The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 127

Xie Yunchu was feeding rice porridge to Ke’er when she suddenly found herself pulled into their conversation.

“I heard that Linglong Embroidery makes tailored garments. Some styles suit slender figures, while others complement fuller ones.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Shuqin’s gaze landed on her. “Second Sister-in-law, your outfit looks familiar.”

Xie Yunchu was dressed in a dark green-patterned Xiangyun gauze ensemble. While Linglong Embroidery primarily specialized in silk fabrics, they also crafted some tie-dyed Xiangyun gauze pieces. Her robe, featuring a landscape of green mountains and flowing waters, exuded a quiet and profound beauty.

Xie Yunchu smiled. “It was returned for a size exchange after the opening day, so I got lucky and picked it up.”

“No wonder!” Wang Shuqin clapped her hands. “I had my eye on that one, but someone beat me to it.”

Dou Keling glanced at Xie Yunchu’s attire and couldn’t help but remark sourly, “Second Brother isn’t home, yet Second Sister-in-law is dressing up so flamboyantly.”

This successfully ignited Madam Jiang’s temper. Her face darkened. “Shuhai has been gone for so long, and the weather is turning cold. Have you sent him any winter clothes?”

Xie Yunchu responded calmly, “When he left the capital, he already had three chests of clothing on the ship—enough to last until he returned.”

Madam Jiang had no rebuttal. But seeing her daughter-in-law looking so radiant unsettled her, and she scolded in a low voice, “A married woman shouldn’t dress too conspicuously when her husband is away.”

Xie Yunchu lowered her voice to reply, “If I dress too plainly, people might think I’m a widow.”

Madam Jiang was so choked by the remark that she felt a sharp pain in her chest.

With her mother-in-law’s authority diminished by the Grand Princess’s support, Xie Yunchu was no longer afraid of her. Madam Jiang felt stifled and resentful. “It’s been so long. Have you written to Huai’er? Has he replied to you?”

Madam Jiang had ordered her husband to send several letters to Wang Shuhai, but none had received a response. Her son was good in every way—except that he was too indifferent to trivial family matters.

Hearing this, Xie Yunchu became even more detached. In her previous life, no matter where Wang Shuhai went, she wrote to him every five days. Yet, she rarely received a reply. Later, when he returned home, he smiled and explained, “You don’t need to send letters anymore. If I have no news for you, that’s the best news—you won’t have to worry.”

So, Xie Yunchu replied evenly, “No news is the best news,” sidestepping the fact that she hadn’t written to him at all.

For the first time, Madam Jiang felt a sense of shared misery with her daughter-in-law. Her anger and resentment dissipated.

Before long, the Duke and several of the family’s men joined them outside to accompany the children.

Ke’er, now eleven months old, had started taking unsteady steps. Her wet nurse held her little arms, helping her waddle around Xie Yunchu.

Meanwhile, Brother Xuan’er could now speak clearly, able to express himself fluently.

He was playing in the courtyard with Changfang’s Sister Mei’er and Brothe Lin’er. Lin’er held a candied hawthorn stick, and Mei’er and Xuan’er chased after him, trying to snatch it.

Xuan’er, quick and sturdy, soon caught hold of Lin’er’s sleeve. “I want candy!”

Lin’er refused to share. “Tell your mother to make some for you. My mother made this for me.”

Xuan’er pouted. “My mother doesn’t know how…” Dou Keling had never made him treats, so he assumed she simply didn’t know how. His innocent words made everyone laugh.

Madam Miao urged her son, “Didn’t we teach you to share your snacks with your younger siblings?”

Lin’er ignored her, smugly looking at Xuan’er. “That’s because your mother is dumb.”

Madam Miao was livid and quickly apologized to Dou Keling. Dou Keling didn’t take it to heart.

But children love to compare—they didn’t want their parents to be outshined.

“My mother is amazing! She can even scold Father!” Xuan’er declared fiercely.

Dou Keling’s face turned green.

Wang Shukuang was about to smack his son, but Xuan’er ran to hide behind his grandmother. 

Madam Jiang  hugged him and cast a deep look at Dou Keling, sending a chill down her spine.

Meanwhile, Madam Miao, frustrated by her son’s antics, insisted that Lin’er should share the candied hawthorn with Xuan’er and Mei’er.

Lin’er, unwilling to give up his treat, handed the entire skewer to his sister. Peeking out from behind his mother, he countered, “Well, my father can play dice! Can yours?”

The eldest son, Wang Shuzhao, was known for frequenting gambling houses. He had come to terms with his lot in life—knowing that if the Duan family scandal ever resurfaced, his entire branch might be condemned as criminals’ descendants. Since his future was uncertain, he lived for the present. But he wasn’t prepared for his son to blurt it out.

He immediately grabbed Lin’er’s arm and pulled him close. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Madam Miao’s face flushed red. She had often complained about her husband’s habits, and now, their son had repeated it aloud.

The Third Madam chuckled, trying to smooth things over. “Children don’t know better. This just shows that as parents, we should be more mindful of what we say and do around them—lest they pick up bad habits and cause us embarrassment.”

Since the elders didn’t scold them, everyone only felt more ashamed.

The moon broke free from the clouds, casting a gentle glow over the courtyard. The family gathered to enjoy the reunion, sharing mooncakes and good company.

The Duke then posed a riddle for Lin’er, Xuan’er, and Mei’er to solve.

“What animal has long ears, a short tail, and eats only vegetables, never rice?”

Line’er thought for a moment, then pointed at Xuane’er. “Isn’t that Brother Xuan’er?”

Everyone in the household knew that Xuan’er was a notoriously picky eater.

The Duke and the Grand Princess burst into laughter.

Ke’er saw everyone laughing, and with her chubby little hands, she grabbed the silver chopsticks from the table, standing in her mother’s embrace as she waved them excitedly, “Brother Xuan’er, Brother Xuan’er, Brother Xuan’er…”

Ke Jie’er’s round, chubby face was utterly endearing, making the Duke laugh so hard that he couldn’t close his mouth.

Before long, the ever-serious Mei’er suddenly had a realization and excitedly called out, “It’s a rabbit! It’s a rabbit!”

Laughter rang out once again.