Cui Zixuan stood up and bowed to the Empress and Princess before she said, "I am Cui Zixuan, the disciple of Xuantian Sect. I am proficient in astronomy, mathematics, and alchemy. Since Dr. Song is the chief doctor of mathematics, I dare to compete with him. I hope Dr. Song will teach me."
Song Jinxiu smiled and said, "Since you are a disciple of Xuantian Sect, then you can ask questions."
She wanted to see what her disciple's math skills were like.
The eldest princess smiled and said, "In that case, I have a question here, and I hope you two can calculate it."
She winked at Nanny Rong, and Nanny Rong stepped back.
She then asked Song Jinxiu and Cui Zixuan, "What do you two need?"
Cui Zixuan smiled and said, "All you need is an abacus, a piece of paper and a pen."
Song Jinxiu smiled, took out a piece of crumpled paper and a half pencil from her sleeve, raised the things in her hand and said, "I'll take them."
Cui Zixuan's eyes were filled with disdain: You're using an abacus, are you planning on doing mental arithmetic? How ignorant! Are the questions asked by the Grand Princess ordinary questions?
She took the abacus handed to her by the maid, stood properly, and waited.
She never underestimates her enemies. Since you are not pretending, I will let you be proud for a while.
Wouldn't it be embarrassing to figure it out and then calculate it?
The emperor smiled and said: Girl, can you fold the paper properly? How can I write when it’s wrinkled?
Nanny Rong quickly came in with a piece of paper.
Eunuch Hai, who was beside the emperor, took it and asked the emperor to look at it.
The emperor took a look and nodded.
Eunuch Hai said loudly: "Now we know the number of things. Three times three is two, five times five is three, and seven times seven is two. What is the minimum number of things?"
As soon as Eunuch Hai finished speaking, Cui Zixuan's abacus started to sound.
Song Jinxiu smiled, wrote a number and handed it to Eunuch Hai.
Eunuch Hai happily showed it to the Emperor. The Grand Princess also took a look and saw 23 written on it.
She snorted coldly at the knowledge of the Arabic numerals Princess: "Humph, you are just being mysterious."
The emperor glanced at her and asked, "Sister, is the answer to this question twenty-three?"
The eldest princess glanced at Song Jinxiu who was listening intently, and said with a smile: "Royal brother, are you trying to tip off the little girl? You are the ruler of a country, you can't cheat."
The emperor laughed and said, "No, it was Song Aiqing who answered. This is the answer, so I asked you, is it twenty-three?"
"What? She didn't even calculate it, how come she can answer it?" The eldest princess looked at 23 with a look of surprise.
The emperor laughed and said, "Do you think my chief doctor of mathematics is a vegetarian?"
He glanced at the eldest princess's expression and said with a smile, "It seems that this answer is correct."
He glanced at Eunuch Hai and said, "Announce the results."
When Eunuch Hai's voice sounded, "The answer is twenty-three, Dr. Song wins",
Cui Zixuan's face turned red, she had only calculated halfway.
She had given up, but was still making plans.
Wang asked, "Dr. Song, how did you get the answer so quickly? Did you calculate this problem in advance?"
Song Jinxiu smiled and raised the wrinkled paper in her mouth. I have already written the algorithm. You can copy it and take it home to study it slowly.
There were only a few Arabic numerals on her piece of paper: 3×7+2= 21+2= 23
"Dr. Song, we understand this."
"Yes, what is this? It's very roundabout."
Most of the people who came were girls, and most of them knew Arabic numerals.
Song Jinxiu smiled and said, "If you don't understand, go home and ask your brothers who are studying in the Imperial College, and you will understand."
Dongzhi hurriedly asked: "Your Majesty, can you allow Dr. Song to give lectures at the Women's School as well?"
The emperor looked at Song Jinxiu and asked for her opinion.
Song Jinxiu said, "Your Majesty, you can pick two of the princess' companions in the inner study to teach at the Imperial Academy."
When the emperor heard this, he looked at Princess Mingzhu with a smile and said, "Let Mingzhu take charge of this matter."
Princess Mingzhu, who came with the Emperor and Empress, stood up with a smile and said, "Your Highness obeys your command."
After a stick of incense, Cui Zixuan finally came to the conclusion: twenty-three.
Cui Zixuan knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, I am convinced. Dr. Song has solved this problem before, but this is my first time."
Song Jinxiu must have calculated it, otherwise it wouldn't have come out so quickly.
Humph, this girl is too arrogant, even pretending, which made her see through her. She just needs to write and calculate, maybe she can find a reason to refute.
The eldest princess also said: "This is what I saw in the ancient monuments. Miss Song may have calculated it before. But based on this question, the winner is indeed determined."
The emperor frowned. He had seen the little girl's calculation speed before, but she was not convinced...
"So what does the Emperor say?"
The eldest princess frowned. She was fond of mathematics, and this problem came to her by chance. No one in the mansion could solve it, so she took it out for emergency use.
Cui Zixuan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I will ask a question. If Dr. Song can finish it within one stick of incense, I will be convinced."
"Oh? Lord Song, do you dare to accept the challenge?"
Song Jinxiu smiled and said, "Whatever you say, Miss Cui, please feel free to speak up."
Cui Zixuan was secretly proud of herself. She smiled and said, "The wall is five feet thick today. Two rats are going to pierce it. The big rat pierces one foot a day, and the small rat also pierces one foot a day. The big rat doubles its length each day, and the small rat halves its length each day. When will they meet again? How much have they pierced each other?"
This question was asked by the Grand Elder of Xuantian Sect, and no disciple of Xuantian Sect could solve it.
She didn't figure it out at the time, and it took her another half a day to figure it out after she asked her teacher.
Moreover, she changed a few numbers today. Even though Song Jinxiu had heard similar questions before, it would take time to do the math.
Cui Zixuan firmly believed that she had done it within an incense stick of time.
Cui Zixuan smiled and asked politely, "Does Dr. Song need an abacus?"
Song Jinxiu smiled and shook her head, saying, "I've already figured it out."
Cui Zixuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Dr. Song, don't be joking. You are really good at calculating and speaking directly. I can teach you."
Song Jinxiu looked at her and said, "The two rats met after about two days, one hour, three quarters of an hour, and a quarter of a quarter. When they met, the big rat went through the wall about three feet four and seven, and the small rat went through the wall about one foot five and three. Is that right?"
Everyone looked at Cui Zixuan. Waiting for her to announce the results.
Cui Zixuan was confused because she had changed all the original numbers in order to prevent Song Jinxiu from cheating.
So now she herself knows the result of this question.
But Song Jinxiu spoke too quickly, and she found it hard to believe that the result she said was calculated by her. Yes, she must be making it up, she must be.
So she shook her head and said earnestly: "Dr. Song, mathematics requires rigor, and nonsense is acceptable."
Princess Kangning sneered, "Oh, so you were just kidding? I was shocked. I thought you were a god or a mortal. It's so fast, but it turns out you were just playing tricks!"
"Yes, it seems that she guessed the previous question correctly as well."
The eldest princess snorted coldly, "Hmph! Your Majesty, this is your beloved Song. How can she be a role model for you if she speaks nonsense like this? I think her position as the chief doctor of mathematics should be dismissed!"
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