The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 76

Yang Xiyan couldn’t help but laugh. “At a time like this, and you’re still joking around? Throw her down, and we’ll win.”

As soon as they finished speaking, both girls dribbled the ball simultaneously, sweeping across the grass like a whirlwind.

Not far away, in the Sanshan Pavilion, the Emperor and his courtiers watched the game from a high vantage point.

Duke Gao had also rushed over after hearing the news. Knowing it was his daughter-in-law who had initiated the incident, he bowed to the Duke and apologized repeatedly. “It was my daughter-in-law who acted disrespectfully. Your Majesty, please forgive me. Duke Wang, please accept my apologies.”

Duke Wang stood with his hands behind his back and smiled faintly. “It’s fine for the children to make a bit of a fuss.”

He then turned his eyes to the field. He had personally taught his youngest daughter to ride, so it was only natural that she excelled. As for Xie Yunchu… The Duke observed for a while and then asked Wang Shuhuai beside him, “Your wife isn’t a bad rider, though she seems a bit rusty from not having ridden in a while. Look at her posture and how precisely she adjusts the reins. It looks like she’s had some careful training. Huai’er, was it you who taught her?”

Wang Shuhuai’s face remained calm, offering no response to Duke Wang’s question.

The setting sun cast mottled light through the treetops, and floating stars and golden fragments fell into his deep pupils, all reflected in his steady gaze.

After all, who didn’t have many brothers and neighbors in the family? It didn’t really matter who taught her.

The intensity of the game reached its peak as Xie Yunchu and Wang Yining complemented each other’s skills on the court. While one focused on offense and the other on defense, they managed to thwart every attempt Princess Fuyuan and Yang Xiyan made to score. Yet, Yang Xiyan, holding the ball, still held an advantage.

Swiftly, she charged forward on her horse, with Princess Fuyuan and Yan Xiyan on both sides, their movements as quick as lightning. As they moved, Wang Yining charged toward them, striking Yang Xiyan’s horse’s back, causing it to veer towards Fuyuan’s side. Sensing the shift, Fuyuan tightened the reins, ready to block Wang Yining’s advance. But just in time, Xie Yunchu slipped past Fuyuan from behind, positioning herself to obstruct Yang Xiyan’s path.

Now, Yang Xiyan found herself nearly trapped, surrounded by three horses. In a risky move, Wang Yining leaned on her horse’s back and, with precise timing, snatched the ball from Yang Xiyan. At that moment, Xie Yunchu seized the opportunity, grabbed the ball, and raced towards the ball fence ahead, leading her team in a fierce charge.

Shouts of encouragement echo from the sidelines: 

“Great!” 

“Bravo!” 

“These four girls are truly the best of the best!”

However, a sudden jolt disrupts the scene. Wang Yining’s horse was hit hard, causing it to jump sideways and backward. Caught off guard, Wang Yining dangled precariously from her horse, threatening to fall at any moment. Concern spread among the spectators, as the stakes of the match intensified.

The game had reached its final moments, with both teams tied at one goal each. The outcome relied on whether Xie Yunchu could score. The sound of the last gong from the racecourse trainer signals the dwindling time—only half a quarter of an hour remains. Yang Xiyan, her focus unwavering, pushes forward, paying no heed to Wang Yining. She and Princess Fuyuan rode in unison, chasing down Xie Yunchu from both sides.

The golden light of the setting sun bathed the scene, while sweat stung Xie Yunchu’s eyes, blurring her vision. Every breath came difficult as she struggled to maintain her speed, her endurance pushed to its limits. She hadn’t run this hard in what felt like forever, and her body ached from the strain. Yet she knew—she couldn’t stop.

“Faster, faster,” she urges herself.

In her mind, a promise echoes: She can’t let her aunt down.

Reflecting on her past, Xie Yunchu recalled the years of silent suffering—years of humiliation and hard work, where she remained invisible, avoiding conflict or competition. But that day, something was different. Today, I’ll fight, she resolved.

“Run!”

Yang Xiyan’s eyes were like torches as she raised her stick to grab the ball from Xie Yunchu. Xie Yunchu pushed the ball to the side to avoid her attack. At that moment, Princess Fuyuan, dressed in a pomegranate-red shirt, suddenly rushed from the side like a small animal, charging toward the ball.

Seeing this, Wang Yining didn’t bother to get on the horse; instead, she hung onto the side of the horse’s belly and quickly came to cover, reaching out to raise her stick to intercept Princess Fuyuan’s horse.

A cold light flashed in Yang Xiyan’s eyes. She approached Wang Yining and swung her stick.

Wang Yining’s horse was frightened, and its body shook. She loosened her grip, causing the pole to fly toward Fuyuan. The impact shook her off as well. The horse fell between Fuyuan’s horse’s hooves. After a few sharp thuds, the horse neighed in pain, its hooves kicking up into the air, throwing Princess Fuyuan backward. Both Princess Fuyuan and Wang Yining fell off their horses.

The competition had reached the last moments.

After that, Yang Xiyan struck Xie Yunchu’s right arm with her pole. The pain was so intense that Xie Yunchu saw stars. Her slender body trembled on the horse’s back as she struggled to maintain her running posture. Wang Shuhuai, who was far away, saw this and subconsciously clenched his hands, his heart hanging .

Just as the polo ball was about to fall into Yang Xiyan’s hands, an unexpected scene unfolded.

Despite the pain in her arm, Xie Yunchu quickly switched the moon pole from her right hand to her left. Her inconspicuous left hand unexpectedly picked up the scoop stick and struck forward fiercely. The scoop stick knocked away Yang Xiyan’s moon pole, hitting Yang Xiyan’s wrist and causing her to scream in pain. Simultaneously, Xie Yunchu caught the ball steadily and then accurately pushed it toward the front ball fence.

The entire sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing water, completed in one fluid motion, with astonishing speed and force.

Xie Yunchu watched as the polo ball swiftly passed the fence, flying toward the end of the sunset. She breathed a sigh of relief.

No one knew that she was actually left-handed.

Waves of cheers erupted one after another. Xie Yunchu was exhausted and staggered on her horse. Wang Yining was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. Ignoring her injury, she ran toward Xie Yunchu, covering her arm.

“Chu girl, you are very secretive.”