Hua Yan thought that the news of her sweeping victories across nine tables at Shunfang Gambling House must have already spread. Although the Capital City was vast, news traveled fast. By the time she had met the nine Gambling Gods, the Crown Prince would likely have heard about it as well.
Whether she was held captive out of rage by the gambling house after cleaning them out or justifiably detained for a staggering loss, her identity was bound to be revealed. Whether she would disclose her identity herself or the Crown Prince would come after hearing the news, who wouldn't know then that she was the designated Crown Princess Consort?
Thinking this, a smile crept over her lips. A Crown Princess Consort who had headed straight for the gambling dens upon arriving in the Capital City might become renowned for her gambling across the lands north and south of the Yangtze River, but to the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne, it was no good news at all.
Once this matter broke out, it would definitely cause a huge stir throughout the court and bureaucracy. The Imperial Censorate would probably flood his jade desk with critical memoranda, and the Empress Dowager would be furious, swearing to oppose this marriage to the death.
In this way, with everyone against her, she would be able to cast off that burdensome hat once and for all.
Qiuyue looked at her young mistress's increasingly deep smile and sighed inwardly, thinking that even with exceptional skills, the Crown Prince might not be able to squelch the disaster his mistress had stirred up. After all, the people on the third floor were clearly either rich or noble, likely including some well-known figures from the Capital City, with several princes and sons from the Noble Residences.
After hearing Hua Yan's words, everyone started to speculate in private.
Lin'an? Arrived in the Capital City yesterday? Came to Shunfang Gambling House to meet the nine Gambling Gods, and everyone would know her identity afterward?
There was too little information in her words!
While everyone was mulling it over and discussing among themselves, a young boy carrying a large stack of food boxes came upstairs, entered the teahouse, spotted Hua Yan's seat, approached breathlessly, placed the food boxes on the table, and said, "I went to the most famous Zuiping Restaurant in the Capital City, gave the manager five hundred banknotes, and he prepared these signature dishes."
Hua Yan glanced at the eight large food boxes, smiled at him, and said, "Thank you, little brother. If you don't mind, would you like to join us?"
The young boy was stunned for a moment. Looking at her smiling face, his cheeks reddened slightly, "No need to thank me." With that, he turned to look for someone and, seeing his brother, declined, "My fifth brother is still here; I'll eat with him later."
Hua Yan smiled and looked at the young man, saying, "There's so much food here, even with two more people it would be enough. It's fine if your fifth brother joins us, too."
Hearing this, the young boy looked at the young man questioningly, "Fifth brother?"
The young man stood up, walked over with a smile, and bowed politely to Hua Yan, "Thanks to the lady, since you are not one for formalities, my brother and I will gladly accept the invitation."
"The little brother helped me make a trip; it's only right to invite him to a meal," Hua Yan said with a light smile, casually continuing, "I've never understood those things about decorum or being a paragon of manners. You two needn't be formal."
The young man was momentarily startled, realizing that they were in Shunfang Gambling House, and if she were a person of strict manners, she wouldn't have come in today. He smiled and nodded.
Qiuyue had already tossed a large packet of banknotes on the floor behind her and Hua Yan, and began to arrange the food boxes one by one.
The young man glanced at the packet of banknotes, which stood almost as tall as a person and was nonchalantly left there by the two, his eyes darkening for a brief moment.
The meal proceeded quietly, as the saying goes, "Eat without speaking, sleep without talking" and the teahouse was filled with the fragrance of food.
The aroma of the dishes easily awakened people's appetites, so those seated in the teahouse waiting to watch the excitement all sent someone to buy food to eat.
For the first time in many years since Shunfang Gambling House opened, the teahouse on the third floor was filled with people dining, not gathering to gamble, at this time of day.
After receiving word, the nine Gambling Gods hurried over, only to be greeted by such a scenario.
After eating her fill, leaving some room in her stomach for the late-night snack back at the Eastern Palace, Hua Yan instructed maid Fang to prepare supper. She couldn't have her working all day without showing any appreciation; that would be downright heartless.
Housekeeper Cheng, leading nine men, arrived outside the teahouse, and with more calm and confidence than before, bowed to Hua Yan, who was leisurely finishing her meal and sipping tea, "My lady, the nine great Gambling Gods of our establishment have arrived."
At these words, everyone looked toward the entrance of the teahouse. Seeing the group, many were taken aback.
They saw the nine men, each dressed differently, with various physiques—some tall, some short, some fat, some thin. There were those in fine clothes, others in plain garments, a mixed lot. If there was one commonality among them, it was their ages, all around their fifties or sixties, each with more or less white hair. They looked so ordinary that no one would notice them in a crowd.
Were these the legendary nine Gambling Gods?
The young boy sitting opposite Hua Yan frowned and asked upon seeing them, "Housekeeper Cheng, are you sure these are the nine Gambling Gods? Don't just bring any stand-ins to fool us. Why do they look so ordinary?"
