The prince is more stable

Chapter 137 Waking Up from a Dream
In order to set up this plan, Zhao Xiaoqian mobilized a lot of people.

The playboys of Bian Jing, officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple, spies from the Imperial City Bureau, casino owners, etc.

These people formed an impenetrable net, and the prey was Xiao Guangjing.

No one knows what the future will be like. Will Song and Liao go to war? Will the Jurchens rise? There are too many unknown things, but no matter how the future changes, Zhao Xiaoqian needs a chess piece.

Xiao Guangjing is Zhao Xiaoqian's chosen chess piece and is very important.

It's not excessive to mobilize so many troops to set up this plan just for him. Xiao Guangjing deserves it.

It was already bright outside the gambling house, and the streets outside the gambling house became bustling again. Countless vendors pushed carts and carried loads on their shoulders, starting a new day's livelihood.

The servants who came to buy food for the wealthy families moved among the crowds of vendors and hawkers, asking prices.

On the Bian River next to Zhou Bridge, fishermen carrying fishing nets cast their nets into the center of the river again and again. Shop clerks along the street yawned, listlessly removed the door panels, and swept in front of their doors.

A new day is full of the flavor of life.

Zhao Xiaoqian was sitting in a private room on the third floor of the gambling house. He also yawned and looked exhausted.

Xiao Guangjing gambled all night on the second floor. He was so addicted to gambling that he completely forgot about time.

Zhao Xiaoqian waited on the third floor all night and his eyes were red, simply because he stayed up late.

"It's almost noon..." Zhao Xiaoqian turned his head to look at the sky and listened to the faint sound of bells and drums coming from the Drum Tower in the distance.

"If this guy doesn't behave himself today, I might really beat him to death..." Zhao Xiaoqian murmured.

The prince's time is precious, especially his sleep time.

After not closing his eyes for a whole night, Zhao Xiaoqian felt that his mind was not clear and he wanted to hit someone.

After waiting for another half an hour, Cai You went upstairs with a smile.

"Marquis of the County, the matter is settled." Cai You said with a smile.

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't raise his eyebrows: "How much did he lose?"

"He lost all his cash and valuables, about 30,000 strings of cash. He also signed an IOU for 80,000 strings of cash, and used his family's three shops in Huanglongfu as collateral."

Zhao Xiaoqian's face twitched as he muttered, "This prodigal son... If I were his father, I would kill him for the sake of justice."

Cai You smiled and said, "Fortunately, the Marquis is not his father. This is truly cause for celebration."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said, "You are really playful."

"Marquis of the County, is it time for you to step forward next?" Cai You asked.

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed and said, "No rush, let him take it easy first. When he wakes up, I'll ask him to come up and see me."

Cai You responded in a low voice.

Xiao Guangjing didn't dare to gamble anymore. As the wine he drank at the banquet last night was digested and evaporated by his body, the drunkenness gradually dissipated, his mind became more and more clear, and his mood fell to the bottom.

Looking at the kind and even flattering smiles on the faces of the people around him in the gambling house, Xiao Guangjing's face turned pale and his whole body trembled slightly.

Even if he was mentally retarded, he should understand what was going on by now.

A trap! A trap for him!
And he, like a silly rabbit, jumped into the trap. Now the trap has tightened, the big mistake has been made, and there is no room for turning back.

These days, the dandies in Bianjing City have been flattering him, fawning over him, trying to please him, entertaining him with drinks, and calling him their brother...

It's all a fucking trap!

Just for today.

At this moment, the smiles on the faces of the playboys around were still kind and friendly, no different from before.

But Xiao Guangjing woke up, although a little late.

The gambling table was piled with cash and silver ingots, none of which belonged to him. Everyone's eyes were fixed on him, their eyes full of encouragement, as if encouraging him to continue betting and signing IOUs.

Xiao Guangjing leaned back weakly and closed his eyes to prevent others from seeing the pain and regret in his eyes.

"You've worked hard setting this up," Xiao Guangjing said with a bitter smile. The dandies' smiles froze slightly, but no one said a word.

"How much money do I owe?" Xiao Guangjing asked.

Inside the gambling house, the dealer sitting across from him smiled and said, "Your Excellency owes a total of 80,000 strings of cash. Here's the IOU. You also mortgaged three shops in Huanglong Mansion."

