Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 99 The Steps

On November 26th, the weather in Chang'an suddenly turned cold.

Early in the morning, braving the cold wind, Lin Chuan was once again stopped at the gate of the Yan family's residence: "Young Master Lin, Second Master has ordered that you are not allowed to enter!"

This was the fifth time Lin Chuan had been turned away at the door.

Helpless, Lin Chuan could only go home and ask Er Ya to go to the Yan family to find out what was going on.

He stayed in his study compiling mathematics textbooks. The building of the Institute of Physics was almost finished, and the craftsmen of the Imperial Workshop were building the academy's buildings.

Lin Chuan gradually reduced his efforts at the Institute of Physics. After purchasing water-powered forging hammers for the Imperial Workshop, which greatly improved the efficiency of weapon manufacturing, Li Shimin suddenly began to pay more attention to the Institute of Physics and sent several more people to Li San.

With Li San and those eunuchs around, Lin Chuan didn't bother with the miscellaneous affairs of the Institute of Physics much, only going there once every two or three days, completely becoming a hands-off manager.

He also completely entrusted the research to the Gongshu family, only occasionally providing them with "inspiration," and focusing most of his energy on the Gewu Academy.

After finishing the seventh-grade math textbook he hadn't finished yesterday in the study, Lin Chuan sat at the table in a daze.

The buildings of Gewu Academy will be completed soon, but at this time he can't even enter the gate of the Yan family. What will happen to the teachers when the academy is completed?

When Lin Chuan was in his study, few people would come in to disturb him. Only Mei Xiang would occasionally come in to add tea or charcoal to the brazier.

Meixiang gently filled Lin Chuan's teacup with hot tea. Seeing that Lin Chuan was deep in thought, her gaze fell on the textbooks on the desk.

From a young age, she had to learn not only how to serve others in the brothel, but also how to play the zither, play chess, write calligraphy and painting, and even learn some arithmetic. However, she could not understand the contents of the book at this time, especially those strange symbols that looked like scribbles.

Since entering the Lin family, her life has been simple and peaceful. The Lin family only has three masters. Li Shi and Er Ya are not used to even ordering around maids. Lin Chuan usually doesn't seem to treat her like a servant.

I never said a harsh word to her, let alone cursed her.

Aside from not having to do some of the things a maid should do, she was quite satisfied with her current life and was no longer as cautious of Lin Chuan as she had been a few months ago.

After hesitating for a moment, Meixiang asked softly, "My lord, what do these symbols mean?"

"ah?"

Lin Chuan snapped out of his reverie, his gaze following Mei Xiang's finger to the book, and said with a smile, "These are Arabic numerals, division signs, and multiplication signs—"

"Arabic numerals? Division sign?"

Meixiang looked completely bewildered.

"These are the math textbooks I prepared for Gewu Academy. Meixiang, if you're interested, you can attend classes at the academy!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

Go to the academy to attend classes?

Meixiang rolled her eyes at her husband and said softly, "What nonsense are you spouting, my lord? Is the academy a place for a servant to go?"

Lin Chuan thought it was unrealistic. If Mei Xiang went to the academy, what classes would those students who were just beginning to experience puberty attend?

We can't exactly recruit women into the academy. Putting aside whether their parents would agree, even if they did, managing them would be a huge problem.

Just as her thoughts were drifting, Er Ya's voice suddenly came from outside: "Brother! Brother!"

Hearing Er Ya's anxious tone, Lin Chuan was startled and quickly got up to go out to greet her.

Seeing that Er Ya's face was flushed and she didn't look like something had happened, he scolded her impatiently, "How many times have I told you to mind your manners! Mind your manners! What kind of behavior is this, rushing around like this?"

Er Ya's face froze for a moment, then she shouted indignantly, "Brother! How can you be so heartless? Didn't you ask me to go to the Yan family to gather information for you? I'm here to bring you good news, and you repay kindness with enmity! Don't you want to hear the good news?"

