Yu Weiwei was now even more curious. If they had been better acquainted, she would have searched for the banknotes to see their denominations—one hundred taels could be on one note, one thousand taels could be on one note, and even ten thousand taels wouldn’t be out of the question.
Though she didn’t actually go searching, Yu Weiwei’s attitude noticeably warmed. Logically, Hua Zhi, the newcomer who needed her guidance, should have been the more talkative one, but along the way, it was Yu Weiwei who did most of the talking. Even after realizing this, she didn’t find it odd.
Daughters from noble families, even if not particularly clever, were trained from a young age to have a discerning eye. They could tell who was truly a lady of high standing and who, even in imperial robes, was no Crown Prince.
This young woman who called herself Hua Ling carried herself in a way that unmistakably indicated a distinguished background. Moreover, she was from the capital, where noble families were abundant. When traveling outside, such individuals might not even use their real names—she could even be from the imperial family. Lowering herself to befriend such a person would certainly not be a loss.
It was precisely because of this line of thinking that Yu Weiwei had brought her to their private gathering place so soon after meeting her.
Thinking of their destination, Yu Weiwei lowered her voice and advised, “Stick close to me, don’t ask too many questions or say too much. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me later.”
Hua Zhi agreed, showing just the right amount of curiosity. “Are there specific rules?”
“Not exactly written rules, more like an unwritten agreement. It’s to ensure everyone can relax and enjoy themselves, so no one objects.” Yu Weiwei nudged her shoulder. “What did you usually do for fun back in the capital?”
Hua Zhi thought of the rather uninspiring pastimes of the capital’s young ladies and replied sincerely, “Compared to you all, it was quite dull.”
Yu Weiwei lifted her chin proudly. “Of course. No other place can compare to our Jin Yang. Hey, Hua Ling, why did you come here?”
“I came on behalf of my father to visit an old friend, but unfortunately, he had already passed away. My younger brother is still young, and since it’s rare for him to travel, he insisted on staying to play for a while instead of returning immediately. I had no choice but to indulge him.”
Yu Weiwei made a sound of acknowledgment and wisely refrained from prying further, changing the subject instead. Hua Zhi pretended not to notice the earlier probing. Given Jin Yang’s unique circumstances, every detail of her arrival had likely been scrutinized. Fortunately, wary of the Chao Li Tribe’s suspicions, she had not only avoided any suspicious behavior herself but also had Chen Si make a show of carrying gifts around, reinforcing the story that she had come to find someone but failed.
Still, she had been careless. She shouldn’t have used the surname Hua. If their interactions deepened, they would surely investigate her background, and the surname Hua was far too conspicuous.
Alternatively, should she simply use her real name, Hua Zhi, to interact with them? The Hua family had already fallen from grace, and her reputation for turning stone into gold was well-known. If they approached her for that skill, her passive entry into their circle might earn more trust than any active efforts on her part.
But that wouldn’t do either. The Hua family must not be associated with gambling dens—it would tarnish their reputation.
Turning these thoughts over in her mind throughout the journey, she quietly set them aside as the carriage came to a stop. Following Yu Weiwei out, she immediately felt multiple pairs of eyes fall upon her.She looked up, openly surveying her current surroundings and the people before her. It was a courtyard already filled with numerous carriages, some luxurious and others inconspicuous, yet all shared the characteristic of being delicately compact, clearly designed for female family members.
About five or six people stood together in a group, including young ladies like Yu Weiwei and charming women around thirty years old. They had apparently just arrived and teased Yu Weiwei upon seeing her, "We thought you'd be here long ago, how come you're only arriving now?"
"Had to appease my grandmother first," Yu Weiwei replied with a laugh, then pulled Hua Zhi closer. "A new friend—brought her along to have some fun. Don't any of you bully her."
Their previously subtle glances suddenly became overt. One of the women covered her mouth as she chuckled, "How would we dare bully someone brought by our esteemed Miss Yu? But don't blame us if you lose money."
"As if we'd let you off," Yu Weiwei retorted bluntly. Every social circle was like this—there were those who got along and those who couldn't stand each other, though the conflicts weren't particularly deep. Often, the more they disliked one another, the more they'd play together, winning and losing rounds back and forth, which actually dissolved grievances faster.
Yu Weiwei didn't bother with introductions. Linking arms with Hua Zhi, she headed inside while saying, "No point wasting time out here. They're probably already having fun inside."
The others agreed and followed them in. Why waste breath on chatter when they could play more rounds and properly drain the newcomer dry?
Hua Zhi discreetly observed her surroundings. The courtyard was exquisitely decorated everywhere she looked, with maidservants attending to every detail, giving it the ambiance of an inner residence's private quarters.
Yu Weiwei, still arm-in-arm with her, looked quite pleased. "Surprised? Even my family's backyard isn't this beautiful. They change the decorations periodically—utterly extravagant."
"Is this... a place for women's entertainment?"
"Guessed right! We can't exactly mingle with those foul men for fun, and going to gambling dens is out of the question. So the proprietor created this space where we can play without reservations."
Hua Zhi glanced at the courtyard blooming with flowers despite it being late October, then at the carved balustrades and jade-like corridors, nodding in agreement. "Truly extravagant."
Feeling validated, Yu Weiwei grew even more convinced of their compatibility, though she felt a tinge of regret remembering Hua Zhi wasn't local. "You should stay here longer—it's much more fun than the capital."
"If I find it enjoyable."
"Just you wait. Hold onto your purse tightly—watch out or someone might clean you out completely."
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Bring it on."
Chatting and laughing, the two passed through a moon gate into another courtyard where faint sounds of laughter and excitement could already be heard. Yu Weiwei led her straight to the central room where four people were already playing. Hua Zhi immediately recognized the Zhu Family young lady and the girl who had sat beside Yu Weiwei at the horse racing track that day. Having spent time together since, Hua Zhi knew her as Wang Xin.
Wang Xin was the first to spot them, calling out cheerfully, "Weiwei, you're late today!"
Yu Weiwei repeated her explanation, then eagerly asked about the results, "Who's winning?"
"Too early to talk about wins and losses now!" another young woman chimed in, urging Yu Weiwei to join the game quickly.Wang Xin laughed heartily, "You're the one who lost, and you're afraid Vivian will find out? Vivian, let me tell you, her luck was terrible today. I rolled a three and thought I was doomed, but she ended up rolling a two! Hahaha!"
The woman spat in disdain but didn't argue back. She truly had no fight left in her after today's losses.
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