Chapter 331

Zhu Youjian was terrified that Laozu Sect would fly over and beat him, so he opened his mouth and threw the blame onto Su Qiao.

Su Qiao had just brought Liu Rushi into his own residence at this moment, completely unaware that Zhu Youjian had sold him out.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened instantly upon hearing that it was Su Qiao who had gone to the brothels to seduce his "grandson."

"Then where is Su Qiao?"

"Su Qiao took the top courtesan, Miss Liu, home with him."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly recalled something.

"This rotten bastard! Don't I remember that when we revised the Great Ming Code, it was clearly stipulated that court officials were forbidden from visiting brothels and pleasure houses? Could it be that one of you changed it?"

Zhu Di, Zhu Qizhen, Jiajing, Wanli, and everyone else in the chat group hurriedly shook their heads to veto.

"No, none of us changed it."

Zhu Youjian added a sentence in a ghostly voice.

"It really wasn't changed, it's just that later on it became a dead letter. The Donglin Party was the worst offender, and the censors and remonstrance officials are all Donglin Party members, so basically no one impeached anyone."

The Donglin Party again—Zhu Yuanzhang felt this was also a great menace.

If it wasn't resolved, the court wouldn't be able to accomplish anything; they'd just argue every day.

"Hmph, a bunch of unfilial descendants. Hasn't the court already been purged once? Factionalism must be resolved, especially this Donglin Party. Summon Su Qiao tomorrow, and you—get back to the palace right now!"

Zhu Youjian: "……"

……

Wang Chengen saw that his own Your Majesty had fallen into contemplation again, and didn't dare step forward to interrupt, so he could only stand beside him.

It wasn't until Zhu Youjian closed the chat group and pulled his attention back.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, the palace gates are about to be locked. Shall we head back?"

"Mm, let's go!"

Zhu Youjian rose and led Wang Chengen and a group of guards back to the palace.

"Eunuch, make a note—have Su Qiao enter the palace tomorrow. I have matters to discuss with him!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

……

Su Qiao returned home and immediately ordered his servants to settle Liu Rushi and her maid in the guest room.

"Alright, it's getting late today. Miss Liu should rest early."

"Does Young Master Su have matters to attend to later?"

Liu Rushi stared into Su Qiao's eyes as she asked.

Ever since Liu Rushi became the top courtesan, she had been courted by all manner of people.

When had she ever been cast aside like a worn-out shoe, avoided as if she were a hot potato?

The more Su Qiao acted this way, the more it stirred her competitive spirit.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, Liu Rushi was a woman—and a woman of rich inner thoughts, outwardly gentle but inwardly strong.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have twice heroically hanged herself when the nation fell and Shanhe was lost by leaping into the lake, and when the Qian family pressured her.

Being stared at by Liu Rushi's blinking eyes made Su Qiao a bit uncomfortable.

Why was this woman acting as if she had set her sights on him?

To say that being entangled by such a beautiful woman stirred no excitement or pride within him would be impossible.

Su Qiao hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Nothing, I just planned to read some miscellaneous books before resting."

"If that's the case, why not sit for a while in the pavilion? I am quite curious about you, Young Master Su."

True to form, Liu Rushi seized every opportunity.

Su Qiao decided to let things take their natural course and steadied his mindset a bit.

"All right!"

Su Qiao agreeing so readily was something of a surprise to Liu Rushi.

"What? Is Miss Liu not happy that I agreed?"

"No, no, no. Rushi is merely curious that Young Master Su has changed so quickly. Before, Rushi very much wished to exchange a few words with Young Master Su, yet Young Master Su made all manner of excuses. Now you agree so readily—it truly surprises Rushi. 597"

Liu Rushi and Su Qiao walked side by side along the garden path.

A faint, elegant fragrance drifted from Liu Rushi, causing Su Qiao's thoughts to wander.

Cough, cough, cough!

Stay positive!

Arriving at the pavilion, Su Qiao quickly put some distance between himself and Liu Rushi, plopping down directly opposite her.

"I wonder what Miss Liu wishes to discuss with me?"

At this moment, a servant had already brought hot tea along with pastries and fruits, placing them on the stone table.

Su Qiao casually plucked a dried longan and began eating it.

Watching Su Qiao's so carefree manner, Liu Rushi's taut nerves relaxed somewhat.

"Young Master Su may simply call me Rushi. Shall Rushi play a tune for Young Master Su?"

Liu Rushi was very good at adjusting the atmosphere; rather than directly bringing up intimate matters, she intended to use her qin skills to draw them closer.

Su Qiao did not refuse.

"Qinger."

Liu Rushi's maid Qinger promptly helped take out the qin she had been carrying on her back and set it on the table.

Zheng!

Ding ding dong dong……

The zither music flowed like a spring, murmuring and clear, its sound light and melodious.

Su Qiao also squinted his eyes, eating fruit while listening quietly.

Bang!

A tremendous crash suddenly came from the front courtyard.

The peaceful and harmonious atmosphere in the pavilion of the rear garden was abruptly shattered.

187, Scholar Riot!

"What is happening?"

Su Qiao was very strange; today was a rare day off, he was about to sleep, yet why did it feel like trouble was brewing again?

Could it be the Embroidered Uniform Guard again?

As expected, the house steward hurriedly ran over from the front.

A small Eunuch followed behind him.

"Master, someone from the palace has arrived!"

"What has happened again?"

Su Qiao knew that if they came to him at night, something must be wrong.

Seeing Su Qiao, the small Eunuch quickly said, "Mr. Su, Your Majesty urgently summons you to the palace!"

"Has something happened?"

"Indeed, scholars from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Huguang and other places somehow got the news that Your Majesty intends to abolish the eight-legged essay imperial examination; one by one they refuse to comply. Driven by the Jingling School, Jishe, Suzhou Fush Society, the societies of Yuzhang, the Donglin Party and others, they are now gathering to march north together; it is said they intend to go to the capital to accuse the Emperor directly!"

"Hiss..."

Su Qiao was also startled upon hearing this news.

This was practically no different from rebelling to purge the Emperor's close attendants.

Su Qiao was shocked for a moment, then immediately calmed down.

"How many people are involved, and how long will it take them to reach the capital?"

"Although not all Jiangnan scholars have joined, the number is still considerable; at least seventy or eighty thousand!"

The small Eunuch quickly told what he knew.

"So many people; this is clearly a long-planned scheme," Su Qiao decisively judged.

He then turned his head to look at Liu Rushi, who was holding her breath and dared not speak out of turn.

"Great Lady Liu, you lived in Jin Ling for a long time before; you must have come into contact with many Jiangnan scholars. Did you receive any advance news of this?"

Liu Rushi was much calmer than before. "No, this humble woman does indeed know some scholars from the Fush Society and the Donglin Party, but they did not reveal such news."

Hearing this, Su Qiao nodded.