Chapter 56

As Shen Shuangning was heading down to the first-floor lobby, someone suddenly rushed toward her from the opposite direction.

She couldn't dodge in time and was knocked aside, but Aheng had quick eyes and hands and steadied her.

"Miss, are you all right?" she said, then glared at the person and shouted, "Watch where you're going!"

Shen Shuangning grabbed her, shook her head, and said, "I'm fine, let's go back first."

Who would have thought that after just a few steps, Shen Shuangning suddenly sensed something wrong; she reached to her waist and indeed found that something had been picked from her!

Her face changed instantly: "Oh no, I've run into a pickpocket."

Aheng glanced at the miss's waist and saw it was empty, then realized: "It was that person just now!"

Shen Shuangning's expression turned grave: "I must get it back; my purse still holds the waist token the princess gave me, and that thing absolutely cannot be lost!!"

This waist token allows free entry and exit from the palace; if it falls into the hands of villains who use it for wrongdoing, no matter what happens, she will be unable to clear her name!

Upon hearing this, Aheng grasped the seriousness and immediately said, "Miss, wait here; I'll go after him!"

Shen Shuangning hurriedly said, "Don't get entangled with him; if he's only after money, give it to him, but the waist token must be retrieved."

Aheng nodded repeatedly: "Understood!" and then hurried off.

Today's meeting with Pei Zhi is for a private matter; she doesn't want to draw attention, so she neither took a carriage nor brought extra people.

After Aheng left, only the maid Ahzhao remained beside Shen Shuangning.

Ahzhao is a home-born servant of unblemished background; she has been by Shen Shuangning's side since childhood, accompanying her longer than Aheng has.

Though Ahzhao knows no martial arts, she is thoughtful, meticulous, and steady, able to complement Aheng; the only regret is that she is mute.

Both were maids Shen Shuangning brought as part of her dowry when she married in her previous life; however, Ahzhao accidentally fell into the water and drowned, leaving only Aheng to accompany her.

Although Ahzhao is also anxious now, she steadily helps Shen Shuangning sit down at the side, makes a gesture, and then points upstairs.

Shen Shuangning understands her meaning: Ahzhao wants to go find Master Pei for help.

But the earlier conversation left Shen Shuangning still uneasy about Pei Zhi, and her brows slowly knotted.

"Let's wait a bit longer. Aheng is skilled; ordinary people aren't her match."

Ahzhao then waited quietly.

Soon after, a man in a blue-gray long robe walked straight up to Shen Shuangning and bowed.

"Miss Shen Fourth, my young lady requests your presence."

Shen Shuangning looked at him and asked, "Who is your young lady?"

The man lowered his head and said, "My young lady is the eldest daughter of the Song household."

"Song Xizhi is looking for her?"

Shen Shuangning frowned.

The man said, "The eldest daughter has specially prepared food and drink in the elegant room, and by the way, Fourth Miss's maid is also there."

Shen Shuangning glanced at the man, feeling suspicious in her heart.

Leaving aside how Song Xizhi knew she was also at Drunken Cloud Pavilion, it's too coincidental that her important item was just lost, and then the other party immediately came to summon her, and Aheng happened to be there as well.

I fear there is something fishy, the aim being to lure her over.

Aheng and the waist token are in the other party's hands; she cannot avoid going.

Shen Shuangning's eyes shifted slightly, and she said calmly, "Please lead the way."

As the man led the way ahead, Shen Shuangning suddenly stopped, patted her body as if she had dropped something, turned back and said, "I seem to have dropped something over there; Ahzhao, go fetch it for me."

While speaking, she secretly gave Ahzhao a look.

Ahzhao's heart gave a slight jolt; she nodded with a normal expression, then turned and hurried off.

Shen Shuangning knew Ahzhao would understand her meaning.

The gray-robed man said nothing more, gestured "please" to Shen Shuangning, and continued leading the way ahead.

Shen Shuangning noticed he wasn't taking her upstairs but instead detoured around the bustling lobby and headed toward the sparsely populated rear garden of Drunken Cloud Pavilion.

It felt as if they had suddenly arrived at another place, exceptionally secluded and quiet.

Walking along the covered walkway, some unpleasant memories surged into her mind.

Shen Shuangning's clasped hands in front of her tightened slightly, and she grew increasingly uneasy.

This wasn't her first visit; this is the place of her rebirth, and counting, she has been here twice before, though both times were at night, whereas now it is afternoon and the light is bright.

Yet strangely, the walls here are very high, much higher than those of the rear residence, and the trees planted around are exceptionally tall and dense, making the area somewhat dark and concealed.

