Chapter Sixty-Two: Storms at the Gambling House

Bringing along a large contingent of imperial guards was bound to draw attention wherever they went, but Ling Zetian was concerned that whoever had captured Anuo might belong to some underworld organization with political motives. He thought it safer to have more people with him. However, since Ling Zexin intended to go to the Fragrant Pavilion to inquire about the identity of the bearded man, bringing so many soldiers into the city would only alarm the populace. After some thought, Ling Zetian decided to have Weilin and Yufan remain outside the city with the guards, while he, Ling Zexin, and the others entered to search for clues.

Once inside the city, Ling Zexin led them straight to the Fragrant Pavilion without another word.

Feng Qiuji eyed the gilded signboard and the courtesans at the door, waving silk handkerchiefs and fans to attract customers. She tugged at Ling Zexin’s sleeve and whispered, "Isn’t this a brothel? Why have you brought us here?"

Ling Zetian’s expression darkened at her words. Although Ling Zexin’s debauchery was infamous in the capital, Ling Zetian himself had rarely set foot in such establishments.

“Nonsense! You’re talking rubbish!” Ling Zexin shot Feng Qiuji a glare, noting Ling Zetian’s displeasure. After all, it was his own negligence that had allowed Anuo to slip away, and he was anxious about being scolded. “I’m here looking for clues.”

“Oh—” Feng Qiuji drawled deliberately, “And what clues can you possibly find here?”

“I ran into that bearded man here last time.”

“Oh— So your reputation as a rake isn’t undeserved, coming to brothels every day,” Feng Qiuji said with open disdain, thinking it was a real pity such a handsome face was wasted. She also couldn’t help but wonder if Ling Zexin was perhaps a two-second man.

“That’s not true at all! Last time, didn’t Sakura Blossom come here too?” he retorted, glaring at her, having completely forgotten that Ying Xuanyu was right behind him.

“What did you say? Sakura came to this brothel?” Ying Xuanyu seized him by the arm, his face clouded with anger. He knew Sakura Blossom was fond of amusement, but he had warned her not to set foot in brothels or gambling dens. He hadn’t expected her to disobey.

“Yes, I was just about to tell you—”

“That’s enough,” Ling Zetian finally intervened, unable to watch any longer. Any further, and they’d end up quarreling at the door. His tone was stern: “Finding Anuo takes precedence. All other matters can wait.”

At the sight of his brother’s icy expression, Ling Zexin fell silent at once. He entered the Fragrant Pavilion and immediately summoned the proprietress.

“Oh my, isn’t this Prince Xin? What wind blows Your Highness our way today?” The madam caught Ling Zexin’s hand with extravagant warmth. “These three gentlemen must be your friends. Come, let me show you upstairs.”

“That’s enough,” Ling Zexin quickly shook her off, glancing at Ling Zetian, who was watching from the side. He turned to the proprietress. “Madam Hong, I have something important to ask you today. If you don’t answer truthfully, you can forget about running this place any longer.”

“Your Highness, what are you saying? If you have questions, I’ll answer them all.”

“Very well. Let me ask you— On the day of the Fragrant Pavilion’s auction, a bearded guest came by. Do you remember him?”

“A bearded man?” The madam paused, then clapped her hands. “Oh, so that’s who you mean—Li Fei!”

For some reason, at her words, images of Zhang Fei and Li Kui flashed through Feng Qiuji’s mind.

“Li Fei?” Ling Zexin’s spirits lifted at the mention of a name. “Then tell me everything you know about him.”

“Well…” The madam hesitated. “He’s a customer, after all. To tell Your Highness everything…”

Ling Zexin saw through her at once, reached into his robe, and drew out a handful of silver notes. “If you tell me, all this is yours.”

At the sight of so much money, the madam beamed so broadly her face blossomed like a flower. “Your Highness is too generous! That bearded fellow lives in a town a few dozen miles away, but he’s often in the city. He knows some martial arts, so he sometimes collects debts for others. He’s a regular here, spends freely, and many of the girls are quite fond of him.”

“Do you know where he’s staying?”

“That, I really don’t know.”

“Then do you know where we might find him?”

“He often wanders the main streets, and frequents gambling dens and brothels. Why not try looking for him at a gambling house?”

Once she finished, Ling Zexin tucked the silver notes back into his robe without a word and strode off, leaving the madam stamping her feet in frustration behind him.

“All right, let’s head to the gambling house,” Ling Zexin said. He was intimately familiar with every entertainment venue in the capital, so without hesitation, he led the group toward the gambling house.

