The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 105

Xiao Huaijin pulled Mr. Zhu out of the water and handed him over to the servant, while also apologizing to the man.

The woman, terrified, hid in the maid’s arms, crying. The man stood in front of his fiancée, still angry, glaring at Mr. Zhu.

“Since he’s an official, if I report this to the authorities, would he still be an official then?”

Mr. Zhu, still shaken and drenched, pale as death, was too terrified to speak. The pain from the earlier encounter left him feeling sore and helpless. He glanced at his brother-in-law, Xiao Huaijin, who seemed completely indifferent, and calmly asked the man, “What do you want?”

The man sneered, “Five thousand taels of silver notes, to buy this official’s reputation.”

Xiao Huaijin’s expression remained unchanged, but Master Zhu grumbled and spit, angrily cursing, “You are asking for too much.”

The man shrugged, saying, “Then we’ll take it to court.”

Mr. Zhu was speechless.

Xiao Huaijin paused for a moment before turning to Mr. Zhu. Upon meeting Xiao Huaijin’s cold and slightly disdainful gaze, Mr. Zhu instantly felt a deep sense of shame and could not raise his head.

“Brother-in-law, I owe you for today’s incident. I have no excuse, but there is one thing: I beg you, for the sake of Ran Ran’s pregnancy, do not let her find out. If she gets upset and causes a miscarriage, the consequences will be dire.”

Xiao Huaijin replied, “I understand, but where can you get five thousand taels of silver from? You are currently under a transfer, and if something happens, not only will you be dismissed, but it will also make a laughingstock of the family in the capital. My sister won’t be able to show her face in public.”

Seeing the other’s unbothered demeanor, Mr. Zhu gritted his teeth in anger, “I’ll find a way to raise the money!”

He had just given all his private property to his wife the night before, so where could he get such a sum now?

He’d have to come up with some excuses to borrow money from his mother, but even so, it would still fall short. After all, five thousand taels was no small amount.

The dull pain swept over Mr. Zhu’s heart, and he regretted deeply, realizing how terribly he behaved. His wife had already promised to get a concubine, yet in his moment of recklessness, he had made a grave mistake. It was too late for regret. The man did not trust his written pledge and demanded another personal token as a guarantee. Forced into a corner, Mr. Zhu gave the man a jade pendant, which had been a gift from his grandfather since childhood. After this exchange, they finally reached an agreement.

Xiao Huaijin, who had acted as a guarantor, warned him to quickly raise the money, so as not to drag him down. Having been saved by Xiao Huaijin and then relying on him for concealment, Mr. Zhu found himself in Xiao Huaijin’s debt. He could not afford to be careless. He promised to gather the money within a few days.

Xiao Huaijin had instructed his trusted servant to escort Mr. Zhu back to his manor, but then, with a turn of the reins, he entered a store. This store belonged to Xie Yunchu as part of her dowry. 

Since Xie Yunchu had planned the entire situation, she herself had to take charge and clean up the mess. Before long, the man and the girl were brought over. Xie Yunchu reassured them, gave them silver as a token of thanks, and sent the girl home. The girl was a peasant from Xie Yunchu’s estate, known for her straightforward and generous personality. She had been chosen by Lin Shu. Once her makeup was removed, no one could recognize her. Xie Yunchu then arranged for her to return home.

As for the man, after receiving the silver, he expressed his thanks and quickly left.

Xiao Huaijin stood in the corridor, observing Xie Yunchu. The woman remained as bright and captivating as ever, with a refined and capable mind. Her sharpness and calculations made her fit for great tasks and able to protect herself. Xiao Huaijin truly admired her.

He held Mr. Zhu’s jade pendant and asked Xie Yunchu, “What are your plans next?”

Xie Yunchu bowed respectfully to her cousin and smiled, “You may keep the jade pendant, Cousin. Once the silver is obtained, it will all go to Youran. She’ll benefit, and we’ve taught someone a lesson—two birds with one stone. She will feel relieved.”

Indeed, it was a rare opportunity.

Xiao Huaijin nodded.

In the previous life, Mr. Zhu had behaved similarly. Once, when he encountered a beautiful girl outside a brothel, he was drunk and mistook her for a courtesan. He grabbed her without hesitation, but as fate would have it, the girl was with her fiancé, who was dressed in black like a warrior. Mr. Zhu thought he was a bodyguard, only to provoke the man. The fiancé, enraged, castrated him on the spot. The incident escalated, involving both the Duke’s and the General’s families. Neither side would yield, and the Emperor couldn’t settle the case. It eventually died down, but Xiao Youran was never the same. Her temperament worsened, and her health declined.

Xie Yunchu could not stand by while her dear friend suffered, so she set up this plan to teach Mr. Zhu a lesson, which also helped Xiao Youran greatly.

Having cleared up one of Xiao Youran’s concerns, Xie Yunchu felt elated and beamed. Xiao Huaijin also sincerely admired his cousin’s abilities. The two of them had a pleasant conversation.

However, at that very moment, just outside in a dark alley, Wang Shuhuai sat motionless on his horse, gazing expressionlessly at the scene in the store.

The night before, he had visited his daughter, and Xie Yunchu told him that she had an important matter to attend to and needed to borrow someone. Wang Shuhuai, never asking into her private affairs, picked a shadow guard for her as per her request. Unsettled, he followed her steps after his business was done. He didn’t expect to find them talking outside the store.

Their manner was polite, but it was clear that his wife was in high spirits, laughing sincerely and openly. He had never seen her smile like that before.

He didn’t suspect anything between them, as Xie Yunchu was not that type of person. If she had been, she would have informed him beforehand. He didn’t care what the matter was, but he couldn’t help but notice the difference in her demeanor—so open and carefree with others, yet so distant and indifferent with him.

He supported her, but she remained unshaken. He gave her gifts, but she remained indifferent.

He showed care, but she responded with politeness.

He tried to get closer, but she pulled away.

The sound of hooves broke the silence of the heavy night, and he returned home alone through the misty rain.

He refused to let himself get entangled in such romantic concerns. Without a word, he returned to his desk to resume his work.