Hua Zhi lowered her head — enough to avoid looking out of place, and enough to appear no different from any other young woman present.

Yu Weiwei was an only daughter, and her temperament was far more spirited than the average young lady of a good family. Trading barbs with her cousin was practically routine for her, yet her relationship with Zeng Han had always been genuinely warm — especially in front of outsiders. Whatever the nature of the connection between her cousin and this girl, right now it was naturally her duty to look out for whoever her cousin had brought along. There was absolutely no reason to make things difficult.

“Miss Hua Ling, there’s no need to help my cousin save face — it can’t be saved. His reputation for loving his drink is known by everyone in Jinyang. What you ran into was nothing; I recall one time he insisted he was as light as a feather, grabbed someone by the collar, and dragged him up onto the city tower to see who could jump off and land last.”

Those within earshot could barely suppress their laughter — clearly they all remembered that particular incident. Compared to that, whatever had happened to Miss Hua Ling hardly amounted to anything, and the curious glances directed her way lessened considerably. After all, there were only so many prominent families in Jinyang, and none of them wanted to see an outsider benefit. Zeng Han was the youngest son, but that was more than made up for by how doted upon he was.

For those with designs on the matter, simply knowing that she and Zeng Han had no special connection between them was enough.

Hua Zhi kept her head lowered, playing the demure young lady from a good family — when she was unexpectedly startled by a weight settling on her shoulder, warm breath brushing against her ear, and a voice pitched low and close. “Don’t mind them — my cousin wouldn’t even bother with any of these girls.”

Hua Zhi held herself still and didn’t look over, nor did she respond, acting as though she hadn’t understood.

Just then, someone nearby called out, “The Zhu family has arrived.”

“So they have — should we set off firecrackers to welcome them?” Yu Weiwei made a sound of disdain, and her contempt was so undisguised it wasn’t even slightly concealed.

Hua Zhi looked over. Below the stands, a group of people was slowly making their way in — men and women, old and young alike.

One young woman walked directly toward their row. Finding Hua Zhi seated at the aisle end, she gave a very proper curtsy. “Excuse me, may I pass?”

Hua Zhi glanced over — there was just barely one spot remaining inside. She was about to rise when her arm was caught. She didn’t need to look to know who had taken hold of her.

Yu Weiwei gave a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Miss Zhu, perhaps you could find another seat — it’s rather full here.”

Miss Zhu smiled with good grace, her voice soft and gentle. “The seats in other rows are just as far inside. It makes no difference to sit here.”

“If it makes no difference, then do find somewhere else — adding one more person to this row would make it cramped.”

Miss Zhu glanced at Hua Zhi a few times, then bit her lip and, head lowered, made her way to an empty seat two rows further back.

Yu Weiwei leaned close and murmured, “That one is not a good person — don’t be fooled by how she looks.”

Hua Zhi smiled and hummed in acknowledgment, accepting the well-meaning warning. In any real confrontation between these two, it would be the Yu Weiwei types — those who appeared not to take losses — who would end up on the losing side. A dog that bites doesn’t bark. Whether the Miss Zhu in question was truly gentle by nature was another matter — but a person who deliberately approached when there were clearly empty spots further back, forcing Yu Weiwei to say exactly what she had said, did not strike Hua Zhi as someone without an agenda.

“Don’t go thinking I’m making things up.” Yu Weiwei, reading her smile as disbelief, pressed her voice down and added with greater emphasis, “She really is not a good person. The entire Zhu family is not good people.”

The Zhu family? Something stirred in Hua Zhi’s thoughts. “Is the Zhu family very powerful?”

“Hardly. If the Zhu family hadn’t produced a prefectural judge, nobody would even know their name.” Yu Weiwei was scornful.

It really was that Zhu family — Zhu Ling’s family!

Hua Zhi played the part of the perfectly clueless out-of-towner, letting surprise show on her face. “Isn’t the Zhu family an established family?”

“Not from our kind of background at all. If it weren’t for the fact that he’s helped everyone here make a decent amount of money, nobody would give them the time of day.” Yu Weiwei muttered this and then emphasized once more, “In any case, none of them are good people — don’t let them deceive you.”

