Chapter 89
Xie Yunxiu was stunned when she saw Wang Shuhuai's resolute back.
Didn't my brother-in-law recognize her? How is that possible?
My brother-in-law is knowledgeable and has an amazing memory. It is impossible that he does not remember what she looks like. On the day when my sister got engaged, my brother-in-law came to propose marriage. She saw him with her own eyes. She spoke to him three times that day alone. How could he not recognize her?
The woman next to her saw Wang Shuhuai walking away. Xie Yunxiu was still in a daze and could not recover. She gently pulled her arm and said, "Miss, are you still acting?"
Xie Yunxiu came to her senses and looked at the old woman aggrievedly, tears almost falling. She stuffed a silver ingot into her hand and sent her away. Then she gritted her teeth and looked at the river. Wang Shuhuai's ship had already set sail and in a moment it had traveled half a mile away.
She had been entrenched in Jiangzhou for several years, and finally found out the whereabouts of Wang Shuhuai from the son of the prefect. She made a desperate attempt to stop him, but her brother-in-law didn't recognize her. Xie Yunxiu was so upset. If she met him when she returned to Beijing, would he think she had fallen into prostitution?
What should I do?
Xie Yunxiu stamped her feet in anger.
But she has always been patient and strong, and it is impossible for her to give up the idea easily. After not seeing each other for many years, just that one glance made Xie Yunxiu infatuated, and the light in her eyes became even brighter.
If she stayed in Jiangzhou, her aunt and uncle would marry her off because of her old age, but she could no longer bear it. The Duke's Mansion and the eldest princess parted ways. He had become the real ruler of the entire Wang family. He was famous all over the world and attracted attention from both the government and the public. It was the most glorious time for a man. If he didn't return to Beijing now, when would he return?
The heat in the capital city at the end of June had not yet subsided. The bamboo curtains of the glazed hall were rolled up high, and four ladies were sitting in the hall playing cards, with several maids fanning themselves.
In the middle of the year, rents from all over the country were delivered to the door. The Fourth and Third Wives insisted on keeping Xie Yunchu and asked her to check the accounts.
"Chu'er is young and has a good memory. With her in charge, the accounts can be checked in one day. If it were me, I don't know how many days it would take." The fourth wife was busy with housework all morning. She just took a breath and sat down to entertain her sisters-in-law.
Ever since the Duke and the Princess divorced, the wives no longer had a layer of pressure from their elders, and their lives became more comfortable and free than before. Among them, Jiang was the happiest. However, after being tormented by the Princess, her spoiled temper had mostly gone, and she no longer had the competitive spirit. She now understood the hardships of her daughter-in-law, and took the initiative to care for her and help look after her grandson.
She casually threw a leaf card out and sneered, "You just caught our brother Huai's daughter-in-law and ordered her around. She is still busy with the affairs of the academy. Isn't it going to open in a few days? She respects you all the time, but you don't care about her at all."
The fourth wife laughed and said, "It hurts, it hurts, how can it not hurt? It's only a day's work. After this day's work, I will let her go to the academy. Besides, I want Xu brother's daughter-in-law to learn from me. When Xu brother's daughter-in-law gets the hang of it, I won't bother Chu'er anymore."
The third wife was happy to let her daughter-in-law help out. "Min'er is smart, and she should have some experience. Rong'er is also four months old, so she should help with the housework."
Although the eldest wife moved to the next door, she still came to the glass hall every day to report for duty, "Fourth brother's wife, stop envying other people's wives and find one for Brother Ye as soon as possible."
This hit the nail on the head of the Fourth Madam's heart. "I have found a good match for Ye'er. She seems to have a good temper and a decent family background. But there is still a girl named Ya who is still unmarried. She has been hanging out with girl Qin for many years and refuses to get married. I am worried about this. I hope to marry off her sister first and then find a wife for my son."
