Jun Ye glared fiercely at Tang Yuan, his gaze like twin blades stabbing right into his heart: "Tell me honestly, do you have the gall to do that?"

Tang Yuan pulled a long face, slowly regaining his composure. He wasn't a fool; in fact, he was quite a sharp-witted wastrel. As Jun Ye spoke, he slowly replayed the events and immediately spotted too many inconsistencies! This entire affair didn't seem like something he could possibly have done! Not even in a dream would he have acted like this!

Yet, such an absurd thing had indeed happened under his watch! Why?

Am I really this contemptible? No! That’s not it! While I may not be a good person, and I often act recklessly, there are still lines I know not to cross! What happened today was something I would rather die than do! But today, I did it—and I did something even more outrageous and humiliating than what I thought I'd rather die than commit! Something like this could bring shame upon the entire clan! Ensuring I could never redeem myself for eternity!

But why did I do it?

In that instant, Tang Yuan’s mind dissolved into chaos. Fatty Tang was nearly broken.

“Before you went in, was Meng Haizhou also wearing this exact outfit?” Jun Ye’s eyes were sharp, but a devilish smirk was hidden beneath his lips.

“Yes, but what does that matter? Is there a problem with that?” Tang Yuan asked, bewildered.

“Did you smell a particular fragrance on Meng Haizhou? A very pleasant one?!” Jun Ye pressed further.

“Yes… I think so, it was indeed a very unique perfume,” Tang Yuan replied uncertainly.

“After you went in, were you also served a cup of tea first, just like I was today?” Jun Ye closed in, step by step.

“Yes, exactly, so what?”

“So what? Heh heh.” Jun Ye let out two cold laughs. “Nothing much, except that it was the beginning of your eternal damnation!”

Tang Yuan was not slow-witted. He chewed over Jun Ye’s words, then instantly jumped up, his face a mask of shock: “Are you saying… that tea was actually tampered with?”

“Just the tea?” Jun Ye sneered. “Meng Haizhou’s clothes, that scent, the tea—everything was compromised! A gathering of gamblers, and the first order of business is to drink tea?? What kind of rule is that? You blockhead! You didn't notice such an obvious flaw until now?!”

“Then… you drank it too, why are you fine?” Tang Yuan was still somewhat confused.

“Do you remember that I sneezed right after drinking the tea, before I went inside?” Jun Ye’s expression was hard to define, a mixture of a smile and a sneer. “And I got your clothes wet, didn't I?”

“That’s right! That really happened.” Tang Yuan suddenly recalled.

“A normal person sneezing only spits a little saliva, but I managed to soak a large patch of your clothes. Didn't that make you suspect anything?” Jun Ye tilted his head, watching him.

“So that’s how it is!” Tang Yuan suddenly understood, followed immediately by another bout of confusion. “But how do you know all this so clearly?”

How do I know it so clearly? Jun Ye paused. That was a difficult question to answer. Did he have to tell this fool that in his past life, he was so intimately familiar with these kinds of drugs that he could sense them not with his nose or eyes, but with the pores of his skin?

Jun Ye rubbed his nose and decided to throw some dirt on himself instead: “Uh, well, I, I once used this very thing to pull a similar stunt. You… understand?”

“As expected of the Third Young Master Jun! Truly remarkable methods,” Tang Yuan immediately bowed down in admiration, praising him: “You really are a master of the trade.”

Jun Ye found it both laughable and exasperating. He offered a reminder: “Your chips may be gone, but the matter of you losing your wife will likely still get out. You should start thinking about what you’re going to do.”

“Right, what should I do?” The moment this matter was brought up, Tang Yuan instantly became flustered and clueless.

“Right now, you have only one path! Go home immediately and tell your old man everything, truthfully, without exaggerating or omitting a single detail! Strike first! Get your father to figure out a plan and devise countermeasures immediately. If your father hears about it from someone else before you tell him, then you are truly finished!” Jun Ye chuckled inwardly twice.

“And you, you were completely framed and set up; I believe your father won't blame you too severely! Furthermore, your old man will definitely be more adept at handling this than you are! Aren’t you furious with those people right now? Then let me give you another brilliant move: temporarily leave your sword and jade pendant with me, and then take one million taels of silver notes to demand the collateral back from those men! And if they can't produce it…” Jun Ye lowered his voice, like a devil tempting mortals into crime.

