Every time he watched the little brat play guanpu, Chu Zhaohuai felt his heart ache everywhere.
During the first few rounds, Ji Yi was plagued by atrocious luck. Every single throw resulted in three matching sides and he lost miserably each time.
After finally managing to get four heads and two tails, the Third Prince immediately increased the difficulty and began playing “five pure, six pure.”
As the name suggested, among the six copper coins, at least five or all six had to land on the same side for it to count as a win.
Chu Zhaohuai stopped eating the plums altogether. He was beginning to feel like he should go outside and get some fresh air.
After several more rounds, Ji Yi had lost more than a hundred pieces of gold, every last one disappearing completely.
Taking advantage of the moment when he raised his hands as though he were merely putting food beneath his eye veil, Chu Zhaohuai secretly and discreetly pinched his philtrum.
He had originally thought Ji Xun was already extravagant enough with money.
He had never expected Ji Yi to be even worse.
Truly, a son really did take after his father.
And in this case, the student had surpassed the master.
The Third Prince could not help clicking his tongue.
“A Yi, that luck of yours… It seems you’ve used all of it up on copying books.”
The other young noblemen also began laughing and egging them on.
“Perhaps the young heir’s good luck has simply been saved for later. Come on, one more round.”
No matter how terrible Ji Yi’s luck was, there was no way he should have been losing this badly. Moreover, for the sake of setting a trap for Chu Zhaojiang, he had spent the past several months painstakingly practicing how to toss the copper coins. He was practically on the verge of mastering the technique completely.
Ji Yi frowned and weighed the coins in his hand before tossing them again.
A crisp series of jingling sounds rang out.
Once again, only four copper coins landed with their front sides facing upward.
What rotten luck.
This time, Ji Yi was certain that these round coins with square holes had been tampered with. His gaze swept across the faces of the people sitting opposite him.
Even though those noble family young masters were all wearing ingratiating smiles toward the Prince Jing’s heir, they still could not conceal the mockery and schadenfreude in their eyes.
Ji Yi clenched his hand and desperately tried to gather his luck.
He reached into his sleeve and threw down the last handful of gold he had, revealing a smile.
“It seems my luck really is terrible today. I admit defeat.”
The gold pieces before the Third Prince had already piled up into a small mountain. The candlelight reflected off the gold, making him appear even more noble and dignified.
He smiled pleasantly.
“It’s still early. Shall we play a few more rounds?”
Ji Yi turned out his pockets.
“His Highness carries the Mandate of Heaven and has exceptionally good luck today. I really didn’t bring much money with me, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you.”
As he spoke, he exchanged a glance with Liang Fang, intending to retreat first.
The Third Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly. In an apparently casual tone, he said, “Doesn’t the Young Marquis usually enjoy playing guanpu very much? Why haven’t you taken a turn today?”
Ji Yi’s movements stopped.
Chu Zhaohuai was still feeling heartbroken over the pile of money the little brat had lost. When he noticed that everyone’s gaze had turned toward him, he belatedly realized that “Young Marquis” was referring to him.
“Ah.” Chu Zhaohuai lowered his voice, afraid that someone might hear something unusual in it. “I’m a little seasick, so my hands aren’t very steady. I’d better not disturb Your Highness’s enjoyment.”
The Third Prince said, “Enjoyment is hardly the word. It’s simply the Little New Year’s Eve, such an auspicious occasion. We’re only playing a few rounds to add some liveliness.”
Chu Zhaohuai shook his head.
“I’d still rather not.”
The Third Prince’s smile slowly disappeared.
The entire room fell silent.
Ever since arriving in the capital, no one had ever taught Chu Zhaohuai the rules. He had become accustomed to behaving freely and casually in front of Ji Xun and Ji Xun had never reprimanded him even once for disregarding etiquette. Naturally, he did not feel particularly intimidated by a prince either.
Ji Yi’s breathing stopped for a moment.
Under the table, he tugged at Chu Zhaohuai’s sleeve, signaling for him not to be so reckless.
Unfortunately, that single tug caused the dried plum slices and candied fruit hidden inside Chu Zhaohuai’s sleeve to spill all over the floor with a noisy clatter clatter.
