The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 75

“Have you noticed? They’re not in sync. Yang Xiyan is taking steady steps, while Princess Fuyuan is charging around like a lion. Let’s focus on Princess Fuyuan and disrupt their rhythm.”

Compared to the other team, which acted independently, Wang Yining’s team had the advantage of good tacit understanding.

“I’ll be responsible for grabbing the ball, Min’er will attack, and Shuqin will protect Yunchu and help her score.”

With the plan decided, the four continued the game.

Once the strategy was adjusted, the results soon followed. In the second half of the second game, Wang Yining seized an opportunity and scored first, boosting morale. Near the end, Xie Yunchu, with great difficulty and the help of her teammates, managed to score, turning the game around to a tie.

But the cost was that both Wang Shuqin and Min’er from Duke Yao’s mansion were eliminated.

By the third game, there were still four players on the opposing side, while only Wang Yining and Xie Yunchu remained.

The aunt and niece looked at each other, drenched in sweat.

This was a battle of honor between the three dukedoms, and by the final round, the tension was palpable.

When word reached Qiankun Palace, the Duke was discussing the Autumn Examination with the Emperor. A eunuch approached, looking both amused and apprehensive, and reported,

“Your Majesty, the wife of Duke Yao’s Mansion and Princess Fuyuan are playing polo.”

“Oh?” The Emperor’s interest piqued. He glanced through the glazed windows of Qiankun Palace, vaguely seeing the green field dotted with red flowers and willows, where many figures moved like flowing ribbons.

“It seems lively,” the Emperor smiled and asked, “Who’s winning?”

The eunuch coughed lightly, replying, “It’s quite intense,” and then explained the situation.

The Emperor, the Duke, and several Cabinet ministers exchanged bewildered glances.

Were all girls so fierce these days?

The Emperor, slightly exasperated, said to the Duke, “We can’t let Yining lose face. Even though she’s 25, she still acts like a little girl. If she loses, she’ll cry. We need to think of a way to smooth things over.”

The Duke, a seasoned commander who had fought countless battles, waved his hand dismissively, “If we don’t let her suffer a little, how will she learn not to fight without certainty of victory? Let her be.”

The Emperor wasn’t pleased and turned to Wang Shuhuai, who was standing by, “Shuhuai, come up with a solution.”

Wang Shuhuai loathed such petty quarrels but, given the Emperor’s command, muttered, “I’ll give it a try.”

At that moment, the eunuch glanced subtly at Wang Shuhuai and said to the Emperor with a smile, “Your Majesty, from the Eldest Princess’s daughter’s team, only she and the Second Mistress of the Wang Mansion remain.”

Wang Shuhuai raised his eyebrows, and the Duke, equally surprised, asked, “Chu’er is on the field too? Can she even ride a horse?”

The eunuch smiled wryly, “Not particularly well.”

The Duke, with his battlefield-honed insight, remarked, “I doubt she’s careless. If she’s lasted this long, she might be more capable than we think.”

The Emperor’s curiosity was piqued further. “Come,” he said, “let’s go watch the fun.”

The black-gold sky was setting in the west, and endless colorful clouds spread brilliantly across, making the earth and sky resemble a vibrant furnace.

Sweat slowly slid down her arms to her palms, sticking to the scoop stick. Xie Yunchu gradually moved the stick from her right hand to her left. She shook her aching right arm, then gripped the scoop stick firmly in her left hand, swaying it tentatively. After a while, she switched back.

Wang Yining was sweating profusely. Moments ago, she had hit a girl from the opposing team, knocking her off her horse, and Yang Xiyan took the opportunity to score.

Xie Yunchu glanced at Yang Xiyan opposite her expressionlessly and said in a deep voice, “Aunt, we’ve fallen into a trap.”

In the sunset, two girls, one in red and the other in blue, sat side by side on horseback.

Wang Yining also realized something was wrong. “Yang Xiyan is relying on her numbers and is willing to exchange players for the score,” she said. They had double-teamed Wang Yining and were sacrificing their teammates for victory.

But Wang Yining had her own plan. “It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, I’ll vent my anger first. I’ll attack Yang Xiyan later. If she can, she’ll attack me to win the game.”

With that, she took the lead, swinging her scoop stick as she rushed towards the third player on the opposite side. In this game, Xie Yunchu served the ball, quickly driving it forward with her scoop stick toward the opposing side.

Seeing this, Yang Xiyan and Princess Fuyuan immediately launched an attack together.

The other girl was clever; she rode her horse to the side, trying to lure Wang Yining away. However, Wang Yining swiftly turned and attacked Yang Xiyan from the side with her stick.

Yang Xiyan immediately turned and hid. “Fu Yuan, save me!” She cried.

Princess Fuyuan quickly raised her pole to block Wang Yining’s attack. Wang Yining, quick-witted, retracted her pole just in time, sharply turning her horse’s head and charging at the other girl. The girl, frightened, retreated and fell off her horse.

Wang Yining single-handedly mobilized three opponents, creating an opening for Xie Yunchu, who calmly swung the polo ball and shot it through the gap toward the goal.

“Goal!”

“Nice shot!”

The crowd outside the stadium erupted in cheers for Xie Yunchu and Wang Yining as they celebrated their victory.

The two girls rode their horses in a circle and clapped hands halfway.

“My little aunt is mighty!”

“You’re not bad either!”

Both sides returned to the starting point.

The only ones left on the opposing side were Princess Fuyuan and Yang Xiyan.

Yang Xiyan glared fiercely at Wang Yining. “She’s quite bold, not inferior to the Eldest Princess back in the day.”

Princess Fuyuan raised her eyebrows and said, “Don’t flatter her. How could she possibly compare to my aunt?”

Yang Xiyan’s eyes were filled with anger. “No, we need to find a way to turn the tide.” She glanced between Xie Yunchu and Wang Yining. “You keep an eye on Xie Yunchu, and I’ll deal with Wang Yining.”

Princess Fuyuan nodded. 

Xie Yunchu looked tall and slender, a real beauty. Princess Fuyuan hesitated for a moment, saying, “If I throw her down, do you think she’ll cry?”