Chapter 328

Since I cannot outmaneuver you, let us meet face to face!

Only a few people know the riddle.

Others are completely unaware.

Liu Rushi is naturally a woman of intelligence and grace, and she had previously been entangled with Qian Qianyi along the Qinhuaihe for quite some time.

What status does Qian Qianyi hold, and what is his character?

She understands these things to some extent.

To be addressed directly as Mr. by Qian Qianyi clearly indicates he recognizes the other's status as an equal.

Although Su Qiao looks like an ordinary young master from any angle.

Yet Liu Rushi feels Qian Qianyi would absolutely not be so senile as to call out to Su Qiao blindly.

What does that imply?

It implies Qian Qianyi has guessed Su Qiao's identity, and that his status is extremely high, at least no less than his own.

Having figured out these connections, Liu Rushi could not help but fix her gaze on Su Qiao.

Inside Yi Hong Lou, the clever ones also guessed a little.

Those who are not clever simply did not notice, at most feeling curious and strange.

"If my lord Qian wins, I shall retreat three steps whenever I see my lord Qian in the future, and additionally arrange a banquet specifically to apologize to my lord Qian!"

Since Su Qiao intends to crush the opponent severely, the bait must be heavy.

He feels his own "sincerity" can be described as full.

But!

Upon hearing Su Qiao's words, Qian Qianyi did not feel happy; instead, he shivered with a chill.

If he had not guessed Su Qiao's identity, he might have agreed to this condition.

But he knows Su Qiao's identity!

Do not look at Su Qiao's young age, but how formidable were the Jianzhou Jurchens back then?

What was the situation of the Great Ming back then, with internal troubles and external pressures, basically on the verge of collapse?

Yet suddenly Your Majesty's methods changed, becoming decisive and full of vigor.

The moves were like a antelope hanging its horns, leaving no trace!

The results were simply excellent!

184, stunned!

A combo of moves directly took the Jurchen Tatars away.

Huang Taiji even committed suicide.

Dorgon also headed south and was about to enter the capital to beg for surrender.

The Jiangshan of the Great Ming instantly stabilized.

To whom does the merit belong?

Ordinary people guess the ancestors manifested their spirits, and Your Majesty governed with diligence; it is all Your Majesty's merit.

However, those in the court guess it was the suddenly appeared youth Su Qiao, that it was his doing!

Plus the various "care" and intimacy from Grand Councilor Du Du Yinxi and Your Majesty Zhu Youjian.

Everyone who is not a fool guessed this little bit!

Does Qian Qianyi dare to agree?

If he really wins, merely winning the wager, will Your Majesty let him go?

So he dares not agree!

"My lord Qian, I have already been very sincere."

Su Qiao's expression also turned bad.

Does this old fellow intend to push his luck?

"I know, but my meaning is to change it: if I win, you and I shall pretend not to know each other; if I lose, I will immediately return to Jin Ling and never come to the capital again; how does that sound?"

Su Qiao smiled slightly, understanding what this old fellow meant.

This old fellow guessed my identity and is scared!

He fears I will seek revenge later!

Now he knows to shrink his head; what was he doing earlier?

Su Qiao had no intention of letting him go.

Qian Qianyi was never an honest man; he embezzled no little amount.

He simply retired early, considered a timely withdrawal, and thus was not purged.

Otherwise, could he have his current status?

"This wager is meaningless; how about this: whoever loses directly shouts that a toad eats swan meat?"

Su Qiao looked at Qian Qianyi with a half-smile and said.

Qian Qianyi was still thinking he had given a hint of reconciliation, considered bowing his head, and that Su Qiao would let him go.

Who knew Su Qiao was determined to force a complete break with himself!

"Mr. Su, it is better to resolve grievances than to create bonds; do you not know that harmony is precious?"

"That depends on whom it is against!"

"Is Mr. Su intending to wipe me out completely?"

Qian Qianyi asked with a gloomy face, gritting his teeth.

Su Qiao nodded very decisively, "Correct, you guessed it; when you were arrogant just now, why did you not think of harmony being precious?"

"Very well, this old man agrees!"

With Su Qiao pressing him to this point, Qian Qianyi could no longer hold back.

Moreover, he believed in the strength of his own poetry and literary skills.

Su Qiao might be more formidable in devising statecraft, but when it came to writing and composing poetry, he was confident he would win.

Since Su Qiao offered no chance to ease the tension, he would seize the opportunity to humiliate him thoroughly.

Seeing the light flashing in Qian Qianyi's eyes, Su Qiao could guess his thoughts.

If asked to compose poetry relying on his own true talent, he could not do it.

Yet, for the plagiarized poems he had prepared, he was confident Qian Qianyi could not surpass him.

This was a deadlock destined for Qian Qianyi's demise!

"Master Liu, the wager between myself and Lord Qian has begun. Let us recite our respective poems for everyone to critique, so that it may be fairer."

Su Qiao stepped out of the private room, leaned on the railing, and shouted to Liu Rushi on the high platform downstairs.

Upon hearing this, Liu Rushi looked at Qian Qianyi.

Qian Qianyi nodded, clearly agreeing as well.

Since both parties had agreed, although Liu Rushi did not wish to make the atmosphere so stiff.

Yet she was a woman of the lowly register; no matter how much she was revered, she could not intervene.

So she could only nod, then searched out the poems of Qian Qianyi and Su Qiao.

"Lord Qian's poem reads:

In a square robe, carefree, with a cornered cap askew,

Just left Yi Hong Lou, now boarding a painted boat.

Tending cranes amidst elegant bamboo,

Nurturing flowers in the spring breeze's grace.

Butterflies cross the willow garden to meet red powder,

Orioles sit on the peach embankment awaiting music.

Were it not for these peaceful times,

The lakes and mountains would easily harbor immortals."

One must admit, Qian Qianyi's character was not great.

Yet his literary talent was quite formidable.

It could not be called a poem destined to endure through the ages, but it was a fine work beyond the reach of ordinary scholar-officials.

Even those within Yi Hong Lou, who disliked him, did not say his poem was bad.

【90】 Even Zhu Youjian, inside the private room, felt worry for Su Qiao.

【91】 "This poem is good; Qian Qianyi's level of poetry composition is indeed formidable. Su Ai, making this wager might have been somewhat impulsive."

【92】 "Your Majesty, Mr. Su is after all young; youthful vigor is understandable."

【93】 Wang Chengen said, smoothing things over from the side.