Ch 72: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Victory reports kept coming from the border, where Fang Jun’s three-thousand-strong musket army swept through the battlefield, instilling terror in the enemy. Fang Jun specifically requested the emperor’s permission for his former martial mentor, Deputy General Lin, to return to the military and take charge of training the soldiers.

Although Deputy General Lin had a crippled leg, his years of hunting in the mountains and battling wolves and tigers had made him exceptionally capable. Training soldiers was an effortless task for him, and he greatly assisted Fang Jun in the military.

Deputy General Lin’s return was just the beginning. Gradually, Fang Jun’s strong connections within the military became apparent. The Fang family had served as generals for three generations, earning great military achievements and universal respect. Even though the Fang family had been wiped out, Deputy General Lin had chosen to live in the village out of loyalty, teaching and raising Fang Jun. This demonstrated the Fang family’s enduring influence within the military.

Now that Fang Jun had become the sole heir of the Fang family, many in the military saw him as the continuation of the family’s legacy. As an exceptional talent, trusted by the emperor to lead the musket army, he naturally garnered their full support and protection.

Moreover, the Fang family now boasted a noble consort in the palace, who was likely to be the future crown prince’s mother. The Fang family seemed destined for meteoric success. Those who cherished the Fang family’s legacy celebrated their rise and offered assistance willingly.

While Fang Jun was achieving victories at the border and gaining widespread fame, Fang Yunxuan also encountered smooth progress in her endeavors. People secretly supporting her took the initiative to help raise funds, promote her accounting methods and new policies, and spread awareness of cowpox vaccination and rice-fish farming. Fang Yunxuan could even sense this goodwill from within the palace.

She did not investigate the sources, as she had received similar assistance in her past life and knew which families were helping her and her brother. She kept this gratitude in her heart, avoiding open acknowledgment to prevent accusations of factionalism that might bring trouble to them. Fortunately, her esteemed position now allowed her to repay their kindness discreetly.

In this life, their support far exceeded what she experienced before. She speculated this was due to their surname change to Fang and their elevated status, which gave people greater motivation and reason to assist them.

In her past life, Fang Yunxuan had only succeeded by leveraging every available resource around her, increasing her value and offering sufficient mutual benefits to earn the wholehearted trust of the Shao family. It was not that opportunities simply fell into her lap.

The same applied in this life. Her seemingly extraordinary fortune stemmed from her Book of Memories from two other worlds. Every piece of knowledge she shared was groundbreaking. This gave her confidence, value, and the ability to rally even greater influence from those she could mobilize before.

Though this might seem like cold, calculated exchange, it formed the most stable foundation for her life and gave her a profound sense of security. Beyond this practical base, the relationships she built remained warm and genuine, as evidenced by her close bond with the Shao matriarch in her past life and the empress dowager’s affection for her in this life.

Enjoying the comforts of life was the essence of happiness. Now, deeply loved by the emperor, blessed with children, and with her brother thriving, Fang Yunxuan faced few worries. Her only focus was adapting the knowledge from the Book of Memories to suit the dynasty’s needs. These efforts energized her and amplified her charm, even earning admiration from some palace consorts who once envied her, prompting them to seek her guidance.

Fang Yunxuan generously delegated tasks among these consorts, turning the harem into a well-organized “company.” While the fundamental nature of the harem differed, the emperor’s exclusive favor and busy schedule prevented infighting, creating an environment resembling her system. The consorts enjoyed having responsibilities, authority, and a better quality of life. Of course, Consort Lan, who had once conspired against Fang Yunxuan, remained idle and powerless, fearful of provoking the emperor’s wrath and being sent to the cold palace.

With so many people assisting her, Fang Yunxuan had more time to focus on the palace staff’s talents. Many palace maids and eunuchs came from diverse backgrounds, excelling in unique skills. Some even spoke of their regions where cotton was abundant, while others had never seen cotton in their lives.

Fang Yunxuan, though familiar with hardship, had never experienced the suffering of cold or hunger. Her newfound attention to cotton reminded her of its affordability and warmth in her Book of Memories. Widespread access to cotton clothing could significantly improve winter comfort and reduce fatalities from freezing.

She also explored heating methods in the book, though options like natural gas and electric heaters were impractical. Coal burning appeared to be a viable, moderately affordable solution but was too complex to implement immediately. Instead, she instructed those skilled in cotton cultivation to study methods for large-scale production.

Fang Yunxuan no longer needed to handle everything personally. Delegating responsibilities to the right people proved far more effective. Everyone was focused on growing food, so convincing them to plant cotton required tangible benefits. To determine how to achieve this, Fang Yunxuan planned to discuss it with the emperor.

