Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 560: Capacity, Sudden Breakout
When the Third Prince and Princess Yongping left Yuehua Tower and returned to the palace in the same carriage that day, they were both in a daze.
The reason why they invited Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying to accompany them today was to make the atmosphere more tactful and to cover up the important purpose of the siblings coming to test the Hong family. But what they didn't expect was that the unexpected guests one after another completely changed the test meeting of Yuehua Tower.
Especially the dispute that Zhu Ying provoked at the end, the Third Prince felt a headache just thinking about it.
Zhu Ying took the lead, and Yue Shanchang retorted, and then... naturally, Hua Siye, who was supported by Zhu Ying, came out to fight again. Just looking at the tit-for-tat posture of the two, it was really hard for anyone to imagine that Hua Siye and Yue Shanchang came in the same car before. What the third prince couldn't understand was that Hua Siye had obviously picked Zhaoming Academy, so why did Yue Shanchang still have a verbal battle with him.
So much so that Hong, who was originally the main guest, had nothing to do but sit aside and watch the fun with a smile on her face.
Zhang Shou did not stand up to help his fiancée just because Yue Shanchang said something to Zhu Ying. Instead, he watched the fight between Hua Siye and Yue Shanchang thoughtfully. In the end, when they both left unhappily, he left with Zhu Ying with a smile. According to people in Yuehua Tower, Hua Siye got in his own car and left, while Yue Shanchang left on foot.
And when Zhang Shou was leaving... he naturally picked up Yang Zhan.
If it weren't for Princess Yongping, the Third Prince would have caught up with Zhang Shou to ask what happened today. But since his sister was there, he was embarrassed to do so just now and was now extremely confused.
At this moment, he found that the atmosphere seemed a bit awkward, so he made small talk and said, "Third sister, Yang Zhan was taken home by the teacher again. Do you feel that the teacher always takes people home?"
Seeing that Princess Yongping did not answer, he continued to talk to himself: "Just now, fortunately, Mr. Song and Mr. Fang helped Yang Zhan up together, and finally stopped the heated debate between Mr. Yue and Mr. Hua. Otherwise, I see that they are getting more and more excited, and I don’t know how it will end. Third sister, Mr. Song…"
"Don't mention that guy!" Princess Yongping interrupted the Third Prince impatiently, her voice becoming a little sharp, "I don't want to have anything to do with this guy!"
As soon as she said this, she realized that she had said what was in her mind out of anger. Seeing the Third Prince in front of her was shocked and confused, she hurriedly said: "Third brother, I was just in a bad mood, so I lost my temper at you without realizing it..."
She thought that this could cover up her gaffe, but unexpectedly, the Third Prince stared at her for a while and asked cautiously, "Third sister, are you still holding a grudge against that dispute with Mr. Song at Xinglong Tea House? You seemed to disagree with what the teacher said today... Could it be that you think that everything else is inferior, only reading is superior?"
Princess Yongping was immediately upset when she heard the third prince mention Mr. Song again. A few days ago, when Liu Feng informed her about Chu Kuan's recommendation of Mrs. Hong, that would have been fine, but Liu Feng actually told her that his father ordered Chu Kuan to find out about Mr. Song's family situation and whether he had any engagement. The implication of this made her feel ashamed and angry.
Among the imperial daughters, Princess Deyang had already been betrothed, and the reason she hadn't married was because the emperor hoped that Zhang Wu could make some achievements so that he could marry the princess in a grand manner. And the fourth sister after her was still a child. As for the princesses of the royal family, the emperor personally selected husbands for the two princesses, but that was because they had lost their fathers, and he couldn't interfere in the affairs of the royal family whose parents were still alive.
As for the emperor's admiration for Song Juren and his intention to employ him... that's even more impossible! What else is there for that useless guy who is obsessed with cooking to be worthy of the emperor's admiration? Besides, I've never heard of an emperor employing someone without testing his talent and learning, but checking his family situation and whether he is married or not!
Princess Yongping originally thought that the Third Prince had also noticed something, but when she heard his next words, she knew she was wrong. What the Third Prince cared about was not Mr. Song as a person, but her opinion.
