My enemies became my companions

Chapter 640 Gambling Den (Part 2)

They turned back to the courtyard.

Donggong Ruoshu appeared out of nowhere.

Chen Yi immediately wanted to push her hand back down. If Qin Qingluo found out about this, he would be in grave danger.

He looked around, saw no one, and let out a soft sigh.

Although he was actually very sensible in this matter, Qin Qingluo didn't think he was sensible.

"Miss Donggong, how come you just popped up like this?" Chen Yi sighed and asked, "Are you trying to scare me by thinking I'm Qin Yue?"

Donggong Ruoshu blinked and asked in return, "Haven't you been scared much before?"

"That's true, but that's not a reason you can just come up with randomly."

Faced with Chen Yi's lesson, Donggong Ruoshu humbly accepted it and nodded.

Chen Yi was still not convinced and asked, "Did you understand?"

"I understand. I won't pop up randomly next time," the young lady from the Eastern Palace said.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi kept rubbing his forehead. It's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. When the Crown Prince Ruoshu is useful, he is truly useful; when he is not useful, he is truly not useful.

Very well, no need for further explanation. It's best to send them back to Gaoliang Mountain as soon as possible.

Chen Yi started walking again, saying as he went, "I'll send you back when I leave in a couple of days. Stay on Gaoliang Mountain."

He thought the silly girl would nod in agreement, but to his surprise, she resolutely said, "No."

"Why don't you want it?"

"It's so boring up there." Donggong Ruoshu raised her finger and said, "I can't go anywhere. I can only stay in the house. When I want to go out, Miss Yin scolds me and Madam Lin scolds me. So I stay in the house and watch them cultivate during the day and at night. But I've become a ghost, so I can't cultivate anymore."

The Crown Prince's daughter has never been one to be patient; everyone who knows her knows this.

So it's more interesting to stay by his side as a ghost, and occasionally scare Qin Yue.

“Speaking of which,” Donggong Ruoshu’s eyes suddenly lit up, “you have a daughter.”

Chen Yi nodded slightly.

The silly girl was a bit slow to react, and only now did she feel surprised. Generally speaking, it is perfectly normal for someone like Chen Yi, who is in his prime, to have a child. However, she had been so close to Chen Yi all along, and he had never mentioned it. Therefore, she was very surprised.

"Oh, I never expected this." Donggong Ruoshu shook her head, looking rather pleased.

People who hear gossip are always happy.

Chen Yi smiled slightly and asked, "I have a child, Miss Donggong, are you still going to seduce me?"

"What business is it of mine if you have children?"

The silly girl tilted her head and asked in return,
"It's not my child."

Chen Yi was immediately at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Back in the courtyard, Donggong Ruoshu followed him all the way, chatting away like a chattering bee, asking all sorts of questions. Chen Yi had no choice but to answer them one by one. The Donggong girl understood the general situation. It turned out that Qin Yue was the child of Chen Yi and the Queen, and Chen Yi had not been to the Southern Frontier since she was born, which was why the father and daughter were estranged.

"Oh, Miss Yin doesn't know about this, does she?" Donggong Ruoshu asked gossipyly, her eyes sparkling.

“…I don’t know.” Chen Yi paused, then said, “There’s no need for her to know everything about my affairs.”

These words were somewhat cold, and there was also some of Chen Yi's own calculation in them. The situation was not stable at the moment, and if Yin Weiying knew about this, her mood would definitely be disturbed, and she might even make some subtle moves.

Donggong Ruoshu clicked her tongue several times, thinking about how Yin Weiying usually considered herself the Goddess of Taihua and was usually arrogant. What would she think if she heard about this? Of course, with Miss Yin's intelligence, she might already know the truth but kept it to herself.
In any case, anything related to Chen Yi is always very interesting.

“If you want to stay, I will write a letter and send it to Gaoliang Mountain later so that they don’t have to worry.”

Chen Yi thought about it on the way. The girl from the Eastern Palace still had some use. At least he could use her to continue to scare Qin Yue and make his daughter rely on him more.

Donggong Ruoshu nodded and said, "Okay."

After sending Donggong Ruoshu away to wander off on her own, Chen Yi stepped into his study, where he needed to calm down and sort out the clues.

