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The next day, the Wen brothers arrived on time, accompanied by a young man dressed in an indigo eunuch's robe with his hat pulled down not too low.

Even before he arrived, his aura, so different from that of ordinary eunuchs, was already emanating from him.

This "Little Tongzi" wasn't particularly tall, but his back was ramrod straight, his chin slightly raised, and his gaze held an unconscious scrutiny and arrogance. Even though he tried his best to imitate the submissive demeanor of an ordinary eunuch, the imperious air that flowed between his brows was hard to completely conceal.

Although his steps were quick, he possessed a composure that was not something that those who toiled all day and groveled could possess.

"As expected of someone who serves the emperor closely, their airs are practically off the charts." Su Ning thought to himself, becoming even more convinced that what the Wen brothers had said yesterday was true.

Such arrogance cannot be cultivated unless one is at the very top of power.

Su Ning's gaze swept over "Little Tongzi's" face, noticing the few conspicuous pockmarks. She just thought to herself, "The Wild Boar Skin family's aesthetic sense has been skewed since their ancestors. It seems that Emperor Kangxi in history also had pockmarks? He even had a nickname, Kang Pockmarks! It seems that the palace is quite tolerant of pockmarked faces."

The thought flashed through his mind, but he did not connect it with the high and mighty young emperor.

After all, the idea of ​​the emperor disguising himself as a lowly eunuch to gamble was simply too shocking.

"Little Gui, this...this is Little Tongzi," Wen Youfang quickly introduced, his tone carrying a barely perceptible caution.

That "Little Tongzi" was none other than the young Emperor Kangxi, Xuan Ye. He imitated the manner of a eunuch, casually cupping his hands in greeting. He deliberately kept his voice calm, but it still couldn't hide the clear, youthful tone: "Little Guizi, thank you for your trouble."

The words were brief, carrying a habitual politeness that comes from a superior giving orders to a subordinate.

Su Ning immediately adopted his signature stuttering and humble demeanor, bowing in return: "You...you're too kind. It is...it is my honor to be able to serve Eunuch Tong."

……

The group returned to that familiar, secluded corner.

Today's betting game was completely different from usual, thanks to the Wen brothers' prior "arrangements" and Su Ning's covert control.

In the first few games, Suning was in no hurry to let "Xiao Tongzi" win. Instead, they let him lose a little bit symbolically to whet his appetite, which is also in line with the ups and downs of luck that are common for beginners.

Xuan Ye frowned slightly, showing some impatience.

At this moment, Su Ning leaned closer and stammered in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Eunuch Tong... Eunuch Tong, betting... betting can't be based on... just your liking. You... you heard the sound of the dice hitting the cup just now, wasn't it... wasn't it a bit scattered? Next... next round you can try betting on 'small'."

Xuan Ye was skeptical, but still placed a small bet on "small" as instructed.

The dice cup is lifted—two, three, four, nine is low!

"Hey! It really worked!" Xuan Ye's face instantly lit up with surprise, and his eyes showed more trust in Su Ning.

Next, Suning went on to explain some simple probability knowledge and rudimentary methods for observing the bookmaker's micro-expressions and identifying locations by sound, in an extremely simple and stuttering manner.

“Father-in-law, look, three consecutive ‘big’ rolls have been drawn. Logically speaking, this round’s ‘small’ roll might be more… more likely…” “The dealer… the dealer’s hand… wrist just twitched. Maybe this round’s odds are a bit strange. Betting on ‘all dice’ is risky, but… but the odds are high. We can play a small… small bet…”

When had Xuan Ye ever heard of such "knowledge"?
He found it all to be far more interesting than the classics and historical texts taught by the tutors!

So, following Su Ning's instructions, he began to place bets more systematically. Although he still had the impulsiveness of a young man, he won money more often.

More importantly, in several crucial games, Suning secretly demonstrated his true abilities, helping Xuan Ye bet on extremely high odds and win big.

Looking at the pile of copper coins and silver in front of him, Xuan Ye's cheeks flushed with excitement, and his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

Victories won through one's own wisdom and judgment bring a far greater sense of accomplishment than anything gained through status or position.

"Haha! We won! We won again!" Xuan Ye couldn't help but clap his hands and chuckle, temporarily putting aside the anxieties of the court and the shadow of Ao Bai.

The Wen brothers watched from the sidelines, their hearts finally at ease. They secretly gave Su Ning a thumbs up, their eyes filled with gratitude.

This little darling is finally happy!

After the betting ended, "Little Tongzi" was very satisfied, clutching his winnings and beaming with pride.

Before leaving, he gave Su Ning a rare, somewhat amiable look, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Little Gui, you really have a knack for this! I've learned a lot today, I'll come back to ask you for advice another day!"

Watching the three figures disappear into the distance, especially "Little Tongzi" who, despite wearing eunuch's clothes, couldn't hide his excitement and pride, Su Ning narrowed his eyes slightly.

Things seemed to be going well, but the faint doubt in his heart had not completely disappeared.