Fortunately, around this time, Fang Jun sent a letter to Fang Yunxuan, delivered along with a memorial to the emperor. In the letter, he first assured her of his safety, reporting a decisive victory and the complete rout of the enemy. He also mentioned that many people at the border raised sheep, and he had sought shepherds and tailors to find a way to weave wool into fabric. Although they failed to make cloth, they produced a small piece as a proof of concept, which he sent to her.

After reading the letter, Fang Yunxuan’s eyes lit up as she examined the fabric. Excitedly, she said, “Your Majesty! Wool might not weave into cloth, but it can be spun into yarn and used to knit garments. Like weaving straw hats, tightly knitting wool yarn could make very warm clothing.”

The emperor, unfamiliar with how short wool fibers could be spun into yarn or garments, imagined the warmth if wool could be densely woven into clothing. He nodded in agreement.

Fang Yunxuan quickly organized a team. “Let’s test it out!” she declared.

The emperor, watching her determined figure as she hurried away, felt deeply moved. She had already ensured the people were well-fed, and now she was striving to keep them warm. Whenever he felt fatigued, the thought of Fang Yunxuan standing alongside him gave him renewed motivation. If wool could indeed be successfully utilized, it would also solve significant problems at the border.

---

Fang Jun’s memorial was tied to his recent victory. Everyone was delighted, as few had expected such swift success. In his memorial, Fang Jun requested to remain at the border temporarily to help the locals rebuild their lives and explore potential trade opportunities with the enemy.

The enemy’s recent peace negotiations were clearly a temporary tactic. Once they recovered, they would likely target the prosperous Central Plains again. Prolonged conflict would only drain Great Zhou’s resources. Fang Jun proposed incorporating the enemy’s territory into Great Zhou through softer means or, failing that, exploiting internal divisions to annex their land.

In the past, the emperor might not have approved such an ambitious plan due to instability within the court. However, with the loyal support of officials like Prime Minster Yuan and his trust in Fang Jun’s capabilities, he approved the proposal without hesitation.

Recognizing the musket army’s overwhelming advantage, the emperor also established a dedicated firearms department to research better muskets, cannons, and other military weapons. Meanwhile, he discussed with his ministers the strengths and weaknesses of the border regions.

---

Under Fang Yunxuan’s guidance, her team successfully spun wool into yarn. Following her “out-of-the-box” suggestion, the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau used the yarn to create beautiful wool sweaters, gloves, scarves, hats, socks, and more. This led to a booming wool trade at the border. Many from the enemy territory shifted from raising horses to raising sheep, earning enough to live comfortably and gradually losing interest in war.

Fang Jun arranged for Central Plains food and textiles to be exchanged for the enemy’s mutton, sheepskins, and medicinal herbs. The enemy population, busy with trade and improved livelihoods, began to yearn for a life in Great Zhou.

By undermining their military strength and controlling their economy, the eventual annexation of their land seemed inevitable. Fang Jun’s achievements earned him another promotion upon his return to the capital, making him the youngest official of the second rank in history.

Returning triumphant, Fang Jun proposed to the granddaughter adopted by Prime Minster Yuan. Yuan Shi, three years younger than Fang Jun, was his childhood sweetheart. Fang Jun had concealed his feelings to protect her from the repercussions of his family’s downfall. Now, with his success, he married the woman he loved, bringing double joy to the family.

Fang Yunxuan sent generous gifts through Qin Mama and Zhuang Mama to show her regard for Yuan Shi. She also sent numerous congratulatory items to Fang Jun, celebrating her brother’s grand occasion.

This starkly contrasted with Shen Yunrong’s wedding years ago. Fang Yunxuan hadn’t given a single coin or word of blessing. As events unfolded, it became clear she had severed ties with the Shen family.

Since Shao Kun’s return to the capital, however, Shen Yunrong had occasionally mentioned Fang Yunxuan to outsiders, implying they still shared sisterly bonds. While some were skeptical, they noted Fang Yunxuan had never openly feuded with Shen Yunrong.

Fang Jun’s grand wedding dispelled all doubts. Fang Yunxuan’s affection for her own family was evident, rendering Shen Yunrong’s vague claims baseless and self-serving.

Shen Yunrong’s situation, meanwhile, was far from ideal. Although her deal with Shao Kun secured her position as main wife, the reality proved disappointing. The Shao family was frugal and in mourning, with Shao Kun halving the household budget. This left her living worse off than in the Shen household. Unfavored and increasingly isolated within the Shao family, she found herself losing support.

