What an Audacious and Sly Servant! - Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38 – MONEY

The day had just quietly passed when Chu Xun started to fall out with Mei Qian Deng.

Let’s sum it up for him. It was puberty syndrome.

Female warrior Mei obviously had a much mature mind. She treated Chu Xun friendly as always. However, physicians and elderly people always said, boys generally matured later than girls. To be able to live in the imperial family yet grew into Chu Xun’s carefree personality, it was due to the Emperor and Empress’ great protection.

Recently, his biggest, frustrating problem was not the throne, not the court fight too but——this Crown Prince’s first kiss had been stolen away by a same gender person! Plus——this Crown Prince’s personal money is still on the betting table, and is going to lose. What to do?!

Because Mei Qian Deng had contributed in saving the Crown Prince, she was awarded by the Emperor. Now, this young warrior had upsurge of favourable opinion both in jianghu and imperial court, her fame spread all over the land. Because of Mei Qian Deng’s fortune, the Mei family in Mei Zi Zhou Tou[1] might as well said as becoming famous boundlessly. That limelight was practically surpassing the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.

Fame this sort of thing was maybe very important by norm by for female warrior Mei, it wasn’t worth mentioning. She saw the Crown Prince recently kept looking at her without blinking. Adhering to Old Master Mei’s teaching, she need to modestly decline the professional dedication to be amiable with the Crown Prince. This time, Mei Qian Deng took the initiative to really want change the relationship between her and the Crown Prince.

One night, Mei Qian Deng went out of the palace for a round.

First she met up with Mo Nian Yuan. Then, they went to the capital’s largest underground betting house. Inside, it had foul atmosphere.

Mo Nian Yuan, “Young Master, the matter that you asked me, I assure you, don’t worry!” He had been worshipping Mei Qian Deng, after finished becoming planted agent in the Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel, he had been mixing in this betting house. The task Mei Qian Deng gave him was to bet, must bet until not winning yet not losing. The most important part was to collect various gossips.

Mo Nian Yuan familiarly entered. Reaching a corner which copper luogu[2] was hanging with two plates hanging on both side of the luogu. On a plate was a circle and a cross on the other plate. Mo Nian Yuan bare-handed beat the luogu. “Everyone, everyone, I have a thrilling news to tell everyone.”

The masses blinked their eyes in succession. Many of them recognised Mo Nian Yuan’s changed facial appearance.

“I just received news that Nan Bai Cheng had been brought into the Princess Residenceby the Grand Princess!”

The surroundings instantly brightened up. This house between the circle and cross was the only house to open another bet during the beginning of summer, betting whether Nan Bai Cheng and the Grand Princess would pick up the pieces and start anew.

“Think about it, the person had been carried inside. Is there still any excuse they will not be together? If you all don’t believe me, you can personally go to the Princess Residence and ask. Also, Lord Nan didn’t agree to be with the Grand Princess at that time, that is because he have an unmentionable disease and hence didn’t want to hold up the Grand Princess. Only then he married a woman from brothel. Now that the Grand Princess was aware of it, she invited the Divine Physician to treat Nan Bai Cheng. You all are aware of the Grand Princess’ domineering personality too. Of course she will make this marriage happen. It’s already so frank and open, can it still considered as not done?”

The betting house quickly became restless. A short moment later, from restless they turned into a large-scale dispute. Those who choose circle naturally would agree with Mo Nian Yuan’s words. This bet could be ended now. But for those who choose cross, they felt Mo Nian Yuan was spoke without thinking. The condition whether the bet end or not was to see whether they would marry. At the time when they almost started to make great noise, a minor head of the betting finally came out.

“Everyone, calm done.”

He raised his head and placated everyone’s mood.

“Our boss had said, this young brother’s news is not fake. Nan Bai Cheng indeed had been brought into the Grand Princess’ residence to settle down. Their relationship though not open yet it can be considered as silently done. This bet naturally won by the circle team.”

After the masses got silent for a moment, they got agitated again.

“Since everyone have dissatisfaction, why not like this? For this bet, those who choose circle can first take back the money with the 1 to 1.2 winning probability and back out from this bet. Those who doesn’t want to back out from this bet, we will extend the bet by one year, until the next summer. In this one year, if the Grand Princess and Nan Bai Cheng have news of marriage or married, those who bet circle will get two times the capital. If there is still no news, those who bet cross will get two times. What do all betters think of this?”

