Chapter 333

……

Su Qiao strolled out through the palace gate and looked up at the star-filled sky.

He thought to himself: The reform—it starts now!

It may seem as if the fussing lasted only a short while.

By the time he got home, it was already deep into the night.

However, when Su Qiao passed by the courtyard of the guest quarters,

he glanced over and saw that a lamp was still lit.

Was she still awake?

"Creak—" the door was suddenly pushed open.

Su Qiao turned his head and saw that Liu Rushi had actually come out with her maid Qing'er.

"Young Master Su, you're only just back from the palace at this late hour?"

"Yes, I didn't notice the time and it ended up being now."

That's right—don't be fooled into thinking Su Qiao just rattled off a few words and Zhu Youjian and the Grand Secretaries discussed it and that was that.

It was nothing of the sort!

The Great Ming imperial examinations had been over for quite some time, and now suddenly there was to be a reform of the system.

Could that possibly be a small matter?

Haven't you heard that seventy or eighty thousand scholars from the south have headed straight north?

To prevent such a situation from happening again, Su Qiao and the others had to discuss the details of the examination reform bit by bit.

Best to boil the frog in warm water—get it done without anyone noticing.

So every concrete step had to be worked out in detail, discussed out one piece at a time.

By the time they finished, they were all dizzy and bleary-eyed, and only then did they leave the palace.

And it was already past the hour of zi (midnight).

Su Qiao had no idea why Liu Rushi was waiting for him at such a late hour.

"It's getting late, Young Master Su should rest early."

"Alright, Miss Liu… Rushi, you should rest early too."

Su Qiao's face was a picture of bewilderment, and he was exhausted to boot.

This Liu Rushi must have something wrong with her—staying up late just to exchange a greeting with him?

Never mind, he was too tired. Shaking his head, Su Qiao let the maidservants attend to him as he washed his face and rinsed his mouth.

He dropped down and went to sleep!

Snore—

Chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp!

Since Su Qiao didn't have to attend the morning court, he slept straight through until late morning.

A magpie, no one knew where it had come from, was merrily calling on the eaves.

Su Qiao opened his eyes and was dazzled by the sunlight that had barged into the room.

He raised a hand to shield himself, then got up and called for the servants to wash up and eat.

"Good morning, Young Master Su!"

Su Qiao had only just sat down when Liu Rushi appeared before him.

"Liu… Rushi, have you had your breakfast yet?"

Under Liu Rushi's strange gaze, Su Qiao changed how he addressed her.

"I've already eaten. I wonder if Young Master Su has anything to attend to today?"

"Stop calling me 'Young Master Su' this and 'Young Master Su' that—my name is Su Qiao, just call me by my name."

In front of Liu Rushi, Su Qiao was wolfing down buns and slurping porridge, paying no attention whatsoever to his image.

Liu Rushi had never looked down on him for it.

"Then shall I call you Brother Su?"

"Fine, anything goes. I'm free today—Rushi, is there something you need?"

Su Qiao's impression of Liu Rushi was quite good; she didn't seem the affected, pretentious type.

Otherwise, Su Qiao would have chased her off long ago.

Besides, Liu Rushi was beautiful. Once at Su Fu, Liu Rushi had already taken off her veil.

Cherry lips, a jade-like nose, almond eyes, peach-blossom cheeks—just as Su Qiao had guessed the night before, the jawline hidden by the veil didn't lose any points; on the contrary, it was rather striking.

"Then could Brother Su take me around the capital? This is my first time in the capital."

"Uh, is it convenient?"

What Su Qiao wanted to ask was: you, the top courtesan, were brought here from Jin Ling by Yi Hong Lou at great expense.

If she wandered about with him instead of attending to her duties, could that cause trouble?

But Liu Rushi shook her head very happily and said, "Don't worry, Brother Su. I'll be fine—I'll go change right now."

"Alright!"

……

By the time Su Qiao had finished his meal, washed his hands, and sat in a chair drinking tea,

Liu Rushi and her maid Qing'er appeared once more.

And left Su Qiao staring in astonishment.

Liu Rushi was wearing a dark blue men's scholar's robe, with a mutton-fat jade pendant tied at the waist.

He walked forward slowly, holding a folding fan, his steps light and his figure graceful and elegant.

His cloud-like eyebrows swept toward his temples, and three thousand strands of black hair were tied into the ribbon of a scholar's hat, making his skin appear even whiter and more translucent!

Had Su Qiao not known Liu Rushi's identity, he would have mistaken her for a handsome young master at first glance.

But how had Liu Rushi's previously full chest been flattened?

With doubts in his heart, Su Qiao couldn't help but glance twice more, causing Liu Rushi to blush and, unable to hold back, let out a coquettish scold.

"Brother Su!"

"Uh... oh, sorry, I was abrupt; I was just curious. Uh, never mind that. Do you intend to go with me wearing this outfit?"

Su Qiao asked after clearing his throat twice.

Liu Rushi nodded. "That's right. How about it? When I was in Jin Ling before, I dressed this way too."

"No wonder those people flocked to you, Rushi; you are indeed beautiful. Very well, let it be so."

189, Deceiving Father Tang!

Su Qiao withdrew his gaze, slightly embarrassed, while Liu Rushi seemed very excited.

Su Qiao simply changed into another set of clothes before taking Liu Rushi and the maid Qing'er, who was also cross-dressing as a man, out of the house.

There was a target for today as well.

Su Qiao was extremely interested in Tang Ruowang and the others.

Especially their Artillery technology, warship and naval vessel technology, and nautical charts; all of these were what Su Qiao needed.

Additionally, Su Qiao was equally curious about the current situation in Europe.

According to Su Qiao's calculations, the Age of Discovery, which had begun with European nations such as Portugal and the Netherlands, was already underway in Europe at this time.

If the Huaxia nation was to stand firm and unshaken, then the Great Ming must also join this grand feast.

Moreover, it must occupy an absolute hegemonic position!

Asia, Australia, and even the American continent and so on; Su Qiao did not intend to let any of these slip away.

However, for now, Su Qiao still had to squeeze oil out of these Germans, whose minds were filled with other thoughts.

Tang Ruowang and the others were basically residing in the place arranged by the Ministry of Rites.

Su Qiao had already sent someone to inquire beforehand, so his purpose was very clear.

When Liu Rushi and Su Qiao went out, she initially thought Su Qiao intended to take her to stroll through the market or perhaps to the countryside.

Now, seeing Su Qiao's demeanor, it was clearly not the case.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Tang Ruowang and the others' residence, Su Qiao did not knock first.

Instead, he turned his head and instructed Liu Rushi and her servant: "Do not speak in a moment; I am here to meet a few Franks."

"Franks? I have heard people mention them in Jin Ling, but I have never seen them; mainly because the language they speak seems incomprehensible."