Chapter 404: Chapter 402 Shen Yinning Deliberately Loses
The crab feast at Chunxi Palace arrived as scheduled.
When Shen Yinning arrived, Shen Yunxi and Shen Xinya were cheerfully hosting their guests. Aside from concubines from various palaces, several prominent noblewomen and young ladies were also invited.
However, there was no sign of Empress Huo.
Holding a round fan, a faint curve appeared at the corner of Shen Yinning’s lips.
Of course, someone as proud and self-respecting as her wouldn’t condescend to attend a small banquet hosted by Shen Yunxi.
She wouldn’t lower her status so easily.
Inside the hall, Lianxin was the first to notice Shen Yinning’s arrival.
She leaned close to Shen Yunxi’s ear and whispered, "Your Grace, she is here."
Shen Yunxi immediately looked over.
The other concubines and noblewomen seemed to detect something as well, following her gaze toward the doorway.
What greeted their sight was not a downtrodden, pitiable woman resigned to her fate, but a poised figure clutching a small agarwood mud gold folding fan, walking through the entrance with a radiant smile. The Ruyi peony embroidery on her silver-red silk hundred-layered skirt shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.
Dazzling and extraordinary, much like her uniquely stunning and exquisite face.
The hall fell silent for a moment before whispers began to ripple through the room.
Most revolved around scandalous rumors about Shen Yinning and the new emperor.
Shen Yinning smiled as her gaze swept over them and asked with perfect composure, "What are you all discussing? Have I arrived late?"
Although the guests had distinguished statuses, Shen Yinning, being a Commandery Princess personally conferred by the Supreme Emperor, held a title on par with Shen Yunxi’s. Thus, she wasn’t required to bow to anyone present.
Under her scrutiny, some of the women looked away sheepishly, while others studied her with increasing curiosity, frustrated that they lacked the courage to approach her directly and gossip. They were dying to know the truth about her rumored affair with the new emperor.
Shen Xinya recovered quickly and responded with a laugh, "Not late at all, just perfect timing! Though Empress Huo has yet to arrive, why don’t we wait for her together?"
While others were willing to wait, Shen Yinning had already deduced that Huo Mingyan wouldn’t appear at all today.
The Shen siblings had orchestrated her entry into the palace with the intention of using Huo Mingyan as a tool to deal with her.
But Huo Mingyan wasn’t foolish.
She wouldn’t willingly allow herself to be used as someone else’s weapon.
Taking her seat, Shen Yinning casually opened her folding fan and remarked, "Simply waiting is so dull. I wonder if there’s anything novel happening in the Capital lately?"
"Now that you mention it, I certainly have something to share!" The Salt and Iron Commissioner’s newly married second wife spoke eagerly.
The Salt and Iron Commissioner was in his thirties and a trusted associate of Lu Ying. Three years ago, he lost his wife and married a young second wife last year. Though she was merely the illegitimate daughter of a magistrate, he adored her, spoiling her with luxuries, and treated her as his cherished little darling.
She said excitedly, "Does the Commandery Princess know? Mahjong and playing cards are the latest craze in the Capital!"
Shen Yinning’s lips curved faintly as she pretended to be puzzled, "What are these?"
"A new method of gambling introduced by the gambling houses!" Liao Lili chirped energetically. "It’s so fun! Recently, the trend has spread to many households. I have several girlfriends who love playing! The names are fascinating too—Sichuan Mahjong, ’Fight the Landlord,’ ’Bullfighting,’ and so on. The rules are varied and exciting, much more interesting than those outdated leaf games or dice throwing! My husband indulges me and lets me play when I’m bored. I love inviting three or five friends over to play Mahjong or ’Fight the Landlord’ at home."
Shen Yinning gently waved her fan, glancing at Shen Yunxi.
Shen Yunxi seemed captivated by the description, clearly tempted to try it.
Smiling faintly, Shen Yinning said, "It does sound fun. Since we have some spare time, would Madam Liao be willing to teach us?"
Liao Lili, itching to play already, quickly replied, "Why not? Come, let’s start!"
Several noblewomen and young ladies had some familiarity with the games.
Soon, several Eight Immortals tables were set up in Chunxi Palace for them to gamble and play cards.
