Volume 1 Chapter 25: I’ll Bet with You
Yan Qing was completely stunned.
She never expected Gu Huaizhou, who appeared gentle and steady, to act so boldly. Then again, in her previous life, he had emerged victorious in the Five Princes' Struggle for the Throne, which proved he was inherently decisive.
But still, he couldn’t…
Although she had brought guards with her today, she wasn’t so reckless as to disregard the Great Yong Law.
Even princes and princesses couldn’t seize someone else’s gambling den without cause, let alone her, the daughter of a minister.
She feared they would be thrown out the moment they stepped inside.
Yan Qing immediately stepped forward and grabbed Gu Huaizhou’s arm. “Cousin, you mustn’t.”
Gu Huaizhou lowered his gaze. The woman’s slender, pale wrist gripped him tightly, as if afraid he would leave.
Yan Qing urged, “We cannot violate the Great Yong Law.”
Seeing the cautious and careful expression on her face, Gu Huaizhou’s expression softened instantly. He reached out and took her hand, speaking gently, “Don’t be afraid. We won’t break the law.”
“Then…”
“We’ll go gamble.”
Gu Huaizhou’s final words finally eased Yan Qing’s anxious heart, but then she exclaimed in surprise, “Gamble? Gambling?”
“Yes.”
The man’s large hand held hers as they quickly disappeared into the gambling den.
Behind them, Qing Luan watched their clasped hands and wanted to step forward to remind them, but the bustling crowd made her hold her tongue.
Young Master Gu was… going a bit too far today.
As for Yan Qing, she was already stunned by the scene before her.
Inside the gambling den, the noise was deafening, with excited shouts rising and falling in waves. The dazzling array of gambling tools was enough to make one’s head spin.
The atmosphere was intense and thrilling.
Yan Qing’s mind went blank, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Gu Huaizhou’s hand.
She had never been fond of going out, and when she did, it was mostly within the inner city. Lu Qiao Nan had said the outer city was a chaotic mix of people, not a place for noble ladies.
So she had never ventured into the outer city.
Lu Qiao Nan admired the Six Arts of the Gentleman, so she studied the Eight Elegances of the Lady.
Even when Yan Tan and her mother constantly provoked her, she still wanted to appear dignified and noble in front of Lu Qiao Nan, so she never indulged in any improper habits.
Let alone a place like a gambling den.
This was Yan Qing’s first time visiting such a place in both lifetimes, and her first time witnessing such a chaotic and crowded scene.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Gu Huaizhou shielded her by his side, his gentle, deep voice seeming to soothe her heart.
Yan Qing gradually calmed down.
“Big! Big! Big! Damn it, it’s small again!”
“Hahaha, how many rounds has it been? Sun, you old dog, if you keep this up, you’ll lose even your mother’s coffin savings…”
“I won! I won! I finally won! Hahaha…”
“Oh, isn’t this Steward Liu from Prince Qi’s residence? What brings you here today…”
Various voices from inside the gambling den intertwined and reached Yan Qing’s ears.
When she heard “Steward Liu from Prince Qi’s residence,” Yan Qing instinctively glanced toward the entrance. Sure enough, she saw a middle-aged man in gray clothes entering the gambling den, where he was greeted by the staff and led to a gambling table…
Her eyes flickered thoughtfully.
“What are you looking at?”
Gu Huaizhou’s voice brought Yan Qing back to her senses.
Yan Qing stared in the direction where Steward Liu had disappeared, hinting meaningfully, “This gambling den truly is an interesting place.”
“Do you want it, cousin?”
“Huh?”
Yan Qing didn’t react immediately.
Gu Huaizhou looked at her, his dark eyes as deep and mysterious as an abyss. “If you want it, cousin, I’ll help you get it.”
Yan Qing’s pupils slowly widened.
Gu Huaizhou was the emperor's illegitimate son. In his previous life, he had managed to ascend the throne, so he must have possessed some ability and methods. Could it be that he intended to use the power behind him to help her?