This "Little Tongzi's" happiness seems too pure and...naive?

He didn't seem like a cunning eunuch who had been immersed in the inner palace for a long time.

"Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it anymore. At least I've managed to get through this for now." Su Ning shook his head, putting aside his distracting thoughts, and continued to think about his own escape plan.

Little did he know that this act of "teaching Yulong skills" had already left a unique mark on the young emperor's heart.

……

Ever since that day when he first showed his skills at the gambling table, "Little Tongzi" seemed to have discovered something incredibly interesting, and he started visiting the secluded courtyard of the Imperial Kitchen more and more frequently.

At first, he was accompanied by the Wen brothers, but later, perhaps because he felt they were getting to know each other better, or perhaps because he found the two brothers too reserved and inconvenient, he often wandered over by himself.

Without announcing his arrival, he found his way to the courtyard gate, poked half his body in, and called out in a low voice with a hint of familiarity, "Little Gui, are you inside? Do you have time to give me a few pointers today?"

The frequency was so high that even Suning was secretly astonished.

Su Ning originally thought that the palace eunuchs, especially those serving the emperor, would hide their gambling addiction even if they had it. How could they run to him, their "gambling instructor," every few days like this?

This "Little Tongzi's" passion for gambling is simply beyond imagination.

What Suning found even more interesting was that this "Eunuch Tong" not only loved gambling, but also seemed to be... exceptionally greedy.

What is the Imperial Kitchen?
This place is a gathering place for delicacies from all over the world. Even though Hai Dafu's courtyard is deserted, as the "legacy" of the deputy steward, Su Ning can always use his position to get some exquisite pastries, seasonal fruits, or some novel snacks that are hard to find outside.

When "Little Tongzi" first came, Su Ning was studying a plate of crispy, golden-brown "sugar-coated" treats that she had just received.

"Little Tongzi's" eyes lit up immediately, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Seeing this, Su Ning politely invited him to try it.

The young eunuch, without hesitation, picked up a piece and took a bite, oblivious to the crumbs that stained his lips. He ate with a beaming smile, praising repeatedly, "Mmm! This is good! It's crispier than anything I've had elsewhere!"

Since then, almost every time he comes over, "Little Tongzi's" eyes will first scan the table in Suning's room, and if he sees food, he will be even more enthusiastic about studying.

Suning is happy to cater to their preferences and often keeps some on hand.

Thus, a peculiar scene often appeared in this side courtyard of the Imperial Kitchen:

The two sat facing each other at a small wooden table. On one side of the table were dice and dominoes, while on the other side were various snacks such as pea flour cakes, red bean rolls, and milk buns. Su Ning slowly explained the tricks of listening to the dice, or analyzed the probability of the cards; "Little Tongzi" listened attentively, while subconsciously reaching out to pick up a snack and stuffing it into his mouth. When he got excited, he would ask questions in a muffled way. His innocent, satisfied and content appearance was exactly like that of a gluttonous and playful teenager.

"Little Gui, you live a more comfortable life than many of the stewards!"

Once, while munching on a sweet candied crabapple, "Little Tongzi" sighed sincerely, a hint of envy in his eyes.

He had lived in the deep palace for a long time, and although his food was exquisite, there were many rules. He could not eat a second bite of the same dish. He had never been so carefree as to eat snacks while chatting with others about gambling.

Seeing his completely unguarded eating manner, Su Ning's last trace of doubt gradually faded away.

"Looks like he's just a little eunuch who's been suppressed in front of the emperor for too long and came out to have some fun and indulge in a gluttonous meal." He chuckled to himself. "Even a servant of the Wild Boar Skin family can have such a genuine nature."

In this relaxed atmosphere, the two of them unknowingly grew much closer.

In front of Su Ning, "Little Tongzi" became more and more relaxed, and most of the arrogance he had shown before the emperor dissipated. Occasionally, he would even reveal the playfulness and curiosity of a young man, asking all sorts of questions.

While Su Ning maintained a respectful and stuttering demeanor on the surface, he gradually came to regard the other party as an "acquaintance" with whom he could relax a little, a "little eunuch friend" with some special hobbies and background.

Little did he know that the gluttonous, gambling-loving, and bright-eyed "little eunuch" before him was none other than the young Emperor Kangxi, who sat high on the dragon throne and was being suffocated by the powerful minister Ao Bai.

Su Ning felt that the days in the Imperial Kitchen had become more lively due to the frequent visits of this uninvited guest, which temporarily eased his anxiety about escaping.

An intentional or unintentional misunderstanding, and a mutual approach with ulterior motives, unexpectedly brewed a seemingly absurd yet perfectly natural "friendship" in this secluded corner of the palace.

……

That day, "Little Tongzi" Xuan Ye wandered over to the Imperial Kitchen again, but his face showed some of the pent-up frustration he had accumulated in the Cloth Warehouse.

