Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 7

“Unless one could make this matter consequential.”

 After washing up, Qin Ling returned to the couch, and stared at the ceilings absentmindedly.

What kind of illness does Yun’er have, that even the people from the imperial hospital couldn’t do anything about it?
Because of this thought, she did not sleep the whole night.

Early morning the next day.
She sat up, and was rubbing her eyes when the door was knocked with a “dong-dong” sound, “Miss, are you awake?”

“Come in.” Qin Ling answered.

He Zhu entered and said in a low voice: “Miss, the letter is here.”

Letter?

He Zhu fished out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Qin Ling’s hand, “The servant who delivered the letter said that Young Sir Zhu has fallen ill after learning that Miss had taken poisonous wine. At present, the life or death is unclear, Miss should quickly go and see.”

Qin Ling looked at the big letters of “For My Beloved”, her breathing became rough and she immediately opened it.

—My Love. Looking at the letters is as if seeing the person, I long to see you again.

—I come from a merchant family, so we’re truly not suited for each other. I’m fully aware that I shouldn’t have given birth to wild fantasies, but this fantasy keeps me thinking. It makes me mad, and I can’t forget it during the day and even at night…

—My Love, if you can wake up safe and sound, don’t do foolish things again, for life is a shallow thing. Let us continue in the next life.

After looking through the letter, Qin Ling’s hands suddenly trembled, followed by a rumbling noise inside her head.

Suddenly, she got up and walked to the left. She opened the red sandalwood cabinet in front of her and took out a small box. She turned the box upside down and shook it to let out all the contents inside.

38 letters of mutual affection were scattered on the floor.

Qin Ling sucked in a cold breath.
She had 38 letters from Zhu Ze over here, which meant that over there at Zhu Ze’s side, there were also 38 letters from her.

She was about to enter the palace, if these letters were discovered by others, she feared that she would not live until the day she met the emperor.

This fear-stricken appearance of Qin Ling fell into He Zhu’s eyes as “hard to control the deep feelings” and that she was “beside herself”.
He Zhu said softly: “Miss, are you alright? What did Young Sir Zhu say?”

Qin Ling hung her eyes and replied: “You go out first, let me think in peace.”
He Zhu was delighted, but she pretended to be worried and said: “Yes, just call me if Miss needs something.”

***

After breakfast, Qin Ling immediately dressed, put on a veil hat, and pulled Si Yue over. They stepped into the carriage prepared by the residence and went straight to Qingfeng Pavilion in Dongzhimen.

Seeing Qin Ling and Si Yue, Lady Yu immediately greeted them with a smile: “Yo, look who’s here ah.”
Qin Ling said in a low voice: “Shopkeeper Yu, today I want to go to the third floor.” Third floor, Feiniao Chamber.

Lady Yu’s expression flickered before she squinted and smiled: “Then, Miss, please wait for a moment, I’ll go upstairs and ask Mister Zhuang.” Mister Zhuang, the owner of Feiniao Chamber.
Qin Ling replied: “Sure.”

After some time, Lady Yu returned.
Using a palm-leaf fan to cover her mouth, she said in Qin Ling’s ears: “Miss Qin, follow me.”

After 6 years, she returned to this place again.

Under black plaque outlined with gold, the same sentence still remained—Know your past life’s truth, understand your current life’s pain, unravel your next life’s mysteries.

“Please come in.”

Qin Ling opened the door, entered, and sat down. Her red lips slightly opened: “I came here today to buy information from Mister Zhuang.”
Mister Zhuang smiled: “Miss Qin can say it straight, aside from information regarding the Forbidden City, we sell everything.”

[Forbidden City: Another way to call the imperial palace]

Qin Ling replied: “I want you to investigate Zhu Ze, the second son of Zhu family, the merchant family selling clothes at Nankou Alley by the northwest gate.”
“O, Zhu Ze.” Mister Zhuang smiled and said: “10 silver taels for his information.”

Hearing the price, Qin Ling could not help but frown.
Since when getting information from Feiniao Chamber become so cheap? Back then when she bought the information regarding Xiao Yu, it was not this cheap.