Moreover, the layout here is also odd; water can be seen all along the way, and there are many Eight Trigrams formations.

Shen Shuangning increasingly felt this place was unusual, and she began to worry whether Ahzhao would be able to find her later.

As they passed a pile of strangely shaped rockwork, Shen Shuangning inexplicably glanced over, and a sudden sense of familiarity welled up.

It seemed as if she had lingered there before?

Thus she fixed her gaze and looked for a moment.

Suddenly, a image flashed in her mind—she in a man's embrace seeking pleasure, utterly alluring, her two hands hooked around his neck, rising on tiptoe to kiss his neck, jaw, and cheeks repeatedly... while the man remained unmoved, only gripping her waist tightly.

That aloof demeanor was exactly like her husband from her previous life!

Shen Shuangning's eyes widened abruptly; this absurd thought flashed through and was immediately choked off by her.

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible for it to be Xiao Jingyuan! The person who saved her was clearly Xie Lin!

At that moment, not far off, a group of men came walking together.

Her train of thought was interrupted; Shen Shuangning withdrew her gaze and no longer looked at the rockwork.

"Brother Wang, your luck today is truly as if the Wealth God has possessed you!"

"Brother, I've bet big and small over a dozen times, and each time it's been the opposite—I'm about to lose even my belt!"

Wang Huanzi curled the corner of his mouth in a faint smile: "Gambling is like chess; it's all about reading the situation. Just now the banker opened big seven times in a row—anyone with sense knows to bet small."

That person cupped his hands toward him and flattered, saying, "It's still Brother Wang who's formidable; next time, bring along us brothers. If we keep losing, my woman will run away."

Wang Huanzi laughed heartily, patted the person's shoulder: "Today's money, let's just consider it a gift from heaven. Another day I'll host, I'll invite the three of you to watch a show!"

While speaking, his gaze caught sight of a woman coming toward them; he instinctively paused and couldn't help but glance at her twice.

Shen Shuangning, on the other hand, didn't look at them, lowering her eyelids; but she had already overheard their conversation just now.

Her heart was greatly shocked; she finally realized why everything about this place felt off.

"Water" can generate wealth; the Eight Trigrams formation suppresses evil, and those oddly shaped fake rocks are not for aesthetics but for a wealth-bringing feng shui layout—inside the Drunken Cloud Pavilion lies an underground gambling house!

Wang Huanzi's gaze withdrew from the woman, a flicker of suspicion flashing in his eyes.

Strange, isn't that the Fourth Miss Shen from the Rong Dukedom Manor? What is she doing here?

Wang Huanzi kept a wary eye.

After leaving the Drunken Cloud Pavilion, Wang Huanzi shook off those few young masters he had met at the gambling house, then deliberately took a roundabout route, making sure no one was following behind, he turned back and slipped into an inconspicuous alley.

This place is not far from the Drunken Cloud Pavilion.

Before him stood a low-key manor without a signboard; Wang Huanzi grasped the rusted copper ring on the wooden door and knocked lightly four times.

Qing Yun, still nursing his injuries, opened the door; seeing it was him, he stepped aside to let him pass.

After entering, Wang Huanzi shoved the door shut with his backhand, then grabbed Qing Yun's shoulder, his excitement barely contained: "You absolutely can't guess who I saw today!"

"Who did you see?"

The voice came from not far away.

Wang Huanzi looked up and saw Su Chen walking out of the house, stopping under the eaves, gazing at him.

Upon seeing him, Wang Huanzi immediately released Qing Yun, composed himself, stepped forward and replied, "Sir, I saw the Third Prince!"

Su Chen stood on the steps; hearing this, his expression tightened and he narrowed his eyes: "Are you sure you saw clearly?"

"Absolutely certain!" Wang Huanzi said with a confident expression.

The Third Prince wasn't wearing a python robe, but his face was still quite recognizable.

After staring for so long, Zhai Ji finally appeared!

Su Chen then asked, "Did you see what he went to do?"

Wang Huanzi shook his head: "I don't know that, I only saw him heading toward the back of the gambling house; I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't follow..."

Su Chen was silent for a moment.

Wang Huanzi stood below the steps, looking up at Su Chen. He knew well that this plainly dressed young man in blue was highly valued by Young Master Xiao, so he always maintained a degree of respect in his presence.

As if recalling something, Wang Huanzi pulled two silver notes from his sleeve and offered them with both hands to Su Chen.

Su Chen kept one hand behind his back, lowered his eyes and glanced at him.

Wang Huanzi's smile carried a hint of flattery: "Sir Su, this is what I won back from the gambling house; I'm returning it to you."

Su Chen disliked the money as tainted, refused to take it, and glanced at Qing Yun.

