Chapter 64: Going to Help Him?

Xiao Mingyu leaned forward slightly, soothing Yan Zhirong, "No need to get angry with them, it's not worth it."

He raised his eyebrows again, looking toward Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan, "Anyone can talk big; let's see if you can remain this composed after losing your silver later, young master."

As the words fell, the dice roller lifted the dice cup, "One, two, three, five points, Small!"

Xiao Mingyu was stunned.

Yan Zhirong was also stunned.

Nan Xueyin reacted half a beat late; she had bet correctly.

The dice roller divided the silver and presented the principal along with the winnings to Nan Xueyin, smiling eagerly, "Congratulations, young master, a lucky start!"

This was her first time winning; Nan Xueyin lowered her eyes, the gleaming silver before her almost piled into a small hill.

She turned her head to look at the person beside her.

Xiao Youlan sat upright, a gentle smile on his face, "Didn't I say, all the good luck has been given to you."

Nan Xueyin's heart suddenly softened; for a long while, she didn't know what to say.

"Again!"

Yan Zhirong's voice, filled with unwillingness, came from across the table.

She stared at Nan Xueyin, "Young master wouldn't run away after winning just one round, would you?"

Nan Xueyin's expression was cold, and mimicking Xiao Youlan's tone from just a moment ago, she said, "Just don't run away yourselves when you lose miserably."

Yan Zhirong was so angry she laughed, "What a big mouth you have!"

She ordered the dice roller, "Roll!"

The dice roller glanced at Xiao Youlan involuntarily, and seeing no unusual expression, smiled and said "Yes," picking up the dice cup again.

The shaking stopped, and Yan Zhirong looked at Xiao Mingyu.

Xiao Mingyu lowered his head and wrote a character in her palm.

A triumphant smile curled the corners of Yan Zhirong's mouth as she pushed all the silver in front of her to bet on "Big."

She raised her eyebrows and looked toward Nan Xueyin, "Young master, this round, will you bet with me or not?"

Nan Xueyin ignored her, tilted her head, and whispered to Xiao Youlan, "Forgot to tell you, Prince Duan can hear the sound of the dice and distinguish the points based on the sound. This time it should be Big."

Xiao Youlan said warmly, "Then do you want to bet on Big?"

Nan Xueyin didn't even think, "No."

They were here to wreck the place, so how could they possibly bet along with the other side.

She glanced at him, her voice even softer, "I'm afraid of losing too much; after all, it is your silver."

Xiao Youlan's eyes were filled with smiles, "Just a moment ago you were calling me brother, and now it has become my silver?"

Nan Xueyin's earlobes suddenly burned.

"The matter of silver is the smallest matter," Xiao Youlan laughed, "Whatever you want to bet, however much you want to bet, it doesn't matter."

Nan Xueyin looked at him; his expression was very serious when he said this, not joking.

Thus, she gained some confidence, and except for that jade pendant, she pushed all the gold and silver in front of her, along with what she had just won, to bet on "Small."

Yan Zhirong laughed as she watched, "Still young and impetuous."

Others at the gambling table followed her to bet on Big, and seeing Nan Xueyin's move, they were even more delighted; after all, if Nan Xueyin lost, they could all get a share of the spoils.

The onlookers on the side were all shaking their heads and sighing.

"This young master is going to lose miserably."

"Why must he insist on going against this person?"

"I wonder if those two brothers really have that much silver to lose?"

"..."

Amidst the complex discussions, Yan Zhirong was certain of victory and urged, "Open it quickly!"

The dice roller responded and lifted the dice cup.

"Two, two, two, six points, Small!"

Nan Xueyin had originally held no expectations for the result, thinking she was sure to lose, but upon hearing it was actually "Small," she was thoroughly stunned.

She couldn't help but look at Xiao Youlan—is the Crown Prince a bit too divine?

Xiao Youlan was still sitting there calmly, his face as ordinary as could be, yet he was completely different from everyone else around him; due to his leisurely and gentle demeanor, he unexpectedly revealed a sense of handsomeness.

