Ch 165: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

No matter what the outside world thought, Shen Yunxuan and Wu Feng were deeply affectionate, growing closer every day after becoming true husband and wife.

Wu Feng cherished his wife, and Shen Yunxuan knew how to maintain a harmonious marriage. With one full of love and the other full of care, they naturally complemented each other, and their life together became increasingly happy.

At first, those close to them were somewhat concerned, but seeing that they were unmoved by external opinions, they not only felt reassured but also realized an important truth—one should focus on living their own life without being swayed by others. Everyone has different personalities, needs, and desires for life, so their perspectives on happiness will naturally differ. How could anyone expect to please everyone?

Take Lady Lin, for example. Shen Yunxuan, with her personality, would never enjoy such a life. But Lady Lin, coming from a noble family, had been raised with that lifestyle and genuinely enjoyed and adapted to it.

So how could one judge another’s happiness based on personal perspective? The clearest example was Shen Jiayao, who eagerly snatched away Shen Yunxuan’s opportunity, thinking it was some kind of treasure. That was because, in his past life, he had only seen the surface—he saw Shen Yunxuan in fine clothes and assumed she was happy.

In reality, only Shen Yunxuan knew the hardships she endured. For several years, she hadn’t dared to sleep soundly. Only after gradually building her influence, gaining more control over her life, did she begin to feel secure.

This proved that happiness wasn’t about snatching what seemed good from others, assuming it would be good for oneself. Others had worked hard to build their success. The best thing about Shen Yunxuan’s rebirth was that she had the freedom to make her own choices, which was her greatest source of happiness—yet outsiders couldn’t see this and still assumed she was unhappy.

After staying home for over two months, Wu Feng received an urgent letter. The messenger also brought a verbal order from the general, instructing him to return immediately for an important matter. Wu Feng’s leave had actually been a medical leave for recovery; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been allowed such freedom. Now that an urgent matter had arisen, he could no longer remain idle, though he was reluctant to leave his newlywed wife and grandmother.

Holding their hands, Wu Feng earnestly instructed them, “Take good care of yourselves. I’ll handle things as quickly as possible and find a way to return. The general treats me almost like a son—there will definitely be a way.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and draped an extra cloak over him. “Your luggage and horse are ready. I’ve packed essential medicines, strong liquor, and dry rations for your journey. Be careful out there, and don’t worry about us. Here in the county, no one dares to bully us. We only hope for your safe return.”

Grandma Wu also nodded repeatedly. “That’s right, listen to Yunxuan. There’s no rush to return—safety is the most important thing. Stay steady, and we’ll wait for you at home. Don’t worry, I treat Yunxuan like my own granddaughter and will take good care of her.”

Wu Feng exchanged a few more words with Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua before glancing at Shen Yunxuan one last time. Then, without looking back, he mounted his horse and rode off swiftly—afraid that if he turned around, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

The group stood at the city gate, watching until he disappeared from sight before returning home. Unexpectedly, the carriage ride was bumpy, and the moment Shen Yunxuan stepped down, she swayed dizzily. Alarmed, they immediately called for a physician.

Several people near the county princess’s residence saw Shen Yunxuan’s condition and grew concerned. As the physician arrived, someone even called out from afar, “Make sure you examine the county princess carefully!”

Others whispered, “Is she heartbroken because Wu Feng left?”

“Of course! They just got married, and now he’s gone. Plus…” The person lowered their voice. “Who knows if he’ll return? War is unpredictable.”

“Are they still fighting? I thought the war was over. Maybe he was summoned for something else.”

“Who knows? But traveling far is never a good thing.”

“Stop talking about it. Let’s just hope the county princess is okay.”

“Could she be pregnant?”

Everyone exchanged glances. “If the county princess is pregnant and Wu Feng is gone, wouldn’t that be quite pitiful?”

When the physician was finally brought to Shen Yunxuan, she was still feeling short of breath. After carefully taking her pulse, the physician frowned and said, “County princess, please offer your other wrist for examination.”

Grandma Wu grew anxious. “What is it? Is it serious?”

The physician shook his head. “No, but I just want to confirm something.”

After another moment, he relaxed and said, “The county princess is not seriously ill—her dizziness is caused by unsettled emotions. With a day of proper rest, she will be fine.”

The group, somewhat puzzled but relieved, nodded. Upon asking, the physician confirmed that no medication was necessary, so they hurriedly helped Shen Yunxuan to bed. She, however, understood the cause—this was what people in the future would call motion sickness.

