The Four Nobles of Nanchu, Lu Zhiling of the Duke Residence of Jingguo, An Shuli of the Anyang royal house, Su Zizhan of the Marquis Residence of Wuwei, Crown Prince Yun Chi of the Eastern Palace.
These young men were all talented youths whose fame had resounded throughout the world since their boyhood, a decade ago.
When it came to these four, there was nobody under heaven who did not know or had not heard of them.
Hua Yan looked at Su Zizhan, pondering that today she had intended to dig a deep pit for Yun Chi, to remove her hat of future Crown Princess Consort using the wiles of the Shunfang Gambling House; though it was the best plan, it was also the worst. If she hadn't been forced into a corner, she would never have come to offend Su Zizhan by casting her net using his territory.
Everyone knew he was not someone to be trifled with.
It was said throughout the world that Lu Zhiling was unrestrained, An Shuli was gentle, Su Zizhan was ruthless, and Yun Chi was indifferent.
Among these four, especially Su Zizhan's ruthlessness, was enough to make men tremble with fear and stay silent. Each year, he would commit one extremely ruthless act, a deed that would not be forgotten for a decade, or perhaps even for a lifetime.
This year he hadn't acted yet, and she estimated she was the thunderbolt he would choose to eliminate.
For a moment, the third floor was as silent as the grave.
After Qiuyue stepped aside, the unrivaled beauty with skin like snow and looks that could overthrow cities, that Hua Yan fixed her gaze upon, continued to smile sweetly, blooming like spring flowers; Su Zizhan's pupils contracted sharply at the sight of her, and he suddenly let out a cold laugh.
That laugh was like frost in June, chilling to the bone, and the third floor instantly turned so cold that everyone shivered in unison.
With her smile undiminished, Hua Yan thought to herself, what a Su Zizhan, his single cold laugh could turn this third floor into the frozen north.
After that cold laugh, Su Zizhan stopped looking at her and turned to throw out a sentence, "It is indeed an honor for my Shunfang Gambling House." Having said that, he entered a nearby tearoom and declared icily, "Start the game! I too would like to see just how powerful these gambling skills are that can overturn my Shunfang Gambling House, renowned throughout the world, in a single day."
Hua Yan gave a light smile and turned around, "I will not disappoint you, Young Master Zizhan!"
The nine gambling gods glanced at each other across the table, their spirits tightened, not daring to be arrogant or to treat the matter carelessly.
The compass spun, the dominoes clinked, and all the following eyes were focused on the dealer and Hua Yan as gambling commenced.
After three cups of tea, the dealer lost everything, and Hua Yan won big.
A cheer erupted from the crowd, but it was instantly quelled when they cast their eyes towards Su Zizhan, sitting in the tearoom not far away with a face so pale it lacked any color.
The dealer changed, but the gambling continued.
Everyone watched the game, no one noticing one of the nine gambling gods, his face ash-grey, entering the tearoom and kneeling before Su Zizhan, speechlessly admitting his guilt.
Su Zizhan merely waved his hand, and that person stood up silently and retreated.
Three more cups of tea later, the dealer lost everything again, and Hua Yan won big.
Next, every three cups of tea, a new dealer took the table, while Hua Yan simply changed tables.
After an hour, Hua Yan had reached the fifth gambling god.
The audience had watched four rounds and felt it had been worth seeing in their lifetime. The nine gambling gods might appear ordinary and unidentifiable in a crowd, but their gambling skills were indeed remarkable, truly living up to the name of the Shunfang Gambling House's Nine Gambling Gods. It was no deception.
However, what was even more astonishing and shocking was Hua Yan; she was merely at the age of twenty-eight, yet she possessed such unparalleled gambling skills that could be said to be unmatched in history, truly making people even more curious about her identity.
Seeing Hua Yan win big at the fifth table, all the chips now hers, the equivalent of shining silver entering her purse, the manager Cheng was sweating profusely and trembling with cold sweat. He could not help but hurry to Su Zizhan's side, whispering urgently into his ear, "Young Master!"
If they did not stop it now, the years of operation of the Shunfang Gambling House would go down the drain!
