Chapter 492

Liu Rushi had been by Su Qiao's side for some time, and through constant exposure, she now clearly understood the state of officialdom.

In the past, she had only heard secondhand accounts and knew a little.

Now she truly understood: everyone in officialdom wears a mask to live, and it is extremely tiring!

"It is quite good that Master is unwilling to hold office. Just like now, Your Majesty still values you greatly; you are no worse than the officials in the court. When the time comes, it will be easy to extricate yourself."

Liu Rushi offered these words of comfort to Su Qiao.

Su Qiao smiled and nodded. "Exactly, that is precisely what I think!"

"By the way, I haven't seen Zheng Zhilong today?"

Su Qiao muttered this somewhat strangely.

In fact, what Su Qiao did not know was that Zheng Zhilong had indeed gone.

Moreover, he did not go alone, but brought his entire family; everyone except the women had gone.

They simply did not step forward, hiding to the side and watching.

With so many people on the dock at that time, and Su Qiao not searching specifically, naturally he could not see them.

Until Su Qiao boarded the carriage and left, Zheng Zhilong and the others showed no intention of revealing themselves.

They waited until the crowds on the dock had completely dispersed.

Only then did Zheng Zhilong summon his several younger brothers, plus his son Zheng Sen, to prepare to leave.

"Alright, let us go as well."

"Big Brother, our relationship with the Imperial Envoy is quite good; why did you not call us to go up just now?"

Zheng Zhibao was straightforward and could not hide his thoughts; since he had not asked earlier, he could not hold back now and asked.

Zheng Zhilong spoke while walking: "Those who can become officials are different from us martial men; they are full of cunning schemes. Do not think that because the Imperial Envoy previously showed kindness to our twenty households, you must be beneficial to him; otherwise, who knows what might happen! Do not take it all too seriously!"

"Today on the dock there were so many people, crying and laughing, as if they were truly worried about Su Qiao, this Imperial Envoy, but how many were truly worried about the Imperial Envoy!"

"Having even one would be good enough!"

When Zheng Zhilong spoke these words, he turned his head to look at his eighteen-year-old son, Zheng Sen.

At this time, Zheng Sen still carried a strong scholarly air, lacking the domineering spirit he would later possess when leading the Fujian Navy to fight the Dutch and recover Taiwan.

He was still a green youth in the process of growing up.

Moreover, the reason Zheng Zhilong brought him was deliberately to keep him close and cultivate him.

"You saw Su Qiao today; what do you think of him?"

Zheng Zhilong tested Zheng Sen with this question.

Zheng Sen was stunned, then recalled Su Qiao standing on the dock, overcome with gratitude, bowing, expressing thanks, and seemingly shedding tears.

His sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Father, this Imperial Envoy previously seemed weak and easy to deceive, yet why does this son feel it is somewhat fake and strange?!"

Zheng Sen spoke cautiously while looking at Zheng Zhilong.

Hearing this, Zheng Zhilong quickly exchanged glances with his three brothers, then pressed: "How is it strange?"

"Father, the Fujian Navy found him; at most, the Fujian Navy owes him a debt of saving his life. What does that have to do with other officials? Besides, there is no need to be so grateful as to shed tears."

"Continue!"

"Furthermore, this Imperial Envoy Su Qiao was previously able to decisively resolve the Quanzhou plague and control Quanzhou Prefecture, showing he is a person with great capability, very decisive and capable. How could he then behave so weakly? Therefore, this son believes there is a problem!"

Zheng Sen finished speaking in one breath and quietly waited for his own father's judgment.

Zheng Zhilong looked at Zheng Sen, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha, good, good, excellent! Being able to see so much is already very good!"

Zheng Zhilong was very satisfied with his own son's performance.

The faces of Zheng Sen's other three uncles also showed smiles.

The eldest brother has the sharpest mind; since the eldest brother thinks the nephew is good, then the nephew truly is not wrong.