Only then did she realize how anxious she was about Wu Feng’s departure. Normally, she never got motion sickness on carriages or boats, yet this time, a slight bump had made her dizzy.

She let out a deep breath and closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep. Things would sort themselves out—worrying wouldn’t solve anything. Just because she hadn’t heard of Wu Feng in her past life didn’t mean something would happen to him in this one. Wu Feng and Grandma Wu’s fates had already changed once. The future would surely be smooth as well.

With that thought, she set her mind at ease and slowly drifted to sleep. However, the outside world had already started discussing her situation.

After the physician left, the person who had guessed that Shen Yunxuan was pregnant immediately asked about it. The physician hastily denied it—such rumors couldn’t be spread carelessly. But soon, people started saying that Wu Feng’s departure was uncertain, and he had left without even ensuring an heir.

Shen Yunxuan being so distressed—if she had a child to continue the bloodline, she might feel a little better. If Wu Feng died and she had no child, she would truly be a widow, and remarriage would be difficult.

After a good sleep, Shen Yunxuan felt refreshed the next day. While checking on the restaurant, she noticed Cui’er and the others looking at her strangely. When she asked, she learned that outsiders were worried about such things and found it both amusing and exasperating.

If she were pregnant now, that would be the real problem—she was only fifteen! Having a child now? Did she not want her health anymore? Even in her past life, it was only years later, when Li Yaosheng’s wife couldn’t conceive, that she was made to bear a child. By then, she was almost twenty.

Having been reborn and learning about other worlds through the Book of Memories, she knew she should not have children so early. Besides, this era was extremely unfriendly to women. Having a son would be fine, but if she had a daughter and something happened to her, leaving her unable to protect her child, wouldn’t her daughter also suffer unjust treatment?

Unless she continued to grow, ensuring she could provide a better environment and protection for her child—whether a boy or a girl—she would not consider having children.

This public discussion only reinforced Shen Yunxuan’s beliefs. She even gave her students a special lesson: never judge someone else’s life based on personal opinions. Outsiders might think she was pitiful, but in reality, she was very happy and loved her life. If she could do it all over again, she would make the same choices.

The children fully understood this principle and began discussing their own opinions on various matters, often consulting each other. It was clear they had become much more mature.

---

With the arrival of spring, it was time for planting. Although the imperial court had learned about persimmons and potatoes, they needed years of testing before nationwide implementation. They had to study how to cultivate them, their yield, trial planting, and eventual large-scale promotion—it could take two or even three years.

However, Shen Yunxuan knew how useful potatoes were, so she boldly planted large quantities on her thousand-acre farmland. When the villagers heard about it, they sent people to the county princess’s residence to inquire. Upon learning that Shen Yunxuan strongly favored potatoes, they followed her lead, dedicating at least half their fields to potato cultivation.

Seeing this, Shen Yunxuan discussed with Magistrate Lin, who submitted a request to the imperial court, successfully designating Qingshan Village as an official potato trial village. This meant the court would provide financial subsidies and, if the potatoes didn’t sell, the government would purchase them. This greatly boosted the villagers’ confidence.

Previously, people from other villages mocked Qingshan villagers for blindly following Shen Yunxuan, saying they lacked independent thought. Now, however, all they felt was envy. Farming was at the mercy of nature—who wouldn’t want someone to provide a safety net? With Shen Yunxuan securing government backing, Qingshan Village even became an officially recognized trial farming site, gaining nationwide recognition. It might even be recorded in history.

As the initiative progressed, Shen Yunxuan carefully wrote a handbook for the village head, detailing the best planting methods, proper storage, the risks of sprouted potatoes causing poisoning, and numerous potato-based recipes.

The villagers treasured this information, strictly following Shen Yunxuan’s guidance. They worked the fields with unprecedented enthusiasm, giving their all every day.

Since this was a village-wide endeavor, the Shen family was not excluded this time. They finally had the chance to benefit from something good and worked from dawn till dusk planting potatoes.

The villagers of Qingshan had complete faith in Shen Yunxuan. She had brought them enormous prosperity. Now, in Qingshan Village, her word carried more weight than even the village head or the county magistrate.

Shen Jiayao heard “county princess” constantly—so often that even staying at home, he couldn’t escape hearing family members talk about her and potatoes. Having gained just a little benefit, they had already forgotten their past resentment, no longer calling her “Erya” as if doing so would make their lives better.

Unable to bear it, he left the house to take a walk by the river. His legs had healed, though he still walked with a limp. If he moved slowly, it wasn’t noticeable, but he couldn’t accept it mentally.

