“I’m not going to force you into this, but before Cousin Chen arrives, he will have decided on the candidate. After this, you may choose to return to Dajin with us. At least no one will force you into taking up responsibilities over there.”
Lin Mengya lowered her gaze, appearing to be indifferent. It was as if she did not care whether Zuo Qiuyu agreed or not.
Nevertheless, the more she spoke, the more Zuo Qiuyu felt bad.
The overwhelming sense of guilt bore down on him and he felt as if he would collapse.
After a long struggle, he finally sighed painfully and said, “I’ll go.”
Lin Mengya raised her eyebrows and looked to Zuo Qiuyu with surprise in her eyes.
“What?”
Zuo Qiuyu must have made up his mind. He had decided not to run away anymore, but to take up the responsibility belonging to him.
“I said I would participate in the medical skills competition, and, please help me to win. Only in this way will my emperor be free of any worries from behind.”
Lin Mengya lowered her head to hide the smile on her face. She did not let Zuo Qiuyu see the look of victory in her eyes.
“You have to consider this carefully. Once we get swept into this storm, Long Tianyu and I can walk out of this anytime. However, once you win this competition, not to mention getting out of the Nation of Lintian, it will be a big deal for you to leave even the old capital city. From that day on, you will have to leave behind your carefree life. Your days will be filled with dry and boring things. Are you prepared for this?”
Despite knowing what Lin Mengya said was the truth, Zuo Qiuyu was set on joining the great competition.
Seeing his determination, Lin Mengya finally felt the burden come off her shoulder.
“But… but listen, it’s too late to apply and register for the competition. What should I do? Sigh, it’s my bad. If I had figured this out earlier, we wouldn’t have landed in this situation—”
Zuo Qiuyu was full of regrets when he remembered that he needed to register for the competition earlier.
“Oh, it’s alright. I’m sure Cousin Chen, the emperor, would easily find a way to squeeze in one more person through his relations.”
Lin Mengya used the teacup to hide the smile at the corner of her mouth. In fact, from the day they entered the old capital, Lin Mengya had secretly asked Liu Xuan to use Zuo Qiuyu’s seal to enter the competition.
Poor Zuo Qiuyu! He was kept in the dark when these two people planned everything on his behalf.
“Your Highness, the princess, we received news that the people following us had entered the city.”
Suddenly, Yu An came up to Lin Mengya to report the information to her. However, this was no good news to Lin Mengya at all.
They had arrived earlier than Long Tianyu had anticipated.
However, how could she refuse to meet them since they had happily come to her for shelter?
“Alright, I get it. Oh yes, do you know where I can find gambling houses in the old capital?”
The two people in the room found it strange that Lin Mengya should be asking about this.
Gambling houses? Lin Mengya did not seem to have a liking for gambling.
“There are such places. In fact, all the gambling houses have been filled with people given that there are so many strangers who have come to the city. Princess, you are so precious and should not go to such places. It’s not safe.”
Yu An cautiously dissuaded Lin Mengya. His Majesty had repeatedly instructed him to serve and take care of the princess properly.
Gambling houses were places with a mix of good and bad people. If the princess went there, she would create a commotion.
“It’s alright, I can dress up as a man. Wait here for a while. Let me get prepared and we’ll go out to have some fun.”
After Lin Mengya finished speaking, she returned to her room to change into the clothes of a man.
Yu An and Zuo Qiuyu were left there speechless, and they exchanged helpless looks.
The two of them would become great sinners if any accidents were to happen.
However, when they saw a very excited Lin Mengya dressed in man’s clothes, they could only follow her around silently as her bodyguards, one on her left and the other on her right.
The moment they emerged from the Crown Prince’s mansion and proceeded past two streets, the people in the street gradually increased in number.
The place that they resided consisted mostly of mansions of government officials and influential families. Commoners did not usually go there.
On the other hand, the gambling houses, restaurants, and bars were located at the busiest few streets in the old capital.
If not for Yu An and Zuo Qiuyu, who were walking by Lin Mengya’s side, they might not even be able to inch a step forward.
“Why are there so many people? It appears that this medicinal skills competition is extremely important to the people of the Nation of Lintian.”
Lin Mengya muttered under her breath. This was the first time in her life she saw such busy and noisy streets.
This was comparable to the spring parade organized by her university during the short-term holidays.
The people were definitely not there to enjoy the scene, but rather, they were there to see other people. A claustrophobic person would not be able to survive this.
“You are right, master. The people of Lintian take pride in being able to attend the medicinal skills competition. Nevertheless, let’s go back. There are just too many people here, and it’s not safe.”
Yu An stretched out his arms to block the wave of people coming towards Lin Mengya as he earnestly persuaded Lin Mengya to turn back.
