Isn't the problem in Chapter 35 just a geometry problem based on the Pythagorean theorem? ...
Shen Yujiao had a rare good night's sleep last night.
Yesterday was the day Chu Rou entered the Eastern Palace. Although the Eastern Palace did not hold a banquet, the red decorations throughout the mansion reminded her of what day it was. Mu Jin originally wanted to inquire about the Jing Tan Pavilion for Shen Yu Jiao, but she refused.
She didn't want to hear any news, no matter what it was. If it wasn't what she wanted to know, she probably wouldn't have a peaceful night. So, as soon as it got dark yesterday, Shen Yujiao washed up and went to bed.
She had been exhausted and stressed during the cold war with Jiang Chen. Now that Chu Rou had entered the manor, she would know the outcome tomorrow morning, no matter what. The knot in her heart had mostly dissipated, and she was able to sleep peacefully without any dreams for the first time in a long time.
But this morning, as soon as she got up, she heard Mu Jin come to report: "Consort Chu has come to pay her respects."
Shen Yujiao was a little confused. Ever since she transmigrated to the Great Xia Dynasty, she had always been the one to go to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress, and then some stewards from the East Palace would come to ask for instructions. Because she was new to the country, all matters in the East Palace were still being handled by Steward Lian. Shen Yujiao only needed to go through the motions. Therefore, this was the first time she had a proper audience and greeting.
Not to mention that this person is Chu Rou.
"Let her wait for me in the main hall."
Of course, she had to be seen. Regardless of whether she was Chu Rou or not, according to the rules of the Great Xia Dynasty, a concubine had to serve tea to the mistress upon entering the household. Moreover, Shen Yujiao wanted to test her identity.
"This humble servant greets the Crown Princess, and wishes Your Highness good health."
As soon as Shen Yujiao entered the main hall, she saw a woman bowing to her. She looked her over as she walked. This Consort Chu, like General He, looked exactly like Chu Rou, but her overall demeanor was that of a true lady from a prominent family. She frowned slightly, but dared not relax.
Upon reaching her, Shen Yujiao first accepted Chu Liangdi's three bows and kowtows in accordance with etiquette, and then accepted her tea. After the preceding formalities were completed, Shen Yujiao symbolically said some words of admonition. Once the formalities were finished, she then asked Mu Jin to dismiss everyone.
"Liangdi, please get up. Mujin, please take a seat." Seeing that Chu Liangdi had gotten up, Shen Yujiao quickly looked away and went to pick up a teacup.
According to local custom, she should address the person in front of her as "sister," but regardless of whether she was Chu Rou or not, Chen Yujiao simply couldn't bring herself to say it. Fortunately, this Chu Liangdi didn't make things difficult for her.
"I am new to the Eastern Palace and there are many things I do not yet understand. If there is anything I have done poorly, I would appreciate your guidance, Your Highness."
"Of course, now that Consort Chu has entered the Eastern Palace, you may come and ask me anything."
"To be honest, I have a problem right now," Shen Yujiao's smile froze. She was just saying it casually, but she didn't expect that Consort Chu would actually take out a book and point it out to Shen Yujiao: "This is the book."
So it really was a problem in the literal sense. Shen Yujiao smiled at Chu Liangdi, then looked down at the problem. With just one glance, she became serious. It was a very basic Pythagorean theorem problem.
Shen Yujiao seemed to ponder for a moment before looking up and asking, "Why did Consort Chu bring this question today?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Liangdi's delicate face showed a hint of embarrassment. Her gaze fell on the question, and she recounted to Shen Yujiao how the Crown Prince hadn't come last night but had sent her a book. As she spoke, she recalled the scene from the previous night.
After A-Jun went out last night, Chu Rou picked up the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art and started reading it. At first, it didn't seem special, but when she was halfway through, one of the questions was circled in red. She flipped through the rest of the book and saw that only this question was marked in red. So, she stayed up all night to solve this geometry problem based on the Pythagorean theorem.
Seeing that the woman's troubled expression seemed genuine, Shen Yujiao was even more surprised. She tentatively asked, "You... don't know how to solve this problem?"