Good news?

Lin Chuan immediately put on a smile and cupped his hands in apology to his sister: "It was my fault, I apologize! What good news? Tell me quickly!"

"snort!"

Er Ya rolled her eyes at her brother and said irritably, "He's in the front yard, go see for yourself!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than his elder brother strode out.

Er Ya waved her little fist at her brother, then quickly followed him.

Lin Chuan arrived at the front yard and saw Yan Liu Niangzi standing prettily at the entrance of the main hall. Instead of being surprised, he was a little frightened.

He slowed his pace and asked Er Ya, who had run up to him, in a low voice, "Er Ya, why did you secretly bring Yan Liu Niangzi back?"

"Which eye of yours saw me secretly bring Sixth Sister back?" Er Ya glanced at her brother smugly.

Lin Chuan was confused and hadn't had a chance to ask in detail when Er Ya had already run ahead.

Seeing Lin Chuan approaching, Yan Liu Niangzi blushed and softly called out, "Lin Lang!"

Lin Chuan smiled and nodded, then looked at his younger sister standing next to Yan Liu Niangzi and suddenly felt she was a bit of an eyesore. He coughed lightly and said to Er Ya, "Er Ya, Mother was just looking for you!"

"what?"

Er Ya didn't suspect anything and said softly, "Then brother, you stay with Sixth Sister. I'm going to find Mother!"

After Er Ya's figure disappeared through the hanging flower gate, Yan Liu Niangzi said with a smile, "Lin Lang is really—how could he deceive his own sister like this!"

"You little girl are still too young to understand, let me take you for a walk in the garden!"

Lin Chuan reached out and took Yan Liu Niangzi's hand, leading the shy and timid Yan Liu Niangzi to the garden in the east wing.

Although it was a bit cold, Yan Liu Niangzi's hands were already slightly sweaty when she arrived at the garden. She glared at Lin Chuan with embarrassment and annoyance. It was one thing for him to hold her hand in her own boudoir, but how could he do this in public?

Looking at Yan Liu Niangzi's shy and timid appearance, Lin Chuan couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek, asking with a smile, "Why did you sneak out today?"

Lin Chuan pinched her cheek, and Yan Liu Niangzi's face immediately flushed red. She gently slapped Lin Chuan's hand and whispered, "How could you be so disrespectful to me, Lin Lang—"

After saying that, she glared at Lin Chuan with annoyance and said smugly, "How did you know I snuck out, Lin Lang?"

"You didn't sneak out?" Lin Chuan asked in surprise.

"I told my grandfather that I was going out for a walk with my sister Er Ya!" Yan Liu Niangzi said softly.

Lin Chuan was overjoyed and asked, "Lord Yan has agreed?"

"Yes!" Yan Liu Niangzi nodded.

"Ha ha!"

Lin Chuan laughed heartily, reached out and pulled Yan Liu Niangzi into his arms, and spun her around in the garden.

"Lin Lang, put me down—"

Yan Liu Niangzi was startled, her face flushed, and she kept hitting Lin Chuan's chest with her hands.

She's just reluctant to use force, and tends to act cute more.

After the initial excitement subsided, Lin Chuan put Yan Liu Niangzi down and asked疑惑地问道, "Why wouldn't Master Yan let me in when I went there this morning?"

Yan Liu Niangzi blushed, tugged at her clothes, and glared at Lin Chuan: "How should I know!"

Lin Chuan leaned down and whispered in Yan Liu Niangzi's ear, "Sixth Sister, you really don't know?"

The warm breath from Lin Chuan's mouth made Yan Liu Niangzi's heart race, and she stammered, "Perhaps she didn't want Lin Lang to succeed so easily—"

Lin Chuan understood; they were waiting for him to offer a way out.

If you're willing to open your mouth when you're being looked at, that's fine.

As for the steps, they weren't a problem for Lin Chuan.