When she protested, Shao Kun dismissed her complaints, insisting she already had the dignity of a wife. He added, “How the servants perceive you is beyond my control.”

Only then did Shen Yunrong realize she had no leverage in their arrangement. What appeared to be mutual compromise was, in truth, entirely to her detriment. Her life had worsened, and she had to tolerate Shao Kun openly spending his days with Bai Shi.

She attempted to leverage Fang Yunxuan’s influence, but Shao Kun dismissed such schemes at home. Desperate to maintain some dignity, she sought to enhance her standing elsewhere. However, when Fang Jun married, the matter of Fang Yunxuan not gifting her wedding items resurfaced, proving definitively that Fang Yunxuan had never considered her a sister. With this, she lost any chance of using Fang Yunxuan’s reputation.

The Shao family, noticing this, treated her with even greater disregard. Even Bai Shi began walking freely in the courtyard, her clothing and jewelry surpassing Shen Yunrong’s in quality. Bai Shi’s demeanor resembled that of the true lady of the household. When Shen Yunrong protested, Shao Kun simply replied that they had agreed to a trade-off, and if she was dissatisfied, divorce was always an option.

How could Shen Yunrong agree to a divorce? Everyone knew the Imperial Consort Xian and General Fang did not acknowledge her as family. Her own natal family wouldn’t take her back either. If she divorced, where would she go? What good family would take her in?

Fuming but powerless, she could barely manage on the Shao family’s allowance, already dipping into her dowry. Resentful of the Shao family, she vowed to make them miserable as well.

Shen Yunrong replaced her attendants with several delicate, charming young women—actually expensive courtesans purchased in secret. Her plan was simple: use them to seduce Shao Kun.

Shao Kun might be devoted to Bai Shi, but Shen Yunrong intended to test his resolve. For now, during the mourning period, she couldn’t act, but once it ended, she planned to use one of these women to bear a child. Regardless of who bore it, she would claim the child as her own legitimate heir. Once the opportunity arose, she intended to eliminate Shao Kun and become the true power in the household. As long as the child was raised well, she believed her future could be as secure and prosperous as Fang Yunxuan’s had been in her previous life.

Meanwhile, the Shen family was left with mixed feelings upon learning that Fang Jun had married Prime Minister Yuan’s only granddaughter. Fang Jun’s current achievements had surpassed those of Shen Xiuyuan, and his marriage into such a prominent family brought unparalleled prestige. Yet this glory belonged solely to the Fang family and had nothing to do with the Shens.

Shen Xiuyuan was both furious and regretful. He was angry that Fang Jun had kept his connections with Prime Minister Yuan hidden, allowing him to think Fang Jun was merely a rural nobody. He regretted having failed to see his son’s potential and squandered the chance to nurture him.

The Shen family’s sole remaining descendant, Shen Ming, was reluctant to study and lacked academic talent. Liu Shi arranged a marriage for him but could only secure a concubine’s daughter from a minor fifth-rank official’s family—a match that was, in truth, above their current standing.

Having fallen from luxury, the Shen family struggled with their new reality. Shen Xiuyuan turned to drinking, finding solace only in drunken oblivion that reminded him of his former glory. Liu Shi’s health deteriorated further, requiring her to take daily medication. Eventually, overuse of potent remedies caused severe organ damage, confining her to a sickbed.

With Liu Shi incapacitated, Shen Ming’s new wife took control of the household. Shen Xiuyuan and Liu Shi gradually became irrelevant, treated as little more than sickly nuisances.

Occasionally, Fang Yunxuan’s attendants would relay news about the Shen family during their visits, but she only treated it as idle gossip and paid it no mind.

At present, Fang Yunxuan was preoccupied with financial concerns. Many of her projects that benefited the nation and its people required substantial funding, but the state treasury was nearly empty. While the emperor was brainstorming solutions, she needed to come up with her own.

Coincidentally, Fang Jun had requested permission from the emperor to train a team of soldiers skilled in water combat, hoping they might one day explore the seas and confirm Fang Yunxuan’s claims about other countries. While this was a long-term vision, Fang Jun, with fewer duties after his return to the capital, wanted to focus on building this skill set in preparation.

Fang Yunxuan suddenly had an idea. She wrote a letter to Fang Jun, ostensibly a routine family inquiry, but using their secret method of communication, she hinted that pirates often plagued the seas. Fang Jun could take his soldiers there for training, disguising themselves as pirates to engage in “black eating black” operations—seizing stolen goods from other pirates. The loot could then be used to replenish the national treasury.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