Ji Yi: “……”
Chu Zhaohuai did not understand the rules but he was sensitive enough to notice that the atmosphere had suddenly become strange. He immediately proved that he knew how to bend when necessary and changed the subject.
“…Wouldn’t that spoil Your Highness’s mood? It’s just that I didn’t bring much money with me today…”
The people of the Ji family seemed to have been born knowing how to change expressions.
Just moments ago, the Third Prince’s gaze had been gloomy and cold yet as soon as he heard those words, his expression instantly transformed into one of harmless innocence.
“Gambling at guanpu doesn’t necessarily require money. Mm, this jade pendant at your waist…”
The Third Prince seemed about to praise either its quality or its design but after taking a closer look, he was almost struck speechless by how shabby it was. The corner of his mouth twitched before he forced out a compliment against his conscience.
“Not bad. It’s just right for one round.”
Chu Zhaohuai hesitated as he fingered the tassel of the jade pendant.
This was, more or less, the most respectable piece of jewelry he owned.
The Third Prince seemed determined not to let him leave the gambling table unless he played. Chu Zhaohuai had no choice but to untie the jade pendant and use it to “add some liveliness” to the game.
The Third Prince said, “We’ll follow the usual rules. For the first three rounds, getting four coins showing the same side is enough to win.”
Chu Zhaohuai looked around.
He was somewhat worried that someone might report them but since a prince himself had invited him to gamble, if anything happened, at least he would have a shield to hide behind.
He picked up the six copper coins and casually tossed them into the jade plate.
Clink, clatter, clink!
The six coins collided against one another inside the plate, the candlelight reflecting off them as flashes of light jumped wildly across the table.
Soon, they finally came to a stop.
Three heads.
Three tails.
Ji Yi’s brows drew tightly together.
The Third Prince revealed an expression that seemed to say, Just as I expected.
The gambling skills and luck of this Prince Jing’s Princess Consort were not particularly impressive either.
It seemed he and Ji Yi were evenly matched.
Chu Zhaohuai stared blankly at the copper coins in the jade plate.
His expression changed slightly.
These coins…
They were actually made of gold!
Chu Zhaohuai silently pressed a hand over his chest, once again experiencing the boundless extravagance of imperial wealth.
He had spent all these years carefully scraping together and saving every little bit of money yet it was not even worth as much as the little toys these people casually tossed around for amusement.
What kind of impoverished life had he been living all these years?
Gold coins were somewhat heavier than copper coins. Moreover, these coins had clearly been designed for cheating. The edges had been polished differently on their two sides, with one side thinner and the other thicker. The difference could be felt by hand and naturally, the result after tossing them would vary enormously.
No wonder Ji Yi had lost so miserably.
Chu Zhaohuai painfully placed the jade pendant, which was not worth particularly much, onto the table.
If this kind of jade pendant fell onto the ground, the Third Prince probably would not even bother bending down to pick it up.
Without even looking at it, he asked, “Young Marquis, will you continue?”
Chu Zhaohuai nodded.
Ji Yi became somewhat anxious. Unable to stop himself, he tugged at Chu Zhaohuai’s sleeve again and gave him a meaningful look.
The sleeve moved.
Several candied hibiscus oranges fell out.
Ji Yi: “……”
Chu Zhaohuai still had not figured out what Ji Yi’s look meant when several of the young noblemen opposite them spoke pointedly.
“Does Prince Jing’s Princess Consort still have another stake? If you happen to roll three flowers of the same color again, you can’t refuse to pay.”
Someone beside him immediately joined in.
“What nonsense are you saying? How could someone of the Princess Consort’s esteemed status refuse to pay a debt?”
“Exactly. Besides, the wedding took place only a few days ago and the Marquis’s Residence gave the Princess Consort quite a substantial dowry. The Princess Consort is surrounded by gold and jade, as wealthy as a prince or marquis. It’s only a few rounds of guanpu. Unlike us, who still have to ask our families for money.”
Ji Yi’s eyelid twitched.
Although he was not particularly deep or calculating, he had grown up in the capital, where intrigue and schemes lurked everywhere. Having lived cautiously since childhood, he had developed a certain sensitivity toward this kind of underhanded maneuvering.
The Third Prince today…
He seemed to have come specifically for Chu Zhaojiang.
