Chapter 93

First Volume, Chapter 93: I Won

Half-asleep, Qin Xiaofu perked up at Qin Feng's words and asked curiously: "Young Master, there's something I'm not sure whether I should say."

Qin Feng kept kicking his leg: "If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got a fart to let out, let it out."

Qin Xiaofu scratched his head: "Young Master, I'm just wondering—how could anyone just walk into the Imperial Palace? Without the Emperor's summons, even Court Heavy Ministers or Imperial Relatives dare not enter uninvited. You speak as if you can foresee the future…"

Qin Feng casually grabbed a handful of peanuts, leaned back in the reclining chair, and swayed lazily, then asked instead of answering: "Don't believe me? How about we make a bet?"

At this, Qin Xiaofu shook his head like a rattle drum, face pale with fear: "I don't have any money!"

As Qin Feng's personal attendant, Qin Xiaofu knew his master's nature too well: whenever Qin Feng wanted to gamble, the outcome was almost certain—meaning Qin Feng never gambled without certainty.

And…

Qin Feng had too great a gambling habit—he'd wager tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, and even the High Cadre Children of Jingzhong had been thoroughly fleeced by him. Qin Xiaofu, a mere servant, had neither the courage nor the capital to gamble with Qin Feng.

Seeing Qin Xiaofu's cowardly expression, Qin Feng snorted: "You don't have money? Don't give me that. Since you've been by my side, you've pocketed plenty. If I'm not mistaken, you've got about three thousand taels of silver in your pocket."

At these words, Qin Xiaofu nearly died on the spot.

He fell to his knees with a thud, trembling as he banged his head on the ground, wailing: "Young Master, I deserve to die a thousand deaths—I'll never dare again!"

Qin Xiaofu didn't even have the courage to defend himself—the reason was simple: his entire fortune amounted to exactly three thousand and fifty taels of silver.

Qin Feng's accuracy wasn't guesswork—he'd been watching Qin Xiaofu closely all along, and knew every single benefit Qin Xiaofu had skimmed during this time.

Qin Feng tossed a peanut into the air, caught it effortlessly in his mouth, and said calmly: "I'm not blaming you. Why are you so nervous? Listen well: taking bribes isn't forbidden—but know your limits. Know what profits you can touch and what you can't. If you cross this Young Master's red line, I won't give you a chance to reform—I'll crush you underfoot. Do you understand?"

Qin Xiaofu didn't dare hesitate a moment—he nodded like a pounding pestle: "Young Master, your magnanimity humbles me. My admiration for you flows like an endless river! Rest assured, for any interest belonging to the Qin Family or to you, Young Master, even if I had a hundred times the courage, I'd never dare lay a finger on it."

To make the horse run, you must let it eat grass.

Qin Xiaofu, as a servant, couldn't be paid too high a salary—otherwise, he'd incite jealousy or even hatred from other servants in the Qin Residence, ultimately undermining unity within the household.

But Qin Xiaofu was Qin Feng's confidant—he had to be well rewarded, for profit and loyalty were linked. So Qin Feng always turned a blind eye to Qin Xiaofu's minor embezzlement.

"Get up," Qin Feng smiled. "Let's not make it big—how about fifty taels of silver?"

Before Qin Xiaofu could answer, a light voice floated over: "Since you're so confident, I'd like to try."

Qin Feng shuddered, turned toward the voice, and saw Jing Qianying standing in his Xiaoyuan—when had she arrived?

The Gate had been locked—how did she get in? Had she climbed over the wall?

Qin Feng was startled into full alertness, leapt up, offered the reclining chair to her, bowed low, and spoke with near-sycophantic deference: "Fourth Sister, you nearly scared me to death! Next time, give me a heads-up before you come—my poor heart can't take it."

Jing Qianying ignored his flattery, sat down in the reclining chair, glanced over Qin Feng once, and said casually: "Fifty taels of silver is too little. If we're going to play, play big."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's eyes lit up with excitement: "Fourth Sister, I had no idea you liked gambling! Fine, what do you want to bet?"

Jing Qianying held a jade flute in her hand, rested it lightly on Qin Feng's shoulder, making him stumble backward in alarm: "If the Emperor summons you to the palace, you win—Shu Feng becomes yours to command. If you lose, you give me one-tenth of your White Sugar Industry profits."

Qin Feng stepped back several paces, putting distance between them, his eyes filled with wariness: "Fourth Sister, you're a martial cultivator—why do you need so much money? Besides, the White Sugar Industry is co-owned by me and Second Sister—I can't decide alone. Can't I just opt out?"

Qin Feng was puzzled: Jing Qianying was a figure from the Jianghu, always treating money as dirt—why had she suddenly taken interest in the White Sugar Industry?

Seeing Qin Feng's stinginess, Jing Qianying wasn't fazed—she tapped the jade flute twice in her palm, her tone heavy with threat: "No bet? Fine. From now on, Shu Feng has nothing to do with you. If you need bodyguards in the future, figure it out yourself."

"Also, I'll spread word myself: from this moment on, Qin Feng's personal safety has nothing to do with me, Jing Qianying."

With that, she rose and walked away.

Qin Feng collapsed to the ground with a thud, clutched Jing Qianying's leg, and wept bitterly: "Sister, you can't be this cruel! At this deadline, if I don't have a master-level protector, I won't even get to eat mooncakes for Mid-Autumn! Don't go—I'll bet, I'll bet!"

Jing Qianying, certain Qin Feng couldn't live without her, poked him away with the jade flute, as if disgusted, brushed dust off her leg, and said casually: "I'll speak with Second Sister myself. From now on, send me one-tenth of the White Sugar Industry profits each month to the Imperial Treasury."

"Huh?" Qin Feng stared blankly. "We haven't even placed the bet yet—isn't this a bit premature?"

Jing Qianying offered no explanation—she turned, hands behind her back, jade flute in hand, and walked off slowly, dropping one final line: "I've already won."

At that very deadline, a Servant ran up, panting: "Young Master! The Emperor has summoned you!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng was overjoyed—he shouted toward Jing Qianying, who had already leapt onto the wall: "Sister, you lost! Shu Feng is mine now! You've got no claim on the White Sugar Industry! Hehe, don't blame me! Hahaha…"

"Is that so?" Jing Qianying's lips curled into a smile as she gave Qin Feng a look that said "good luck," then vanished over the wall.

Qin Feng stood tall, patted Qin Xiaofu's head, and boasted: "See? No one has ever beaten me at gambling—they haven't even been born yet."

"Ah? Young Master, um…"

Qin Xiaofu hated to dampen Qin Feng's spirits, but since the imperial summons had arrived and couldn't be delayed, he whispered a warning: "Didn't you forget something? Second Sister went outside the city to welcome the sugar merchants, and to ensure her safety, Fourth Sister sent Shu Feng along with her."

"Huh?!"

Qin Feng's smile froze on his face. Enraged, he slapped Qin Xiaofu on the forehead: "Why didn't you tell me sooner!"