He took out three items from the Ming Cult: the Sacred Flame Token and two sheets of gold paper.

Under the candlelight, the tiny characters etched on the gold paper were clearly visible.

Light and darkness share a common origin, two forces giving rise to each other. Neither god nor demon, but merely the guardian of the world...

[Seven chakras and ten lights, the seal transforms into two sons. Pure energy transcends the body, only then can one realize true constancy...]

Where the sacred flame shines, darkness recedes. The will of the enlightened one is carried out by his successors…

The words were obscure and full of metaphors. Coupled with the sudden appearance of the Sacred Flame Token, all sorts of unusual signs should have been told to Zhu E, and Zhu E should be asked to interpret them. However, Chen Yi remembered Qin Qingluo's previous instructions, which he deeply agreed with. The old saintess had become taciturn since he came up the mountain, which was a lesson from the past.

If we ask her to interpret it, Zhu E might also get some kind of revelation and become superstitious, which would be troublesome. Right now, we can only rely on ourselves, so it's best not to let Zhu E know unless it's absolutely necessary.

His fingers slowly caressed the patterns on the gold paper, his gaze lingering on words such as "seven wheels," "ten lights," and "the light of the sacred fire."

"Heretical..." Chen Yi chewed on the word.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Neo-Confucian scholars regarded the School of Mind as heresy and evil doctrine, and even blamed the sinking of China on the School of Mind. All these arguments made people think that the content of the School of Mind and Neo-Confucianism were very different and irreconcilable. However, in fact, the difference between the two was not that great.

In fact, whether it is Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, or even heretical religions, so-called heresies all stem from different interpretations of the same scriptures.

Wu Meng stole the Sacred Flame Token after hearing a prophecy. If that's the case... then where did the prophecy come from...? This heretic has not been completely eradicated yet?
If so, where would it be?
Chen Yi found his way, closed his eyes, and his mind flashed rapidly through the geographical maps of southern Xinjiang that he had seen before, especially... the treacherous land at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan where the Boundless King was entrenched.

...That place was mountainous and densely forested, filled with miasma, and the people were fierce and unruly. It was difficult for the imperial court and the royal palace to penetrate deep into the area. Chen Yi felt something was amiss at the time. The various formations in the royal city of the underworld were not ordinary methods, but exuded an indescribable eeriness and sinister aura.

If the heretical sect of the Light and Darkness Cult, which was eradicated by Gongsun Guan and claimed to have "no boundaries between light and darkness, and that humans can replace gods," still has remnants, where would be their ideal hiding place?

Only there could the chaos and protection be provided. The Boundless King needed them to consolidate his territory and maintain the formation, while the heretics used the Boundless King's protection to conceal their existence and operate in secret.

"Chen Yi?" Donggong Ruoshu's head suddenly "pierced" through the door, looking curious. "What treasure are you looking at? It's glittering with gold?"

Chen Yi was startled by this sudden appearance and said irritably, "Look at the map! Don't cause trouble!"

"A map?" Donggong Ruoshu floated in, approached the table, stared at the gold paper for a long time, and asked blankly, "What is written on this? It's all crooked and doesn't look like a map." "It's scripture, you wouldn't understand even if I told you." Chen Yi put away the gold paper and the Sacred Flame Token.

"Oh..." Donggong Ruoshu pouted and drifted away, "No fun."

The clues pointed to the territory of the Boundless King, and Chen Yi's eyes sharpened.

………………

The Ancient Tea Horse Road, a trade route steeped in the sweat of horses and porters for thousands of years, has been used since the Tang Dynasty to transport tea and salt from Sichuan and Yunnan, traversing mountains and valleys to bring back horses, furs, and medicinal herbs from Tibet.

Time has etched deep hoofprints on the stone slabs and nourished the towns along the way. Where there is trade, there is bound to be wine and gambling.

Beside the ancient road, there is a small town called Xiemaping. At the end of the town, nestled against a rocky slope, stands an inconspicuous two-story wooden building with a faded "wine" banner hanging at the entrance.

