The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 74
“Three games, two wins. You have five players, I have five players, but,” Yang Xiyan glanced around Wang Yining’s group. Apart from a new face, everyone else was familiar to her. Not seeing any experts, she smiled and said, “Let’s play a big game today. Whoever loses leaves. No more substitutes allowed. What do you think?”
This increased the cruelty of the competition.
Wang Yining wasn’t very sure of the outcome. She glanced at Xie Yunchu and Wang Shuqin beside her. She knew Wang Shuqin had some skills, but Xie Yunchu was hard to gauge. Seeing how she rode earlier, Wang Yining was genuinely worried.
However, since Wang Yining had promised Xie Yunchu to come and play, she wouldn’t abandon her. She wasn’t someone who would sacrifice friendship over winning or losing. She wanted to have fun while playing and to compete with joy. She sighed deeply and said firmly, “It’s a deal.”
They all returned to the stable to rest and discuss strategy. In addition to Xie Yunchu, Wang Shuqin, and the eldest daughter of the Dongning Marquis’s Mansion, Wang Yining also picked a sister-in-law from Duke Yao’s Mansion.
Soon, the news spread throughout the palace. The grudge between Yang Xiyan and Wang Yining was known by almost everyone in the city. Many wanted to join in the fun, and soon the polo field was surrounded by onlookers. Yao Taihe, the eldest son of Duke Yao’s Mansion, and Gao Zhan, the eldest son of Duke Gao’s Mansion, also hurried over. The two men glanced at each other in the martial arts arena, their faces full of dismay, before rushing towards their wives.
Yao Taihe held her waist and asked, “Why are you competing with that shrew?”
Wang Yining said angrily, “They’ve bullied me, should I just admit defeat? I, Wang Yining, have never been afraid of anyone since childhood. It’s about time I beat her, so she’ll stop nagging me.”
Yao Taihe felt uncomfortable. Who would want their wife coveted by someone else, especially a tall and strong warrior?
Gao Zhan wasn’t just tall and strong, he also had a carefree temperament. Leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, he looked coolly at his wife.
“If you want to compete, I won’t stop you. But let me make this clear first—if you lose, you must accept the loss and not cry afterward.”
Yang Xiyan, unable to stand her husband’s biased tone, said with red eyes, “Aren’t you just afraid I’ll hurt her? I’m telling you, I’m going to make your sweetheart kneel today.”
Yang Xiyan tied on her knee pads and marched aggressively onto the field.
Gao Zhan glanced at her back and then at Wang Yining, who was surrounded by her team and couldn’t be seen. He sighed and shook his head.
Women.
When it came to competition, there was nothing a man could do.
Wang Yining secretly deployed tactics, patting her team members on the shoulder one by one as they went on stage. When it was Xie Yunchu’s turn, Wang Yining pulled her aside and looked her over. “Chu’er, don’t worry about me or get angry with me. If you can’t beat them, retreat. Don’t get hurt.”
If her niece got injured, it would be easy to explain. But if her niece-in-law got hurt, Wang Yining feared explaining it to Wang Shuhuai would be harder.
Xie Yunchu gave her a comforting look and said calmly, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Wang Yining looked into her determined eyes and thought that Xie Yunchu wasn’t the type to hold others back. Since she didn’t suggest a replacement, maybe she had something up her sleeve.
The couple truly resembled each other sometimes, always calm and composed, making it hard to see their true nature.
After a while, the game began.
Xie Yunchu was on defense. If the opponent didn’t target her, she wouldn’t have many chances to act.
In the first half of the first game, she slowly adapted to the polo field’s rhythm and regained her touch.
She twisted the reins with her left hand and held the pole with her right, almost wandering off the field.
Yang Xiyan’s team quickly got into the game and scored the first goal. She raised her stick and looked at Xie Yunchu leisurely in the distance, laughing, “Hey, Wang Yining, is this a flower-viewing party? Did you have to bring an embroidered pillow here?”
Wang Yining ignored the provocation and called her team back to adjust tactics.
Half the men outside the field were watching the game; the other half were admiring the beauties.
Someone pointed at Xie Yunchu and asked, “Who is she? I’ve never seen such beauty before.”
Xie Yunchu had been a well-behaved person since childhood and had never made public appearances. In her past and present lives, the only time she’d been in the spotlight was at a flower-viewing banquet, and even then, a pearl curtain had shielded her face.
“She’s the second young lady of Duke Wang’s Mansion and the wife of the newly crowned top scholar.”
“So she’s Lord Wang’s lovely wife, a beauty as fair as a fairy.”
“She’s beautiful, but her horse-riding skills are lacking. I think Miss Wang will lose today.”
Everyone buzzed with comments, adding to the growing conversation.
In the first game, Wang Yining scored one goal, while the opponent scored two. The eldest lady of Dongning Marquis’s Mansion was hit on the arm by Yang Xiyan and left the field injured. As a result, Wang Yining was left with only four players, and the outlook was grim.
During the break to discuss countermeasures, Xie Yunchu spoke up, “I’ve observed the game and noticed the opponent’s main focus is offense, with defense being secondary. If we want to win the second game, we need to catch them off guard.”
Wang Yining frowned and asked, “Can we capitalize on that?” She glanced at the four players. Aside from Xie Yunchu, the others were known to the other team. “Chu’er, do you have a plan?”
Xie Yunchu pondered and said, “When they’re not paying attention, pass the ball to me, and I’ll try.”
In the second game, the opponent’s five players launched a full-speed attack in the first half. Wang Yining and her team struggled to hold on, and the opponent scored another goal. Finally, Wang Yining managed to pass the ball to Xie Yunchu, but she missed her first attempt.
There was laughter from the stands.
During the break, Xie Yunchu slowly wiped her sweat and said, “Pass it to me again.”
There was a rare, indomitable spirit in the girl. Wang Yining nodded and thought, it’s just a loss—let’s trust Xie Yunchu this time.
“Alright.”
“Besides,” Wang Yining raised her eyes and looked across the field. Princess Fuyuan and Yang Xiyan were standing under a tree, fiercely discussing tactics, neither willing to yield.
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