Chu Rou, already feeling ashamed, blushed even more upon hearing her words: "When I was at home, my grandfather taught me arithmetic, but because I studied literature and history more from a young age, I'm not very good at geometry..."
This is a huge joke—the top science student can't do the Pythagorean theorem?
Shen Yujiao probed again: "Jiang Chen, oh, Your Highness, the question Your Highness circled for you isn't difficult. Why don't you take another look, Consort?"
"Ah..." If the Crown Princess hadn't been so gentle with her, Chu Rou would probably have suspected that the Crown Princess was trying to intimidate her.
Seeing that Chu Liangdi was staring intently at the question for a long time, and still looked embarrassed, Shen Yujiao finally realized her identity. Chu Rou and He Zhiju were not only acquaintances, but also intelligent people. If they really came from another time, there was no reason for them not to acknowledge their identities.
After confirming that the person in front of her was a genuine noblewoman of the Great Xia Dynasty, Shen Yujiao's feelings became complicated again. Although she had considered this outcome, if Consort Chu was not Chu Rou, then firstly, they would have lost another helper, and secondly, she would have seemingly found herself a rival in love.
"It's alright. Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince just had a sudden whim last night. You should take this book back with you. The questions aren't difficult, but it wouldn't be right for me to answer them for you without the Crown Prince's knowledge. He will be visiting your courtyard tonight."
Having received this answer, Chu Rou slowly put away the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. "Your Highness, that's not what I meant..."
"That's how it should be. Go ahead, I still need to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager today."
"yes."
Hearing the Crown Princess say this, Chu Rou had no choice but to get up and take her leave. After leaving the main courtyard, A-Jun excitedly said to her, "Liangdi, it seems that the Crown Princess is a kind person. Not only did she not make things difficult for you, but she also said that she would like His Highness the Crown Prince to come to Jingtan Pavilion tonight."
"Stop talking..."
Chu Rou sighed deeply. She had no choice but to come to the Crown Princess with the question. She had received this book on the night she entered the palace. If she did not speak openly to the Crown Princess, and if the numbers or patterns in it had any other meaning, it would be difficult for the Chu family.
But she never expected that the Crown Princess would be so virtuous and magnanimous. She encountered such a thing as soon as she entered the mansion. For a moment, she felt that she had no face to see the Crown Prince and was also ashamed of the Crown Princess who treated her so well.
Jiang Chen returned to the East Palace after court. As soon as he entered, he heard Zhu Yu say, "The Crown Princess said that if you have time today, you should visit Jingtan Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen paused in his tracks. "Where are you going?"
Zhu Yu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was roaring: What did you say? On such a joyous occasion, you sent over a book! Luckily, the Crown Princess is sensible and clear-headed; otherwise, if this got back to the palace, the entire Eastern Palace would be implicated.
"The Crown Princess said it was to solve the problem you asked her last night."
"That's what she said?"
"Yes..." Zhu Yu thought for a moment that she had misheard. Had His Highness the Crown Prince just laughed out loud?
"Walk!"
Looking up again, Zhu Yu saw that the Crown Prince had already walked quite a distance, but after following him for a while, he realized something was wrong: This was not the way to Jingtan Pavilion at all; it was clearly the way to the main courtyard!
"I told you long ago that she wasn't Chu Rou, but you wouldn't believe me!"
Shen Yujiao was having lunch when she suddenly heard a sound behind her. She was so startled that she choked. Jiang Chen saw this and quickly went over to ladle a bowl of soup for her and handed it to her: "Shunshun, hurry up and go, I'm so sorry."
Fortunately, the choking wasn't too bad. Shen Yu coughed a few times and recovered. She took the soup bowl from Jiang Chen and subconsciously slapped him on the shoulder. The slap stunned both of them.
"You've already fought, so you're not angry anymore, are you?" After a long pause, Jiang Chen tentatively asked.
"I—" Shen Yujiao was speechless for a moment.
The slap she delivered just now was entirely out of muscle memory. Now that Jiang Chen was staring at her like this, she couldn't say anything and just picked up the soup bowl and started drinking the soup.
