Chapter Sixty-Eight: All In

“No wonder this is Director Gong’s painting,” Li Yunjie exclaimed sincerely as he unfurled the splendid landscape scroll. Every stroke seemed infused with the spirit of heaven and earth. At a glance, one could almost hear the mountains whispering, the streams murmuring. Each blade of grass, every flower and bird, all appeared to be alive. Whether in color or composition, it was flawless.

“But…” Li Yunjie frowned. “Why does this painting look as though only half of it remains?” He gazed at the abrupt lines at the edge, suspicion rising within him.

“Sir,” Eleven pointed beneath a peach tree in the painting, “there seems to be someone here.”

Following the direction, Li Yunjie indeed saw the back of a woman in green. A gentle breeze lifted her long hair, mingling it with the falling petals as if they danced together.

“That’s odd,” Li Yunjie muttered, his brow furrowing deeper. “Why would a landscape painting feature the figure of a woman?”

Strangely, the woman’s bearing bore a faint resemblance to Yun Xiqiu. But then he recalled the white eyebrows and beard of Gong Qingfeng, and his doubts only grew.

No, that can’t be right. If Yun Xiqiu truly had an affair with Gong Qingfeng, why would she keep pestering me?

Unable to unravel the mystery, Li Yunjie could only sigh inwardly and roll up the painting.

“The weather is clear and bright today—perfect for going out,” he said at last, letting out a long breath.

With that, he went next door and knocked on Su Qingmeng’s door.

“What is it?” Su Qingmeng’s expression was somewhat sullen, her tone edged with ire.

“Didn’t you want to know where those silver taels were fenced?” Li Yunjie got straight to the point.

Su Qingmeng responded with a nonchalant “Oh,” called for Su Xiyan, and together they set out into the street.

Winding through several alleys and crossing two bridges, they soon arrived at Yangchun Street, known in Jiangnan as the “Little Kyoto.”

The street bustled with carriages and crowds. Yangchun Street was the most prosperous thoroughfare in all of Jiangnan. There were no hawkers calling out by the roadside; all that met the eye were elegant storefronts. The passersby were well-dressed, chatting and laughing as they went.

Passing a jewelry shop, Su Xiyan tugged at her sister’s sleeve, stopping in her tracks, her gaze fixed intently on the dazzling array of hairpins and necklaces within, envy flickering at the corners of her mouth.

It was only natural for a woman to love beauty—except, perhaps, for Su Qingmeng, who never wore jewelry.

Li Yunjie read the longing in Su Xiyan’s eyes and, without a word, turned into the jewelry store.

“As it happens, my hairpin could use replacing,” he remarked.

The moment Li Yunjie entered, Su Xiyan let go of her sister’s sleeve and scampered after him with delight.

Su Qingmeng could only sigh helplessly. “I don’t see what’s so interesting about these things,” she murmured, following them inside.

“They’re heavy and inconvenient anyway,” she added as she entered.

From the moment Su Xiyan stepped into the shop, her mouth rarely closed—not only because the jewelry was beautiful, but also because of the staggering prices.

White Jade Hairpin: Ten taels.
Dragon and Phoenix Blessings: Fifteen taels.
South Sea Pearl Earrings: Twenty taels.
And so on.

Li Yunjie stood aside, smiling. The sheltered young lady of the prime minister’s household looked so out of her depth, it was almost endearing.

“A few trinkets, fetching such outrageous prices?!” Su Qingmeng, too, stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

“You’re mistaken, miss,” a plump, heavily made-up wealthy lady nearby explained. “Jewelry is a woman’s face—only the most expensive sets off one’s bearing.”

With that, she turned to admire her own earrings in a bronze mirror, visibly pleased.

Su Qingmeng snorted in disdain, unconvinced.

The wealthy lady said no more, but turned to her gaunt, middle-aged husband. “Husband, pay the bill.”

“Certainly,” he replied, though his face twisted with pain as he reluctantly handed over a banknote and carefully stowed the returned silver.

Li Yunjie shook his head with a wry smile. “A woman’s money is the easiest to earn.”

He looked over to find Su Xiyan staring dazedly at a purple jade bracelet.

“Do you like it?” Li Yunjie ventured.

Su Xiyan glanced at the price, then sighed and shook her head.

Li Yunjie was somewhat surprised. You’re the daughter of the prime minister’s residence—since when do you check the price before buying?

But thinking it over, Su Xiyan hadn’t left the residence since she was six. All her knowledge of prices came from this journey south—and mostly from buying food. In her eyes, a roast chicken that could fill her belly cost only a few coins; a cold, hard bracelet for dozens of taels was hardly worth it!

“Sensible enough,” Li Yunjie thought quietly.

After half an hour of browsing, Su Xiyan finally chose only a modest pair of jade-inlaid earrings—probably the cheapest item there.

At the register, while the Su sisters were distracted, Li Yunjie exchanged a glance with Eleven.

Catching his meaning, Eleven picked up the purple jade bracelet and the blue sapphire hairpin that had caught Su Qingmeng’s eye several times.

After leaving the shop and walking about fifty meters, they stopped before a splendid, imposing building.

“This is the place you spoke of for fencing stolen goods?” Su Qingmeng looked up at the sign reading “Thousand Gold Gambling House,” her voice cold.

“Exactly,” Li Yunjie replied with a faint smile. “The legendary den of dissipation.”

“If you want to launder a large sum of silver, a gambling house is the best place—money flows freely, people come and go, and most importantly, it won’t attract the authorities’ attention.”

With that, Li Yunjie led the group briskly into the gambling hall.

The shouts of gamblers rang from all sides:

“Big! Big! Big!”
“Ten points, banker wins!”
“All in!”

Silver coins and banknotes changed hands like running water. The gamblers’ faces were flushed, hearts racing. Some left ruined, despairing; others leapt for joy, weeping with delight at their winnings.

Su Qingmeng’s gaze was cold as she surveyed the hall. As the commander of the city’s constabulary, she naturally despised such dens of vice.

Su Xiyan, by contrast, was full of curiosity, her eyes darting eagerly about.

Li Yunjie, ever composed, wandered casually, stopping by a dice table to observe.

“Would the young master care to try his luck?” The dealer, quick to spot a wealthy patron, greeted Li Yunjie’s group with a sycophantic smile.

Li Yunjie took out his purse and replied with a chuckle, “Why not, let’s see.”

The dealer grinned broadly, grabbed the dice cup, and with lightning speed shook it before everyone’s eyes, the dice rattling loudly against the wood. After fifty shakes, he slammed the cup down on the table.

“Big or small?” he called.

The crowd placed their bets, half on big, half on small.

Li Yunjie watched for a while and was just about to place his bet when Su Xiyan’s delicate hand darted out, snatching his heavy purse and tossing it on the “Big” side.

Li Yunjie’s heart leapt as he tried to retrieve it, but the dealer stopped him.

“Sir, once the bet’s placed, no more changes—that’s the rule here.”

“Of course,” Li Yunjie replied with an awkward smile, turning to Su Xiyan.

He had planned to play slowly, gathering information as he went. Now she’d gone all-in with a single move!