“What is it?” Mister Zhuang laughed, “Miss Qin thinks it’s too cheap?”
“Naturally not so.” Qin Ling took out her purse, fished out 10 silver taels and put it on the table.

After receiving the money, Mister Zhuang got up and let go of a pigeon from inside his sleeve.

Qin Ling’s face was covered, however, she could not help laughing in her heart.
Don’t know whether it’s just a trick or if the pigeons in Feiniao Chamber are truly endowed with supernatural power.

Soon, the pigeon flew back. Mister Zhuang pulled out a slip of paper from the pigeon’s feet and said to Qin Ling: “Zhu Ze, courtesy name Zi Yang, is a person of Qiantang and once studied characters at Mount Longquan. After failing three times in the imperial examination, he became discouraged and began to learn the business from his family. The Zhu family arrived in the capital 2 years ago and opened the cloth store that Miss had said earlier.”
Mister Zhuang drank a mouthful of tea and continued: “This Young Sir Zhu is not a scholar material, but he’s a capable businessman. Six months ago, someone ordered nearly a thousand pieces of cyan-colored cloth. It was originally a good deal, but unexpectedly, the fabrics were accidentally stained with ink. Because of this matter, the Zhu family was unable to make ends meet. Zhu Ze thought it would be better to play big or small, so he went to Hongshi Gambling House. However, this kind of bet is naturally addictive. He lost for the majority of times, thus, aside from losing all his money, he also had a debt of 60.000 silver taels.”

[Qiantang: Qiantang River that loops around Hangzhou in Zhejiang]

[big or small: a gambling game]

“He already paid back 40.000 silver taels to this today.”

Hearing the unspoken implication said by Zhuang Sheng, her long eyebrows were slightly knitted. She asked in a soft voice: “How did he pay back the 40.000 taels?”

Zhuang Sheng smiled: “Miss Qin, I’ve already answered your first question.”

Qin Ling cursed silently: As expected of Feiniao Chamber, they’ve actually been waiting for her here.

Qin Ling said: “Then how much will this information cost?”

Zhuang Sheng replied: “1.000 taels.”

In an instant, Qin Ling’s twinkling eyes became angry, but also found it somewhat laughable: “Mister Zhuang, did I hear it wrong?”
“The price of each information varies from one person to another.” Zhuang Sheng smilingly said: “From what this lowly Zhuang sees, this piece of information is very important for Miss Qin, hence, 1.000 taels.”

Qin Ling took a deep breath. This matter with Zhu Ze could not be dragged any longer.
Qin Ling spoke: “I’m currently lacking. I’ll send it to you in 3 days, will this work?”
Zhuang Sheng answered her: “Our Feiniao Chamber doesn’t have this custom.”

At this moment, Si Yue said slowly, “Mister Zhuang, Si Yue has some words to tell you.”
Zhuang Sheng leaned back, hooked the corners of his mouth, and said smilingly at Si Yue: “In private, or do you want to say it here.”
“Just you and me.” Si Yue patted Qin Ling’s shoulder, “Miss doesn’t need to worry, wait for me.”

Qin Ling saw Zhuang Sheng walked out with Si Yue.
After half an hour, Si Yue returned to Qin Ling’s side and said: “Miss Qin, I’ve got the information. Let’s go.”

Inside the carriage, Si Yue handed Qin Ling a piece of paper, which recorded the details of the times Zhu Ze paid back his debt. Each expenditure was less than a day different from the expenditure of the shops under the name of the Qin family. There was no female master in Qin family, so a lot of shops were managed by Jiang Lanyue.
40.000 taels. So, she has obtained this much.

Qin Ling stared at Si Yue’s red and swollen lips, wanting to say something but hesitated. In the end, Si Yue spoke: “Miss Qin, don’t stare anymore. He didn’t do anything to me.”
Qin Ling knew in her heart that Zhuang Sheng would not talk so easily, so she asked: “Why did Lady Si help me?”
Si Yue lifted her head and thought. After a while, she lowered her head and answered: “Why are there so many whys. If Miss Qin wants to thank me, how about giving me 1.000 taels?”
Hearing her words, Qin Ling suddenly laughed: “Si Yue, thank you.”
This friendship, I’ll remember it.

