Notes on Longevity

Chapter 78 An Zhi angrily berates the Second Prince; cunning words conceal hidden trouble.

The group watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance. The old troupe leader and Zhang Wanyi went back first, while Xie Xiaoshuang and Zhang Ze'an remained standing at the door until they were out of sight.

"Go inside, the listeners might arrive in a little while," Zhang Ze'an said to Xie Xiaoshuang's retreating figure.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Jie Xiaoshuang turned to look at Zhang Ze'an, "Thank you for your help these past few days, young master."

“It’s no trouble. I have nothing to do all day anyway, so I might as well just sit here and relax.” Zhang Ze’an said, turning around and walking into the pear orchard.

"Young Master Zhang, the Second Prince is here again."

Three days after the start of the imperial examination, nothing happened except for the normal opening of the gates and the performance of operas. But on the morning of the fourth day, when the imperial examination was in full swing, an uninvited guest arrived.

The front courtyard of the Pear Garden was in a mess, with broken fruit platters scattered all over the ground. The Pear Garden disciples were also lying on the ground, injured, struggling to get up and looking at the young man in brocade clothes standing in front of them.

"Close the door," the Second Prince said, raising one hand as he turned his back to the group of people behind him.

“I heard that the Taoist priest from your Pear Garden has left, and Zhang Ze’an has also recently disappeared. I’d like to see who can protect you today.”

"Don't speak so soon, Second Prince." Zhang Ze'an strode to the front yard, holding a knife in his hand, and walked up to the crowd.

"Where are Miss and the troupe leader?" Zhang Ze'an looked around but didn't see anyone. He frowned angrily, pointed his knife at the Second Prince, and asked the people behind him.

"We sent the troupe leader and the others to the central courtyard," the man replied, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, clutching his chest and unable to straighten up, panting heavily.

"Zhang Ze'an! What do you want to do? Kill the prince?" The second prince roared as he saw Zhang Ze'an pointing a knife at him, showing no respect whatsoever.

"You're a prince?" Zhang Ze'an found it amusing. "Look at what you've done. Does that make you look like a prince?"

"Do you remember a few years ago, someone harassed a woman in Zouma Temple and was immediately beaten out by the Taoist priests there?"

"Back then, because of this matter, Minister of Rites Chen Youzhi almost got into a fight with you in front of His Majesty and all the officials. Do you remember? Even His Majesty was scolded by Minister Chen because of this. You have no memory at all."

"Zhang Ze'an!" Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's face turned ashen. He glared at Zhang Ze'an and roared, "How dare you insult a prince! What do you want to do? Do you want to rebel?"

"What? Insulting a prince is considered rebellion? What about Li Wenren sitting on the dragon throne and pulling His Majesty's hair?"

Zhang Ze'an's words made the Second Prince so angry that he almost rolled his eyes. "Don't try to intimidate me with Li Wenren."

"Fine, then take a look at the knife in my hand, what kind of knife is it?" Zhang Ze'an shouted when he saw that the Second Prince did not move. "Come and see, what are you afraid of? I'm not going to kill you."

The second prince clenched his fists, staring intently at the knife Zhang Ze'an was holding.

He recognized the sword. It was the sword that had accompanied His Majesty into battle, slaying countless enemies, and was never parted from his side. Since the turmoil eleven years ago, the sword had disappeared. He only later learned that His Majesty had given it away. And that person was Zhang Ze'an.

"What, you don't dare to look? Are you scared? Do you still dare to say that I can only use Wenren to intimidate you?" Zhang Ze'an held a knife in his hand and spoke, his aura as terrifying as a prehistoric beast.

On the other hand, the second prince could only grimace and endure Zhang Ze'an's insults without daring to utter a single word in response, just like a rat.

"Let me tell you, don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're a prince. Even without this knife, I dare to touch you, believe me. Besides, there are plenty of princes, one more won't make a difference. I'm really curious, why didn't His Majesty kill you? Is he out of his mind to keep you alive? You can say that again to His Majesty's face when you get back, embellish it as you like, and see if His Majesty criticizes me or you. Get out!"

Zhang Ze'an's last word startled everyone present except the Second Prince. They didn't know who this Zhang Ze'an was, that he would say such things, and that he didn't even spare the Emperor.

Everyone looked at each other, speechless, and could only watch as the Second Prince, his face full of anger, left the Pear Garden without uttering a word. Those who had followed the Second Prince also fled in disarray.

"Young Master Zhang, who exactly are you? Not only do you dare to insult a prince, but you don't even spare His Majesty." After the Second Prince's men left, the injured disciples of the Pear Garden gathered around, looking at Zhang Ze'an with curiosity. "It's nothing. I just benefited from Wen Ren's kindness," Zhang Ze'an said with a smile. "Also, since you're all injured, you won't be opening the gates for the next few days. Take good care of your injuries and clean up this mess. I'll repay you tenfold for all the losses you've suffered these past few days."

"If that's the case, why was the Peking Opera ultimately destroyed?"

Ping An sipped his tea, listening to Zhang Ze'an talk about these things, but he still didn't understand.

"Perhaps it's my fault," Zhang Ze'an sighed, his face full of self-reproach.

Ping An was puzzled, "Young Master Zhang forced the Second Prince to retreat, so why is that your fault?"

"The mistake was that I said something too harsh that day, which led to the Second Prince's subsequent disregard for the consequences."

"After the high school entrance exam, I talked to You'an about it, but neither of us paid much attention to it. It wasn't until two months later, after You'an took the imperial examination and became the top scholar, that we realized something was wrong."

Twenty years of literary and commercial history, the thirteenth day of the plum month.

"This person writes extremely well."

In the emperor's bedroom, Chen Youzhi, the Minister of Rites, stood to one side, a smile playing on his lips.

"I remember this person was a child prodigy, but he failed the imperial examination twice, which is a pity."

"Your Majesty is joking. If this boy could become the top scholar in one go, it would surely bring even greater prosperity to our dynasty's literary scene. However, failing the exam twice is also a good thing, as it will make him even more intelligent and skilled in writing."

“I heard that you specifically promoted this child.”

“Your Majesty, I have no selfish motives. This child lost his father and mother at a young age. When he was a little older, his adoptive parents unfortunately fell off a cliff while hunting. I took pity on him and admired his literary talent, which is why I had him brought to the capital.”

"Very well, very well. As long as they can get things done, that's good. Does your Ministry of Rites need any more people?"

"lack."

"Then let him go directly to the Ministry of Rites. You make the arrangements."

"Yes."

"Congratulations, congratulations." The Pear Garden was closed today, the front courtyard was deserted, but the back courtyard was extremely lively. Minister of Rites Chen Youzhi entered the reception hall surrounded by everyone in the Pear Garden and was invited to take the seat of honor.

He sat in the seat of honor in the reception room, smiling, his fists clasped, and said to the people in the room, "It was no surprise that You'an was able to become the top scholar. When we first met, I felt that this child was extraordinary. At that time, I thought that no matter whether he made it into the list or not, I would take him to the Ministry of Rites. But this child is stubborn and insists on becoming the top scholar. Isn't that right, You'an?"

"Is Youan calling you?"

"what?"

"Lord Chen wants to see you."

"This student greets Lord Chen," Yang You'an said, bowing to Chen Youzhi with a slightly dazed look in his eyes.

"You'an, what's wrong with you? Did you lose your composure after becoming the top scholar?" Chen Youzhi thought Yang You'an was too happy and hadn't come to his senses yet.

(End of this chapter)