Chapter Forty-Nine: Rivalry for Supremacy in the Chamber of Fortune

The IOU was snatched away by Xihua, yet Lu Jiu seemed utterly unconcerned, gazing at her own snow-white, almost translucent hand with a calm smile.

“To think that the proud and lofty, breathtakingly beautiful Lady Yelai—whom countless noble sons of Chang’an would spend a fortune just to glimpse—would choose a man of such utterly lacking demeanor, without grace or bearing, a shameless scoundrel,” she remarked.

“My man, Gu Xihua, is not to be compared with those shallow fools,” Xihua replied with a radiant smile, brightening the entire room.

“Oh? For this man, have you abandoned the children at the estate outside Chang’an?” Lu Jiu said coolly.

“Even you have suffered repeatedly at his hands—my man is so formidable, he will surely find a way,” Gu Xihua answered proudly.

“Wait! What is this about Lady Yelai? And what about the children at the estate outside Chang’an?” Lu Liao, still irked by Lu Jiu’s recent mockery, suddenly heard her address Xihua as Yelai, and his expression darkened.

“Haha! That’s quite a story—are you interested in hearing it?” Lu Jiu elegantly lifted her teacup and tilted her head toward Lu Liao.

Gu Xihua, who had not contacted her for so long, had unexpectedly become the leading courtesan of Celestial Pavilion, Lady Yelai. How could Lu Liao bear it? Clearly, the cause was likely tied to Lu Jiu. Suppressing his anger, he said, “Speak, I’m listening.”

Lu Jiu savored a sip of tea and gently waved her folding fan.

“Our Wang family has a leather fan of exquisite craftsmanship. Every summer, at banquets, we place it before the guests, sprinkle it with fresh water, and a cool breeze arises. If guests feel cold during the wine rounds, we remove it. Even the Emperor once sent an envoy to see it, admired it but did not accept it, saying, ‘This is a dragon-hide fan.’

Xihua, somehow, heard about it and came by moonlight to meet me. I, Lu Jiu, am not like those ignorant, lovestruck women of Chang’an; I saw at a glance that she was a woman disguised as a man. I ordered nets strung at the window and crossbows at the door. Do you think she could escape?”

Lu Liao, unwilling to look at Lu Jiu’s smug face, turned to Gu Xihua. “And then?”

Gu Xihua shot Lu Jiu an annoyed glance. “I searched the room for the fan but found nothing, and soon realized I was surrounded. I smashed a few vases, threatened her with the treasures in the room, but she ignored me, trapping me for three days until I had no strength left and had to surrender.

Afterwards, she didn’t hand me over to the authorities but made me press my fingerprint on an IOU. She gave me the choice: work for her for ten years, or complete ten tasks to repay the debt. Without thinking, I chose the latter.”

Lu Liao slapped his forehead, speechless. “My goodness! You’re usually so clever, but this time every choice has been more foolish than the last.

Didn’t you realize that something the Emperor covets but refuses is just for show? The Wang family would never dare keep it—they must have secretly presented it. The dragon-hide fan—who but the Emperor would dare use it?”

“The shameless rogue, truly different from others, thinking so far ahead. That fan is already the beloved possession of the Imperial Consort. Even if Xihua dug through my room, she’d never find it,” Lu Jiu said, lightly applauding.

“How much did you owe her on the IOU?” Lu Liao didn’t even bother looking at Lu Jiu.

“Six hundred and thirty thousand taels,” Xihua replied, head bowed.

Lu Liao felt as if the sky had collapsed, shaking his head vigorously and casting a hostile glance at Lu Jiu. “Ha! I wonder what you destroyed of hers, to owe a debt of six hundred and thirty thousand taels.”

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“My house is filled with precious paintings, rare antiques, unique porcelain. Their true worth, with your knowledge, you’d never estimate,” Lu Jiu said, her contempt for Lu Liao unabashed.

“Hah, with your cunning, would you really leave valuable items in your room knowing Xihua would come by moonlight?” Lu Liao was not so easily fooled.

“Ha! The fragments of what she destroyed are long lost. Where’s the witness? Where’s the evidence?” Lu Jiu smiled, as if challenging him.

Lu Liao felt breathless with frustration, turning to Xihua. “Your second foolish mistake was choosing, without hesitation, to do ten tasks for her. Ten years at least has an end, but ten tasks—this vicious woman could entangle you for life.”

Xihua, no longer the confident woman she once was, now appeared a pitiable maiden before her own man. “The first task wasn’t so bad. She had me infiltrate the East Market magistrate’s residence, meet the magistrate’s wife at night, and sketch her sleeping on her summer couch to threaten the magistrate.

The second task was to dress as a woman, become the leading courtesan at Celestial Pavilion. I refused, and she threatened to scar my face. Later, she said she’d have ten strong guards entertain me. When I still wouldn’t agree, she somehow learned I’d adopted over twenty orphans at the estate, and used their lives to threaten me. I had no choice but to comply.”

