APSIL -Chapter 97 The SOS Signal: 110

“So Third Young Master Lu actually agreed to move into a place like this?”

Standing inside one of the cramped dormitory rooms on the western side of the Imperial Academy, Zhu Ying touched the ice-cold communal kang bed, glanced disdainfully at the cheap bedding and the rough fir furniture, and looked utterly incredulous.

Hearing her exclamation, Zhang Shou merely smiled and shook his head. Rather than mocking the noble young lady for not understanding how ordinary students lived, he quietly paced around the room instead.

The tiny dormitory had already been cleaned. Clearly, although Xu Heida had been unwilling, he hadn’t intended to mistreat Lu Sanlang. There was even a very plain tea set sitting neatly on the shelf.

Zhang Shou reached out and lifted the tea tray.

When he found no note hidden underneath, disappointment flashed across his face.

I’d spent half the night explaining to Lu Sanlang how to create ciphers using Chinese characters and numbers. I’d even joked about several modern emergency codes that everyone knew.

And that clever little fatty didn’t think to leave me even a few words?

Lu Sanlang had repeatedly declared that he’d rather die than return home.

But Zhang Shou knew the boy well enough. He wasn’t the sort to stubbornly fight to the death. If he realized resistance was hopeless, he’d temporarily submit.

Still…

He should have left some trace behind.

Seeing Zhang Shou searching everywhere, Zhu Ying immediately understood that he was looking for a message Lu Sanlang might have left. She hurriedly joined in, nearly overturning the entire quilt in the process.

Just as the two of them were about to turn the tiny room upside down—

A-Liu quietly said, “There’s blood on the door.”

Those five words shocked Zhang Shou into stiffness.

Yet Zhu Ying reacted even faster. She darted to the doorway.

“Where? Where? Did the Lu family beat Pighead Lu when they dragged him away?”

In her panic, she’d reverted to her old nickname for Lu Sanlang.

Following A-Liu’s finger, she stared at the door for quite some time before finally making out several dark brown marks almost identical to the wood’s color.

If one didn’t look closely, they were impossible to notice.

Even after recognizing them, however, she frowned in confusion.

“It looks like… 1… 1… 0…?”

Thanks to the Arabic numerals that Emperor Taizu had promoted since the founding of the dynasty, Zhu Ying could recognize the three digits.

But after reading them, she looked blankly toward Zhang Shou.

Then she suddenly remembered how Zhang Shou had once mentioned secret codes to Ge Yong.

Her eyes widened.

“A-Shou… is this a code?”

“It isn’t exactly a cipher.”

Zhang Shou coughed awkwardly.

“It’s… well… a signal we’d agreed upon.”

“He was obviously taken away against his will by people from the Lu residence.”

“So he hoped that if I saw this, I’d immediately go rescue him.”

While speaking, Zhang Shou couldn’t help smiling inwardly.

I’d just been lamenting that Lu Sanlang hadn’t left any message.

Turns out the fellow learned quickly.

*Being dragged away by his family, he’d managed to scrawl 110 in blood. Probably because any more complicated code would’ve taken too much time to think of.*

But seeing that the boy had resorted to writing in blood…

Every trace of amusement instantly vanished.

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Zhu Ying exploded with righteous indignation.

“Lu Wan not only used Pighead Lu as a pawn, he bribed Zhu Yu to spy on you, and even sent Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan to your village to stir up trouble. That sneaky old fox!”

“Let’s go straight to the Lu residence!”

“A-Shou, use Grandmaster Ge’s name to bring Pighead Lu out, then we’ll confront Lu Wan face-to-face!”

Though she still called him “Pighead Lu,” Zhang Shou could tell she had long forgotten her old resentment over almost being betrothed to Lu Sanlang.

Still…

He definitely couldn’t agree to barging into the Lu residence.

Confucian ethics ranked relationships as Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher.

A teacher held tremendous prestige, but he still ranked below one’s father.

Moreover, Lu Wan was the Minister of War, a Second-Rank official.

Zhang Shou was merely a Seventh-Rank Imperial Academy Doctor.

The gap wasn’t merely large—it was enormous.

Not to mention the vast difference in age, which naturally placed Lu Wan in a superior position.

After thinking it over, Zhang Shou smiled.

“You’re right.”

“We should make a scene.”

“But we shouldn’t be the ones doing it.”

“Don’t worry.”

“I have an idea.”

“First, let’s go to your house.”

Leaving the Imperial Academy, Zhang Shou followed Zhu Hong’s lead.

They traveled west along Imperial Academy Street, turned onto Andingmen Avenue, passed through Shuntian Prefecture Street and the Drum Tower, crossed Silver Ingot Bridge over Shichahai Lake, entered the western district, and finally arrived at the Duke of Zhao’s Residence.

The distance from the Imperial Academy to the Duke’s residence was at least three times that from the Academy to Ge Yong’s house.

Upon learning that the Dowager Madam had gone to attend a banquet at the Duke of Chu’s residence, and that Zhu Er had shut himself inside his room ever since returning from the Academy, Zhang Shou naturally couldn’t discuss matters in Zhu Ying’s private chambers.

He proposed once again using the Dowager Madam’s Qing’an Hall.

