Chapter Text
There were plenty of humans who found themselves drawn to Ghost City; those with envy and greed weighing heavily in their hearts, and those whose curiosity was far too large to be sated with mere rumors. Those who found themselves in the gambler's den, however, often fell into the first category. There was always going to be differing levels of desire in people— desire for wealth, for love, for sex, for happiness, for the downfall of those who opposed them. No two people were ever the same, but they were, very often, similar.
There was the rare occasion that those who wandered into the gambler's den were merely desperate. Their desires were simple— food, warmth, safety. And though there were many heaven officials who would disagree, Hua Cheng was not always a malicious and evil ruler. He was smart and cunning; if someone desperate enough for a bite to eat offered their life and lost, he saw no point in spilling their blood. They never specified how he should use his winnings from their life, and some found work in Ghost City. Work meant payment, and payment meant food. The only one who ever saw the truth behind his acts was Xie Lian, and he kept his lips sealed behind a small smile.
There were those whose greed ran so deep that even the odd ghost and demon cast judgmental looks their way. Those types of people Hua Cheng had the most fun toying with. Case in point, his evening was beginning to turn as a new figure grew rowdier as the minutes dragged. The man was poor, that much was clear, and the desperate glint in his eyes was nothing new.
The small child he dragged by the wrist, however, was a first for Hua Cheng. Normally when parents used their family as leverage the others were none the wiser. Rarely, if ever, had he seen a child so young being dragged around Ghost City.
"Move it," The man's words were bordering on snarls as he shoved his way towards the table, jerking the child behind him as he lumbered forward, rushing to get his turn with the dice as the previous game had just ended.
"What the hell man?"
"No need to push."
"Someone's desperate to loose."
"Does he have… a child with him?"
His spot had been secured, and his croupier was quick with her greeting. She wasn't able to finish, however, as the man cut her off.
"Riches!" How unoriginal, if it weren't for the child trembling behind him, Hua Cheng would find himself rather bored, "I want riches that would put my local nobility to shame!"
The watchers whispered amongst themselves, intrigued and bored all in one. The croupier spoke, voice carrying and clear, "And what will you be betting?"
As he had anticipated, the man's grip on the child's wrist tightened, and he moved to hold her up, the small child wincing in a silent cry as he dangled her by one arm. "My daughter!"
The murmers grew louder. Disgust, curiosity, entertainment, bafflement.
"I've never seen someone bring their child here— much less one they're betting!"
"It's been decades since I've seen a child, she's rather small."
"What would our Chengzhu even do with a child?"
"Eat it, maybe?"
The crowd grew quiet as the offer was decided, and ultimately, accepted. The croupier spoke, "Alright. How would you like to play?"
"Evens and odds," The man spoke confidently, not even bothering to lower his daughter, letting go and allowing her small body to crash to the floor. A muffled whimper left her, and she remained on curled in on herself for a moment before standing on unsteady feet. The top of her head didn't even reach the top of the table.
"Very well."
The dice were handed to the man, and despite the confident, bordering on cocky, look he had been wearing, his hands were trembling, his palms sweaty. "I bet odds."
All attention was on him as the game was officially playing now. He shook the dice, the sound almost echoing around him as he did so. He held his breath as he let the dice fall, watching as they rolled. The first one landed— a one. The other rolled to a stop— a four.
A total of five.
"Yes!" His voice cracked as he called out, cheering loudly, "A five! I won! I won!"
"Congratuatlions," The croupier moved to gather the dice, "Upon returning to your home you will find the gold, safely hidden from neighbors."
His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist to prevent her from moving. The chatter became silent, no one even mumbling to one another. No one touched those that worked in the gambler's den— the croupier didn't appear phased, however, simply looking towards the man.
"I'm not done." He snatched the dice back, releasing her wrist, unaware of the darkening atmosphere surrounding them. His daughter seemed to understand there was something wrong, and though she didn't move to her father for comfort, she worked to curl in on herself, attempting to appear smaller.
"I want strength— power!"
Hua Cheng's voice carried out, speaking directly to the man, "Well, which is it? Strength and power are not always the same thing. You need to be specific."
The man sputtered, surprise painting his face at hearing the Ghost City's ruler speak to him. "Why not both?"
"Hm," He paused, watching as the man squirmed where he stood, sweat building on his forehead, "I'll humor you."
"Oh wow, our Chengzhu must be in a good mood today!"
"I almost want to bet on whether he'll win his bet or not."
"What will you be betting?" The croupier was speaking for him once more, having moved to take her position by the table once more.
"Same as before."
"I'm afraid that won't suffice," She spoke plainly, watching as he froze. He didn't have anything but his daughter to bet it would seem, "You've already bet her life once, while Chengzhu may be in good spirits and allow it to be bet once more, you are aiming to win two things this round. Therefore, you should bet two things."
"I- is her life not enough?"
She didn't respond, staring blankly at him. The others were jeering, taunting him for his ill planning. How could one be so greedy he didn't come up with a plan? Stupid human.
"Then- then my life! Her life, as well as mine!"
"Deal."
