“Young Master, are you still playing?”
A man beaming so wide his ears seemed to split smiled obsequiously at Li Yanzhu, counting the silver notes in his hand.
Li Yanzhu pushed aside the offensive tiles and waved her hand, “This isn’t fun, I’ll try something else.”
The man’s smile instantly drooped upon receiving the answer.
This Laifu Manor had all sorts of people, but few plump sheep.
This person, with his delicate features and attire, was clearly born with a silver spoon in his mouth, an innocent young master.
He had lost dozens of taels of silver without even frowning.
He quickly pocketed the silver notes and hurried after her.
“Young Master, what else would you like to play?”
Seeing that the wealthy young sheep wasn’t chasing him away, he eagerly rubbed his hands together and said, “Laifu Manor truly has everything; Pai Gow, Xiangqi, Chinese Chess, Grass Fighting, Cockfighting… If you wish to play, I, Er Gou’er, can take you through them all!”
Li Yanzhu stopped and looked at him, “Do you come here often?”
She had been dazzled by the variety and indeed needed someone to guide her.
It would be best to find someone who could highlight her persona as a “gullible fool.”
Er Gou’er immediately nodded, leaning closer to her and whispering, “To tell you the truth, Young Master, I know this place like the back of my hand.”
He indeed knew it well.
Because he was from the casino.
His job was to identify target “fat sheep” customers and persuade them to open their wallets and return again.
His salary came from skimming profits off these transactions.
“Alright, you’re the one,” Li Yanzhu said, walking with her hands behind her back and nodding with satisfaction, “Er Gou’er, is it? I want to play dice.”
She had observed earlier and found dice guessing to be the simplest.
It involved putting dice in a bowl and guessing the number of pips. Silver flowed like water in each round.
This game also had the largest crowd of onlookers and participants.
It perfectly fit Li Yanzhu’s image of a “gullible fool” in every aspect.
Er Gou’er marveled inwardly, yet also felt a pang of regret; this bet was too large, and the profit he could skim would be small.
He quickly stepped forward, creating a narrow gap that could barely be passed.
Li Yanzhu was quite pleased and directly dropped a silver ingot into Er Gou’er’s hand.
Er Gou’er joyfully rubbed it in his palm and shooed away the people nearby.
Though the displaced people complained, they dared not say anything.
Seeing this, Li Yanzhu was even happier that she had chosen the right person.
The dice went into the bowl.
The dealer shook it left and right.
The crisp sound of the dice clattering, accompanied by the boisterous human voices, was like music.
It made Li Yanzhu think of Zhaozhao.
The first time she played with Zhaozhao, she had even lost the golden hairpin her father had given her that morning.
Unwilling to accept defeat, she had insisted on playing with everyone in the mansion. In the end, she finally won against Zhaozhao, and was simultaneously placed under a gambling ban by her father.
She initially feigned listening to Er Gou’er as she won a few rounds, but then she played with abandon, and Er Gou did not stop her.
“Again!”
The crowd was somewhat surprised, “Still playing?”
There were taunts, “If you lose your underwear, you won’t have anything left!”
“Brother, it’s best to know when to quit.” This was a well-intentioned piece of advice.
Taunts, advice, and the sounds of onlookers filled the air.
Li Yanzhu ignored them all, continuously taking out silver and throwing it onto the table.
“Children are just too naive.”
Amidst constant sighs and mocking remarks, even Er Gou’er couldn't bear it any longer and tried to stop her from gambling.
Li Yanzhu, however, became agitated and threw a punch.
Er Gou’er immediately clutched his eyes, remaining silent and aggrieved.
By the time she had lost everything, even Xiao Cui couldn’t watch any longer, clutching the money pouch tightly.
“Young Master, if you lose any more, you’ll have nothing left.”
Li Yanzhu waved her hand, snatched the money pouch, and placed it on the table, “It’s alright, my father can earn more.”
Bundles of silver were piled on the table.
She bet big, while others bet small.
A naive boy who was foolish with money naturally attracted attention.
Soon, a larger crowd gathered to watch.
“Again.”
“Open—”
“Again.”