Someone noticed him, and Shen Jiayao tensed. But the person simply walked past him as if he didn’t exist, showing no interest in speaking to him. The mockery and ridicule he had expected never came.

He encountered a few more people, even children, who treated him with complete indifference. At first, Shen Jiayao felt relieved, but then he realized it felt even worse. The greatest pain wasn’t being mocked—it was being ignored. It meant he had become utterly insignificant.

It was as if he had returned to his past life, those days when he couldn’t lift his head in the village. But this time, it felt even more unbearable. Why was his life so miserable despite being reborn? In his past life, at least he got married and had children. In this life, no one even wanted to marry him.

He used to find Old Man Shen harsh, annoying, and cold-hearted. But now that Old Man Shen was paralyzed and could no longer take charge, he realized his parents were even more useless—they couldn’t even arrange a marriage for him.

As he walked toward the river, he passed by some fields where a few villagers were chatting.

They laughed and said, “The girls in our village who are learning to read are really amazing. Even if they can’t take the imperial exams, being literate will still be beneficial. Maybe they can work for the county princess in the future. Just look at Qin Shi and Cui’er—they’ve been given important responsibilities and now manage several people.”

“Exactly! A daughter should be like Shen Yunxuan. Our village finally has someone truly accomplished!”

These words had nothing to do with Shen Jiayao, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned around and ran home in a hurry, feeling his face burning with shame.

For many years, the villagers used to say, “A son should be like Shen Jiayao” because he was the most talented scholar in the village. He enjoyed the respect and admiration of others, but it wasn’t until he went to the county that he realized how many people were far more educated than him. And that was just a small county—the world was vast, and he was nothing.

He once took his writings to his teacher, who told him he wasn’t yet qualified to pass the scholar’s exam and needed to work harder. The shame and disappointment of that moment stayed with him, and now, hearing people say, “A daughter should be like Shen Yunxuan,” he felt as if all the villagers were secretly mocking him.

They said the village finally had someone successful. In the past, everyone thought he would be the one to succeed, yet he turned out to be nothing, while the one who achieved greatness was his cousin—a girl raised in a household that heavily favored boys!

It had been the same in his past life. Even though Shen Yunxuan never managed the village’s affairs, people still spoke of her as someone who had achieved wealth and status. In this life, despite all his efforts, nothing had changed.

He felt utterly humiliated, unable to endure it any longer. He wanted to escape this place immediately.

Shen Jiayao stormed into the house and began smashing everything he saw, venting his rage.

Shen Cai stepped out angrily and shouted, “You little brat, knock it off! You’re a useless bum living off others, and you still have the nerve to throw a tantrum? If you want to break things, get out and break them elsewhere!”

Shen Jiayao swung the door open and glared at him with a chilling expression. “We’ve already divided the family. What the hell do you think you are to lecture me?”

Shen Cai was stunned for a moment, then grabbed a stick and swung it at him. “Even if we divided the family, I’m still your uncle! You dare talk back to me? I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your father! You’ve been asking for a beating!”

Liu Shi, who was rocking the adopted infant under the eaves, frowned. “Jiayao, you’re completely out of line! Our whole family supported you for years. Not only are you ungrateful, but you don’t even know how to respect your elders? No wonder the Li family didn’t want you.”

Shen Jiayao took a blow from the stick, then grabbed it and threw it aside. “Shut up! You two are the most disgusting of all. When I was doing well, I saw how eagerly you tried to curry favor with me. Just thinking about it makes me sick. Back then, when you wanted me to bring Shen Yunlian into the Li family, how hard did you try to flatter me? Have you already forgotten?

Now that I’m down, you step on me to show off? Ha! I don’t need relatives like you!”

Hearing the commotion, neighbors peeked out to watch the drama unfold. Shen Cai, now with a son and a daughter married into a wealthy household, was no longer the man who once lived in shame. Being insulted by his nephew in front of others made him furious, and he grabbed Shen Jiayao and started beating him.

Shen Dong and Zhou Shi rushed over to stop the fight. Old Lady Shen came out, scolding, “Jiayao, you are being so unruly! Your uncle is saying this for your own good. You’re a grown man now, doing nothing all day but causing trouble. A person can be untalented, but they can’t be so selfish and self-centered…”

“Selfish? If I were selfish, I wouldn’t have helped Shen Yunlian! The ones you should be calling selfish are the ones in the first household. Now that they’re living well, they’ve abandoned me—if that’s not being ungrateful, what is?” Shen Jiayao shoved Shen Cai away and pointed at the old matriarch. “And you, don’t act innocent! You and that old man are the most selfish of all. You never cared about any of your grandchildren. You just saw us as tools to improve your own lives. Whoever was useful, you cared for them. Now that I’m a worthless pawn, you don’t even ask about me or care if I live or die!”