Naturally, they felt their eldest brother had a successor and were happy about it.

Someone like the single-minded Zheng Zhibao could not analyze the intricate complexities at all.

At this moment, Zheng Zhilong explained to Zheng Sen: "Your guess is correct; Su Qiao did it on purpose, and he performed it for the officials present. They all acted so concerned, so attentive to his physical safety; even those who are not on good terms must maintain propriety in such a situation!"

346, the entire Zheng Zhilong family had come!

"Then what does Father think of this Imperial Envoy?"

Hearing Zheng Sen's question, Zheng Zhilong let out a silent laugh. "I was testing you, but now it has turned into you testing your old father?"

Although he spoke this way, he was not truly angry.

Mainly, Zheng Sen's performance today made him very happy.

Moreover, he intended to teach his own son.

So he said with a smile: "I have met Su Qiao and your several uncles and have exchanged words. I can say that although he is young, only one or two years older than you, there truly are people in this world who are born with knowledge!"

Before Zheng Sen could continue asking, Zheng Zhilong continued: "In the past, I had never seen such a thing and did not believe in those so-called geniuses at all, thinking they were nothing special! However, after meeting Su Qiao, I feel I was like a frog in a well; I have lived most of my life, yet I am not as clear-minded as this twenty-something youth. Truly..."

While speaking, Zheng Zhilong shook his head.

Hearing this, Zheng Sen was also dumbfounded.

He truly did not expect his own father to give Su Qiao such a high evaluation.

He knew his own father's character to some extent.

He had roamed the seas for twenty-eight years to become a hegemon-level figure!

He himself possessed the nature of a proud and unruly person who considers Heaven the eldest and himself the second!

Yet?

Now, when facing Su Qiao, he suddenly admitted defeat directly.

This greatly exceeded his expectations.

He turned to look at the other three uncles; the three uncles wore expressions of natural acceptance, as if seeing nothing strange.

Presumably, they too had admitted defeat before Su Qiao.

"Father, is Su Qiao really that formidable?"

"It seems you refuse to believe it, but you will certainly interact with him later; then you will know."

"Yes!"

Su Qiao rested in the guest house, changed into a long robe in the evening, and went directly to Prefect Zhou Xun's residence for the banquet.

When Su Qiao arrived at the gate of the residence.

Zhou Xun and the others were already standing by the roadside, warmly welcoming him.

"Lord Su has finally arrived; we have been waiting solely for you!"

"No need for courtesy; today the host is Lord Zhou, and I have merely come with my mouth."

"Hahaha, that is excellent; Lord Zhou has specially prepared several exquisite delicacies for Lord Su."

"Oh? Then I shall truly taste them thoroughly!"

Upon entering, the Zhou residence had specially prepared charcoal basins and willow-branch water.

The Zhou residence servants guided Su Qiao to step over the charcoal basins and brushed willow-branch dew onto his person, considered to dispel bad luck and so forth.

Only then was the ritual completed.

Afterwards, Su Qiao chatted warmly while following them to the rear garden of the residence.

Cool pavilions and waterside terraces, ponds with lotus pods; the scenery of the Zhou residence's rear courtyard could be said to be exceptionally outstanding.

Even if the size and such could not compare with the Zheng family.

Greatness has grand scenery; smallness has small beauty.

It likewise made everyone feel refreshed and delighted, forgetting both favor and disgrace.

Su Qiao sat in the guest's foremost position; Zhou Xun sat in the host's position.

No matter how Su Qiao declined, today's banquet was held specifically to entertain Su Qiao, so naturally he could not decline even if he wished.

"Today is a welcome banquet specially prepared for Lord Su..."

Much like in later ages, before the banquet began, Zhou Xun delivered quite a few speeches and even flattered Su Qiao, the imperial envoy.

Speaking of how much they owed to Su Qiao's previous contributions in Quanzhou Prefecture and so forth.

Su Qiao was not drunk; he humbly accepted the praise as he ought.