“Open—”
“Again.”
“Open—”
Finally, Li Yanzhu smiled wryly and took off the jade pendant from her neck, “Now I’ve really lost my underwear!”
“Young Master!” Xiao Cui tried to cover Li Yanzhu’s mouth…
The crowd gasped.
“This young master has rather bad luck.”
“Young Master Fang?” The crowd whispered, and people parted ways, “This young master is blessed.”
Li Yanzhu suppressed her curving lips and waved the jade pendant, “He’s all I have left.”
Fang Hanzhou lowered his brows, “May I gamble this round for you, Young Master?”
He lowered his head, his gaze level with Li Yanzhu’s, “If we win, half of it will be yours.”
Li Yanzhu blinked, then smiled and nodded, “Alright, please, Young Master.”
She placed the jade pendant on the table and stood obediently to the side.
Fang Hanzhou did not steal the spotlight but asked for her opinion.
“Big,” Li Yanzhu blurted out.
Fang Hanzhou raised an eyebrow and nodded, “Big.”
“Young Master Fang, have you considered? This young master has already lost all day.”
Fang Hanzhou remained silent, only looking quietly at the dealer.
The bowl was opened, and two dice lay quietly on the table.
Everyone held their breath and looked. The two dice both showed a five, indeed making it a big outcome.
He turned with triumph and returned the jade pendant to Li Yanzhu’s hand.
Li Yanzhu excitedly reached out to take it, but as her hand touched the jade pendant, she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Fang Hanzhou, startled, wiped the blood from his face and then caught the soft, collapsing young master.
“Princess!”
It was Xiao Cui who exclaimed in shock.
Princess?
Fang Hanzhou stiffly turned his neck and looked down at the person in his arms.
He quickly wiped the blood-stained jade pendant.
Indeed, the characters “Taiping” were engraved on the back.
It was the Eldest Princess!
Fang Hanzhou was initially stunned, but after confirming Li Yanzhu’s identity, he instantly scooped her up.
Xiao Cui wiped her tears, “Young Master Fang, my young master’s carriage is right outside.”
Fang Hanzhou nodded, carrying the person, and headed out.
Approaching the carriage, he saw the characters “Taiping” hanging on it, and he regretted not noticing them earlier.
If the princess’s anger caused her illness to worsen, he would be in serious trouble.
He gave his attendant a look, and the attendant immediately fetched a horse and rode towards Fang Manor.
“Young Master Fang, am I going to die?”
Li Yanzhu’s eyes were tearful, her hand weakly grasping his collar.
Fang Hanzhou’s originally calm expression softened, “Don’t worry, I’m here for you.”
He set Li Yanzhu down and scrambled out to drive.
He was an outsider, and carrying a princess was improper. If they were to share the carriage…
Even if the princess spitting blood was not his fault, the Emperor could skin him alive.
If it were any other princess, it might be manageable, but this was the most favored Eldest Princess, and he dared not offend her.
Yet, thinking of Li Yanzhu’s pitiful appearance.
Fang Hanzhou couldn’t help but feel some suspicion.
From his interactions with the Eldest Princess, she didn’t seem as overbearing as the rumors suggested. Instead, she was gentle and well-behaved, with a touch of liveliness and spirit.
He drove the carriage, cracking the whip to clear the way.
At the same time, he comforted Li Yanzhu, “Your Highness, please rest assured, I have already sent someone to find a physician. My family has the most comprehensive herbal medicine, and you will surely be alright.”
Outside, there was a flurry of anxious activity. Inside the carriage, however, Li Yanzhu sat up, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and then rinsed her mouth.
She cast a sideways glance at the stunned Xiao Cui.
She put a finger to her lips and “shushed” her, then picked up a grape from the table and ate it.
“You scared me to death!” Xiao Cui said, weeping and complaining.
Li Yanzhu patted her hand reassuringly.
With a “Hiss,” the carriage stopped.
Li Yanzhu immediately swallowed what was in her mouth and feigned weakness, slumping onto the footboard.
Her appearance was precisely that of someone about to die.
Xiao Cui also cooperated, exclaiming, “Princess!”