At that moment, the resentment of two lifetimes erupted in Shen Jiayao’s heart. His gaze was filled with pure hatred, shocking the Shen family.

Liu Shi scoffed, “You sure have a way with words. Weren’t you the one who dismissed us, calling us idiots and telling us to shut up? Now you say we didn’t care about you? You’re a grown man, and you don’t even understand logic. Care about you for what? Get back inside and stop embarrassing yourself. You’re scaring my son.”

Seeing the infant in her arms only made Shen Jiayao angrier. In his past life, at least the first household had adopted his son as their grandson. In this life, they had listened to Shen Yunlian and adopted an orphaned infant from a distant branch of the Li family instead. Did they think this would bring them closer to the Li family? Ridiculous! He knew Li Yaosheng’s personality—he would never truly care for anyone.

Shen Jiayao couldn’t bear to stay among them any longer. He couldn’t even face himself. Every breath he took in this familiar environment was painful, bringing back memories of his past life and the realization that, even after being reborn, he had failed to change anything.

So, he said nothing more and stormed back into his room.

No one took it seriously, and thus, no one noticed when Shen Jiayao slipped into the county town under the cover of darkness that night. The following night, he used knockout drugs to render his family unconscious and looted all their cash and valuables before fleeing.

Before leaving, he glanced at Old Man Shen, who was bedridden in the third household.

Old Man Shen, unable to speak, saw Shen Jiayao’s outfit and the luggage in his hands. He grunted frantically and raised his trembling hand to point at him.

Shen Jiayao leaned in and whispered, “Grandfather, if you don’t want the Shen family to become a laughingstock, you’d better warn them not to report me to the authorities. Just say I left to seek opportunities elsewhere. Otherwise, if word spreads that your family has a thief, your reputation will be ruined, and the Li family will look down on Shen Yunlian’s child.

You don’t have any money now—if you need silver, ask the first household. Shen Yunlian is the one with the most money these days.”

With that, Shen Jiayao turned and fled without looking back.

He had already scouted his escape route and secured travel papers with bribes. As soon as the city gates opened in the morning, he slipped away.

When morning came and the Shen family woke up, it was as if the sky had collapsed! Everything in the house was gone—all the money that Shen Yunlian had sent back in the past few months was gone too. Along with the stolen jewelry, the losses amounted to dozens of taels! That damned Shen Jiayao!

Old Man Shen used all his strength to make noise and call them over, struggling to convey what had happened with Shen Jiayao. The first household cursed him fiercely but didn’t make a big scene. Shen Dong and Liu Shi, on the other hand, were completely stunned. The son they once took pride in had run away, and now they were the only branch of the family without children. They had no money and had already separated from the main household—how were they supposed to survive? Who would take care of them in their old age?

Liu Shi glanced at Zhou Shi with disdain for her once-arrogant sister-in-law and then hugged her little son with a smile. “It’s fine. Isn’t your nephew still here? As long as you both work harder, earn more money, and support my son’s studies, when he grows up, he will naturally be filial to you.”

This was exactly what the second household used to say to the first household. Now that the roles were reversed, why did it sound so harsh? But what choice did the second household have? They feared dying without descendants to mourn them, so they had no option but to work hard like the third household once did, taking on all the burdens.

Old Man Shen watched this scene unfold with grief and anger. How had his family come to this?

Feeling increasingly resentful, he started acting out more. Old Lady Shen was in charge of taking care of him, but he tormented her so much that she soon got fed up. After just a couple of days, she grew tired and stopped bringing him food.

When the family asked about it, Old Lady Shen sighed, “Your father was infuriated by Jiayao. He refuses to eat and even throws tantrums, trying to hit people. What can I do?”

Since Old Man Shen had been difficult ever since he became paralyzed, everyone was already impatient with him. Hearing this, they felt even more disgusted and avoided him entirely. No one went into his room to check on him.

Within a few days, Old Man Shen became so weak from starvation that he could no longer make a sound. Late one night, Old Lady Shen came to his bedside, wiping her tears as she spoke softly, “Don’t blame me. You were the one who told me to do this to your mother back then. You said she was paralyzed and useless, that for the good of the family, she was willing to go.

I figured that now that it’s your turn, you must be thinking the same thing, right?

