Chapter 143: Not Showing Full Strength

“Sir, the horses aren’t even yours. What do you have to bet with?” Jin Hua Cao said bluntly, directly pointing out that Zhao Zhen hadn’t paid a single coin, leaving him in an awkward position. As a great emperor, he had never actually settled a bill before, often just taking what he wanted.

“Then if I win, why should I share with him?” Zhao Zhen asked again.

“Ah!” Jin Hua Cao sighed deeply and said softly, “Sir, this is a steed of legendary caliber, one that money simply can’t buy. If you win, you must return the favor properly!”

By saying this, she was almost telling him, “You’re about to make a fortune.”

Faced with Jin Hua Cao’s outgoing nature, Zhao Zhen was at a loss for words.

“Fine! I’m not a stingy man either. But I have to win—can it be done?” Zhao Zhen looked at Shen Shi.

“Heh, it’s almost impossible for you to lose,” Shen Shi said calmly, with a confidence that brooked no argument. He appreciated Jin Hua Cao’s goodwill.

Seeing Shen Shi accept her kindness, Jin Hua Cao was delighted; she thought Shen Shi didn’t know the emperor personally and so accepted only because of her. How happy she felt!

Zhao Zongjing wanted to say something, but Zhao Zhen had already mounted his horse again, naturally with the help of his guards.

“This is utterly ridiculous,” Tang Renxian thought with disdain. He saw a complete amateur in the way Zhao Zhen mounted the horse—a scene he had watched and found irritating countless times.

In modern terms, it was like a newly licensed driver trying to compete with an F1 racing champion to see who had better racing skills.

“Sis, Renxian will definitely win,” Shen Yuejiao declared confidently without stepping forward, already promoting victory.

Shen Yue’e frowned but said nothing. Anyone with eyes wouldn’t believe Zhao Zhen could possibly win.

Of course, since Zhao Zhen had already bought his own cousin’s horse, whether he won or lost was of no concern to Shen Yue’e.

Those around them had already sentenced him to failure in their hearts; his skills were too poor. Unless he was pretending, the race held no suspense.

Even though Zhao Zhen’s mounting posture was clumsy and despite their doubts about his confidence, no one bet on his victory. The one who started the wager looked sullen.

“Why are you getting on the horse too?” Tang Renxian glanced sideways at Zhao Zhen. He had no worries about Zhao Zhen, but Shen Shi mounting simultaneously put him on alert. “I told you, if you want to bet, wait until we finish.”

“No! I’m not here to bet,” Shen Shi said. “The horse isn’t fully trained yet. To avoid accidents, I need to keep an eye on it.”

Shen Shi didn’t care about Tang Renxian at all. If he lost this race, that would be fine. If he beat Zhao Zhen, well… it was no big deal.

After all, Zhao Zhen probably wouldn’t harm him over this. Whether his father would was another matter.

Tang Renxian almost burst out laughing. The horse truly wasn’t tamed. He had said before that this was a wild stallion, yet here it was, seemingly well-trained so quickly.

Untamed was better—it perfectly matched his earlier words: no one to help, no horse to ride.

As for Shen Shi following along, so be it, as long as he didn’t participate in the race.

---

Shen An sighed. Listening to Shen Shi’s explanation, he felt it was akin to admitting defeat. But that was better—it wouldn’t offend Master Tang.

Suddenly, Jin Hua Cao rushed over excitedly, then ran back shouting, “Brother Shen, I’ve bet one hundred guan on you! You absolutely must win!”

“One hundred to one? Then you’d win ten thousand guan. I’ll bet a hundred guan too. Anyone else want some pocket money?” Shen Shi laughed, suggesting to the others.

But no one heeded Shen Shi’s advice; they all bet on Tang Renxian. Even the most reckless gamblers wouldn’t throw their money away. More people piled on Tang Renxian’s side.

The one who initiated the betting wasn’t pleased—this method wouldn’t earn him money but rather cause losses.

“Come on, everyone! Bet on the sir! One hundred to one!” he shouted.

He promoted, “Bet on the sir to win. One hundred guan can win ten thousand!”

But it was useless.

Everyone ignored him, laughing and buying bets for Tang Renxian.

“Tang Gongzi wins, you only get one guan for every hundred bet—that’s not worth it…”

Still no effect.

He could only watch helplessly as the bets on Tang Renxian grew, while Zhao Zhen’s side had just two hundred guan—Jin Hua Cao’s hundred and Shen Shi’s hundred.

Suddenly, Shen Yue’e urged her horse forward.

Tang Renxian looked at her softly, “Don’t worry, I will win.”

Shen Yue’e dismounted and took out a sachet, saying, “I’m betting one tael on the sir.”

“You! Sister Yue’e, your pocket money is doomed!” Tang Renxian laughed loudly, trying to mask his embarrassment.

Shen Yue’e, someone not easy to offend, explained, “We’re family, naturally we help our own.”

Tang Renxian’s expression softened somewhat.

Shen Yuejiao also ran over, throwing down ten taels, saying, “I bet ten taels on Brother Renxian to win.” Then she explained, “I’m different from my cousin; I support justice, not kinship.”

Naturally, this made Tang Renxian even happier.

But Shen Yue’e felt uneasy. Unlike Yuejiao, her brother was studying and had no wealth. That one tael was earned from her own part-time work.

She often attended poetic gatherings where beautiful ladies played the zither to add charm.

“You… remind me of someone.”

---

Besides Tang Renxian, another person was watching her—Zhao Zongjing.

“Sir, you have the wrong person,” Shen Yue’e said, lowering her head and stepping back.

At that moment, the race began. The horse keeper waved the command flag, and Tang Renxian’s warhorse shot forward like an arrow. Trained warhorses understood the signal.

Meanwhile, the sweat-blood horse stood calmly at the starting line, not moving at all. It simply didn’t comprehend the command flag’s meaning.

“Brother-in-law, hurry!” Jin Hua Cao called anxiously. She even called him “brother-in-law” this time.

Zhao Zhen grew anxious too. “Go, go!”

He had already boasted, but the horse remained motionless, making him sweat profusely.

But alas, it was useless.

I really want it to move, but I truly can’t!

Shen Shi glanced over and sighed inwardly; he knew this horse would cause trouble.

So he spoke quietly to his own horse.

His horse neighed in response, conveying Shen Shi’s message.

As soon as Shen Shi’s horse lifted its hoof, the sweat-blood horse suddenly bolted.

Its acceleration was so fierce that the Wind Binding Charm on Zhao Zhen’s jade pendant immediately activated.

The charm wrapped around Zhao Zhen’s body, preventing him from being thrown off by the sudden speed, while leaving his head free to breathe.

Of course, this was uncomfortable. His body twisted under the centripetal force of the wind, but his head remained still.

The howling wind battered his face; before long, Zhao Zhen felt as if his face no longer belonged to him.

“Whoa—this sir’s horsemanship is truly remarkable.”

Though uncomfortable, his posture was excellent. Sitting atop the horse, he looked spirited—a standard-bearer with a commanding presence.

“What kind of good riding is that? He should be leaning forward; that makes the horse run faster,” said one who disagreed.

“You don’t know anything. The fact that he can stay seated like that shows his superb riding skills. He’s not even using full strength,” another argued.