"That makes sense." The eldest wife had a reason to ask about this. "To be honest with you, Fourth Sister-in-law, someone has asked me to speak for you and wants to marry Yaer. If you don't mind, I will tell you about it. If you like her, I will go and tell them. If not, let's not talk about it anymore."
The fourth wife asked again, "Which family is he from?"
The eldest wife said, "The third son of the Ning Marquis's Mansion just passed the imperial examination not long ago. Although the Ning Marquis's Mansion is a military family, this third son has the style of a Confucian scholar. He studied hard since he was young and passed the imperial examination one day, ranking 17th. Now he is just waiting for the selection of the Ministry of Personnel to be appointed as an official. His family is now looking for a marriage for him. I have seen that boy. His character and personality are not inferior to Yang Kuan of the Shuyi family. My fourth brother's wife will definitely be happy to see him."
"Of course there was a time. Ninghou Mansion is inferior to our Duke's Mansion. It depends on whether Fourth Brother's wife thinks highly of it."
The fourth wife listened to it in her heart. She was not surprised, nor did she feel bad. "Thank you, sister-in-law. I don't know much about the Ning family. I will ask the master to inquire about it and meet him privately. If the master is satisfied, I will reply to the sister-in-law."
The third child in the family...is probably not worthy of the title, so the fourth wife still looks down on him.
The first wife was not surprised. "Okay, a girl's birth is the first hurdle, and getting married is the second. If you choose these two well, your life will be smooth. Shuya has everything, and now she only needs a rich husband."
"But that child is extremely ambitious and he passed the imperial examination in one stroke, which is also very rare."
The fourth wife was somewhat moved by these words.
In this year's imperial examination, Xie Yunchu's younger brother Xie Yunyou ranked last in the Jinshi class, and the fifth young master Wang Shuxu also ranked eighth in the second class. Only her son Wang Shuye failed. The sixth young master Wang Shuye was open-minded and planned to travel for three years and then come back to take the exam again. However, the fourth wife was not happy at all.
"Okay, I'll discuss it with the master."
Whenever she compared her sons, Jiang was always calm and composed. While other people's sons were still struggling in the imperial examinations, her son had already touched the threshold of entering the cabinet. Not long ago, she received the news that the Minister of Revenue fell ill. Logically, Shu Huai should take over. Once he took over, Shu Huai would definitely enter the cabinet.
By then, she would be the mother of the old man, and her daughter-in-law would also be the old man's wife.
After playing a few cards, Nanny Ming came hurriedly from the front corridor and saw Jiang talking incoherently with excitement.
"Madam, please go to the front yard and see who is back."
Jiang Shi still had nothing to understand, so she put down her cards and stood up without saying anything, "Is Shu Huai back? Didn't he say he would be back home in the evening?"
Without even bothering to greet her sisters-in-law, she took the maid's hand and strode forward along the courtyard.
Nanny Ming bowed to the Third Madam and the others, "I apologize to all the ladies."
No one would not envy such an outstanding son.
The Third Madam instructed Madam Ming, "Your Second Madam is still inside checking the accounts, go and call her quickly."
"Hey, hey, I'll go right away."
Nanny Ming hurried to the accounting office in the small third hall at the back to find Xie Yunchu and told her the news.
Xie Yunchu knew that Wang Shuhuai would come back today, so he was not surprised to hear the report. However, he still stood up gracefully, walked to the front, greeted the ladies, and then went to the main hall in the front yard.
When Xie Yunchu arrived, the front hall was full of people, with laughter and chatter.
Walking around the gate, I saw a man sitting below the Duke. He was wearing a third-grade scarlet robe with a peacock patch. He was tall and slender, with a solemn and cold expression. He still had the air of a soldier who had just come off the battlefield, which made people dare not look directly at him. But upon closer inspection, the air of a soldier had disappeared, leaving only a kind of deep and quiet restraint.
"Second sister-in-law is here."
The fourth young master Wang Shutong was the first to see her.