Steward Cheng replied solemnly and respectfully to the young lad, "Replying to Prince Shiyi, this humble one would not dare to randomly fill a spot; indeed, these are the nine great gambling gods of our Shunfang Gambling House, and the nine seats of dealers on this floor are their disciples."
The young lad, convinced by his sincerity, turned his head toward the young man, "Brother Wu, what do you think?"
The young man smiled, "If Steward Cheng says so, it must be true. The lady's gambling skills are plainly visible here. If they were putting up a sham, would the Shunfang Gambling House be willing to ruin its own reputation and wait to lose its capital?" After speaking, he added, "After all, when the nine gambling gods make their move, it's no small sum. There's a saying that rings true, 'A real person does not show his face.'
The young lad nodded and turned to look at Hua Yan.
Hua Yan smiled as she looked at the nine people for a moment, stood up, and casually patted Qiuyue on the shoulder, saying with a laugh, "Ayue, bring the gambling funds, let's have a good meeting with the nine great gambling gods."
Upon seeing Hua Yan ready to take the plunge, Qiuyue could only brace herself, picked up a large bundle, and followed her.
Seeing this, everyone got up from their seats; after all, witnessing the nine great gambling gods of the Shunfang Gambling House in a contest was an extraordinary event that was rare in a thousand years. To come across such an occasion was considered a fortune in three lifetimes; how could anyone pass up the chance to observe?
It was still the same seats where the nine dealers had sat earlier, and the nine people took their places in order.
Hua Yan still chose the last seat, with a silent group tailing behind her to watch.
The teahouse on the third floor was so quiet that only the clatter of dominoes could be heard, with betting chips piled high on the tables.
The highest betting chip for the nine gambling gods was two hundred thousand taels per person.
Hua Yan roughly calculated; earlier, she had won one hundred thousand taels on the first and second floors. If she won the highest limit of fifty thousand taels for each dealer on the third floor, that would be four hundred and fifty thousand taels, making a total of five hundred and fifty thousand taels in chips. Now, with each of the nine gambling gods, the ceiling limit for each was two hundred thousand taels, which would total one million eight hundred thousand taels after nine rounds.
If she won across the board, it would be two million three hundred and fifty thousand taels.
Over the years, the Shunfang Gambling House had established itself in the Capital City, gaining fame throughout the world; the profits it had won were probably about that much, right?
As she was thinking, there came a commotion from the staircase. The dealer opposite her paused, his expression immediately turning respectful. He stopped the hand that was about to start the game and looked toward the staircase.
The crowd, hearing the noise, turned their heads and looked in the same direction.
Qiuyue turned her head along with everyone else and saw, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, a young man in brocade and a Jade Belt walking up the stairs. Several attendants in fine clothes followed him, all looking smart and splendid. The young man had an unpleasant look on his face; as soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he stared intently at Hua Yan through the crowd of onlookers.
Qiuyue felt a chill rush over her as she stepped forward to block Hua Yan with her body.
The man's gaze instantly sank, his expression becoming like still water as he narrowed his eyes at Qiuyue.
Seeing the newcomer, the young lad's heart jolted. He glanced at his Brother Wu beside him and called out, "Brother Zizhan."
Moving his gaze from Qiuyue, the man looked at the young lad and his companion, Brother Wu. His eyebrows rose slightly, his phoenix eyes subtly shifting, as he spoke ambiguously, "It seems that today, Prince Shiyi and Prince Wu happened to be here too, what a coincidence!"
At these words, the young lad shrank back and fell silent.
Brother Wu replied with a light and genial smile, "Today, with nothing particular to do, Prince Shiyi and I decided to stroll around here, indeed a great coincidence."
The man twirled the Jade Ring on his finger, turned toward Hua Yan, who was still blocked by Qiuyue, and his voice deepened, carrying a hint of chill and sharpness, "The lady is quite skilled, to have alarmed the nine great gambling gods of my Shunfang Gambling House. This is an unprecedented event since the establishment of the house."
Slowly turning her head, Hua Yan waved her hand at Qiuyue who stood behind her. Qiuyue moved aside as Hua Yan faced the young man who had spoken. She saw that he was wearing a rich crimson robe, his figure slightly slender and long. It was already nearly May, and while others had already switched to summer clothing, he was dressed much warmer than the rest. His features were exquisitely handsome, his phoenix eyes long and narrow, exuding an air of nobility, charm, and a slightly sinister intent.
Overall, he was a dangerously charming and noble man.
She appraised him matter-of-factly, thinking that without a certain level of attractiveness, one wouldn't dare to open this 'dye house'; otherwise, how could he manage to be the owner of this Shunfang Gambling House and maintain order in this place teeming with all sorts of people?
She twirled one of her fingers that peeked out from her sleeve; as she rubbed her thumb against her middle finger, it made a slight noise. She raised her face and smiled sweetly, saying to him, "I came here because of your reputation. To have disturbed Young Master Zizhan is truly an honor!"