Yan Qing's heart pounded wildly in her chest.
If Gu Huaizhou was willing to help her, it would be as if she had a prince standing behind her. Then, her desire to deal with the people backing Lu Qiao Nan and Yan Junyuan would no longer be a mere pipe dream.
"How do we get it?"
Yan Qing heard her own voice trembling.
She had considered showing goodwill to Gu Huaizhou after her rebirth, hoping he would remember their past affection when he ascended the throne in the future. But she had never thought of using the power in his hands to achieve her own goals.
Yet at this moment—
Yan Qing was tempted!
Seeing the desire in her eyes, Gu Huaizhou smiled slightly. "I'll teach you."
He led Yan Qing to a gambling table.
This table was playing dice, guessing big or small.
Yan Qing watched for a while. Some guessed big, some guessed small, and the numbers in the dice cup varied each time, with no discernible pattern.
Suddenly, she remembered stories she had read about gambling masters with extraordinary hearing who could determine the dice numbers by sound alone.
Yan Qing abruptly turned to Gu Huaizhou and whispered, "Cousin, can you listen to dice?"
Gu Huaizhou shook his head. "No."
Yan Qing was surprised. "Then how can we win?"
Surely not just by luck?
Gu Huaizhou, however, smiled gently and sincerely. "Just place your bets, cousin."
Yan Qing asked in confusion, "Should I bet on big or small?"
"Either is fine."
"??"
Yan Qing was completely bewildered.
Either is fine? What kind of strategy was that? Could they really win enough to take down this gambling den?
But seeing Gu Huaizhou's confident demeanor, she had no choice but to take out her purse and tentatively placed a small silver ingot on small.
The dealer opened the dice cup: three, three, two—small.
Yan Qing immediately looked at Gu Huaizhou.
Gu Huaizhou encouraged her. "Keep going."
This time, Yan Qing placed two silver ingots on big.
The dealer opened the cup: five, six, six—big.
Yan Qing won again.
Looking at the silver she had won, Yan Qing exclaimed happily, "Cousin, I won again!"
Gu Huaizhou looked at her affectionately. "As long as Qingqing is happy."
Yan Qing was too caught up in the excitement of winning to notice that Gu Huaizhou's address for her had changed. She placed all her winnings on big.
Unsurprisingly, she won again this time.
Winning three times in a row drew the attention of others, and even the dealer couldn't help but glance at her.
Before opening the cup this time, the dealer subtly tapped the cup box.
The result—
Four, six, six—big!
An expression of disbelief flashed across the dealer's face.
How was this possible!
He had clearly tampered with the dice just now. The numbers in the dice cup should have been one, one, three. How could they be four, six, six?
"Wow, a gambling god! She won again!"
"Quick, miss, what are you betting on next? I'll follow you!"
"Yes, yes, we'll all follow you!"
Seeing Yan Qing win again, the people around her grew excited and immediately took out all their money, ready to follow her bets.
Yan Qing didn't know how Gu Huaizhou had managed it, but she seemed to understand what he was trying to do.
"This time, I'll bet on big again!"
Yan Qing placed all her silver on big.
Seeing this, the others hurriedly threw all their silver onto the area representing big.
Looking at the mountain-like pile of silver, the dealer broke into a cold sweat. If he lost this round, his table would have to pay out—so much silver…
"Shake the dice! What are you waiting for?"
Seeing the dealer hesitate, the crowd urged him, "Are you afraid of losing and don't dare to continue?"
"Just won so much money from us, what's wrong with giving a little back?"
"Exactly, hurry up and roll the dice!"
As everyone clamored, a woman in her thirties, surrounded by casino staff, parted the crowd and walked over to the dealer.
The woman wore purple clothes, with a row of daggers hanging at her waist, looking very capable and decisive.
"This round, I'll take over!"
The woman took the dice cup from the dealer's hand, first glanced at Yan Qing, then fixed her gaze on Gu Huaizhou. With sharp eyes, she declared, "I'll gamble with you!"