APSIL -Chapter 96 A Show of Resolve… and “I Don’t Know”

After writing up a list of terms labeled “For Teacher’s Reference Only” and asking Ge Yong to “consider” them, Zhang Shou noticed the old man had become completely absorbed in pondering each entry.

Taking the opportunity, he politely excused himself.

Sure enough, Ge Yong, who was busy wrestling with concepts like density, volume, capacity, square pyramids, and countless other unfamiliar terms, barely paid him any attention. Stroking his beard while thinking, he waved his hand impatiently.

“Go, go. But remember to visit often. If you don’t come, I’ll personally drag you over from the Imperial College!”

Leaving the study with A-Liu—who had spent the entire time pretending to be invisible—Zhang Shou glanced at an elderly servant sweeping the courtyard before turning to his silent companion.

“I was discussing all sorts of complicated things with Teacher just now. If you found it boring, you could’ve gone outside for some fresh air.”

A-Liu merely curled the corner of his lips without replying.

Only after they reached the front gate of the Ge residence did he quietly say, “It was interesting.”

Zhang Shou had no idea whether A-Liu meant that the discussion itself was interesting, that Ge Yong’s childlike temperament was interesting, or that Zhang Shou’s various tricks for coaxing his teacher were interesting.

In any case, as he stepped over the threshold, he decided not to dwell on those three simple words lest he ended up overthinking them.

No sooner had he planted both feet outside than a familiar voice called out.

“A-Shou! You finally came out!”

Looking up, he saw Zhu Ying hurrying toward him.

He couldn’t help being surprised.

“Yingying?”

Hadn’t Ge Yong said he’d chased her away because he was annoyed she’d arranged for Madam Wu to stay at Qi Jingshan’s house instead of his own?

Had she never actually left?

How long had she been waiting?

Stopping just a few paces before him, Zhu Ying saw the surprise—and perhaps concern—on his face and smiled brightly.

“Grandpa Ge always chases people away whenever he disagrees with them. I’m used to it by now. Why would I take it personally?”

“I didn’t leave. I spent the time teasing the soldiers from the Sharp Cavalry Battalion who were accompanying His Majesty.”

“That was pretty fun too.”

Teasing the Emperor’s personal guards…

That really is something only you would dare do.

And the Emperor had left quite some time ago.

Which meant she’d waited for him for quite a while.

Just as Zhang Shou was thinking this, Zhu Ying’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“Neither Grandmother nor His Majesty nor the Empress Dowager will tell me how Father and Elder Brother are doing. The rumors outside are all over the place.”

“So I figured this was a rare opportunity.”

“I thought I’d try my luck and see if I could pry some information out of the people around His Majesty.”

“Thankfully, my efforts paid off.”

“I finally got two of them to talk.”

“Father and Duke Chu of Xuanfu are about to launch their offensive.”

The Emperor’s attendants gave away military information that easily?

Or… did the Emperor already know she’d come asking and deliberately instruct someone to tell her?

Seeing that Zhu Ying was worried about her father and brother, Zhang Shou was already considering how to comfort her.

But what she said next immediately made him abandon that thought.

“Worrying about the war won’t help.”

“I can’t do anything about it anyway.”

“So don’t try to comfort me, A-Shou.”

“But perhaps there are other things I can do.”

“I hope you’ll help me.”

“Of course.”

Ordinarily, Zhang Shou liked to think things through before agreeing to anything.

Yet this time, without even asking what she wanted, he answered almost instinctively.

“Just tell me.”

His immediate agreement made Zhu Ying beam.

Then she lowered her eyes.

The delight on her face gradually faded, replaced by solemn determination.

“I want to find out why Lu Sanlang’s father, Minister of War Lu Wan, has been targeting my father.”

“And why he’s been trying to arrange a marriage between Lu Sanlang and me while doing everything he can to win over my second brother.”

“The day before yesterday, after you went back to the village, I escorted Her Highness Consort Yu back to the palace.”

“As soon as I got home, Second Brother came looking for me.”

“He was drunk.”

“He cried.”

“He first told me about how he’d tried to make trouble for you that day, only to be scolded by Grandmother instead.”

“He knows Grandmother wasn’t defending you.”

“She was angry because he failed to realize Lu Wan had deceived him.”

“He also said Grandmother told him something after you left.”

‘It’s time for you to grow up.’

“I kept thinking about those words.”

“In the end I realized…”

“It’s not just Second Brother.”

“I need to grow up too.”

“Maybe I can’t help Father and Elder Brother.”

“Maybe I’ll never possess Grandmother’s wisdom and experience.”

“But at the very least…”

“I don’t want to remain completely ignorant.”

Hearing her declaration, Zhang Shou suddenly remembered himself in his previous life.

Once reckless and carefree…

Until harsh reality had forced him to grow up overnight.

