Chapter 514

The court is like this; how much more so the local officials in the various regions.

The Great Ming officials are bloated; there are many.

But very few are actually usable!

The imperial examinations were delayed for quite a few years; now they can be reopened, and a batch of new talents can be fully promoted.

He planned to return to discuss matters thoroughly with Su Qiao before deciding how to arrange this imperial examination.

"Your Majesty, how should the imperial examination be changed?"

Seeing that Zhu Youjian had not spoken for a long time, the Minister of Rites looked up and asked one more question.

"Hmm, I have not thought it through yet; I will have someone tell you later!"

"Yes!"

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, the Minister of Rites silently retreated and said nothing more.

After the morning court ended, Zhu Youjian sent someone to summon Luo Luo Yangxing.

"What has Su Qiao been busy with recently?"

Luo Luo Yangxing quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Mr. Su is likely fishing right now."

"Oh? This Emperor is not as good at enjoying life as he is; let's go. Just as well, I will also steal a day from my busy schedule to learn how to fish."

Zhu Youjian thought for a moment and spoke to Wang Chengen beside him.

"Yes!"

Su Qiao had recently become obsessed with fishing; especially with this grassy greenness and fragrant flowers, leisurely playing with fish and water, his whole person relaxed.

Liu Rushi was sketching on the side while Su Qiao sat on the bank of the clear river fishing.

It could be said they complemented each other perfectly, a divine couple.

When hungry, they simply had a picnic right there.

It was simply too enjoyable!

The place Su Qiao chose was not far from Jingcheng; it was only a stick of incense's journey. Many villagers from nearby villages came to this river embankment to draw and carry water, and recently they had all been able to see Su Qiao and his group.

However, it was precisely because of Su Qiao and his group's clothing and appearance that one could tell at a glance they were not ordinary people, but of high status and position.

This made many villagers dare not approach to greet them.

Only those villagers who had previously received fish after Su Qiao caught many and gave them away felt that Su Qiao was kind and easy to talk to.

They did not have the arrogant and domineering demeanor of other nobles.

These people were the ones who greeted Su Qiao and his group warmly and spoke with them.

But when Zhu Youjian and his group arrived.

What they saw was Su Qiao by the river embankment, chatting casually with the simple villagers.

"It seems Mr. Su is enjoying himself here!"

Zhu Youjian breathed in the fresh air and, with Wang Chengen's support, jumped down from the carriage.

To be honest, he had always been within the inner palace; now it was rare for him to come out.

Taking a deep breath, he also felt his whole person refreshed and his body relaxed.

"Let's go, let's take a look!"

When Zhu Youjian and his group stopped not far from Su Qiao, the Embroidered Uniform Guard responsible for protecting Su Qiao's safety noticed immediately.

However, with Luo Luo Yangxing and Wang Chengen present.

Even if Ma Kui, Zhao Xifang, and others were foolish, they could guess that His Majesty had come personally.

Without thinking, they immediately pretended not to see the situation.

Thus, Zhu Youjian and his group arrived at Su Qiao's location smoothly.

Liu Rushi, who was sketching, was also interrupted.

Looking up and seeing the Emperor, her heart gave a "thump."

She was just about to open her mouth to call out something.

But she saw Zhu Youjian give her a signal with his eyes.

Liu Rushi naturally quickly closed her mouth.

368, Zhu Youjian mooching food and drink!

At this moment, Su Qiao wore a green robe, a bamboo hat on his head, sat on a stool, held a fishing rod in his hand, and had a fish basket placed to his left.

Inside the fish basket were already three or four fish, each more than a foot long.

One did not know if the fish in this river were foolish, or if very few people fished here.

Su Qiao had come here to fish for several days in a row, and the harvest had been very good.

Just now, the fishing rod he had just baited not long ago began to tremble again.

He had a premonition that this was a big fish!

Moreover, it should be bigger than the fish caught in the previous times.

Because he felt the force transmitted up the fishing rod was a few degrees stronger than the force encountered in previous fishing.

He decisively stood up and gripped the fishing rod tightly with both hands.

With this strength, Su Qiao began to guess in his heart how heavy this big fish must be.

At least four jin or more!

Because Su Qiao had caught fish weighing more than three jin.

As for what kind of fish four jin or more was, Su Qiao was not yet clear, but he was very much looking forward to it.

Eyes fixed tightly on the ripples in the river before him.

When the fish tired from struggling, Su Qiao would pull back a bit; while the fish struggled, Su Qiao held the fishing rod still.

Waiting quietly until the fish was exhausted, only then did he quickly lift the rod.

Splash!

A large fish was pulled up from the water's surface.

Fully over two chi long!

Truly a big fish!

Looking again at the fish's head and tail.

Su Qiao's heart instantly bloomed with joy.

Not bad at all!

A large sea bass, not a black fish or silver carp of that sort, but rather the sea bass renowned for its deliciousness.

Such a huge sea bass; I wonder how many people would be envious to death.

Even the top restaurants in the capital, upon seeing it, would buy it at a high price without hesitation.

Truly, this large sea bass is too precious.

Su Qiao very quickly found some green grass stems, threaded them through the gills, and held the fish by them.

Without turning his head, he shouted to Liu Rushi: "Rushi, quickly have someone bring out pots, bowls, and pans. Today at noon we will cook and eat it here in the wild; if we take it back, it probably won't be fresh anymore."

"... Okay!"

Liu Rushi opened her mouth, yet still did not expose the matter of Zhu Youjian and the others arriving; she quickly responded in a low voice, rose, and went to fetch the pots, bowls, and pans.

Su Qiao, delighted, placed the large sea bass aside, then picked up the fishing rod again, hung bait on the hook, and prepared to cast the line and fish once more.

"Better to arrive early than to arrive by chance; I didn't expect Su Qing to have such good luck today, catching such a huge fish."

The suddenly transmitted voice made Su Qiao's action pause.

Turning his head to look toward the sound, he discovered that Zhu Youjian had arrived.

"This subject greets Your Majesty!"

Su Qiao put down the fishing rod and moved to pay respects, but was stopped.

After all, Zhu Youjian had left the palace in plain clothes, with no intention of revealing his identity.

Su Qiao also did not wish to bow to him in this setting, so he merely clasped his hands as a greeting and let it pass.

"Your Majesty, why have you come over?"

Indeed, he had quite a few questions in his heart.

After all, according to Su Qiao's guess, Zhu Youjian should have been busy these recent days persuading court ministers and preparing to take action against the Japanese.