Liu Cheng carried a birdcage, its exterior covered with a thick brocade cloth sewn into a cover, and ambled into Yi Pin Ju.
The servants at Yi Pin Ju were all impeccably dressed. Compared to the common coarse cloth and simple garments, the fabric of their clothes was quite good; it was comparable to the attire of minor officials in remote regions.
"Young Master Liu has arrived?"
The young attendant’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Liu Cheng. This was a major client of their Yi Pin Ju. In the past month alone, he had lost over a hundred thousand taels of silver here.
Liu Cheng took off his outer robe, tossed it into the attendant’s hands, and surveyed his surroundings. He looked at the gamblers engrossed in their games, feeling a degree of disdain for them. He had tried every gambling table on this floor, and found them all boring.
Feeling a touch of weariness, he turned his gaze towards the second floor.
He had heard that on the second floor, they gambled with lives!
The attendant led him to a semi-enclosed, semi-open private seating area at the far end of the first floor. Liu Cheng threw the birdcage onto the table. The attendant first hung the outer robe he was holding on a clothes rack, then, with keen observation, removed the cover from the birdcage for Liu Cheng.
"Young Master Liu, what would you like to play today?"
The golden finch inside the cage chirped incessantly. The attendant, half-squatting, poured tea and inquired.
Liu Cheng leaned back in his seat, his chin slightly raised, and pointed towards the second floor. He asked with interest, "I'm tired of everything on the first floor. I want to check out the second floor today."
The attendant's hand, mid-pour, paused slightly before he chuckled, "You jest, Young Master. Those who go to the second floor are people who cannot repay their gambling debts and are forced to gamble for their lives. With your great wealth and status, why would you need to risk your life?"
Liu Cheng clicked his tongue, a hint of wickedness flashing in his eyes. "My life is very precious. Why would I gamble it away?"
The attendant looked up at Liu Cheng. "Does Young Master mean to gamble with someone else's life?"
Liu Cheng raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Is that not allowed?"
The attendant remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "It is!"
For those who had lost themselves to greed, if someone offered them a large sum of money to become a chip, they would likely agree immediately.
"Then, Young Master Liu, please follow me."
The attendant set down the teacup and rose, leading Liu Cheng to the second floor.
In the third-floor corridor, Hua Niang leaned languidly against the railing, her gaze pausing as she watched the person being led to the second floor by an attendant. She turned and called out to He Wei, "Look, who is that."
He Wei looked down and, upon seeing the person, a cold expression flashed across his face. "The legitimate grandson of Zhongshu Ling Liu Wan Jun, Liu Cheng?"
Hua Niang couldn't help but laugh. "If old man Liu Wan Jun knew that his worthless grandson had come to our Yi Pin Ju to gamble for his life, he would likely be so enraged that he'd spit up three liters of blood!"
He Wei's expression was not good. Liu Cheng was a scoundrel who indulged in drinking, whoring, and gambling. However, Liu Wan Jun's position as Zhongshu Ling was very useful to their master. Fortunately, he had come to Yi Pin Ju; if he had gone to Huan Cai Ge… No, Liu Wan Jun needed to keep a better eye on his grandson!
With that thought, he said to Hua Niang, "Instruct the servants to keep an eye on him. Don't let him go too far."
"Understood!"
Hua Niang lowered her eyelids and replied impatiently.
...
Yi Pin Ju?
Nan Shiying had wanted to experience it before, but continuous events had prevented her from witnessing Yi Pin Ju's splendor. Now, hearing that the eldest grandson of the Liu family, Zhongshu Ling Liu, frequented Yi Pin Ju, her eyes immediately lit up.
Xuan Wei looked at Ji Jin Mo with some hesitation. Yi Pin Ju was not a good place; it was said to be a place where countless bones were buried and much filth hidden. How could the Crown Princess, with her noble status, risk associating with it?
"Want to go?"
Ji Jin Mo seemed not to have noticed Xuan Wei's glance and asked, almost as if he already knew the answer.
Nan Shiying nodded vigorously. Such a fun place, of course, she wanted to go. "Can I?"
Nan Shiying's eyes sparkled, her face full of anticipation as she looked at Ji Jin Mo, appearing extremely eager to go.
Ji Jin Mo feigned deep thought for a moment. Just as Nan Shiying was considering sneaking out, he finally spoke, "Alright, I'll accompany you."
"Mhm, I definitely... what?"
Upon hearing the word "alright," Nan Shiying was overjoyed, not paying much attention to the rest. Just as she was about to promise that she wouldn't cause any trouble, she suddenly realized. Wait, was she hearing things? What did Ji Jin Mo just say? He said he would accompany her?
Her first reaction was: "Your Highness, do you have a fever?"
You, with this face, going to Yi Pin Ju with me? Isn't that clearly telling everyone – I, Ji Jin Mo, have my sights set on your Yi Pin Ju!
Ji Jin Mo raised an eyebrow, and the Xuan Wei guards instantly lowered their heads.
Their heads bowed, ears drooping, they assumed an expression of, "We heard nothing, saw nothing, we are blind and deaf."
"Jade-faced Gentleman."
He slowly uttered four words.
Nan Shiying couldn't help but click her tongue. If he wanted to wear a human-skin mask, he should just say so; why play riddles with her?
She now understood what this Lord intended. Although she was inclined to refuse his 'kindness,' seeing his half-smiling, half-non-smiling expression, she gave up the idea.
Forget it, if we're going, we're going!
...
"Place your bets, place your bets~~"
Dice games, guessing high or low, were the simplest forms of gambling. The dealer shook the dice cup, the dice clattering against the inner wall, producing clear sounds. As the dice cup landed on the table, gamblers placed their bets.
Among the crowd gathered around the dice table, two individuals possessed an aura and appearance that seemed somewhat out of place.
"I bet on triples!"
A young gentleman with delicate features and a fragile disposition placed all his silver on triples.
Standing beside him, like a guard half-enveloping him to shield him from the surrounding people, was a man half a head taller than the young gentleman. His face was not particularly striking, but his overall demeanor exuded a cold, oppressive presence that made it difficult to look directly at him.
The dealer couldn't help but glance at the two of them, subtly turning his head to give a signal to a nearby attendant.
These two did not appear to be ordinary people, yet they seemed unfamiliar. They needed to be carefully observed.
After the bets were placed, the dealer opened the dice cup. The dice inside revealed identical numbers.
Three fours, triples!
The young gentleman had won it all!
He laughed heartily, marveling at his luck, and raked all the money on the table towards himself.
"Come, come, continue!"
In a short while, he had already won no less than several hundred taels.
The attendant hurried over and whispered into the dealer's ear, "The identity of the man in black is unknown, but this young gentleman is famous. He is the direct disciple of Medicine King Valley, Feng Luan, who gained immense fame not long ago."