Ch 163: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan knew that Grandma Wu had not arranged for Wu Feng to stay in her room but had instead given him a separate room, quite far from hers. This made her feel even more at ease—this life, she had found herself a grandmother who truly cared for her.

Wu Feng, having not seen his grandmother for a long time and knowing he had made her worry, was very obedient to Grandma Wu. He took a bath, changed into fresh clothes, and drank a bowl of hot goat milk, which instantly warmed him up.

The grandmother and grandson caught up with each other. No matter how much Grandma Wu looked at her grandson, she couldn’t get enough. She even pinched herself a few times, afraid that this was all a dream. Seeing this, Wu Feng couldn’t help but laugh, feeling both amused and heartbroken. He reassured her repeatedly that he was truly safe and had returned home.

Grandma Wu asked many questions about the battlefield, but since most of it was confidential, Wu Feng couldn’t disclose much. He only told her that he had enough to eat and wear and shared some interesting stories and local specialties from the places he had been.

Grandma Wu listened with a smile, though deep down, she knew that life on the battlefield had been tough for him. The northern border was a bitterly cold and desolate place, where even exiled criminals were sent. That alone showed how harsh it was.

But a good man should strive for greatness, and since her grandson wanted to build a career in the military, she had always supported him. Now that he had returned home safe and sound, she felt grateful to heaven, their ancestors, and, most importantly, Shen Yunxuan.

Grandma Wu held onto Wu Feng and talked endlessly about Shen Yunxuan, with nearly eight out of ten sentences being words of praise for her. She spoke in great detail, and only then did Wu Feng truly understand how malicious the Shen family had been. If it weren’t for Shen Yunxuan’s skills and the imperial recognition she received, who knew how much worse things could have been?

Wu Feng made a mental note of the Shen family’s actions—he would settle that account with them later.

Grandma Wu told him that Shen Yunxuan had been trying to help him but didn’t know how. That was why she focused on military provisions and eventually developed the compressed rations, urging him to always remember this kindness.

A warm feeling rose in Wu Feng’s heart. While he was out on the battlefield, fighting for his life, someone at home had been thinking about him, caring for him. And because of that concern, they had created a long-lasting ration that had earned great merit. Even if her original intention was simply to console Grandma Wu and not specifically for him, he still felt grateful for the thoughtfulness.

Grandma Wu then started talking about how amazing Shen Yunxuan’s cooking was, speaking of it as if nothing in the heavens or on earth could compare. She hadn’t even finished before Wu Feng’s stomach suddenly growled.

Grandma Wu scolded him with a laugh, “Haven’t been eating properly on the road, have you? You were hungry and didn’t even say anything. Come on, our house has plenty of food. Let’s go eat the New Year’s Eve dinner. You’ve never tasted Xuanxuan’s cooking—it’s truly delicious. I guarantee you’ll be full of praise for it!”

Wu Feng chuckled. “That good? And she taught herself? It seems the county princess is truly gifted.”

“Of course! You have no idea how popular Xuanxuan’s food is. At first, your uncle and aunt carried baskets to sell on the streets, and every day they sold a lot. Then she opened a shop, and business just kept booming. Now she has several shops, and they’re all thriving!”

Wu Feng saw the pride in Grandma Wu’s eyes when she spoke about Shen Yunxuan. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think Shen Yunxuan was her real grandchild and that he was the outsider. But he didn’t mind. In fact, he was happy. If Grandma Wu felt this way, it meant Shen Yunxuan had truly treated her well.

He had left home and hadn’t been able to fulfill his duty as a grandson. Having Shen Yunxuan by his grandmother’s side had been a blessing. If not for her, he didn’t know what kind of situation he would be facing upon his return.

As he stepped into the dining hall, he noticed how warm it was inside. Only then did he realize that many rooms in the estate had been fitted with heated walls. As long as there was enough firewood, the place remained comfortably warm.

Shen Yunxuan was chatting with the children, surrounded by ten of them—a lively scene. Wu Feng noticed how their eyes were filled with admiration for her, especially that boy named Zhang Lishan. It seemed these kids insisted on coming along because they were worried he might bully their master. What a bunch of clever little rascals.

When Shen Yunxuan saw them enter, she stood up with a smile. “Brother Wu, how was your rest? Do you feel better now?”

Wu Feng nodded. “I’m much better now. But really, I was fine to begin with. We’ve endured much harsher conditions in the army—I’ve gotten used to it.”

