Chapter 76
On the third day after the wedding, Wang Shuyi returned home.
Since the Third Wife had to hand over accounts to the Fourth Wife, the return banquet was hosted by the Second Wife herself.
Xie Yunchu entered Ninghe Hall at a perfect time. Dou Keling was in charge of the banquet. She and Xu Shiwei sat next to Jiang. With Wang Shuyi's personality, she should have returned earlier. However, the banquet was ready, Xie Yunchu was so tired that she could not see Wang Shuyi.
Jiang was worried and sent someone to the front yard to ask. As soon as the person stepped out of the door, he heard the surprised voice of the gatekeeper outside, "The young lady is back."
After a while, Wang Shuyi, wearing a bright red jacket with a mandarin duck pattern, could not wait to walk around the threshold and throw himself into Jiang's arms.
"Mom, I miss you." She said in a crying voice.
Jiang thought she was wronged and quickly pulled her out of his arms, "What happened? Did your husband treat you badly, or did your mother-in-law make things difficult for you?"
Wang Shuyi changed her hair into a woman's bun, her face was covered with tears, and she choked up and said, "No, I just can't adapt to Xunyang Marquis's Mansion, and I miss my mother in my heart."
Jiang heaved a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes at her daughter. "It's always like this when you first get married. Life will go smoothly as time goes by. Let me ask you, how does your husband treat you?"
Wang Shuyi blushed and nodded.
Jiang was satisfied, and gently pulled her daughter into her arms, asking in a low voice, "Did you have sex smoothly?"
Wang Shuyi glanced at the two sisters-in-law sitting below and blushed, "Why are you asking these questions, mother?"
Jiang was furious when she saw her yelling, "Isn't it because I'm worried about you? It's also about the relationship between husband and wife..." Jiang couldn't say anything out of line to her two daughters-in-law, so she straightened her face and said, "Forget it, go with you."
Then he asked, "Has your mother-in-law set any rules for you?"
Wang Shuyi's face fell this time. "There is no rule. On the day of the wedding, the Queen Mother issued an edict to make my husband the Crown Prince. My mother-in-law said that I am the Crown Prince's wife of Xunyang Marquis's Mansion, and I am the master of this family."
Jiang smiled and said, "You are quite an open-minded mother-in-law."
"That's not the case, mother..." Wang Shuyi was about to cry, "The next day, when I served tea, my mother-in-law handed over the management of the household to me in front of everyone, saying that I didn't have to come to visit her every morning and evening. She had finally become a mother-in-law after many years of being a daughter-in-law, and it was time for her to enjoy a peaceful life. From now on, the affairs of the Xunyang Marquis's mansion should be managed by her daughter."
Jiang's expression gradually changed from confusion to shock, and then to anger.
"How old are you? It's only been a few days since you got married, and she's already quitting her job and leaving everything to you?"
As soon as Jiang finished speaking, Xu Shiwei and Xie Yunchu exchanged glances secretly.
Xie Yunchu drank the tea slowly, thinking back to the day when she offered tea. Aren’t the words spoken by Jiang and the wife of Marquis Xunyang exactly the same?
Why can't you bear to let go of your own daughter?
Wang Shuyi really cried this time, "That's right, I haven't adapted to the life in the mansion yet, I don't know the housekeepers, who is willing to listen to my orders, take today for example, my daughter could have returned home early, but was dragged down by housework until now, and can't stay for long after dinner, I have to go back to check the accounts."
Jiang's eyes flashed with anger, "No, you stay at your parents' house tonight, let's see what the Marquis' wife has to say."
Wang Shuyi shook her head and said dejectedly, "Mom, forget it. After all, it's my daughter who has to live her life. You can support her for a while, but not for her whole life."
Wang Shuyi was like a child who had grown up overnight, becoming obedient and dignified.
Jiang looked at her innocent daughter saying such words, and couldn't help but feel sad, "Good child..."
As she was wiping her tears, she caught a glimpse of Xu Shiwei and Xie Yunchu whispering to each other. Xie Yunchu didn't say anything, but Xu Shiwei was chattering away. Jiang's face immediately fell, "What are you two talking about?"
Xu Shiwei was now bolder. The Duke had taken away Jiang's order, and now Xie Yunchu was half the head of the family. Xu Shiwei thought she had found a new backer and could ignore Jiang, so she smiled and said,
"My wife feels that my sister-in-law is too hypocritical. It is natural for my mother-in-law to set the rules for me when I get married. Why should I cry? Not only should I not cry, but I should be more generous and calm to show the style of a daughter of the Wang family. Moreover, as soon as Yi'er got married, her mother-in-law gave her the power of housekeeper, which is a blessing she could not ask for. If it were someone else's family, the mother-in-law would be fierce and difficult, and my wife would not only be humble but also unable to get out of trouble."