However, the sharp-eyed Lin Mengya had spotted from afar the gambling houses further down the streets.
She proceeded to direct the two men to force their way through the crowd. Despite going against the tide of people, they finally made their way to the entrance of a gambling house.
“This is it. Come, let’s go in to have a look.”
This particular gambling house with a wide entrance and a signboard saying “Hengyun Gambling House” seemed to stand out from the other gambling houses.
Its dark blue curtains had completely blocked the view of the people outside from looking in.
Lin Mengya scanned the building and decided that this would be the one.
Among the surrounding gambling houses, this had to be the largest.
Moreover, Lin Mengya realized that most of the people going in and out of this place were dressed in fine clothes.
Under normal circumstances, these people were mostly from affluent families.
She was not interested in winning small money. She was here to win big money.
She headed into the gambling house straight away. The moment she entered, continuous shouts of gambling entered her ears.
Just as she expected, the business in this gambling house was no doubt booming. There were all kinds of gambling games and people who were either skillful or lucky.
Like all gambling houses, there were some customers who were smiling away as well as those who were frowning deeply.
Lin Mengya looked around curiously while the two men followed closely by her side with focused attention.
Although the three of them were dressed simple plain clothes, the eyes of the people who frequented this gambling house were very sharp indeed. After all, this gambling house was different from the others.
Soon, a pair of observant eyes fell on the three of them.
At this moment, Lin Mengya was standing by a table with her eyes glued to the dice cup.
“It’s opened! Opened! Opened! One, two, four! They are small numbers!”
Some people bought both small and big numbers. However, obviously, more people placed their bets on big ones.
In that instant, those people could only look on as their money went into others’ pockets.
From the expression on Lin Mengya’s face, one could tell that she seemed unbothered.
She did not look surprised. Instead, she appeared as if she had expected the outcome.
“Sir, you look like you have a plan in mind. How about you joining in the game with these young masters here?”
A clear but polite voice of a woman sounded from behind Lin Mengya.
When Lin Mengya turned around, she spied a face with simple yet delicate features.
The woman looked to be about 30 years old. She was dressed in a simple plain white dress and there was only a single silver hairpin on her hair. She had well-defined eyebrows and long, thin eyes. She was even wearing a subtle smile at the corner of her mouth.
Her features were not especially outstanding, but in this setting, she appeared even calmer and more collected.
Although she was just a woman, the people in the gambling house seemed to esteem her highly.
Even the dealer at this table had nodded respectfully at her first of all.
After pondering over it, Lin Mengya came to the understanding that she was either the boss of this gambling house or someone who played a huge role here.
“You are too kind, madame. I’ve come from a poor village and it was with much difficulty that I finally arrived here. I am hoping to see the world.”
Lin Mengya responded with courtesy. After all, this lady ought to be something else to have established herself in the largest gambling house around here.
“You’re very modest here, sir. It’s not easy to get by outside our hometown. Everybody is trying to find something entertaining. Somehow, I have an affinity towards you the moment I saw you. It’s too crowded and noisy here. I’m afraid an elegant and delicate person like you will be tainted. I suggest that you should follow me to the back hall. It’s quieter and the games there are not as wild as those being played here. What do you say?”
Lin Mengya became wary, but at this instant, she spotted several rather familiar figures coming through the door.
Unable to manage the situation, Lin Mengya immediately smiled and said, “I would love that. Please lead the way, Madame.”
The woman gave Lin Mengya a smile and proceeded to lead the way for the three of them.
Those people following them had just spotted their target from outside but they were quickly blocked by some burly men by the entrance.
After entering the back hall and making sure that she had shaken off the people trailing her, Lin Mengya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Little did she expect that those people following her secretly had become even bolder after entering the old capital.
In the past, they would be quietly following them from afar.
Now, however, it could be their desperation that had caused them to become fearless so that they even followed her into the gambling house.
Nevertheless, she was far from being safe at this moment.
She looked around to size up the surrounding. She thought the woman was going to bring her into a more secretive gambling place, but she eventually brought her to the backyard of the gambling house.
Compared to the hustle and bustle at the front, the backyard was plain and neat, although not especially exquisite.
“Please take a seat, Sir. I’m Min’er and I will get you some tea.”
The squarish courtyard was well kept and very clean.
The woman spoke politely to them as she brought the three of them to a stone table and stools amid the courtyard.
Lin Mengya exchanged looks with the other two and decided to suppress her thoughts for now. She wanted to see what this woman was up to.
“Please do not be alarmed, Sir. I am Fanggu. I am the stewardess of Hengyun Gambling House. I merely felt that there was a special affinity towards you, which was why I have invited you inside. I ask that you and your friends excuse my abruptness.”