“Thank you — I’ll keep that in mind.”

Yu Weiwei glanced at her and said no more. If this person hadn’t been brought here by her cousin, she would never have said any of this. She couldn’t tell whether her cousin had any particular feelings involved — she had heard from her aunt recently that the family was looking to arrange a match for him; hopefully it wouldn’t end in unpleasantness.

Hua Zhi quietly took in everything around the racetrack. When the whole crowd erupted in cheering, she was among the first to spot the line of people leading their horses into the grounds.

“Cloud Treader! Cloud Treader!” Yu Weiwei leaped to her feet and called out with excitement. Others around them were shouting the same, while some called out Moon Chaser, Shadow Dancer, Gale Wind, and other names — but comparing them all, those shouting for Cloud Treader were decidedly more numerous, a testament to just how popular that horse was.

“Cloud Treader is definitely going to take first place again this time!”

“Absolutely — it has to be Cloud Treader!”

“Not necessarily.” A soft voice drifted from behind them. “In the race at the start of this month, Gale Wind was only half a horse-length behind Cloud Treader. My elder brother has been personally tending to Gale Wind all this time — I hear it’s been in fine spirits.”

Yu Weiwei snapped back without a moment’s thought. “Being half a horse-length behind still counts as losing, doesn’t it? If personal care was all it took to win first place, what would the grooms be for? May as well bring the horse home and stable it in the bedroom.”

Hua Zhi glanced at the Miss Zhu whose face had flushed red as she lowered her head, then looked back at Yu Weiwei — who had clearly gotten the upper hand but received no support from anyone around them — and the corner of her lips curled up just slightly.

The strained atmosphere was broken by an older woman’s voice. “Well then, old rules — let’s open a pool. I’m backing Gale Wind; maybe today’s the day it finally turns things around.”

“I’m betting on Cloud Treader.”

“Same here, Cloud Treader.”

“I’ll go with Gale Wind.”

“…” In the space of just a few moments, Hua Zhi watched as a betting pool was assembled right there in the open. Everyone moved with practiced ease, writing their bets on slips of paper, signing their names, and placing them on whichever side they favored.

Yu Weiwei gave her a discreet poke in the side. Hua Zhi understood perfectly, and just like the others, wrote her bet, signed her name, and placed it on Cloud Treader’s side.

Everyone around them warmed toward her noticeably, and their manner gained a touch of genuine friendliness. Someone who could adapt this quickly and join in their way of having fun showed real potential — worth getting to know.

Yu Weiwei took her into her confidence openly, leaning close and speaking quietly. “This is just how we are in Jinyang — there’s no problem that can’t be solved with a good bet. You’re new here and might not be used to it yet, but after a few rounds you’ll be fine.”

“A few rounds? Do you mean at the gambling house?”

Yu Weiwei let out a short laugh. “We don’t go to gambling houses. Stick with me for a day and I guarantee you’ll feel right at home.”

Hua Zhi pressed her handkerchief lightly to the corner of her mouth and said softly, “Jinyang and the capital are… very different. After I return, I probably won’t have many more chances to come out. Miss Yu, would you be willing to show me around a little?”

Yu Weiwei had only said it casually, but with Hua Zhi putting it this way, she couldn’t very well refuse, and so she agreed. “You capital people really do live such a sheltered life.”

Hua Zhi shook her head gently. “It is Jinyang that is truly one of a kind.”

“One of a kind” was a fine phrase to hear. Yu Weiwei smiled with restrained pleasure, her expression carrying a trace of pride that was nevertheless not the least bit off-putting.

By now the time had come. At the sound of a gong, accompanied by a swell of cheering from all around, nine horses burst through the gates and thundered forward as one. Those who had been seated all rose to their feet, and even those too composed to cry out had their expressions pulled taut with tension, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the track below.

Something stirred in Hua Zhi’s mind. Thinking of all the open and hidden schemes she had known in her past life, she wondered… could it be…