"In my opinion, the wife of Marquis Xunyang is as open-minded as you, mother-in-law."
Jiang's face turned black with anger.
But she couldn't find a word to refute Xu Shiwei.
Isn’t that what she did to Xie Yunchu?
She secretly glanced at Xie Yunchu's face. Xie Yunchu's face was light and he drank tea calmly, not taking her seriously.
Jiang's face was irritable for a moment, and she immediately changed her tone in front of her daughter-in-law.
"Ahem... your sister-in-law is right. It's better to be the head of the family early than late. Since your mother-in-law treats you as her own, you should be filial to her in the future."
Wang Shuyi glanced at her sisters-in-law, then at her mother, and suddenly understood something.
Soon, the new son-in-law Yang Kuan came over to serve tea to Jiang. He looked a little shy and honest. Wang Shuyi saw her husband's silly smile and secretly gave him a look.
"You should be more upright and steady..."
She muttered to herself and occasionally smoothed out the wrinkles on her husband's clothes.
Xie Yunchu and the others found it quite interesting. Jiang saw this and her eyes became wet.
After all, her daughter grew up and learned how to take care of others.
Yang Kuan let his wife scold him and always had a smile on his face.
The Wang family has a very good impression of the new son-in-law, and it looks like Wang Shuyi will not suffer any loss.
Wang Shuhuai had no time to go back home. The other members of the Wang family were all there, and they saw their son-in-law off in a lively manner. When leaving, Wang Shuyi was in tears and was reluctant to take a step forward.
In the end, Dou Keling and Xu Shiwei sent her out from the left and right.
Just as Xie Yunchu turned around, Jiang suddenly called her.
"Brother Huai's daughter-in-law, come in, I have something to tell you."
Xie Yunchu was stunned for a moment, then followed her into the east side room of Ninghe Hall. Seeing Jiang walking towards the back room, Xie Yunchu paused.
"Mother-in-law?"
In the past, Jiang was wary of her and never allowed her to take a glance at the small storeroom. What was she doing in there today for no reason? Xie Yunchu stood there motionless.
Jiang turned her head and looked at her. Xie Yunchu's eyebrows were clear, with no sadness or joy, as if he was a pool of deep water that could not be stirred up at all. "Come here, I have something for you."
Xie Yunchu said calmly, "The daughter-in-law is waiting for the mother-in-law here."
Jiang had no choice but to go in. After a while, she took out the coral bracelet that Xie Yunchu had returned and handed it to her.
"Since I gave this thing to Sister Ke, there is no reason for me to take it back. Take it back."
Xie Yunchu didn't take it, but lowered his head and knelt down, "I appreciate your kindness, mother-in-law, but Sister Ke can't have this thing."
"Why can't she have it? She is my granddaughter..."
Xie Yunchu looked up at her with a cold look in his eyes, "That day, grandma gave a coral bracelet to Sister Ke, but used two gold nuggets to get rid of Brother Xuan. What do you think Third Sister-in-law will think? It's not the lack of wealth that is worrying, but the inequality. Favoring some over others is not a sign of a prosperous family. Grandma is an open-minded person and should understand this."
Every word choked Jiang to death.
She was not used to showing kindness, but she had thought it through these days. Thinking about how good Xie Yunchu had been to her in the past, she didn't care about what happened later and just wanted to live a happy life with her family when she got older. But she didn't expect Xie Yunchu not to give her a chance.
Jiang frowned and said nothing. Xie Yunchu bowed and left.
Jiang looked at her back and felt bored. She threw the string onto the kang bed under the window and called the maid to go to the inner room to rest.
Xie Yunchu came out of Ninghe Hall and walked towards the Glazed Hall on the axis of the palace. Immediately, a maid came up to greet her and treated her even more attentively than before. In the eyes of the servants, Xie Yunchu was a bodhisattva when she was not in charge of the household. Once she became the housekeeper, she would be in control of their weak spots and no one dared to neglect her.
The third wife was still sorting out the accounts. She smiled when she saw her come in. "I heard from Shuqin that you guys have an appointment to play polo tomorrow, so I'll give you two more days off. Come back the day after tomorrow to report."
Xie Yunchu took his leave and went to rest.
Wang Shuhuai came back very late that night and left early the next morning. Xie Yunchu hardly noticed it, but it was not that she didn't notice it at all. Since Wang Shuhuai insisted on persuading her, then let him do it. If he wanted to force her to take care of him like she did in the past, that was absolutely impossible.