Although Ji Yi’s vicious reputation had spread far and wide throughout the capital, in reality, he lived with extreme caution, as though walking on thin ice. He was constantly afraid that one careless move would bring a major disaster upon Ji Xun.
Losing several hundred pieces of gold today was not a serious matter.
“Losing” was merely his method of protecting himself by pretending to be foolish and acting as though he understood nothing.
But Chu Zhaojiang was different.
Chu Zhaojiang possessed the identity of Prince Jing’s Princess Consort. If he lost everything here today, the one whose reputation would be ruined would be the entire Prince Jing’s residence.
What was more, judging from the way these people were speaking, they seemed to have set their sights on Chu Zhaojiang’s dowry.
Just a few days ago, the Marquis’s Residence had finally sent the dowry items they had accidentally left behind back to Prince Jing’s residence, thoroughly humiliating themselves in the process and now, today, Chu Zhaojiang was going to lose his dowry in front of everyone’s eyes once again…
Ji Yi shuddered.
No. They absolutely could not continue.
His heart was pounding violently and he immediately moved to stop him.
But Chu Zhaohuai was far too quick with his words.
“How about we all play together, then?”
“What does the Princess Consort mean?”
“Didn’t you say the stakes?” Chu Zhaohuai rubbed his fingertip slowly over one of the gold coins, looking thoughtful. “If I dare to use my dowry as the stake, then surely all of you should also put up something of equal value. That would only be fair.”
Everyone present froze for a moment.
No one had expected that merely provoking him with a few words would actually make him take the bait and bring his dowry into the game.
Ji Yi panicked. He grabbed Chu Zhaohuai’s hand and lowered his voice.
“Have you gone mad? If you lose the dowry, it’s my father’s reputation that will suffer!”
Chu Zhaohuai thought to himself that his father’s reputation had already been thrown all the way to Jiangnan. Losing a little more here hardly made a difference.
Seeing that Chu Zhaohuai remained completely unmoved, Ji Yi almost wanted to curse him on the spot. He forcibly suppressed his anger and reminded him in a low voice, “They’re most likely targeting you.”
Chu Zhaohuai said nothing. Instead, he reached into his sleeve, grabbed a handful of melon seeds and stuffed them into Ji Yi’s hands, signaling for him to go play somewhere else.
The Third Prince was still putting on an expression of deep concern.
“Young Marquis, you really ought to think this through. A little gambling is only meant to add some fun.”
That jade pendant was already considered a major gamble to Chu Zhaohuai. Since he had already put it down as a stake, adding a little more did not seem to matter.
“Does Your Highness intend to place a bet as well?”
A faint flicker passed through the Third Prince’s eyes and he concealed the hint of a smile. On his face, however, he merely sighed and pushed over the large pile of gold coins Ji Yi had lost earlier.
“Then I’ll just follow with a little. Consider it my way of helping the Young Marquis enjoy himself.”
Chu Zhaohuai looked toward the others.
The people exchanged glances.
They had originally only come to watch the spectacle and join in the teasing but after seeing Chu Zhaohuai’s clumsy gambling skills just now, they hesitated for a while before finally taking out stacks of banknotes.
The more they put down as stakes, the more of Chu Zhaohuai’s dowry he would lose if he lost.
Chu Zhaohuai held the gold coins between his fingers.
“Then let’s continue with the ‘five pure, six pure’ rules. If I toss six coins and they all show the same side, I win. If I toss four, then half of my dowry will be used to settle the debt.”
This time, it was Ji Yi’s turn to pinch himself beside him.
The Third Prince could no longer conceal the smile on his face.
“Good. Please.”
Chu Zhaohuai ran his fingertips over the six gold coins. He raised his hand and held them suspended above the jade plate. At the instant he tossed them down, his fingertips made a slight, almost imperceptible twist and the round coins with square holes, forged entirely from gold, dropped straight into the plate.
Ding.
The gold coins spun endlessly across the bottom of the jade plate. They whirled for quite some time before finally, barely, coming to a stop.
Everyone hurriedly looked over.
The Third Prince’s smile froze.
Ji Yi looked as though he had just attended a funeral. He had not noticed that something was wrong with the atmosphere around him and was already despairingly imagining the miserable scene of being hung up and beaten by his father after returning home.
