Chapter 387

But with the ball kicked to their feet, they had no choice but to accept it; after all, they had come to his own residence, clearly intending to make a decision together with the Lin Fu.

Holding his tea cup, he spoke with an unchanged expression: "This Su Qiao is not simple. Do not be fooled by the fact that little can be found on him; I believe it is precisely because so little can be found that he appears so extraordinary."

"How so?"

This was the head of the Zhao family.

He was also Lin Fu's colleague, a fellow minister in the same hall.

"The less we know, the more is hidden. Even we cannot find anything; surely someone more powerful is helping to cover it up."

Lin Fu put down his tea cup and stated decisively.

"Then does Brother Lin mean we truly must go tonight to apologize?" The head of the Luo family snorted coldly, slightly dissatisfied.

His personality was rather domineering and he cared deeply about face; thinking of having to apologize to a junior younger than himself tonight, he felt some resistance.

In fact, why was he the one resisting more? Who among the others did not resist?

It was simply that the crowd had not yet truly grasped where Su Qiao's confidence lay; otherwise, they would have already summoned people to attack.

After all, their sons were able to strut about Nanjingcheng with impunity; how could their fathers possibly remain well-behaved?!

Upon hearing this, Lin Fu shook his head: "No, we still need to test him. We can go; at that time, we will all take turns testing this Su Qiao's backing. If we truly cannot suppress him, then what harm is there in apologizing?"

"But what if we suppress him?"

"If we suppress him, do not blame us for being ruthless!"

As he spoke these words, two beams of cold light suddenly shot forth from Lin Fu's eyes.

Everyone had no objections; they seemed to agree with Lin Fu's idea and nodded in agreement one after another.

Su Qiao did not know they were discussing in the Lin Fu how to deal with him tonight, nor did he wish to know.

At this moment, he had directly taken Liu Rushi off for a noon nap.

While Su Qiao was sleeping, Ma Kui and Sun Youxu had already mobilized over two hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards to surround the guesthouse completely, responsible for protecting Su Qiao's safety.

They were personnel transferred from the Southern Embroidered Uniform Guard Command.

Holding the token Su Qiao had given, plus the information they had received long ago.

The other party did not even hesitate; they simply waved their hand and agreed immediately.

Not only that, Ma Kui also went to the garrison near Nanjingcheng to pay his respects.

Once needed, they would enter the city immediately.

The Wucheng Military Office also mobilized over one hundred people to come and assist.

It could be said that while Su Qiao was sleeping, the entire guesthouse had become as solid as an iron bucket.

It was just that Lin Fu and the others did not know; those who went to the guesthouse to investigate did so too early.

Otherwise, they probably would not have had so many scheming thoughts by now.

Night had just fallen.

Lin Fu and the others rode together in carriages, heading for the guesthouse.

But as soon as they arrived at the guesthouse, they were all stunned.

Is this a guesthouse?

So many soldiers outside, and Embroidered Uniform Guards wearing flying fish robes and carrying embroidered spring swords.

Hmm, it seems to be that group of killers from the Southern Embroidered Uniform Guard Command.

What is going on?

It did not look like they were arresting anyone; rather, they seemed to be responsible for guarding the gate.

Lin Fu and the others stopped their steps abruptly.

"What is going on?"

A sense of ominous foreboding suddenly surged in everyone's hearts.

An idea that Lin Fu felt was utterly absurd suddenly flashed through his mind.

Could these people all be responsible for Su Qiao's safety?

Otherwise, how could the guesthouse have suddenly undergone such a change?!

"Brother Lin..."

"Let's go. If it is fortune, it is not disaster; if it is disaster, it cannot be avoided!"

Lin Fu took a deep breath and led the others to the entrance of the guesthouse.

"Halt!"

The soldiers at the gate and the Embroidered Uniform Guards blocked them directly with cold tones.

"You are..."

"I am Lin Fu, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; I am the Minister of the Ministry of Rites..."

Although Lin Fu and the others held relatively high official ranks, they still dared not be presumptuous when facing the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Even if the other party was merely a Squad Leader.

"You wish to see Mr. Su?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard asked.

Lin Fu and the others exchanged glances and nodded: "That is correct. If Mr. Su is Su Qiao, then yes; he asked us to come tonight."

"Very well. Please trouble you, my lords, to wait patiently; I will go and announce your arrival."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Squad Leader said this, turned around, and entered the guesthouse to announce their arrival.

Seeing the posture of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lin Fu and the others' hearts sank to the bottom immediately.

They had confirmed it!

These soldiers and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were all specifically assigned to protect Su Qiao.

Does Su Qiao possess such great ability?

How could he directly mobilize the Embroidered Uniform Guard?!

Wait!

Lin Fu suddenly remembered something; it seemed that an urgent report had been sent from Suzhou Prefecture the day before yesterday.

The Jingcheng had dispatched an Imperial Envoy down here, who was to come to Jin Ling and then proceed southeast to help Sun Chuanting solve the Wei-suo problem.

Of course, they had not yet gone southeast; they had not even arrived in Jin Ling, and everyone had been waiting.

Now, why did he feel that Su Qiao looked more and more like an Imperial Envoy?

It was not only Lin Fu who thought of this; everyone else had thought of it too.

Previously, they had not considered this direction because Su Qiao was far too young and was not yet a court official, so they had subconsciously ignored him.

Now, looking again at Su Qiao's energy and power, if he were not an Imperial Envoy, there would be ghosts!

Relying on it?

Lin Fu and the others had by now lost their original confidence, and even felt a bit uneasy.

"Very well, Mr. Su has asked you to enter."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Squad Leader returned from inside and said.

242, the first to defect!

Lin Fu and the others exchanged glances and followed him inside.

Su Qiao was waiting for them in the hall; seeing them enter, he finally rose.

A smile on his face, as if there had been no unpleasantness between the two sides before, "Oh my, honored guests have arrived at the door; that I did not rise to welcome you is truly regrettable!"

Damn it!

If it were not for the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the entrance just now, acting strictly on official business with cold words and cold tones.

We would have truly believed your nonsense!

Besides, wasn't it you who ordered them to come tonight to give an account?

Now you are putting on an act.

Although everyone secretly criticized Su Qiao's exaggerated acting, as long as the layer of window paper had not been pierced, there was still a veil of face to be preserved.

No one cared whether Su Qiao's acting was exaggerated or not; they were all old foxes of the official world.

You pretend, I act; we are all thousand-year foxes; the tricks of Liaozhai cannot fool anyone!

Besides, Su Qiao's identity as an Imperial Envoy had already been guessed by them.

Even if Su Qiao did not act and publicly made them look bad, they would still have to endure it!