Shengguo Temple is not receiving pilgrims today, reserved exclusively for the Empress, concubines, and accompanying noblewomen.
Thus, the temple was tranquil, surrounded by dense cypress trees.
When Shen Yinning and Liao Lili arrived, they heard the raucous sounds of mahjong being played coming from inside the hall.
Shen Yinning lightly waved her folding fan and commented indifferently, "I detest gambling gatherings the most—what a chaotic atmosphere, full of desperation. I've heard tales of foolish men in town who were so addicted to gambling that they even pawned their wives, children, and elderly parents to the gambling dens."
"Gambling is indeed a poison; it ensnares those who can't resist it," Liao Lili smiled. "Someone like Consort Rong, who lacks resolve, once drawn into it, can never break free. How fortuitous for us—it's just the opening we need."
As the two conversed, they ascended the stairs and reached the outer corridor of the hall.