Xihua lowered her head, unable to meet Lu Liao’s stormy gaze.

“Bravo!” Lu Jiu applauded. “Xihua, did you know that the strongbox where you keep your valuables is run by my Wang family? In Chang’an, it’s easy to learn how you spend your money. Who would have thought the notorious libertine Xihua was raising dozens of orphans? I, Lu Jiu, am truly impressed.”

Lu Liao reached out and gently stroked Xihua’s head, his gaze lingering on Lu Jiu. “You haven’t threatened her to do anything at Celestial Pavilion, have you?”

Lu Jiu instantly understood Lu Liao’s implication and gave him a disdainful look. “You men! At home you have wives beautiful and lovable, yet you still chase after others. When your woman is touched by another, you act as if the sky is falling.

But you don’t seem like a frequent visitor to the pleasure quarters, so you don’t know what being a courtesan means. Men are always so base—the harder they are to get, the more precious they seem. If a courtesan could be touched so easily, what would she be worth? Besides, with Xihua’s skills, what man could easily lay a hand on her?”

Lu Liao’s expression became extraordinary as he slowly approached Lu Jiu, pointing to his own nose. “Here stands one.” His face turned sinister. “Hand over Xihua’s IOU, or I’ll carve a flower into that beautiful face of yours.”

Qing’er, at the side, became frantic. “Lu Liao! If you dare hurt Young Master Jiu, I’ll bite you to death!” She lunged forward and sank her teeth into Lu Liao’s arm.

“Ow! Qing’er, stop! Are you a dog?” Lu Liao cried out in pain, but Qing’er refused to let go.

“You want the IOU? Take it if you wish,” said Lu Jiu, pulling out another IOU from her chest and tossing it lightly to Lu Liao.

Ignoring the pain in his arm, Lu Liao picked up the slip and found it identical to the one Xihua had taken—he was dumbfounded.

“There are as many of these IOUs as you want. Take it to the authorities—I guarantee it’ll be valid all the same,” Lu Jiu said airily.

Dragging Qing’er’s body, Lu Liao quickly rushed to Lu Jiu and, ignoring the stunned crowd, rummaged through her chest, but found nothing.

Xihua looked at Lu Liao sourly. “Was that enough? How did it feel?”

Lu Liao shook his hand irritably. “Flat as a man—what feeling could there be?”

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Smack! Lu Jiu trembled, her face turning pale as she slapped Lu Liao hard.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll slash your face?” Lu Liao retorted angrily.

“I, Lu Jiu, have never cared about this face. If you have the guts, go ahead,” Lu Jiu threw back, furious at being insulted—not only groped by a shameless thief, but also compared to a man.

“If we’re going to do this, then let’s go all the way. Lu Liao, just take this witch’s innocence and make her yours. See if she’ll still be so arrogant!” Xihua suggested mischievously, egging him on.

Lu Liao eyed Lu Jiu’s beautiful face with ill intent, as if seriously considering it.

“If you dare, come at me. I, Lu Jiu, have never considered myself a woman. I’ll keep my eyes wide open and see what you can do to turn me into a woman,” Lu Jiu was furious, nearly out of her mind.

“Damn it! Do you think I won’t? If you keep your eyes open, I’ll just close mine and take the loss,” Lu Liao snarled back, provoked by Lu Jiu.

Now truly startled, Lu Jiu stepped back. “You dare! Don’t forget, this Lucky Pavilion belongs to my family. Knowing you’re no good, you think I’d leave myself unguarded?”

Qing’er clung to Lu Liao like a dead fish, making it impossible for him to move freely, but he still growled, “Just watch if I dare!”

Lu Jiu, panicked, smashed her teacup to the floor.

Suddenly, a rush of footsteps sounded as over a dozen Wang family guards burst in, crossbows aimed squarely at Lu Liao and his companions. Lu Jiu, furious, pointed at Xihua, and several crossbows were redirected at her back.

Hu Laoda and Zhou Liuzi, dazed by the chaos, suddenly became clear-headed, dropped to their knees, and hugged their heads.

Xihua, helpless, glanced at Lu Liao and lowered her short sword.

Lu Liao straightened Qing’er, dusted off nonexistent dirt from her shoulder, and smiled kindly at Lu Jiu.

“Haha, didn’t we agree to negotiate? Negotiation means sitting down and discussing things calmly. Was your cup-smashing signal really necessary?”

“Lu Liao! You vile, shameless, depraved wretch, you’ve insulted me time and again. Now that you’re in my hands, do you think I’ll let you off?” Lu Jiu was beside herself with rage.

“Then do you dare wager that before those bolts hit me, I’ll sever your neck with a single stroke?” Lu Liao continued smiling, but his gaze flashed with icy stars, making Lu Jiu shiver.