She needs someone to take care of her.
Early in the morning, a little arm pulled her and shook her, "My lady, play polo... polo..."
Xie Yunchu was startled awake, and saw her little daughter with big watery eyes, lying in front of the bed, pulling her.
"How did you know we were going to play polo today?"
Although the child is ignorant, she can remember what adults say occasionally.
Sister Ke looked at her mother in confusion.
She was still young and didn't know how to explain it.
Xie Yunchu smiled and kissed her hard, "Mother didn't plan to take you there, but since you asked and are so excited, I'll take you there."
After dressing and having a meal, she went to see Brother Yu.
During the confinement period, Brother Wei had gained three pounds. He felt heavy in her arms, but Nanny Lin did not allow her to hold him.
"Although you are out of confinement, you still need to take care of your body. The imperial physician has instructed that you should not have any violent sexual intercourse within three months."
They cannot have sex, ride horses or play ball.
The last time I was with Wang Shuhuai, I had already indulged myself in lust.
Xie Yunchu laughed, "I didn't plan to play basketball, I just wanted to watch the fun and relax."
After a while, Wang Shuqin came over, and the aunt and sister-in-law got in the car and rushed to Fangjiayuan.
At the beginning of the Si hour, the polo field in Fangjiayuan was already bustling with activity.
You have to pay silver before entering. It is the rule set by Princess Fuyuan that one tael of silver per person can allow you to play for a whole day.
For the rich and powerful, one tael of silver a day is nothing, but for ordinary people, it is a month's food and clothing. It is indeed not something that ordinary people can afford.
Wang Shuqin was still a girl after all, and lived on the allowance from the mansion. The third wife had completely offended the eldest princess, and it was almost impossible for the third room to get any subsidy from the eldest princess in the future. Xie Yunchu took the initiative to give her the silver.
Wang Shuqin was like the third wife in character, and insisted on taking out a tael of silver and putting it in Chunqi's pocket.
"Sister-in-law, we are going to be together for a long time. Do you have to pay for me every time? I know you are worried that I am short of money. I tell you, I am fine," she pointed to the crowded polo field.
"Thanks to your advice to Princess Fuyuan and I last time, I also bought a share in this polo field. Although it is a loss in the early stage, I will be able to make the money back slowly."
Xie Yunchu was sincerely happy for her, "Yes, if you have your own business, you won't have to rely on anyone in the future, and naturally no one will hold you back."
Wang Shuqin happily took Xie Yunchu to the horse farm.
There were some small pavilions built around the horse farm, and there was a few children in one of them. Sister Ke pulled Xie Yunchu to go there, but Xie Yunchu pried the little girl's hands apart and threw her to Dong Ning and the wet nurse like a hot potato.
The horse farm is huge, surrounded by horse pens. A wide hall was built on the north side for people to watch polo matches. There are stables on both sides. Princess Fuyuan asked the prince to buy a group of strong horses from Shanglinyuan and raise them here.
When Xie Yun first arrived, Princess Fuyuan immediately jumped off her horse and came to greet him excitedly.
"Chu'er, you are finally here. Come on, buy some wine. I want to toast Madam Wang."
Princess Fuyuan called out generously.
The maid from the horse farm came over with wine, and Princess Fuyuan picked up the wine cup and drank it all.
"I'll drink first as a sign of respect. You just came out of confinement and you shouldn't drink anything spicy. Forget it."
Xie Yunchu didn't bother to be polite with her, "Why are you toasting me for no reason?"
Princess Fuyuan smiled and pointed at the magnificent Fang Garden. "Look, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Yunchu, I suddenly feel that girls can also build their own careers. That day I went to the palace to ask for your Majesty's permission, and asked your Majesty to give me this garden. From now on, I will organize polo matches in the capital, and everyone, no matter the common people or the rich, can participate. The winning team will be rewarded."
Xie Yunchu looked at the high-spirited Princess Fuyuan and felt sincerely happy for her. This is how a girl should be.
"Oh, by the way, you can build some more brocade pavilions to allow common people to participate and watch. It can also be a source of income if you charge a few silver coins."
Princess Fuyuan's face brightened up, "Chu'er, your idea is really good. I hadn't thought of this before. Money can be earned this way?"
The group went up to the open hall, talking and laughing, and Xie Yunchu saw Wang Yining waving at her.
Wang Shuqin went to the back garden to change clothes. Princess Fuyuan handed Xie Yunchu to Wang Yining and continued to lead the others on stage.