The gambling house was not far from the Fragrant Pavilion, so after just a few steps, Feng Qiuji and the others could already hear the lively shouts and clamoring from within. “Place your bets! No more bets—”

Feng Qiuji glanced at Ling Zetian, who looked even more displeased, then at Ling Zexin, who seemed nervous and uneasy—which was understandable. Anyone would feel guilty being caught by their older brother frequenting such establishments.

The four entered. Feng Qiuji found the scene just like those she’d seen in dramas—crowds of people, table after table, all eyes glued anxiously to the dice, waiting for the outcome.

They split up and wove through the throng, searching for Li Fei, whose most obvious feature was his beard. Feng Qiuji scrutinized one face after another, scanning the crowd.

“All right, the results are in—four, five, six…”

“Wow, three sixes! The house takes all—raise the stakes, place your bets…”

The house takes all? Feng Qiuji found herself intrigued. She’d never gambled, but had seen it in movies, and her hands itched to try. Who knew when she’d have another chance? She pushed through the crowd to the betting table.

“Come, sir, place your bet,” the dealer called, eager to welcome a new player.

Feng Qiuji reached into her robe for a silver note, only to find her pockets empty—she was already penniless. Glancing around, she spotted Ling Zexin and called him over.

Ling Zexin, seeing the scene, eagerly rolled up his sleeves to join in. He placed a silver note on the table. “Big.”

Once the bets were placed, the dealer shook the dice, and Feng Qiuji, like the others, watched intently.

“It’s open—three, five, six. Big.”

“Sir, you have good luck. Would you like to raise your bet?”

“Of course!” Winning the first round, Feng Qiuji was exhilarated and egged Ling Zexin on. “Let’s go again, one more round!”

By now, the two of them were having the time of their lives.

“Big,” Ling Zexin declared, all the more smug for his win, and drew out another silver note.

“You’ll lose if you bet big this round,” a voice suddenly came from beside Feng Qiuji. Someone placed a silver note on the table. “I bet small.”

“One, two, two—small.” Sure enough, when the dealer revealed the dice, it was small. Feng Qiuji looked up in surprise at the man beside her—this guy was uncanny.

She nearly jumped—standing next to her was a bearded man!

This was truly a case of searching high and low only to find what you seek by chance. Excited, Feng Qiuji tugged at Ling Zexin’s sleeve.

“What?” Ling Zexin was busy placing bets, annoyed by her interruption.

“Look beside me,” Feng Qiuji whispered in his ear.

Ling Zexin turned—and was taken aback. It was Li Fei, just like that! He signaled Feng Qiuji to go fetch Ling Zetian and Ying Xuanyu while he kept an eye on Li Fei.

Feng Qiuji nodded and quietly slipped away to find Ling Zetian.

“Place your bets, the more you bet, the more you win…” the dealer encouraged.

Ling Zexin put down another silver note. “Big.”

“One, two, three—small.”

While gambling, Ling Zexin kept a close eye on Li Fei, who seemed about to leave. Thinking quickly, Ling Zexin grabbed his sleeve. “Thief! Hold it right there!”

The table fell silent. All eyes turned to Li Fei and Ling Zexin.

“What did you say?” Li Fei, seeing the crowd’s attention, grabbed Ling Zexin by the collar. “Kid, you’d better watch your mouth.”

“Hmph, you stole my silver note and expect me to stay silent?” Ling Zexin retorted, turning a pitiful gaze to the others for help.

“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kill you,” Li Fei snarled, his patience fraying as people began to mutter about him. He clenched his fist, ready to strike.

“Help! Someone save me!” Ling Zexin called out half-heartedly—the real aim was to delay Li Fei. “There’s trouble! He’s going to hit me…”

“So it’s you, brat. Last time you spoiled my fun, today I’ll settle both old and new scores.” Li Fei recognized Ling Zexin as the one from the brothel brawl, and knowing he wasn’t skilled in martial arts, grew even bolder.

“Fine! Who’s afraid of you?” Ling Zexin shot him a glare. He was ready for a reckoning—old scores and new.

The gambling house burst into excited chaos. Instead of fleeing, the gamblers whooped and whistled at the prospect of a fight.

“Who do you think will win?” a bystander asked.

“Definitely the bearded fellow. He’s built like a bear. That lad is done for, causing trouble here,” another replied matter-of-factly.

“I wouldn’t be so sure. The young one looks like he’s trained.”

“Wanna bet who wins?”

“Sure, twenty taels,” said the first, calling out, “Place your bets, everyone! Who will win the fight?”

“I’ll put ten taels on it…”

“I’ll put thirty…”

—End of aside—

The plot continues as normal~