APSIL -Chapter 91 The Plaque of the Nine Chapters Hall Hides the Founder’s Secret Manuscripts?

Listening to the Emperor personally recount stories about the Founding Emperor was something Zhang Shou had never even imagined.

Now he finally understood why Zhu Ying was always quoting “The Founding Emperor once said…” Perhaps she had learned it from her father, Duke Zhao Zhu Jing, or from the Old Madam. But there was another possibility—

She had learned it directly from the Emperor himself.

Because as the Emperor strolled leisurely through the Imperial Academy, he too repeatedly began every story with: “The Founding Emperor once said…”

It was obvious this wasn’t his first visit to the Academy. Whenever they reached a building, he paid little attention to the instructors or servants bowing respectfully. Instead, he would point here and there while recounting anecdotes from the Founding Emperor’s time.

“The Founding Emperor often said that kneeling was the highest form of etiquette. A man’s knees are worth gold—how could he kneel at every opportunity? Even during the Song Dynasty, officials didn’t kneel at every court session. Since our dynasty drove out the northern invaders, our ceremonial customs should likewise return to the ancient rites. People should not be made to kneel so casually. Thus, after ascending the throne, he decreed that kneeling would be required only during the three annual Grand Courts. All other occasions would follow simpler etiquette.”

It was Zhang Shou’s first time hearing these stories, so he listened with genuine interest.

The others, however, had heard these tales from their elders countless times before. Yet none of them dared show the slightest boredom. That alone was torture.

But the ones suffering most were undoubtedly Zhou Xun and the Imperial Academy officials, who had never expected Chu Kuan to lie so brazenly with a straight face.

No one had imagined the Emperor would arrive this quickly.

Whenever the Emperor stopped outside a lecture hall to listen in, the professors and teaching assistants became so nervous they began stammering, while the students—who had rushed over in a panic that morning—barely dared to breathe.

If the Emperor hadn’t refrained from interrupting classes with questions, Luo Siye felt his heart would have leapt straight out of his throat.

Even so, watching Zhang Shou and those young dandies accompanying the Emperor like an honor guard, while Zhu Ying dragged Zhu Er along beside them chatting away, filled him with envy.

One more step above the fourth rank…

In the Six Ministries that meant Vice Minister.

In the Grand Secretariat…

Well, it wasn’t impossible.

After all, as long as one remained in the Emperor’s favor, there were those who had risen to the highest offices in a single bound.

Of course, entering the Grand Secretariat without the proper recommendation process would invite ridicule…

So Luo Siye could only trail far behind the Emperor together with several clerks from the Registrar’s Office.

What puzzled him most was why Zhou Xun, the Director of the Imperial Academy, remained so composed. He had simply handed everything over to Zhang Shou and withdrawn completely from the Emperor’s side.

After winding through the Academy for some time, Luo Siye finally spotted a familiar building in the distance.

At the same time, he found Zhou Xun.

Only then did he understand why the Director had disappeared.

Zhou Xun stood before Nine Chapters Hall, accompanied by over a dozen servants carrying buckets and cleaning cloths. Beside them lay a long object wrapped in red cloth.

And directly opposite them…

A lone youth of sixteen or seventeen stood blocking their way.

Zhou Xun clearly intended to clean up Nine Chapters Hall in haste and reinstall the Founding Emperor’s plaque.

Yet he had been stopped.

Despite having more than a dozen people on his side, every attempt to force their way through had been effortlessly blocked by the youth.

One servant even charged forward carrying a shoulder pole as a weapon, only to have it snatched away and be beaten back in utter humiliation.

Watching the absurd spectacle of the many being held off by a single boy, Luo Siye almost wanted to laugh.

But when he saw the Emperor approaching with Zhang Shou and the others, his heart immediately climbed back into his throat.

“Well done, A-Liu!”

Zhu Ying’s sudden shout jolted Zhou Xun awake from his frustrated fury.

Turning around slowly, he saw that the Emperor had already arrived.

His face instantly turned deathly pale.

Everything had been carefully planned.

While Zhang Shou and the others went to greet the imperial procession, he intended to clean up Nine Chapters Hall with lightning speed.

The rotten floorboards couldn’t be repaired in time, but everything else could at least be tidied up.

