Chapter Twenty-Three: The Pillars of the State

Gu Dao’s recipes were coaxed away by Jin Se with a few sweet, soft-spoken calls of "Brother Xiuzhi." Having no other choice, he had to write them out again.

Upon receiving the recipes, Jin Se’s face flushed with excitement as she happily ran back to her courtyard to admire them. The food was delicious, but the calligraphy on the recipes was even better.

Her Imperial Father was extremely fond of the "Weilou Script," but despite her persistent pestering, he had never relented to give her any. Now, however, it was different; Brother Xiuzhi lived right next door, and she could fetch his calligraphy practice sheets whenever she pleased. Moreover, Brother Xiuzhi was very easygoing; he would agree to anything as long as one was gentle with him.

"Oh dear, I was so busy thinking about the calligraphy that I forgot to ask about the math problems. Will Brother Xiuzhi think I’m not diligent in my studies? What should I do?" Jin Se caressed the recipes, suddenly feeling a bit worried.

In truth, Gu Dao was quite happy, as he didn't have to tutor a slow-witted child in her homework. It was truly a relaxing state of affairs.

The next day, a major event occurred at the Imperial Academy.

In the mathematics classroom, Li Sheng-gen had been calculating for the entire night. Almost the entire floor of the classroom was covered in his scribbles, and the desks were overturned in a chaotic mess.

"Yao Xu, I was wrong! I will kowtow to you—please, let my brother go. He is a mathematical genius of the Great Jizi Kingdom; he cannot go mad like this!" Seeing Jin Se, Li Zai-gen threw himself at her feet and began kowtowing with a loud *thud-thud* sound.

Li Zai-gen was a good-for-nothing, but his younger brother, Li Sheng-gen, was a genuine family prodigy. He dared not let anything happen to him. The surrounding students let out a chorus of boos. Yesterday, these people had been arrogant enough to reach the heavens, yet today they had become groveling worms. What could one even say about them?

"Don't, please don't say that. Mathematics originated in your Great Jizi Kingdom, surely a trivial problem like this is just a flick of a finger for you?" one student mocked. "Or was this a flick that lasted all night?"

The students remembered their arrogance from yesterday, where they had demanded everyone kneel and beg them. Now, it was they who were kneeling. Retribution had arrived too quickly; Yao Xu had truly won face for her classmates.

"I was wrong, I admit it. We shouldn't have been so arrogant. The Jizi Kingdom is a small nation; we only wanted the respect of a great power. We were too hypocritical and grossly overestimated our abilities," Li Zai-gen wept as he knelt on the ground. "I beg you, save my brother, or he will be ruined."

His brush was already worn to a nub, yet Li Sheng-gen continued to write and calculate on the floor in vain, the friction creating a grating sound. Gone was yesterday's arrogance; now, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a demonic spirit prostrate on the ground, grinding his teeth and sucking blood.

"This... how am I supposed to save him?" Jin Se asked, her voice trembling.

"Yao, do not save him. He brought this upon himself. If the situation were reversed, would they have saved you?" one student immediately objected. The people of Great Qian were known for being petty, especially when it came to holding a grudge.

"Exactly. Such wolves deserve no pity. Whether he goes mad or dies is none of your concern," another student added firmly.

Jin Se was just a gentle little princess with a soft heart. However, Li Sheng-gen had previously been arrogant enough to covet her sister, which was truly hateful. With her classmates unanimously opposing it, she hesitated even more.

"Then... what if I just tell you the answer?" Jin Se suddenly said. Just giving the answer without the methodology was a compromise. Of course, the main reason was that Jin Se herself didn't know the methodology either. She only knew the answer.

Li Sheng-gen, who had been madly carving characters, suddenly lunged over. Staring with scarlet eyes, he looked at Jin Se greedily and stammered, "Tell me! Quickly, tell me! I’m only that close—please, I beg you, tell me!"

He was kicked over by a sturdy student who roared, "Damn it! This wolf is clearly faking madness to fish for sympathy and covet our Great Qian’s mathematical secrets. Yao, do not give it to him!"

