News spread like wildfire.
His Majesty would personally visit the Imperial Academy to reward the noble youths who had bravely fought the rebels, while also meeting the students to encourage diligence in learning.
When Luo Siye heard the announcement halfway through the morning court session, his first reaction was simple:
This is bad.
Utterly disastrous.
Only hours earlier, he had been dragged from his bed in the middle of the night to Jiuzhang Hall, only to be overwhelmed by a barrage of obscure mathematical terminology from The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Arts before retreating in defeat. Now, before he had even recovered, the Emperor had suddenly decided to inspect the Imperial Academy in person.
Jiuzhang Hall couldn’t possibly be restored overnight.
Not when so much of it was falling apart.
Luo Siye desperately hoped that Director Zhou Xun would speak up and persuade the Emperor to postpone the visit.
Even delaying it by a day would help.
Instead, he watched Zhou Xun calmly stroke his beard with an approving smile, apparently delighted that the Emperor intended to visit.
The Grand Secretaries and Ministers exchanged uncertain glances, hesitated briefly…and ultimately offered no objection.
Luo Siye was crushed.
If only Xu Heida had been a little smarter last night and pounded on a few more officials’ doors…
Most people had probably assumed those young aristocrats escorting Zhang Shou to the Imperial Academy was merely childish horseplay.
No one imagined they’d actually caused such a massive commotion.
In the end…
It was all the Founding Emperor’s fault.
Why did only officials of the fifth rank and above attend the daily morning court?
The rest attended every three, five, or nine days.
Otherwise, if all the Academy doctors had been present today, word would have spread early enough for everyone to stop the Emperor from going to the Imperial Academy.
Meanwhile, back at the Imperial Academy…
Not long after Zhang Shou received the news, Zhang Chen and the others came flooding in.
Every single one wore the official robes of Academy students.
Every single face radiated excitement.
When Zhang Shou asked how they’d learned the news, the answer was unanimous.
“Miss Zhu sent someone to tell us.”
The moment they’d heard the Emperor would personally reward them at the Imperial Academy…
Even those who’d been confined by their families after returning home the previous night had immediately been released, washed, dressed, and sent over.
Thus Zhu Ying found herself surrounded by grateful young nobles thanking her repeatedly.
The same people who’d once felt embarrassed about clinging to the Zhao Duke family’s influence were now immensely thankful.
After receiving an imperial reward…
How could their status within their own households not rise?
Then Lu Sanlang proudly recounted everything that had happened during the previous night.
Everyone listened with growing regret.
If only they’d stayed…
They’d have witnessed such a spectacular performance.
Even Zhang Chen, who usually couldn’t stand Lu Sanlang, had to admit one thing.
There was no way he could ever wield The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Arts well enough to toy with an entire group of Academy instructors.
He had absolutely no idea what Yangma or Bienao even were.
After the noisy excitement finally settled down, Lu Sanlang suddenly slapped his forehead.
“My student robes are still at home!”
Then he looked toward Zhang Shou.
“Teacher…”
“What about your official robes?”
Official robes…
Zhang Shou froze for a moment before smiling bitterly.
What official robes?
He’d only been unexpectedly appointed an Imperial Academy Doctor two days ago.
After that he’d hurried home.
Yesterday afternoon he’d rushed back to the capital.
Then he’d spent the entire night cleaning Jiuzhang Hall.
When exactly was he supposed to have official robes made?
The Founding Emperor had once introduced a policy providing officials with publicly funded uniforms.
Later administrations abolished it because it cost too much.
Nowadays, apart from the top three palace examination graduates and a handful of senior officials specially granted ceremonial robes…
Every other official had to prepare his own attire.
At that moment, Zhu Ying slapped her forehead.
She had only just realized the same problem.
Her eyes darted rapidly as she searched for a solution.
After thinking briefly, Zhang Shou laughed.
“Zhu Ying.”
“There’s no need to worry.”
“Lu Sanlang and I can simply appear like this.”
“What?”
Zhu Ying looked him up and down in horror.
“A-Shou!”
“How can that be acceptable?”
“Look at your clothes!”
“You already looked travel-worn yesterday.”
“After spending all night cleaning Jiuzhang Hall, you’re in even worse shape.”
“Never mind the minor matter of appearing improperly dressed before His Majesty.”
“If the Emperor sees you looking like this…”
“…he’ll surely lament that a precious pearl has been buried beneath dust!”
Silence.
Utter silence.
Appearing improperly dressed before the Emperor… is a minor matter?
And is “a pearl buried beneath dust” really the right expression here…?
After a long pause…
Lu Sanlang muttered weakly, “I don’t have anything to change into either…”
Immediately Zhu Ying shot him a disdainful glare.
“Whose fault is it that nothing looks good on you?”
The merciless contempt nearly reduced Lu Sanlang to tears.
What’s wrong with being fat?
Isn’t a broad mind and broad body practically the image of a proper court official?
Seeing Zhang Chen already laughing aloud, Zhang Shou quickly stepped in.
“Zhu Ying.”
“I’m not saying we’ll meet His Majesty covered in dust.”
