Chapter 327

But Wang Chengen already knew that Qian Qianyi was finished!

Out of all the people to provoke, why did you have to pick him?

Young Master Su is usually amiable with everyone; how could he endure such insults from you?

Truly, it's like an old longevity star eating arsenolite—seeking death!

"Your Majesty, rest assured. This servant knows what to do. I have already made arrangements just now and will surely avenge my lord Su!"

"Hmm. Su Qing is a pillar of our Great Ming; we cannot let Su Qing's heart grow cold!"

At this moment, Su Qiao was still considering how to deal with Qian Qianyi.

He did not know that Zhu Youjian had taken the initiative on his own and already found a way to resolve the trouble for him.

About the time it takes to burn one stick of incense passed.

Mother Hong of Yi Hong Lou appeared on the stage once again.

The gazes of the crowd below and in the private boxes converged upon her.

Every pair of eyes was full of expectation.

Because Mother Hong should soon announce who had won first place this time.

Everyone wanted to win first place this time and then spend time alone with the great master Liu Rushi.

Even Zhu Youjian, who had been careless, brightened in the eyes.

"It seems everyone is anxious. Then let the great master Liu announce who has won first place this time."

183, you are just craving her body!

"Wait!"

Just as Liu Rushi held several sheets of paper and was about to announce the names of those whose works she had selected to rank among the top.

Su Qiao suddenly pushed open the door of the private box, smiling, and stopped her.

"Oh? Does Young Master Su have something to say?"

Having been abruptly interrupted, everyone's expressions turned unpleasant.

It was as if, at a critical moment in a television drama, an advertisement suddenly interrupted the broadcast.

Whose mood could remain good?

However, Su Qiao paid no attention to the gazes of these people.

He smiled and looked toward the box diagonally opposite, where Qian Qianyi was seated.

"My lord Qian, I have heard that your literary talent is brilliant and that you were the third-place laureate in earlier years. Now, at such an advanced age, you are still full of lewd schemes. This junior feels somewhat unconvinced. Shall we make a wager?"

Su Qiao's voice was not small; in fact, it was quite loud.

Everyone inside Yi Hong Lou could hear it.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Su Qiao's manner was clearly targeting Qian Qianyi.

Many people also disliked Qian Qianyi, but some were constrained by his status and position.

Yet others did not care.

Besides, with Su Qiao standing at the forefront, who would still mind?

Now, one by one, strange gazes fixed upon the door of Qian Qianyi's private box.

Su Qiao spoke so loudly that Qian Qianyi naturally heard it inside the box.

He knew that now he could not play the coward.

Otherwise, his reputation would be utterly ruined!

The status and position he currently held were precisely because of his reputation among the scholar-officials.

This was the foundation of his standing.

Therefore, even if he had to grit his teeth, Qian Qianyi had a maid push open the door and stepped out.

"Hmph! Originally, I did not wish to contend with a junior like you, but since you are so aggressively provocative, then this old man will teach you a lesson. Speak, what shall we wager on?"

Qian Qianyi's eyes blazed with fire; his face turned iron-green as he stared coldly at Su Qiao and said.

He had already guessed Su Qiao's identity.

Do not think that because he is no longer in the court.

Which official in the court is close to Your Majesty, capable, and of high status.

He would certainly know.

Otherwise, he could not have become the leader of the Donglin Party.

However, Su Qiao's words now had him cornered; showing weakness was impossible.

He could only grit his teeth and fight.

Perhaps, if he won the wager, there might still be a glimmer of hope.

Su Qiao chuckled. "Naturally, we wager on the ranking. Today, we all came to Yi Hong Lou to witness the brilliance of the great master Liu."

At this point, Su Qiao deliberately paused.

Then he continued: "Oh, no. My lord Qian is different from us; my lord Qian is just craving her body!"

"Pah!"

Many people, who were drinking tea, could not control themselves and spat it out.

Even Liu Rushi, standing on the high platform, because of Su Qiao's words, had her pale, beautiful face and neck turn pink.

Liu Rushi had already briefly reviewed everyone's works beforehand.

She did not expect that Su Qiao, who had previously appeared rough and rude, could compose such verses; they were simply tear-jerking.

Truly a person of great talent!

Could this be the so-called free and easy spirit?

His eyes could not help but fixate on Su Qiao.

Su Qiao felt a burning gaze, looked down, and met Liu Rushi's water-like spring eyes.

Liu Rushi's heart trembled; she quickly lowered her head, yet the blush on her neck surged instantly to the back of her ears.

Seeing Liu Rushi's reaction, Su Qiao was stunned; could this Liu Rushi have fallen for him?

Does he have such peach blossom luck?

"Hahaha, this brother speaks truly!"

"Pfft, too amusing; I never expected this Brother Su to speak so astonishingly."

"This Young Master Su must not be an ordinary person; otherwise, he would not dare to clash head-on with Qian Qianyi."

"I don't care about anything else, but I feel this Young Master Su suits my temperament!"

Hearing Su Qiao's words inside the private box, Zhu Youjian also burst into hearty laughter.

"This Su Ai's mouth is truly poisonous; his words are truly bold."

"Yes, who else but Qian Qianyi would have scolded Mr. Su just now? Mr. Su never forgets a grudge; this servant feels that even if Your Majesty does not intervene, Mr. Su will not let the other party off easily."

Wang Chengen nodded in agreement from the side.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian nodded and continued watching with keen interest.

"My Lord Qian, why not let us compete with each other's poems? I suppose a great talent like you, who 'masters both heaven and man,' should have more confidence than this junior?"

If it were a competition in anything else, Qian Qianyi might still have harbored doubts.

He might even suspect that Su Qiao was setting a trap for him.

Now that Su Qiao proposes a contest of poetry and song, he still feels confident.

He truly fears not Su Qiao.

"Very well! Since Mr. Su wishes to compete with me in poetry, I accept the challenge; I only wonder, if I win, what then? If I lose, what then?"

Qian Qianyi gritted his teeth and agreed.

Once Qian Qianyi uttered the title "Mr. Su," many people were somewhat surprised.

Su Qiao understood even more clearly that Qian Qianyi had already guessed his identity.

Tsk, tsk, tsk!

Originally, he had thought the other party did not know who he was and planned to trick him.

He never expected this old fellow to guess who he was so quickly.