Grandma Wu shot him a glare. “We all know you’re tough, but that’s only because you had no choice while you were out there. Now that you’re home, you should take care of yourself properly.”

Wu Feng immediately changed his tone. “Yes, Grandma is right. Now that I’m home, I’ll take good care of myself.”

Shen Yunxuan agreed. “That’s the right attitude. On the battlefield, there’s no avoiding injuries, but if you don’t take care of them while you’re young, they’ll become illnesses when you’re old. You need to nourish yourself properly. Grandma, after the sixth day of the New Year, let’s invite a physician over to check on Brother Wu and prescribe some tonics.”

Grandma Wu quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, yes! You’re right. He needs a good regimen for his health.”

Wu Feng was baffled—how did this suddenly turn into him having to drink medicinal tonics? But since both of them said it was a good idea, he might as well go along with it. He looked over at Shen Yunxuan and found her to be composed and dignified, unlike an ordinary village girl.

She spoke with just the right amount of decorum. Facing a husband in name only, who had suddenly returned, she showed no signs of discomfort at all. She certainly didn’t seem like a girl who hadn’t even reached her coming-of-age ceremony yet. Perhaps only someone like her could receive an imperial title.

With Shen Yunxuan taking the lead, Shen Fu, Wang Xinghua, and the children quickly found a natural way to interact with Wu Feng. They no longer treated him as an outsider but as part of the family, offering him genuine care and warmth.

After all, he was Grandma Wu’s real grandson, and after surviving life-or-death battles, his safe return was a great blessing. Of course, he deserved to be cared for and looked after.

With everyone gathered, Shen Yunxuan called for the dishes to be served. The table was filled with a grand feast, and with servants attending to them, Wu Feng finally realized the luxurious life his grandmother was now living. His heart was full of gratitude toward Shen Yunxuan. He raised his cup to toast her, and she accepted it graciously.

After tasting two dishes, Wu Feng was immediately astonished. “County princess, your cooking is incredible! Compared to this, what on earth was I eating at the border? This is amazing!”

Lacking the words to fully express his admiration, he simply kept picking up more food with his chopsticks, eating nonstop—this was the greatest praise he could give to Shen Yunxuan’s culinary skills.

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “If you like it, Brother Wu, eat more. Have another bowl of chicken soup to nourish yourself. We are all family—there’s no need to call me County princess, just call me Yunxuan.”

With the two of them interacting so naturally, any concerns the others had about their meeting quickly dissipated. As the new year arrived, everyone’s lives had changed drastically, bringing many emotions. During the meal, everyone shared their thoughts and experiences, allowing Wu Feng to learn more about them while they gained insight into the harsh conditions he had endured.

At one point, Wu Feng took out a treasured sword to show them. It was a trophy from a battle where he had slain an enemy commander, selected by his general as one of the finest rewards for him. He mentioned that he had other trophies but had not brought them all back yet.

Everyone passed the sword around, admiring its craftsmanship. Shen Fu and Xiao Feng, who had a natural talent for martial arts, could hardly put it down.

Wu Feng smiled and said, “I have a few more crates of war spoils. Once I find a way to transport them, I’ll pick out some weapons to gift you.”

Xiao Feng’s eyes lit up. “Really? Thank you, Sh—uh, Sh—”

He hesitated. A male teacher’s wife would be called “Shimu,” but what was the proper title for a female teacher’s husband? “Shifu” didn’t sound right. He turned to Zhang Lishan for help, who quickly stepped in and said, “Thank you, Uncle Wu.”

Calling him “Master’s husband” would be premature—after all, their teacher had yet to acknowledge this marriage.

Wu Feng easily noticed the wary attitudes of the children and found it amusing. But he also saw how deeply devoted they were to Shen Yunxuan. In just a few months, she had gained their unwavering loyalty. If she were to infiltrate enemy territory, she might even make their army surrender without a fight.

He didn’t mind their attitude at all. As for the so-called husband-and-wife status, he had long since come to terms with it. At the time, both he and Shen Yunxuan had been in unusual circumstances, and that was why their marriage had happened.

Now, it was clear that Shen Yunxuan no longer needed him as a nominal husband. As for him, this was an arranged marriage dictated by his elders, and he had no reason to refuse it. If Shen Yunxuan wanted to be his wife, he would treat her well. But if she wished to dissolve the marriage, he would find a way to handle it smoothly, restoring her status as an unmarried woman and ensuring no trace of the marriage remained.