Compared to what he’d experienced, this noble young lady—still surrounded by love and protection—had already reached the realization that she needed to mature and shoulder some responsibility.

That alone was remarkable.

Smiling, he nodded.

“If your father and elder brother knew you were trying to help them from the capital, they’d be deeply gratified.”

“So…”

“What do you plan to do?”

“I don’t know.”

…

Zhang Shou’s smile froze.

You made such an inspiring speech…

And then you tell me you have absolutely no plan?

Are you kidding me?

Zhu Ying looked at him righteously, completely unapologetic.

“I’ve always lived surrounded by attendants, dressed in fine clothes, riding fast horses.”

“Everyone has always indulged me.”

“The people around me were all useless blockheads like Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang…”

“…Well, maybe they’re not complete blockheads anymore.”

“But anyway…”

“Someone like Lu Wan has always treated me politely to my face.”

“I’ve never actually dealt with him.”

“I don’t understand him at all.”

“So…”

“Isn’t that exactly why I came to you?”

“You’ll definitely think of something!”

That really is such a young lady thing to say…

Rubbing his temples, Zhang Shou felt a headache coming on.

I’ve only just arrived in the capital myself!

I’m just as clueless!

Everywhere I look are powerful figures.

Everywhere are situations I don’t understand.

I’m not omniscient!

As he struggled for an answer, A-Liu suddenly spoke in his usual quiet tone.

“Young Master.”

“His Majesty said repairs to Jiuzhang Hall will take some time.”

“He also gave Zhang Chen and the others several more days off.”

“He said they could enjoy their freedom a little longer before getting back to being proper Imperial College students.”

“So…”

“You have plenty of time.”

Zhang Shou immediately turned to glare at him.

Is this a question of having enough time?

It’s a question of lacking information!

And you…

You usually treat every word like it’s made of gold.

Why are you suddenly talking so much?

What Zhang Shou didn’t know was that when A-Liu had accompanied Zhu Ying to Qi Liang’s home to watch Zhang Shou teach, he’d been just as talkative.

Zhu Ying, however, noticed the change.

Her face lit up as she smiled sweetly at A-Liu.

“I knew it.”

“A-Liu, you’re just like your young master.”

“Kind-hearted and always willing to help others.”

Zhang Shou nearly choked.

So if this righteous country boy backs out now, he’ll become a coward who shirks responsibility?

All he could do was sigh helplessly.

“Fine.”

“Three ordinary cobblers together are worth one Zhuge Liang.”

“Solutions are something you think up.”

“So…”

“We’ll just think while we walk.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than A-Liu calmly replied, “Don’t count me.”

This time even Zhu Ying burst into laughter.

“A-Liu only knows how to fight.”

“I’m the same—I can’t come up with clever ideas either.”

“If you’re looking for cobblers, don’t count either of us.”

“Let’s head back to the Imperial College and find Lu Sanlang!”

“He insisted on staying there instead of going home.”

“Supervisor Xu from the Discipline Office couldn’t persuade him otherwise, so he had no choice but to prepare a dormitory room for him.”

Faced with two people openly declaring they were incapable of using their brains, what else could Zhang Shou do?

He resigned himself and followed Zhu Ying across the street from the Ge residence.

Zhu Hong was already waiting there with several horses.

Apart from him, not a single guard was in sight.

Although Zhang Shou felt the Duke Zhao Mansion’s guards were perhaps too indulgent toward Zhu Ying, considering the Emperor had only recently visited the Ge residence, she was indeed perfectly safe there.

With A-Liu’s assistance, he mounted his horse.

Just as he settled into the saddle, another matter occurred to him.

“Oh, right.”

“What happened to Zhu Yu after the Shuntian Prefecture passed judgment?”

At the mention of the “traitor” who had betrayed the household, Zhu Ying couldn’t even be bothered to answer.

Zhu Hong, however, wore a complicated expression.

As the Duke’s seasoned retainer, he quickly regained his composure.

“He’s still begging at Xisi Archway.”

“The Prefecture and our estate both have people watching him.”

“His life is miserable…”

“But he’s still alive.”

According to the Dowager Lady of the Duke Zhao Mansion, the person to whom Zhu Yu had leaked information was very likely Lu Sanlang’s father, Minister of War Lu Wan.

Zhang Shou silently filed that information away.

Without asking anything further, he urged his horse toward the Imperial College.

Just as he’d once told Ge Yong, the distance from the Ge residence to the Imperial College was no more than a bowshot away.

They arrived in no time.

However, when they found the Discipline Office and met Supervisor Xu Heida once again, Zhang Shou had barely asked which dormitory Lu Sanlang was staying in before the man’s already dark face turned even darker.

“Lu Zhu’s family just came and took him home!”

“If a spoiled young master like him doesn’t want to stay at the Imperial College…”

“…then he shouldn’t waste one of our dormitory rooms!”