Chapter 15: Ye Xun Employs Subtle Tactics to Train the Newcomer and Launches a Grand Money-Making Plan

Listening to Ye Xun’s words, Zheng Qian hastily nodded, smiling brightly. “Very well, I will follow Your Highness’s command.”

Ye Xun turned to the side and said, “Cao An, go find some dice.”

“No need,” Zheng Qian quickly waved his hand, then pulled a die from his robes. “Hehe… I have one right here.”

Mentioning gambling instantly invigorated him.

“Good,” Ye Xun nodded and turned his back. “Let’s begin.”

Cao An stepped beside Zheng Qian, curiosity evident on his face.

Zheng Qian raised an eyebrow at him confidently. Judging by his delighted expression, if he won, he might even give Cao An some winnings as a gift.

Then, Zheng Qian tossed the dice into a bowl and began shaking it.

After a thorough shake—

Snap!

Zheng Qian slammed the bowl onto the desk and slowly lifted it.

Cao An reminded, “Your Highness, it’s ready.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Xun nodded and, feigning profundity, announced, “Four points.”

Cao An exclaimed with excitement, “Haha, Your Highness’s insight is impeccable, it’s four points!”

Zheng Qian glanced at the dice, then at Ye Xun’s back, furrowing his brows in surprise and alarm. Yet, he dismissed it as mere luck on Ye Xun’s part.

Subsequently, he continued shaking the dice, slamming the bowl down and flipping it open.

Cao An prompted, “Ready.”

Ye Xun’s ears twitched slightly as he calmly said, “One point.”

At that moment, Zheng Qian was stunned.

Could it be that this Prince Qin was a gambling god? Had he ears that could hear the wind?

Undeterred, Zheng Qian pressed on with the third round.

“Your Highness, it’s ready.”

“Five points.”

The fourth round.

“Open.”

“Two points.”

The fifth round.

“Ready.”

“Three points.”

…

Nine rounds in a row.

Sweat poured down Zheng Qian’s brow. Having gambled in casinos for years, he had never encountered such a formidable opponent.

Nine consecutive hits—how was that possible?

It was miraculous!

His heart pounded wildly.

Ling’er lifted her delicate brows, covering her mouth as she stood aside. She hadn’t caught the earlier exchange between Ye Xun and Cao An but now shared the sense of wonder.

After a moment, Zheng Qian picked up the dice and tossed them into the bowl, shaking them more than fifty times in midair.

After so many years of gambling, how could he lose nine rounds straight with such an overwhelming advantage?

Snap!

The bowl slammed onto the desk. Zheng Qian pressed it firmly down, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Ye Xun.

His actions left Cao An stunned and flustered.

In a panic, Cao An urged, “Your Highness, this is the last round. You may guess now.”

Hearing this long speech, Ye Xun understood and nodded faintly. “Five points.”

His heart leapt with suspense.

The final round—it all came down to luck.

Zheng Qian, refusing to believe, lifted the bowl.

Cao An stared intently at the desk, holding his breath as his heart raced.

Then, looking at the dice, Cao An suppressed his excitement and murmured, “Your Highness, five points, no mistake.”

A sigh of relief escaped Ye Xun as he loosened his clenched fist, then turned around, his face composed and indifferent.

“Sigh…”

“I really can’t lose.”

He looked toward Zheng Qian calmly.

“I forgot to tell you—my highest record is a hundred consecutive wins.”

Cao An stared blankly at Ye Xun. Truly, the prince could lie with a straight face and steady heart, making it sound like the absolute truth.

“Ah!?” Zheng Qian stared at Ye Xun in shock, his eyes wide as copper coins. At that moment, his admiration for Ye Xun surged like an unstoppable river. “Your Highness, you… this humble subject…”

Ye Xun lifted a cup from the desk and took a sip, his tone light and casual, “What? Do you wish to learn?”

Zheng Qian gazed at Ye Xun with a beaming, flattering smile. “I… I’m not worthy, Your Highness.”

Hearing this, Ye Xun shook his head in exasperation. Speaking hesitantly is one thing, but could he please not constantly pause after the first word?

Seeing Zheng Qian’s eager and joyful face, Ye Xun shook his head again. “Forget it. This skill is extremely difficult. If you can’t persist, it won’t do you any good.”

“It’s not difficult! I can persist!” Zheng Qian looked at him firmly, determination shining in his eyes.

From that gaze, Ye Xun could see Zheng Qian’s reverence and burning desire to master gambling.

Ye Xun said calmly, “Learning from me is no problem, but to master this unbeatable trick, you must quit gambling for three years. Without sincerity, even if I teach you, you won’t learn.”

“Moreover, judging by your face—brows spreading at the ends, ears lacking the connecting ridge, no defined facial structure, an upturned nose tip, a complexion dull as smoke and dust, and a blemish-marked mole—you are destined to lose every gamble.”

“Ah!?” Zheng Qian was shocked again, staring at Ye Xun. He hadn’t expected the Prince of Qin to read faces, speaking so convincingly.

Of course, Ye Xun was simply spouting nonsense to deceive him.

Thud…

Zheng Qian knelt once more, earnest. “Your Highness, save me.”

Ye Xun remained composed, pondering aloud, “If you truly pledge loyalty to me, I will protect you and can teach you this gambling art.”

“But it’s late now. Go home and think it over. If you’re ready, come back tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Zheng Qian was reluctant, looking to Cao An with pleading eyes.

Little did he know, this was a scheme orchestrated by Ye Xun and Cao An.

Cao An comforted him, “Cousin, go home and consider well. Quitting gambling for three years isn’t a joke. If you’re ready, coming back tomorrow won’t be too late.”

Hearing this, Zheng Qian could only rise and take his leave.

Afterward, Cao An escorted Zheng Qian out of the residence.

Ye Xun was clear in his mind—someone like Zheng Qian, a hopeless gambler, wouldn’t change without being struck down a few times.

A moment later, Cao An returned to the hall.

Ye Xun looked at him and slowly said, “From tomorrow, don’t see Zheng Qian for three days. Don’t answer the door for him either.”

Cao An’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your Highness, why is that?”

Ye Xun casually sipped his tea. “He’ll gamble again tonight and lose even worse this time. When he’s desperate and hopeless, that’s when you appear.”

Cao An nodded in understanding. “Yes, Your Highness.”

At that moment, Ye Xun no longer had time to concern himself with Zheng Qian. For now, he needed to focus on making a livelihood.

He tapped the desk thoughtfully.

Ye Xun had no particular hobbies, only a fondness for reading all kinds of books.

He recalled the last book he read—a rather absurd one titled The Encyclopedia of Essential Skills for Time Travel.

At first, he read it merely to pass the time.

Now, it had become his lifeline.

Salt refining? Brewing? Poetry? Farming tools…

Ye Xun pondered deeply. Salt was the most profitable, but if he dared to produce it openly with his current power, he’d be exposed and killed by the next day.

Brewing was also lucrative, but he wouldn’t dare.

Given his current status and favor, it was best to keep a low profile.

Ideally, it should be affordable to the common folk but still yield decent profit…

After a moment, a smile crept to Ye Xun’s lips.

He had it…