Mother…

Those fellows only avoided bringing maids because they came here for Zhu Ying!

If the young lady saw them showing up with pretty servant girls, what would she think?

If the capital really had a custom forbidding young men from keeping maidservants before marriage… every noble youth in the city would probably cry themselves to sleep.

Though Zhang Shou found the thought both funny and ridiculous, he let it go.

After the upheavals of his previous life, his temperament had changed dramatically, and his standards had become exceptionally high.

When the lively, vibrant Zhu Ying had suddenly entered his life in this world, he’d instinctively tried to keep his distance.

Now…

Little by little…

Her cheerful and uninhibited personality had begun influencing him.

So much so that even someone as breathtakingly beautiful and delicate as Princess Yongping no longer stirred him in the slightest.

Compared with Zhu Ying…

She seemed almost wooden.

As for ordinary girls…

He barely spared them a glance.

If Madam Wu didn’t want maidservants, then so be it.

After all, anyone they hired would ultimately be serving her.

As for himself…

He expected to spend most of his days in the Imperial Academy—a veritable monastery full of scholars.

Thinking this, he laughed the matter off and changed the subject.

By the time noon approached, Zhang Shou had finally packed all of his belongings.

Just as he was debating whether to leave tomorrow or the day after…

A loud commotion erupted outside.

Immediately afterward, A-Liu appeared before him.

“The Young Lady is here.”

Zhang Shou blinked in surprise.

The next moment, the curtain was flung open.

Zhu Ying strode straight inside.

Clad in brilliant crimson, she looked like a blazing flame.

Noticing the wind-tousled strands of hair across her forehead, Zhang Shou instantly realized she had ridden a horse instead of coming by carriage.

He smiled as he stepped forward.

“I was just wondering whether to leave tomorrow or the day after.”

“How did you arrive so quickly?”

“And right around lunchtime too.”

“We haven’t started eating yet.”

“Did you come all this way just to freeload a meal?”

“I…”

Zhu Ying’s face immediately turned alternating shades of red and white.

She held it in for several moments before finally exploding.

“It’s all Grandmother’s fault for tricking me!”

“She told me that after Consort Yu and I left yesterday, you still told Eunuch Chu that you didn’t want to become a Doctor of the Imperial Academy.”

“She even said you might submit another memorial declining the appointment!”

Zhang Shou burst into hearty laughter.

In an instant, every trace of homesickness vanished.

Seeing Zhu Ying glare furiously before spinning around to leave like a whirlwind, he hurriedly called to the bewildered A-Liu.

“Quick!”

“Go after Yingying.”

“Tell her I shouldn’t have laughed.”

“I’ll cook personally to apologize.”

Although Zhu Ying had initially been thoroughly embarrassed, she had never been one to hold grudges.

Even though it was A-Liu delivering the apology…

The moment she heard Zhang Shou himself would be cooking for her, her anger instantly disappeared.

She had ridden hard all morning and was starving.

During lunch, she devoured dish after dish with astonishing enthusiasm.

After finally setting down her chopsticks, she declared, “A-Shou, Aunt Wu…”

“Since everything’s already packed…”

“Let’s leave this afternoon.”

“We’ll spend the night in the capital.”

Madam Wu hadn’t originally intended to leave in such a hurry.

But seeing Zhu Ying’s flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes—and knowing she’d likely ridden out at dawn—she readily nodded.

“Very well.”

“No day is better than today.”

“We’ll leave immediately.”

Zhang Shou could only laugh helplessly.

Before he could even think of an objection, both women turned toward him simultaneously.

“A-Shou.”

“We’ll leave first.”

“The luggage can follow later.”

“I’ll tell Lu Sanlang and Zhang Chen.”

“They’re probably eager to return anyway.”

Madam Wu nodded in agreement.

“Listen to Yingying.”

“Just bring the clothes.”

“The rest can come afterward.”

Zhang Shou sighed.

Fine.

I won’t even bother expressing an opinion anymore.

Whenever the decisive young lady took action, she swept through the village like a tornado.

No one stood in her way.

Lu Sanlang had originally planned to stay behind for several more days before moving directly into the Imperial Academy dormitories.

But when everyone else enthusiastically agreed to escort Zhang Shou to the capital, he reluctantly gave in as well.

As for the Yang and Qiao families…

There wasn’t the slightest reluctance.

They immediately packed clothes for their grandsons and sons.

Qi Liang also deliberated before deciding to accompany Zhang Shou to the capital to continue studying in preparation for the upcoming provincial examination.

Before the afternoon hour of Wei had even arrived, the entire party was ready to depart.

Old Liu and Aunt Liu remained behind.

They would accompany the baggage to the capital the following day alongside several servants from the Zhao household.

The other young nobles also left their attendants behind to finish packing, while they themselves proudly mounted their horses with only their personal guards accompanying them.

As several villagers stepped forward to see them off, they looked at one another before taking deep breaths and shouting in unison, “Farewell to Doctor Zhang!”

“May you soar straight into the heavens!”

