Volume 1, Chapter 20: Betting on My Own Survival

"Princess Consort, the Second Young Master Yue has sent some gifts for you." Sang Lin entered just as Jiumu and Luo Chen were having breakfast.

"Which Second Young Master Yue?" Jiumu looked at him, full of confusion.

Sang Lin felt helpless; the Princess Consort’s memory was truly too poor—hadn't he mentioned this to her just yesterday? "The one I told you about yesterday, the Prince's cousin. He said it was an apology for his behavior, and that he would pay a formal visit another day."

It was a coincidence, really. The robe Jiumu had worn yesterday belonged to Luo Chen, a garment specially commissioned by the Old Madam of the Yue family. The Second Young Master Yue happened to be at the Star-Gazing Pavilion and recognized it immediately. Curious about who Jiumu was, he had ordered someone to follow her, only for her to discover them.

"There's no need for an apology; it was just a misunderstanding," Jiumu said, not taking it to heart at all.

Sang Lin urged, "I believe it would be best if you accepted, or the Second Young Master will not feel at ease."

"Why?" Jiumu wondered. She had already said she didn't mind, so why would he feel uneasy?

Sang Lin glanced at Luo Chen and said mysteriously, "The Second Young Master is afraid of our Prince."

Jiumu nodded, though she didn't fully understand and had no intention of digging deeper. After all, she didn't even know this Second Young Master Yue. "Don't let him take his medicine just yet; we are going out for a while."

"We?" Sang Lin looked at Luo Chen, who was sitting quietly and eating his breakfast. If he left, who would serve the Prince? It was strange—ever since that day, for reasons unknown, the Prince had started eating his meals on his own, no longer needing anyone to serve him. Sang Lin had observed that the Prince’s appetite had grown significantly; he was now eating a full bowl more than before.

"He is coming too. Help him change into a handsome outfit later." Although Luo Chen was naturally good-looking, a little dressing up would make him look even better.

Sang Lin’s eyes widened. He stood stunned for a moment before exclaiming in shock, "The Prince is willing to go out?" His master rarely left the house, especially when he was ill, as he disliked being seen in such a frail state.

"Why wouldn't he be? He doesn't have to walk himself," Jiumu said, appearing much calmer. She took a bun, handed one to Luo Chen, and took another for herself.

"But, but..." Sang Lin found himself unable to argue.

"That's enough. I will discuss it with him." Jiumu hadn't intended to keep anything from Luo Chen anyway. She was someone who disliked it when others acted on her behalf, so she would naturally not do the same to him.

After breakfast, she spoke to Luo Chen about it. As expected, he refused immediately, his expression darkening.

Jiumu took his hand and wrote: *Why are you unwilling to go out? Are you afraid of facing those gazes and criticisms? It is precisely because you hide away that people on the outside think you are dying, and feel free to use your life and death to open gambling rings.*

"I do not care," Luo Chen said coldly.

Jiumu wrote: *If you truly do not care, then appear before them with confidence. Tell them you will not die, and that you will outlive them all.*

Seeing him fall silent, Jiumu continued to write: *If you do not speak, I will take your silence as consent.* She knew it was difficult for Luo Chen to take this step on his own, so as a master of poisons and medicine, she would see the good deed through to the end and give him a push.

The carriage stopped outside the Star-Gazing Pavilion. Sang Lin looked back at the quiet carriage and reminded them nervously, "Princess Consort, we have arrived."

"Very well, I know." Jiumu’s tone was normal, though she didn't miss the moment of hesitation Luo Chen displayed when the carriage stopped.

Sang Lin led the guards to the back of the carriage, lifted down the wheelchair, and set up the steps. Jiumu took Luo Chen’s hand, supported his arm, and reminded him it was time to get off. Since he had chosen to come, there was no turning back.

"Let's go." Luo Chen seemed to have made up his mind and used Jiumu’s strength to stand up.

Watching Luo Chen slowly emerge from the carriage and struggle into his wheelchair, Sang Lin felt his eyes grow moist.

Jiumu straightened Luo Chen’s clothes and prompted, "What are you dazing off for? Let's go in."

"Oh, right." Sang Lin finally snapped out of it and pushed Luo Chen into the Star-Gazing Pavilion.

As soon as their carriage had stopped, people had recognized it as belonging to the Marquis of Cheng'en’s estate. They stopped to watch, curious about who was inside. After all, with the gambling ring set up just yesterday, the appearance of the Marquis's family today surely meant something significant.

Jiumu looked at the stunned waiter and teased, "What, are we not welcome?"

"How could that be? Distinguished guests, please, come in." The waiter immediately put on a smile and greeted them warmly.

Jiumu didn't care at all about the surrounding gazes and randomly chose a table to sit at.

The proprietor arrived quickly. Recognizing Sang Lin, he immediately guessed Luo Chen’s identity. "Welcome, Your Highness."

"This is my Princess Consort," Sang Lin said, immediately introducing Jiumu since Luo Chen could not hear.

"Greetings, Princess Consort," the proprietor said quickly. He took one look at Jiumu and averted his gaze, feeling she looked familiar but unable to place where he had seen her.

Jiumu said with a faint smile, "Proprietor, I heard that you opened a gambling ring regarding my husband yesterday. We are here precisely for that matter."

The proprietor’s expression stiffened, then he nodded. "That is indeed true."

The surrounding guests pricked up their ears, listening closely to see what would be said; some even stood up.

Jiumu took Luo Chen’s hand with apparent affection. "I wonder, is it still possible to place a bet today?"

"Naturally, it is," the proprietor replied.

"Since this gambling ring was opened specifically for me, it wouldn't be right if I didn't participate. I bet one hundred thousand taels that I will live," Luo Chen, who had been silent since entering, said calmly.

His voice was elegant and clear, his pace neither hurried nor slow. In the otherwise noisy restaurant, his words reached everyone’s ears.

"In that case, I will also bet one hundred thousand taels that my husband will live," Jiumu added.

Only last night had Jiumu realized just how wealthy Luo Chen truly was. He had had Sang Lin bring her a mountain of account books, silver notes, land deeds, and property titles. She had originally thought the Marquis’s estate accounts were managed by the Marchioness and that Luo Chen’s expenses were drawn monthly, but that was not the case at all. Luo Chen had long stopped using the estate's money; he ran many businesses of his own and was, in every sense, a hidden tycoon.

"Very well, I understand." Sang Lin quickly took out two hundred thousand taels in silver notes and handed them to the proprietor. "Please count it, proprietor."

The proprietor took the notes with both hands and carefully counted them. "Reporting to the Prince and Princess Consort, it is exactly two hundred thousand taels."

The people around them looked at each other. This couple had thrown away a fortune today. If this wasn't just a fit of pique, did it mean the Prince was truly fine? If so, perhaps they should consider placing a bet themselves.