Those carefully selected Buku boys were all exceptionally skilled, but when they sparred with him, they were all extremely cautious. Their attacks seemed fierce, but in reality, they held back at every turn. Their well-timed "retreats" made him feel more humiliated and disrespected than outright humility.

Seeing Su Ning stretching his limbs in the courtyard, his movements seemingly quite methodical, an idea suddenly arose in his mind. With a touch of competitive spirit, he suggested, "Little Gui, you spend all your time gambling and eating, it's quite boring. I often go to the cloth warehouse to play, how about... I take you there to see it? We can have a match?"

Suning was taken aback upon hearing this.

Cloth storehouse? That's where the palace guards and wrestling partners practice.

He wanted to refuse, but seeing the mixture of expectation and provocation in "Little Tongzi's" eyes, he knew that this kid probably intended to find a "real opponent" to vent his frustrations on today.

On second thought, he realized that staying in this courtyard all the time would indeed require him to familiarize himself with the palace environment, so he pretended to hesitate and agreed: "This...cloth storeroom? I...I'm clumsy and careless, I'm afraid...I'm afraid I'll offend Eunuch Tong."

"No problem!" Xuan Ye waved his hand enthusiastically. "It's just for fun, who would take it seriously? Let's go!"

The room was filled with steam, and several strong young men were wrestling. When they saw "Little Tongzi" bring in an unfamiliar eunuch, they all looked surprised, but at Xuan Ye's signal, they wisely stepped aside.

The two changed into simple wrestling clothes and stood in the center of the arena.

Xuan Ye was confident in his extensive reading and training, and although he knew his opponents were giving him the run-through, he felt he still possessed the necessary skills and strength.

With a low shout, he took the initiative, launching a standard "splash kick" towards Su Ning's lower body with swift movement.

However, in Su Ning's eyes, although the move was standard, it was too rigid and lacked flexibility and ruthlessness in the face of the enemy.

Without moving his feet, he merely shifted his waist slightly, causing the sweeping kick to miss. At the same time, his right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Xuan Ye's wrist, which had not yet retracted, and twisting it with a pull!
Xuan Ye felt a sudden, unexpected force, causing him to lose his balance and fall forward involuntarily, landing heavily on the soft wrestling mat with a "thud".

The fall wasn't hard, but it was extremely clean and decisive, quite unlike his usual back-and-forth battles.

Xuan Ye was stunned, and the Buku boys around him were also dumbfounded.

This little eunuch actually dared to use such force against "this person"?

"You..." Xuan Ye got up, his face showing some embarrassment, but even more disbelief. "Again!"

This time, he was more cautious and tried to use entanglement techniques.

But Su Ning's movements were as slippery as an eel, always finding an opening before he could exert his strength.

Whether it's a simple leg twist or a swift spinning back throw, every contact is brief and effective.

"Splash!" "Ouch!" "Bang!"

Seven or eight times in a row, Xuan Ye was thrown to the ground in various different positions, completely powerless to fight back.

He was panting heavily, his wrestling clothes soaked with sweat, while Su Ning opposite him was only slightly out of breath, still looking somewhat "simple and honest," stammering, "Eunuch Tong... you flatter me."

Xuan Ye remained seated on the ground, not getting up immediately.

He looked up at Su Ning, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Instead of the expected anger, there was a strange... sense of exhilaration!

In this pure, unadulterated contest based on genuine skill, although he lost, he accepted the defeat wholeheartedly and even felt a long-lost sense of respect as an equal.

Those young Buku dared not defeat him, the court officials revered him, and the tutors instructed him, but no one had ever treated him like this little Gui Zi, as an ordinary opponent who could fight with all their might.

This stuttering little eunuch is not only a skilled gambler and clever, but also possesses remarkable physical abilities!

What is his background?
How could Hai Dafu, that sinister old eunuch, have trained such subordinates?
A thought, like a bamboo shoot breaking through the soil, grew uncontrollably in Xuan Ye's mind: If only he could keep such a person by his side...

It's no longer just about gambling with him to relieve boredom, but about truly staying by his side day and night!

With someone who is capable, unyielding, and makes him feel relaxed and at ease, the oppressive atmosphere of the palace and the pressure of the court seem to be greatly reduced.

He dusted himself off, stood up, and said nothing more. He just gave Su Ning a deep look, his gaze no longer filled with the simple affection of a playmate, but with a hint of subtle appreciation and... possessiveness.

"Little Gui, impressive skills!" He smiled, his tone returning to calm, yet more serious than ever before. "Today... I've learned a great deal. I'll come find you to play again later."

Watching "Little Tongzi" leave, Su Ning rubbed her wrist, feeling somewhat surprised.

This kid, after losing so many times, not only isn't angry, but his eyes are even brighter?

What a weirdo.

Suning still didn't connect this matter to anything deeper, simply considering it a case of young people appreciating each other's competitive spirit.

Unbeknownst to Su Ning, this "real contest" in the cloth warehouse had already planted a seed in the young emperor's heart.

A transfer that would determine his future fate may have already quietly begun in Xuan Ye's mind.

...(End of chapter)