Don’t worry. From now on, our first household has Yunlian supporting it, and the money she brings in will be used to fund our little grandson’s education. He will definitely pass the imperial exams and bring honor to our family. You can rest in peace.”

After speaking, Old Lady Shen turned away as if she couldn’t bear to look anymore and went back to her room to sleep.

That very night, Old Man Shen passed away. The next morning, Old Lady Shen threw herself over his body, crying so hard that she could barely breathe, bringing tears to the eyes of those who saw her. Soon after, his funeral was arranged and completed.

Cui’er noticed that the Shen family had been unusually chaotic lately, so she made some inquiries and reported everything to Shen Yunxuan. While Cui’er, as an outsider, didn’t know all the details, Shen Yunxuan could piece together most of the story from the outcome.

Good. Evil people would eventually be punished by their own kind. She didn’t have to deal with them—they were already tearing themselves apart.

Shen Yunxuan treated the whole thing as an amusing tale, laughing it off and forgetting about it soon after. She had far too much on her plate. While studying the book of memories, she discovered records from the empress in one world who had researched cowpox and high-yield rice in great detail. These discoveries were perfectly suited for her current era.

This was an enormous contribution to society. She needed to study it carefully and find the right opportunity to have experts conduct thorough research before presenting it to the court. It would take years, so she had no time to waste on irrelevant people.

Once again, she entrusted a security escort agency to collect books from different regions. This time, instead of recipes, she sought out various texts, especially obscure historical and miscellaneous records. At the same time, she publicly established a large library within her residence, dedicating herself to reading day and night. Before Magistrate Lin left for his report in the capital, he even gifted her a large collection of books.

From that point on, when people in the county wanted to give her gifts, they mostly chose books, as she had made it clear how much she valued them.

While Shen Yunxuan was engrossed in her studies, Shen Jiayao had settled in the suburbs of the capital. Dropping hints about his connection to Shen Yunxuan, he managed to secure a position as a bookboy in a wealthy household.

This time, he was truly a bookboy. The master of the house believed that a bookboy didn’t need extensive knowledge—just basic literacy would suffice. Additionally, hiring Shen Jiayao might provide an opportunity to connect with the county princess, which could lead to valuable connections in the future. It was a low-risk, high-reward decision.

In the end, Shen Jiayao still had to rely on mentioning Shen Yunxuan’s name to survive. But in this new place where no one knew him, he didn’t care. Shamelessness meant nothing if it helped him get by—Shen Yunxuan would never find out anyway.

This household was far more benevolent than the Li family. The servants were never mistreated, and for the first time, Shen Jiayao felt a sense of happiness in his role as a bookboy.

However, he soon became dissatisfied. There were four young masters in the house, and competition for resources was fierce. He began encouraging his young master to be more ambitious. Being so close to the capital, Shen Jiayao believed that a better life awaited him in the future.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunlian and the Shen family were also growing impatient. Magistrate Lin had already left for the capital to report to his superiors, so why was there still no news about Li Yaosheng’s official position?

They had whispered about it among themselves countless times. Finally, emboldened by her pregnancy, Shen Yunlian gathered the courage to ask Li Yaosheng about it.

However, Li Yaosheng merely fixed his gaze on her and coldly stated, “Remember that you are just a concubine. Do not ask about things that do not concern you. If it weren’t for your blood relation to the county princess, do you think I would have allowed you to bear my child right after taking a wife? Know your place.”

Shen Yunlian’s face turned pale, and for several days, she didn’t dare step out of her room.

What did he mean by “allowed her to bear his child”? Did he think he had a choice in the matter? Wasn’t she already pregnant?

She suddenly recalled Shen Yunxuan’s earlier warning—so the depths of the great households truly ran this deep. The treatment she received now was only because of Shen Yunxuan’s influence; otherwise, she would have been completely neglected. Her previous smugness now seemed like a joke.

Li Yaosheng was furious. When he entered his study and saw the books on the desk, he swept them all to the floor in a rage. Magistrate Lin didn’t think much of the Li family at all. A purchased official title? What was there to buy? Without a powerful backer or someone to recommend him, even if he spent the money, it would only be for a useless position—it would be a complete waste!

He should never have gotten involved with Shen Yunxuan in the first place. Because of her, his entire future was ruined!

---

The Shen family had been eagerly anticipating good news, only to realize that Li Yaosheng had not, in fact, become a county magistrate like Shen Jiayao had claimed. Before long, news arrived that Magistrate Lin had been reassigned, and the newly appointed magistrate, Master Cui, had taken office.

The Shen family was utterly disappointed. From that moment on, they poured all their hopes into their youngest son, praying that one day he would achieve success and restore their family’s honor.