“Even if we wanted to…”
“…someone else certainly wouldn’t allow it.”
“So there’s no need to search for official robes ourselves.”
“Someone will naturally send them.”
Turning toward Lu Sanlang, he added, “And your family will send your student robes as well.”
Lu Sanlang snorted.
“As if I care.”
Even so…
The thought that his father—no matter how much he disliked him—would still have to send him proper clothing made Lu Sanlang feel strangely satisfied.
He completely forgot that his father had already gone to morning court.
If anyone remembered to send his clothes…
It would surely be his mother.
Exactly as Zhang Shou predicted…
Not long after Zhu Ying arrived with the good news and Zhang Chen’s group reached Jiuzhang Hall…
Xu Heida appeared again.
The usually expressionless Discipline Superintendent managed an awkward attempt at a smile.
But when he learned Zhang Shou had no official robes and Lu Sanlang’s uniform was still at home—and that the two intended to meet the Emperor dressed exactly as they were—
His already dark face somehow became even darker.
He came in a hurry.
He left in an even greater hurry.
The news reached the Academy doctors.
They were furious.
Luo Siye, who had practically dragged Director Zhou Xun back to the Academy, was equally exasperated.
Only then did Zhou Xun finally learn the entire story amid everyone’s emotional complaints.
Unlike the younger men, however, the veteran official remained calm.
“Lu Sanlang’s family will certainly send his student uniform.”
“We needn’t worry about that.”
“As for Doctor Zhang…”
He spoke the title Doctor with obvious reluctance.
After looking around the room, he asked Luo Siye, “Which of you has a build closest to his?”
“Lend him an official robe immediately.”
“He must not appear improperly dressed before His Majesty.”
“The matter of Jiuzhang Hall is already troublesome enough.”
“If the Emperor sees him covered in dust…”
“…there’s no telling who will end up bearing His Majesty’s anger.”
Those final words struck home.
The doctors exchanged unwilling glances.
Eventually…
One man, whose figure roughly matched Zhang Shou’s, was pushed forward.
He nearly burst into tears.
Zhang Shou was only sixteen.
He himself was already past thirty.
In a few years, not only would Zhang Shou almost certainly outrank him…
The young man would probably be taller as well.
Worse still…
He had to lend out the brand-new seventh-rank official robes he’d had tailored at the beginning of the year.
He had carefully saved them for an important occasion.
Now…
Someone else would wear them.
Someone else would shine in them.
About half an hour later…
Lu Sanlang’s mother sent over an entirely new set of student robes.
He owned only two sets in total.
One had barely been worn.
The other had never been worn at all.
It perfectly illustrated just how outrageously often this proud Academy student had skipped class.
Of course…
Most of his classmates from Banshan Hall weren’t much better.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shou also changed into the borrowed robes of a seventh-rank official.
After washing up and dressing properly, he appeared before everyone once again.
Zhu Ying praised him sincerely.
The group of young nobles enthusiastically echoed her compliments.
Even the elderly doctor who had reluctantly lent out his treasured robes couldn’t help muttering sourly, “Clothes truly do make the man.”
“Nonsense.”
Zhu Ying immediately retorted.
“It’s good clothes that need the right person to wear them.”
After the old doctor departed…
Zhu Ying muttered another complaint under her breath.
Then she saw Zhang Shou standing there, surrounded by a crowd of elegantly dressed young nobles who looked like stars encircling the moon.
Suddenly she stamped her foot in annoyance.
I miscalculated!
I forgot to drag Second Brother here this morning!
The thought had barely crossed her mind when someone shouted, “Miss!”
Everyone looked up.
Not only Zhu Ying…
Even Zhang Shou recognized the familiar voice.
Walking in front with a tragic expression was Zhu Er, dressed in Academy robes.
Behind him came Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai.
Trailing at the rear like an escort was, naturally, A-Liu.
After they arrived, Qi Liang smiled helplessly.
“The Grand Madam said…”
“Second Young Master is also an Academy student.”
“Since His Majesty is coming to encourage the students…”
“…he naturally ought to receive some inspiration as well.”
He hesitated before continuing awkwardly, “As for Xiaodai and me…”
“The Grand Madam said that since family members are allowed to enter the Academy…”
“…and we’re Teacher’s students…”
“…that makes us family too.”
“So we should also come and receive some inspiration.”
Zhu Ying burst into delighted laughter.
Zhang Shou, meanwhile…
Could only marvel at the Grand Madam’s audacity.
At such an important moment, with the Emperor about to arrive…
She had somehow managed to sneak in two extra “family members” on top of Zhu Ying.
If that logic held…
Then what category did A-Liu belong to?
Were the Academy gatekeepers merely decorative?
At that moment, A-Liu stepped forward expressionlessly and delivered one final message from the Grand Madam.
“While you go welcome His Majesty…”
“…I’ll stay here and watch Jiuzhang Hall.”
Only then did Zhang Shou truly understand.
The older generation was indeed wiser.
The Grand Madam had just eliminated the Academy’s final chance to secretly patch things up before the Emperor arrived.
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