Xie Yunchu sat next to Wang Yining and asked with a smile, "Why don't you go up, little aunt?"
Wang Yining pointed towards the court. At this moment, in the middle of the court, a group of girls in bright clothes were competing with several young masters. One of them was waving a moon pole and attacking very fiercely, as if he did not care about his relatives.
"Look, Yang Xiyan is here. Gao Zhan is leading this polo match today. If I play, that bastard might follow me. Wouldn't that embarrass Yang Xiyan? Although I don't have much friendship with her, I don't need to make things difficult for her. I'll just watch from here. What about you? Are you going to play?"
Xie Yunchu pointed at his belly and said, "The imperial physician forbad me to exert myself, and told me to rest well for three months."
Wang Yining sighed and said, "I should take good care of myself. I am old now and my body is not as strong as before."
Xie Yunchu rolled his eyes at her, noticing that she was a little different from usual, "Auntie, there's a silk flower pinned to your hair."
Wang Yining blushed, "Ahem, even though we're divorced, I don't plan to be a widow. Why bother with those vegetarian things? What's more important is to be happy."
Xie Yunchu guessed that Wang Yining was probably being tortured to the point of being helpless by Gao Zhan.
Speak of Cao Cao and he will appear.
Gao Zhan was walking towards this side with a majestic figure. The young man had handsome features and a strong body, and even his walk was like the wind.
Wang Yining glanced at his broad chest, then moved away uncomfortably and said to Xie Yunchu,
"I heard about what happened the day before yesterday. My mother's temper, ah..." Wang Yining didn't know what to say, and Xie Yunchu didn't respond.
As he spoke, the tall man was already in sight.
Gao Zhan was wearing a sky blue tights shirt today, with a slightly slender hem. The shirt was well-tailored, perfectly outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The material was very tight to the shirt, and one could clearly see his bulging abdominal muscles neatly stacked under his chest.
Yao Taihe was a civil official and Gao Zhan was a military officer.
This comparison clearly reveals the difference.
When Xie Yunchu saw Gao Zhan coming over, he was about to get up, but was pulled back by Wang Yining. "Where are you going?" She blushed and glared at Xie Yunchu.
After all, Wang Yining was the elder, so Xie Yunchu gave her face and stayed.
Gao Zhan didn't care at all. He took a brocade stool and sat next to Wang Yining.
He had just fought a round and was slightly sweaty. He did not dare to approach Wang Yining. He placed his hands on his knees and looked at the girl he loved.
"Why don't you go on stage? I've already picked out the horse for you."
Wang Yining held Xie Yunchu's arm with one hand, sat upright and looked straight ahead, "I'm not in the mood."
Gao Zhan laughed, "If you keep being depressed like this, you'll get sick."
Wang Yining said angrily, "Can't you give Yang Xiyan some face? If you don't like her so much, why did you marry her in the first place?"
Gao Zhan restrained his smile.
"I married her for her own good. The Gao family and the Yang family are old friends, and she is also my sister who grew up under my watch. If I don't marry her, how can she still live a decent life? I know she was blackmailing me on purpose, but I still married her for the sake of the two elders and saved her face."
"I made it clear to her on the wedding night that she could leave at any time."
"No matter what happens to a divorced woman, her reputation will always remain clean."
Wang Yining is a woman, and she sympathizes with Yang Xiyan to some extent. "Then you can't ignore her feelings."
Gao Zhan retorted, "Since I have no feelings for her, I shouldn't give her hope. Am I still keeping in touch with her?"
Wang Yining thought what he said made sense.
"Okay, okay, stop standing here and go play your ball." Wang Yining said impatiently.
Gao Zhan laughed and asked her gently,
"Then can you give me some bonus?"
Wang Yining didn't want to get entangled with him, so she grabbed a sachet and threw it at him.
Gao Zhan took it in his palm, held it in his arms like a treasure, and went on stage with great vigor.
I don't know if he was trying to show off, but he blew a whistle, and the big black horse called the divine horse leaped over like lightning. Gao Zhan took a deep breath and jumped onto the horse's back with a smooth and elegant posture, like a nimble eagle galloping into the distance.
Even Xie Yunchu couldn't help but praise it after seeing it.
"Prince Gao's abilities are truly amazing. Auntie, are you really not tempted?"
Wang Yining said calmly, "That piece of shank is really tempting."
Xie Yunchu pursed his lips and smiled, following Wang Yining's words, his eyes fell on Gao Zhan.
"Aunt is so lucky."
Before he could finish his words, a cold and gloomy voice sounded behind his ear.
"Where are you looking?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