He wasn't given time to process what he had said, and the game was started once more. This time, it was clear to see he was more nervous than he had been before. His hands trembled around the dice, "Evens. I'll- I'll bet on evens."
The dice were thrown quicker than before, as if his nerves made him want to get this moment over with sooner than later. They landed loudly, rolling to a stop at the same time. A one, and a six.
A seven. A seven.
"N-No!" The joy he had felt earlier was short lived, and he stared at the dice in horror, eyes wide and wet, "There's no way!"
"I'm afraid you lost, sir," The croupier moved, dice collected in her hand quickly, and the man had no time to process what was happening before there were arms gripping his.
"There's no way! You cheated! You had to have cheated! You son of a bitch!"
"You lost, fair and square!"
"You bet stupidly, this is no one's fault but your own."
"To curse our Chengzhu like that!"
"What about her, huh?" The man's yells turned to snarls, jabbing his chin where his daughter was trembling. A few of the watchers looked surprised, as if they had forgotten she was even there.
"She is of no concern to you anymore," The croupier's voice was firm as she spoke, stepping towards the child, bending to lift her. The girl was little, light, and trembling so harshly the croupier worried for a brief moment she may drop her.
The man continued to struggle, curses falling from his lips as he was hauled off, his voice growing fainter as he was removed from the den.
"Wonder what shop he'll end up at?"
"A man that thin— the meat on him will be no good."
"Could make a good soup base?"
"Our Chengzhu will be retiring to Paradise Manor," The others grew quieter as the croupier spoke, turning away with the child in her arms as she carried her out of the den, "Though he encourages those who wish to continue gambling to do so. You will be betting against the house."
The crowd cheered as the night for them wasn't over, others shoving and taunting in hopes of seeing another loss like the one they had just witnessed. Hua Cheng moved quietly, moving to head back to Paradise Manor. A plan had, somewhat, formed in his mind as the man gambled his child away. There had been parents that offered their children, their children's marriages, their children's children. This was the first time the child in question had been brought and, subsequently, won by the house.
Hua Cheng moved quietly once he arrived in Paradise Manor, already telling the croupier that had been carrying the small child to start a warm bath for her. The child was grimy, covered in dirt and mud, her clothes nothing more than gray tatters clinging to her body. She had moved swiftly, and he didn't need to see her face to note she held a bit of concern for the child.
"San Lang!" Xia Lian's voice was light and happy as he spotted Hua Cheng, and he laid down the scroll he had been reading, footsteps rushing to greet his husband, "You finished early. Was it not a good night of betting?"
"On the contrary," He accepted the warmth of his husband in his arms, elation swimming through his veins, as strong as the first time he held his highness, "It was a rather interesting night."
"Oh?"
Hua Cheng hummed, studying the curious look in Xie Lian's eyes as he pondered what could have happened to be both interesting and big enough to send the beloved Chengzhu home early. "Did you win something good?"
"I suppose that depends on how one looks at it," Xie Lian looked more puzzled, and Hua Cheng couldn't help but lean down, a chaste kiss being placed between his gege's eyebrows, soothing the furrowed look there, "A man came in. He ended up betting both his life, and his daughter's."
Xie Lian showed no outward emotion at the statement, but Hua Cheng knew his husband well enough to know that statement didn't evoke some negative response. To a degree, he understood, seeing first hand how greedy and evil some people could be was never a nice thing. Despite wishing he could go back and re-word his sentence, he continued.
"He brought her with him," That had a reaction, and Xie Lian's eyebrows shot up, "She's rather young. I'm not the greatest at guessing ages of young children, but I'd say she's close to four. He lost, and I had him taken away. But his daughter, by his own words, is mine. He bet against me, not the house."
"You didn't leave her in the den, right?"
He shook his head, and his chest gave a squeeze at the relieved look on Xie Lian's face, a small smile forming, "I knew San Lang wouldn't have left a child there, but I wanted to ask. Where is she?"
"At the moment, she should be receiving a bath. She was rather filthy, I assume her family had close to nothing just by looking at her, and how that man bet her life so easily. Would gege like to meet her when she's done?"
Just as expected, he saw a gleam in Xie Lian's eyes at the question. He did his best to keep his expression as close to neutral as possible, but he couldn't hide his true feelings from Hua Cheng.
"Yes, I'd like to meet her."
"I'll let them know, then. We'll have them bring dinner as well, she looks like she could use a good meal, and considering how long you've been reading, I assume you're in need of dinner as well."
"Ah, San Lang knows me so well," The sentence came out with a sheepish laugh, and Xie Lian moved to rub the back of his neck.
"I live to know you, your highness," His hand was gentle as he caressed Xie Lian's cheek, gaze soft as he studied his husbands face— a sight he'd never once tire of.
There was the sound of footsteps growing closer after a moment, and Hua Cheng turned, his usual expression coming forward as a servent came into the room, head down with a bow.
"My Lords, I've been informed the young mistress' bath has finished. What would you like us to do with her now?"
"Dress her and bring her to our bedroom. We'll be having dinner in there tonight."
The servent nodded, bowing once more, "Of course, my lord," And turned to exit. Hua Cheng turned to his husband, holding his arm out, "Shall we?"