Chapter 24

Anyway, the two of them put in no effort.

Su Qiao couldn't possibly know.

Such a big favor—first, let's chalk it up to Su Qiao for now.

Right now, Old Zhu has clearly made up his mind to give Su Qiao an important post.

As long as Su Qiao owes them a little more, their children and grandchildren will be that much safer in the future.

Only, the two old foxes didn't notice this at all.

The person in question, Su Qiao, nearly had his nose crooked with rage by the two of them.

I was wondering why Old Zhu's temper had gotten so good.

Turns out it was you two goods holding me back?

I was wholeheartedly looking for a death.

I figured my intentions weren't exactly subtle.

You two old things, what are you doing poking your noses into my business?!

23, how could I have forgotten about this bunch of civil officials!

Before Su Qiao could make a sound.

Ru Taisu grabbed Su Qiao by the elbow and laughed.

"I've prepared a modest wine at home; tonight I'll be welcoming you with a dust-washing feast!"

With that, Ru Taisu pushed Su Qiao onto a horse carriage.

"You two, attend Lord Su and help him change."

The words barely fallen, Ru Taisu took his leave with an air of ease.

Before Su Qiao could react.

Two delicate maids stepped forward and began to undress Su Qiao.

This was a feeling Su Qiao, born in a later age, had never experienced.

But looking at the two little maids before him.

They were fair and clean-skinned enough.

Pity.

They were just wearing too many clothes.

Clothes make the man, the saddle makes the horse.

It's not that Ming-style Han clothing was ugly.

No matter how gorgeous the Han clothing seen in later ages.

Those were still things only high officials and nobles could wear.

The rest of the poor folk, their whole lives long, mostly wore coarse hemp cloth.

Looking at the two girls before him.

No matter what, Su Qiao still couldn't muster any interest.

Though the service was quite thoughtful.

Before long, Su Qiao had been washed and groomed fresh.

When Su Qiao stepped down from the carriage.

He no longer looked at all like someone just released from the Imperial Prison.

Seeing Su Qiao step down.

Ru Taisu squinted his eyes and waved with a smile.

The steward of the house promptly spat a mouthful of liquor into the charcoal basin outside the door.

"Whoosh—"

The flames leapt up high.

Su Qiao woodenly stepped over the fire basin; Ru Taisu stared at Su Qiao with a beaming smile and clicked his tongue.

"Not bad, not bad, that ill luck is now considered dispelled!"

After the wine banquet.

Ru Taisu sized up Su Qiao.

Yet his cloudy eyes grew all the brighter.

Because on Su Qiao's body, he seemed to see something!

It was the unyielding spirit that belonged solely to Confucian scholars!

Zhan Hui silently filled Su Qiao's cup to the brim.

"Young Lord Su, that speech of yours on the court that day could truly be said to have deafened the ears and opened the eyes of the deaf and blind."

Ru Taisu nodded slightly and said.

"It was just a touch too green, a bit rash."

Su Qiao looked at Ru Taisu in confusion and asked.

"What does my teacher mean by this?"

Ru Taisu shot a glance toward the door; two retainers, seeing this, immediately and tactfully went outside and opened every door and window in the hall.

And the servants outside likewise withdrew one after another to the outer courtyard.

Only then did Ru Taisu laugh and say.

"You boy, you've overlooked far too many things."

"Think about it—Huang Zicheng, Watching Qi Tai and that lot staked their bets on the Grandson long ago."

"The civil officials in the court, without exception, all anticipate the Crown Prince's succession."

"And you, Su Qiao, denigrated the Crown Prince as utterly worthless, yet in the end brought up the Prince of Yan."

"Who exactly is the Prince of Yan?"

"Merely a brute; how could the assembled ministers in court tolerate him?"

"Therefore, you, Su Qiao, can only struggle with a single palm!"

Su Qiao opened his mouth to speak.

But Ru Taisu made a hushing gesture and then said,

"Young man, having ambition, I, an old man, can understand."

"But matters in this court are not such that, simply because you have ambition, you may act with reckless abandon."

"You must show the court officials what benefits your ambition can bring them; only then will they support you!"

"Even if the Son of Heaven is of great strategic vision, when the entire court speaks with one voice, he too must deliberate; do you understand this principle?"

Ru Taisu's words instantly gave Su Qiao a wake-up call.

How had I forgotten this point?

How had I forgotten the scholar-officials!

With this thought, Su Qiao instantly raised his wine cup.

"Master, the student understands! The student thanks you, Master!"

Having spoken, Su Qiao lifted his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

Ru Taisu and Zhan Hui exchanged a smile, then chuckled and clicked their tongues, saying,

"This youth is teachable, this youth is truly teachable!"

Zhan Hui immediately raised his wine cup to congratulate Ru Taisu, saying,

"Then this official hereby congratulates Lord Ru on taking on another outstanding disciple; a toast to Lord Ru!"

After exchanging cups and drinking, Su Qiao fell into a drunken slumber.

Watching Su Qiao, who could not hold his liquor, both Ru Taisu and Zhan Hui shared a knowing smile; at that moment, the two seemed to have grasped the future of the Great Ming...

Meanwhile, at the other end.

Zhu Yuanzhang in the Qianqing Palace was not at all at ease.

These past few days, Old Zhu had been wrestling with the matter of the heir apparent.

And Chongzhen in another timeline gave Old Zhu not a single moment's respite.