He had brought the Princess Consort out and helped arrange this trap. Not only had he personally lost several hundred gold pieces but he had also allowed someone to win the Princess Consort’s dowry.
It seemed his legs were no longer going to be safe.
Just as he was thinking this, Chu Zhaohuai poked him.
Ji Yi spat out a melon seed shell and replied listlessly, “If you lose, don’t you dare…”
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Fang, who had been quietly standing there with almost no presence at all, also poked him.
His voice was filled with disbelief.
“Six pure!”
Ji Yi had no idea what he was talking about. He looked around, only to find that every person opposite them had gone completely dumbfounded, staring blankly at the jade plate before them.
Following their gazes, Ji Yi froze.
At the bottom of the jade plate, six golden coins were lying quietly, gleaming brightly under the candlelight.
All six were showing the same side.
Six pure.
The Third Prince had been leisurely drinking his wine. When he saw the result, the wine cup in his hand trembled slightly and the warm liquor spilled all over his fingers. His brows immediately drew tightly together.
The other people who had placed bets were all staring in stunned disbelief.
“This…”
One of them still refused to believe it. With trembling fingers, he stepped forward, took the gold coins out and carefully examined them.
He found nothing unusual.
Chu Zhaohuai gave a small nod and said politely, “It seems the Young Heir’s accumulated good luck has made its way over to me. Your Highness, I merely made a fool of myself.”
This time, the Third Prince’s smile was somewhat strained.
“The Young Marquis is too modest.”
Even gold coins that had been tampered with could still produce six pure.
If it was not simply a matter of extraordinary luck, then the only other explanation was that Chu Zhaohuai’s gambling skills were exceptionally good.
But could Chu Zhaojiang really possess such ability?
Chu Zhaohuai asked, “Your Highness, shall we continue?”
The Third Prince was somewhat unwilling to believe what he had just seen. He gave the people beside him a meaningful look. The young nobleman who had just lost a stack of banknotes hesitated, clearly convinced that this round had merely been a stroke of good luck.
He gritted his teeth.
“Continue, continue.”
Chu Zhaohuai watched as several of them reluctantly brought out another pile of silver. He nodded, then tossed the coins again.
Six pure.
Six pure.
Round after round, the six gold coins seemed to have made some agreement among themselves. Every single time, they landed showing exactly the same side.
The crisp ding ding clatter of the gold coins striking against the jade plate rang throughout the spacious pavilion of the pleasure boat. Chu Zhaohuai’s hands seemed almost bewitched, as though he could ask for any number of matching faces and receive precisely that result.
Whatever number he wanted, that was what he got.
He did not lose even once.
Ji Yi stared blankly at him, completely dumbfounded.
This…
Was he hallucinating from losing too much money?
Had he already begun dreaming a beautiful dream because reality had become too cruel?
The Third Prince’s gaze turned cold.
He could see that Chu Zhaohuai possessed some real skill and he quickly withdrew from the game.
However, the others had originally come prepared to make “Chu Zhaojiang” lose until he became completely carried away by gambling, ideally losing his entire dowry.
Every time they lost, they refused to believe it was anything more than bad luck.
They continued betting.
And the more they gambled, the more deeply they became caught up in it themselves.
Before long, they had started losing so much that they were reduced to writing IOUs.
Soon, one of them became so furious and humiliated by his losses that he nearly flipped the table.
“Are you cheating?!”
Chu Zhaohuai looked at him in surprise.
“You actually dare to accuse an imperial prince of cheating?”
The man froze.
His face instantly turned deathly pale and he hurriedly dropped to his knees to beg forgiveness.
That was right.
The gold coins had been brought by the Third Prince.
Wasn’t this essentially an open insult directed at His Highness, the Third Prince?
The Third Prince could no longer keep up the pretense. His expression became an ambiguous smile, neither quite friendly nor quite hostile.
“The Princess Consort is a person of great fortune. No wonder Fifth Uncle values you so highly.”
Chu Zhaohuai blinked.
A moment ago, he had still been calling him the Young Marquis.
Why had he suddenly changed to calling him the “Princess Consort”?
He looked perfectly calm on the surface.
Could it be that even the Third Prince had become furious from embarrassment?
“Your Highness praises me too highly,” Chu Zhaohuai said. “A little gambling is only for entertainment. I was merely helping Your Highness enjoy the occasion.”