Yet after arranging instructors and students in their lecture halls, when he hurried over, he discovered that the servants he’d dispatched had all been blocked by a single youth.

Even after personally stepping in to scold him, nothing changed.

Not only couldn’t they clean the hall—

They couldn’t even hang the plaque.

And now…

The Emperor had arrived with astonishing speed.

Helplessly, Zhou Xun watched as the Emperor strode closer until he stood directly before A-Liu.

The silent youth finally stepped aside, bowed deeply, and saluted.

Zhou Xun clenched his teeth.

So the mute knows who the Emperor is!

To both Zhou Xun and Zhang Shou’s surprise, however, the Emperor stopped and asked, “So you’re A-Liu?”

“Yes.”

Even before the Emperor, A-Liu remained sparing with words.

Zhou Xun nearly exploded with anger.

You’re not mute at all! Then why didn’t you answer a single word I said just now?!

“Hua Qi told me that on the night of the fourteenth of the eighth month, you fought off the rebels and even knocked aside an assassin’s arrow. Well done. A famous master truly produces outstanding disciples.”

A-Liu simply lowered his head, showing little reaction to the praise.

The Emperor didn’t mind.

Turning to glance at Zhou Xun and the servants, he asked calmly, “Now then… would someone care to explain what exactly is happening here?”

Zhang Shou stopped Lu Sanlang, who was itching to jump in, then silenced Zhu Ying with a glance.

His objective had essentially been achieved.

There was no need to kick someone while they were already down.

If Zhou Xun started twisting the truth, he could always step in later.

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Xun finally spoke honestly.

“Your Majesty, Nine Chapters Hall was established by the Founding Emperor himself for the study of mathematics. However, as no students wished to study the subject for many years, and no instructors remained proficient in it, the hall has stood empty.”

“The plaque personally inscribed by the Founding Emperor is an invaluable treasure. Therefore, this subject ordered it removed and stored safely in the Academy treasury, lest wind and rain damage it.”

“As for the hall itself… its neglect has indeed been my oversight. Spider webs fill the rooms, the floors have rotted, and the furniture is covered in dust. Had Doctor Zhang not brought Lu Zhu here to clean it last night, this subject would still have remained unaware.”

Having finished speaking, Zhou Xun dropped to both knees and kowtowed deeply, sincerely pleading guilty.

Watching this, Zhang Shou secretly sneered.

The moment he realized he couldn’t cover it up, he immediately admitted fault. Quick to cut his losses.

But just then—

A minor official standing quietly beside the red-wrapped plaque suddenly raised his head and shouted, “Your Majesty! The Director is avoiding the real issue!”

“He knew the Founding Emperor’s plaque was hollow—that inside it were hidden one hundred secret manuscripts left by the Founding Emperor!”

“That is why he removed it and hid it in the treasury! He has been trying every possible way to retrieve those secret writings!”

The declaration struck everyone dumb.

Luo Siye, who had secretly followed behind, stared in complete disbelief.

The young noble students were equally stunned.

Yet the most astonished of all was none other than Zhu Ying.

Without thinking, she pinched her second brother’s arm hard.

Only after hearing him yelp did she glare fiercely at him.

Zhu Er immediately clamped his mouth shut like a chicken being strangled.

After glaring at her brother, Zhu Ying muttered under her breath, “So it wasn’t a dream after all… But how could the plaque possibly contain the Founding Emperor’s secret manuscripts? That’s just like those sensational stories sold in bookshops!”

Meanwhile, cold sweat poured down Zhou Xun’s forehead.

He opened his mouth—

But no sound came out.

Panicking, he slammed his forehead heavily against the ground.

Only the pain finally forced words from his throat.

“Your Majesty! Nothing of the sort has ever happened!”

The Emperor paid no attention to Zhou Xun’s frantic denial.

Instead, he stared fixedly at the plaque.

Then he strode forward, tore away the red cloth covering it, revealing the bold calligraphy:

Nine Chapters Hall.

He knocked first on the center of the plaque, then around its edges.

Tilting his head, he listened carefully to the different sounds.

A smile slowly spread across his face.

“So then…”

“Do you think…”

“I ought to split this plaque open and see whether the Founding Emperor really did leave behind a secret collection of manuscripts?”