Hearing the innkeeper’s words, Zhuyan deliberately feigned disgust, “We’re people of taste. We have no interest in those vulgar powders and rouges.”
“Haha…” The innkeeper laughed apologetically, “My lord misunderstands. I’m not referring to that kind, but this kind.”
With that, the innkeeper skillfully picked up a bowl on the table and shook it back and forth a few times.
His movements were practiced, and everyone understood it was the motion for shaking dice.
The three men’s expressions changed in different ways. Zhuyan straightened her chest and gave the innkeeper a meaningful look, “We may have money, but we’re not interested in such small-scale business. Does the innkeeper have any better recommendations?”
“Of course. No matter how high the stakes my lords wish to play, we have people ready to accommodate. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
Hearing this, Zhuyan looked at the two men before her with satisfaction.
Neither spoke, leaving Zhuyan to continue spinning the tale alone.
“Very well,” Zhuyan drained the last sip of tea from her cup and stood up, assuming the air of a dashing young gentleman as she followed the innkeeper to the back hall.
The path twisted and turned, and Shen Du and the others were surprised to find such an expansive setup hidden within this small teahouse.
The three followed the innkeeper to a courtyard. Sun Tan, standing guard at the entrance, recognized them at a glance but pretended not to know them, blocking their way.
“These faces are unfamiliar. How can you bring them to such a place so casually?”
The innkeeper replied with a meaningful smile, “These lords are bored and wish to play for high stakes. Just take them inside.”
Sun Tan made a show of sizing them up before nodding slightly, “Alright, I understand. You may go.”
As the innkeeper turned to leave, Sun Tan secretly winked at Zhuyan.
The main gate opened, and the group followed Sun Tan into the courtyard. Before they even reached the door, they could hear the shouts coming from inside the building.
Emotions ran high, with both laughter and tears. Winners had lost all sense of direction, while those who had gambled away their fortunes could only wail in despair.
Seeing this scene, Zhuyan began to worry about Pan Chi’s skills.
Though neither Pan Chi nor Shen Du lacked money, their purpose here wasn’t to throw cash around, but to disrupt the establishment. Looking at these gamblers who had lost all sense of their heritage, did they have the confidence to win?
Before they could consider further, Sun Tan had already led them to a gambling table. After whispering a few words in the ear of the man in charge of shaking the dice, he stood aside.
Seeing unfamiliar faces, some young masters playing at nearby tables gathered around curiously.
Shen Du and Pan Chi, in a rare moment of tacit understanding, shielded Zhuyan between them to prevent others from crowding her.
Looking at the dice on the table, Pan Chi’s face was full of confidence. “So, how big are we playing today?”
Shen Du’s stiff face managed a faint smile as he looked at Zhuyan, “Let’s defer to Er Ge’s decision.”
The term “Er Ge” almost made Zhuyan laugh out loud. Suppressing her inner amusement, she said righteously, “I’m not too familiar with this. You!” She pointed at Pan Chi, issuing a command, “You gamble a few rounds first. If you win, it’s yours. If you lose, it’s on me.”
Seeing Zhuyan’s generosity, the man shaking the dice also curved his lips into a meaningful smile.
“Very well, I’ll respectfully comply,” Pan Chi didn’t hesitate at all. “One hundred taels on big.”
At this loud declaration, Zhuyan quickly gestured for Shen Du to pay up. Shen Du was full of displeasure, but since his woman had already made the boast, he had no choice but to bear this burden.
He took out a one-hundred-tael note from his pocket and tossed it onto the “big” character. As the dice began to shake, Shen Du’s sharp ears caught a faint clicking sound from beneath the table.
Sure enough, there was a problem!
Shen Du’s heart sank. This must be the gambling den’s usual tactic, cheating to trap wealthy young masters. They’d let them taste victory occasionally to lure them in completely until they lost everything.
The dice cup opened, and Pan Chi had indeed lost. He stared at the three dice in disbelief, utterly unconvinced. “Again, five hundred taels!”
Shen Du nearly coughed blood. It seemed losing someone else’s money made Pan Chi especially generous.
Zhuyan’s expression also turned ugly. She glanced at Shen Du, who calmly tossed a five-hundred-tael note to him.
Before Zhuyan could reach for it, Pan Chi had already grabbed the note. “I was careless last time. This time, you shake first, and I’ll place my bet after you’ve shaken.”
The man shaking the dice nodded with a smile, “As my lord wishes.”
He began shaking again, moving the cup a few times before setting it on the table. Pan Chi, having heard the points clearly, placed the five-hundred-tael note on “small.”
As Shen Du had anticipated, another click was heard, and Pan Chi lost again.
The onlookers let out a collective sigh, and even Zhuyan’s face turned pale. If this continued, they’d truly be losing more than they bargained for!
Moreover, all this money was coming from Shen Du, and she had no right to dispose of it.
“Liu Qingming,” Zhuyan quickly grabbed Pan Chi, blurting out his alias. “Your luck isn’t good today. Let Sun Daniu try.”
Pan Chi’s facial muscles twitched, but he couldn’t find a reason to refuse. After all, they were here on a mission. Despite his frustration, he maintained his composure.
Sighing with resignation, Pan Chi’s whole demeanor became dejected. “It’s my fault, Liu Qingming’s luck is poor. Let Daniu take over.”
As Shen Du stepped up, he felt uncertain. He had never dabbled in gambling before, and if he lost, there would truly be no way to salvage the situation.
Shen Du gave Pan Chi a meaningful look. Pan Chi sensed something was amiss. “Daniu, you keep Er Ge company here for a while. I need to use the privy.”
With that, Pan Chi left the scene. Many thought he had gambled until he needed to relieve himself, leading to a round of mockery.
Shen Du stood stiffly, unsure how to handle the upcoming situation. Zhuyan pulled him to the front, seating him in her previous position.
Leaning close to his ear, she said, “If we keep losing, we’ll have to leave here naked.”
Zhuyan hadn’t realized that the gambling here was a trap, still thinking Pan Chi’s losses were due to poor gambling skills.
“Don’t worry, I’ll win back what we’ve lost,” Shen Du said calmly, raising his eyes to see that Pan Chi had silently hidden himself in the rafters above.
Pan Chi had also noticed the line beneath the feet of the man shaking the dice. His eyes narrowed, and a small stone appeared in his hand as if by magic.
Did they dare to trick him? They must not know who they were dealing with.
The thin line beneath connected to a pedal, is likely the key to adjusting the dice outcomes.
Pan Chi’s lips curved into a mysterious smile as he returned to the crowd, standing beside Shen Du. “I’m back already, and you haven’t even started.”
As he spoke, Pan Chi patted Shen Du’s shoulder.
Shen Du understood and said to the man shaking the dice, “Our Er Ge disdains such small business. Why don’t we play for higher stakes?”
“How high would my lords like to play?” the man asked.