---

Months passed in a blink. Shen Yunxuan had opened two more shops, one of which was in the provincial capital. Her next plan was to expand to other provinces.

Her love for books had become well known. Everyone knew she enjoyed studying new and unusual things. It was only now that she began raising cattle on her farmstead—bulls for working the fields and cows for fresh milk, which was delivered daily to her restaurants and food establishments for culinary use.

She also closely monitored the rice and potato crops, instructing the farmers to observe how different planting techniques affected yield. She even proposed a few experimental methods she had read about in books for them to try out.

No one found it strange. After all, it was her curiosity and innovative thinking that had earned her the title of county princess in the first place.

As the autumn harvest approached, news arrived that the border war had been won. Not long after, Wu Feng returned!

This time, he didn’t return alone—he brought an entire entourage of personal guards and over twenty large chests of belongings. Draped in a commanding cloak, he rode into town with an imposing presence.

Many people in the county recognized him and were stunned by the sight.

“Is that Wu Feng?”

“Wasn’t he just a low-ranking soldier? Did he get promoted through battle?”

“But wait—when did Wu Feng ever say he was just a soldier? Who started that rumor?”

As they thought about it, they realized that neither Wu Feng nor Shen Yunxuan had ever specified his military rank. Why had everyone assumed he was a mere soldier? The county had seen plenty of veterans before, but none carried the kind of aura that Wu Feng did.

Amid the townspeople’s curiosity, Wu Feng returned to the county princess’s residence, with twenty large chests carried inside. From that moment on, no one dared to say he was living off his wife anymore.

Soon after, people saw a ceremonial altar being set up at the county princess’s residence. Only then did they realize that a royal messenger had accompanied Wu Feng’s entourage—another imperial edict was about to be delivered!

This time, everyone listened carefully. The decree praised Wu Feng for his numerous military achievements and conferred upon him the title of Great General of the Nation! Wu Feng had become a grand general!

Wu Feng raised both hands to receive the decree.

“This humble subject accepts the decree with gratitude. Long live His Majesty!”

Afterward, he turned toward the capital and bowed in reverence before standing upright again. Shen Yunxuan and the others followed suit, overjoyed. Grandma Wu was so overwhelmed that she grabbed Wu Feng’s hands, her voice trembling.

“Xiao Feng, did I hear that right? Is this real?”

Wu Feng smiled. “It’s real. I personally submitted a memorial to His Majesty, requesting that the decree be sent here for the official announcement. I also informed His Majesty that Yunxuan is my wife. His Majesty was surprised by the coincidence and approved my request, saying that our household should share in the glory.

However, the general’s manor I was awarded is in the capital. From now on, I will have to attend court and fulfill my duties, so we will have to move to the capital.”

He then turned to Shen Yunxuan. After being apart for more than half a year, he had missed her terribly. But with so many people present, he could only suppress his excitement and quietly ask, “Yunxuan, would you be willing to go?”

If she wasn’t, he would find a way to make things work.

Shen Yunxuan softly replied, “Of course, I’m willing. People should always aim higher—I was already planning to go to the capital.”

“That’s great!” Wu Feng beamed.

His personal guards, who had accompanied him back, widened their eyes in disbelief. They had seen their general as a cold and ruthless battlefield commander, but they had never seen him smile like this before.

Their gazes instinctively turned to Shen Yunxuan. Was this change all because of the general’s wife?

Wu Feng’s triumphant return sent shockwaves through the county. The last time there had been this much excitement was when Shen Yunxuan was granted her title of county princess. And now, her husband had become a grand general!

The couple was truly extraordinary.

People who had once ridiculed Wu Feng for supposedly living off his wife now felt utterly foolish.

Naturally, there were new rumors. Some people speculated,

“Great generals hold real power, and their rank is incredibly high. I’ve heard that some great generals have even married princesses before. Shen Yunxuan is just a county princess—is she really a good match for him?”

But this time, few people agreed, knowing it would only come back to embarrass them.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan and Wu Feng paid no attention to such gossip.

Inside the residence, Wu Feng’s twenty chests filled an entire courtyard. Shen Yunxuan asked, “Are these all rewards from His Majesty?”

Wu Feng shook his head. “These are the things I’ve accumulated over years of battle. Yunxuan, I entrust all of them to you.”

Shen Yunxuan accepted without hesitation. “Alright. You’ve finally come home—go get some rest. We’ll discuss our move to the capital once you’re well-rested.”

