Chapter 329

"Hmm, you make a good point. Never mind, let's see what poem Su Ai-qing composes. Su Ai-qing always manages to create surprises; perhaps he will astonish everyone once again."

Wang Chengen said nothing this time; he knew His Majesty was worried about Su Qiao.

In truth, he did not think highly of Su Qiao's chances of winning either.

"What a fine poem! Truly worthy of the leader of the Donglin Party and the head of the literary world; every poem he writes is a masterpiece!"

"Although I cannot stand him, he does possess talent."

"Then it seems this Young Master Su is going to lose."

"Not necessarily. I actually think Young Master Su still has a chance. Don't forget, if this Young Master Su had no skill at all, how would he dare to challenge the other party?"

"That makes sense, that makes sense!"

Qian Qianyi was old, yet his ears were still quite sharp; standing opposite Su Qiao, he had already heard the others' discussion.

He lifted his chin at Su Qiao with a hint of pride.

Su Qiao, utterly unconcerned, said, "It seems Mr. Qian is confident in his victory?"

"Hehe, regarding other matters, this old man might not compare to Mr. Su, but as for poetry and song, I have never feared anyone."

"Oh? Is that so? Then I trouble the great master Liu to read my humble work."

Su Qiao did not mock him just yet.

The more proud Qian Qianyi is now, the more miserable he will be later.

I wonder if Qian Qianyi will cry afterward!

Liu Rushi naturally knew which work belonged to Su Qiao.

Hearing Su Qiao's words, she flipped to Su Qiao's poem and read aloud:

"If life were only like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind grieve the painted fan?

..."

Hush!

The crowd at Yi Hong Lou actually did not think much of a young man like Su Qiao being able to compare with the literary giant Qian Qianyi.

After all, Qian Qianyi's knowledge, experience, and age were right there for all to see!

How old was Su Qiao? Moreover, he held no official post and had no What merit.

The gap between the two was too great!

Furthermore, they had just heard Qian Qianyi's poem; it was indeed a masterpiece.

Many people lacked the confidence to match it.

But they did not expect Su Qiao to bring such a surprise!

As soon as this plagiarized Mulan Ci by Nalan Xingde appeared, everyone was stunned.

Even Qian Qianyi stood frozen in place, his face ashen.

If it's good or bad, why are you afraid to compare?

Qian Qianyi's work was a masterpiece.

Then Su Qiao's ci poem was a timeless classic!

This was it!

This was also the huge gap between the two.

Even though this was not the first time she read this ci, Liu Rushi still had tears welling in her eyes, feeling that this poem expressed the innermost feelings of women like them in the pleasure quarters.

This Young Master Su is truly a great talent; it seems I came to the capital for the right reason!

I just wonder who this Young Master Su is?

Curiosity surged in Liu Rushi's heart.

185, my old face is completely lost!

"Mr. Qian, I wonder who you think won this contest?"

Su Qiao stared at Qian Qianyi with a half-smile and asked.

Qian Qianyi was now in a dilemma, truly backed into a corner.

He was extremely regretful.

Regretting following Liu Rushi to the capital for what?

Why provoke Su Qiao upon coming to the capital?

Otherwise, with his status and ability, wouldn't it be better to live a life of pleasure and retire in Jin Ling?

But now that things had reached this point, he could not run even if he wanted to.

So many people were watching!

A typical case of failing to protect one's reputation in old age!

"Su Qiao, do you really..."

"Qian Qianyi, I myself did not want to deal with you. I came today just to watch the spectacle and then go home to sleep. Who told you to be so sharp-tongued? I am a kind person, but I cannot tolerate sentences that implicate other people's families!"

Su Qiao's expression turned cold, cutting off Qian Qianyi's words immediately.

Qian Qianyi knew he would definitely have to fulfill the wager.

His face kept changing.

Green one moment, red the next.

Finally, his old face turned a deep purple from holding his breath; he opened his mouth, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted on the ground.

"Ah?!"

The crowd was startled by Qian Qianyi's sudden collapse.

Su Qiao, however, spotted the flaw at a glance.

He had already suspected the other was feigning fainting to slip by.

So he observed Qian Qianyi's condition even more closely.

One look revealed the truth: Qian Qianyi's eyeballs were still rolling about wildly; moreover, his leg had just twitched slightly on its own.

Just as everyone was about to call for the Physician.

Su Qiao spoke decisively, "No need! My lord Qian is faking it! I've never seen someone faint with their eyeballs rolling about, and their legs moving on their own. What, are you pretending to be a zombie here?"

Qian Qianyi was truly going all out to avoid the bet.

He did not want to lose all face with his old visage.

Hearing Su Qiao's words, his eyeballs immediately stopped moving, as if he were truly dead.

A few others with sharp eyes also noticed the change in Qian Qianyi.

Yet most, seeing Qian Qianyi, were still inclined to believe he had been fainted by Su Qiao's anger.

Su Qiao deliberately walked slowly to Qian Qianyi's side, then stepped hard on his finger.

Qian Qianyi's mouth corners immediately twitched from the pain.

Though he had not yet risen, many people now saw through the trick.

At this moment, Su Qiao was already preparing to strike again with a dark hand.

Qian Qianyi's heart was cursing Su Qiao to death.

He realized that feigning fainting to target others might be a good method.

But it was useless against Su Qiao!

Su Qiao simply did not believe it!

Unless he had truly fainted and gone mad!

Right, he could simply wake up and pretend to be mad!

Thinking this, Qian Qianyi suddenly "woke up".

"Hahaha, who are you?"

Qian Qianyi began to feign madness.

Su Qiao smiled and said to him, "Qian Qianyi, if you pretend to be mad, you are essentially ruined; your status, position, and so on will all basically vanish into thin air."

Hearing this, Qian Qianyi's heart shivered with dread.

At first he was somewhat dazed, then he understood Su Qiao's meaning.