Zhu Ying readily agreed.

The moment they entered the main room behind the screen, however, exhaustion overwhelmed her.

She immediately threw herself onto the soft couch normally occupied by her grandmother, burying her face in one of the thick, plush cushions.

She was utterly exhausted.

She’d gone from home to the Imperial Academy at dawn…

Followed the Emperor around the Academy all day…

Personally poured wine for that bunch of formerly useless wastrels who had somehow earned merit…

Barely eaten anything…

Then accompanied everyone to Ge Manor…

Been chased out by Grandfather Ge…

And waited outside for ages…

She was absolutely spent.

Hugging the cushion tightly, Zhu Ying rubbed her face against it repeatedly.

Only when she heard Yutang’s timid voice did she freeze.

“Miss… Young Master Shou is still here…”

Oh no.

I’d completely forgotten!

In the next instant, Zhu Ying sprang upright.

Her first instinct was to inspect whether her dress had wrinkled and whether her appearance was still flawless.

Only after discovering that Zhang Shou had already turned his back and was pretending to admire Ge Yong’s calligraphy hanging on the wall did she finally relax.

Then…

She became slightly annoyed.

Couldn’t he have warned me?

He just stood there watching me embarrass myself!

Hearing the rustling behind him cease, Zhang Shou guessed Zhu Ying had once again resumed her perfectly proper posture before turning around.

Smiling at the maid quietly serving tea, he said, “I’d like to borrow the Dowager Madam’s room to discuss an important matter with Zhu Ying.”

“Could everyone leave us alone for a moment?”

“It won’t take long.”

Though the request completely violated etiquette, every maid agreed immediately.

Some covered their mouths while giggling.

Others winked knowingly at their young mistress.

Then they all filed out.

Most outrageous of all—

Even A-Liu silently strode outside, apparently intending to stand guard by the door.

Since what Zhu Ying wanted to do truly wasn’t something the Dowager Madam should hear about, Zhang Shou simply let it happen.

Turning back toward Zhu Ying, he noticed she seemed entirely unaware that they were now alone together.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of awkwardness.

She merely looked at him with bright, clear eyes, waiting for him to begin.

Suppressing all distracting thoughts, Zhang Shou got straight to the point.

“Zhu Ying…”

“Is Zhu Gongquan—the one who accompanied you to the village before—still at the Duke’s residence?”

“What do you want with him?”

Zhu Ying’s brows shot upward immediately.

“Hmph!”

“Yutang and the others told me that after returning to the capital, he even spoke ill of you before Grandmother.”

“And Zhu Yu—that traitor bribed by Lu Wan—even though he praised you as refined and graceful, his words were full of hidden insinuations.”

“If Grandmother hadn’t been so perceptive, she wouldn’t have merely sent gifts afterward.”

“She would’ve sent people to make trouble for you.”

“Later Grandmother confined Second Brother to the house…”

“And she locked Zhu Gongquan up too.”

“What kind of reaction did he have?”

“Was he anxious?”

“Angry?”

“Or completely calm?”

“How would I know?”

Zhu Ying snorted.

“I’ve been in Rongshui Village these past few days.”

“After coming back there have been so many things happening.”

“When would I have time to care whether he’s happy about being locked up?”

“You used to be the pampered young lady of the Duke of Zhao’s household.”

“So naturally you didn’t need to care about a mere adviser.”

“But if you’ve truly decided to grow up…”

“…then you can’t keep acting according to your whims.”

Before Zhu Ying could protest, Zhang Shou smiled.

“You’ve already accepted those wastrels you once couldn’t stand.”

“You’re even willing to help them with their futures—and their marriages.”

“So why not one of your father’s advisers?”

Seeing Zhu Ying momentarily speechless, he continued.

“Besides…”

“Whether we’re rescuing Lu Sanlang…”

“Or discovering why Lu Wan is targeting your father…”

“…both require someone willing to confront the Minister of War directly.”

“At a time like this…”

“It’s best if you, the young lady of the Duke’s household, personally subdue your father’s former adviser.”

“Of course…”

“We’ll also need your second brother afterward.”

“So here’s what we’ll do.”

“I’ll go speak with your second brother.”

“You go see Zhu Gongquan.”

“Agreed?”

“Your second brother only puts on a brave front.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult for me to persuade him.”

“As for Zhu Gongquan…”

“He’s meticulous, but always depends on serving someone else.”

“If I go, it’ll take a great deal of persuasion.”

“But you’re better suited to frightening him a little.”

“Find his weakness…”

“And make him work for us.”

Though Zhu Ying still looked somewhat unconvinced, Zhang Shou chuckled.

“Don’t worry.”

“As long as you win Zhu Gongquan over…”

“I guarantee your second brother will personally take him to the Lu residence to demand answers.”

“And maybe even rescue Lu Sanlang.”

“Fine!”

Zhu Ying immediately brightened.

“It’s settled!”

“If we really rescue Pighead Lu…”

“He’ll owe both of us such a huge favor…”

“He’d better prepare to spend the rest of his life repaying it!”

Hearing that declaration, Zhang Shou couldn’t help falling silent.

If Lu Sanlang somehow sensed what she’d just said…he’d probably be sneezing until tears streamed down his face.