Chapter 17
The afternoon sun was hot, and the horse farm in Shanglinyuan was covered with flags. The imperial tent in the north and the guardhouses on the left and right were all crowded. The Wang family guardhouse was the first one on the right. Because this competition was related to Wang Shuhuai's future and even life and death, Xiao Youran, Shen Yi, Jiang Fan and other close friends gathered around Xie Yunchu to support her.
Seeing her cousin twisting her handkerchief, Xiao Youran comforted her, "Don't worry, when has your husband ever failed? He will definitely get through it safely."
Chen Yi understood Xie Yunchu's concerns. She fanned herself and continued, "Your son is a civil official. If he does get into trouble, it's just a bruise. But it's different for a military officer. Whenever my man goes to war, I worry about him day and night. I don't ask for fame or fortune, but I hope he can stay alive and not come back with a disability."
Wang Shuhuai is fighting against a fierce general from Western Chu today. Even if he doesn't lose, he may be seriously injured.
Jiang Fan glanced at Xie Yunchu's frowning brows and pushed Chen Yi, "Just stop talking. Didn't you see that Chu'er couldn't relax his brows? How can Prince Wang be compared with your General Li? His Majesty and the Princess are here, and they will never let Prince Wang get into trouble."
Soon, drums were beating loudly on the field. Meng Luchuan, the grandson of King Jing'an of Western Chu, came on stage first. He was very tall, wearing a brown shorts, with narrow eyes, thick eyebrows, and an untidy beard. He looked intimidating. On the other side, the Duke called Wang Shuhuai to his side and told him something. Wang Shuhuai listened for a moment, then strode towards the lecture hall.
Xie Yunchu hadn't seen this husband for several days. Today he changed into a dark suit, black and white deerskin combat boots, and had a tall and slender figure with spotless temples.
In terms of appearance and talent, Wang Shuhuai can be described as a peerless gentleman.
As soon as he appeared, there were exclamations from all around.
Chen Yi said, "Look, just looking at this face, our Chu Er is also very lucky."
Xiao Youran also joined in the fun, "That's right. On the day Chu'er got married, many girls in Beijing had their dreams shattered, and they threw fruit peels at her sedan chair."
"Is this true?" Shen Yi was surprised.
Xiao Youran looked at her and said, "Go back and ask your cousin and you'll know."
Shen Yi remembered that his cousin had been in love with Wang Shuhuai for a long time, and shook his head, "This seems like something that girl would do."
Xie Yunchu was indifferent. If those girls knew that she and Wang Shuhuai only saw each other a few times a month and that she could not get the love and care from her husband, she wondered if they would envy her.
Seeing that the two were talking more and more outrageous, Jiang Fan asked anxiously, "Are you two really here to entertain Chu Er?"
"What? Are we here to relieve our boredom?" Chen Yi went to catch Jiang Fan, while Xiao Youran also laughed and fell beside Xie Yunchu. Xie Yunchu was interrupted by the three people and his mind gradually relaxed. "Okay, okay, ladies, the competition has begun, let's be serious."
The three of them immediately sat up straight and looked at the field.
Meng Luchuan held the sword in his arms and looked at Wang Shuhuai arrogantly, "Master Wang, although the outcome of the duel is irrelevant, I would like to discuss the prize with you, Master Wang?"
Wang Shuhuai replied calmly, "Grandson, please speak."
Meng Luchuan began to glance around frivolously, and deliberately raised his voice, "When I first came to the capital, I heard that Prince Wang has a beautiful and virtuous wife. If I win, can Prince Wang give her to me as a concubine?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar.
"How dare you! This is Dajin, we cannot tolerate your rampant behavior!"
"You barbarians are simply shameless!"
Everyone started cursing, and the emperor was very displeased. He gave a warning look to Prince Jing'an who was sitting in a wheelchair. Prince Jing'an was secretly happy in his heart, but apologized for his grandson on the surface.
Xiao Youran was a hot-tempered person, and he got up in anger. "You bastard, I'm going to tear his mouth to pieces."
Shen Yi and Jiang Fan both spoke up for Xie Yunchu, but Xie Yunchu looked indifferent and didn't take it too seriously.
These words didn’t anger Wang Shuhuai in his previous life, let alone now.
Wang Shuhuai's expression didn't change at all. "What if you lose?"
Meng Luchuan said arrogantly, "You can do whatever you want."
How could he lose? He has a golden left hand.
After hearing this, Wang Shuhuai remained silent and took a step back.
Meng Luchuan thought he was going to make a move, so he got ready, knowing that a warm laugh was coming from the other side.