All the smiles on Yan Zhirong's face vanished instantly, her gaze fixed on the dice cup, but what lay there quietly were indeed three twos.

"How is this possible!"

Yan Zhirong would not suspect Prince Duan, so she only glared at the dice roller, "You dare to cheat!"

The dice roller looked innocent, "Baoli Pavilion is a proper gambling house, how could I cheat? Besides, I am not placing bets, and I am complete strangers with everyone here, why would I cheat? This master, please don't blame us just because you lost silver!"

Yan Zhirong frowned, "You and them, I'm afraid you're in cahoots, aren't you?"

The dice roller said, "Young master, for you to say that is truly to wrong me. I have been at Baoli Pavilion for many years; regular customers know about my family affairs and also know that these two are complete strangers to me."

Many of those at the table and the onlookers were regular customers, and upon hearing this, they nodded one after another.

Yan Zhirong, however, said, "Wrong. At first, your attitude toward the two of them was indifferent; it was only after seeing that jade pendant that you became enthusiastic. Later, you also frequently observed their reactions. Even if you aren't friends or family, you must certainly be taking orders from them."

Xiao Mingyu looked at the jade pendant again and finally slowly remembered something.

To be able to open a gambling house in Fengdu, the background is definitely not simple, and this Baoli Pavilion is the largest gambling house in Fengdu; the entity hidden behind it must be a behemoth.

Xiao Mingyu had suspected Prince Kang, and he had also suspected the Jing Prince.

Now, looking at the jade pendant on the table, he finally confirmed that this Baoli Pavilion was indeed the territory of the Eastern Palace.

Xiao Mingyu was stunned in his heart and looked at the man opposite him again; the more he looked, the more familiar he felt—not his appearance, but his entire bearing.

It was almost exactly the same as that Xiao Youlan he hated!

"Am I right?"

Seeing the dice-thrower remain silent, Yan Zhirong's aura grew even more piercing as she questioned Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan: "Who on earth are you two?!"

Nan Xueyin, however, had not heard a word she said; with a grave expression, she grabbed Xiao Youlan's wrist.

Xiao Youlan thought she was worried about their identities being discovered and was just about to reassure her that it didn't matter.

Nan Xueyin lowered her voice and said, "There is killing intent."

Before the words had even faded, three men suddenly lunged out from the crowd of onlookers, drew the Short Blades at their waists, and slashed straight toward Xiao Mingyu.

Xiao Mingyu remained seated in his chair, his Hidden Guards appearing just in time to block the three men.

The crowd screamed in alarm and scattered in all directions.

Nan Xueyin stood up, shoved the jade pendant into Xiao Youlan's robes, pulled the silver she had won toward her, and lifted her hem to tuck it away, saying, "Let's go!"

Xiao Youlan found it somewhat amusing: "Why must you take the silver?"

Nan Xueyin looked at him strangely: "I won it with such difficulty, do you expect me to leave it for the gambling den?"

Xiao Youlan could not help but let out a laugh.

"Nan Xueyin!"

They had not gone far when Nan Xueyin suddenly heard Xiao Mingyu's voice behind her.

Her footsteps halted, and she turned to look back.

From somewhere unknown, the number of Assassins over there had already increased to six.

The Hidden Guards Xiao Mingyu had brought were too few, and they were struggling to hold them off; he held Yan Zhirong close, and the two of them retreated continuously under the protection of the Hidden Guards.

Another Hidden Guard was killed, creating a gap in the defensive line, and an Assassin struck with a sword in time; even though Xiao Mingyu dodged with all his might, he was still wounded on his right arm.

It was also at this moment that he shouted Nan Xueyin's name.

After shouting, he realized belatedly that Nan Xueyin was no longer by his side; whether it was because the wound was too painful or for some other reason, his face turned deathly pale.

"Can't bear to see it?"

Xiao Youlan also stopped, his gaze dark and murky as he stared at her: "Are you going to help him?"