This was only a small county, and many things could be arranged discreetly. He had also heard that the county magistrate was on good terms with Shen Yunxuan, which would make things even easier. Now, it was up to her to decide, and he would respect her choice.

His open-minded attitude made a good impression on everyone. At the very least, there were no immediate faults to be found in him.

Shen Yunxuan was also pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t expected Grandma Wu’s grandson to have such a good temperament. That was a relief—it would save her a lot of trouble.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Lishan stood up and raised his cup to toast Shen Yunxuan. He said, “Today, we originally planned to prepare a heartfelt gift for Master, but with everything happening so suddenly, we didn’t have time. Instead, I have composed a poem on the spot, and I hope Master will like it.”

He then requested brush and paper and swiftly wrote out a poem.

After reading it, Shen Yunxuan nodded in appreciation. “The poem is well-structured, with balanced tones and a strong theme of honoring one’s teacher while expressing admiration. It’s an excellent poem! Considering you’ve only been studying for a few months, this is quite impressive. And your calligraphy is also well-formed—it’s clear you’ve put in a lot of effort. Well done! I love it!”

Zhang Lishan, usually calm and mature beyond his years, grinned like a child upon receiving such high praise. Seeing her son’s efforts acknowledged, Qin Shi was also deeply moved. All his hard work had not been in vain—he truly was an outstanding student.

Seeing this, Shen Xing let out a dramatic groan. “Lishan, that’s so unfair! We agreed to prepare gifts at home, and you went ahead and did yours on the spot. What are we supposed to do now?”

Xiao Feng immediately stood up. “I’m not afraid! I’ll perform a martial arts routine for Master!”

Xiao Lin quickly followed. “I’ll demonstrate my sword skills!”

Without hesitation, the two began their performances in the open space beside them.

They had been practicing for some time now. Though their movements were still youthful and unrefined, every form and technique had been drilled countless times. They had trained with great diligence, and their execution was precise and disciplined—making for an impressive display.

Wu Feng was astonished. Had Shen Yunxuan really trained her students this well? These two were excellent candidates for military service! And that Zhang Lishan—though Wu Feng wasn’t a scholar, he could tell the boy’s poetry was well-written. To think these children had only been studying with Shen Yunxuan for a few months—he was becoming more and more impressed with her.

Following this, Xiao Yue and the other children presented Shen Yunxuan with paintings, poems, and essays they had prepared. Her smile became even more genuine, and her gaze toward them was full of warmth and affection.

Seeing the children from her village, she couldn’t help but see a reflection of her younger self—the girl who had longed to study but never had the opportunity. Now that she had the means, she wanted to create that opportunity for them.

Providing them with the chance to grow into better versions of themselves—this, too, was a form of fulfillment for her.

Wu Feng noticed the difference in Shen Yunxuan’s smile—when she looked at her students, it was completely different from when she looked at him. He realized that if she wanted to make people feel close to her, she could do it effortlessly. At least, that’s what he had always thought. If he hadn’t witnessed how much she genuinely liked her students, he wouldn’t have noticed the contrast.

Impressive.

After dinner, everyone went to the garden to set off firecrackers and fireworks. With a house full of laughter from the children and servants bustling around, Shen Yunxuan’s first New Year after being reborn was both lively and heartwarming. She felt warmth deep in her heart and, for the first time in a long while, slept soundly through the night, without a single dream.

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In the following days, visitors arrived one after another to offer New Year’s greetings. Word quickly spread—so the county princess’s supposedly dead husband was actually alive! Not only had he returned safely, but he was in perfect health. Where had those rumors even come from? Many had secretly been hoping that once Shen Yunxuan came of age, they could find a way to marry her into their families. Now, all those plans were ruined. Whenever they looked at Wu Feng, they couldn’t help but see him as an obstacle. Why did he have to come back now? How inconvenient!

Everyone was eager to see how Shen Yunxuan would react, but she seemed completely unbothered by the sudden appearance of a husband. She even had luxurious new clothes made for Wu Feng and took him everywhere with her. After all, she needed time to see if they were compatible. How else would she know whether their marriage should continue?