It was quiet during the day, but as evening fell, the caravan men, traveling merchants, and even idlers from nearby villages would gather there. Downstairs was a noisy tavern, filled with the sounds of drinking games and laughter, while upstairs, several quiet rooms were separated by thick curtains, filled with smoke, the crisp sound of dice hitting the bottom of bowls, and suppressed shouts.

This is the only gambling den in town, and also the one with the best access to information.

Chen Yi changed into an inconspicuous set of clothes and made some makeup to make himself look travel-worn. He went into the tavern, ordered a pot of the strongest corn liquor, and sat in a corner to drink by himself, while his ears picked up the chatter around him like radar.

For several days in a row, he stayed here, sometimes listening to news downstairs, and more often going upstairs to mingle with the gambling dens.

He played very conservatively, only betting on the simplest "big or small". He seemed to have good luck, winning a little each day for the first few days. He didn't bet much, and when he won, he would treat the people at the table to drinks. He quickly became familiar with several regulars.

In the midst of his drinking and revelry, he appeared quite drunk and inadvertently let out a few complaints: "Sigh, this job is really difficult, the higher-ups are pushing me hard..." "Well... the work of the Zhige Division isn't all glamorous..."

The three characters “Zhige Si” were like pebbles thrown into calm water, causing little ripple in the noisy gambling den, but a pair of sinister eyes in the corner were firmly fixed on him.

Over the next few days, Chen Yi's "luck" was astonishing. He bet big and the payout was big, and bet small and the payout was small. The chips in front of him piled up into a small mountain. He gradually got carried away, and money no longer seemed like money.

The gamblers at the table showered him with compliments, saying he was having a stroke of good luck. A Miao female dealer, dressed in a flamboyant manner and with captivating eyes, frequently gave him flirtatious glances. Chen Yi seemed to be mesmerized by this sudden good fortune and the beauty, and his bets became increasingly larger.

And he started borrowing, and when he wanted to gamble big, he borrowed a huge amount.

Just when he was winning the most and feeling triumphant, the tide at the poker table suddenly turned.

Three times in a row, it was small! He bet on big, it was small; he bet on big again, and it was small again! It was as if an invisible hand was manipulating the dice.

The chips in front of him disappeared as quickly as the tide receded, his face grew increasingly pale, sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes were filled with resentment and the red veins characteristic of a gambler.

During this time, Donggong Ruoshu repeatedly whispered reminders to him about the tricks involved, but he turned a deaf ear, having become so blinded by gambling that he had lost his mind.

He gritted his teeth and pushed out his last large sum of chips along with the money pouch at his waist: "All in on big!"

The dice cup is lifted: one, two, three! Small!
He was struck dumb, his face turned ashen, and he slumped into his chair.

"Sir, your luck isn't so good." A weasel-faced manager approached with a grin, his abacus clicking away. "Look, this account... with interest, it totals one thousand two hundred taels."

His lips trembled, as if he wanted to explain but was too weak to speak. He struggled to rummage through his pockets for a long time before pulling out a dark, heavy waist token. He slammed it on the table, his voice hoarse: "I won't run away from my debts... I'm from the Prince's Guard! This token... I'll give it to you as collateral! To pay off the debt!"

The steward picked up the waist token; it was cold and heavy to the touch, and the weapon pattern on the front exuded a murderous aura. His expression changed slightly.

He put away his waist token, forcing a smile: "So you are a high-ranking official from the Prince's Mansion? My apologies. However, this gambling debt... is quite a large sum, and I cannot make the decision on my own. Please wait a moment, sir, while I go and consult our boss."

Before long, the steward returned, his attitude much more respectful: "Sir, our boss invites you."

Chen Yi was led through the smoke-filled gambling den to a more spacious and well-furnished quiet room at the far end of the second floor.

A short, stocky middle-aged man, dressed in a brocade robe and with rings adorning his fingers, was leaning back in a tiger-skin-covered armchair, slowly smoking a water pipe. His face was dark, and his eyes were puffy, but his narrow eyes shone with a sharp light.

This man was the owner of the gambling den and also a powerful leader in several nearby villages—Yan Kan.

Only a local bigwig like him could have the ability to steadily open a casino that makes a fortune every day on this ancient road where all sorts of people gather, and manage relationships with all parties. Without such connections, even desperate gamblers might have tried to kill him.