Xie Yunchu also stepped forward and saluted, his eyes fell on Wang Shuhuai again, his gaze was fixed on her.
Their eyes met.
Xie Yunchu smiled at him, and Wang Shuhuai looked at her deeply without saying anything.
The couple's eyes quickly shifted away, and Wang Shuhuai continued to reply to the Duke's words.
After a while, children's laughter came from outside the door. The sixth young master Wang Shuye brought Ke Jie'er and Er Ge'er over and pointed at Wang Shuhuai in the crowd and said,
"Ke'er, look, who is that?"
Sister Ke is almost five years old. She is as tall as Xie Yunchu. She is already a beauty with a pair of big watery eyes. She looked at her father and recognized him quickly. She rushed over.
“Daddy!”
Wang Shuhuai often brought back new toys, and Kejie was no stranger to her father.
Wang Shuhuai took his daughter in his arms, gently rubbed her hair, showing his doting, and then his eyes fell on Er Ge'er.
After not seeing him for half a year, Brother Wei has changed a lot.
He has grown a lot taller, and looks just like a little Wang Shuhuai.
He was less than two years old and had not seen his father for half a year. He had completely forgotten about him and just stared at Wang Shuhuai without saying a word.
Xie Yunchu leaned over, took his son's hand, and walked him to Wang Shuhuai.
"Er, this is daddy..."
Brother Wei called out "Daddy" obediently, without much change in his facial expression.
Jiang looked at Er Ge'er lovingly and smiled until tears came out of her eyes. "He looks exactly like Shu Huai when he was a child."
Wang Shuhuai held his daughter's hand, rubbed his son's head, smiled and said nothing.
Seeing that he couldn't take his eyes off the child, the Duke didn't keep him around any longer.
"Since you have entered the palace to see His Majesty, go back and rest. You don't need to come out at night. I will hold a welcoming banquet for you tomorrow."
Wang Shuhuai quickly said hello.
Leaving the front hall, the family of four walked towards Chunjing Hall.
Wang Shuhuai still held Sister Ke in his arms, and Brother Yu still stuck to Xie Yunchu.
From time to time, Er Ge'er glanced at his sister who was holding his son high in her arms. Wang Shuhuai saw it and squatted down to pick up his son. Only then did Er Ge'er smile.
When they arrived at the courtyard of Chunjingtang, Wang Shuhuai put the two children down. Dong Ning had just made a new kite and was testing it in the yard. The children's attention was quickly attracted and they all ran into the yard.
The couple were the only ones left under the corridor.
The day was hot and the sun was setting.
Wang Shuhuai had just returned from the palace. He was wearing a loose official uniform with a leather belt tied tightly around his waist, which highlighted his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Fine beads of sweat were dripping down his temples, and he looked exhausted.
Xie Yunchu advised,
"Second Master, go wash yourself first."
Wang Shuhuai's gaze moved from the child to her cheek, and his expression became noticeably deeper.
Xie Yunchu was worried that he had misunderstood, "Your clothes are thick and you feel hot. Change them."
Wang Shuhuai didn't say anything and walked past her inside. When the two of them passed each other, his large hand gently brushed her lowered palm and then hooked one of her fingers. Xie Yunchu's face immediately turned red. There were children in the yard and servants waiting everywhere. Xie Yunchu didn't dare to show any traces and was forced to follow him inside.
The wide sleeves cover it, so nothing can be seen at first glance.
The temperature in their palms was rising, and both of them had calm expressions.
Wang Shuhuai raised his hand to lift the mosquito-proof ventilation curtain, and took her straight into the bathroom.
When they got to a place where there was no one around, Xie Yunchu glared at him and immediately pulled his fingers away.
Wang Shuhuai seemed like a different person. He unbuttoned his clothes while approaching her, his eyes fixed on her without moving away.
