Chapter 494 - 7: The Cannon Fodder Vase in the Scheming Novel (Part 7)

Just after filing a complaint, Your Highness is sure to comment on it. Jiang Lai isn’t he always trying to curry favor? Surely he’ll work on me and try to earn a good reputation in front of Your Highness.

Furthermore, Chun Niang knows Jiang Lai’s temperament; he’s a paper tiger, weak and incompetent, easily manipulated with a few words, so she acts even more lazy and indulgent, directly yawning and lazily saying.

"Sis, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to leave first. It’s too cold, and even though you’re well-off, you should be careful not to catch a chill."

"Is Lady Chun finding money insufficient to use?"

Chun Niang raised an eyebrow, leisurely looking at her freshly painted nails.

"We’re not like sis, who controls the household finances. Your Highness said that you can use the Silver Tael in the household as you please. We sisters in the back courtyard are frugal and afraid of making sis unhappy one day and Your Highness getting angry and sending us off."

Women in the back courtyard and women in the harem are similar, idle except for three meals a day, learned nothing over the year inside the household except for being cryptic and two-faced.

Jiang Lai feels little anger.

Seems like I’ve truly been infected by the original owner’s broad-mindedness, otherwise, following Jiang Lai’s earlier nature, should be thinking about how to sew Chun Niang’s mouth shut.

"Little He."

Jiang Lai called out.

Little He hurried forward.

"Go to my room and fetch some money."

Chun Niang looked confused, not understanding what Jiang Lai meant.

Little He came out holding a square wooden box, brought it to Jiang Lai, opened it to reveal a neat stack of gleaming gold bars under the sun.

Chun Niang’s eyes were fixed.

This was gold, the type only officials could access.

Jiang Lai took a bar from inside and tossed it directly onto Chun Niang’s leg.

The heavy gold bar hit her leg painfully, yet the always delicate Chun Niang didn’t move, just stared blankly at the gold bar on her leg and at Jiang Lai in front of her.

So much money, how could she dare to touch it?

"Didn’t you say you didn’t have enough money to spend? Take this and pay off your gambling debt."

"So much... gambling debt, what gambling debt? Don’t talk nonsense, how could I have a gambling debt."

Hearing the words "gambling debt" made Chun Niang shiver, the gold bar on her leg felt even hotter.

Seeing her like a cat with its tail stepped on, Jiang Lai smiled.

"What are you afraid of? If I wanted to report you, could you still be sitting in front of me now?

Among so many sisters in the household, I actually admire you the most, shrewd and capable, and eloquent. What I’m trying to do is pull you in."

Chun Niang’s breathing became cautious.

Her mind was filled with Jiang Lai’s casual talk about "gambling debt".

Her sparrow-playing (ancient mahjong) was so hidden that even her close friends in the back courtyard didn’t know. How could Jiang Lai, who rarely goes out, know?

Moreover, her assured tone seemed like she had seen it firsthand.

"Sis, I do enjoy playing sparrow, but it’s just a casual game, never for gambling..."

"Should I call the people you regularly play cards with for a confrontation before you’re willing to admit it?"

When Chun Niang heard this, she instantly wilted.

"Sis, you’re magnanimous. Since you’ve concealed this matter for me, how could I possibly take this money? I don’t want it."

Jiang Lai’s expression didn’t change, calmly saying.

"It’s not much, take it, if it’s not enough, you can come to me again, after all, we’re sisters."

Chun Niang was utterly panicked hearing this.

What does Jiang Lai really want?

She’s holding onto her weakness without reporting it, now giving her money to repay her gambling debt.

Is she really such a kind-hearted person?

"Sis, please don’t mess with me, I won’t gamble anymore, if you have anything in the future, just direct me, whatever Chun Niang can do, I’ll definitely help you accomplish it."

Chun Niang knows when to bend or stretch, the sliding kneel was extremely fluent and smooth.

Jiang Lai sighed helplessly.

"Only when you accept my favor can I trust that you’re of one mind with me, otherwise, what if you turn around and forget?"

Hearing this, Chun Niang looked at the gold bar in her hand, feeling very reluctant.

If she really accepted Jiang Lai’s money, she’d truly be tied to her.

"Alright, I’m tired, leave now, come see me again at this time tomorrow, I have something to tell you."

Finally, Chun Niang was half convinced and stowed the gold bar away.

She came with her head held high, but left nodding and bowing, her face confused between doubt and smile, her expression very complicated.

After Chun Niang left, Little He, who had been silent for a long time, couldn’t help but ask.

"Miss, how do you know she lost money gambling?"

Normally, Miss rarely goes out, even when she does, she takes her along. It’s impossible for her to know something she doesn’t.

Besides, Lady Chun is the shrewdest woman in the back courtyard, how could Jiang Lai easily catch her weakness?

Sensing Little He’s curiosity, Jiang Lai pointed at her shoulder.

"Give it a massage first."

Little He understood immediately and began massaging Jiang Lai’s shoulders.

"Gamblers all have one characteristic, did you know?"

"What characteristic?"

"Eyes."

"Eyes? What’s wrong with Lady Chun’s eyes?"

Jiang Lai waved her hand, not wanting to speak anymore.

This body was too lazy, speaking so much was already the limit.

But having shaken off a chatterbox, there’s still one more.

Little Buding, knowing Jiang Lai couldn’t shake him off, kept asking.

"There’s nothing about this in the plot, how did you know?"

"The woman’s eyes were full of red threads, exhausted like that yet still shining, looking excited.

And her nails, rubbed from playing mahjong till the pinky nail lost its color.

Finally, the woman’s family is merchants, though wealthy, has little to do with a married daughter, yet she buys new clothes monthly, spending more than she takes, where does the money come from?

Every month after losing, with no money, she’d cry to Chu Yunxuan. The original owner avoided trouble, swallowing losses quietly, always giving her extra each time.

In conclusion, she’s a gambling addict, spending excessively. Every gambler ends up with debts, hence this is also her weakness."

Little Buding was silent for a long time, reluctantly speaking.

"Occasionally, you are indeed smarter than me."

"Yes, thank you for the compliment."

"One last thing, why did you give her money?"

Jiang Lai is not someone kind-hearted, giving money indicates a return of tenfold from the other party.

Aside from being exceptionally beautiful, what other use does that woman have?

Jiang Lai smiled.

"She is very useful."

"Explain."

"Chu Yunxuan listens when she complains, isn’t this proof enough of her capabilities?"

Little Buding vaguely guessed Jiang Lai’s meaning, yet he didn’t quite believe it.

"Chu Yunxuan is the male lead, all male leads possess a noble quality: devotion and integrity."

"All men can’t escape temptation, the key lies in whether the temptation is large enough."