Yan Kan exhaled a puff of smoke, squinted at the heavily indebted official from the Prince's mansion before him, and said in a thick accent, "Lord of Zhige Division? What a rare guest. Please sit."

After speaking, he paused, then asked, half respectfully and half casually:
"May I ask your surname?"

Chen Yi's face darkened slightly, as if he were somewhat uneasy, and he said, "My surname is Chen, and my given name is 'Ming'. I do not have a courtesy name."

“No problem, I don’t have a name either. Yan Kan, the headman here.” Yan Kan put down his water pipe and a hearty smile spread across his face. “Brother Chen Ming, Zhige Division, that’s the most prestigious government office in the Prince’s Mansion! They control the swordsmen of the Jianghu and keep the heroes of all directions in check. Ordinary people have to be respectful to them. As for me, although I’m just making a living here, I’ve always had great respect for the lords of the Prince’s Mansion.”

He changed the subject, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice, saying, "However, everyone has their difficulties. When money is tight, no one can avoid it... Hmm? Brother, you just had a bit of bad luck this time. 1,200 taels isn't a lot, but it's not a small amount either. Asking Brother Chen to take it out all at once would probably be a huge financial burden and would delay the official business of the Prince's Mansion, which wouldn't be good."

Chen Yi's Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes darting away, and he remained silent.

Yan Kan's smile deepened. "Brother, I'm the most loyal of all, and I have the utmost respect for the officials of the Prince's Mansion. How about we make a deal that benefits both of us? This debt is settled, and you can take back your waist token."

Chen Yi suddenly looked up, a glimmer of disbelief and hope flashing in his eyes. "To wipe the slate clean? Boss Yan Kan means...?"

“Simple!” Yan Kan waved his hand. “Brother Chen, you’re still working for the Zhige Division, so you must have some… well, connections. For example, at certain checkpoints and outposts, having the Zhige Division’s name makes it easier to let people through.”

Brother, I'm just doing some personal business for my clansmen. We have a few shipments that need to cross the border recently, using the routes controlled by the Prince's Mansion. Brother Chen, you just need to do us a favor, turn a blind eye, and let our men and goods pass through smoothly. Don't let those ignorant soldiers block the way too much. They've been getting fatter and fatter over the years, and their tributes have been too high. We also have our difficulties, otherwise we wouldn't have come to you, Brother Chen.

"Once it's done, our accounts will be settled! Take the badge back! And... well, you'll get your hard-earned money, brother."

"What if...it gets found out?"

“Brother Chen, you owe gambling debts, and you signed a contract with a gambling den. According to the rules, if you can't pay it back, your hands and feet will be chopped off, and you'll be thrown into the river to feed the fish! Even if the Prince's Mansion finds out, they'll just think you deserve it! The waist token of the Zhige Division? Ha, a waist token used to pay off debts after losing gambling, what does that prove? It only proves that you're an uncontrollable gambling addict! Will the Prince's Mansion stand up for a gambling addict, or will they just let you go like a fart to save face?”

With each word he spoke, Chen Yi went from hesitant to speechless.

Yan Kan patted him heavily on the shoulder one last time, "Do us chieftain a small favor, keep your job, pay off your debts, and maybe even make some extra money. You're a regular customer, so don't blame me for not helping you make money."

"...When?" he asked with great difficulty.

Yan Kan smiled with satisfaction, the shrewdness in his eyes undiminished: "Brother Chen is a wise man! The goods are just some local products from the mountains, medicinal herbs, hides and the like, not worth much money, just in large quantities for convenience. As for the checkpoints, someone will naturally tell you the specific routes and times when the time comes; just do them a favor."

As for the timing... there's no rush, it'll be within the next ten days to two weeks, brother, just wait patiently.

Chen Yi opened his mouth, but in the end only gave a low "hmm".

Yan Kan laughed heartily, picked up Chen Yi's Zhigesi waist token, and casually tossed it back to him: "Take it! Brother Chen is a straightforward man! Don't worry, once the matter is settled, we're even! You can stay in town for the next few days; someone will contact you. Someone, escort Brother Chen out and find some good women to treat him well!"

(End of this chapter)