After the Substitute Male Bride Fled, the Emperor Turned Dark - Chapter 9

Consort Zhao, Xue Wanbai, busied herself by rising to lead the way. Fang Zhiyan followed her, signaling Lan Ruo to bring some silver and keep up. Once the urge to play Yezi (Leaf Cards) struck, things like imperial pressure or the treacherous depths of the harem were momentarily tossed to the back of his mind. Execution could wait; he would win some silver from these ladies first.

This was Fang Zhiyan’s first time at Qixiang Palace. In terms of layout, it was similar to Jingyang Palace and housed two Beauties who had entered the palace in the same selection batch as him. Upon seeing him, the two Beauties performed formal salutations. After all, in their eyes, Consort Zhuang’s level of favor was equal to, if not greater than, that of Noble Consort Shu. Furthermore, according to recent rumors, this Consort Zhuang was not someone to be trifled with.

Fang Zhiyan waved his hand, maintaining a cold and aloof expression. “Are the stakes prepared? If the stakes are too low, I shall not waste my time with you.”

The two Beauties were timid and hesitant, only nodding after receiving a reassuring look from Xue Wanbai. In the side hall, a young maid had already set up a pearwood table. Everything was ready, waiting only for the guests to take their seats.

Xue Wanbai took a deck of brand-new Leaf Cards from her vanity box. The cards featured a pale green background painted with light pink lotus vines; they looked much cleaner and more elegant than the common black-backed cards found in the marketplace.

“Take a look, Sister. I specifically had the embroidery workshop make these. New cards feel comfortable to the touch and won’t prick your hands,” she said, pushing the deck toward Fang Zhiyan with an eager tone.

Fang Zhiyan reached out, took a card, and flipped it over repeatedly. “Indeed, they are quite nice.”

Standing to the side while holding a tea tray, Lan Ruo whispered a reminder, “Your Ladyship, it is one qian per round. Please do not let the stakes get too high.”

“I know, I know,” Fang Zhiyan waved her off. He thought to himself that she simply did not understand his skills; back in his hometown, he was an undefeated legend. “Tell Fu’an to keep watch on the road in front of Jingyang Palace. If there is any movement, let me know immediately.”

Xue Wanbai hid the envy in her eyes. “Sister is having a servant wait for His Majesty, is she not? His Majesty truly treats Sister well.”

Quite the opposite, actually.

Fang Zhiyan did not care to explain and signaled for the game to begin. Understanding the cue, Xue Wanbai stopped talking and gestured for the two Beauties to take their seats. The four of them sat around the table, and Lan Ruo dealt the cards one by one. Holding the cards, Fang Zhiyan’s mind became sharp. He had a secret to playing Leaf Cards: card counting. Having played with all sorts of people in the marketplace, he knew that while the stakes might be small, winning consistently required sharp eyes and a good memory.

In the first round, he played honestly by the rules and lost. Xue Wanbai won. She smiled brightly as she collected the silver bits Lan Ruo handed over, saying politely, “Sister was going easy on me.”

Fang Zhiyan did not reply. His fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the table while his mind reviewed every card that had been played. In the second round, he began to exert his strength. He pressed a card onto the table, neither too hard nor too soft, but it perfectly cut off Xue Wanbai’s strategy.

Xue Wanbai was stunned. She looked at the cards in her hand, her brow furrowing slightly. The two Beauties looked at each other, their play style growing slower and more hesitant. Fang Zhiyan’s play became smoother. By the third round, he could guess about seventy to eighty percent of everyone’s hand.

Xue Wanbai gripped her cards, her lips pursing. The smile in her eyes gradually turned into a look of serious concentration.

“Sister’s style of play,” she began tentatively, “is quite fierce.”

Fang Zhiyan flicked his eyelids up and said indifferently, “It is alright.”

Inside, however, he was blooming with joy. In this round, he won one and a half taels of silver, enough to sustain an ordinary family for quite a while. Standing behind him, Lan Ruo watched her “Ladyship” maintain an air of calm indifference while her hands moved swiftly to collect the silver. She could not help but sigh. Fang Zhiyan was still too young and lacked experience. While pretending to be Fang Zhiwei, he would often reveal obvious flaws in small matters.