When Qin Ling returned to the residence, she immediately sent a letter to Qin Suizhi.
Qin Suizhi hurried home within 3 days.

At this time, there were only 10 days left before the selection.

Qin Suizhi looked at the evidence in his hand, his eyes getting deeper and deeper, “Ah Ling, leave this matter to me.”

Qin Ling was sitting on a stool in the courtyard, she said in a low voice: “But, I… have also hidden something from Eldest Brother.”

“What thing?”

Qin Ling put the box filled with letters in front of Qin Suizhi.

Qin Suizhi breathed twice and said: “Why are you so muddled! If Jiang Lanyue publicizes this matter, what can you do!”

Qin Ling did not want to deceive Qin Suizhi, but to prevent him from discovering any clues, she could only shed her tears while touching the corners of her eyes.

Qin Ling wept, her eyes were filled with grief and sorrow.

Qin Suizhi’s heart broke when he saw it.

“Ah Ling, don’t cry. Brother shouldn’t have said that to you.” Qin Suizhi rubbed her hair, half squatting his body, he said: “With Brother here, nothing will happen. Alright?”

Qin Ling looked at him and said in a low voice: “This matter, should it be said to Father?”

Qin Suizhi’s eyes sank, and he said coldly: “It has to be said, but not now.”

In Qin Suizhi’s eyes, the feelings between Qin Wang and Jiang Lanyue might be deeper than he had thought.
In every confrontation of Qin family over the years, Qin Wang stood firm on Jiang Lanyue’s side every single time. He believed firmly that Jiang Lanyue was gentle and kindhearted, a magnanimous and virtuous woman, while that Wen Shuanghua was a jealous and envious person, not virtuous and not likable.

If Wen Shuanghua’s death did not make Qin Wang give Jiang Lanyue a cold shoulder even for a little bit, then would the things in front of him make Qin Wang totally disgusted with Jiang Lanyue?

More than 10 years of affection, coupled with Jiang Lanyue’s tears, was enough to make Qin Wang turn big problems into small ones and small problems into no problems at all.
Unless one could make this matter consequential.

Qin Ling thought for a while and asked: “Eldest Brother, how are you going to deal with this matter?”
Qin Suizhi replied: “Let me think about it again.”
If one directly went to Zhu Ze, things would likely go to yamen. But once that happened, it would be disadvantageous for them.

[yamen: modern-day police office]

While he was thinking, Qin Ling whispered to Qin Suizhi’s ears, “Si Yue said to me that…”

***

Qin Suizhi assigned some people to watch the front door of Hongshi Gambling House every day. Eventually, Zhu Ze came in 3 days later, wearing black attire coupled with a jade crown.
Zhu Ze did not receive a reply from Qin Ling, hence, Jiang Lanyue refused to give him money. In the end, he had to come to the gambling house to try his luck.

At present, the debt was almost repaid, so Zhu Ze gradually put away his concerned heart. He did not dare to bet big, only prepared 10 taels silver in his pockets to wait and see first.

Qin Ling, with her hair tied with a white jade crown, clothed in a long white garment, and a mask covering her face, was sitting at the northeast corner of the building, playing dice against several people. Round after round, the surrounding people sighed again and again.
“Eiya! What a pity!”
“So close!”
“Let’s go again!”
Zhu Ze stretched his neck to watch, and soon, he came to a conclusion—This masked big brother was very unlucky today.

After a while, he walked to the front and smilingly said: “How about I accompany Young Sir to play for a while?”

Qin Ling raised the corner of her mouth and made a “sit” gesture towards him.

In the beginning, Zhu Ze still held the principle of “play small as long as the heart is happy”, but after winning a few times in a row, it obviously went up to his head.

He was getting more and more unbridled. His lapel was wide open, his hair was disheveled, and the corner of his mouth was practically hanging over his ears.

