Chapter 16
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Pei Huaijin’s brows furrowed slightly as he stared at her for a long while but ultimately said nothing.
The group then aimlessly wandered the streets, with Pei Huaijin continuing to play the role of a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan, spending money lavishly.
Shen Zhiyi, however, was unaware of his true purpose for this trip; she never dared to ask about his official affairs.
As dusk settled, having nearly spent all the silver, Pei Huaijin led Shen Zhiyi through a maze of alleys into an underground gambling den.
Underground casinos in every locale were always gathering places for all manner of unsavory characters.
Outside, the sky darkened and pedestrians thinned; inside, the casino blazed with light and smoke, groups clustered in threes and fives, dice rattled, and shouts echoed throughout. Some players, caught up in the excitement, had even stripped off their shirts to play bare-chested.
As soon as the group entered, the crowd fell silent. All eyes fixed on them, scanning them up and down with unmistakably hostile intent.
Having been sheltered in seclusion most of her life, Shen Zhiyi couldn’t help but feel uneasy and instinctively pressed closer to Pei Huaijin, clutching the corner of his garment tightly.
Pei Huaijin slowed his pace, took her small hand into his palm, and calmly said, “No need to fear. Just follow me.”
Shen Zhiyi nodded softly, glancing down at their joined hands, suddenly feeling much more at ease.
Though Pei Huaijin was a newcomer to the underground gambling scene, their lavish attire and the rumors circulating about him earlier that day quickly drew the attention of a coquettish woman who approached them shortly after their arrival.
She smiled as she blocked their path, her gaze first sweeping over Shen Zhiyi, then turning to Pei Huaijin with a playful glint.
“Are you here to find someone, or...?”
Pei Huaijin handed her a silver ingot. “A private room.”
The woman weighed the silver in her hand, smiling as she lightly brushed Pei Huaijin’s shoulder, her voice sultry.
“A private room starts at ten thousand taels.”
Pei Huaijin flicked away her hand with his ivory folding fan, a roguish smile playing on his handsome face.
“Just lead the way, my lady. I, Li, have come here today to spend silver.”
Speaking with a practiced Yangzhou accent and a flirtatious tone, no one would have guessed he was the most dignified and serious heir of the Duke’s household in Chang’an, a Vice Minister of the Court of Justice.
The woman looked into his smiling eyes, unfazed by his dismissal of her touch, and covered her lips to laugh softly.
“Follow me, then.”
They were led into a private room, where seven or eight young beauties carrying trays of fruit and wine followed in single file.
Shen Zhiyi had thought they would simply deliver the items and leave, but to her surprise, the girls placed the trays down and stood in a line, motionless.
Confused, Shen Zhiyi turned to Pei Huaijin.
He leaned back lazily, narrowed his eyes, and after a long look, tapped the folding fan on the women dressed in yellow and green.
“Let’s have just these two.”
He glanced sideways at Shen Zhiyi with an ambiguous smile.
“Although my wife is here today...”
The word “wife” made Shen Zhiyi’s heart tremble involuntarily, like a string on a zither carelessly plucked, faltering before the melody could be played.
The woman who had led them in shot a glance at Shen Zhiyi.
“I understand a little about decorum.”
After Pei Huaijin chose his companions and sent the others away, the woman sat opposite them.
“Will you play ‘Big or Small’ or cards?”
“Big or Small.”
Pei Huaijin loosened his cloak; the girl in green immediately stepped forward to take it, while the girl in yellow, holding a small pot of wine, sat by Pei Huaijin’s side.
She poured him a cup softly.
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“They say the Yunye wine of Yangzhou is world-famous. Sir, please taste the Liuxia of Yongzhou.”
Anyone accustomed to pleasure quarters could readily discern the subtlety hidden within that wine.
Pei Huaijin smiled at the girl in yellow.
His natural handsomeness, combined with a smile, lent his gaze a flirtatious charm. As Xie Changyu once said, if Pei Huaijin intended to seduce, his peach blossom eyes could make even a dog feel affection.
He watched the girl’s cheeks flush scarlet before casually taking the wine she offered and drinking it down in one gulp.
Only then did the woman who had brought them in pick up the dice and start shaking them.
The clattering was harsh to the ears.
A sharp thud sounded as the bowl hit the table; the woman raised an eyebrow.
“Big or Small?”
Pei Huaijin remained silent, only watching her.
Her crimson lips parted softly.
“Big.”
Pei Huaijin responded quickly with “Small.”
It was Shen Zhiyi’s first time participating in such gambling, and she nervously gripped her sleeve, her heart pounding.