The Third Prince: “……”
Chu Zhaohuai seemed not to notice the expression on the Third Prince’s face, which looked as though he wanted to curse him but could not.
He turned toward the others, who had all lost so badly that they looked utterly miserable and asked politely,
“Gentlemen, shall we continue?”
Several of them had already stripped off even their sable coats to use as stakes, determined to win back everything they had lost and make a proper comeback.
“Continue!”
Ji Yi watched those few people gamble themselves red eyed with desperation, his teeth practically grinding to pieces. He stared blankly at Chu Zhaohuai.
With his face concealed behind a veil, it was impossible to see Chu Zhaohuai’s expression clearly. He sat there with his knees bent, composed and upright, his wide sleeves flowing elegantly despite being stuffed full of snacks. Every movement he made carried an inexplicable calmness that made people feel at ease.
It was as though those six tiny coins in his hands could be used effortlessly to gamble his way into a twelve zhang golden body.
Ji Yi suddenly shuddered.
He finally became certain.
This person was absolutely not Chu Zhaojiang.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Substitute BrideChapter 2 · Chu ZhaojiangChapter 3 · Very safeChapter 4 · He is the prince’s manChapter 5 · It was really hard to refuse their kind invitation.Chapter 6 · Thankfully it was just poisoning.Chapter 7 · Haha, I spit on “golden and jade hall”!Chapter 8 · Are you not satisfied with the homecoming gift?Chapter 9 · You must keep your identity hidden.Chapter 10 · I like whole fish banquetChapter 11 · BankruptChapter 12 · Add some funChapter 13 · FightChapter 14 · Three taels of silverChapter 15 · Go back to restChapter 16 · They’re all spendthrifts.Chapter 17 · Enough for branches and leavesChapter 18 · Rumors can kill peopleChapter 19 · I want to get closer to the prince.Chapter 20 · Why not move in and share a room?Chapter 21 · Ha, I’m not stupid.Chapter 22 Part 1 · Liang Fang’s prescriptionChapter 22 Part 2 · Liang Fang’s prescriptionChapter 23 · Be more cautious and vigilantChapter 24 Part 1 · Don’t touch meChapter 24 Part 2 · Don’t touch meChapter 25 Part 1 · Golden NeedleChapter 25 Part 2 · Golden NeedleChapter 26 · To avoid suspicionChapter 27 · Committing numerous evil deedsChapter 28 Part 1 · May I receive the worst possible fortuneChapter 28 Part 2 · May I receive the worst possible fortuneChapter 29 · I really didn’t mean to kill youChapter 30 · Protect the prince!Chapter 31 · The bird that fell into the trapChapter 32 · Embracing someone on the couchChapter 33 · The miracle doctor is going home!Chapter 34 · I shouldn’t have wanted to hurt himChapter 35 · A bout of madnessChapter 36 · NightmareChapter 37 Part 1 · SpecialChapter 37 Part 2 · SpecialChapter 38 · Being hunted downChapter 39 · Cause and Bitter FruitChapter 40 · Is he honest and kind?Chapter 41 · I am flattered and overwhelmed.Chapter 42 · No, I want to buy.Chapter 43 Part 1 · When the city gate catches fireChapter 43 Part 2 · When the city gate catches fireChapter 44 · It’s the face of a notorious thiefChapter 45 · Are you trying to comfort me?Chapter 46 · Thank you, Your Highness!Chapter 47 · Thank you, Your Highness!Chapter 48 · It’s delicious!Chapter 49 · SeducingChapter 50 · By imperial decreeChapter 51 Part 1 · Potent MedicineChapter 51 Part 2 · Potent MedicineChapter 52 · Wasn’t it impotence?Chapter 53 · I’m not busy todayChapter 54 Part 1 · Break his legs directlyChapter 54 Part 2 · Break his legs directlyChapter 55 · I really didn’t mean to mess with youChapter 56 · Don’t play the victim when you’re having a medical episodeChapter 57 · Let’s do it one more time!Chapter 58 Part 1 · I’ve got you!Chapter 58 Part 2 · I’ve got you!Chapter 59 · A doctor’s dutyChapter 60 Part 1 · Are you at peace with yourself?Chapter 60 Part 2 · Are you at peace with yourself?