Wu Feng didn’t know what she was thinking, but since they were technically husband and wife, he naturally had to protect her. He always extended a hand to help her on and off carriages, carried things for her, asked if she was too hot or cold, and shielded her from getting jostled in crowded streets.

In short, he was thoughtful and meticulous, taking great care of her. He also handled social interactions well. It was clear that his years in the military had taught him much—he was no mere rough soldier. Shen Yunxuan even noticed that in his spare time, he read military strategy books. He never wasted a moment, constantly learning and improving himself. He would undoubtedly have a bright future.

Moreover, Wu Feng was very filial. Previously, he had been determined to achieve military success to bring honor to his grandmother. But after realizing she had spent years living in fear for his safety, he acknowledged his mistake and redoubled his efforts to care for her. It was as if he wanted to make up for all the lost time. He was also very respectful toward Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua, treating them as his true elders, just as he did his grandmother.

As Shen Yunxuan observed Wu Feng, he was also watching her. He saw how she interacted with everyone effortlessly, managing multiple businesses with remarkable efficiency. For someone her age to accomplish all this—calling her a phoenix rising from the mountains wouldn’t even be an exaggeration.

Moreover, half of the delicacies in her restaurant and candy shop were things he had never seen before. He heard that she found ideas from books and then innovated on her own. This made him admire her even more. The more he learned about Shen Yunxuan, the more impressed he became. She was like a vast, unread book—he had only flipped through the first few pages, and who knew what other surprises lay ahead? She was both mysterious and captivating.

One day, Shen Yunxuan stayed home experimenting with new recipes in her dedicated test kitchen. Grandma Wu and Wang Xinghua had gone out shopping, and with nothing urgent to do, Wu Feng decided to pay a visit to the security escort chief who had saved him. The escort chief had mentioned the name of his security firm before, and Wu Feng remembered it.

When Wu Feng arrived and asked for the man, he was told, “Chief Cheng quit a long time ago! After helping the county princess with a task, he ended up bringing back some things that led to the discovery of two new food ingredients. That’s when the county princess received her noble title. Chief Cheng got rewarded as well. Now, he no longer does such dangerous work—he and his family run a grain store under the county lord’s patronage, and they’re doing really well.”

Wu Feng froze. “The county princess?”

“Yeah! If you’re looking for him, go straight to Cheng’s Grain Store on the east side of town. If it’s closed, you might have to wait a few days.”

“Alright, thanks, brother.” Wu Feng felt puzzled. How was this connected to Shen Yunxuan again? Just how many people in this county had benefited from her kindness and support?

His luck was good—the grain store was just opening for business when he arrived. The workers were cleaning up, preparing for the new year’s trade. Wu Feng stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting. “Chief Cheng! Do you remember me?”

Chief Cheng looked up and, after a moment of scrutiny, exclaimed in surprise, “It’s you! That injured soldier from the mountains? What are you doing here? You’re okay?”

Back then, Wu Feng had left as soon as he was stable, so Chief Cheng had never been sure if he had fully recovered. Seeing him safe and sound now, he was genuinely happy for him.

Wu Feng set down the gifts he had brought and smiled. “I finished my duties and came home for the New Year. I made a special trip to visit you and express my gratitude. Without your help, I might not have made it out of that mountain alive.”

Chief Cheng waved his hands dismissively. “No need to be so formal! Honestly, if the county princess hadn’t told me to help those in need whenever possible, I might have hesitated to approach someone covered in blood. I might not have saved you at all. If you want to thank someone, thank the county princess. Do you know our county’s county princess? Wait—you’re from around here?”

Wu Feng was momentarily stunned. He felt like he had been surprised too many times since returning home. It was Shen Yunxuan who had instructed Chief Cheng to help people in need?

After a moment, he nodded and replied, “Yes, I’m from this county. When I heard the name of your security firm back then, I made a note to visit and repay my debt one day. But at the time, my situation was sensitive, so I couldn’t reveal anything about myself. I apologize for that. You said it was all because of the county princess’s instructions?”

Chief Cheng nodded and recounted what had happened back then. “The county princess asked us to collect recipes from other places and bring back any unique ingredients not found here. She also told us to do more good deeds along the way—she believed that by helping others, people might be more willing to share information with us. That way, we could bring back more useful things.

“She gave us thirty taels of silver, and when I returned, she even added another ten. Normally, when we run security escorts, we focus on avoiding trouble and don’t meddle in other people’s affairs. But on that journey, we ended up helping quite a few people—you included. So if you want to thank someone, thank the county princess. It was all because of her instructions.”