When the bowl was revealed, the three dice showed four, four, and five.
She sagged slightly, frowning in disappointment.
She had thought Pei Huaijin’s loss was accidental, but realized with each round, he waited for the woman to call before declaring the opposite.
After several rounds, they had lost sixteen thousand taels.
The woman laughed coquettishly, slamming the bowl down.
“That’s enough. Tomorrow at the hour of the pig, Young Master Li will be at the painted boat on Lingbo Lake. We shall continue then.”
After spending sixteen thousand taels, she had summoned Young Master Li.
Shen Zhiyi followed Pei Huaijin out of the casino. The cold wind made her shiver.
Pei Huaijin took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
She glanced back as he leaned in to tie the cords, softly asking, “Those two women...?”
Pei Huaijin leaned close, whispering, “Quiet. Hold me steady.”
The man was already very close, tying the ribbon at her neck; his breath, warm and tinged with alcohol, enveloped her.
Though she had just felt cold, Shen Zhiyi’s cheeks suddenly burned.
She lowered her eyes hurriedly and, following Pei Huaijin’s earlier instructions, clumsily steadied him, letting him lean on her.
When the carriage slowly left the casino entrance, Pei Huaijin straightened, his eyes no longer showing any trace of drunkenness.
Through the swaying curtains, Shen Zhiyi saw another carriage following behind and anxiously whispered, “Why... why are they still following us?”
Pei Huaijin studied her pale face for a moment, then pressed his eyes and explained softly.
“There was something in the wine. When we get out, you’ll need to help me back just like before.”
Shen Zhiyi blinked, confused but nodded earnestly.
Pei Huaijin had rented a residence in Yongzhou yesterday. Upon arrival, Shen Zhiyi helped him inside the main hall as instructed.
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The girls in yellow and green moved to assist, but Shen Zhiyi, seeing their shy yet seductive expressions, suddenly understood something.
She waved their hands away firmly and instructed, “My lord is drunk. Please go boil some water in the small kitchen next door.”
“There are servants for boiling water,” the girl in yellow protested, leaning coquettishly against Pei Huaijin and trying to touch his garment. Shen Zhiyi slapped her hand away again.
Back when the Shen family was still prosperous in the capital, Shen Zhiyi was known as a delicate young lady who never coddled anyone and had a fierce temper.
Though her family had since fallen, that inherent spoiled nature remained.
With her eyebrows raised and an intimidating aura, she scared the two girls into retreating after they exchanged glances and looked at Pei Huaijin with regret.
Taking advantage of their departure, Shen Zhiyi swiftly helped Pei Huaijin into the room.
“All right, Huaijin, they’re gone… uh!”
Just as she was about to steady herself, the man’s large hand suddenly pulled her back.
Her nose bumped against his chest.
Flustered, she gradually noticed the heat of his breath.
“Hua-Huaijin...” she stammered.
Pei Huaijin looked into her eyes, which shone with a smile as bright as stars. His chest trembled as he whispered low.
“Third Sister Shen, you did very well today... all of it.”
His voice was husky like morning mist, tinged with a magnetic allure.
Slowly, it thinned and faded in her ear.
Perhaps because they were far from the capital, or because of the wine and medicine, Pei Huaijin no longer seemed as dignified or distant as before. His lazy, casual tone made her heart skip a beat.
He hadn’t called her “Third Sister Shen” like that in many years...
She slowly lifted her head, following the movement of his rugged throat to his lips, flushed from the medicinal wine, swallowing nervously.
The air around them grew warmer.
His breath was long and hot, brushing her delicate neck.
Before her was the man she had admired for many years, intoxicated and drugged, and she was about to leave him soon...
Her heart pounded faster and faster, her fingers tingling uncontrollably.
Biting her lip hard, she made a resolute decision and untied her waistband.
Clothes pooled at her feet, her graceful shoulders and back gleamed white under the candlelight.
She slowly rose on tiptoe, trembling as she reached to fumblingly undo his jade belt.
His firm, taut waist stiffened instantly beneath her hand.
The moment their lips met, Shen Zhiyi nearly forgot to breathe. His breath, warm and scented with wine, burned her cheek, and her racing heartbeat wove an intricate, intimate web, impenetrable.
Tears welled in her reddened eyes; her trembling tongue flicked out to lick his cold lips.
Suddenly, Pei Huaijin pushed her away.
His usually pale lips were now flushed and moist.
He stood there watching her, eyes rimmed red, veins bulging at his temples, chest heaving violently as if on the verge of losing control.
His gaze landed on her open clothing.
In moments, the warmth in his eyes quickly cooled until only icy frost remained.