novelSusiti Chapter 70 Unexpected Guest
Chapter 70 Unexpected Guest
Batu went upstairs and followed behind Sun Yongfu.
The third floor was covered with a thick carpet, and there was not a sound when you stepped on it.
Silk paintings depicting landscapes, flowers, and birds hang on the walls on both sides of the corridor.
Every few steps, a copper lamp is embedded in the wall, with a glass shade that lets in soft, non-glaring light.
Sun Yongfu walked half a step ahead of Batu, his body turned to the side and his back slightly bent.
"Young Master, I'm so sorry to have caused you so much trouble," he said as he walked, his voice filled with deep apology.
"Those people down there are ignorant and don't know about your relationship with Master Gao. Please don't hold a grudge against them."
I'll definitely teach them a lesson they'll learn later.
Batu walked behind, letting out a cold snort through his nose.
The "humph" was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Sun Yongfu to hear, without sounding too harsh.
"It's nothing," he said casually. "It's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."
He knew now was not the time to dwell on things.
Arguing with a gatekeeper would lower his status and could easily lead to further complications.
The third floor is very large, with winding corridors dividing the entire floor into several independent areas.
Every few steps, there was a door on both sides, all closed, with dim light and faint voices shining through the cracks.
Batu has been to the third floor many times and is familiar with its layout.
The third floor of Juxianju is not a place that ordinary gamblers can go up to.
He knew a little about the ins and outs of this.
There are private rooms specifically for high rollers to gamble one-on-one. Inside, there is only one table, two chairs, and one dealer. The customer decides what to gamble on, and no outsiders will know whether they win or lose.
There are also large rooms for gatherings of three to five friends, with several tables set up, where a group of people sit together, playing dominoes, dice, and leaf games, creating a lively atmosphere.
Juxianju only provides the venue, tea, and snacks, and takes a 10% cut.
Some rooms are not for gambling, but are specifically for people to discuss business. They are furnished with tea tables, bookshelves, and the Four Treasures of the Study, making them look like a study.
Actually, it was prepared for adults who didn't want to go to the government office or meet at home.
Everyone knows the inside story here, but no one has ever spoken out about it.
Juxianju has been able to operate on Qianmen Street for so many years, with its business booming day by day. This success is not only due to Gao Mengyuan's methods, but also to its focus on the word "safety".
People who come here, whether they are gambling, discussing business, or seeking pleasure, can all feel at ease.
Sun Yongfu led Batu through the corridor, turned two corners, and arrived at the door of the innermost room.
Sun Yongfu pushed open the door, stepped aside, and made a "please" gesture.
Batu stepped inside.
"Young Master, please sit here for a while and have a cup of tea." Sun Yongfu said as he quickly poured Batu a cup of tea. "Master Gao has guests over, they'll be here soon, please wait a moment."
Batu took the teacup without saying a word, only nodding.
Sun Yongfu bowed slightly, withdrew, and gently closed the door behind him.
The room fell silent.
Batu sat on the Luohan bed, holding the teacup in his hand, but did not drink.
He was filled with lingering fear.
If Sun Yongfu had come out even half a step later, he would have really gone downstairs.
Once I went downstairs and out the door, tonight's events were over.
He took a deep breath, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
He didn't know how long he waited, but finally, footsteps came from outside the door.
Batu put down his teacup and stood up.
Gao Mengyuan walked at the front, his face bearing his signature smile.
A middle-aged man followed behind him.
Batu's gaze fell on the middle-aged man.
The man was in his forties, of medium build, neither fat nor thin.
His face was round, his skin was fair, his eyebrows were thick and dark, and his eyes were not big but very bright.
A white jade pendant hung from his belt; its carving was exquisite, and its surface was smooth and lustrous—clearly not an ordinary piece.
Batu quickly stood up from the Luohan bed, straightened his clothes, put on a smile, and cupped his hands in greeting.
Gao Mengyuan strode forward and patted Batu on the shoulder.
"Come, come, let me introduce you." He turned around, looked at Batu, and pointed at him. "This is Batu, the heir of the Mongolian Prince Urjingalap."
He and I have known each other for a long time, and we're very close.
Then he turned around, looked at the middle-aged man, and said in a more respectful tone: "This is Xiao Guoxing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice."
Lord Xiao is a pillar of the court and a favorite of the Crown Prince.
Xiao Guoxing! How did you manage to bring this guy surnamed Gao here?!
He's a high-ranking official of the second rank; if he were to be burned to death here, it would be a huge disaster!
But Batu remained calm on the surface.
He quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Xiao, I have long admired you. I have often heard people say that you are a brilliant judge of cases and a pillar of the court. It is my great honor to meet you today."
Xiao Guoxing also cupped his hands in greeting and looked Batu up and down.
"Your Highness is too kind. I have often heard people mention Your Highness's name, saying that you are generous and righteous, a true hero of the grasslands. Meeting you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved."
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, but they were just saying nothing of substance or politeness.
The three people took their seats.
Gao Mengyuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said:
"Lord Xiao, I've mentioned the young master to you before."
The Urjingalap tribe held a pivotal position among the tribes of Southern Mongolia, commanding thousands of cavalry under its prince, and including a considerable number of archers.
The Crown Prince is the eldest son of the Prince of the Second Rank and will inherit the throne. He has always valued the various Mongol tribes, especially the Urjingalap tribe.
He paused, his gaze falling on Batu's face.
"The young master is a sensible man; he intends to lead his tribe to join the Crown Prince's cause."
Xiao Guoxing's gaze fell on Batu's face.
"Your Highness, there is something I don't understand, and I'm not sure if I should ask it."
Batu's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture: "Lord Xiao, please speak."
"The Crown Prince is the eldest brother-in-law of the Tenth Prince, and your sister is the Tenth Prince's wife."
The Tenth Prince is a member of the Eighth Prince's faction; who in the entire court doesn't know that?
Why would the young master choose to serve the crown prince instead of his brother-in-law and the Eighth Prince's faction?
The question was direct, and Batu knew that if he answered it well, the deal would be done tonight.
If he gives a bad answer, not only will he ruin his job, but he himself will also be implicated.
"Lord Xiao, that's a good question." He sighed. "You know my brother-in-law; he's a notorious good-for-nothing."
Impulsive, reckless, and acts without thinking.
He himself didn't even know how many people he had offended in the court.
My sister has suffered so much since marrying him, and as her brother, I've seen it all and it pains me to see it.
He got more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice rose a few decibels, carrying a long-suppressed resentment: "That tenth prince, at home he orders his wife around and doesn't know how to be considerate at all."
He acts like a big shot outside, but throws his weight around at home. He's especially disrespectful to my father; he's been to the grasslands several times, and hasn't uttered a single proper word since. He's arrogant and looks down on everyone.
As he spoke, he became quite agitated, his face turning bright red and the veins on his neck bulging slightly, as if he were genuinely very angry.
"He's a complete bastard!"
Yin'e listened intently to every word Batu said.
His lips twitched, then twitched again, and then twitched once more.
"Tenth Brother, you've only had a little, why is your face so red?" Ninth Brother said, holding his wine glass with a hint of teasing in his voice.
"Hot." Yin'e squeezed out a word through gritted teeth, then took another swig of wine.