Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Han Zhang was getting driven up the wall by his brother-in-law.

He felt that even after living two lifetimes, he still hadn't seen it all—there was no end to the variety of people out there.

But since the words had already been spoken, he couldn't afford to lose face now.

Han Zhang thought it over and decided the only option was to go talk to Mother Shen, and tack on another item to Shen Huaizhi's study schedule.

So that day.

Shen Huaizhi, as usual, lazily sauntered over to the Imperial Academy to kill time. The second he stepped foot into the academy, the group of brothers and classmates he usually fooled around with swarmed around him like a bunch of bees.

"Brother Shen, man, I never thought you'd come out with something that bold! I've got to say, I'm impressed, really impressed!"

"Yeah, Brother Shen! We were blind as bats before. From now on, you're my real brother!"

"Brother Shen, oh Brother Shen, you played us all! We never would've guessed you had this kind of fire in you..."

"Brother Shen, if you actually snag first place in this month's exam, we'll definitely throw a feast at Drunken Immortal Tower and make you the head honcho of our crew of slackers!"

Everyone was talking over each other, making a huge racket.

Since Shen Huaizhi was popular with everyone, everyone's words, between the lines, were full of encouragement and admiration—there was truly no mockery among them.

But what bold declaration? What class champion? What banquet celebration?

Shen Huaizhi listened, completely baffled, a blank look on his face: "What are you guys talking about? I have no idea what you mean?"

Everyone looked at each other, confused.

"Brother Shen, you don't know? The whole capital is buzzing with the news—they say you've sworn to buckle down and work hard, to make the teacher sit up and take notice, and to become a literary titan who 'grasps the sun and moon, stomps the heavens and earth'..."

"To that end, you've been holed up at home studying your butt off for days, just waiting to blow everyone away on this month's exam!"

"Exactly, exactly! Brother Shen, that's not cool of you—hitting the books behind our backs! If your servant hadn't gotten plastered and shot his mouth off to our page boys, we'd still be completely clueless!"

"'Grasping sun and moon, plucking stars, no one in this world like me; treading yin and yang, settling heaven and earth, the literary world bows to my supremacy'... Brother Shen, that poem of yours gets the blood pumping!"

A bunch of rich brats were making faces and elbowing each other, bowing down to Shen Huaizhi in total awe.

To be able to come up with something so scholarly and deep—clearly shows Brother Shen's been putting in real work at home lately.

Pan Taining and his two buddies were practically vibrating with excitement:

"Attaboy, Old Shen! Knowing you, to come out with something this bold—looks like you're dead set on acing this exam."

"You got this, Old Shen! Our chance to hold our heads high is riding on you!"

Shen Huaizhi: "..."

No way. Not him. Don't count on him!

After hearing everyone out, Shen Huaizhi was panicking like crazy.

Who the hell was trying to screw him over? When did he ever say any of that crap?

And taking first place in the class to impress the teacher? He'd be thanking his lucky stars just to not finish dead last.

"I... I..."

Shen Huaizhi opened his mouth, dying to explain, but faced with all those fawning, admiring smiles around him, he just couldn't bring himself to say anything.

No other reason—being the center of attention just felt way too damn good.

Especially...

The new page boy who'd come with him to the academy today looked totally starstruck, staring at him with pure worship in his eyes and tugging at another page boy to whisper in his ear:

"Wow, so our young master is this big a deal at the academy? Didn't everyone say the young master was a total slacker?"

"Those are all rumors! Just jealous folks making stuff up about our young master! You've been with the young master all this time—when have you ever seen him goof off? ...Every day after class at the academy, he goes home for extra lessons with Second Uncle-in-law. He's really grinding."

"But... but every time the young master studies with Second Uncle-in-law, he's either whining about needing the bathroom or asking for snacks. If you ask me, he's just going through the motions."

"That's because you don't know what you're looking at! Our young master is a once-in-a-generation genius, blessed by the heavens—one minute of his is worth ten hours of anyone else's. If you don't believe me, just wait. You'll see his ranking after this month's exam..."

"The young master just never took it seriously before. Now he's really turning it on..."

"Really? Then our young master is truly amazing!"

The two page boys' "whispering" didn't just reach Shen Huaizhi's ears—everyone around heard it too.

Everyone was dumbfounded for a second: "Brother Shen, you're a prodigy? So all those bad grades were just an act?"

Shen Huaizhi: "..."

No, he wasn't. No, he hadn't. He was just genuinely bad at this.

Shen Huaizhi really wanted to explain, but being well-liked had its downsides.

His close classmates around him trusted him one hundred percent and were already starting to freak out in amazement.

"Wow! Brother Shen, I always knew something was up with you. You're so sharp in business—how could you be slow at studying? So that's what it was!"

"Whoa! Brother Shen, why were you hiding your light under a bushel? Is it... family drama? Right, I remember you mentioned your brothers are a handful."

