CHAPTER 731: CHAPTER 731: A SPECTACLE AT THE DOOR

For the sake of silver, he deigned to insult him with a couple of lines of poetry, which were treasured as gems, transcribed by a famous artist, framed, and hung in the study of his home.

That Young Master Han was even richer, presenting an ancient painting in exchange for a poem from him; he quite fancied that painting and composed a poem in return.

And then there was Young Master Chou who gave him an entire painted boat just for the honor of meeting him...

People who once worshiped him, whom he looked down upon, are now actually going to Xia Residence to beat him up?!

"Huff huff huff~" Xia Gu panted heavily, infuriated to near death by everything unfolding before him.

Third Young Master Liu was still ranting, "I knew from the start that old scoundrel Xia Gu was no good. If he were truly a Madman, how could he write poems for gold and silver? It cost me ten thousand silver just for two lines of trash poetry to insult me!"

Gu Jinli: "..."

You spent ten thousand silver for Xia Gu to insult you?

Come on, sister will do it for a thousand silver, and insult you so well your own mother won’t recognize you.

Gu Jinli leaned out of the window, pointing at Third Young Master Liu, "He’s sick."

Qin San Lang laughed and nodded, "Yeah, these people who want to play the Madman, all have some screws loose in their heads."

As he spoke, he partially closed the wide-open window to prevent those madmen outside from catching a glimpse of her beauty. His Xiao Yu was indeed attractive; even though she had her hair tied up in a bun, was clad in a thick blue jacket and skirt, looking like a tomboy, it didn’t affect her loveliness one bit.

Gu Jinli clung to his arm, "Move aside a bit, I want to see them go crazy."

Partially blocking the window made it difficult for her to observe.

Qin San Lang only moved a fraction to allow her to catch a glimpse of the spectacle below.

Downstairs, Young Master Chou loudly agreed with Third Young Master Liu’s words, "Exactly, exactly, that Xia Gu truly is a shameless wretch. Calls himself a Madman, pah, he doesn’t even deserve it! I admired his literary talent and wanted to meet him; thinking he was a true Madman, I felt offering grand gifts would tarnish his reputation and so didn’t send silver, just sincerely sought an audience, kneeling at his doorstep for three days straight, yet didn’t even get to see his face!"

He continued, "Later someone came to me, claiming to guide me through my confusion, saying Xia Gu favored painted boats. I immediately purchased one and sent it to him, and only then was I able to meet him and join him for a river cruise!"

Young Master Chou was pained by the memory, firstly at the loss of silver, and secondly feeling deceived by Xia Gu.

"Hahaha, you fools, one could tell at a glance that Xia Gu was no good, yet you still spent so much silver just to see him, truly foolish indeed."

"Fang Wu, who are you laughing at? You know Xia Gu went to the Shangguan family’s literary gathering and spent three thousand silver just for the chance to see him!"

Fang Wu’s secret was let out; his face flushed red, then quickly retorted, "I, I was deceived by his reputation back then, who knew he was such a beast, you were all tricked by him too, yet you have the nerve to criticise me!"

The statement left everyone with rather unsightly expressions.

These admirers of Xia Gu all aspired to be Madmen, and those who gave Xia Gu silver and lavish gifts came from homes with no shortage of money, raised in luxury. Xia Gu could ruin his own reputation, but daring to deceive them was absolutely intolerable, and they must settle accounts with Xia Gu!

"Let’s go to the Xia Residence in the suburbs, drag that old beast Xia Gu out and parade him through the streets!" one person shouted loudly, and the others echoed in agreement: "Right, let’s find Xia Gu at the Xia Residence; this old beast has tainted the reputation of us scholars. Without teaching him a lesson, how can we do justice to the sages of past and present?!"

The entire hall rose to their feet and rushed to the door, intent on causing trouble for Xia Gu.

The storyteller was a bit confused: "Hey, aren’t you listening to the stories anymore?"

Don’t leave, if you do, how can we sell these teas, wines, pastries, and dishes?

But those young lads paid him no attention, noisily running off while discussing, "When we get to the Xia Residence, let Brother Fang be the first to scold, he has a way with words. After Brother Fang has finished, let Brother Han, Brother Chou, and Brother Lan follow suite, we must scold with the passion of a Madman, whether we can make a name for ourselves depends on this."

When Xia Gu heard these words, he was so furious that a surge of fresh blood rushed to his throat. These ungrateful pups really have no conscience; they actually want to make a name for themselves by cursing him!

Gu Jin’an knew exactly what made Xia Gu angry and laughed, "Isn’t gaining fame by scolding others precisely the style of a Madman? You yourself once advised Old Master Zhan San to gain fame by severely criticizing Master Ouyang Hong. Why get angry now?"

Xia Gu, having been silenced by needle pricks from Master Hu, could only listen without being able to speak, allowing Gu Jin’an to humiliate him.

Gu Jin’an, looking at the storytelling stage ahead, said: "Don’t blame these people. They are just doing what you Madmen taught them. Madmen are always like this, always wanting to step on the pain of others to achieve fame. You are the filthiest things! Scholars who study diligently and act honestly are a hundred times more noble than you."

"Huff, huff, huff!" Xia Gu was scolded until he could hardly bear it, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, Gu Jin’an remarked, "You have to hold on, don’t die too early. There is still a good show you haven’t watched. Let’s go."

Luo Wu immediately pulled Xia Gu up and walked out the back door of Gaosong Building.

Gu Jin’an then looked up at the floor above, waving to Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang.

Gu Jinli was very excited, calling out to Qin San Lang: "Hurry, the main event is coming."

Qin San Lang, however, was somewhat disappointed; he had wanted to spend a few more moments alone with her, but seeing her so excited, he quickly got up, took a few meat buns from the table, and followed her out.

Xia Gu had collapsed. Qin San Lang said he had to lie in the mule cart, so he brought an extra mule cart. Now, it was Gu Jin’an, Luo Wu, and Xia Gu sitting in one mule cart. He rode in another with Gu Jinli, so he could protect her a bit, considering there were too many ruffians in Jinling and her beauty might attract attention, leading those ruffians to chase her all the way home.

Gu Jin’an sneered to himself. Why hadn’t he ever noticed San Lang could be so shameless?

But he thought of what his parents said, "San Lang is very good, especially to our Xiao Yu, and they are both well acquainted with each other, moreover, Xiao Yu is fierce, and only the good-tempered San Lang would indulge her."

As if to say, this son-in-law is all set.

Although Gu Jin’an was not pleased with Qin San Lang’s childish act of shamelessly getting close to Xiao Yu, he did not join them in their mule cart. The issue with the Xia Family was more pressing. If the two of them were happy together, let them be; the Xia Family’s matter could be dealt with later.

The scandal involving Xia Gu was already known throughout Jinling, even the scholars and noble family descendants from neighboring Linhe Prefecture and Jinning Prefecture, having heard about the incident, also came in groups. At this moment, they were shouting in front of Xia Residence: "Master Xia, we know you have been wronged, we hope you will allow us to visit and rest assured that we will seek justice for you and make those who dared to slander you pay dearly!"

Indeed, these people were different from Fang Wu and the others; they were not here to denounce Xia Gu, but to support him, believing he was wronged by cunning individuals and thus came to help him.

Gu Jinli and the others had already entered Xia Residence from the back door, she peered through the gap in the door at the group of scholars and noble family descendants outside, observing their fervor. Some shouted heatedly towards Xia Residence; others wailed and beat their chests in anguish, crying out, "Master Xia, you have suffered an injustice, we students wish we could bear this burden for you."