Before gambling was banned by the court, he had already practiced enough to the point where he could walk into a shop that ran guanpu games with just two copper coins and end up being chased out by the owner wielding a stick.
Chu Zhaohuai had never gambled with stakes this high before. Looking at the table piled high with gold and silver, he almost felt as though they were nothing more than the little stones he used to pile up and play with as a child. There was money everywhere.
People in the capital really were stupid and loaded.
He had been wrong when he said it was boring earlier. Just for the sake of all this money, he could stay a little longer.
The several foolish young masters were already so desperate to win that their eyes had turned red. They were practically ready to strip off their shirts and fight him over it.
Chu Zhaohuai found the scene rather unpleasant to look at and decidedly undignified. He advised them, “A little gambling is merely for entertainment. Aren’t all your gambling funds money you begged from your families? If you lose, either you’ll get beaten by your families, or you’ll refuse to pay your debts to me. Either way, it won’t look good for scions of prestigious families like yourselves.”
Everyone fell silent.
This was clearly Chu Zhaohuai using their own earlier gloating words to mock them.
Unfortunately, they had been the ones who started the gambling in the first place. Even though he was mocking them to their faces, they had no way to argue back. All they could do was swallow their anger and accept the loss in silence.
The young man who had lost the most was still unconvinced. He seemed to come from a decent family, as everyone called him Young Master Qin.
“One round of six pure is normal, but every single round being six pure? You must have cheated! There’s nothing wrong with the gold coins, so it must be your hand… Did you hide something in the sleeve of your right hand? Take it out and let us see!”
Chu Zhaohuai was speechless.
Why are you really refusing to pay up?
Ji Yi had originally been so shocked that his mind had wandered off into the void, but Young Master Qin’s deafening roar brought him back to his senses. He gave Chu Zhaohuai a complicated look at his bulging, wide sleeve.
It could certainly be searched, but that might be embarrassing.
Ji Yi glanced at Liang Fang, who was still staring blankly, and said coolly, “What a joke. Why not say there’s something wrong with the jade plate? Don’t tell me you’re planning to refuse to pay your debts?”
Liang Fang was frail, with a tired look between his brows and eyes that seemed as though they could close at any moment. He gave a muffled cough and gently advised, “Young Heir, you’re joking. These gentlemen are all sons of noble families. Which one of their families doesn’t have important and respectable figures? How could they possibly refuse to pay over a few rounds of guanpu?”
The others fell silent.
The two of them had worked together perfectly, leaving the indignant young men speechless once again.
The Third Prince watched silently, his eyes cold, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Chu Zhaohuai decided to make them lose so thoroughly that they would have no choice but to accept it.
This time, he picked up the gold coins with his left hand while using his right hand to roll up his wide sleeve, revealing a completely empty forearm. A faint scar could even be seen on his wrist.
Like someone teasing a child, he flipped his hand over and back.
“Look carefully… Look closely. There’s nothing in my hand.”
With that, he released his fingers.
The gold coins fell onto the table with a loud clatter, bouncing and colliding with one another.
Six pure.
Chu Zhaohuai casually picked up six copper coins from the table.
“Five pure.”
He tossed them casually.
Five coins landed showing the same side.
Everyone froze.
They stared at Chu Zhaohuai’s hand in disbelief.
It was as though whether the coins landed heads or tails was completely under Chu Zhaohuai’s control.
After the several young men who had lost miserably came back to their senses, they were so regretful they could have vomited blood.
If they had known this man possessed such a skill, how could they possibly have dared to sit at the gambling table?
After demonstrating his skill, Chu Zhaohuai asked politely, “Shall we continue?”
Everyone sat there with dark expressions and said nothing, seemingly completely defeated.
Ji Yi had long been fed up with these sanctimonious people who acted respectful to someone’s face while mocking them behind their backs. However, because they were close to the Third Prince, he had always endured them.
Now, seeing them lose so badly that they looked utterly devastated—and knowing that most of them would probably be beaten when they returned home—Ji Yi felt so satisfied that he could almost fly. He had finally vented the anger he had been holding inside.
“If we’re not continuing, then let’s settle the accounts.”
Ji Yi temporarily put aside the question of who this fake “Chu Zhaojiang” really was and smiled.
“I believe someone just said they were willing to sign an IOU, right? Come, Liang Fang, write one out and have Young Master Qin and the others sign it.”
Young Master Qin was speechless.
The others exchanged glances.
Naturally, none of them wanted to sign such a humiliating IOU. One after another, they looked toward the Third Prince.
The Third Prince narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“Why are you looking at me? A wager is a wager. You have to accept the result. Princess Consort, your skill is truly impressive. Surely you don’t intend to refuse to pay?”
The faces of the young men went pale.
They could only grit their teeth and write their IOUs.
