The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 72

Wang Yining entered and heard this. She bowed gracefully and calmly to her mother, then asked how she was.

She forced a smile. She had rarely interacted with the Eldest Princess, assuming that she was strict and wouldn’t let her daughter behave as she pleased. To her surprise, the Eldest Princess thought quite differently.

After hearing the Eldest Princess’s remarks, Xie Yunchu couldn’t help but show admiration. There were many princesses in the world, but only one Eldest Princess. Regardless of the grudge between the Eldest Princess and Second Madam, Xie Yunchu respected the Eldest Princess from the bottom of her heart. The Eldest Princess paid no attention to trivial palace matters, took charge of her own marriage, devoted herself to the court, and would go down in history. She lived an enviable life.

The Eldest Princess turned and asked, “What has Tai’er been busy with lately?”

Yao Taihe was the eldest son of Duke Yao’s Mansion and Wang Yining’s husband.

She replied quickly, “Tai’er is serving in the army with his father.” Duke Yao, as the second-rank deputy governor of the Governor’s Office, held great prestige in the military. If her family background had been mediocre, the Eldest Princess would never have let her daughter marry into the Yao family.

“And what position does he hold?”

She answered nervously, “He is a fifth-rank judge overseeing criminal justice.” Duke Yao was the deputy governor, and his son’s future was secured, following in his father’s footsteps.

The Eldest Princess, of course, knew her son-in-law’s rank. Her question had a deeper meaning.

“A fifth-rank judge position seems unworthy of my son-in-law’s talents. Perhaps it’s time for a change in his placement.”

Moving to another position would put him under the Eldest Princess’s influence.

Madam He immediately grasped the meaning behind the Eldest Princess’s words and knelt down.

“Tai’er is only capable of his current duties. I fear your kindness will be wasted on him.”

The Eldest Princess didn’t bother arguing further with her and dismissed her under the pretense of feeling unwell.

Seeing her mother had vented her frustration, Wang Yining leaned close and massaged her shoulders and back. The Eldest Princess brushed her aside with disdain, raised her eyes, and glanced at all the Wang family women present. Her tone was flat but serious, “Behave yourself when you’re outside. As long as you conduct yourself properly, you need not fear anyone. I will stand behind you in everything. It is better to come back and apologize to me than to endure disgrace. But if you bring shame upon me, I will not tolerate it.”

All the daughters-in-law and young women lowered their heads in agreement.

Wang Yining, feeling proud, said earnestly, “Then may my mother live a long life. We’ll all depend on you.”

Hearing that, the Eldest Princess glared at her.

Xie Yunchu’s heart ached as she listened. She recalled a long-buried concern, one of the reasons she had come to the palace this time.

In her previous life, she had been pregnant and stayed home to manage the household, never visiting the palace. One night, the guards knocked on the palace gate, reporting that the Duke had been assassinated. An arrow had pierced his chest and lungs. Though imperial doctors were summoned and attended to him day and night, the Duke survived only another half year before passing away.

After the Duke’s death, Wang Shuhuai rushed back to the capital from Jiangnan and blamed the Eldest Princess for the Duke’s demise. The conflict between the Eldest Princess and Wang Shuhuai erupted.

The Eldest Princess promised the title of Duke to the Second Master on the condition that Wang Shuhuai abandon his land re-measurement efforts and allow the late old lady to be buried with the Duke. However, Wang Shuhuai refused. Family disputes turned into state affairs, and the two sides were fully at odds.

Tradition dictated that Wang Shuhuai should mourn for a year, but that year was enough for the Eldest Princess to have him ousted from court or worse. Later, Wang Shuhuai employed tactics to stir unrest in Jiangnan, forcing the Emperor to reinstate him and send him south. Thus, Wang Shuhuai returned to Jinling after just three months of mourning.

The Duke’s death took a heavy toll on Wang Shuhuai. He became a changed man—no longer cheerful, he grew taciturn, and the Duke’s Mansion was engulfed in a constant gloom.Later, Wang Shuhuai returned with his accomplishments. He competed with the Eldest Princess in court, took part in political struggles, and became involved in the turmoil surrounding the fight for the throne. The Wang family fractured, and peace was no more.

Her child was born during that tumultuous time.

In Xie Yunchu’s eyes, the Duke had been the pillar of the palace. Once trouble befell him, the entire Duke’s Mansion descended into chaos.

It was during this time that she discovered the deep political interests shared between the Eldest Princess and the Duke. The Duke carried a significant secret, though she never learned what it was.

Though Wang Shuhuai ultimately came out victorious, Xie Yunchu’s wish was for the Duke to live well, and for her own life to be peaceful.

Seeing Xie Yunchu’s unhappy expression, Wang Yining assumed she wasn’t adjusting well to the local climate and suggested she return to rest. On the first day at the palace, everyone was still getting familiar with the surroundings and there was no rush to venture into the mountains. Xie Yunchu went back to the villa.

She had no idea where the assassin from her previous life had come from, nor who he was. If she acted hastily and raised an alarm, she might alert the enemy. With half a month left until the Duke’s assassination, she needed to tread carefully and plan step by step.

After a good nap, Wang Yining invited several noble ladies from the capital to play polo and asked Xie Yunchu to help out. Xie Yunchu, along with her two sisters-in-law, changed into their riding clothes, led the horses Wang Yining had prepared for them, and headed happily to the horse farm.

She couldn’t recall how many years it had been since she last rode. The feeling was both long-lost and exhilarating, and that day, she was determined to enjoy a good ride.

Yanshan Mountain was located in the northwest of the capital, with numerous peaks and majestic scenery. The Imperial Palace was built on the mountain, with tall pavilions, halls, and winding corridors. A vast grassland stretched southeast from the water’s curve before the palace to the foot of the mountain, ideal for horse racing.

The grassland near the forest entrance was fenced off and made into a polo field. Surrounded by the Yanshan Mountains and gurgling streams, it had a refreshing climate, free from the stuffiness of the capital. At the moment, the polo field was crowded, and horses galloped freely.

Wang Shuqin picked a small white horse. Even after changing clothes, Wang Shuya was still reluctant to get a horse. Wang Yining, dressed in bright red, was being helped by a maid with her knee pads. Seeing Wang Shuya’s timid look, Wang Yining felt a headache coming on.