The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 27

Xie Yunchu didn’t dare to act rashly in front of her grandfather-in-law, so she just stayed there quietly without saying a word.

The Duke stroked his beard and smiled, “Silly child, in three months, you will have to go south. Grandfather called you and your wife here today to tell you that I am anxious to hold my great-grandson.” 

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Shuhuai frowned slightly, while Xie Yunchu blushed. She twisted her handkerchief and buried her face even lower.

The Duke looked at her shy appearance and said cheerfully, “Girl, aren’t you anxious? Your husband is going to the rich water town south of the Yangtze River, so don’t take it lightly.”

Everyone knew that the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai were famous. 

Why don’t you just say that he is going to that place of brothels?

Xie Yunchu replied dryly, “Grandfather is joking.” 

Wang Shuhuai turned a deaf ear to his grandfather’s ridicule, and then nodded, “Grandfather’s teachings, I will remember them.” 

The Duke didn’t talk much, but every word he said was meaningful. Xie Yunchu then realized that she had made a contribution and the Duke was helping her. She didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Afterwards, she left the Duke and Wang Shuhuai to talk. Xie Yunchu was tired after a day’s work, so she was helped back to Chunjing Hall by her maid. It was dusk and the sky was shrouded in light smoke. Xie Yunchu walked through the garden full of flowers and trees and returned to Chunjing Hall. 

When she reached, she heard a familiar cry from afar. When she parted the branches and looked, she saw Mama Lin holding her delicate little baby waiting at the entrance of the moon cave.

Sister Ke hadn’t seen her mother for a long time. When she saw Xie Yunchu, she cried even more anxiously. Xie Yunchu missed her daughter so much that she quickened her pace. When she got closer, she saw that Sister Ke’s originally chubby face had become thinner, and her black eyes were filled with tears. She looked at her mother pitifully and kept struggling in Mama Lin’s arms.

Xie Yunchu also missed her daughter, so she immediately reached out her hand. The child couldn’t wait to throw herself into her arms, and her feet and arms clamped Xie Yunchu tightly like a pair of pliers, refusing to let go no matter what she said. The tearful little face rested in her mother’s arms, smelling the familiar scent of milk and making a whimpering sound like a complaining kitten. 

Xie Yunchu smiled.

“It turns out that Sister Ke can’t be spoiled. She only realized she needed her mother after being away from her for a few days.” 

Sister Ke didn’t understand what her mother was saying. She opened her eyes wide and nodded obediently. Xie Yunchu rubbed the silly girl’s head and carried her into the house.

She originally wanted to put the child aside to bathe and wash herself, but Sister Ke refused to let go. Not only did she want her mother to hold her, but she also nudged her into her arms. Xie Yunchu felt an itch in her heart because of her nudging. She tried to avoid her but still bit her through her clothes. She hadn’t fed her for a long time, and it was obvious that Sister Ke wanted to eat. Xie Yunchu couldn’t resist any more, so she had to carry the child into the inner room, gently unbutton her clothes, wipe her body clean, and then hold her to feed her.

The child found the long-lost sense of security, and only then did she eat and sleep well. But the little hand still  grabbed Xie Yunchu unconsciously. Xie Yunchu lowered her eyes, a little angry and embarrassed, and pulled her away. After a while, she clamped her hand again tightly, making Xie Yunchu feel helpless.

In order to coax the child to sleep, the lights in the inner room were not turned on, and only the dim candlelight outside seeped in. After a tiring day, Xie Yunchu sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against the pillow, and gradually fell asleep.

She didn’t know how long it was before she vaguely heard a light cough. Xie Yunchu opened her eyes subconsciously and caught a glimpse of Wang Shuhuai, standing tall outside the curtain in a black robe. He must have accidentally seen the scene inside, so he put the curtain down again, making a crisp clashing sound. Wang Shuhuai had already turned sideways, and Xie Yunchu’s face was flushed red.

She immediately put the sleeping child on the bed, hastily closed her clothes, and left the inner room as if nothing had happened. Wang Shuhuai had already sat down in the armchair on the east side and looked up at her. Eyes met. Xie Yunchu sat down randomly opposite him and poured herself a cup of tea. Then she slowly calmed down and glanced at the copper clock. She had slept for an hour without realizing it.

As husband and wife for two lifetimes, Xie Yunchu was very familiar with Wang Shuhuai’s habits. She smelled the scent of soapberry on his body just now, which showed that he had bathed. It was unusual for the Duke to speak personally. Wang Shuhuai must have come to share the room with her. Xie Yunchu also knew that he couldn’t delay it any longer.

She still felt a little unhappy. It was an April night, and the cold wind was bone-chilling. Xie Yunchu, who had just come out of the inner room, felt a little cold. Her thick black eyelashes drooped, and a tuft of hair hung by her ear without her noticing.

Wang Shuhuai spoke first with a slightly magnetic voice. “Thank you for your hard work today.” His well-proportioned hands rested on the table without moving, and even his sitting posture was meticulous. It was about making the cake for the Elder Princess . In the past, Xie Yunchu believed that her husband was gentle and considerate, but now she knew that he was just being polite. She also politely replied, “It’s my duty.” 

Just now, Mama Lin nagged her about Wang Shuhuai helping to look after the child these days. She wanted to learn from him and thank him for his hard work, but then she thought that as a father, it was his duty to take care of the child, so she didn’t mention it.

The tiredness on Xie Yunchu’s face had not completely faded away, and her voice was somewhat lazy. Wang Shuhuai raised his eyes to look at her. Her pretty face was immersed in the light, lively and beautiful. The collar of her shirt was wrinkled, obviously grabbed by the child. The scene just now flashed through his mind again, and Wang Shuhuai looked away.

“Have you had dinner?” Xie Yunchu asked. Wang Shuhuai still had a gentle and indifferent look on his face. “I’ve eaten at my grandfather’s place.” 

Then he changed his mind and asked, “You haven’t eaten yet?” 

Xie Yunchu lifted her hair and said, “Well, the child was very hungry and delayed me.” She was not hungry, she just wanted to see how Wang Shuhuai would react.

In the past, the couple had a tacit understanding about such matters. To be exact, Xie Yunchu never gave Wang Shuhuai a chance to embarrass herself. She was longing for her husband, so she approached him tenderly and affectionately early on, so there was no need for so many twists and turns. Wang Shuhuai was indeed silent. Keep waiting, it seems urgent. He left directly, with my grandfather’s instructions still ringing in my ears.

Wang Shuhuai chose a compromise reply, “You go ahead and do your work. I’ll come over later.” This was already an order, leaving no room for Xie Yunchu to refuse. He stood up and prepared to leave.