Hua Zhi lowered her head just enough to avoid appearing unsophisticated, yet she didn't stand out among the other young ladies.
Yu Weiwei, being the only daughter in her family, had a much feistier temperament compared to other sheltered maidens. Clashing with her cousin was a common occurrence, yet she shared a genuinely good relationship with Zeng Xiangyan. Especially when facing outsiders, regardless of her cousin's connection or involvement with this woman, she naturally had to support the person her cousin brought along—there was no reason to undermine him.
"Miss Hua Ling, there's no need to cover for my cousin—it's pointless. His reputation as a heavy drinker is known throughout all of Jin Yang City. What you encountered was just a minor dispute. I remember one time he insisted he was as light as a swallow, dragging someone up the city tower to compete over who would land last."
Those who heard this struggled to hold back their laughter, clearly recalling the incident. Compared to that episode, what Miss Hua Ling experienced was hardly worth mentioning. The attention on her gradually faded, as Jin Yang's prominent noble families were limited in number, and none wanted such a desirable match to fall into outsiders' hands. Though Zeng Xiangyan was the youngest son, his favored status made him irresistible.
For those with ulterior motives, knowing she had no special connection with Zeng Xiangyan was sufficient.
Hua Zhi kept her head bowed, playing the part of a refined young lady, when suddenly a weight settled on her shoulder. Warm breath brushed her ear as a low voice murmured, "Pay them no mind. My cousin doesn't care for them anyway."
Hua Zhi resisted the urge to look at her and remained silent, pretending not to understand.
Just then, someone nearby called out, "The Zhu Family has arrived."
"So they're here. Should we set off firecrackers to welcome them?" Yu Weiwei snorted, her disdain so blatant it wasn't concealed in the slightest.
Hua Zhi glanced over and saw a group of people approaching the stands—men and women, old and young.
A young lady walked directly toward them. Since Hua Zhi was seated by the aisle, the girl politely curtsied and said, "May I pass through?"
Hua Zhi noticed there was barely space for one more inside and was about to rise when an arm linked with hers. She didn't need to look to know who it was.
Yu Weiwei offered a thin, insincere smile. "Miss Zhu, please find another seat. There's no room here."
Miss Zhu smiled gently and replied in a soft tone, "The seats elsewhere are also further in. Sitting here would be just the same."
"If it's the same, then go somewhere else. Adding one more person to this row would make it too crowded."
Miss Zhu glanced at Hua Zhi a few times, bit her lip, and silently moved to an empty seat two rows back.
Yu Weiwei leaned closer to Hua Zhi and whispered, "She's not a good person. Don't be fooled by her appearance."
Hua Zhi smiled faintly and acknowledged the warning with a soft "Mm." If these two were to confront each other, Yu Weiwei—who seemed unyielding—would likely be the one to suffer. A dog that bites doesn't bark. If Miss Zhu were truly gentle-natured, that would be one thing, but there were clearly empty seats further back. Yet she still insisted on approaching, forcing Yu Weiwei to speak up. Hua Zhi didn't believe she was harmless.
"Don't think I'm joking," Yu Weiwei insisted, mistaking her smile for disbelief. She lowered her voice emphatically, "She's truly not good. The entire Zhu Family is no good."
The Zhu Family? Hua Zhi's interest was piqued. "Are they influential?"
"Hardly. If not for one of them serving as a provincial judge, who would even know them?" Yu Weiwei sneered, her contempt unmistakable.So it really was that Zhu Family of Zhu Ling!
Hua Zhi played the part of a perfect out-of-towner, feigning surprise, "Isn't the Zhu Family from an esteemed background?"
"Definitely not from families like ours. If he hadn't helped everyone make quite a bit of money, no one would pay him any attention." After muttering this, Yu Weiwei emphasized again, "Anyway, none of them are good people. Don't let them deceive you."
"Thank you, I'll remember that."
Yu Weiwei glanced at her and said no more. If this person hadn't been brought by her cousin, she wouldn't have said these things! She wondered if her cousin had some ulterior motive. Recently, she'd heard her aunt mention arranging a match for him—hopefully it wouldn't lead to any unpleasantness.
Hua Zhi discreetly observed everything at the horse racing track. When the entire crowd erupted in cheers, she was among the first to see the line of people leading horses into the arena.
"Treading Clouds, Treading Clouds!" Yu Weiwei stood up, shouting excitedly. Others were also calling for Treading Clouds, while some cheered for Chasing Moon, Playing with Shadows, Swift Wind, and other names. A closer comparison showed that Treading Clouds had the most supporters, clearly indicating its popularity.
"Treading Clouds will definitely win again this time!"
"Yes, it has to be Treading Clouds!"
"Not necessarily," a soft voice spoke up from behind. "In the last race, Swift Wind was only half a horse's length behind Treading Clouds. This time, my elder brother has been personally tending to it, and I heard Swift Wind is in excellent spirits!"
Without a second thought, Yu Weiwei retorted, "Being half a length behind still means losing, doesn't it? If personal care alone could secure first place, what would be the point of grooms? Just take it home and keep it in the house."
Hua Zhi glanced at the Zhu family girl, who blushed and lowered her head, then at Yu Weiwei, who seemed to have the upper hand but lacked any supporters. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
The tense atmosphere was broken by an elderly voice, "Then let's stick to the old rules and open a betting pool. I'm backing Swift Wind—today might just be its day to turn the tables."
"I bet on Treading Clouds to win."
"Me too, Treading Clouds."
"I bet on Swift Wind."
"..." In no time, Hua Zhi watched as someone set up a betting pool right before their eyes. The group expertly wrote their wagers on slips of paper, signed their names, and placed them under the horse they favored.
Yu Weiwei discreetly poked her in the side. Understanding the hint, Hua Zhi placed her bet and signature under Treading Clouds, just like the others.
Seeing this, the group warmed to her considerably, their attitudes becoming more friendly. Someone who could adapt so quickly to their way of fun and join in showed potential—worth befriending.
Treating her as one of their own, Yu Weiwei openly leaned in and whispered, "This is how we do things in Jin Yang—there's no problem a round of betting can't solve. It might feel strange to you as a newcomer, but you'll get used to it after a few tries."
"A few tries? At the gambling den?"
Yu Weiwei scoffed, "We never go to gambling dens. Stick with me for a day, and I guarantee you'll fit right in."
Hua Zhi dabbed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and said softly, "Jin Yang is... very different from the capital. Once I return, I probably won't have another chance to come out. Could you show me around, Miss Yu?"
Yu Weiwei had only been making casual conversation, but hearing this, she couldn't very well refuse and had to agree. "You capital folks are so pitiful."
Hua Zhi shook her head gently. "It's Jin Yang that's unique."
"Unique" was a compliment. Yu Weiwei smiled with restrained pride, a hint of smugness on her face that wasn't at all unpleasant.The appointed hour had arrived. With the strike of a gong and waves of cheering, nine horses burst out of the gates simultaneously, galloping forward. Those who had been seated rose to their feet, and even the restrained spectators who refrained from shouting wore tense expressions, their eyes fixed intently on the track below.
A thought stirred in Hua Zhi’s mind—recalling the overt and covert schemes of later times, could it be that...
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