si-mexico Chapter 44 Saving Brother at the Gambling Den
Chapter 44 Saving Brother at the Gambling Den
"What's wrong? Why are you panting?"
Early in the morning, Jiang Zhi saw Wu Shi rushing into the house from outside in a hurry.
At noon, he said in a panic, "Young Master, Young Master, something terrible has happened."
"He gambled with Zhou Tongli, the young master of the Zhou family, and lost all his money. The young master said that if he could not pay back the money today, he would cut off one of his hands."
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "You've come at the perfect time."
Just in time?
I was somewhat surprised at noon.
"Go prepare a thousand taels of gold, and we'll go have some fun."
Wu Shi didn't understand, but he obeyed Jiang Zhi's orders and obediently went to prepare a thousand gold coins.
Jiang Zhi called Shu Yao and, along with Wu Shi, boarded a carriage and headed towards Linlangfang.
In the secluded pavilion outside the Liang Prince's Mansion, Chunming, having seen the carriage leave, immediately returned to the Marquis's residence.
"Madam, Miss has already left today."
"I've had people inquire these past few days, and they say that His Highness Prince Liang will also be at Linlangfang today."
As she lay on the soft couch, Madam Liu slowly rose, put down the bird's nest in her hand, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.
"I don't believe His Highness the Prince of Liang would break the rules."
A hint of worry flashed in her eyes. "It's time to discuss the marriage between the two of them with the Marquis of Guangde's family."
"Madam, the heir of the Marquis of Guangde was the top scholar in the previous imperial examination. He is now a rare young talent in the court, and His Majesty values him highly."
“Back then, this marriage was indeed arranged by Nianqiu,” Madam Liu added.
"What you say is true, but if we don't rob, how will we get it?"
Chunming glanced at Liu Shi, her lips curving upwards into a strange smile.
Madam Liu said, "Lu Nianqiu is not worthy of such a good marriage."
Jiang Zhi's carriage arrived at the gambling den, but Jiang Zhi was not in a hurry at all.
The exterior of Linlangfang is a pavilion with an open space in the middle, and the gambling den is located in the lobby on the first floor.
When Jiang Zhi entered, he saw a chaotic scene at the gambling den.
The dice flew everywhere, and traces of blood could still be faintly seen on the ground.
In the crowd, a group of neatly dressed guards tightly surrounded a young man.
A slightly rough voice reached Jiang Zhi's ears.
"It's only right and proper to pay off debts."
"Jiang Shuyue, if you can't handle the game, then don't play."
“Now that you owe money, if you can’t come up with the money today, we’ll cut off your hands and see how you explain it to Marquis Zhenyuan when you get back.”
After the man finished speaking impatiently, he suddenly kicked Jiang Shuyue, sending him crashing to his knees.
"You guys, go over there and chop off his hands."
Several black-clad guards, brandishing knives, moved toward Jiang Shuyue, seemingly intent on wiping him out alive.
Jiang Shuyue trembled with fear at the sight of the approaching figures.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Zhou Tongli, how dare you cheat in Linlangfang!"
Zhou Tongli laughed heartily, his face full of disdain.
"I think this son of the Marquis of Zhenyuan is a good-for-nothing. He lost money gambling and then refused to admit it. Among so many people here, who saw me cheat?"
"No." The onlookers mocked and jeering.
Zhou Tongli looked at Jiang Shuyue with a smug expression.
"If you can't handle the game, then stay home and don't embarrass your Jiang family."
Jiang Shuyue, who was being held down by several people on the ground, stared at Zhou Tongli with bloodshot eyes.
He walked up to Jiang Shuyue with a malicious expression, and looking at Jiang Shuyue kneeling at his feet, he suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction.
"If someone owes you money and doesn't pay it back, they'll have to pay with their flesh."
With a sudden leap, Zhou Tongli was about to kick Jiang Shuyue when a white figure rushed over and kicked him to the ground.
"Son."
The guards rushed over to help the person, while some of them drew their swords and looked at the woman in front of them.
The pain made him gasp. Zhou Tongli looked up and saw Shu Yao staring intently at him.
"Who's asking for it! Men, beat this woman to death!"
In an instant, a group of men wielding sticks surrounded Jiang Zhi and Shu Yao.
Jiang Zhi remained calm and said in a cool voice, "Young Master Zhou, you are such a handsome man, why would you do such a rude thing?"
Zhou Tongli's face stiffened when Jiang Zhi suddenly praised him.
He softened his tone and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
“Young Master Zhou, I know you are a first-rate gambler. Today, I would like to make a bet with you.”
“I have a thousand gold coins. If I win, I will take Jiang Shuyue with me. If I lose, you can do whatever you want with him.”
"A thousand gold coins?"
Those watching couldn't help but marvel at how generous they were; they were definitely not an ordinary family.
Jiang Shuyue staggered to his feet and slowly walked towards Jiang Zhi, "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?"
Seeing that Jiang Zhi did not answer, Jiang Shuyue turned around and said, "This is all my fault. Don't do anything to her. Kill her or torture her as you please."
After saying that, Jiang Shuyue's legs trembled involuntarily.
Zhou Tongli's lips curled into a smile as he said, "Such arrogance! Who do you think you are?"
Just as Wu Shi was about to speak, Jiang Zhi stopped him, "Young Master, you only need to answer, are you willing to bet or not?"
Zhou Tongli was a regular at Linlangfang, and outsiders said he would gamble away his entire fortune.
"Are you new here?"
Jiang Zhi nodded.
"These young people are truly formidable! Let's gamble!"
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi, Zhou Tongli's smile widened.
“Alright, I’ll gamble away my entire thousand gold pieces.”
Jiang Zhi threw all the money bags in her hand onto the table.
There was a "crash" sound.
The glittering gold caught the eye, so enticing that it made one's eyes red.
He generously gave away a thousand taels of gold, which made Zhou Tongli's eyes gleam with a sharp light.
"Then please."
Holding the dice in his hand, Zhou Tongli shook them loudly, causing everyone to gasp in surprise.
Zhou Tongli's skill level is inconsistent this week; sometimes he can make people rich, and sometimes he can make them lose everything. Jiang Zhi has no choice but to rely on his luck to meet Zhou Tongli.
"Alright, let's bet a thousand gold coins then."
Jiang Zhi squinted, a smile spreading across his lips, and stood on the other side of the table, picking up the dice as well.
As the familiar touch came, Jiang Zhi's pupils instantly turned cold, and the unreadable look in his eyes surprised Zhou Tongli on the other side.
"Open, open, I'll bet on Zhou Tongli."
Cheers erupted, and the gamblers around Zhou Tongli placed their coins on his side. In no time, Zhou Tongli's side was piled high with coins. In contrast, Jiang Zhi's side was empty, and no one thought she would win.
At this moment, Jiang Shuyue placed the only jade pendant he had left on it, saying, "I will press Jiang Zhi down."
Jiang Zhi turned his head and met Jiang Shuyue's gaze, a smile playing on his lips.
"It seems this is your first time here. I'll give you another chance. Are you sure you want to gamble everything?"
Zhou Tongli's eyes flickered, and the bamboo tube of dice he was shaking made a clattering sound.
His wrists rotated incredibly fast, a dazzling display.
"What's wrong with Zhou Tongli today? Is he perhaps showing mercy because of her delicate skin?"
"Exactly, exactly. Could it be that they couldn't bring themselves to do it because the girl is good-looking?"
The gamblers created an atmosphere, but some differences of opinion also existed within them.