The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 14

On March 15th of the previous life, Wang Shuhuai stayed at Chunjing Hall on his mother’s orders, but he had no intention of moving back. Ten days later, Xie Yunchu waited until that day to test him and wanted him to move back.

At that time, Wang Shuhuai was busy competing with the Eldest Princess for a position in the Ministry of Revenue and had no intention of having xoxo, so he started to talk about it with her.

“Madam, the court has been busy recently. It is not easy to gain a foothold in the six ministries. I must spend more time than others. How about I go back to the backyard on the first and fifteenth day of every month? This way, I won’t have to disturb your sleep,” he said gently.

Xie Yunchu was a woman who knew the bigger picture. She deeply understood how much pressure the Eldest Princess had put on Wang Shuhuai. The future of the second household, the honor and disgrace of her and her children all depended on him alone. She only loved her husband more in her heart and did not feel wronged at all. She agreed without saying a word.

She thought that things would get better once her husband’s career improved, but Wang Shuhuai never stopped. He was like a sharp wild horse, galloping all the way in the court. At first, he could come to her room twice a month, but later it was only fifteen times a year, and after that… it became difficult to see him.

At that time, life was hard living alone in an empty house, but she had come to terms with it.

A husband who could bring honor to her without her having to serve him was simply perfect.

Xie Yunchu smiled at Mama Lin and said, “Mama, the Second Young Master has been looking for a position in the six ministries recently, so I guess he has no time to take care of me.”

Mama Lin also knew about the conflicts between the Eldest Princess and the Second Master’s wife, and she sighed and shook her head.

Despite this, Xie Yunchu still asked Qiu Sui to cook a bowl of ginseng soup and send it to the study.

After being busy for half the night, Wang Shuhuai looked up from the heavy paperwork, his eyes fixed on the bowl of ginseng soup. If he remembered correctly, Xie Yunchu had never come to the study since he was rejected that night. And judging from the Mama’s tone, she was not so sick that she could not go out.

He reached out to pick up the porcelain bowl and slowly drank the ginseng soup.

After finishing the bowl, his deep and cold eyes stared quietly at the bottom of the bowl with some residue.

Originally he just noticed it but didn’t think about it too much, but that day he was sure that this was not Xie Yunchu’s handmade.

After being married for more than a year and a half, his daily meals were all prepared by Xie Yunchu. Even when he was not at home, Xie Yunchu would ask someone to deliver the food boxes to the yamen because she was worried that the food in the canteen would be too rough.

It seemed like he hadn’t tasted his wife’s cooking for a long time.

A trace of unhappiness slipped through his heart.

Wang Shuhuai put the bowl down.

The wind leaked in through the open window, and the candlelight in the silver lamp flickered.

Wang Shuhuai remembered what happened in Ninghe Hall just now. He was unhappy that others treated Xie Yunchu as a cook. So should he order her around?

The strange feeling in his heart was quickly washed away. He was not used to speculating about his wife. After all, everyone could see how virtuous she was.

Judging from the reactions of everyone in Ninghe Hall, she really should take a break.

It was just some food, he didn’t care.

The Eldest Princess had sent a message that day, asking him to enter the palace the next day, so Wang Shuhuai had no time to take care of her.

The news was not delivered until nightfall. The Second Master got up early the next morning and hurried to Wang Shuhuai’s study to discuss countermeasures. Upon hearing the news, the two younger brothers also came up with ideas for their elder brother. Whenever the Elder Princess gave an order, the whole house would act as if facing a great enemy, and even Jiang sent the Mama to inquire about the matter.

The most considerate wife was nowhere to be seen.

Xie Yunchu slept until dawn as usual, while Mama Lin was anxiously watching.

“Master, the Second Young Master has already entered the palace, how come you are not worried at all? Even the Madam has ordered people to prepare cakes and ask the Second Young Master to bring them to the palace to honor the Princess, but you, a virtuous woman, don’t care.”

In the past, for such a big event, Xie Yunchu would have gone to the study in person to take care of it, care about her husband, and get first-hand information.

In the new life, Xie Yunchu already knew the result, so she was naturally not in a hurry. She looked at Mama Lin with a bright smile, “Don’t worry, Mama. I had a dream last night. It’s a good sign. My wish will come true.”

Mama Lin also knew that it would be of no use.

Wang Shuhuai entered the palace, and the Eldest Princess met him in the study of Changqiu Hall, accompanied by the Duke. The couple looked at their handsome eldest grandson with satisfaction in their eyes. The Eldest Princess asked Wang Shuhuai directly which yamen he wanted to go to. Wang Shuhuai naturally said that he would follow his grandmother’s instructions. The Eldest Princess rubbed her temple with her slender fingers and said in a gentle voice that he would go to the Ministry of labors.

Wang Shuhuai’s expression did not change at all, and he kowtowed respectfully to express his gratitude.

The Minister of Labors was a confidant who had worked his way up the ranks following the Edest Princess.

Wang Shuhuai going to the Ministry of labors was, on the pretext of looking after her grandson, but in fact, it was another form of restraint. Wang Shuhuai was under the nose of the Eldest Princess, and what position he wanted to reach and what achievements he wanted to make were all decided by the Eldest Princess.

The matter was almost settled, but in the afternoon, a major event occurred in the court. Part of the fish scale map stored on the island of Xuanwu Lake in the ancient capital of Nanjing was burned, causing an uproar among the civil and military officials in the court. There were two copies of the fish scale map, one stored in Nanjing and the other archived in the royal library. Before that, it was looked after by the editor of the Hanlin Academy.

Although it was a pity that the atlas was burned, some people took the opportunity to suggest that these fish scale maps had been around for hundreds of years and had lost their effectiveness, and it would be better to make a new one. The national treasury happened to be empty, so it was time to sort out the taxes in Jiangnan and clear out the land occupied by the wealthy families. This move naturally infringed on the interests of many Jiangnan officials. The two sides exchanged sharp words and argued for half a day.