“May your future be limitless!”

At that moment, Zhang Shou was speaking with Zhu Ying atop his horse.

Hearing the sudden chorus…

He was completely stunned.

Then more villagers caught on.

Soon everyone joined in.

Even the children, who had no idea what was happening, excitedly echoed the cheers.

Zhang Shou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The title Doctor Zhang triggered an entirely different association in his mind.

He remembered how, after graduating from university in his previous life, he’d wanted nothing more than to fool around instead of continuing his studies.

His parents had eventually forced him to study overseas.

The doctorate he’d obtained there…

Was from one of those dubious diploma mills that wasn’t much better than the infamous Claflin-style fake universities.

Even after they officially set off, the cries of “Doctor Zhang!” continued ringing in his ears.

Not only had the spoiled young nobles joined the chanting…

Even Zhu Ying had happily shouted it once or twice.

Riding along, Zhang Shou sighed again.

Then he suddenly heard Zhang Chen muttering from behind.

“Little Teacher has already become a Doctor of the Imperial Academy.”

“What about the rewards for the rest of us?”

Before Zhang Shou could answer, Zhu Ying spoke first.

“After visiting Mother yesterday, I specifically accompanied Consort Yu into the palace to ask His Majesty for rewards.”

“He said that even official military campaigns suffer casualties.”

“But all of us accomplished this with hardly anyone injured.”

“That’s an extraordinary achievement.”

“So…”

“To reward everyone for both your courage and wisdom…”

“After we return to the capital, His Majesty will hold a banquet in the palace.”

“That’s when your rewards will be bestowed.”

The moment the words courage and wisdom were spoken…

The young masters collectively fell silent.

Well…

Getting drugged unconscious by Zhu Ying probably counts as courage and wisdom… doesn’t it?

Of course it does.

Not getting in the way was also contributing to the greater good.

But the moment Zhu Ying mentioned an imperial banquet…

The entire group erupted.

Most of them were sons of dukes, marquises, counts, or high-ranking officials.

Many of their fathers and elder brothers saw the Emperor almost daily.

But they themselves…

Aside from Zhang Chen—who, as the sole son of the Duke of Qin, was naturally included in everything—

The others had, at best, only glimpsed the Emperor from afar once in their lives.

Someone suddenly shouted, “Long live His Majesty!”

Immediately afterward…

Voices erupted from every direction.

“Long live the Emperor!”

“Long live! Long live! Long live!”

The deafening cheers made Zhang Shou’s scalp tingle.

Fortunately, they were still traveling along country roads instead of the main highway.

Otherwise, every passerby would have stopped to stare.

Even so, the noise frightened countless birds and insects from the surrounding fields.

Since all the heavy baggage had been left behind in Rongshui Village, and everyone carried only valuables while riding horses or traveling in light carriages…

The thirty-li journey passed quickly.

They finally entered Chongwen Gate just before sunset.

Although more than half the group were descendants of dukes and marquises, and most of the remainder came from families with officials of the third rank or above…

The city gates granted no special treatment.

Miss the closing time…

And the only way into the capital was trembling inside a suspended basket hoisted over the walls.

Hearing the deep tolling bell from the Drum Tower announcing the gates’ closing, Zhu Ying let out a long breath before complaining, “The Founding Emperor once said that in an age of peace, the capital’s gates should remain open from dawn until night.”

“That’s the confidence worthy of a great empire.”

“He praised the Song Dynasty for abolishing night curfews…”

“And cursed the Yuan Dynasty’s curfew as a step backward.”

“In the end, the curfew was abolished.”

“But keeping the city gates open all the time proved impossible.”

Zhang Shou chuckled.

As someone accustomed to modern nightlife beneath brilliant electric lights…

He naturally disliked curfews.

But…

Leaving the capital’s gates permanently open?

Even by this world’s standards…

That was still far too ahead of its time.

People simply wouldn’t feel safe.

Yet no sooner had he silently praised the abolition of the curfew than he noticed something else.

Neither side of the street was emptying as people hurried home.

Instead…

Passersby stopped one after another.

They pointed.

Whispered.

Gathered.

Soon…

The crowd looked as though it were preparing to line the streets to welcome their enormous procession.

Zhang Shou immediately felt another headache coming on.

Unfortunately…

That wasn’t the end of it.

Just as the spectators’ curiosity reached its peak…

Lu Sanlang suddenly shouted, “Since we’ve already escorted Little Teacher back to the capital to assume his post as Doctor of the Imperial Academy…”

“We might as well finish the job properly!”

“Let’s escort him directly to the Imperial Academy!”

“Everyone agrees, right?”

Zhang Chen immediately roared, “Agreed!”

The other noble youths answered with thunderous enthusiasm.

Even Zhu Ying looked caught completely off guard.

At that moment…

Enlightenment struck Zhang Shou.

He had tricked these self-delivered students far too many times.

Now…

Retribution had finally arrived.

Look at them.

Those little rascals had secretly united behind his back.

This time…

It was his turn to be set up.