By the fifth round, Xue Wanbai and the two Beauties had straightened their postures. If memory served, their original goal was to invite Consort Zhuang out to kill time and perhaps chat about His Majesty. They had not expected Consort Zhuang to take the game so seriously, like a seasoned gambler.

After losing another round, Consort Zhao lightly touched her hair and smiled. “In this harem, I fear only Noble Consort Shu could compete with Sister Zhuang.”

Fang Zhiyan felt quite satisfied and gave a slight nod. “Sister flatters me.”

“Did Sister play this often in the past?” Xue Wanbai asked probingly.

Fang Zhiyan arranged his cards slowly. “Occasionally.”

Xue Wanbai and the two Beauties exchanged glances; none of them believed him. This technique was clearly that of a veteran who had been immersed in the game for years.

As the game in the side hall of Qixiang Palace neared its end, Fang Zhiyan stopped and prepared to head back.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence today, Sister. I shall invite you to play again another day.”

Fang Zhiyan nodded and left the palace with Lan Ruo. Twilight was falling, and the lanterns along the palace paths were already lit. Clutching the heavy silver, Lan Ruo finally could not help but ask, “Your Ladyship, did they really just want to play cards with you?”

“They did not reveal any specific motive today. They probably just want to get acquainted first.”

Back in Qixiang Palace, the card table had not yet been cleared. Xue Wanbai sat in her original spot, sipping tea slowly. Beauty Zhou had not yet left and was carefully clearing the remnants from the table.

“Sister Xue, do you think Consort Zhuang,” Beauty Zhou started, then hesitated.

Xue Wanbai set down her teacup. No longer showing the cautious humility she had displayed before Fang Zhiyan, she glanced at the girl. “What about her?”

Beauty Zhou chose her words carefully. “I heard of Consort Zhuang’s beauty while I was still at home, but seeing her today, she truly lives up to her reputation.”

The implication was clear: it was no wonder the Emperor favored her. Though her personality was somewhat haughty, that was only toward them. If she showed a different face to the Emperor, how could he not be captivated?

Xue Wanbai gave a soft laugh, though the mirth did not reach her eyes. “Indeed. The title of the ‘Two Beauties of the Capital’ was not given for nothing.”

The “Two Beauties of the Capital” referred to Cui Jinglan and Fang Zhiwei. Cui Jinglan was the maiden name of Noble Consort Shu. She stood up, walked to the window, and watched the deep twilight in the courtyard.

“Consort Zhuang’s face is truly beautiful.”

Beauty Zhou did not catch the deeper meaning and simply replied honestly, “No wonder His Majesty likes her.”

“Yes,” Xue Wanbai turned around, her face returning to that gentle, refined smile. “As long as she is here, I fear the rest of us will never have a chance to rise.”

She spoke lightly, as if making a casual observation. Beauty Zhou bit her lip and lowered her head, her thoughts unknown. Xue Wanbai did not seem to care. She sat back down at the table, picked up the last pastry, broke it in half, and handed one piece to Beauty Zhou.

“Eat. Do not let it go to waste.”

The next day in the warm room of Qianqing Palace, Xiao Huan asked about the matter. “You went to Qixiang Palace to play Leaf Cards yesterday?”

With Xiao Huan’s tacit permission, Fang Zhiyan had instructed Eunuch Li to have servants move a soft couch near the window. Usually, when he arrived, he would lean back on the couch, eat fruit, and look at the scenery or read books. He was like a decorative piece in Qianqing Palace, there for the Emperor’s appreciation.

He answered carefully, “Just killing time.”

Xiao Huan stood up and signaled for him to follow. “I heard Consort Zhuang was undefeated.”

Having spent more time together, Fang Zhiyan was more relaxed than before. He flopped back onto the couch and gave a lazy, perfunctory reply: “I did alright.”

Xiao Huan looked over. The last sliver of the setting sun fell upon him, dyeing his reed-green dress in a pale gold hue. The light slid across one side of his nose, casting a faint shadow on the other. His entire silhouette presented a breathtaking, androgynous beauty.

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