Ji Yi breathed a sigh of relief and secretly glanced at Chu Zhaohuai.
The man was still sitting there upright. Even the heavy cloak could not conceal how excessively slender his body was. His eyes were lowered, completely ignoring the gold and silver piled across the table. His fingers lazily rubbed the six gold coins, giving him the detached, aloof air of some enlightened master beyond worldly concerns.
The supposed enlightened master was thinking:
These gold coins are really nice. If I just slip them into my pockets and sneak them away, no one will notice. When I get home, I’ll find a shop and melt them down into a gold lock. I’ll carve “May Wealth Come at First Sight” on the front and “Peace Under Heaven” on the back. Then, when I die someday, I’ll take it into the coffin with me.
After indulging in his fantasy for a while, Chu Zhaohuai finally felt satisfied. He returned the gold coins and took back only his own jade pendant from the pile of gold and silver.
There were too many charcoal braziers burning in the pleasure boat, making it difficult to breathe.
Chu Zhaohuai was already seasick, and his head was still spinning faintly. He held onto the table as he stood, wanting to go outside for some fresh air.
Ji Yi froze and reached out to grab him—
But just as he was about to grab his sleeve, the Young Heir suddenly remembered the pouch full of snacks.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
He changed direction and grabbed the edge of Chu Zhaohuai’s cloak instead.
“Chu… wait.”
Chu Zhaohuai looked down.
“What is it?”
Ji Yi awkwardly asked, “Aren’t you going to take the gambling winnings?”
Chu Zhaohuai’s entire face seemed to say, Please don’t get me into trouble.
Gambling is banned by the court!
Although he had only been forced into this game, if he accepted the winnings and someone reported him, there would be witnesses and evidence. He could be sentenced to a hundred strokes of the cane.
Chu Zhaohuai was not particularly attached to gambling winnings anyway, so he calmly put on an expression of someone who regarded money as nothing more than dirt.
“No need. It’s only a little loose silver. Take it and spend it yourself.”
Ji Yi was speechless.
Even Chu Zhaohuai himself was startled after saying it.
In my entire life, I never thought I’d actually be able to say something like that.
I can die without regrets now.
The corner of Ji Yi’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help feeling that this man was pretending.
After all, the last time they had met, he had tried to fob him off with a handful of dried fruit as a meeting gift.
Even a pampered young heir like Ji Yi had been tempted by the mountain of gold and silver on the table, yet Chu Zhaohuai…
Could it be…
Ji Yi’s eyes shifted slightly as he stared straight at Chu Zhaohuai.
Could it be that this man had only wanted to vent his anger on my behalf and had never intended to win money in the first place?
Chu Zhaohuai’s head was dizzy from the heat, but he still remembered his manners. He turned toward the Third Prince, who was still sitting there with an expression that was half-smiling and half-resentful, and gave him a polite nod.
“Your Highness, I’m feeling a little seasick. I’m going outside for some fresh air.”
The Third Prince forced a smile and squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth.
“Princess Consort, do as you please.”
Chu Zhaohuai turned around and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, Ji Yi grabbed his wrist.
Chu Zhaohuai froze.
He nearly forgot.
This dog son had set a trap today because he wanted revenge on him.
With his head spinning and his vision blurred, Chu Zhaohuai immediately became alert.
…Then he saw Ji Yi grab a handful of gold from the table and, with a stiff expression, stuff it directly into Chu Zhaohuai’s sleeve.
Chu Zhaohuai instantly became wary.
Is he planning to plant stolen goods on me and then report me after we get off the boat?!
Before Chu Zhaohuai could shake out his sleeve, Ji Yi muttered awkwardly, “These… these are mine. Keep them.”
Chu Zhaohuai paused and looked at him suspiciously.
Perhaps the charcoal fire was simply too hot. Ji Yi’s face was bright red, the flush nearly reaching his ears. His eyes darted around, while the hand clutching the gold trembled slightly.
He looked exactly like someone suffering from excessive internal heat and weakness.
Chu Zhaohuai clicked his tongue inwardly.
So young, yet his body is already this weak.
Since Ji Yi had willingly given him the money in front of everyone, it could not be considered stolen property.
And Chu Zhaohuai certainly wasn’t going to turn down money.
He happily tucked the gold into his sleeve, held onto the doorframe, and went outside.
Once the man had left, Ji Yi finally let out a sigh of relief.
The Third Prince stood nearby with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
“Looks like the Princess Consort’s dowry really is quite substantial. He doesn’t even care about such a small amount of money.”
Ji Yi frowned slightly and turned his head toward him.
Why had the Third Prince been targeting Chu… Princess Consort of Prince Jing at every turn today?