Su Zizhan gave manager Cheng a cold look, one that carried a murderous intent, causing Cheng to tremble and kneel on the ground, "Young Master, please forgive me!"
"Scram!" spat out Su Zizhan.
Manager Cheng did not dare to say another word, scrambling up from the ground and indeed rolled away.
Two hours later, when the luminous pearls hanging in the third floor pavilion grew brighter, Hua Yan had won over the ninth casino, and the game ended on both sides.
The chips were piled up behind Hua Yan, towering like a small mountain, complementing the large bundle of banknotes that Qiuyue had carried on her back earlier.
Twenty-three million and fifty thousand taels of silver!
Half a day plus two hours, such was the sum of ten years of profits at the Shunfang Gambling House.
Everyone went quiet, including the fifth and eleventh princes who had grown up in the luxurious wealth of the Royal Family, as if they could all see the mountain of dazzling silver piled up behind Hua Yan and Qiuyue.
By then, nobody cheered; the shock had rendered them all speechless.
In the silence, a slow and clear applause rang out from the teahouse not far away.
Everyone turned their heads and saw Su Zizhan sat in the teahouse, clapping his hands, his slender jade-like palms, under the illumination of the luminous pearls, looked exceptionally beautiful. But as people looked at his hands, they could only see a sea of blood through those fair and slender fingers.
How many people's blood had these hands been stained with? All of them had crossed him!
As the crowd looked on, recalling his ruthlessness, a chill ran through their hearts, and they began to worry for Hua Yan!
Indeed, from today onwards, her gambling skills would become renowned throughout the land, but having broken the nine gambling gods of the Shunfang Gambling House, and having dismantled its stage, as a woman—even if she could walk out of the Shunfang Gambling House's door in front of Su Zizhan today, there was no guarantee that she would still be alive tomorrow.
What a pity! What use were those mountains of silver if, even when taken, they could not be spent?
After three rounds of applause, Su Zizhan said to Hua Yan, "The nine great gambling gods of my Shunfang Gambling House have met their match. Indeed, there are skies beyond skies, and people beyond people. Very good!"
Hua Yan looked at Su Zizhan with a smile, "Young Master Zizhan is too kind!"
Su Zizhan's pupils shrank slightly, and his body emitted a cold aura, "To take away the profits of the Shunfang Gambling House that have been accumulated over many years is not just about winning against the nine gambling gods. You must also drink a cup of tea that I respect. May I ask if the lady dares to accept my toast?"
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in unison.
Who in the world does not know that Su Zizhan's tea is not so easily drunk? A small cup of tea could cost a life.
Qiuyue's expression changed and she stepped forward to speak, but before she could say anything, Hua Yan stood up, casually placed a hand on her shoulder, nodded with a smile, "The tea of Young Master Zizhan is naturally the tea that should be drunk above all in this world, a supreme honor indeed."
With that, she walked slowly to the teahouse and sat in front of Su Zizhan.
Su Zizhan narrowed his eyes with a chilly and dangerous smile, took a White Jade Cup with his own hands, picked up the teapot, and filled it with pale green tea for her.
Hua Yan, seeming thirsty, did not say a word, and as soon as he put his hand down, she picked it up and was about to gulp it down.
At that moment, Prince Shiyi woke with a start, ran into the teahouse, and shouted loudly, "Wait!"
But it seemed as if Hua Yan hadn't heard him at all, she tilted her head back, not caring whether the tea was scalding or not, and drank it down in one gulp.
Prince Shiyi's face turned pale, his words stuck in his throat, his hand frozen in mid-air.
At this moment, the expression on the face of the fifth prince changed as well.
For a time, there was complete silence.
Suddenly, Su Zizhan burst into laughter. His countenance, three parts noble, five parts romantic, with a two-part sinister and chilly charm, melted away like the cold of ice sculptures, the severe northern snow thawing—his striking distinguished visage like clouds parting to reveal the moon, dazzling and enchanting in an instant.
Hua Yan watched him and thought to herself, what a bewitching figure.
He laughed for a long while before stopping, staring at Hua Yan, "What is the lady's honored name? Su Zizhan has learned something new today!"
Hua Yan put down the teacup, smiled, and keeping her gaze light, replied, "Hua Yan from Lin'an!"