Take a gamble. Maybe the 5,000 taels of silver note in hand could turn into 10,000 taels!
Wei Dongling rushed into the crowd. It took her quite a while to figure out the rules. People queuing up behind kept pushing forward. A young servant, seeing that the horse race of this round was about to start and the girl in front was still hesitating, couldn't help asking, "Miss, are you going to place a bet or not? If not, could you let me go first?"
Wei Dongling waved her hand and said, "What's the rush? I'm still thinking about which team to bet on!"
Seeing that Wei Dongling had been fumbling for the silver note in her sleeve but hadn't taken it out yet, the young servant said anxiously, "The gong is about to be struck to start the race. Once the gong rings, no more bets can be placed. How about letting me bet first!"
Wei Dongling took out the silver note and murmured, "Got it, got it! 5,000 taels, with even odds. I bet on the blue team to win!"
Her words caught the attention of those around her.
The young servant behind twitched the corner of his mouth and sighed silently: This girl must be blind. Can't she see that the horse with the best physical strength is in the red team? How dare a woman come to bet on horses without knowing anything? She's really stupid and rich!
The most robust and shiny - coated horse in the whole field had a red silk sash around its neck and belonged to the red team. But Luo Xunlong said that the horse had a hidden injury in its right front leg. Wei Dongling trusted his words completely, so she resolutely bet on the blue team.
The servant of the Prince Rui's Mansion who was in charge of collecting money and writing down the amount didn't ask any more questions. He quickly stamped the note and handed it to Wei Dongling, saying, "If you win, come here with this note to exchange for the money!"
Wei Dongling carefully put away the note and squeezed out of the crowd happily.
Someone in the racecourse struck the gong and drum, and the horse race officially started. Wei Dongling walked towards the viewing stand and watched the race on the field without blinking.
That good horse with the red silk sash was running so fast! The rider was very skilled in horsemanship. Holding the reins with one hand and the ball - stick with the other, the rider and the horse were quite in sync. With a powerful swing of the ball - stick on the horseback, the first ball went straight into the hole. The whole field erupted into cheers.
Looking at the proud horse on the field receiving the cheers, Wei Dongling curled her lips and said, "You little hussy, you won't be so smug for long!"
However, just as she walked back and sat down at the table, that "little hussy" had already scored three goals in a row!
Hearing the cheers from the whole field, Wei Dongling's face almost turned black with anger. Seeing Ruan Niang and Cui Huan coming back from afar, Wei Dongling quickly stepped forward and asked with concern, "Did He Yao give you any trouble?"
Cui Huan shook her head and said, "She tricked me into thinking there was a personal letter from the master for me in the interlayer of the carriage. I searched for a long time but couldn't find it! That's when I suspected I had fallen into her scheme to divert me. Did she do anything to you?"
Wei Dongling shook her head and told Ruan Niang and Cui Huan what had just happened. The two of them turned pale with fright.
Ruan Niang said angrily, "What kind of well - bred young lady is she! How could she carry that kind of medicine with her when going out?"
Cui Huan sighed speechlessly and said, "Her maids do know a bit about pharmacology. But I can't figure out how she managed to arrange for someone to divert me and try to harm Miss Wei so soon after our conflict. How could she make such arrangements in such a short time?"
Wei Dongling glanced at the table where He Yao was sitting but didn't see her. She waved her hand and said, "I'm afraid she started planning as soon as we entered the horse - training ground."
Ruan Niang spat and said, "She's really insidious!"
Cui Huan said fearfully, "Fortunately, you were smart enough to avoid this disaster this time. I really don't dare to leave you for a single step."
Wei Dongling nodded in agreement. Fortunately, she had that 5,000 taels of silver, which gave her some comfort.
She looked up at the racecourse, and her face instantly darkened.
Damn it! In such a short time, that "little hussy" had led the red team to score ten goals? With a score of 10 - 3, the blue team was completely suppressed!
Wei Dongling panicked. She stood up and asked, "Have you seen Uncle Luo?"
Ruan Niang pointed at Luo Xunlong and Yu Haiming who were lying on the railing watching the race closely and said, "They've been there all the time!"
Wei Dongling rushed over in a flash, grabbed Luo Xunlong's hand and asked anxiously, "Uncle Luo, which team did you bet on in the horse race?"
Seeing Wei Dongling looking so panicked, Luo Xunlong replied doubtfully, "I bet 300 taels on the red team to win. What's wrong?" He was sure to make a profit this time.
Hearing this, Wei Dongling felt terrible. She pointed at the "little hussy" in the racecourse and asked tremblingly, "Didn't you say it had a hidden injury?"
Luo Xunlong nodded and said, "Yes! But it has strong explosive power. With its current state, it can even play in the next round!"
Wei Dongling's face darkened. With a cry, she ran away sobbing.
The gong sounded again, and the race was over. The score between the red and blue teams was 15 - 8. The red team won.
Seeing everyone happily going forward to exchange the money they won from the horse - race bet, Wei Dongling clutched the invalid note and beat her chest and stamped her feet, wailing loudly.
Woohoo! 5,000 taels! All gone!
"Dongling?"
Someone called her. Wei Dongling looked up tearfully and saw Shangguan Yun coming with Pin Hao. She felt a bit embarrassed and quickly wiped the hot tears on her cheeks with her sleeve.
Seeing her with red - rimmed eyes from crying, Shangguan Yun said painfully, "What's wrong with you? Are you still sad about the humiliation you suffered just now?"
Wei Dongling sniffed and waved her hand, saying, "I, I just want to eat roast lamb legs... Woohoo..."
Wei Dongling's heart was bleeding. That 5,000 taels that she hadn't even warmed up in her hand could have bought her roast lamb legs for many years!
Shangguan Yun quickly comforted her, "Don't be sad. I'll have someone send some to you later."
Wei Dongling wiped her tears and forced a smile, saying, "Thank you, Prince Yun. Really, it's not necessary."
A look of displeasure flashed across Shangguan Yun's face. He said in a low voice, "I know that County Mistress He Yao deliberately made things difficult for you and did such a thing to you. But just now, when the young prince had his servants search, they didn't find the medicine on that maid. And since the maid cleared He Yao before she died, there's no way to convict He Yao."
"Oh." Wei Dongling nodded. This was within her expectation.
"Moreover, her mother is County Mistress Jiaxin. She's here today, watching the race with the family members of the Prince Rui's Mansion." A hint of harshness appeared on Shangguan Yun's extremely handsome face. "We can't do anything to her openly, but I won't let you suffer such humiliation!"
Surprised by his thoughtfulness, Wei Dongling quickly advised him in a soft voice, "Really, it's not necessary. I don't take her seriously. After all, she's just a woman. Don't act rashly for my sake and soil the reputation of the mansion in vain."
Hearing this, Shangguan Yun was quite shocked. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded.
Wei Dongling hesitated and said, "Well, there's another thing I'd like to ask you for help."
"Just tell me. I'll do anything for you even if it means going through fire and water!" Shangguan Yun's voice was as clear and cold as jade.
Wei Dongling looked embarrassed and said, "It's nothing else. I just... just want to borrow some money from you." Seeing Shangguan Yun stunned, she quickly added, "I'll pay you back tonight." Then, thinking that this might be misleading, she said, "I'll pay you back as soon as I get back!"
Shangguan Yun coughed softly and turned to ask Pin Hao, "How much silver do you have on you?"
Pin Hao reluctantly felt his clothes, took out a stack of silver notes and handed them over, replying, "I only have 3,000 taels."