The dealer shook his head and said gently, "Your Excellency had bad luck last night, but it was only a temporary setback. How about going back to sleep and then reviving yourself?"

Xiao Guangjing was silent, and raised his hand as if he wanted to slap himself hard a few times, but he had to be decent in front of everyone, so he gave up and planned to go back and find a place where no one was around to slap himself.

"Okay, you win, I've been tricked. Call out the people behind you, it's time to have a chat." Xiao Guangjing's eyes were calm, and one has to praise that his brain suddenly became very useful at this moment.

Now he has realized that there must be someone behind the scenes who has caused him to owe such a huge debt, and it is definitely not for his money, there must be other purposes.

The playboys around remained silent.

At this point in the game, the dudes have basically completed their mission. What comes next is no longer something they are qualified to participate in, so naturally someone else will take over.

Cai You walked down slowly from the third floor of the gambling house with a smile.

Xiao Guangjing narrowed his eyes: "Is it you who is behind this?"

Cai You smiled elegantly, wearing a dark long gown with a round collar and narrow sleeves, which made his temperament look elegant and graceful. At this moment, he had the charm of a gentle gentleman, worthy of being a student of the Imperial College, with excellent appearance.

"Your Excellency is too kind to me. I am not the one behind this." Cai You replied with a bow.

Xiao Guangjing is now sober and there is no need to hide anything. Now is the time for both sides to play their cards openly.

"Who is it?" Xiao Guangjing asked, trying hard to control his anger.

Cai You stepped aside and said with a smile, "Would you please come upstairs for a chat?"

Xiao Guangjing smiled: "Okay, I'll go meet him."

He stood up and went upstairs. Xiao Guangjing's eyes were cold. The wooden stairs were a bit old and made a harsh creaking sound.

After turning the stairs, Xiao Guangjing couldn't wait to see Zhao Xiaoqian sitting alone by the window on the third floor. His body trembled and his pupils shrank into needle points.

Zhao Xiaoqian was eating breakfast. After staying up all night, he was not only tired but also very hungry.

Fortunately, the gambling house was located in Zhouqiao, a famous food market in Bianjing with countless kinds of delicious food.

There were several kinds of exquisite noodles on the table in front of him. Zhao Xiaoqian ate so much that his cheeks were bulging. Seeing that Xiao Guangjing had gone upstairs, Zhao Xiaoqian mumbled something, then pointed to the chair opposite, indicating that he should sit down and eat with him.

Xiao Guangjing's expression was shocked, then he gradually showed a look of realization, and in the end he didn't even have the strength to show his anger.

The situation has come to this, is anger useful?

However, at this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes suddenly opened wide with a terrifying look. Xiao Guangjing took a step back in fear, and a look of helplessness flashed across his face.

Then Zhao Xiaoqian grabbed his neck with both hands, pounded his chest a few times, grabbed a pot of water on the table and drank it violently. He rolled his eyes and finally let out a long breath.

Panting a few times from exhaustion, Zhao Xiaoqian stared at the delicious food in front of him and muttered, "Damn it, I almost choked to death. Now, my image as a villain who succeeded in his scheme is completely ruined..."

Xiao Guangjing stared at him with gritted teeth, and he wanted to curse even more.

"Sit down. You haven't eaten all night, have you? Zhouqiao is famous for its delicious food. Look at these: crispy pastries, crystal fish, fried tongs... I'm not bragging, but you guys in Liao can't possibly eat such delicious food."

Xiao Guangjing smiled bitterly. He was in no mood to eat right now.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said, "If I were you, I would definitely eat as much as I could. Too many lice don't itch, too much debt doesn't worry. He tricked me into owing so much money, I must eat that beast out of my money. As the saying goes, a common man's anger will make him die of starvation..."

Xiao Guangjing's cheek twitched, and the anger that had been suppressed in his chest for a long time finally erupted.

Xiao Guangjing's face suddenly turned ferocious. He took a few steps forward and sat down opposite Zhao Xiaoqian, glaring fiercely at his threatening face. He suddenly roared, "Eat that bastard out of his money!"

After saying that, Xiao Guangjing grabbed a fried dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth.

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled by his shouting and said awkwardly, "That was just a metaphor. There's no need to get so involved..."

"Slow down, don't choke, you probably won't be able to get enough of this beast."

(End of this chapter)