The rebels hadn't been completely eliminated, and Pei Ji hadn't held a celebration for Cao Yuan and the others yet. However, that evening, he still took Shen Jing and the main generals of the camp out for a few drinks.
As the universally acknowledged number one hero, Shen Jing naturally couldn't avoid being toasted.
After that round of drinks, he became much more familiar with several of the army's generals.
The next day, Shen Jing followed Pei Ji and the others, escorting Prince Ji back to the capital.
Fan Qinghu, due to his injuries, had to recuperate here for a period before heading to the capital.
On the journey back to the capital, their pace was considerably slower because they were escorting Prince Ji.
However, Pei Ji immediately ordered someone to send the victory report to the capital.
Su Family.
Ever since Shen Jing left for Qu Prefecture, Su Yourong had often been absent-minded.
Although Shen Jing was only going to assist in breaking through the city walls, she wasn't sure of the specifics.
And, after all, this was the front lines!
On the battlefield, situations changed in an instant; who could guarantee Shen Jing's safety?
And Chi Chi was the same; that girl no longer studied the things Shen Jing had taught her. Every day, she devoutly prayed for Shen Jing, fearing that he might suffer any loss on the Qu Prefecture front.
At first, Su Yourong tried to persuade the girl, but as time went on, she also began to pray for Shen Jing along with Chi Chi.
"Miss, Miss…"
Today, as the two were praying for Shen Jing, Butler Lao He rushed in.
Su Yourong suddenly opened her eyes, looking at Lao He, who was running in a frantic hurry, "What's wrong? Is there news of Shen Jing?"
Lao He was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head, saying angrily, "No… no! This old man unexpectedly heard that someone in the city has opened a gambling table, betting on whether your son-in-law can return to the capital alive…"
"What?"
Su Yourong's face changed, and she asked sharply, "Who opened the gambling table?"
These idle bastards!
How dare they open a gambling table with something like this?
"I heard that several gambling houses have opened gambling tables."
Lao He replied, "I heard that Hengyun Gambling House was the first to open one, and then several other gambling houses followed suit…"
"These scoundrels!"
Su Yourong gritted her teeth and cursed, then asked Lao He, "How much silver does the manor have in its treasury?"
"This…"
Lao He looked at Su Yourong with difficulty, seeming to guess what Su Yourong was about to do, and hesitantly replied, "About sixty-eight thousand taels…"
"Only sixty-eight thousand taels?"
Su Yourong frowned, "We brought back more than that from Huaizhou, didn't we?"
Lao He's heart fluttered, and he quickly tried to persuade her again, "Miss, please don't be impulsive. These are all just people stirring up trouble…"
"Exactly how much silver is there?"
Su Yourong asked impatiently.
Seeing Su Yourong getting angry, Lao He dared not conceal it any longer and replied, "There's also over one hundred and eleven thousand taels…"
Su Yourong's face darkened, and she immediately ordered, "Go, get me one hundred thousand taels!"
"This…"
Lao He grew anxious, "Miss, the manor only has this much silver. Please, you must not…"
"What, do you also think Shen Jing won't come back?" Su Yourong interrupted Lao He, "Uncle He, do you also think Shen Jing will be cursed to death by me?"
"No, no!"
Lao He quickly shook his head, "This old man absolutely does not mean that. This old man does not want Miss to gamble away so much silver on a whim! At least you should inform Madam Su about this!"
"No need! I believe I will win the bet!"
Su Yourong's gaze was firm, "If I lose the bet, I will be buried with Shen Jing!"
"Well said!"
Just then, Madam Su's voice rang out.
Madam Su walked over quickly, her face dark, and instructed Lao He, "Go and pick out more valuable items from the manor to pawn!"
Lao He's eyelids twitched. He wanted to object, but Madam Su gave him a cold look.
Lao He dared not say anything more and could only reluctantly accept the order.
Watching Lao He leave, Madam Su then instructed the two women, "You two take the ready cash to the gambling house and place the bets first! Once the pawned silver comes back, bet all of it for this old woman! Isn't it just gambling? This old woman will go all in, even if it means losing everything! This time, this old woman really wants to make a huge fortune!"
Madam Su was also enraged.
Since someone dared to open a gambling table on this matter, the Su Family would see it through to the end!
"Alright!"
Su Yourong nodded, "Chi Chi, come with me!"
Soon, Su Yourong, Chi Chi, and two servants left the Su Family with one hundred thousand taels of silver, heading straight for Hengyun Gambling House.
Two chests contained ready cash, and the rest were silver notes.
Hengyun Gambling House was one of the larger gambling houses in the capital. It usually had many gamblers, but now that a gambling table had opened, the gambling house was even more crowded.
Even many common folk were bringing their hard-earned silver to place bets.
Although Shen Jing had been lively and well ever since he married into the Su Family, Su Yourong's reputation for cursing her husbands to death was simply too great. In the eyes of many who didn't know the truth, Shen Jing's trip to the Qu Prefecture front lines was a death sentence!
Even if he didn't die, he would be cursed to death by Su Yourong!
Placing a bet now was like picking up free silver!
As soon as Su Yourong and her group entered the gambling house, they understood the rules for placing bets.
Betting on Shen Jing's death, one pays one.
Betting on Shen Jing's survival, one pays two.
Betting on Shen Jing returning to the capital alive, and also performing meritorious service for the court, receiving court rewards, one pays three.
Su Yourong directly bypassed the queue, came to the gambling counter, and loudly declared, "I bet one hundred thousand taels, one pays three!"
Hearing Su Yourong's words, the noisy area around the gambling counter suddenly fell silent.
Many people looked at Su Yourong as if she were an idiot.
It wasn't until someone recognized her as Su Yourong that everyone suddenly understood, and then began to discuss animatedly.
"How desperate must she be? Giving away so much silver for nothing?"
"Isn't this normal? It's not about the steamed bun, it's about the principle!"
"Sigh, doesn't she know her own fate?"
"Say less…"
Everyone was discussing, and some even pointed fingers at Su Yourong.
However, Su Yourong didn't care at all. She just stared coldly at the gambling counter's attendant, "Well, do you dare to accept?"
The attendant was indeed intimidated by Su Yourong's aura. Coming back to his senses, he quickly sent someone to call the manager.
Soon, the manager, Qiao Lao San, came to the counter, saying with a plastered smile, "Miss Su, please don't be angry. These are all just the people below messing around. I'll just…"
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Su Yourong interrupted Qiao Lao San, "I'm here to place a bet. Do you dare to accept it?"
Qiao Lao San hesitated slightly, then tentatively asked, "Miss Su, do you really want to bet?"
"Of course!"
Su Yourong pointed to the two boxes behind her and took out a stack of silver notes, "I've brought all the silver! If you dare to accept, I dare to bet!"
"Dare, why wouldn't I dare?"
Qiao Lao San chuckled, "This humble one runs a gambling house. If I don't even dare to accept bets, what kind of gambling house would I be running?"
"Good!"
Su Yourong didn't waste words, "One hundred thousand taels of silver are all here. You can count them!"
Qiao Lao San pondered for a moment, then immediately ordered his men to start counting.
Bet, then bet!
This wasn't his idea anyway!
He wasn't without backing either!
What was there to fear?
Soon, Qiao Lao San finished counting.
One hundred thousand taels of silver, not a single cent less.
"Prepare four hundred thousand taels of silver!"
Su Yourong took the betting slip, threw a remark at Qiao Lao San, and quickly left the gambling house with her people…