Chapter 120: Secretly Born Joy
The sudden rain drummed down, dense and heavy.
The eaves of Prince Duan’s Mansion flickered in and out of sight through the curtain of rain, and the blue tiles rang with a sound like shattered jade as raindrops struck them.
As Li Huan entered, cloaked by the night rain, Xue Sui was slowly adding Qing Dai Sand to the tea soup.
Blue smoke rose from the celadon cup, and the faint scent of snow pine meandered through the room.
The aroma… was rich and pungent.
Xue Sui looked at Li Huan’s stern expression, raised her eyes, smiled, and calmly stood up.
“Why has Your Highness come? Jinshu, His Highness is here, why didn’t you announce him?”
Jinshu followed behind Li Huan, lowering her head and eyes, remaining silent.
Li Huan said, “It was I who told them not to announce me.”
Xue Sui smiled slightly, walked around the desk, gracefully stepped forward, and performed a polite bow.
Li Huan’s gaze swept across the desk, “Ping An has quite the hobby, brewing tea and admiring paintings at night.”
Xue Sui looked back; a painting of a court lady was placed on the desk.
The woman in the painting had wide sleeves billowing in the wind, her brushstrokes were fluid, and her spirit was excellent, though there were some unusual creases on the Xuan paper.
Her smile was faint, “I was idle, so I found an ancient painting to copy. Your Highness must forgive my presumption…”
The jade bracelet on her wrist swayed lightly, as if shimmering with a soft glow, making her skin appear as white as snow.
Li Huan’s fingertips brushed over the painted woman’s cloud-like hair, and his fingertip became stained with ink.
He raised his finger and looked at it, “Studying calligraphy and painting helps to cultivate one’s temperament and is very beneficial for your recovery.”
Xue Sui: “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern.”
Li Huan’s gaze suddenly swept to the windowsill, observing the barely perceptible water stains left by the pigeons’ feet.
“There were assassins who broke into the inner courtyard just now. Was Ping An startled?”
Xue Sui reached out to hold down the corner of the painting, which was being ruffled by the wind, her eyelashes trembling slightly, “I heard someone shouting just now, so I was curious and went to take a look. I stepped in a room full of rainwater, but I didn’t see anyone…”
Before she finished speaking, Li Huan suddenly leaned in close, the scent of ambergris mixed with the crispness of the rain mist hitting her face.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
Xue Sui’s fingernails dug slightly into her palm, but her face maintained a faint smile.
“The Prince’s Mansion is heavily guarded, with many guards on duty. I did not feel afraid…”
Li Huan smiled slightly, “You are quite composed.”
After speaking, he looked at her deeply again, straightened up, and said indifferently, “Recently, there have been many Xizi scouts disguised as merchants from the Western regions, infiltrating Shangjing with ill intentions. Ping An must be extra careful.”
Xue Sui chuckled softly.
“I am just a woman confined to the inner chambers, who would go to such lengths to harm me?”
Li Huan also smiled and turned, his fingers once again stroking the still-wet ink painting of the court lady, as if playing with it or trying to discover something, his faint voice carrying a hint of inquiry.
“Ping An left the Xue Mansion at a young age and wandered outside. I never expected that such a talented woman could be nurtured in a place as desolate and secluded as the Old Mausoleum Swamp.”
“What a pity! Even a place like the Old Mausoleum Swamp could nurture such a talented woman.”
Xue Sui respectfully curtsied, “Your Highness is too kind. I am merely imitating what I see, copying old works is hardly a profound skill…”
Li Huan’s gaze shifted, looking at the tea stove shrouded in mist.
“This tea is very fragrant. I could smell it from afar. What is its name?”
“Replying to Your Highness, it is Snow Mountain Cloud Mist.”
Li Huan hummed softly and sat down, “Good tea is rare. Why not let me also partake?”
Xue Sui smiled without changing her expression, “I was startled just now and accidentally knocked over the ink, inadvertently spoiling the tea. I dare not offer it for Your Highness to taste.”
Li Huan smiled, “Then I shall come again another time to drink it together.”
He paused, then said gently, “It is getting late. Ping An should rest early.”
Xue Sui curtsied slightly, smiling gently, “Your Highness, travel safely.”
As soon as Li Huan left.
Xue Sui let out a long sigh of relief.
If Li Zhao kept barging into her room so recklessly, she would be exhausted to death.
After Jinshu confirmed that no one was around and closed the room door, she quickly walked over, abruptly lifted the intricately carved trunk, moved aside the neatly stacked women’s clothes on top, and lowered her voice.
“Your Highness, please leave quickly.”
Li Zhao, holding the various silk skirts with their faint, delicate scent of women, unhurriedly placed them back, leisurely stepped out of the trunk, his eyes smiling, appearing calm and composed.
“I am not leaving tonight.”
A sudden thunderclap outside the window split the air, illuminating Xue Sui’s rapidly constricting pupils with absolute clarity.
“How can this be!”
She blurted out, her urgency like that of a small beast whose territory had been invaded.
In the quiet space, an ambiguous sentiment grew unrestrainedly…
Li Zhao let out a low laugh, his fingertips tracing her taut shoulder line.
“Staying here doesn’t mean I intend to share a bed with Ping An…”
Seeing her eyebrows furrowed as if she wanted to kill him, the smile in Li Zhao’s eyes deepened.
“Do you think Li Huan is that easy to fool? Since he’s become suspicious, there must be eyes and ears set up outside. With so many eyes watching, wouldn’t I be walking into a trap if I left now?”
Xue Sui snorted.
“If Your Highness has the ability to sneak in past the guards, do you not have the ability to sneak out past them?”
Li Zhao smiled enigmatically.