Qin Ling took a sip of tea. She lowered her voice and said to Zhu Ze: “It’s boring to play this way. This young sir, why don’t we play a big one?”

Zhu Ze had already had this thought at an earlier time, however, because he was winning, it would be embarrassing to bring it up first.

Zhu Ze shook the folding fan in his hand, put on airs, and said: “That’d be better.”

Qin Ling took out two sheets of banknote, altogether they totaled 20.000 taels, which was exactly the amount of Zhu Ze’s debt left, “Three sets, or just one?”

Looking at the banknotes, Zhu Ze’s heart made a thumping sound and jumped wildly.
Freedom was just before his eyes.
As long as he could win once, he would be free.
And not just be free. He could also use Eldest Miss Qin’s letters and negotiate for a good price with the young madam of Qin family.

Thinking of these, Zhu Ze said loudly: “One set!”

A worker of Hongshi Gambling House raised his arms and began to shake the dices. The sound of the rattling dices made Zhu Ze’s fingertips trembled.

The worker spoke: “These two people, big, or small.”

Qin Ling was still the same as before, she lightly said: “Big.”

Zhu Ze’s heart said, your “big” has been losing all day, unexpectedly you still have the guts to choose “big”.
Zhu Ze said: “I choose small.”

Soon, the worker lifted his hand.
It was big.
Zhu Ze slapped the table and got up: “How is it possible!”

Qin Suizhi walked over with a firm expression and faintly said: “Young Sir Zhu, take out your silver.”
But Zhu Ze did not have any silver. He was about to turn around when Qin Suizhi pressed him against the table.
Qin Suizhi had been traveling extensively for many years. It had been a while since he was no longer that scholarly youngster.
Zhu Ze had lost in front of so many people. Based on the rules, whatever Qin Suizhi wanted to do with him, the gambling house could not interfere and even the authorities would not interfere. He dragged Zhu Ze to a manor outside the city.

Qin Suizhi was worried that Qin Ling was softhearted, so he did not dare to deal with Zhu Ze in front of her. After promising her that he would not hit him behind her back, he told Qin Ling to wait outside the manor.

On the way back to the residence, Qin Suizhi asked Qin Ling: “Ah Ling, was your skill to listen to dices also taught by Lady Si Yue?”
Qin Ling answered with an “en” in a low voice.

After a long while, she loosened her clenched fist and looked absentmindedly at the dice in her palm.

This gambling technique of hers was not taught by Si Yue.
It was taught personally by that person.

In the 36th year of Yongchang era, Emperor Jiaxuan had dispatched Prince Jin to Suzhou to handle a case.
And she had gone together with him.

She remembered that night at the riverside in Qinhuai. The lights were dense and mist was apparent.
Above a decorated pleasure boat, amidst the rocking, Xiao Yu held two dices in his hand and approached her until their nose tips met, “Ah Ling, bet with me once?”

She had been so foolish at that time, not knowing that winning or losing was all in his hand.

Thinking up here, Qin Ling raised her hand and threw the dice outside the carriage.

Thinking about him for what?
To lose one’s head?

***

Qin residence, the northern yard.

The momo said in a low voice: “Madam, it seems like Zhu Ze had lost money again outside. He said he wants to meet you.”
Jiang Lanyue frowned: “Why does he want to see me?”

The momo replied: “He wants you to bring 100.000 taels to a manor outside the city, if not, he’ll burn those letters.”

Jiang Lanyue said back: “100.000 taels? His appetite is too big.”

The momo said angrily: “From this old slave’s view, this kid from Zhu family is a cornered dog. It is clear he’s threatening your esteemed self.”

Jiang Lanyue kneaded her eyebrows and closed her eyes.
So what if we’re aware that he’s threatening us?

It was only five days left before the draft. If he really burned the letters, there would be no more opportunity for Rong’er.
Even though Qin Wang was good to her, she was not the female master of Qin family, and Rong’er was not born from the first wife. In the future, were they really going to marry her to a concubine-born son from a family with the same social status?

“Find someone to pass him a message, say that I’ll meet him tomorrow.”