Thinking of what Zhang Shou said today, and thinking of Yue Shanzhang's rebuttal to Hua Siye, she couldn't help but say, "Third brother, father has always liked to go against those scholars since he was a child. Although he is almost forty years old now, he is still the same, but you are different. Father is not afraid of people's slander, but you are not the eldest son, but you are about to be appointed as the Crown Prince. You should let the scholars think you are wise."
"At least, you can't be so obviously biased towards Zhang Shou in front of a famous scholar like Yue Shanzhang. When Hua Si and Yue Shanzhang were arguing in Suzhou before, you should have clearly stood on Yue Shanzhang's side. Why do you think Yue Shanzhang stood up to argue with Hua Si when he was clearly criticizing those useless scholars, even if he picked Zhaoming Academy?"
"He is doing this to promote the scholars! Don't think that Zhaoming Academy is really open-minded just because it focuses on agricultural science. Just look at how he immediately drove away his student Fang Qing after he offended you and your fourth brother. This is enough to show how cold and decisive he is. Just like Zhang Shou said, even when it comes to improving farm tools, most of the time it depends on scholars!"
The Third Prince was slightly startled. He stared at the calm Princess Yongping for a long time before he said seriously, "Third sister, thank you for reminding me, but I just said in Yuehua Tower that I will not change myself just because of other people's preferences and preferences to cater to them and become a wise prince, or a wise crown prince in the future."
"Teacher said before that most of the improvements to farm tools and implements were made by scholars , but he also said in front of me, how could a scholar who has never been to the fields think of improving these things, and how could he improve these things? It is very likely that such a person, as a local official or an enlightened gentry, has always been more concerned with agricultural science."
"So, this person may have seen a smart farmer using a different new tool, or received a report from his servants that a craftsman had made a new tool. Then, after seeing it himself, he used his identity and status to promote such a useful tool. Then the world only remembered him as the promoter and completely forgot the real inventor."
"Even the inventor himself would not fight for such a title, because it is meaningless. Throughout the ages, we actually have many things that are different from those in ancient times, from low tables that require kneeling to be used, to modern straight-legged tables and chairs. Does anyone know the names of the inventors and improvers? The names of emperors and generals have been preserved, but these people have disappeared."
Seeing that Princess Yongping finally stopped talking, the Third Prince said word by word: "Third sister, the teacher is a very good person. I can think about many of his words for a long time and have a deep understanding of them. You should not have a prejudice against him."
Princess Yongping was about to say that she had no prejudice against Zhang Shou at all, but she heard the Third Prince say solemnly: "Teacher never hides that he comes from the countryside, never hides that his marriage to Sister Yingying is because he is marrying above his station, never hides that he is not particularly good at classics and history except for arithmetic, and his handwriting is not very good..."
"The teacher is a very honest person, and because he is good at mathematics, he likes to use numbers to express everything. He often likes to find new ways, which is not to deviate from the orthodoxy, but to look at things from a perspective that many people do not understand."
Even though she knew that the Third Prince trusted Zhang Shou very much, Princess Yongping couldn't help feeling depressed when she heard these long and eloquent words siding with Zhang Shou.
Of course, she couldn't easily change her belief just because of the Third Prince's words. What's more, in today's peaceful and prosperous times, if everything else was inferior except for reading, what else could she do?
Want to achieve success through martial arts? The world is peaceful now, and even the occasional bandits are cautious and behave themselves, at most they are just roaring in the mountains. As for the things Zhang Shou had tinkered with before, they were just strange and ingenious. Even if her father appreciated them, it was not the era of Taizu when firearms flourished. Otherwise, why would the improvement of firearms be so slow over the years?
Foreign enemies are no longer a big threat, and the world is at peace. Shouldn't this be a golden age for literary talent?
Therefore, she just smiled faintly and said, "Since you said so, remember to protect your teacher in the future. You know, although the old master Ge was appointed by Emperor Ruizong himself and was protected by the empress dowager, he was impeached a lot because he often acted independently when teaching my father. Compared with the Ge family's meritorious service and many talented people, your teacher doesn't have many people to rely on."
The Third Prince took these words to heart immediately. He nodded heavily and said firmly: "Don't worry, Third Sister. If I don't even have this kind of responsibility, then there is no need for me to be the Crown Prince!"
Because if he really rules the world like his father in the future, the pressure he will face will only be greater!
When Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying rode side by side and arrived at the gate of Zhang Garden, they saw Yang Zhan, a weak man named Yang Qilang who looked like he could be blown away by the wind, being carefully taken down from the carriage in front by Song Juren and Fang Qing. Then the doormen came forward with a soft bag, helped Yang Zhan up, and trotted inside.
Peanut, who came back earlier, brought the doctor back with him.
Zhang Shou turned around and was about to speak to Zhu Ying, but he saw that Mr. Song and Fang Qing had slipped in while he was not paying attention. In response, he glanced at Ah Liu, who looked nonchalant, and simply beckoned to him to come over, asking directly: "You came home and took Mr. Song to the inn to knock on the door before, wasn't it because they ignored you?"
"If you really invite people over because of what I said, and then just stay quiet and don't climb over the wall, that wouldn't be like you."
Zhu Ying smiled when she heard this: "I don't think you, Ah Liu, are really that honest. Did you find out that the boy was dying when you climbed over the wall, so you went back to Zhang Garden to bring Song Qi Pa over? No, if he is not well, you should call a doctor!"
Regarding the nickname Zhu Ying gave to Mr. Song, Ah Liu's lips curled up, with a hint of mischief in his smile. Only at this moment did he look a little like a teenager. His smile soon faded, replaced by a serious expression. This time, his explanation was much more detailed, not at all like the taciturn person who didn't like to talk.
"I asked the shopkeeper, and heard that the two followers that Yang Qilang brought with him claimed that they were ordered to deliver something. They went out yesterday and never came back, so there was no one to serve them. Yang Qilang has not eaten anything since yesterday. And even in the past few days, he didn't eat much because he is picky about food. The shopkeeper was afraid that such a rich young man would starve to death in his own store, so he posted a notice to recruit chefs."
"When I climbed over the wall and went in, he was calculating something on a piece of paper. It was all scrawled with words, and there was an abacus . His eyes were bloodshot. The teapot was empty, and there was nothing in the snack box. I saw that there was no one there, so I secretly touched his bag and found that there was not a penny left."
"I was just walking around the room openly, but he didn't even see me. When I asked him if he was hungry or thirsty, he didn't even respond. I wanted to knock him out and take him to Yuehua Tower, but I was afraid that he would never wake up after being knocked unconscious, so I would have to go home and take Song Daizi with me. Although it would be fine to just give him some sugar water, but I think..."
Ah Liu paused, then laughed again: "There should be a lot to talk about between idiots, and Song Dazi can also satisfy Yang Qilang's picky taste."
After hearing this explanation, Zhang Shou couldn't help laughing, but then he was choked by Liu's next words.
"The young master has already taken in two idiots, so he can afford to support another one."
Seeing Zhu Ying burst into laughter, Zhang Shou glared at Ah Liu, but he calmly flipped over and jumped off the horse, then walked into the door slowly but quickly, and disappeared in a moment. In response, he could only shake his head helplessly, and then he heard Zhu Ying ask with a smile: "Ah Shou, are you going to take him into your Jiuzhang Hall?"
"Of course not." Zhang Shou asked Zhu Ying to get off the horse together. After he got his feet on the ground, he shrugged and smiled, "For a practical person like this, if he goes to Jiuzhang Hall to learn mathematics from scratch and deal with various exercises every day, it would be a waste of talent. I plan to let him rest for a few days and then let him go to the underground workshop."
Zhu Ying immediately smiled and nodded happily: "This is a good idea, Guan Qiu can have an extra helper!"
The two men exchanged a few words of laughter, and just as they were about to enter the room, they suddenly heard a rapid sound of horse hooves. When they looked back, they saw a rider galloping towards them. Before he could stop his horse, he hurriedly shouted, "Dr. Zhang, the emperor is calling you urgently!"
Zhang Shou could not help but be slightly stunned. He had just accompanied the Third Prince and Princess Yongping to meet Hong. Although there were many twists and turns during the period, it was nothing serious. At this moment, the royal siblings should not have had time to return to the palace, let alone meet the emperor. Why did the emperor think of summoning him?
When he thought about how he hadn't eaten at Yuehua Tower today because of the verbal spat between Fourth Master Hua and Yue Shanchang, and it was already noon, he felt a little resentful that he had to work overtime on an empty stomach. But the next moment, the soldier on the horse had already jumped off, not even looking at the horse that was still moving forward, and said word by word: "The emperor has ordered that Dr. Zhang take Peanut with him."