Wu Feng quietly whispered, “Then let’s go back to our room together. I’ve missed you so much…” He took Shen Yunxuan’s hand and led her inside.

---

One of Shen Yunxuan’s goals in going to the capital was to find an opportunity to personally present her research. The credit for such a major discovery could easily be taken by someone else through layers of bureaucracy. The new Magistrate Cui was not as trustworthy as Magistrate Lin had been, and there was no telling whose hands the recognition might end up in.

Although Wu Feng had now become a Grand General, giving her more confidence, it was still better to handle things personally rather than relying on the system. If she had the opportunity, she preferred to present her work directly.

They began organizing their assets and packing for the journey. Some people decided to stay behind to look after the county princess’s estate, the farmland, and the thousand acres of fields. Others chose to accompany Shen Yunxuan to the capital—essentially becoming part of her household staff who would assist her in managing affairs there. She planned to establish many businesses in the capital, so there would be plenty of work for everyone.

What delighted Shen Yunxuan the most was that all ten of her students and their families decided to move with her. Their parents knew that their children would have the best opportunities under her guidance. Even if their children did not take high official positions, the education and moral integrity they had gained from Shen Yunxuan were invaluable. Their respect and attachment to her made it an easy decision to follow her to the capital.

Many people in the county, especially those from Qingshan Village, were reluctant to see her go. However, Shen Yunxuan reassured them that all her businesses and farms would continue as usual. Since the capital was not too far away, she planned to send people back every quarter to check on things, and her support for the villagers would remain unchanged.

This eased their sadness somewhat.

Shen Yunxuan waited until after the bountiful harvest was complete and all the data had been recorded before setting off for the capital.

On the day of her departure, nearly the entire county came to see her off. Even after escorting her two miles out, they were still reluctant to leave. Among the crowd, some people were even in tears. Shen Yunxuan was undoubtedly the best person to have come from their county—always kind, always looking out for others, and bringing prosperity in ways they never imagined. They feared there would never be another person like her.

Shen Yunxuan stopped her carriage and leaned out to wave at the crowd, her eyes unknowingly turning red. “Everyone, please go back. Thank you all. We will meet again one day!”

“County Princess, don’t forget us!”

“General, you must take good care of the County Princess! If you don’t, we won’t forgive you!”

“County Princess, may you have peace and happiness!”

Shen Yunxuan and Wu Feng waved one last time, and then the convoy moved forward quickly.

---

Shen Yunlian had already given birth and knew that Shen Yunxuan was leaving that day. She had disguised herself and sneaked out to watch, fearing that Shen Yunxuan would recognize her. However, with so many people around, she was completely lost in the crowd, unnoticed.

She saw Shen Yunxuan, now even more beautiful than before, and Wu Feng, tall and imposing. They were so well-matched. Wu Feng’s eyes were full of nothing but Shen Yunxuan. Even when she leaned out to wave to the crowd, he stood protectively beside her, as if afraid she might fall. Who had said Wu Feng was a brute? He was clearly thoughtful and gentle.

She had to admit—Shen Yunxuan was far happier than she was.

Back then, she had told herself that she would work hard to rise in the Li household, to be the concubine of the young master and the mother of his firstborn son, and to seize wealth and status. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan would likely run her little shop, living a simple yet content life with her family. That seemed fair—they had chosen different paths in life, and as long as they didn’t regret their choices, all was well.

But now, deep down, she regretted everything.

Her child had been taken by Old Madam Li to be raised in the main house, and she was only allowed to see him once every ten days or so. Ever since the official wife entered the household, she had resented Shen Yunlian’s pregnancy and had made life increasingly difficult for her. Meanwhile, her own parents had become more and more fixated on the adopted son they had taken in, coming to her only to demand money, yet failing to properly educate the child. He had become spoiled beyond control, and she had no faith in him as her future security.

These past few months had felt like years.

In the convoy, she also spotted Cui’er and Yang Bin. They were married now—Cui’er was Shen Yunxuan’s chief housekeeper, while Yang Bin had become the head steward. It was said that they were Shen Yunxuan’s most trusted aides, wielding great authority in her household.

She also saw Yang Bin’s parents, both of whom had fully recovered from their illnesses. It turned out their conditions had been treatable all along.

Had she chosen to marry Yang Bin instead of entering the Li household, wouldn’t she be living an excellent life now? With Yang Bin’s capability and her being Shen Yunxuan’s cousin, wouldn’t their family have thrived? She would have been a proper wife, raising her own child without interference.

But it was too late.

All she could do was watch as the convoy disappeared into the distance, drowning in an unbearable wave of regret.

