Shangguan Yun snatched the silver note and handed it to Wei Dongling. "Is it enough? If not, I'll send someone back to the capital to get more."
"Enough, enough!" Wei Dongling quickly took the note and broke into a smile through her tears. Three thousand taels with a one - to - one payout meant six thousand taels in total. Keeping half and giving back half, it could at least make up for some of the losses.
"Thank you, Young Master Yun." Wei Dongling curtsied. Without waiting for his reply, she rushed back in a hurry.
Only Cuihuan and Ruan Niang were at the table. Wei Dongling asked in a flurry, "Where's Uncle Luo?"
Ruan Niang looked at her in confusion. "The second round is about to start. Brother Long has gone to bet on the horse race."
Hearing this, Wei Dongling turned around and ran off at full speed. Cuihuan quickly followed.
Wei Dongling dived into the crowd queuing to bet on the horse race. She stood on tiptoe and looked forward, but there were too many people and she couldn't find Luo Xunlong at all.
He was tall, so how could he disappear in the crowd? Had he already placed his bet and left?
Wei Dongling wanted to back out to look for him when she heard someone nearby shouting, "The second round is about to start! Hurry up and place your bets if you haven't!" Panicked, Wei Dongling squeezed in through the queue with the three - thousand - tael silver note in her hand. She slapped the table and shouted, "Three thousand taels, one - to - one payout. I bet on the Red Team to win!"
The servant who had been standing behind Wei Dongling in the previous round was standing behind her now. He glared at her as she cut in line and walked away with the note. The servant thought, I'm not going to be as stupid as her with my bet! Then he turned and shouted to the people inside, "I bet on the Blue Team!"
Wei Dongling pushed through the crowd and walked out. She met Cuihuan who had rushed over to find her. Cuihuan stood with her hands on her hips, gasping. "My lady, can you please pay a little attention to your manners? There are so many people and you run so fast. It's so unladylike! Besides, I have to stay by your side all the time. Could you please consider me a bit?"
Cuihuan looked at Wei Dongling, who was dressed so elegantly that anyone would think she was a dignified and gentle lady. If only she could be a bit more reserved in her actions, she could charm countless men! But her wild nature made her jump around all the time, attracting many contemptuous looks. Cuihuan could only sigh in disappointment.
Wei Dongling waved her hand. "Hey! I lost all the five thousand taels I extorted from He Yao in the previous horse - race bet. I have to win it back quickly!" Then she looked at the spirited horse on the field and comforted herself with the note in her hand. It's okay. Losing five thousand taels and getting a chance with three thousand taels is still okay!
The gong sounded, and the second round soon began.
Wei Dongling jumped up and down beside the railing, shouting at the top of her voice, "Come on, you flirty mare!" Her outburst drew everyone's attention.
Under the intense gazes of the people around, Cuihuan's face instantly turned red. She involuntarily took a small step to the side, silently chanting in her heart, I don't know her! I don't know her!
The flirty mare was quite impressive. It took the lead and was invincible, scoring five goals in a row, which brought enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
Wei Dongling was overjoyed and leaned on the railing, smiling from ear to ear.
In a quiet and well - located viewing platform on the second floor, Murong Xuan and Shangguan Yun were sitting side by side, sipping tea. Their eyes fell on the woman jumping around beside the railing.
Murong Xuan burst into laughter. "This Miss Wei is really cute. Brother Shangguan, you must be old acquaintances, right?"
Shangguan Yun smiled gently. "Yes. Miss Wei is lively and straightforward. Although I've known her for a short time, I feel as if she's a family member I've known since childhood."
Family member? A mysterious smile played on Murong Xuan's lips. "Judging from Miss Wei's attire, she should still be unmarried, right?"
Shangguan Yun glanced at Murong Xuan, and his voice turned dull. "Miss Wei is already engaged."
"Oh? To whom? I'd like to hear more."
Shangguan Yun curled his lips and smiled. "Yu Zixi."
Hearing this, Murong Xuan's face froze for a moment. He asked in surprise, "Is it the eldest son of the Censor - in - Chief, Yu Zixi, the handsome but rather absurd one?"
Shangguan Yun smiled calmly. "Yes."
Murong Xuan's mouth twitched, and he murmured softly, "What a pity."
Shangguan Yun noticed his reaction and couldn't help but smile secretly.
The flirty mare scored two more goals. Wei Dongling was so excited that she jumped and shouted. She gave Cuihuan a big hug.
Cuihuan's face turned pale. Looking up, she saw Luo Xunlong waving to them in the distance. She had no choice but to pull Wei Dongling over.
"Uncle Luo, which team did you bet on in the second round?" Wei Dongling rushed up and asked.
Luo Xunlong asked the waiter for a plate of snacks and stuffed them all into Cuihuan's arms. Without even raising his head, he replied, "The Blue Team. I bet five hundred taels."
Hearing this, Wei Dongling was stunned. It took her a while to ask, "Didn't you say the flirty mare had strong explosive power and could handle this round?"
It took Luo Xunlong a while to figure out that the flirty mare Wei Dongling was talking about was the war - horse with a hidden injury. He waved his hand. "During the break just now, that horse couldn't hold still and kept shaking its right leg. It means it won't last long. Look at the horses of the Blue Team. Their momentum is rising, so I bet on the Blue Team. What's wrong?"
Wei Dongling froze completely. Her lips trembling, she replied, "I bet three thousand taels on the Red Team to win."
Luo Xunlong's face turned pale. He sighed and said, "You should have just followed my bet! Alas! Those three thousand taels are gone!"
Wei Dongling felt terrible. She glanced at the flirty mare on the field and trembled, "Maybe it can hold on until the end of this round?"
Luo Xunlong was not one to beat around the bush. He said bluntly, "Hey! It's at the end of its strength. How could it?"
Wei Dongling was on the verge of tears. She looked at the field, still with a glimmer of hope in her heart.
However, when the Blue Team charged to score a goal, the flirty mare pounced forward and barely intercepted the ball. But then it stumbled and fell.
The whole audience was in an uproar.
Seeing this, Wei Dongling rushed over and shouted, "Get up, flirty mare! Hold on!"
Luo Xunlong stroked Cuihuan's little hand and sighed as he watched Wei Dongling's figure.
The flirty mare managed to stand up! But the old injury on its right leg flared up, and it started to walk shakily. Its speed clearly slowed down. The Blue Team took the opportunity and scored goal after goal.
In a short time, the gong sounded again. The score was seven to twelve between the Red and Blue Teams. Wei Dongling lost all her money again. Her vision went black, and she leaned on the railing, wailing.
Luo Xunlong couldn't bear to look at her like this. He motioned for Cuihuan to go and comfort her.
Cuihuan quickly went over and comforted Wei Dongling. "It's okay. Losing is just losing. Silver is not a big deal! You can just ask the young master for it later. I still have two hundred taels here. You can take it and spend it first."
Wei Dongling hugged Cuihuan's waist and sobbed, "Those three thousand taels were borrowed from Young Master Yun... Wuwuwu..."
Cuihuan twitched the corner of her mouth and was speechless.
Wei Dongling cried for a long time, and her makeup was all smeared.