Shen Yinning settled at her table and teased lightly, "I’m no good with cards, you all better not bully me."
Shen Yunxi’s eyes glinted, and she promptly sat across from her.
She was nothing like Shen Yinning.
An expert at all forms of gambling, she was confident in mastering even new games faster than Shen Yinning.
Though she couldn’t outmatch Shen Yinning in other areas, surely she wouldn’t lose in gambling games?!
Having been overshadowed and reprimanded by Shen Yinning countless times before, today was her chance to show her strength!
She beamed, her grin as wide as she could make it, with an air of amicable sisterhood, "Whatever novelty it is, I want to play too. You know my mind has always been slow, dear cousin, surely you wouldn’t mind if I joined your table for a game."
Shen Yinning’s cunning eyes narrowed slightly into a smile. "Of course not."
But internally she mused, Shen Yunxi had grown smarter indeed. Compared to the past, she’d even learned to use polite platitudes now.
Though it was akin to a placenta developing a brain—a modest improvement.
Liao Lili explained the Mahjong rules and led her table in playing two practice rounds before the real betting began.
Shen Yinning deliberately let her opponent win.
She calculated the tiles Shen Yunxi needed and discarded them to her advantage.
After two quarters of an hour, Shen Yunxi was elated time and time again: "I’ve won!"
"I’ve won again!"
"Oh, cousin, what’s going on with you? Why do you keep discarding the tiles I need? You’re so clever, cousin, how come you still can’t figure out Mahjong?"
The girl, brimming with self-satisfaction, had amassed a tall stack of chips from her wins, earning quite a hefty sum.
After another two quarters of an hour, Shen Yinning hadn’t won a single round.
Feigning disappointment, she lowered her brows and murmured, "This game is no fun if I only lose and never win. I’m done playing!"
She got up to leave, but Shen Yunxi wouldn’t let her go.
Grasping Shen Yinning’s sleeve, she pleaded, "Cousin, among gamblers, the last thing one should do is quit midway—that kind of behavior alienates friends at the table. Surely, you wouldn’t want to be such a killjoy?"
Shen Yinning pulled her sleeve back, pretending to be annoyed, "It’s easy for you to say when you keep winning! I said I’m done playing!"
She left the table decisively.
As if thoroughly upset.
Shen Yunxi nearly laughed aloud.
She had finally, finally managed to beat Shen Yinning at something!
Heaven knows how overshadowed she felt under Shen Yinning’s brilliance all her life—always losing in painting, music, calligraphy, and every other talent. Now, she had finally reclaimed a victory!
Indeed, since she had a gift for gambling, she ought to develop it. Why waste time competing in areas she wasn’t good at?
Determined, Shen Yunxi resolved to focus solely on gambling.
If she managed to defeat all the concubines in the harem and the noblewomen of the Capital in gambling, perhaps... just perhaps, her status in His Majesty’s eyes might become slightly more special?
Meanwhile, Shen Xinya watched Shen Yinning angrily leave, furrowing her brows.
Things weren’t unfolding as she had expected.
Empress Huo hadn’t shown up, nor had Shen Yinning clashed with her.
Then how could she incite a fight between the two of them?
Elsewhere.
The events at Chunxi Palace were quickly reported to Huo Mingyan by a palace maid.
Lu Ying happened to be present since gifts sent over by the Huo family from outside the border for the Mid-Autumn Festival called for Huo Mingyan to invite him to Kunning Palace to choose items.
The palace maid vividly recounted the story and added, "It’s said that Princess Zhaoning lost every round, gambling away a great deal of money! Based on rough estimates of the chips, she reportedly lost at least one thousand taels of snowflake-patterned silver!"
Huo Mingyan was taken aback.
One thousand taels of snowflake-patterned silver...
In their lands beyond the border, such a sum could buy countless cattle and sheep.
Even as Empress of Great Zhou, she only earned two thousand taels of snowflake-patterned silver in annual salary.
And yet, Shen Yinning had lost so much money in just half an hour!
No wonder she had stormed out early in anger.
A subtle emotion flickered in Huo Mingyan’s heart, and the corners of her red lips slightly curved upward. She turned to Lu Ying with a smile, "Poor Zhaoning, losing so much money must’ve been quite an ordeal."