Wang Zhenyi explained Chen Wu's doubts one by one. By the time she finished, the Academy of Sciences had closed for the day. Wang Lai bade the two farewell and left first.
Seeing that Chen Wu had more or less understood, Wang Zhenyi said, "There's nothing more to explain. All that remains is practice. The Academy publishes past examination papers; go buy a volume and work through it carefully. If there's anything you don't understand, come find me again."
"Your foundation is solid. With a little practice, you'll certainly pass the Wude Palace examination."
"Thank you!" This time, Chen Wu meant it from the bottom of his heart.
"Is there anything else? If not, go back first," Wang Zhenyi said.
"I want to go somewhere."
Euler's grave lay in the backyard of a church near the Academy of Sciences. Euler had been a mathematical genius, but he had also been a devout believer.
His gravestone was exceedingly simple, as simple and elegant as the many formulas he had created. It bore only a single short line—"Academician of the Dashun Academy of Sciences, Leonhard Euler."
It was written in both Latin and Chinese characters.
Ever since learning that Euler had died in Dashun, Chen Wu had wanted to pay his respects at the man's grave. At last, his wish had been fulfilled.
Still, when he saw Wang Zhenyi place two sticks of incense before Euler's grave, Chen Wu could not quite keep it together.
"What are you standing there for?" Wang Zhenyi asked displeasedly. "You were the one who wanted to come. Why aren't you offering incense?"
"Oh, right—" Chen Wu hurriedly lit the incense, bowed three times toward Euler's gravestone, and placed the sticks into the censer.
Great God Euler, in my past life, your formulas and theorems tortured