"Damn! A genius was right next to me this whole time, and he's my bro?"

"Aw! Brother Shen, no more hiding your talent this time! You've gotta take first place on this exam. Then come home with me so my parents can see—I'm not running with a bad crowd!"

Everyone was talking over each other, getting more and more worked up, and Shen Huaizhi couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Listening to all this gushing praise, Shen Huaizhi was feeling both amazing and panicked at the same time.

Just then, someone threw up an arm and shouted out a suggestion:

"Let's go! No one out there is gonna believe Brother Shen can win. Let's hit the gambling house and set up a betting pool—all in on Brother Shen. We're guaranteed to make a killing!"

"Great idea, great idea! I've got a thousand taels stashed away—betting it all!"

"I'm in for five hundred!"

"I'll throw in two thousand!"

"Three thousand from me!"

"I'm in for ten thousand—Brother Shen, my whole life savings are riding on you!"

A roomful of eyes, bright with fervent trust.

Shen Huaizhi: "..."

Shen Huaizhi was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead.

His bond with these brothers couldn't survive the test of money!

But there was no stopping it—the crowd was already riled up, arms slung over each other's shoulders, heading off to set up the betting pool.

Pan Taining and a few others were the most gung-ho of the bunch.

Shen Huaizhi couldn't even stand to imagine the scene once these guys lost their money. Not only would he be beaten black and blue, he'd likely be too ashamed to show his face in public again.

"Which goddamn bastard spread these rumors to ruin me? This is way too much... Brother Han, Brother Han, save me!"

Shen Huaizhi, panicked and pissed, stormed home cursing the whole way, begging Han Zhang to save his sorry ass.

The mastermind, Han Zhang, listened to his tale and once again said with a dead-serious face:

"Second Brother, it's plain as day—this must be someone who has it out for you, deliberately trying to humiliate you and make sure you can't show your face in the capital anymore. After all, given your usual grades, how could you possibly take first place in the class?"

"When the boast falls flat and your brothers lose all their money because of you, forget the friendship ending—they might beat you to a pulp or kill you in their rage. This scheme is seriously vicious!"

Shen Huaizhi did not want to be beaten to death; he hadn't had his fill of living yet.

All color drained from his face, his body shaking like a leaf, nearly in tears:

"Then... then what do I do? Brother Han, I am Lan Geer's second brother, your own brother-in-law, for crying out loud—you must save me!"

"Ah, this is a tough one... This is a perfectly open, aboveboard scheme. Either you truly take first place in the next monthly exam, or you pack your things and skip town to lie low before the storm hits."

Shen Huaizhi's vision went dark at those words.

Running away was out of the question—too shameful, and given the backgrounds of those brothers of his, he'd be dragged back even if he hid to the ends of the earth.

That left only one path: getting first in the class on the monthly exam...

Weighing the two options against each other.

Shen Huaizhi recalled the hardship of his recent studies and finally grabbed his head, wailing: "Maybe I'll just wait to get beaten instead."

Han Zhang: "..."

Madam Shen: "..." So her son-in-law had been feeding her a line all along.

Shen Father, eavesdropping: "..." He knew the second son would not amount to anything.

Han Zhang never imagined that his two lifetimes of strategic brilliance would suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of Shen Huaizhi, his brother-in-law.

He had even used his Power, rewiring the guy's brain, and still this was the result.

Even a cheat code couldn't save this one, huh?

Han Zhang, the teacher: so angry his chest hurt.

No, his reputation could not be ruined—he'd made big promises to his husband and mother-in-law.

If he broke his word, how would he ever win over his husband and mother-in-law again?

Han Zhang took a deep breath and kept brainstorming.

He refused to believe he couldn't crack this brother-in-law problem.

After a long pause.

Han Zhang's eyes lit up: Got it!

...

And so.

That very night, Shen Huaizhi—who could sleep soundly even with the threat of being beaten by his brothers looming—was jolted awake in the middle of a deep sleep by a sharp sting.

Then, blinking groggily, he saw floating before him the walnut carving he usually fiddled with.

The carving was of a painted pleasure boat, with a robed scholar standing on deck, taking in the view.

And now—

Not only was the carving floating—it was glowing with a faint green light.

A majestic, deep voice boomed in Shen Huaizhi's mind: "A brush shatters the starry river, a single wrath overturns heaven and earth. At the peak of letters, proud over the world—where I, Zhang Han, stand, there is heaven."

"Boy, I am Zhang Han, the Saint of Letters. Are you willing to inherit my legacy and one day stand tall in the imperial court?"

An old man from a walnut carving, in the dead of night?

Shen Huaizhi, who devoured the academy's storybooks, instantly knew what was going on.

Then his face flushed red with excitement: He, Shen Huaizhi, was actually the protagonist Shen Aotian of some story!