The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Seeing Li Xiang's imposing manner, he knew he couldn't stop him at all, so he took the initiative to lead the way under the pretext of introducing the games one by one, so as to prevent others from rushing in and to stabilize the situation in advance.

"This is Chupu, where you throw dice to determine the winner by which the dice land in the hole. It all depends on luck. If you are a beginner in gambling, this is the most suitable way to start."

Li Xiang watched for a moment, and seeing that it was just a game of betting and moving pieces, purely relying on luck, he shook his head and walked away.

"This is backgammon. You roll the dice to determine the number of moves, and then you attack and defend against each other, much like two armies clashing."

Li Xiang glanced at it and saw that the game was similar to a game of chess and gambling, without any clever ideas, so he simply skipped it.

"...That is the leaf game, where paper leaves are used to roll dice to determine the winner."

Li Xiang's eyes lit up. Wasn't this a simplified version of mahjong, played with cards? He immediately decided: This is it!

However, this leaf game wasn't very popular in this gambling house, and there were few players. The innkeeper looked around, his face showing difficulty, and said with a forced smile, "Unfortunately, sir, this game requires a certain number of people, and we are currently a few short."

"That's easy," Li Xiang said casually, pointing to the constipated-looking soldier with his sword. "You join in."

"Me?" The sergeant was taken aback. "Do I have to go too?"

"Yes." Li Xiang nodded.

Before long, two more idle men joined them, making a table full. The innkeeper, fearing this young gentleman might embarrass himself as it was his first time, stepped forward and said, "If you are unfamiliar with the rules, sir, I can offer my guidance."

Li Xiang glanced at him sideways, completely disbelieving that the ancient card players could outsmart him, and waved his hand impatiently: "Why are you meddling? Go away, go away."

"Here, give me the cards first... I want to check the cards!" He said confidently.

"Um... then, young master, is there anything you need me to do?"

"Hmm, the cards are fine... You?" Li Xiang thought for a moment, then smiled wickedly: "Shine my shoes."

"Leather...leather shoes?" The shopkeeper was taken aback. He looked down and saw that the young man wasn't wearing leather boots either.

But he didn't dare ask any more questions, and instead lowered his head to symbolically wipe Li Xiang's boots...

The game began. Li Xiang, feeling confident and like a gambling god, rolled up his sleeves, ready to dominate.

then……

"I'm not playing anymore!" Li Xiang gritted his teeth and threw the cards onto the table.

"From this day forward, I will be sworn enemies with gambling and drugs!"

Li Xiang swore an oath to the heavens.

He thought he could easily defeat the ancients with his intelligence and card skills, but to his surprise, none of these ancient Tang Dynasty people were mediocre players. Despite their burly appearance, they completely dominated Li Xiang at the card table.

Even the soldiers who were just there to make up the numbers earned a considerable amount of money. But Li Xiang, on the other hand, only spent money and didn't earn any, making the shopkeeper who funded him turn green with envy.

"Alright, shopkeeper, you can keep the jade, just give me the extra money," Li Xiang said. He'd come to pawn the jade pendant anyway, and having lost some money, he figured he had to accept the shopkeeper's offer, even if it wasn't his responsibility.

Thinking about it that way, it's not entirely unacceptable.

The shopkeeper smiled ingratiatingly and handed the jade pendant back, saying, "Young master, you jest."

"Please keep this jade. Consider this small amount of money as a humble offering; I would never dare to accept such a precious gift from you, sir."

He leaned forward slightly and whispered the details:

"To be honest, I am the adopted son of Duke Zhang Liang, and this gambling house is originally a property under the Duke's name."

"The Duke of Xun?" Li Xiang was taken aback. Wasn't that Zhang Liangyao, the one who supposedly had five hundred adopted sons?

Seeing that Li Xiang was still confused, the shopkeeper leaned closer mysteriously and said, "The Duke's Mansion and the Prince of Wei's Mansion are also very close."

"Back then, if my adoptive father hadn't reported Hou Junji, Hou Junji and that deposed crown prince probably wouldn't have fallen so easily. Young master, if I were to accept your money, I would be in trouble with my adoptive father when I get back."

In this gambling business, the most important thing is having a good eye! The shopkeeper has always been proud of his eye for talent: the young man in front of him is not old, but he has palace guards following him and has such a high-quality jade pendant. He must be a member of the royal family.

In Chang'an City today, only the lineage of the Prince of Wei has a grandson of this age. The one in front of you must be the heir of the Prince of Wei's mansion!

The Duke of Xun's mansion was trying to get closer to Prince Wei, Li Tai, hoping to catch this last train of "following the dragon".

Upon seeing the arrival of this "Crown Prince of Wei," how could one not fawn over him?

"Oh?" Li Xiang stroked his chin. So, Duke Xun, Zhang Liang, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, is also getting involved with that scoundrel Li Tai?

It seems that Li Tai's power is truly at its zenith at this time.

In all of Chang'an, everyone believes he will become the next crown prince.

"You just said you wouldn't charge me?" Li Xiang asked the shopkeeper with a half-smile.

"How could I possibly accept money from you, young master..." the shopkeeper said with a forced smile.

"Alright then." Li Xiang smiled triumphantly. He'd finally managed to exploit a money-making bug.

"In that case, let's play a few more rounds..."

"By the way, does your Guogong restaurant sell mala tang (spicy hot pot)?"

"……what?"

-----------------

An hour later, Li Xiang walked out of the Boshe with a full money bag on his back and a chuckle.

This time, he only played the luck-based games of Chupu and Shuanglu, and sure enough, he won a considerable amount. But it was only natural; having exploited the bug, he could only profit no matter how he played.

We should take advantage of the power of the King of Wei's faction.

It's a pity that Zhang Liang's family doesn't sell mala tang (spicy hot pot), otherwise, we could have solved our food problem at the same time.

But it doesn't matter. Since we have money, what can't we buy?

When Li Xiang returned to Longqingfang with the soldiers carrying bags and packages, the area inside and outside the ward was already filled with soldiers frantically searching everywhere.

When the group of people saw that Li Xiang had returned on his own, they were all dumbfounded, but they could only silently open the gate and watch Li Xiang, who had made them busy all day for nothing, casually walk into the gate.

They could only glare at the soldier who followed Li Xiang and even carried his bag a thousand times over with murderous intent...

As Li Xiangfang stepped into the house, he saw Li Chengqian, Madam Su, and his younger brother Li Jue sitting in the main hall waiting for him.

Upon seeing Li Xiang return, Madam Su's brow relaxed, seemingly relieved. Li Chengqian, however, frowned and asked, "Why are you back again?"

"Huh?" Li Xiang was taken aback, and lifted the full package in his hand: "After I finished shopping, of course I came back."

"..." Li Chengqian's face remained gloomy. After a long silence, he finally said, "If you can leave, there's no need to come back."

"You don't need to worry about things at home."

"Chang'an is heavily guarded; it's not that easy to leave," Li Xiang said nonchalantly as he popped a piece of candy into Li Jue's mouth.

Li Chengqian nodded, then turned and limped back to the inner quarters, leaving the worried Madam Su to fuss over Li Xiang.

While dealing with Madam Su, Li Xiang kept glancing at Li Chengqian's departing figure out of the corner of his eye.

This cheap old man seems to be worried about something... He's not as resigned to fate as he appears on the surface.

Perhaps, if I can find a way to provoke him further, I can ignite his fighting spirit and make him continue to go all in and take a gamble?