Seeing that Shen Yujiao didn't say anything else, Jiang Chen smiled and asked, "Shen Jiaojiao, is it good?"
"Why don't you just serve yourself a bowl and you'll see?"
Although things were still awkward, their cold war had officially ended. For the first time in a month, the two sat down to have a meal together. Jiang Chen didn't mention anything else during the meal until they finished their lunch in silence.
After the meal, Shen Yujiao washed her hands with Mu Jin's help: "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go to Jingtan Pavilion?"
"She's not Chu Rou, why would I go?" Jiang Chen glanced at Shen Yujiao with amusement, as if she had said something funny.
"The rules are there..."
Jiang Chen tossed the handkerchief he had used to wipe his hands back into the basin, quickened his pace to catch up with Shen Yujiao, and asked with a grin, "When have I ever followed the rules?"
“Then—” Shen Yujiao couldn’t help but smile, “Then you should go to the palace tomorrow to explain to the Empress, so that she won’t think it’s because I’m unwilling.”
"You didn't want to in the first place."
"What are you talking about?" Shen Yujiao turned around quickly to look at Jiang Chen. "When have I ever said I didn't want you to see her?"
Jiang Chen crossed his arms and tilted his head to look at her: "If you didn't want her to come to the manor, why were you in a bad mood when you came back from the palace that day? And why did you quarrel with me for no reason?"
“Who said I did it for no reason? Think about what you said that day. I just went out of town for a ride and to clear my head, and when I came back you were all hostile and rude.”
"Can't you let me go with you on horseback when you go out of the city? You have something to say to him, but you don't tell me? What is our relationship? And what is your relationship with him? Besides, you are neither Miss Shen nor He Zhiju."
Shen Yujiao was speechless for a moment, "I, I didn't, I'm just used to it."
"Yes! You're used to it. Whenever something happens, you think of He Zhiju first. I'm always your second choice!"
After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he lifted the hem of his robe and sat down in the chair. Seeing his sullen appearance, Shen Yujiao felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She walked over and poked Jiang Chen's face, coaxing him, "Are you angry again?"
"Go find your brother Zhiju." Jiang Chen waved and pushed Shen Yujiao away.
“Oh dear,” Shen Yujiao stepped forward again, “He’s not just anyone, why do you get so angry every time he’s mentioned?”
Seeing the girl's sincere expression, Jiang Chen closed his eyes tightly, feeling annoyed: "Heartless."
"Okay, Jiang Xiaochen, that's enough. How long do I have to coax you before you calm down? I won't look for him next time, okay?"
Jiang Chen looked up and glanced at her sideways: "If you hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have known. Is this how you try to coax people?"
"Smack—" Shen Yujiao raised her hand and smacked him on the shoulder, pretending to be angry, and said, "Are you ever going to stop?"
"Alright, Shen Jiaojiao, you're my great-aunt."
Seeing that he had agreed, Shen Yujiao smiled again. She sat down next to Jiang Chen and said to him, "To be honest, why don't you go and visit Consort Chu? She came to ask me some questions today."
"Why don't you just explain the problem to her? I don't have any particular reason to go."
“That won’t do,” Shen Yujiao said helplessly. “The Chu family has been operating in the court for many years, and Consort Chu grew up under the care of Grand Tutor Chu. You’ve already given them a difficult problem on the very first day. If you don’t write out the analysis well, what if the Chu family overthinks it?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Yujiao saw Jiang Chen looking at her strangely: "Well done, Shen Jiaojiao, you've actually thought of this now."
“You can’t expect anything good to come out of a dog’s mouth,” Shen Yujiao rolled her eyes at him. “Do you think the Empress and those princesses and consorts are all pushovers? I have to deal with them every day. If I hadn’t even made this much progress, I would have been devoured alive long ago.”
"Hmm, it seems the time travel was worth it; at least you're no longer lacking..."
Shen Yujiao raised her hand and smacked his other shoulder. "Stop talking nonsense, are you going or not!"
"Go away, go away, I'll go, okay?"
It's just a geometry problem based on the Pythagorean theorem, isn't it?
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