"Exactly! They didn't share the method for the last problem either, taking advantage of us. Make him get lost!" another student shouted angrily.

"No, tell me! I beg you, tell me! I'll kowtow to you—is ten enough? Twenty? A hundred? Please, tell me!" Li Sheng-gen continued to kowtow while begging frantically.

Jin Se couldn't bear it any longer and said, "Mathematics is as vast as the sea; it’s just a small problem, surely it won't cause any harm?" she said, trying to persuade her classmates.

"Absolutely not!" a booming voice interrupted.

The students quickly stepped aside as they saw the mathematics professor respectfully leading an old man toward them. The old man began to lecture angrily the moment he arrived:

"Ignorant child! The problem may be small, but the algorithm is profound. Once this algorithm is mastered, it has infinite uses, whether for deploying troops, calculating supplies, surveying land, or construction. It is a vital national asset; it must not be leaked so easily."

Jin Se was stunned. She had never expected the problem to be this significant and retreated repeatedly. The students were also shocked; they had thought it was merely a dispute, but it had turned into a matter of national security. They looked at the two Jizi men with even more hostility.

"You all are too young and impulsive. You shouldn't have shared the algorithm for yesterday's problem either. You let them steal our Great Qian's secrets." The old man continued to vent his rage. "I must report this to His Majesty. These two must not be allowed to leave."

The mathematics professor had already sensed Yuan Cong's dissatisfaction yesterday. To save his job and his reputation, he had gone to visit his teacher, hoping to find the algorithm. But his teacher, after studying it for a long time, found the algorithm too mysterious and couldn't solve it either. He had then gone to the National Academy to seek his own mentor, Zhang Qiong, only to be berated. This kind of algorithm was a classified secret; how could it be displayed at the Imperial Academy so casually? The key was that he couldn't deduce the algorithm for the second problem.

Early in the morning, the mathematics professor had brought his mentor, Zhang Qiong, to the Imperial Academy specifically to prevent the leak.

"This is Zhang Qiong, the leading authority on mathematics at the National Academy and my own mentor," the professor introduced.

Upon hearing this, all the students stood in awe. Those who were supported by the National Academy were important scholars of Great Qian. Furthermore, as a master of mathematics, almost everyone studying the subject in Great Qian was his student or grand-student.

Soon, Li Zai-gen and Li Sheng-gen were taken away.

The news that Yao Xu had driven a Jizi mathematical genius mad with a single problem, and that the algorithm was a vital national asset, spread like wildfire. Moreover, the master Zhang Qiong declared that whoever could provide the algorithm for this problem would become his student. Suddenly, the problem became the hottest topic in the capital. Everyone knew that Yao Xu had struck it rich.

The mathematics classroom was cleaned up, and the students resumed their lessons. Zhang Qiong grabbed Jin Se and refused to let go, pulling her aside to whisper: "Little one, I didn't scare you just now, did I? Your master didn't mean it."

*Master?* Jin Se was confused. Even as a noble princess, she felt a mountain-like pressure when facing such a legendary figure.

"Good disciple, they aren't worthy of knowing that algorithm, but it's fine to tell your master. Tell me quickly." Zhang Qiong began to coax the child; his curiosity had been itching all night.

Just as Jin Se was about to say she didn't know, Yuan Cong arrived.

"Old rascal Zhang Qiong, coming to my Imperial Academy to steal things—do you have no shame?" Yuan Cong said.

"Yuan Jingde, I'm asking my disciple for something; what does it have to do with your Imperial Academy?" Zhang Qiong’s old face flushed, but he retorted righteously.

"Heh, when did my granddaughter become your disciple? By that logic, I am your elder," Yuan Cong said, patting his belly and laughing.

"Your granddaughter? This is a princess?" Zhang Qiong said in surprise.

The two men continued their bickering, but as long-time friends, it didn't hurt their relationship. They arrived at the Libationer's office and continued their verbal sparring.

