Lu Yuan played one round, lost one round; played ten rounds, lost ten rounds. In the end, Meng 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 some time.
While they played their game, Bao Shu and Tan’er were on the bed playing their own chaotic game of cards. It was still leaf cards, just with lots of yelling for effect and results entirely reliant on who snatched faster.
Meng 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, Meng 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."
Meng Qianqian exclaimed in surprise.
"What’s the matter?"
Lu Yuan asked, maintaining a calm and aloof demeanor.
Meng 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.
Meng Qianqian quickly raised her head, rubbed her forehead, and asked, "Did I hurt you?"
Lu Yuan: "It hurt."
Meng Qianqian: "Huh?"
Lu Yuan replied coolly, "Don’t you know how heavy your head is?"
Meng 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.
Meng Qianqian extended her deft hands and began a serious attempt to massage the Grand mander’s shoulders.
When it came to humble service, she meant 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 motion and quiet.
"Grand mander, it’s your turn to play a card."
Meng Qianqian reminded him.
"Which one should I play?"
He asked, expressionless.
"This one."
Meng Qianqian pointed to one of the cards in his hand. "With cards this bad, it’s all up to me and my godlike gambling skills to turn things around!"
The card fell.
"I won!"
Nanny Li exclaimed joyfully.
Lu Yuan shot Meng Qianqian a sidelong glance: "Is this what you call godlike gambling skills?"
Meng Qianqian blinked guiltily, her eyes darting around before pointing at his ear: "Grand mander, 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.
Meng Qianqian initially won too, but ever since she started teaching Lu Yuan, she’d lost everything alongside him.
Lu Yuan thought seriously for a moment: "We’ll play again next time."
Meng Qianqian shuddered: Somebody help!
Meng 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 mander."
Meng 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 mander, it’s been a long time 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 bee the wolf king.
But every time he came close to triumph, an overpowering, unstoppable hand would pull him back into Purgatory.
Time 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 mean he didn’t suffer.
This time, however, he didn’t have to bear it alone. He now had someone by his side who wouldn’t leave him.
"Steward Cen."
Lu Yuan stopped at his door. "Why didn’t you leave me?"
Steward Cen answered calmly, "Grand mander, have you forgotten? This servant needs you to do something for me, but only when you are strong enough can you acplish it. I am waiting for that day to e."
Lu Yuan said proudly, "That day will e."
Steward Cen smiled and replied, "I believe in you, Grand mander."
The Grand mander did not trust sincerity. He only trusted value and leverage, which meant 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—some said the Prime Minister had frightened him into illness, others said the Supreme Emperor had placed him under house arrest, and still others claimed he was secretly plotting rebellion. No one believed he was simply enjoying himself at home.
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 e I never noticed?"
Yu Zichuan replied, "Because by the time 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 Prime Minister’s Mansion, making him one of their own.
Xun Yu said gently, "I heard you were unwell, so I came 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 plexion 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 me with inviting the Supreme Emperor down the mountain, who initially sought to execute me. It was my foster father’s plea that spared my life. I am grateful to him beyond measure—how could I possibly resent him?"
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