Regardless of who this impostor was, there was a very high chance he was someone from the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s household. Marquis Chu Jing of Zhenyuan was also closely allied with the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince’s faction and my father have been fighting each other in court without drawing blood. Have they gone so far as to start targeting their own allies?
There was something very strange about this.
He would have to tell his father about it after returning.
And as for this “fake Chu Zhaojiang”…
Should he tell his father about that too?
Ji Yi fell deep into thought.
Liang Fang yawned and slowly finished writing the IOUs, then had the several young men sign their names.
Hearing the Third Prince’s deliberate mockery, Young Master Qin seemed to have found someone to rely on. Unable to resist, he spoke sarcastically.
“Young Heir, you really are broad-minded. Your former enemy became your stepmother, and you can still get along peacefully with him. Even the actors at the Minghu theater troupe wouldn’t dare perform a plot this exciting.”
“You should worry about yourself first.”
Ji Yi looked at him coldly.
“Young Master Qin, you lost so much today. I’m afraid you won’t have any money to watch plays for the next year or two.”
“You—!”
Ji Yi saw that Liang Fang was already so sleepy that his eyelids were fighting to stay open. He couldn’t be bothered to waste any more time with these people.
He gathered the gold, silver, and IOUs from the table, then gave a slight nod.
“It’s getting late. I’ll leave this pavilion to Your Highness to enjoy the lake. Liang Fang and I will go somewhere else.”
The Third Prince merely replied, “Mm.”
He was actually too lazy to even bother with polite words.
Ji Yi didn’t care. He pulled Liang Fang around and walked away.
The moment the door opened, Young Master Qin, who still couldn’t swallow his humiliation, deliberately lowered his voice so that Ji Yi could hear him whispering to the people beside him.
“Some people can only act arrogant for a little while. Once that God of Death dies, that useless coward who can’t even support his family’s reputation will have nothing left to do but wait for death.”
The howling wind carried his words toward Ji Yi’s ears.
Young Master Qin had done it deliberately.
The Emperor was old, while the Crown Prince was firmly established in the Eastern Palace. Ji Xun had a special status and possessed military authority over the border forces that made people wary.
Everyone in the capital had choices.
Only Ji Xun had nowhere to retreat.
He had no choice but to fight.
Either he died, or he rose like a hidden dragon finally breaking through the clouds.
In everyone’s eyes, Ji Xun was already a dying man.
Once Prince Jing died, Ji Yi would have no way to survive either.
There had been many times when these people knew perfectly well that Ji Yi was standing outside the door, yet they deliberately insulted and humiliated him.
Because they knew very well that although Ji Yi appeared fierce and arrogant, he was actually nothing more than a paper tiger.
He simply didn’t dare cause trouble in the capital and bring disaster upon Ji Xun.
After being humiliated again and again without consequence, their courage had gradually grown.
Ji Yi stood rigidly at the doorway, his jaw clenched so tightly that he nearly bit through his lower lip.
Liang Fang frowned deeply.
With the Third Prince present, no matter how angry Ji Yi was, he could only pretend he had heard nothing.
Liang Fang gently tugged at Ji Yi and whispered, “Let’s go.”
Ji Yi took a deep breath and helped Liang Fang step over the threshold.
A burst of laughter immediately came from behind them.
There was a strange, chilling calmness in Ji Yi’s expression.
He said quietly, “Go sleep in the room next door for a while. I’ll come over later.”
Liang Fang froze.
“Young Heir, what are you going to do…? Don’t be impulsive.”
Ji Yi said nothing more and turned around.
Liang Fang was startled.
“A-Yi!”
With a loud bang, the carved wooden door was slammed shut from the inside.
Ji Yi walked forward expressionlessly.
In full view of everyone, he raised his foot and kicked Young Master Qin hard in the chest without the slightest hesitation.
Young Master Qin was sent stumbling backward.
Clang!
Bang!
A series of loud crashes rang out as he knocked over the table and fell heavily to the floor.
For a moment, no one reacted.
Even the Third Prince stared in shock.
No one had expected Ji Yi, who had always swallowed his anger and endured their insults, to actually attack someone in public.
Young Master Qin was kicked so hard that his chest churned with blood.
He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He shakily wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and remained stunned for several moments before finally coming to his senses.
“Ji Yi! What are you doing?!”
Ji Yi immediately grabbed a small stool nearby and swung it at the people who tried to stop him, knocking them aside.
The veins on his arms stood out as he pressed Young Master Qin firmly to the floor, leaving him no chance to escape.
He was still young and had not fully grown into his adult frame. All he had was the reckless force of a young man with nowhere to release his pent-up anger.
Ji Yi looked down at him from above.
His eyes were filled with overwhelming coldness.
His lips moved slowly, each word pronounced clearly.
“What did you call my father just now?”
He paused.
“Say it again.”