"I'll give the grandson a hand."
His mind was buzzing, and he almost vomited blood on the spot, "What did you say? This prince has been on the battlefield for many years, and no one has ever dared to humiliate me like this."
Wang Shuhuai put his left hand behind his back and continued in a leisurely tone, "My grandfather and Prince Jing'an were both great battlefield heroes. They knew each other through fighting. My grandfather admired the prince very much in private, saying that he was magnanimous and generous, and had great ambitions. He always taught us to follow the prince's example. Now that I see you today, I will give you a hand to show my respect."
Who could have imagined that Wang Shuhuai, who was always gentle and polite, would say sarcastic words in such a bland tone.
There was laughter from the audience.
If Prince Jing'an really had the magnanimity to do so, he would not have forced the Wang family to accept the challenge.
Meng Luchuan was furious. How could Wang Shuhuai, a weak scholar, force him to give him a hand? How could he fight this battle? He glanced at his grandfather in the imperial tent. Prince Jing'an pursed his lips and said nothing. He glanced at the Duke who stood still. He was not sure what this grandfather and grandson were planning.
Meng Luchuan, who hadn't seen his grandfather give him instructions for a long time, put his right hand behind his back in anger and said, "Okay, you give me your left hand and I'll give me my right hand."
Wang Shuhuai smiled again, "No, this is unfair."
Meng Luchuan lost his temper because of Wang Shuhuai. He stuck his long sword into the ground and put his hands on his waist. "What do you want? Why are you people from Dajin so slow?"
Wang Shuhuai smiled and said, "Let's flip a coin. If you win, you decide whether it's the leg or the hand. If I win, I decide."
Prince Jing'an narrowed his eyes in the distance and had a bad feeling in his heart.
Seeing that his grandfather looked unhappy, Meng Luchuan also hesitated, "If you want to hit me, then hit me. If you don't want to hit me, then don't hit me. Why are you going through all this trouble?"
Wang Shuhuai spread his hands and said, "Okay, then we won't fight."
Meng Luchuan choked to death.
"Okay, let's throw it."
The palace maid immediately came forward with a copper plate.
Wang Shuhuai bet that the front side would be on top, and Meng Luchuan bet that the back side would be on top.
The palace maid threw the coin over her head, and it landed with the front side facing up. Wang Shuhuai won.
Wang Shuhuai switched to his left hand and looked at Meng Luchuan meaningfully, "For the sake of fairness, let's all use our left hands. Whoever uses his left hand will lose."
Meng Luchuan's heart skipped a beat and he stared at Wang Shuhuai without moving.
"I don't believe it. I'll throw it myself."
He picked up the coin with his sword and threw it again. It was still facing up. This time his face turned dark and he was speechless.
Wang Shuhuai smiled but said nothing.
Meng Luchuan let out a breath of foul air in a depressed tone. The left hand is the left hand. This pale-faced scholar is good-looking but useless. Let alone giving up his left hand, he could still beat him even if he gave up his leg.
The competition began. Meng Luchuan held a long knife in his right hand and slashed at Wang Shuhuai with lightning speed. Wang Shuhuai put his hands behind his back and quickly retreated to avoid the momentum of his first knife. He drew the soft sword at his waist and stabbed him under the neck. His sword was fast and fierce, catching the opponent off guard. Meng Luchuan hurriedly returned to defend himself, and then looked Wang Shuhuai in the eye.
"Not bad." He became a little interested.
Wang Shuhuai's soft sword was thin and tough, like a spirit snake spitting out its tongue, and it quickly appeared in front of Meng Luchuan, and the two sides were entangled in an instant.
Xie Yunchu was so frightened watching from the sidelines that he broke out in a sweat without realizing it.
After about fifty moves, Wang Shuhuai suddenly took a few steps back from the entangled light and shadow, and the scabbard fell to the ground. Seeing this, Meng Luchuan's eyes lit up, and he slashed at Wang Shuhuai again with unstoppable force. Seeing that Wang Shuhuai could not dodge in time, everyone held their breath. At the critical moment, Wang Shuhuai suddenly stood up from the ground and stretched out his hand to attack Meng Luchuan's left armpit. Meng Luchuan's pupils shrank sharply, and he subconsciously raised his left hand and blasted forward.
Wang Shuhuai had predicted his moves long ago, and slid back with ease, laughing slowly, "You lose."
Meng Luchuan was stunned on the spot.
