Chapter 326

So Su Qiao also requested paper and a brush.

Almost every guest at Yi Hong Lou intended to participate in this contest to see if they could win Liudajia Society's favor.

Even Zhu Youjian joined in.

Some truly possessed literary talent, while others were merely filling the quota.

Regardless, in less than half an hour.

Basically, everyone had submitted their work.

"Please wait patiently for a moment, enjoy the song and dance of our Yi Hong Lou; Liudajia Society will take some time to sift through everyone's masterpieces."

Su Qiao, confident and prepared, picked up another duck leg and began gnawing on it.

And without the slightest decorum, he propped both feet up on another chair.

"Vulgar!"

Qian Qianyi and Su Qiao were not far apart, and the doors were hardly closed.

Seeing Su Qiao's appearance at a glance, a look of contempt flashed across Qian Qianyi's face.

Su Qiao chuckled, "Lord Qian is not vulgar; he is excellent. What was that word again? Elegant!"

182, The Enraged Su Qiao!

Su Qiao's smile provoked Qian Qianyi.

After all, his lifelong pursuit of Liu Rushi had been despised by the world.

He was old enough to be Liu Rushi's grandfather.

Yet he shamelessly pursued her so brazenly; who knows how many people were discussing his faults behind his back.

Moreover, Liu Rushi was a famous courtesan of the Qinhuaihe River, pursued eagerly by scholars and literati throughout the south.

Even though Qian Qianyi was the so-called leader of the Donglin Party, he still could not stop People's thoughts.

Thus, Qian Qianyi could be said to have borne a heavy burden of slander and pressure during this period.

Originally, he believed that as long as he could win the beauty's heart.

Everything else could be disregarded!

But seeing Su Qiao's smile, which carried a hint of amusement and mockery, he did not know what happened; his mind, which should have been calm and undisturbed, became unstable.

"Boy, did your elders never teach you manners?"

Qian Qianyi snorted coldly, his mouth sharp and cutting.

Truly a literary master; he spoke without a single dirty word, yet his insults were extremely vicious.

Su Qiao initially just did not want that old man full of scheming, Qian Qianyi, to get his wish.

Watching the spectacle and the jokes along the way was quite interesting.

But now that Qian Qianyi had spoken those words, the smile on Su Qiao's face suddenly changed, turning into a sharp, chilling sneer.

Even Qian Qianyi, an old man who had spent half his life in the court and weathered many ups and downs in officialdom.

Was stunned by Su Qiao's sudden and icy sneer.

"You, what do you intend to do? I tell you, although I am no longer in the court, I was once a Fourth Rank, Senior Grade official of the Great Ming; do you dare to touch me?"

Qian Qianyi, somewhat frightened by Su Qiao, spoke somewhat unsteadily.

"Heh, Lord Qian, yes, now I should address you as Lord Qian. What you say about other matters is irrelevant, but that sentence of yours just now has angered me; therefore, from now on, I will not let you have a good time!"

The smile vanished from Su Qiao's face; instead, he spoke to Qian Qianyi with extreme calmness.

The more ancient and untroubled his demeanor, the more Qian Qianyi felt uncertain in his heart.

He regretted losing his temper earlier.

Do not look at how extensive his connections were.

But his current network of old acquaintances was all over in Jin Ling.

Besides, where was this?

This was the capital, separated from Jin Ling by a thousand or eight hundred li.

The influence of Jin Ling simply could not reach here.

There were also many families in the capital that hid dragons and crouched tigers.

Su Qiao himself carried a special, noble aura.

This made Qian Qianyi even suspect whether he had suddenly offended some family.

But he was nearly sixty years old, and his status and position made him a senior.

Su Qiao was so young; he looked like a mere Mao Touxiaozi youth.

Asking him to bow his head and reconcile with Su Qiao would cost him too much face.

He could only lower his voice and press, "Whose family are you from?"

"My surname is Su; as for my name, I will not tell you, but I believe in a few days you will know."

Su Qiao had no interest in continuing to deal with Qian Qianyi.

He had already decided; since he had free time these past few days, he would simply deal with Qian Qianyi.

After all, he was a spineless weakling!

From the moment Qian Qianyi insulted Su Qiao for having no upbringing, Qian Qianyi had been placed on Su Qiao's blacklist.

Seeing Su Qiao's current demeanor, Qian Qianyi also realized that reconciliation was impossible.

He now urgently wanted to find someone to investigate Su Qiao's identity and background.

If it turned out he truly could not oppose him, he would immediately go to the door to beg for mercy, or leave the capital.

But if the other party was purely all talk.

That he could stand in the Great Ming court for so many years was not due to fasting and chanting; he certainly possessed some ruthlessness.

Bang!

Su Qiao suddenly shut the door of the Suqiaoba Sect.

Qian Qianyi also closed the door of the private box.

It perfectly avoided others' gazes.

"Come here. Do you know whose young man is in the private box opposite?"

Qian Qianyi called over a maid from Yi Hong Lou to ask.

The maid shook her head. "We only know that Young Master Su seems very wealthy; we know nothing else. Today, too many people came to Yi Hong Lou."

Su Qiao did not fear Qian Qianyi, but the little maid was afraid.

She did not dare to conceal anything and recounted the entire process of receiving Su Qiao.

Qian Qianyi, annoyed, drove the maid out, poured himself a cup of wine, and drank it down.

He racked his brains: which family in the capital bears the surname Su yet is so arrogant?

"Surname Su, a young man, surname Su... Could it be him?..."

Qian Qianyi rubbed his temples, thinking incessantly, going through one by one the powerful figures currently appearing in the court.

Instantly, a name made him stand frozen.

"Ah!"

His left hand stroked the goatee on his chin; without noticing, he actually pulled out more than ten hairs.

The pain made him cry out involuntarily.

Su Qiao had no intention of seeking attention when he came to Yi Hong Lou today.

He only wanted to see Liu Rushi and observe what this courtesan was like.

Furthermore, he wanted to see how those noble young masters and scholars fought over her.

Who knew he would not encounter the so-called young heroes, but instead run into Qian Qianyi, that old rascal?

It was simply like eating a fly!

When Su Qiao and Qian Qianyi clashed, Zhu Youjian and the others next door saw it clearly.

"Your Majesty, should this Qian Qianyi be..."

Wang Chengen, who constantly watched Zhu Youjian's emotions, noticed Zhu Youjian's expression change when Qian Qianyi cursed Su Qiao, and immediately guessed Zhu Youjian's thoughts.

"Investigate. Su Qing is an able minister specially arranged for me by Laozu Sect; he is never arrogant or restless, nor does he provoke trouble. Yet this time he was insulted so severely by that old villain Qian Qianyi; it is simply... unforgivable!"

Zhu Youjian thought for a long time but could not curse out any other harsh words.