Chief Cheng leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. “I later heard that the county princess did all this for her husband—whom she had never even met.”

“Oh?” Wu Feng was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Chief Cheng spoke softly. “It was widely believed that the county princess married to ward off bad luck, but her husband had been missing for so long that most people assumed he had perished. The county princess thought that by doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, she might move the heavens to bless her husband and keep him safe.

“Another thing—she encouraged us to help people in need because she hoped that if her husband were ever in trouble, someone would be willing to extend a helping hand. And then there was the compressed rations she developed—she specifically said that if soldiers got lost during war, carrying a few of those rations could at least keep them from starving until help arrived.”

Hearing this, Wu Feng felt a surge of emotions he couldn’t suppress. Whether or not Shen Yunxuan had done these things specifically for him, the truth was that he had survived because of her actions. Their fates had been intertwined in a way he had never imagined—his very life was owed to her.

Without another word, Wu Feng left a hundred taels of silver for Chief Cheng and quickly took his leave, making his way straight back to the county princess’s estate.

He arrived at Shen Yunxuan’s private kitchen, but upon reaching the doorway, he hesitated. He had rushed back here on impulse, but now that he was about to face her, he didn’t know what to say. For the first time, he felt a little nervous around a woman.

Just then, the door opened, and Shen Yunxuan stepped out, surprised to see him. “Brother Wu? How long have you been standing there? Why didn’t you say something?”

Wu Feng mumbled, “I just got back.”

Shen Yunxuan waited for him to continue, but when he didn’t, she asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Did something happen while you were out?”

Wu Feng looked at her for a moment before saying, “A few months ago, Chief Cheng saved me in the mountains. I went to repay him today and found out that it was because of you—because you instructed him to go, and because you told him to help people along the way.

“It turns out… my savior was you all along. Thank you, Yunxuan.”

As he spoke, he moved to bow to her, but Shen Yunxuan quickly reached out to stop him, laughing. “So that’s what this is about? Back then, I was just trying to create a little hope—it was better than doing nothing. You could say it was a desperate attempt, really.

When Chief Cheng came back and told me what had happened, I did wonder if the person he had saved was you. I kept hoping you’d return safely. I didn’t want Grandma Wu to suffer the heartbreak of losing another loved one. And now that you’re really back, we can all breathe easy. There’s no need to talk about debts of gratitude—Grandma Wu has been kind to us as well. We’re all family. The most important thing is that we’re reunited.”

“Yes, reunited.” At that moment, as Wu Feng looked at the young woman before him, he wished she truly was his wife. She was the best woman he had ever met—gracious, intelligent, kind, and capable. He admired everything about her, from her open-minded nature to her remarkable ability to handle people and situations.

In the days they had spent together, he had found nothing about her that he disliked. Through a twist of fate, he had become her husband. How lucky was he?

Yet Shen Yunxuan had never brought up their marriage. She was likely still assessing him. If that was the case, he would do his best—he would prove himself worthy and become the kind of husband she would truly want.

From that day forward, everyone noticed that Wu Feng had changed. Before, his interactions with Shen Yunxuan felt more like those of distant relatives—there was closeness, but not intimacy. Even when they went out together, they never seemed like a couple.

But now, his gaze constantly followed Shen Yunxuan. Whenever she needed something, he was there. He handed her tea, ensured she was comfortable, and even looked after her at mealtimes. His attentiveness was obvious to everyone.

Grandma Wu secretly chuckled to herself. Good boy—he finally realized he needed to win over his wife. If he didn’t start making an effort now, she’d slip away!

Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua were also pleased. Wu Feng was the most reliable young man they had ever met. He seemed capable, disciplined, and he was certainly good-looking. If he could treat their daughter well, then everything would be perfect.

As for Shen Yunxuan, she was the first to sense the shift in Wu Feng’s behavior.

In both her lifetimes, no man had ever cared for her this way. In her past life, she had always been cautious, constantly walking on eggshells. In this life, people seemed hesitant to get too close to her. The only ones who showed her concern were her father and her students.

But Wu Feng’s care was different.

It turned out that receiving warmth from a man—one who paid attention to the little things, who looked after her without hesitation—felt… different.

She wasn’t in a hurry to make a decision.

She would wait and see.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