“Let’s wait until the fourth watch. When the guards are lax, there should be an opportunity.”
He sprawled onto the soft, comfortable armchair.
“I am tired. I will rest for a while. Ping An, please do as you please, you don’t need to mind me.”
With that, he truly made himself at home, closed his eyes, clasped his hands over his abdomen, his posture lazy and relaxed, as if completely unguarded against his surroundings, more at ease than in the Eastern Palace.
Xue Sui pulled over a brocade quilt and threw it forcefully at him, but he grabbed her wrist.
His tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, looking at her with a half-smile.
His body heat seeped through her thin robe. Outside the window, a mournful cry of a night owl suddenly pierced the rain-soaked night—
Between the two of them, there was a fragile stillness, as if it could be broken at any moment.
Xue Sui forcefully pulled her wrist back, and Li Zhao did not pursue.
“Sleep.”
His voice, hoarse and low, seemed to carry wisps of lingering affection.
With him there, how could she undress and sleep?
Xue Sui sat helplessly on the edge of the bed, extinguished the lamp, and lowered the bed curtains. Her pretty face was hidden in the darkness, her thoughts in turmoil.
–
At the Hongfu Gambling House.
Fan Bing’s roar cut through the noisy crowd.
“Another three thousand taels on the bet!”
“Master Fan, you have no more silver on your table.”
Fan Bing’s robe was stained with wine. He casually brushed it off and shouted back loudly.
“Attendant, bring me some silver…”
The attendant came over, bowed with a troubled expression, and told him, “Master Fan, you haven’t repaid what you borrowed before. This… I cannot make the decision.”
“I am the Imperial Son-in-law, are you afraid I won’t pay my debts?”
Fan Bing slammed his waistband next to the dice cup and yelled indignantly at the attendant.
“Go, call your manager over.”
The attendant meekly went away and soon returned, bowing respectfully and saying, “Brother Fan, our Manager Chen is currently busy. Please go to the accounting office on the second floor to speak.”
Fan Bing snorted and looked back proudly at his gambling companions.
“Wait! I’ll get the money and continue playing. Don’t leave, all of you, don’t leave…”
He swaggered upstairs with the attendant.
As soon as they entered, the door closed.
Two tall men, who looked like attendants, stood on either side like door gods, their expressions stern.
Fan Bing, accustomed to seeing thugs in gambling houses, raised his eyebrows dismissively and looked at the middle-aged man with a thick goatee sitting at the square table, speaking arrogantly.
“Manager, you don’t need to go through so much trouble. Just lend me another three thousand taels, and I’ll sign an IOU immediately.”
Manager Chen said nothing, calmly taking out a stack of IOUs from the drawer.
One by one, he slowly laid them on the desk.
With each one he placed, Fan Bing’s expression grew more displeased.
There were more than a dozen IOUs from this Imperial Son-in-law.
Manager Chen slowly unfolded an IOU, the sound of parchment rubbing together particularly grating.
“Imperial Son-in-law, please repay these debts first. Our establishment is in business to make money through harmony, not to be a charity. Your noble status does not mean you can treat us this way.”
“You know my status is noble, yet you dare to make things difficult for me?”
Fan Bing, enraged, slammed the desk and pointed at Manager Chen, about to erupt.
“Hurry up and lend me the money, they’re waiting for me downstairs…”
A dagger was pressed against his throat.
The guard said nothing, not appearing menacing, but his eyes held a chilling coldness.
He was clearly the type of ruthless individual who could stab someone without batting an eye…
Fan Bing’s face turned deathly pale, and he raised his hands, bowing repeatedly.
“No, no, no, I’ll pay, I’ll definitely pay. Don’t worry, I have plenty of money, I can repay you, I will repay you…”
Manager Chen stood up and walked over to take the dagger from the guard.
Another waiter brought over a tray, on which were neatly stacked banknotes and some loose silver.
“Here are three thousand taels. Added to what Master Fan previously borrowed, the total is one hundred and eleven thousand eight hundred taels. The remaining three hundred taels will be waived as a bonus for Master Fan.”
With that, Shopkeeper Chen flicked the edge of the dagger with his finger, “The deadline is three days. If Master Fan cannot return the full amount to our establishment, do not blame us for acting according to the rules and showing no mercy to the Imperial Son-in-law.”
Cold sweat beaded on Fan Bing’s forehead, and he forced a smile.
“Yes, yes, I will, I definitely will.”
A figure emerged from a hidden door.
The crane-beak copper lamp of the Hongfu Gambling House cast a silhouette that made the person appear tall and distinguished.
It was Yaoguang.
Immediately after, a woman wearing a veiled hat emerged from the hidden door. The hem of her hibiscus-colored skirt brushed past the screen, her figure graceful.
She gave Yaoguang a gentle smile and placed several banknotes on the table.
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
Yaoguang took back the banknotes and handed them back to her.
“What is this for? Usually, I just accept it, but this time you’ve made our establishment a large profit. I should give you some of the bonus…”
Manager Chen also bowed in agreement, echoing, “That Imperial Son-in-law named Fan is as stupid as a pig and addicted to gambling. He gambles until he’s ruined but refuses to stop. Now he’s in massive debt, and I don’t know where he’ll find these one hundred and eleven thousand taels…”
Yaoguang looked at the woman and smiled.
“Thieves have their rules, and robbers have their ways. Officials have their paths. We don’t need to worry about it; we just need to wait to collect the money.”
The woman gently touched the veil of her veiled hat and also revealed a meaningful smile.
“Sect Master speaks wisely.”
Li Zhao: If I said I slept with Ping An, would you believe me?
Xue Sui: …
Xiao Zhao: Give me s!!!!