Yuan Cong was full of vigor and unrelenting. "In an official capacity, this is my Imperial Academy, Jin Se is a student here, and the algorithm belongs to the Academy. Personally, Jin Se is my granddaughter, and the algorithm is her private property. So, whether officially or privately, you, old thief, are a thief."

Zhang Qiong glanced at Yuan Cong and sneered. "How unfair the heavens are that such a brilliant gem is your granddaughter. Enough nonsense, name your terms."

Jin Se felt her face burning; she felt the shame of being a thief, so she spoke up.

"Actually..."

"Jin Se, don't fear this old codger. He only puts on an air of virtue for others; in your grandfather's eyes, he's nothing but an old thief," Yuan Cong said with a cold laugh.

"Yuan Jingde, I admit I’ve fallen into your hands today, so there’s no need for your cold sarcasm. Name your terms." Zhang Qiong decided to endure it for the sake of the algorithm.

Yuan Cong burst into laughter. Finally making this old man concede—how many years had it been? It felt too good.

Jin Se was a simple girl, and seeing that things were becoming irrecoverable, she decided she couldn't hide it any longer. She quickly said, "Grandfather, Master Zhang, actually I didn't create this problem, and I don't know the algorithm at all."

Both old men turned their gazes toward Jin Se in astonishment.

"In truth, I didn't know the algorithm for the first problem either. Brother Xiuzhi taught it to me. He also came up with this problem to deal with the students from the Jizi Kingdom." Jin Se decided to tell them everything.

"Haha, good girl! You are much better than your grandfather, that old swindler. It’s a good thing you’re honest, otherwise, heh..." Zhang Qiong rolled his eyes at Yuan Cong and snorted heartlessly. Then, turning back to Jin Se with a smile, he said, "Little Princess, tell me quickly, who is Xiuzhi? To have such high talent—take me to see him at once. I want to take him as my student."

"Gu Dao, courtesy name Xiuzhi, a student of the Classics Department at the Imperial Academy," Yuan Cong answered for Jin Se.

"Heh, there’s no need for him to stay in this broken Imperial Academy. The National Academy can accept students just as well. I still have that much influence," Zhang Qiong said triumphantly.

"Oh, you might have heard of his mother; her name is Xu Jinjia," Yuan Cong added calmly.

Zhang Qiong’s triumph froze on his face. It was hard not to be familiar with that name. Twenty years ago, he had often seen that woman at Yuan Cong's house; she was like a daughter to him before she married Gu Yunzhang.

"Gu Yunzhang’s son?" Zhang Qiong asked tentatively. Seeing Yuan Cong nod naturally, he felt a wave of despondency. After all this trouble, he was still within someone else's grasp. Xu Jinjia’s son was no different from Yuan Cong’s own grandson.

"Feeling triumphant a bit too early, aren't you?" Yuan Cong asked kindly.

"Yes. We've been friends for years, can you go easy on me?" Zhang Qiong gave up all resistance, turning into meat on the chopping block, ready for Yuan Cong to slice as he pleased.

"Enough, don't make that face like life has no meaning. I'm not really going to cut you. I just want you to find a good professor for the mathematics department of the Imperial Academy," Yuan Cong said.

"That's it? I can just pick one from among my students and grand-students. And then can I have the boy as my student?" Zhang Qiong swallowed greedily.

"In your dreams. His future is to study and become an official, definitely not some damn mathematics," Yuan Cong said firmly.

"Mathematics is not 'damn'! You brute, you can insult me, but you cannot insult my scholarship!" Zhang Qiong roared.

"Mathematics isn't a fart, you're the one who's a fart..."

When Gu Dao was summoned, the two old men were drinking tea and trading insults. The quality of their bickering was exceptionally high, each sentence laden with classical allusions and interspersed with shrewish slang—a truly perfect fusion. They were indeed great scholars.

"I really could use some melon seeds for this. But anyway, why did you call me here?" Gu Dao asked Jin Se.