Qing Yun voluntarily stepped forward, snatched the silver notes from his hand, then stood silently to the side without a word.

Wang Huanzi did not miss the disgust in Su Chen's eyes; the smile at the corner of his mouth stiffened slightly, and as he lowered his hand he unconsciously rubbed his cuff, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right, I also saw the Fourth Miss of the Rong Dukedom Manor!"

Su Chen, who had been lowering his eyes in thought, snapped his head up at the words and hurriedly asked, "Did you see her at the Drunken Cloud Pavilion or at the gambling house?"

"I saw her heading toward the gambling house," Wang Huanzi said.

If he hadn't seen her at the gambling house, Wang Huanzi wouldn't have mentioned it at all.

He couldn't help but grumble: "I don't know why a young lady like her would go to such a place; it's a den of mixed fish and dragons, and she had no one with her—could it be she has some connection to that gambling house..."

Impossible!

Su Chen thought, Shen Shuangning could hardly have any involvement with the gambling house, but the Fourth Miss appearing in such a place is certainly no good.

Could it be related to the Third Prince?

Oh no, something bad is bound to happen!

Su Chen brushed past Wang Huanzi and hurriedly walked out.

"Sir Su, do you still need me to do anything?" Wang Huanzi asked in a fawning manner.

Su Chen turned back and said, "Hurry back to the gambling house and be sure to find the Fourth Miss!"

Wang Huanzi blinked, about to ask something, but Su Chen had already left without looking back.

That flash of blue clothing vanished from sight.

A flicker of surprise crossed Wang Huanzi's eyes; since he had come to know Sir Su, he had never seen him so close to losing composure.

Wang Huanzi's sharp eyes shifted, and suddenly he realized: after all this trouble, the Third Prince had finally appeared at the gambling house; now was the best chance to catch him in the act—it seemed the Pacification Office would move to raid the Drunken Cloud Pavilion today!

Thinking of this, Wang Huanzi felt a bit regretful deep down.

Once the Pacification Office takes action, the Drunken Cloud Pavilion and its gambling house will cease to exist; he had lost so much money there before, and today he only won one hand, not even recouping his stake! Although that money wasn't his anyway...

As for the reason Su Chen ordered him to find Shen Shuangning, Wang Huanzi's clever mind quickly grasped his intention.

The Pacification Office wants to achieve great merit; capturing the Third Prince isn't enough, they also want to drag the Rong Dukedom Manor into trouble!

Once he understood, Wang Huanzi knew what attitude to adopt toward Fourth Miss Shen; he curled his lip and immediately set off for the Drunken Cloud Pavilion.

Su Chen had good reason to entrust the rescue mission to Wang Huanzi: he was familiar with the gambling house's layout, could find the person quickly, and as a regular there he wouldn't draw suspicion—sending him was the most suitable choice.

However, he overlooked one thing: he overestimated Wang Huanzi's intelligence.

The man in gray robes took many twists and turns, bringing Shen Shuangning to a house.

"Fourth Miss, please."

Shen Shuangning's heart sank; she had a premonition of who she would meet, and indeed upon pushing the door open she saw not Song Xizhi but the Third Prince Zhai Ji, who had been waiting for a long time.

The table was already laden with fine wine and delicacies.

Zhai Ji wore a moon-white brocade robe, looking respectable but behaving like a dog; he had one hand resting on the table holding a wine cup, the other on his knee, and upon hearing the sound he turned his gaze, his handsome face breaking into a smile.

Shen Shuangning clenched her fingers, feigning surprise: "Third Prince?"

She put on a fearful look, bowed in salute: "Your servant girl has seen the Third Prince."

Zhai Ji set down his cup, rose at once, elegant and graceful as he walked toward her, reaching out to help her up.

"Ningning, no need for so much ceremony."

Shen Shuangning broke out in gooseflesh all over at that "Ningning," her expression nearly failing to stay composed.

Before Zhai Ji could touch her, she instinctively stepped back in disgust, lifted her eyes to him, forced a smile, and said: "Third Prince, what are you doing here?"

Zhai Ji's outstretched hand froze in midair; he raised his brows, not annoyed, and turned to pour wine.

His movements were smooth and unhurried, as if Shen Shuangning were already his to hold, with no worry she might flee.

The door behind her closed silently; the gray-clad man who had led the way did not follow her inside.

Now it seemed only she and Zhai Ji remained in the room.

Shen Shuangning watched Zhai Ji's movements, her unease growing; even though sunlight streamed in through the window, she felt only a chilling cold.

Zhai Ji finished pouring the wine, held it before her, and smiled slowly: "Seeing me, aren't you delighted?"