“Brilliant!” Tang Yuan slapped his thigh. “This is the only viable way, the only chance to seize the initiative! But, if they simply use money to demand their collateral back from you…”

“Idiot, back then, they wagered those items against a promise from me, not against a specific amount of silver! There is a huge difference in that! Am I going to give it to them? Fool! I’ve laid it out this plainly, and you still don’t get it? What are you waiting for?” Jun Ye snickered.

“Oh, right, I’ll give you one more thing.” Jun Ye pulled something out of his robes as if performing a trick, revealing a teacup. Most astonishingly, there were still a few beads of water clinging to the bottom of the cup…

“This is their cup containing the hallucinogen. I casually collected this little sheep,” Jun Ye chuckled wickedly. “There seems to be some residue left.”

“Hahahaha… Brilliant! Truly brilliant! Third Young Master is truly superb!” Amidst the deluge of flattery, Fatty Tang carefully took the cup, moving away like a wild horse that had just been lashed on its flank—a true ‘rolling’ departure.

“Trying to scheme against me? Then I’ll scheme against you first!” Jun Ye watched the back of Fatty Tang as he kicked up clouds of dust, smiling with exceptional satisfaction. Given the family status of Fatty Tang and his father-in-law, the Li and Meng families were surely in for quite a spectacle, weren't they? Jun Ye was already preparing himself to watch the show with a small stool.

If it hadn't been for Dugu Xiaoyi’s unexpected participation in the gambling, and Jun Moxie transforming into Jun Ye, the final outcome would inevitably have been rewritten. Even if he wasn't afraid, breaking the deadlock would likely require exposing his true strength, making him the target of all eyes. That would be an unwelcome outcome!

Though the visible opponents were just a few wastrels, behind each of these wastrels stood first-rate families in the capital! If they didn't have the backing and instruction of their families, would these mere pieces dare to drug Tang Yuan and Jun Ye, and act with such arrogance and abandon?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

One must know that although Jun Moxie himself was a standard, utterly useless prodigal son, behind him stood Old Master Jun, and by extension, the entire Jun family! Although the Jun family currently relied only on the Old Master to manage the overall situation in the open, a starved camel is still larger than a horse. Nearly one-third of the military generals hailed from Old Master Jun's command! It could be said that as long as Old Master Jun lived one more day, all these individuals would serve as the steadfast rear guard for the wastrel Jun Moxie! Because, whether they liked it or not, they all bore the brand of the 'Jun' surname!

Once trouble arose, it would become a storm that shook the imperial court! If the Jun family fell, these people would also find no good end, certainly being suppressed by other factions and unable to recover! But as long as the Jun family remained, these men had a backbone, capable of uniting to resist external enemies! Be they domestic political foes or enemies from abroad!

Therefore, the Jun family could not be allowed to suffer! Thus, if Jun Moxie were to face danger, none of these people would stand idly by! Although every one of them looked down on this young wastrel to the very core, when the time came to act, not a single one of them would hesitate.

The family Tang Yuan belonged to was the same! Although the Tang family's influence was not as great as the Jun family's, they were still definitely counted among the major powers in the capital! If the Tang and Jun families joined forces, even the currently flourishing Dugu clan would have to retreat three steps!

Of course, this did not mean the Jun family was significantly inferior to the Dugu clan. In its prime, the Jun family had once suppressed the Dugu clan to the point where they couldn't lift their heads, maintaining this status for a full seven years. However, the Jun family’s talent pool had withered, while the Dugu clan was now sprouting new talent like bamboo after spring rain, brimming with capable individuals. In this aspect, they were far more abundant in reserve talent than the Jun family.

Therefore, the Dugu clan now possessed immense potential—at least, to outsiders, they absolutely appeared more promising than the Jun family.

But as long as the Old Master of the Jun family lived, the Jun family would stand unshaken for one more day! Even the imperial power would have to think twice before attempting to touch the Jun family… perhaps even dare not!

But now, both the Li and Meng families had simultaneously targeted Tang Yuan and Jun Ye! This made the situation appear somewhat unusual.

Highly unusual! When things are abnormal, there is usually a demon at work!

Yes, the ones who made a move this time were just a few wastrels, genuine sons of rich and powerful families. Even if the matter truly blew up, in the general sense, it would only be considered a case of a few spoiled children playing too rough, which everyone would laugh off and eventually forget. But conversely, what if they had succeeded?