The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 77

Sweat seeped into Xie Yunchu’s eyes, mingling with hot tears that flowed down her face. Her cheeks were flushed, more vibrant than the colorful clouds in the western sky. “Really?” She was still in shock, her expression revealing a blend of naïveté and sincerity.

Wang Yining extended her hand, and Xie Yunchu took her wrist, jumping off the horse. The two girls stumbled and embraced each other, using one another’s strength to gradually calm down.

On the other side, Yang Xiyan stood in despair, clutching her swollen, blue-and-purple wrist, unable to believe she had lost.

Princess Fuyuan, on the other hand, gestured to Xie Yunchu with admiration on her face. “I never knew your left hand was more accurate than your right.”

“If it weren’t for this divine intervention, how could we have lost today?”

A maid in the distance saw that Princess Fuyuan had not yet gotten up and rushed over to help her. Princess Fuyuan felt a sharp pain in her back but, being typically careless, didn’t take it seriously. She dragged her feet over to Xie Yunchu.

“You are a calm person. You actually hid your strength the whole time and finally caught us off guard.”

Xie Yunchu stood up from Wang Yining’s arms and saluted in return. “Princess, I appreciate your kindness.”

Princess Fuyuan waved her hand, wincing in pain. “We’ll fight again next time.”

Xie Yunchu responded with a smile. The evening breeze blew in from the foot of the mountain. She stood facing the wind, feeling a hearty and refreshing pleasure.

Chun Qi and Xia An came over to help her rest outside the venue. Wang Yining’s maid also handed her a towel. Wang Yining took it and wiped her sweat, glancing at Yang Xiyan, who stood dumbfounded not far away. “Yang Xiyan, you lose.”

Yang Xiyan bit her lip, looking at Wang Yining with reluctance.

Everyone’s eyes were on her. She neither knelt nor left.

“The Madam of the Gao Mansion is going to kneel down to the Madam of Duke Wang’s Mansion.”

“You’ve got to accept your defeat, Madam. Don’t just stand there!” Some busybodies chimed in, causing a stir.

Yang Xiyan gritted her teeth, tears nearly spilling from her eyes.

Upon seeing this, the Emperor glanced at the two dukes. Duke Gao looked embarrassed and serious, while Duke Wang merely smiled, saying nothing.

Yang Xiyan glanced at her husband in the distance. Gao Zhan maintained a nonchalant expression, leaning against a pillar nearby, arms folded across his chest, staring blankly at her with no intention of pleading for his wife.

Yang Xiyan felt aggrieved and wanted to cry but didn’t want to do so in front of Wang Yining or Gao Zhan.

Wang Yining observed the scene and slowly walked over, facing Yang Xiyan. Her eyes were red as she turned her face away.

Wang Yining sneered initially, then said, “Look at how useless you seem now. Is it really necessary to humiliate yourself for a man? If he respects and loves you, you wouldn’t need to do this. If he doesn’t love and respect you, then why put yourself through this?”

Yang Xiyan trembled, nearly crying out. She endured the pain, took a deep breath, and suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud.

Wang Yining felt a pang of sympathy for her. “Forget about the kowtow. Just consider it a favor you owe me. If you can let it go, we can keep our distance. If you can’t let it go, how about keeping your promise and staying away?”

Without waiting for Yang Xiyan to respond, she turned and left. Having gained all the benefits, there was no need for her to destroy everyone.

The Emperor raised his hand and clapped. “What a nice girl! She is worthy of being my eldest sister’s daughter; she has the demeanor of a royal princess.”

He had initially agreed to the Eldest Princess’s request, seizing the opportunity to reward Wang Yining, and the Duke immediately expressed his gratitude.

Yang Xiyan watched Wang Yining’s retreating figure and finally couldn’t help but cover her face and cry.

Wang Yining won the game gracefully, while Yang Xiyan suffered a humiliating defeat.

The Emperor and his cabinet ministers left first. The Duke remained in the pavilion, asking Wang Shuhuai beside him, “Your wife is left-handed; didn’t you know?”

Wang Shuhuai kept his gaze fixed on Xie Yunchu and shook his head slightly.

The Duke smiled meaningfully. “What a competent husband.” He strolled away leisurely, pride radiating from him, as the Wang family had produced talented individuals for generations.

After a while, Xie Yunchu, Wang Yining, and others supported each other back to the villa, everyone nursing various injuries.

“Everyone come to my yard later, and I will personally apply medicine to both of you,” Wang Yining instructed her niece and niece-in-law.

Wang Shuqin smiled and said, “I just scraped a piece of skin on my back; it’s not serious, but the Second Sister-in-law needs to take good care of her injury. Yang Xiyan’s blow was not light, so make sure you don’t hurt any bones.”

Wang Yining’s eyes fell on Xie Yunchu’s shoulder. Xie Yunchu tried to move her right shoulder and confirmed that there was nothing wrong with it. “The bone should be fine; at most, there is some bruising.”

Wang Yining was in a very good mood. She took the two of them by the hand and asked, “You two helped me a lot today. If you want anything, just ask.”

Wang Shuqin replied, “I want the Four Scenes painting by Ancestor Wang in your study.”

Wang Yining gritted her teeth and said, “Okay.”

Xie Yunchu blinked and thought for a moment, “Then I’ll take the painting ‘Kuaixue Shiqing Tie’ by Ancestor Wang.”

Wang Yining was about to cry, “Okay.”

Everyone returned to the villa happily. Xie Yunchu was sticky all over, so she went back to the East Guest Courtyard to take a bath. She crossed the entrance of the hall and saw a tall figure standing in the courtyard. He was still wearing his official uniform, his features were clear, and his gaze was calm and deep as he looked at her, with some different meanings.

Xie Yunchu certainly knew what Wang Shuhuai was wondering about. She had lived a law-abiding life in her previous life. After marrying him, she kept a low profile and devoted herself to taking care of her husband and children. She took that as her guiding principle for what kind of wife Wang Shuhuai wanted. So, Wang Shuhuai had no idea that she could ride a horse or play polo, that she was left-handed, and that she had used her left hand to carve an exquisitely crafted ball for him.

Wang Shuhuai obviously had something to say. Xie Yunchu walked down the stairs to greet him. However, as she was probably too tired, she accidentally stepped on empty air and fell forward.

The maids were unable to reach out and could only scream in surprise.

Wang Shuhuai rushed over, put his big hand around her slender waist, and subconsciously pulled her forward. Xie Yunchu bumped steadily into his chest, and their skin touched through the thin clothes. Moreover, they had just been intimate the night before, so their bodies were still somewhat sensitive, as if an electric current was running through them.

The maids immediately lowered their heads and moved away.