Long before the people of Western Chu entered the capital, the Duke had secretly discussed countermeasures with Wang Shuhuai. The Duke had fought for many years and had planted many pawns in Western Chu. He gave all the intelligence he had collected to Wang Shuhuai so that he could know himself and the enemy. Meng Luchuan was indeed strong. His left hand was so powerful that it was known as the golden left hand. Once Meng Luchuan used his left hand, Wang Shuhuai would have little chance of winning and might even be seriously injured.
Wang Shuhuai would not be stupid enough to die. He must win, and win legitimately.
So he plotted against Meng Luchuan.
Meng Luchuan calmed down afterwards and realized that he had been tricked. He became a little wary of Wang Shuhuai, but he refused to accept it.
"Let's play another game."
Wang Shuhuai smiled, "I will accompany you to practice swordplay when I have time, but I hope you will fulfill your promise today."
Meng Luchuan was a battlefield man, and it was impossible for him to go back on his word. He was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and asked, "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Wang Shuhuai's tone was extremely ruthless, "I want your tongue."
Meng Luchuan suddenly opened his eyes wide. Above him, Prince Jing'an's eyes were cracked. He was about to leave with the help of his wheelchair. The Duke's cold sarcasm came from the side, "Why, you are willing to gamble and refuse to admit defeat? He insulted my granddaughter-in-law with wild words and even intended to kill Huai'er. We only need his tongue to give the envoy face."
If the treasury of the Great Jin Dynasty had not been empty and it had not needed this batch of good horses from Western Chu, Wang Shuhuai would have wanted Meng Luchuan's life.
Prince Jing'an's forehead was covered with sweat, and his once majestic body slumped dejectedly in a wheelchair.
At this time, another grandson of King Jing'an rushed forward with great momentum.
"My brother lost, and there is still me, Wang Shuhuai. If you compete with me and I win, you will exempt my brother from punishment."
Wang Shuhuai turned around and looked at the strong-willed young man, who was about seventeen or eighteen years old, strong and tall. He raised his hand calmly, "Okay."
The young man swung his two hammers towards Wang Shuhuai without hesitation. This time Wang Shuhuai did not let him go. He drew out his soft sword, swung it into a silver light at his wrist, and slashed it sharply.
After thirty moves, Wang Shuhuai controlled the hammer's chain with one hand, pinched the boy's right shoulder bone with the other, and pressed him to the ground with one knee. He raised his handsome eyes and spoke in a calm and sonorous tone.
"Your Highness Prince Jing'an, the Great Jin and Western Chu are in a trade negotiation, and one hundred thousand horses are in exchange for one hundred thousand dan of raw silk and tea. Now, I will add another hundred thousand horses in exchange for one of your grandson's hands. What do you think?"
All the civil and military officers in the audience were excited at this moment. He was worthy of being the youngest number one scholar in the Jin Dynasty. No one could match his strategy.
The ambition of Prince Jing'an was crushed by Wang Shuhuai's cold gaze. His eldest grandson had lost his tongue and he himself was paralyzed in a wheelchair. He couldn't let his little grandson lose his arm. Prince Jing'an sighed with a frosted face.
"I promise."
The whole audience was excited.
The Duke breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Yunchu was a little dazed as she looked at her husband who was full of vigor and vitality on the field. In her previous life, Wang Shuhuai had not experienced this, but he was still able to become a general and a prime minister, and he held the highest position in the country. In this life, with this record that is worthy of being recorded in history, his path will only be smoother.
The younger brother avoided disaster and indirectly made Wang Shuhuai successful. Everything is better than in the previous life.
The emperor rewarded Wang Shuhuai generously, giving him all kinds of gold, silver, and money.
The sky was setting in the west, and the female relatives who had watched the excitement left the palace one after another.
The Duke glanced in the direction of the brocade shed, and seeing Xie Yunchu also looking over here, he told Wang Shuhuai beside him, "Your wife has been wronged today, go over and comfort her quickly."
Wang Shuhuai felt that his grandfather was making a fuss, so he didn't even turn his head and said calmly, "Xie is a reasonable person and won't take it to heart."
The Duke rolled his eyes at his grandson and said, "You think everyone is you. You can keep your composure, but she is a woman, so who knows how she will cry."
Wang Shuhuai thought back to Xie Yunchu, "She is not that kind of person."
The Duke understood his grandson's temperament. He was very much like him when he was young. He pointed at him gently and said, "You will fall one day."
Wang Shuhuai turned a deaf ear to him. Just then a court official came over to say hello, and the grandfather and grandson followed the emperor towards the Fengtian Hall.
Xie Yunchu turned her head to look at Wang Shuhuai. In the blink of an eye, her husband had followed the Duke far away. The setting sun cast a layer of light around him, which seemed illusory and unreal, just like before his death in his previous life.
