Lu Yuan played one round, lost one round; played ten rounds, lost ten rounds. In the end, ng Qianqian couldn’t stand it anymore and said to Nanny Li, "Nanny, you play. I’ll teach my husband how to play."
A beginner’s luck is important, but there’s also the possibility that his card skills are just terrible.
"This... isn’t proper..."
Nanny Li had never sat at the table to play cards with the master before.
"Sit down, Nanny Li." Steward Cen said with a smile.
The Old Madam urged, "Quickly! Draw a card, draw a card!"
Nanny Li had no choice but to toughen up and sit down.
Truth be told, after watching for a while, her hands had been itching for quite so ti.
While they played their ga, Bao Shu and Tan’er were on the bed playing their own chaotic ga of cards. It was still leaf cards, just with lots of yelling for effect and results entirely reliant on who snatched faster.
ng Qianqian walked over to stand behind Lu Yuan: "Draw a card."
"Mm."
Lu Yuan responded nonchalantly, extending his long, jade-like fingers to pick up his card.
The night was never as bright as the day. To see his cards clearly, ng Qianqian had to bend over and lean closer.
A faint fragrance instantly lingered under Lu Yuan’s nose.
She earnestly examined the cards as a strand of evening wind brushed by, lifting her soft hair. Carrying her delicate scent and a trace of warmth, it danced on his face.
Lu Yuan’s throat moved slightly, his ears tingled with a flush.
"Oh my gosh."
ng Qianqian exclaid in surprise.
"What’s the matter?"
Lu Yuan asked, maintaining a calm and aloof deanor.
ng Qianqian’s head drooped: "Your luck... is really bad..."
Honestly, she’d never seen such terrible cards before. For all of her exceptional gambling skills, even she couldn’t salvage his disastrous luck.
Drooping her head like that, her forehead bumped against his shoulder.
Lu Yuan’s body stiffened.
ng Qianqian quickly raised her head, rubbed her forehead, and asked, "Did I hurt you?"
Lu Yuan: "It hurt."
ng Qianqian: "Huh?"
Lu Yuan replied coolly, "Don’t you know how heavy your head is?"
ng Qianqian solemnly self-reflected: "I am a martial artist, so my strength is indeed a bit much... How about I give you a massage?"
Lu Yuan carelessly murmured assent.
ng Qianqian extended her deft hands and began a serious attempt to massage the Grand Commander’s shoulders.
When it ca to humble service, she ant every word!
The girl’s soft fingertips danced over his shoulder, and every spot she pressed started to grow warm. Holding the leaf cards more tightly in his hand, the sounds drifting to his ears alternated between commotion and quiet.
"Grand Commander, it’s your turn to play a card."
ng Qianqian reminded him.
"Which one should I play?"
He asked, expressionless.
"This one."
ng Qianqian pointed to one of the cards in his hand. "With cards this bad, it’s all up to and my godlike gambling skills to turn things around!"
The card fell.
"I won!"
Nanny Li exclaid joyfully.
Lu Yuan shot ng Qianqian a sidelong glance: "Is this what you call godlike gambling skills?"
ng Qianqian blinked guiltily, her eyes darting around before pointing at his ear: "Grand Commander, your ears are red."
Lu Yuan: "..."
The family played cards late into the night. The Old Madam won heaps and was overjoyed. Steward Cen and Nanny Li also made out like bandits, laughing till their teeth showed.
ng Qianqian initially won too, but ever since she started teaching Lu Yuan, she’d lost everything alongside him.
Lu Yuan thought seriously for a mont: "We’ll play again next ti."
ng Qianqian shuddered: Sobody help!
ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan returned to the main courtyard, while Tan’er... couldn’t be woken no matter what, so they left her to sleep in Tinglan Courtyard.
"I’m going to sleep first. Goodnight, Grand Commander."
ng Qianqian said in a lifeless tone, dragging herself like a soulless puppet into the room.
Lu Yuan, feeling quite good, clasped his hands behind his back and strolled leisurely toward his own room.
Steward Cen said with a chuckle, "Grand Commander, it’s been a long ti since I’ve seen you this happy."
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "I’m happy?"
Steward Cen laughed: "Considering everything that’s happened, I thought our household would be gloomy for a while."
He wasn’t just making things up.
He had seen everything Lu Yuan went through along the way.
He wasn’t of Lu Yuan’s lineage but rather a man once intent on ending his own life—until he encountered the eight-year-old Lu Yuan.
From then on, through over ten tumultuous years, he watched that child grow up, watched him cruelly push himself, watched him ravenously learn. He had his bones broken, was thrown into a tiger’s den...
Yet, he survived with unyielding tenacity, like a fierce wolf pup destined to beco the wolf king.
But every ti he ca close to triumph, an overpowering, unstoppable hand would pull him back into Purgatory.
Ti and again, he fought his way through rivers of blood, only to have his path snatched away.
He could carry the burden, but that didn’t an he didn’t suffer.
This ti, however, he didn’t have to bear it alone. He now had soone by his side who wouldn’t leave him.
"Steward Cen."
Lu Yuan stopped at his door. "Why didn’t you leave ?"
Steward Cen answered calmly, "Grand Commander, have you forgotten? This servant needs you to do sothing for , but only when you are strong enough can you accomplish it. I am waiting for that day to co."
Lu Yuan said proudly, "That day will co."
Steward Cen smiled and replied, "I believe in you, Grand Commander."
The Grand Commander did not trust sincerity. He only trusted value and leverage, which ant Steward Cen always needed to "have motives" for Lu Yuan to feel secure.
Lu Yuan hadn’t attended court for three straight days. Rumors swirled—so said the Pri Minister had frightened him into illness, others said the Supre Emperor had placed him under house arrest, and still others claid he was secretly plotting rebellion. No one believed he was simply enjoying himself at ho.
To say he was enjoying himself stretched the truth. After all, he had that brat stirring up trouble at every turn, scheming eight hundred minds a day, more destructive than a dog.
After the brat finished tearing things up, Tan’er took her turn. After Tan’er, Yu Zichuan.
"Yu Zichuan!"
Lu Yuan, seated in his study, looked up at the collapsing section of the rooftop.
Covered in dust, he said through clenched teeth, "Did you also tear things up like this back in the day?"
Yu Zichuan replied, "Yep."
Lu Yuan: "How co I never noticed?"
Yu Zichuan replied, "Because by the ti you returned from court, it was already fixed."
Lu Yuan: "..."
Day after day, not even a chance to wallow in sorrow could stay intact.
On the fourth day, as Lu Yuan still hadn’t shown up for court, Xun Yu paid him a visit.
"Third Brother."
Lu Yuan received Xun Yu in the flower hall.
Xun Yu glanced around at the attendants. Aside from Steward Cen at the door, there was no one else.
Steward Cen was aware of the connection between Lu Yuan and the Pri Minister’s Mansion, making him one of their own.
Xun Yu said gently, "I heard you were unwell, so I ca to check on you. Are you actually sick?"
Lu Yuan smiled helplessly: "Perhaps I caught a chill from that night on the mountain."
Xun Yu noticed his pale complexion and couldn’t help but sigh softly: "You don’t resent Father for what happened that night, do you?"
Lu Yuan’s lips curved slightly: "What is Third Brother saying? My foster father tasked with inviting the Supre Emperor down the mountain, who initially sought to execute . It was my foster father’s plea that spared my life. I am grateful to him beyond asure—how could I possibly resent him?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)