Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Earning Money

Having won the money, Leng Jiu wasn't naive enough to linger in the streets. She knew the casino's rules well – how could the young owner allow someone to win so much and leave unscathed? He would surely send people to retrieve the money, and perhaps her life too.

Leng Jiu hurried along, but soon attracted a tail. Outnumbered, she dared not venture into secluded areas, instead heading towards the bustling streets, hoping to lose them in the crowd.

Just as she thought she'd eluded one group, she saw several sturdy men ahead. Planning to turn back, she noticed her pursuers had already caught up. Trapped, escape seemed impossible.

Suddenly, her eyes fell on a carriage parked outside a tavern. Simple in appearance, but on closer inspection, its materials and craftsmanship were exquisite, clearly not an ordinary carriage. Without a coachman in sight, Leng Jiu quickly ducked underneath and, with a graceful flip, slipped inside, drawing the curtains shut.

Once inside, she discovered someone else was there. Fearing they might scream, she hastily pounced, covering their mouth, "Don't shout! I'm just hiding for a bit!"

The coachman returned and started the carriage. Several minutes passed before they left the street, and Leng Jiu finally relaxed, releasing the person she had subdued, apologizing with an embarrassed smile, "Sorry! It was an emergency, I didn't mean to offend."

Looking up at the person inside the carriage, she froze. Had she stepped in luck? Escaping danger only to encounter a stunning beauty? Indeed, before her sat a strikingly handsome man with arched brows and starry eyes, his features as delicate as finely carved white jade, without a single flaw. Locks of hair added a touch of elegance to his refined face, but his demeanor was anything but gentle, especially now with those piercing, cold eyes glaring at her, as if to tear her apart.

The beauty was indeed stunning, even in anger, but it's hard to owe favors to such a beauty. Better to flee!

Yet, leaving in such an awkward manner wasn't Leng Jiu's style. Smiling mischievously at his handsome, angry face, she quickly leaned in and planted a loud kiss on his cheek, then slipped away while he was still in shock, "Hehe, consider this a repayment for your unwitting aid. Until we meet again!"

Ignoring the coachman's surprise, she jumped down from the carriage and vanished at the end of the street. Inside the carriage, the air was thick with murderous intent and overwhelming anger...

Having changed into a maid's attire, Leng Jiu returned to the palace, pondering over opening a casino. Although it was a simple task for her, she lacked one crucial element – a powerful backer. Despite her prestigious status as the Empress Dowager, she couldn't use her position to open a casino. Even if she dared, Emperor Long Yi wouldn't allow it, and the court officials would probably drown her in condemnation. Thus, she needed a suitable partner – someone influential and trustworthy.

After much deliberation, only one person seemed fitting – Prince Xuan, Long Yueli. However, he was difficult to control, and among the few people she knew, none could assist her, presenting quite a headache.

Lost in thought, she forgot where she was walking until a stern voice startled her back to reality.

"Stop right there!"

"Noble Consort Shu is calling you, stop!"

Noble Consort Shu? Wasn't she known for her gentle demeanor, rarely leaving her palace? Why did she encounter her today? That stern shout couldn't have come from a woman of such character. With numerous thoughts swirling in her mind, Leng Jiu slowly turned around and bowed her head to conceal her face, "Greetings to Noble Consort Shu!"

Noble Consort Shu, dressed in a light blue palace gown, approached with the scent of cosmetics wafting through the air. Her high-arched brows studied Leng Jiu, "Which palace are you from?"

"Weiyang Palace!"

"Hmph! From that despicable woman's palace, indeed..." Noble Consort Shu didn't finish her sentence, then swiftly changed the topic, "Seeing you wandering aimlessly, you must be free. I have a bowl of bird's nest soup here. Take it to Consort Li. Make no mistakes, understand?"

"This servant... I must return to the Empress Dowager. If she doesn’t see me later, she will surely punish me!" Leng Jiu replied in a timid, fearful voice, bowing her head even lower.

Noble Consort Shu's smile deepened as she watched. Her chief maid impatiently handed Leng Jiu the container holding the bird's nest soup, "When Her Highness commands, you obey. Why so much talk?"

"But..."

"No buts. If you delay any further, the soup will cool down, and then you'll really be blamed!"

"Then... I will deliver it right away!" Leng Jiu hastily took the bird's nest soup and left, only to be called back in annoyance, "You fool! Consort Li’s palace is this way!"

"Oh!" Leng Jiu meekly responded, heading in the direction of Consort Li's palace, with the sound of Noble Consort Shu's sneering laughter behind her.

Turning a corner, Leng Jiu straightened up, her eyebrows raised in amusement, a sharp glint in her eyes, no longer the timid figure from before. Holding the bird's nest soup, she chuckled, "Don't worry! I'll make sure it gets there!"

Consort Li was currently pregnant and held a high status in the palace, arousing envy from many. Leng Jiu doubted Noble Consort Shu’s intentions in sending bird's nest soup to her. Likely, it was tampered with, especially since she was identified as from Weiyang Palace. Noble Consort Shu probably wanted to frame her, considering the reputation of the former Leng Jinghua. Should any trouble arise and Emperor Long Yi be summoned, she'd have no defense. This was a setup!

Leng Jiu smirked coldly, "Noble Consort Shu, oh Noble Consort Shu! I never provoked you, but since you scheme against me, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Carrying the food container, she meandered towards Consort Li’s palace. But first, she detoured through Noble Consort Shu's palace, stealing a set of clothes and a token. Arriving at Consort Li's palace, she handed the bird's nest to a senior maid, making sure she saw the token at her waist. After returning the clothes and retrieving her own, she headed back to Weiyang Palace, wondering if there would be a drama unfolding tonight.

Quietly returning to Weiyang Palace, she pondered before deciding to summon Prince Xuan, Long Yueli. This matter truly needed his involvement.

"You called for me?" A tired Long Yueli arrived, as flamboyant as ever, and without any reservation, he leaned in close to her.

Annoyed, Leng Jiu pushed his head away, "Show some restraint, at least in the palace. Otherwise, Emperor Long Yi will come for tea in my palace again!"

"Are you scared?" Long Yueli raised an eyebrow, then smiled meaningfully, "So, you mean we don't need to be careful outside the palace?"