He was never used to looking back at her as his wife.
Xie Yunchu followed Xiao Youran and the others out of the palace. Seeing that it was still early, Xiao Youran suggested that they take a rest in the teahouse opposite the government office.
"The crystal pork chops here are pretty good. Let's just have dinner here before going back."
Shen Yi agreed with both hands, and Jiang Fan had no objection. They glanced at the busy Xie Yunchu at the same time.
Xie Yunchu spread his hands, "The household chores have been handed over to my third sister-in-law, and my mother-in-law has been taken care of by my fourth sister-in-law. The child has a wet nurse and Nanny Lin. I'm free, so I'll host you tonight and have a drink with you."
The three handkerchief friends were immediately delighted.
"You should have done this a long time ago. It's tiring to serve a whole family by yourself, but no one will appreciate your kindness."
"That's right," when the topic of household affairs came up, several young ladies started talking at once and venting their daily dissatisfaction.
The dishes came one after another, and Xiao Youran generously filled everyone's glasses with wine.
"My mother nags me all the time, saying that my mother-in-law is of noble status and is a princess in the court. I can't neglect her. I have been serving her every day for more than two years. On the one hand, she despises my husband for not making progress and blames me for not educating my husband, making me a bad person, while she tries to please her son, making me look like a nobody."
Jiang Fan laughed, "You are always so impetuous and you look capable, but in fact you do everything and you suffer all the losses."
Chen Yi also had a lot of grievances. "After all, your husband is the only son of your parents-in-law, and they just nag you a few times. But it's different in my family. My parents-in-law only care about the older ones and don't care about the younger ones at all. My black-faced husband has to earn all the titles and honors by himself, and he even has to pay for them with his life." Chen Yi felt sorry for her husband and her eyes turned red as she spoke.
Jiang Fan's parents-in-law are considerate and the couple loves each other. There is nothing much to say, except, "How can you know my suffering? My husband's family is fine, but my parents' family always asks me for money and forces me to raise that useless brother."
Everyone looked at each other, and every family has its own problems. In the end, everyone looked at Xie Yunchu.
"Chu'er is the best married among us. Chu'er, how does it feel to marry a man as bright as jade?"
Xie Yunchu had already drunk two glasses of wine, and now his face was hazy. He stared at them blankly, trying to recall Wang Shuhuai.
If I had to describe him, he was like a sundial that had stood for years, doing what he was supposed to do every day, without any emotions, at least he had never given her any emotions, and she didn't know what he was thinking deep in his heart. As a couple in two lifetimes, they could only talk to each other in private a few times.
Take today for example, she was made a laughing stock, but he didn't care about her feelings.
"It has no taste," she said truthfully.
There were sounds of conversation coming from the stairs outside the corridor. A group of men in fancy clothes came over. The leader was still in his official uniform and it was obvious that he was forced to come here to drink.
"Yunzhi, Yunzhi, you have done a great job. I have to host you tonight no matter what."
"It's more than just a meritorious service. Starting tomorrow, your name, Wang Yunzhi, will spread all over the world. You have dampened the morale of King Jing'an and caused Western Chu to lose both his wife and his soldiers. This battle can defeat thousands of troops. The soldiers at the border will all remember your kindness."
The man with beautiful eyebrows and eyes stood tall and graceful, "This is my duty, brothers, please don't flatter me anymore."
"Today is Shu Huai's birthday, so I'll be the host."
A group of people walked up the stairs with resounding footsteps, and noise and laughter ensued.
In the private room, the three young ladies burst into laughter when they heard Xie Yunchu calling Wang Shuhuai a sundial. "You are destined to be a lady of a cabinet for the rest of your life."
Xie Yunchu smiled but said nothing. She had been the wife of a grand master in her previous life. She was busy with entertaining guests but it was not very interesting. What she felt more regretful before her death was that she had never drank with her good friends, never had a satisfying romantic time, and never had anyone tuck her quilt gently by her pillow.
"What's the point of life or death? I would rather exchange the old lady for a loving husband."
Chen Yi pointed at her drunken face and smiled, "Why, your Shu Huai doesn't love you enough?"
Xie Yunchu shook his head.
Everyone laughed, "Shu Huai is very career-oriented, I'm afraid he doesn't know how to love others. Not only does he not know how to love others, but he also expects you to be a good wife."
She doesn't want to be a good wife.
A blush gradually crept up Xie Yunchu's delicate eyebrows and eyes. Xie Yunchu suddenly smiled, holding the wine cup in a coquettish manner.
"It doesn't matter. I'll just get divorced."
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