At this moment, Xia Xuanmiao stared at the bustling gambling den before her, her heart brimming with murderous intent!
Although the imperial court had not explicitly banned gambling, everyone knew that gambling dens were disreputable places.
Most modern people could recognize the dangers of gambling precisely because they had access to better forms of entertainment.
In ancient times, there were few entertainment options. If even brothels and gambling dens were prohibited, the common folk would lose their only means of numbing themselves.
In such a scenario, peasant uprisings would be the least of the worries—the most troublesome would be the powerful scholar-officials who didn’t need to struggle for a living.
Nevertheless, daring to operate a gambling den on such a large scale and so brazenly had truly crossed Xia Xuanmiao’s bottom line.
She glared at Liang Zhichao beside her and said, “Young man, this gambling den is so huge? Has that corrupt county magistrate deceived the entire county’s populace into gambling?”
Hearing this, Liang Zhichao hurriedly explained, “Miss, please don’t misunderstand! Our gambling dens here are all legitimate establishments.”
“The one you see now is even registered with the county government! We absolutely do not engage in anything that violates the laws of Daxia!”
“Moreover, this gambling den is a major source of revenue for the county!”
Xia Xuanmiao also noticed that the patrons coming and going in the gambling den were all dressed in fine silks and satins, among them many high-ranking officials and nobles with accents from the capital.
“Hahaha! This place is truly wonderful! When I retire from my official duties someday, I’ll also buy a property here in Shangyang County!”
An elderly gentleman with a capital accent laughed heartily as he emerged from a private room. A local beside him chuckled and said, “Lord Wu, I advise you to hurry and make the purchase! Property prices in Shangyang County are skyrocketing now!”
“How so?”
“Just think about it—every month, no fewer than ten thousand tourists visit Shangyang County for leisure! Among these ten thousand, a large majority have the intention of buying property locally.”
“Shangyang County isn’t very large to begin with. If this continues, property prices will surely rise higher and higher in the future!”
Upon hearing this, Lord Wu suddenly understood! He quickly pulled out a stack of silver notes from his robe and said, “Young man! Come! Take me to buy a property!”
Not far away, Xia Xuanmiao, who witnessed this scene, was utterly shocked when she saw the man!
That Lord Wu was none other than Wu Zhong, the Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy of Daxia!
Wu Zhong, as if sensing someone watching him, quickly turned his head to look in Xia Xuanmiao’s direction.
Xia Xuanmiao hurriedly checked her veil, and after confirming it was intact, she swiftly turned away.
Seeing this, Wu Zhong smiled inwardly: The little beauty is shy. The beauties of Shangyang County are truly delightful!
Just as she turned away, Xia Xuanmiao witnessed another unbelievable scene!
A meticulously dressed man emerged from the room opposite, with one arm around a woman on each side!
And that man was none other than Wang Jiang, the Duke of Xu, who had just been transferred to serve as the military governor of Anbei!
Back when she raised troops to launch the Yingtianmen Coup and seize the throne, it was he who beheaded the crown prince with a single stroke, securing the great victory at Yingtianmen!
After Xia Xuanmiao ascended the throne as Empress, she further ennobled him as a duke!
“What? Wang Jiang too??”
Her maid, Si Qin, and guard, Xue Zhiyun, standing beside her, were also stunned!
Seeing this, Liang Zhichao thought they knew each other, so he waved at Wang Jiang with what he assumed was keen perception and said, “Esteemed sir! Our young lady…”
Before he could finish, Xue Zhiyun, displaying even sharper perception, immediately covered Liang Zhichao’s mouth and hastily turned his back.
Si Qin, Xue Zhiyun, and Xia Xuanmiao all turned around almost simultaneously!
A Hanlin Academy scholar might not recognize the disguised Empress and her entourage, but as the Empress’s most loyal military commander, Wang Jiang could not possibly fail to recognize them!
Sure enough, Wang Jiang also found those three figures somewhat familiar, so he walked over with a frown and said, “You three, have we met somewhere before?”
At that moment, Xia Xuanmiao gently closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She knew her identity was likely about to be exposed.
Wang Jiang had been a guard at the princess’s residence when she was still a princess, having followed her since she was fifteen and received her title—ten years had passed in the blink of an eye.
An old general who had followed her for ten years could not possibly fail to recognize her.
Thinking this, Xia Xuanmiao could only decide to hastily end this incognito inspection!
But just as she was about to remove her veil, a simple and honest voice suddenly came from behind!
“Duke of Xu?! When did you arrive?”
The newcomer was none other than the Shangyang County Captain, Cheng Dazhuang!
“Captain Cheng? You’re truly well-informed! I just checked in, and you’re already here to welcome me? Huh? Why isn’t Li Mu here?”
Hearing this, Cheng Dazhuang awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said, “Hehe, Duke of Xu, I’m not here to welcome you. I’m here to help my lord find a woman.”
“Find a woman?”
Wang Jiang frowned. “That lad Li Mu is young and accomplished, handsome and talented—is he really worried about finding a woman?”
Cheng Dazhuang sighed and said, “Ah! Your Grace doesn’t know, but my lord has high standards.”
“The local noble ladies are either already married, or he doesn’t fancy them. You can’t expect him to marry a courtesan, can you?”
Wang Jiang nodded and said with a frown, “True. Hmm—how about this? I have an old subordinate whose daughter is quite lovely. She’s now of marriageable age but still unmarried.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Dazhuang immediately waved his hand and chuckled, “No need. My lord actually already has someone in mind. I’m here to… fetch that young lady.”
“Fetch?” Wang Jiang was taken aback.
“Uh… no, persuade! No! Arrange a marriage! I’m here to play matchmaker today!”
Wang Jiang nodded with a mix of belief and doubt, then pointed at Cheng Dazhuang and said, “You! Li Mu mentioned you to me before. You should change that bandit temperament from your past!”
“Your Grace is absolutely right, hehehe…”
“Alright, I’m off to have fun! Tell Li Mu I’ll visit him tomorrow!”
With that, Wang Jiang swaggered out of the gambling den with two beauties in his arms.
Once they confirmed Wang Jiang had left, Xia Xuanmiao and the other two finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, what made Xia Xuanmiao even more curious was how that corrupt official had managed to get close to her trusted general?!
And this corrupt official still wants to find a wife?
What? Does he want to add a few more to his nine clans? To drag more people down with him?
“Young lady, he’s gone.”
Xue Zhiyun released Liang Zhichao’s mouth and said with a serious expression, “But Duke of Xu was only transferred to the Anbei Military Governor less than a year ago, and he’s already so familiar with that corrupt official? How strange.”
“Yes!” Si Qin also nodded and said, “I really don’t know what kind of bewitching potion that corrupt official used, but Duke Xu actually wants to help him arrange a marriage!”
Xia Xuanmiao nodded: “But fortunately, that corrupt official already has someone he loves. Otherwise, if we were to execute his entire clan, I… I wouldn’t know how to explain it to General Wang.”
“Hmph! The woman that corrupt official has his eyes on probably isn’t any good either! They all deserve to die!” Si Qin pouted, speaking with a face full of resentment.