For a short while, there was no sound from below. Everyone was pondering individually whether to continue betting.

Mo Nian Yuan returned to Mei Qian Deng’s side and exclaimed in admiration, “No wonder this boss is the boss, doing what we planned to do first. Young Master, are you actually acquainted with this betting house’ boss?”

Although Nan Bai Cheng was half forced into entering the Princess Residence, he was still unwilling to have a step of development with the Grand Princess. He had said his reason. His wife had just passed away. If he married again now, even if the details of it were complicated, it was not a man of character should do. Hence, the matter between him and the Grand Princess should be discuss again in the future. He had to mourn for Lady Xue Dan for a year first.

When Chu Xun knew this, he was depressed for half a day but he himself too felt it was not wrong for Nan Bai Cheng to do this.

Originally, Mei Qian Deng brought Mo Nian Yuan here was holding on the decision to help Chu Xun win this bet and used this as a pretext to reconcile. Even though he couldn’t be consider as winning, the capital wouldn’t be loss here. That much money, she was more distressed by it than Chu Xun. She had thought of numerous means and excuses but she never thought the boss of the betting house would help them.

Mei Qian Deng frowned. Naturally, she didn’t know the person behind this.

However, to say the boss had the same thought as them, wasn’t it too much of a coincidence?”

Just as she couldn’t understand it, a hand attacked from Mei Qian Deng’s back. Mei Qian Deng had an agile bearing, in a blink she rushed a step forward and turned around her body to form a guarding posture. Behind her was an empty door, a place where enemy would have best loophole to exploit. Who the hell so sinister, and even so soundless.

Then, Mei Qian Deng saw a familiar face.

She pondered for a moment and said, “Young Master Zhao?” It was exactly during this year her father’s fifty years old birthday banquet, the fraternal twin elder brother who followed the Martial Arts Alliance Leader Zhao, Zhao Mo Ran. Later when she came across the assassins on the way to the capital city, he had even helped her.

Zhao Mo Ran tonight wore a white clothes like an immortal. This young man was brilliant and handsome, his smile was pleasantly warm like the spring breeze. He cupped his hand before his chest and greeted, “I never thought I will be able to meet Seventh Mei in this place.”

“Young Master Zhao, I trust you have been well since we last met.” Mei Qian Deng had an estranged face. After returning a greeting, she wanted to pull Mo Nian Yuan to leave, unwilling to converse further with Zhao Mo Ran.

Zhao Mo Ran seemed to be unwilling to let Mei Qian Deng leave. He shifted his feet slightly and blocked Mei Qian Deng. “When two people meet by chance, they do something together without planning. Why don’t we go and find a place to drink a cup? I really want to hear your recent ups and downs of life. Accompanying His Highness Crown Prince in the palace, it must be lots of fun.”

Mei Qian Deng frowned again. Are the two of us this close?

“Another day then. His Highness Crown Prince is still waiting for me to return and serve him.”

Zhao Mo Ran smiled in respond to Mei Qian Deng’s attitude. He completely generous and good-natured said, “Fine then. For this period of time, I will be in the capital city. If you have free time, come to the Xiang Xie Li She[3] to find me.” Xiang Xie Li She was the most expensive and most luxurious inn in the capital city. Alliance Leader’s young master was really an extravagant.

Mei Qian Deng symbolically nodded her head. Then, without turning her head around she left.

Zhao Mo Ran’s smile didn’t falter. He shook his head and silently thought: With Young Miss Mei’s temperament, seems like later she will forget his matter. If he waited her to come to Xiang Xie Li She, he reckoned he would need to wait until the year of monkey and month of horse[4]. But Zhao Mo Ran felt Mei Qian Deng was a very, very interesting young miss. He couldn’t stop himself from wishing to go and see her daily life in the palace. He also wanted to see her appearance after the snow and ice had melted (A pipe dream!).

[1] Author must be fooling with me or my Chinese failed me. Previously called as Mei Zhou Tou.

[2]

An ancient Chinese musical instrument
[3] Literally, Fragrant Pavilion Beautiful House. (I did some searching and guess what, it’s also a street name, Champs-Élysées in Paris, France.)

[4] Time that will never come (This is not a valid year/month in the Chinese calendar)