Chapter 325

Wang Chengen immediately left Room 0.3 and ordered the guards to locate Su Qiao.

Su Qiao is right next door; a quick check will reveal his position.

So Wang Chengen returned not long after.

"Your Majesty, found him—he's right next door!"

He whispered softly while pointing at the adjacent wall,

"Oh, is that so? How interesting. Let's see if Su Qing will join the contest. Though I wear a veil, I'm certain Liu Dajia's beauty is unmatched. Su Qing, young and smitten, is likely to be moved."

As he spoke, Zhu Youjian's lips curled upward.

He clearly wanted to sneak a look at Su Qiao's embarrassment.

Su Qiao had no idea Zhu Youjian had come to Yi Hong Lou—and was right next door.

Liu Rushi rested briefly, then began playing again.

Her voice was soft and tingling, the melody lingering and profound, the two complementing each other perfectly, drawing listeners irresistibly into its spell.

181, head too itchy, water too cold!

"Good!"

Su Qiao couldn't help suddenly shouting out.

Instantly, the audience's immersion in the music shattered.

The young masters and gentlemen upstairs and downstairs, the masters and scholars, all glared angrily at Su Qiao's private room.

Su Qiao grinned, raised his wine cup, and bowed to everyone.

Liu Rushi, interrupted mid-performance, couldn't help glancing toward Su Qiao.

But Su Qiao wasn't even looking at her—he was bent over, happily gnawing on a plump duck leg.

Liu Rushi furrowed her delicate brows, then turned away.

The piece ended!

Though interrupted midway by Su Qiao, it still drew widespread acclaim and countless rewards.

But after that incident, everyone in Yi Hong Lou held a grudge against Su Qiao.

Only Zhu Youjian, in the adjacent room, chuckled and asked Wang Chengen: "Big Eunuch, do you think Su Qing did that on purpose just now?"

Wang Chengen nodded: "Mr. Su never does anything without purpose. I believe there's deeper meaning behind it."

"Why do you think he abruptly interrupted Liu Dajia's performance? Was the music off?"

Zhu Youjian now deeply trusted Su Qiao.

The master and servant both frowned, pondering the matter deeply.

In truth, Su Qiao had no intention at all—he simply thought Liu Rushi's music was beautiful and wanted to tap along to the rhythm.

And then he messed it up!

Can someone who's never studied music easily grasp the rhythm of an ancient tune?

If Su Qiao knew Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen trusted him so blindly, would he choke on a whole duck leg?

Ding ding ding…

"Alright, Liu Dajia has performed twice for us and is now weary. Let's take this opportunity for a contest—poetry, prose, songs, all acceptable. Whoever impresses Liu Dajia most will spend the night with her by candlelight!"

The still-vivacious Madam Hong stepped forward again.

"Any theme restrictions?"

"None!"

Su Qiao rubbed his chin. "This is quite an open topic—why do I suddenly feel so itchy inside?"

True, Su Qiao couldn't compose poetry or verse—but he could plagiarize.

He still remembered quite a few classics from the Ming and Qing dynasties of his past life.

The most famous seemed to be the poems of Nalan Xingde.

As Madam Hong finished speaking, an elderly voice rang out not far from Su Qiao's private room.

"Bring ink and brush! Old man will try."

Boom!

The voice clearly belonged to someone over fifty.

You could accept a young master, a dashing young talent, or others vying for her favor.

But suddenly, an old man pops up? How infuriating!

It stirred even more anger than Su Qiao's interruption of Liu Rushi's performance.

Especially the proud noble sons, who slammed their tables and stormed forward to teach him a lesson.

Fortunately, Yi Hong Lou had prepared well—many guards and bouncers quickly held the crowd back.

Madam Hong also smiled apologetically and explained to everyone.

"Don't be angry, let's keep the peace. The gentleman in the upstairs room—many of you have heard his name."

"Who is it?"

"It's just, a…"

"My lords, let me finish. That man is the former Vice Minister of Rites, leader of the Donglin Faction, our Great Ming's famed third-place imperial examination scholar—Qian Qianyi, my lord! He's been utterly infatuated with Liu Dajia for years. When she came from Jiangnan to the capital, he followed her here."

Madam Hong didn't say more, but everyone understood.

Just an old man with a young heart.

All of them secretly despised the notion of romance or passion.

Yet the anger that had flared moments before cooled considerably.

After all, Qian Qianyi's status couldn't be ignored.

Now retired from court, his status and connections still remain.

He is still one of the famous leaders of the Donglin Party, and no one dares to truly offend him.

Su Qiao and Zhu Youjian reacted differently upon hearing the name Qian Qianyi.

Su Qiao's face bore a wry amusement.

Zhu Youjian's expression was one of revulsion.

He hated factional strife most of all, especially the Donglin Party—it made him utterly sick.

Eunuchs at least were evil in plain sight; the Donglin Party was outright anti-imperial, rotten to the core.

The Great Ming's deep poisoning was half the work of the Donglin Party.

So when he learned Qian Qianyi's identity, Zhu Youjian made no effort to hide his revulsion.

"Send someone to thoroughly investigate him—he's nearly eighty, yet still has such ambitions? Truly, age only makes him more vigorous!"

Wang Chengen naturally understood the sarcasm in Zhu Youjian's tone.

He immediately nodded in agreement.

Su Qiao, amused, thought Qian Qianyi was a hypocrite—a monstrous oddity!

So old, yet still so lecherous!

Despite his status and position, Qian Qianyi was no good man at all.

Think about it—the Donglin Party were all tumors; could their leader, Qian Qianyi, be anything but a tumor?

Su Qiao actually knew something about Qian Qianyi.

Not only did he court Liu Ruyi at age fifty-nine, but after the Jurchen Tatars breached the pass, he surrendered outright.

Liu Ruyi was fierce, patriotic, and loyal—she wished to die with him.

But can you guess what Qian Qianyi said?

After a moment's hesitation, he feigned approaching the pond, dipped his hand in, and said: "The water's too cold—I can't go in!"

Then, ignoring Liu Ruyi's pleas, he shamelessly surrendered.

What a man of integrity this great scholar was!

He took office under the Qing, yet was so foolish he got entangled in a case and was thrown into prison.

Had Liu Ruyi not, while ill, traveled five hundred and seventy-three miles to save him, he'd have been long since ashes scattered to the wind.

After Qian Qianyi died, Liu Ruyi was driven to death by Qian's clan.

Almost from the day she married Qian Qianyi, her life became one of suffering.

Yet he still dared to pursue Liu Ruyi in this lifetime.

Su Qiao felt that even if he couldn't stop others, he wanted to sabotage Qian Qianyi and see him ousted.