Behind Xie Yunchu was a wall. On the left was a three-fold Suzhou embroidery gauze screen for hanging clothes, and on the right was a rosewood round table half a person's height, on which were placed some soapberry handkerchiefs and the like.
She had no place to retreat, so she just stood there with an open mind.
Wang Shuhuai threw away his official robe neatly, leaned over with deep eyes and rushed into her mouth. The man swept her lips and teeth with a cold military aura, grabbing the taste she had been missing for a long time. The soapberry handkerchief was brushed away by his arm and fell to the ground with a thudding sound. He clamped her slender waist and placed her on the high table. His movements were not gentle at all, and he controlled her from a high position.
Xie Yunchu put his arms around his neck, buried his head in his arms, and his body gradually became limp.
Wang Shuhuai kissed her for a while, then raised his black jade eyes and stared at her autumn water eyes.
"Did you miss me?"
Xie Yunchu couldn't say the word "miss". She lowered her eyes, and her black eyelashes trembled like crow feathers brushing against his heart. That was enough. Wang Shuhuai suddenly kicked away the high chair, picked her up forcefully, and pressed her against the wall. He leaned over with heavy breathing, and rubbed her tender skin with his rough fingertips, wrapping her with layer upon layer of trembling, until it was difficult to breathe. Wang Shuhuai pulled away and hugged her to calm her down. Xie Yunchu leaned in his arms, tilted her slender neck and gasped.
Although Wang Shuhuai wanted to, he still restrained himself. He put Xie Yunchu down, undressed and prepared to take a bath. Xie Yunchu stroked her hot cheek and turned to find clothes for him. Wang Shuhuai stood by the bathtub and looked sideways at his wife.
She was wearing a marigold floral long skirt and a turmeric half-sleeve. She stood on tiptoe, making her slender figure look even taller and more graceful.
She has a charming appearance and tender skin, and doesn't look like a mother who has given birth at all.
When he saw her in the front hall just now, he could hardly take his eyes off her.
He couldn't remember how many years it had been since she had served him in the bathroom.
Xie Yunchu picked a lake blue straight gown, turned around, and saw Wang Shuhuai stripped down to his crotch pants, with smooth muscle lines, tall and strong, and a beautiful sense of well-proportioned bones and flesh. Xie Yunchu had been married to him for so many years, and this was the first time she saw his whole body, so she slightly looked away.
Wang Shuhuai didn't intend to let her go.
She agreed to try to accept him back then, but Wang Shuhuai had no idea what the result was, or perhaps he had some vague feeling and wanted confirmation.
"Yun Chu, my arm is injured, can you help me?"
Wang Shuhuai's eyes were clear and bright, and his tone was gentle and soothing.
Xie Yunchu caught a glimpse of several deep scars on the back of his arms, and his heart suddenly tightened. He was annoyed that he didn't care about his own body, but he also understood that the battlefield was dangerous and injuries were inevitable, so he couldn't help but sigh.
Xie Yunchu came behind him and saw Wang Shuhuai sitting in the bathtub. Xie Yunchu saw that he was not unable to lift his arms, so he threw a ladle to him and said, "Wash yourself."
Wang Shuhuai didn't really ask her for help. He turned around and saw her sitting on a small stool beside her with her clothes in her arms, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
"Do you like the Shu brocade I brought you?"
"Yes, the material is thick and gorgeous. I'll make clothes for you in autumn and winter."
Wang Shuhuai was washing her face, and seeing that Xie Yunchu never looked at him, he ordered her,
"Yun Chu, help me twist the handkerchief."
Xie Yunchu glanced at him, took the wet towel, wrung it dry for him and threw it back to him, "You might as well go find a wife who is considerate and takes care of you."
"Nonsense, I want you."
Xie Yunchu sneered and teased him without thinking, "Really? If I wasn't your wife, would you still kiss me like you did just now?"
Wang Shuhuai's first reaction was that it was impossible. He could not kiss any woman other than his wife. But somehow he felt that this answer was not right.
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