Chapter 388

So Lin Fu and his group now felt not only no resentment in their hearts, but even a hint of being unexpectedly honored.

"The Imperial Envoy is far too courteous. We failed in our duty by not disciplining our juniors earlier, allowing them to offend Your Lordship!"

Lin Fu and the others quickly clasped their hands and apologized directly and decisively.

Su Qiao waved his hand with a smile, saying, "My lords are too polite. Please, take your seats. These are trivial matters, easily resolved!"

Trivial matters?

Nonsense!

Not a single person present believed a word of it!

If it were truly trivial, would he have left such a threatening remark in the end?

Who doesn't know who everyone else is?

On the surface, they still maintained benevolent smiles, "Yes, yes, yes. Lord Su is magnanimous and of course will not hold it against the juniors."

The Luo family head seized the opportunity, quickly interjecting a sentence in an attempt to let today's matter pass.

Oh ho?

This time it was Su Qiao's turn to complain inwardly.

Lips touching lips, and you think you can shut my mouth with words?

Wanting to bluff your way through without giving anything in return, do you take me for a fool?

The smile on Su Qiao's face grew faint, "This gentleman is...?"

Meeting Su Qiao's calm gaze, the Luo family head felt a chill run through his whole body for some reason, his body trembling slightly.

Why did it feel as though he were being stared at by some fierce beast?

"Lord Su is too polite. I am Luo Yanlin, humbly serving as the Luo family head and also Vice Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue."

Vice Minister?

Fourth Rank, Senior Grade!

By all rights, he should be a high official of the court, yet Su Qiao felt this fellow lacked brains.

Didn't he see that no one else had spoken? Yet he was so eager to open his mouth.

He didn't know if he had been deliberately pushed out as a vanguard to test him.

"So it is Vice Minister Luo. I assume all of you have heard of my mission as Imperial Envoy traveling south."

"Indeed, the Japanese pirates have been extremely rampant recently, repeatedly invading our Great Ming's coastal defenses. The Great Ming guard posts have long been neglected, so Your Majesty chose a young talent like Lord Su to solve the problems for Great Ming."

The others immediately began a round of flattery.

However, this flattery was quite learned.

On one hand, it seemed to praise Su Qiao, but on the other, it directly pointed out Su Qiao's authority and responsibilities.

The implicit meaning was: Do not think that because your rank as Imperial Envoy is high, one grade above regular officials, that the officials of the Nanjing court have anything to do with you.

Your mission is directed at the guard posts and the Japanese pirates.

You won't find any trouble with us!

Did Su Qiao hear their meaning?

Of course he heard their meaning!

But do not forget, Su Qiao also held the power of discretionary action granted to him by Zhu Youjian.

If not now, when would he bring it out?!

So Su Qiao stood up directly and said, "Oh, I did not expect my lords to be so well-informed about court matters."

"Lord Su is too polite!"

Lin Fu and the others felt somewhat self-satisfied.

Su Qiao suddenly spoke, "Bring forth the Imperial Edict of Your Majesty!"

Boom!

Upon hearing this, the faces of Lin Fu and the others instantly changed.

At this moment, Ma Kui held a tray with both hands, upon which rested a scroll of the Imperial Edict in imperial yellow.

He walked in from the outer room with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

Lin Fu and the others caught sight of the edict; the traces of the five-clawed golden dragon were clearly visible.

Now, even if they did not wish to kneel, they had to kneel!

"Your subjects respectfully await the Imperial instruction!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, Your Majesty decrees..."

The content of the edict was not very long, totaling only fifty or sixty characters.

Yet when these fifty or sixty characters were spoken and entered the ears of Lin Fu and the others, they immediately felt it was beyond their expectations.

The situation was somewhat slipping out of control, especially regarding their attitude toward Su Qiao.

They had already overestimated Su Qiao enough, but who would have known the result was that they had actually underestimated him.

The content of the edict was to grant Su Qiao the power of discretionary action.

The difference between an Imperial Envoy with this edict and one without it was truly worlds apart!

Mainly because the power of discretionary action was too great.

It depended entirely on the scale Su Qiao himself controlled in his heart.

As long as it benefited Great Ming and conformed to the law, even if he dragged every official on the Nanjing court to the vegetable market square.

No one could impeach him; it was all within the power of discretionary action!

"Very well, the edict has been read. My lords, please rise."

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

Lin Fu and the others exchanged glances, their expressions stiff, eyes tinged with bitterness.

It was utterly beyond their expectations!

"My Lord Su, my son previously offended your household; I am willing to make restitution, and beg My Lord Su to spare him once."

Luo Yanlin, head of the Luo family, instantly changed his stance, defecting on the spot and pleading for mercy before Su Qiao.

Fuck!

Isn't your betrayal a bit too fast?

Before arriving, Lin Fu and the others had all agreed to stand together.

Just a moment ago you were the vanguard—now has your revolutionary spirit changed?

Your will is far too weak!

The other men's gazes toward Luo Yanlin revealed contempt, suspicion, and a host of other emotions.

But Luo Yanlin acted as if he saw nothing, focusing solely on bowing apologetically to Su Qiao.

Su Qiao's heart burst with joy—hmm, weren't you just brushing me off a moment ago?

Now you've made it easy for me to settle this?

Luo Yanlin's defection had torn a crack through their group.

They were no longer united as one!

Of course they must accept Luo Yanlin's "kindness."

"My Lord Luo, rest assured, your son is quite admirable—merely misled by others onto a wrong path. I believe that with your careful guidance in the future, he will correct himself."

Su Qiao smiled brightly, speaking to Luo Yanlin in an intimate tone.

Luo Yanlin felt the shift in Su Qiao's attitude; the fat flesh on his face trembled with joy, like a blooming chrysanthemum.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He even gave himself a mental pat on the back.

Good fortune hides within misfortune; misfortune lurks within good fortune!

Who says causing trouble is always a bad thing?

243, uneasy!

Indeed, according to Luo Yanlin's thinking, he had now forged a connection with Su Qiao.

Everyone says Su Qiao holds great weight before Your Majesty.

Who knows? Perhaps Su Qiao will one day return to the capital and speak well of me—maybe I'll even advance further.

Whether this is good or bad—who can say for sure?

"My Lord Su, your magnanimity and generosity move me to the depths of my being. Yet regardless, my son committed an offense that frightened your household. I have specially prepared some tonic gifts—please accept them with a smile."