Song Yaozhu strolled back, her thoughts drifting away.
The hottest topic in the capital recently is the public betting on the top scholar. Xie Liwei told her not to interfere, and the fact that Yu Gong returned to his residence at this time indicates that Xie Liwei was involved in this matter.
When Lord Yu returned to his residence, she guessed that he was somewhat involved in the matter, but she didn't inquire. After all, it was Xie Liwei's affair, and her involvement would put Lord Yu in a dilemma.
But now, she had to ask. She always felt that Xie Liwei's plan was too ambitious, so ambitious that she felt the situation might get out of control if she were in his shoes.
"What did Song Si say to you? Why do you look so worried?" Yongle found it strange that Song Yaozhu looked so serious.
You see, the Song Yaozhu she knew was always nonchalant and carefree. But this Song Yaozhu was a heartless, scheming woman who could shamelessly try to take advantage of her!
"Does the princess know that everyone in the city has been gambling lately?"
"Of course I know, I was just talking about it with the teacher. If it weren't for you causing me to be punished by my mother with a deduction from my monthly allowance, I would have bought several tickets!"
Her good friends all bought them, but she, because she didn't have the money, could only pretend to be high-minded and look down on them.
The ladies and young women of these mansions placed bets for two reasons. First, they wanted something new and exciting. After all, how could women bet on dice like men in a gambling den? It was all the rage right now, and they wanted to join in the fun. Second, the amount of money was nothing to them. If they lost, they could just buy less cosmetics, and if they won, they could boast about their good taste and discerning eye.
“A bet starts at five taels of silver. Five taels of silver is enough to buy half a year’s worth of food for a family of five,” Shen Qingyu said calmly.
Yongle was surprised, "Can you buy so many?"
There wasn’t a single box of rouge in her makeup box that cost less than twenty taels!
"Right now, the whole city is celebrating. Ordinary people are gritting their teeth and buying a bet. If they can win, they'll be set for life."
Song Yaozhu continued, "If we lose, countless families will be torn apart."
To pay off debts, selling houses is a minor matter; some are even selling their daughters and children. At that time, the capital city will be in chaos once again.
"What we all know, His Majesty can surely guess as well. We don't need to worry, the sky won't fall!" Yongle waved his hand.
Song Yaozhu smiled wryly. What they could see through, Yuwen Wuji naturally understood as well. However, those in high positions for too long lose their ability to hear what's happening below. And those below wouldn't allow these matters to reach the Emperor's ears, lest they affect their share of the spoils.
After sitting for a while, the group left the palace and went their separate ways. Before leaving, Song Yaozhu spoke a few words to Yongle alone. Yongle snorted coldly and walked away with his chin held high.
The carriage from the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion was waiting at the palace gate. When Qin Mama saw Song Yaozhu come out, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Granny, I need to go to the estate to find the Prince."
Granny Qin hesitated for a moment, then looked at the guards she had brought with her today and nodded.
To get from the city to the manor, the carriage had to pass through a street lined with gambling dens.
The street was packed with people, all inquiring about the top scholars in the imperial examinations. Where there are gambling dens, there are pawnshops, and each pawnshop was bustling with customers. There were even brokers standing on the street negotiating deals with people.
"I don't sell this girl to brothels. She's quite pretty. How about ten taels?"
"Ten taels? You're kidding me! Even wealthy families only pay ten taels for a good maid, and you want to sell her to me for ten taels?! Let me tell you, I'll train this girl after I take her in, so she'll be worth five taels at most. Take it or leave it!"
......
The whole street was buzzing with excitement as guards frantically protected the carriage. Even knowing it was a nobleman's carriage, some people still risked their lives to ram it.
A man suddenly stopped the carriage and shouted, "Madam, I'm offering myself as your bedmate! Ten taels a month for room and board! I'm handsome, and even better! I know all the positions, I guarantee you'll like it... Ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was dragged away by the guards and thrown aside.
Inside the carriage, Song Yaozhu frowned deeply. Gambling makes people lose their minds; they've already gone mad.
"The exams are just around the corner, how did things turn out like this? This was supposed to be a good thing for selecting talent for the country, but now it's become a tool for them to make money!" Caijin frowned and guarded the carriage even more closely.
Song Yaozhu urged, "Let's go quickly."
To destroy something, you must first make it go mad.
What is Xie Liwei thinking?
————
Shen Qingyu returned to her residence, where a great commotion was taking place.
"You unfilial son! Tell me how much silver you took to place bets!"
Fang Wencai knelt in the middle of the hall, sobbing uncontrollably and unable to catch his breath.
Shen Qingyu closed her eyes, really not wanting to see the other person in such an ugly state.
When Fang Tong and his wife saw her return, they vented their anger on her.
"Where have you been! Why are you only just returning! Do you know that your husband took more than five hundred taels of silver from the manor to gamble!" Madam Fang roared.
Five hundred taels of silver is enough to cover their family's expenses for half a year!
To everyone's surprise, Shen Qingyu said in a very calm tone, "Today, the princess invited me, and I dared not refuse her decree, so I went with her to the palace to meet the Imperial Concubine. As for the money, my husband told me that his tutor had found him a job through connections, which required money to bribe officials, so he asked me to take the token and withdraw the money."
Upon hearing this, Madam Fang's displeasure was evident on her face.
"You believe him just because he tells you that! How do you manage your household?!"
"At home, everything revolves around the husband; this is what a mother teaches her daughter-in-law. Trusting one's husband is a daughter-in-law's duty. I don't know what I did wrong to upset you so much." Shen Qingyu spoke calmly, her expression unchanged, as if all of this had nothing to do with her.
Madam Fang was so angry at her words that she almost fell backward. These were originally words she used to admonish her, to make her obedient and behave herself to serve the household. She never expected that they would be returned to her today!
"Alright! To put it bluntly, it's your son who's a good-for-nothing! He's gambling!" Fang Tong slammed his fist on the table, pointing at Madam Fang angrily, "You're in charge of the household accounts. As for this unfilial son, make him kneel in the Buddhist hall!"
Fang Wencai, wiping away his tears and snot, was dragged away by the servants, while Shen Qingyu also bowed and took her leave.
Five hundred taels...
If their family is in such a state, one can only imagine what it's like outside.
Shen Qingyu closed her eyes and returned to her courtyard. As she passed the second gate, she saw Xu Wan'er. Xu Wan'er looked haggard and frightened, and hid from her when she saw her.
"stop!"
Xu Wan'er paused, stiffened her neck, and turned around.
"do what?"
"Did you instigate the old man to gamble?"
Shen Qingyu's gaze fell on her like a knife. Xu Wan'er felt guilty, but she still stubbornly refused to admit it.
"Don't slander me! I'm just a woman confined to the inner quarters, how would I know these things!" With that, she turned and walked away.
"Madam, should I investigate Concubine Xu?"
Shen Qingyu waved her hand, "No need."
Some people always seem to enjoy bringing about their own destruction.
All she has to do is observe from the sidelines and give a push at the crucial moment.
“Madam, someone from the Prince Xiaoyao’s residence said that the Princess Consort has gone out of the city to visit the Prince at the estate these past few days, and therefore she needs to ask for leave from her classes for the next few days.”
Shen Qingyu nodded to indicate that she understood. She rubbed her forehead, thinking: I have no choice but to board this pirate ship of the Prince of Xiaoyao's Mansion.
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