The prince loves me like his life, but I force him to rebel

Guangjuxuan.

A table for four is just right.

The third prince asked Shu Huaiyuan in detail about his feelings over the past few days, and Shu Huaiyuan answered his questions one by one.

"The imperial guards and the imperial city guards are supposed to be brave and good at fighting, but I found that there is a strong gambling culture in the army. Some people even privately invite small gambling games in the palace, and many palace maids and eunuchs also participate in them. This is very abnormal."

Sima Yao frowned slightly when he heard this, but as a prince, he really knew nothing about the entertainment of the palace servants at the bottom of the palace.

"I suspect that the person behind this gambling game..." Shu Huaiyuan leaned forward and whispered, "It's the Queen's people."

Gu Nianzhi's eyes moved.

In the original book, the queen did use Min Lirong to set up gambling games in the palace many times. Although the scale was not as large as the gambling houses in the streets, most of the palace servants participated in it.

Min Lirong not only made a lot of money, but also successfully blackmailed many people to tip off for them, turning the gambling game into an intelligence bureau within the palace.

This gamble played a significant role in the final struggle to frame the third prince and completely kick him out as a candidate for the crown prince.

However, Shu Huaiyuan was not in the palace at that time and no one noticed it. Now that Shu Huaiyuan is here and is keenly aware of the problem, perhaps the final result will be different?

Gu Nianzhi was lost in thought when he heard the Third Prince ask softly, "Mr. Gu, what do you think about this?"

"Me? I've only been to the palace a few times, so I don't know much about this situation. Of course, gambling is definitely wrong. By the way, if a casino is set up privately in the palace and it is discovered, what will be the consequences?"

"Disturbing the order of the imperial palace and misleading the people is a crime punishable by death," Shu Huaiyuan replied.

"If you open a casino in the market and get caught, what will be the consequences?"

"As long as the silver tax is paid on time, there are only two results for opening a casino: making money or not making money. However, opening a casino is not something that ordinary people can participate in."

"One is a capital crime with the risk of being beheaded, and the other is just to pay taxes. If a normal person just wants to make money, would he choose to open a casino in the palace?"

Gu Nianzhi expressed his thoughts.

Sima Yao and Shu Huaiyuan realized something at the same time.

"Just for the pitiful money of the palace maids, eunuchs and guards, he risked his head to gamble in the palace. Is there something wrong with his brain?" Gu Nianzhi continued to guide.

"Opening a casino is not just for making money, but... has other intentions?" Lin Heng asked tentatively.

"If you, Lin Heng, have participated in gambling, once discovered, you will face the punishment of being expelled from the palace. Now someone tells you that as long as you help him provide the whereabouts of the Third Prince tomorrow, he will help you conceal the gambling. Will you reveal it?"

"I am a guard after all, so I will be more or less vigilant. Moreover, I grew up with the Third Prince, so I will not say anything. But if it is other guards or palace maids and eunuchs, I can't say for sure."

"In other words, the person who runs the gambling game can easily control all those who have participated in the gambling, regardless of whether they win or lose in the casino?" Sima Yao finally hit the point.

Gu Nianzhi nodded.

"This is not just a gambling workshop, but an intelligence agency that specifically targets the low-level guards, eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, or, in other words, a task issuance agency?" Shu Huaiyuan added.

"That's right." Gu Nianzhi thought for a moment and added, "But this is just my suspicion."

"Huaiyuan, Lin Heng, the two of you should find a way to investigate secretly to find out who is behind this gambling." Sima Yao actually already had an answer, but he still wanted to verify his idea through investigation.

"The palace guards were previously divided between the two princes. If they weren't your people, the Third Prince, then they must be the people on the Second Prince's side. And for something like this, it's impossible to just pick any guard to do it. Look for those guards who have official positions and are related to the Queen, and then check them one by one and you'll get the answer quickly."

Sima Yao looked at Gu Nianzhi with eyes full of doubt.

Just as Gu Nianzhi herself said, she had only been in the palace a few times and was not familiar with the situation inside the palace. Why did she talk about these things so clearly and even as if she already knew who was the person behind the scenes?

"Just as Mr. Gu said, the two of you should investigate it privately. This matter could be big or small, so don't delay it." Sima Yao gave the order.

After the four of them finished their dinner, the other three, except Gu Nian, drank some wine.

Shu Huaiyuan said goodbye alone and returned to the palace. Sima Yao and Gu Nianzhi walked side by side, and Lin Heng followed closely behind.

After entering the palace, Lin Heng took his leave and Sima Yao sent Gu Nianzhi back to his room.

The two of them were walking along the garden path, and they looked up at the same time. The moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

"Does it look like the moon that night when we saw fireflies together?" Gu Nianzhi looked up at the moon.

The moons in the two worlds are exactly the same, but I feel so far away from the real world.

"Another month has passed." Sima Yao said with emotion.

"Third Prince, do you remember the fireflies that night?"

"remember."

"If I hadn't been chased by someone that day, you might have taught me how to catch fireflies."

"I'll make up for it today." Sima Yao took Gu Nianzhi's wrist and walked towards the stable, "I'll take you to look for fireflies."

After Anton helped Gu Nianzhi get on the horse, Sima Yao was about to get on the horse but was stopped by Gu Nianzhi.

"Third Prince, I have already learned how to ride a horse. There is no need to bother you to ride with me."

Sima Yao smiled, "Do you really think you are an expert on horseback riding? How can riding at night be the same as riding during the day?"

After saying that, he jumped onto the horse's back, just like when the two of them went to Qiangyi, and held Gu Nianzhi in his arms.

The night breeze blew gently, and Gu Nianzhi's hair swayed in the wind, touching Sima Yao's neck and face.

Since returning from Qiangyi, Sima Yao has been consciously keeping a certain distance from Gu Nianzhi. Although there are many gay men among the dandies in the capital, he always thinks that it is a very abnormal thing for men to fall in love with other men, and he cannot accept that he has become such a person.

But for some reason, when he saw Gu Nianzhi and Shu Huaiyuan going out alone and chatting happily today, Sima Yao felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.

Just like that, an invitation to watch fireflies together was inexplicably sent.

The place where Sima Yao took Gu Nianzhi to see fireflies turned out to be the lakeside where the four of them grilled fish during the day.

"Fireflies like to live near lakes and streams, and there are indeed some here." Sima Yaoxian took a step towards the lake.

You don't notice it from a distance, but when you get closer to the lake, you will see a lot of fireflies surrounding you. Although the density of fireflies is not as high as the last time due to the vast lake, the scenery ahead is quite different.

"The lakeside is so beautiful at night..." Gu Nianzhi stretched out her fingers to attract the fireflies.

"You, you came here during the day?"