---

When Shen Yunxuan and her group arrived in the capital, the general’s manor had already been prepared. Yang Bin immediately took over its management, ensuring that everything was arranged exactly as it had been in the county princess’s residence, making it just as comfortable.

Many officials and noble families had already heard about them. They knew that this general and county princess had both come from humble farming backgrounds—one had earned his title through military achievements, and the other had discovered new staple foods that benefited the empire. They were quite different from the noble families that had ruled for generations. But what made them truly remarkable was that they had both won the emperor’s favor. Despite never having met them in person, His Majesty always spoke of them with a smile. That alone made them impossible to underestimate.

The emperor personally summoned them for an audience as soon as they arrived.

Before entering the palace, they practiced court etiquette under the guidance of palace attendants, then entered the imperial hall together to meet the emperor.

Neither of them showed any nervousness. When the emperor asked them questions, they responded with composure and clarity, handling themselves with confidence.

The emperor nodded in satisfaction. “From now on, the two of you shall remain in the capital. If there are any more good discoveries, you must report them immediately.”

These words were directed at Shen Yunxuan, clearly remembering that she had already contributed two significant discoveries.

Shen Yunxuan respectfully replied, “This subject obey Your Majesty. Over the past year, I have read many miscellaneous books and had many strange ideas. I have already instructed people to research them, and initial results have started to emerge. When they succeed, I will immediately present them to Your Majesty.”

“Good! Having officials like you, who are devoted to the country and the people, is a great blessing to my empire. If you find anything inconvenient about living in the capital, tell me. If you need any assistance, let me know as well,” the emperor said warmly, clearly pleased.

Shen Yunxuan and Wu Feng respectfully accepted his words, then proceeded to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress before finally returning home.

Wu Feng stretched a bit uncomfortably and, even in his own house, remembered to lower his voice. “Visiting the palace is more exhausting than fighting a war.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Many people would envy you for this. You should start getting used to it. At least it’s better than risking your life on the battlefield.”

Wu Feng agreed. “That’s true. Now that there are no more wars, I can finally stay home and spend time with you all.”

They settled smoothly into life in the capital. Many people sent invitations for visits or social gatherings, but Shen Yunxuan handled everything with ease, never making a single mistake. This left those who were observing in secret quite surprised.

What they didn’t know was that Shen Yunxuan had lived this life in her past life and was already well-versed in the ways of the capital’s aristocracy. She was also familiar with the backgrounds of many noble families, allowing her to navigate social situations effortlessly.

People started to genuinely believe that she was extraordinarily gifted at learning. No matter what she studied, she seemed to master it quickly—otherwise, how could she handle everything so flawlessly?

Shen Yunxuan sent her students to the most prestigious academies in the capital. The gap between them and the capital’s scholars immediately became apparent, igniting their competitive spirit. They worked harder than ever, pushing themselves to catch up.

Shen Yunxuan only instructed her staff to remind them to rest properly but otherwise left them to manage their own studies. If they needed extra help, tutors could be hired at home. If they disliked scholarly pursuits, they could learn other skills—it was entirely up to them.

She opened a restaurant and a pastry shop in the capital and acquired farmland and estates in the outskirts. She continued her research while personally compiling the past year’s experimental data into formal records.

Everything was progressing in an orderly manner, and soon, the curiosity surrounding her and Wu Feng in the capital began to fade. That was until the Emperor’s longevity festival at the end of the year, when Shen Yunxuan presented her latest contributions—vaccination through cowpox and methods to increase rice yields.

The emperor was overjoyed. After consulting with the imperial physicians and the agricultural department and confirming the feasibility of her findings, he immediately declared Shen Yunxuan his adopted daughter and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Zhen Guo (Guardian of the Nation)!

Such a person who brought prosperity to the empire could not be treated as an outsider. Since she was already married, adopting her as a royal daughter was the best way to recognize her contributions. New staple foods, the cowpox vaccination, and improved rice cultivation—each of these was a monumental achievement that benefited the entire empire. By giving her the title “Zhen Guo,” the emperor made it clear that those who dedicated themselves to serving the nation would receive the highest honors.

Shen Yunxuan was stunned. She had expected, at most, to be granted the title of a princess, but this was an unexpected delight. She quickly knelt and expressed her gratitude.

Those who had once looked down on her for being born a farmer’s daughter had nothing to say. Given her contributions, even the most arrogant nobles had to show her respect—her name would surely go down in history.

The emperor had the same thought. A woman whose name would be recorded in history should be linked to the royal family. That way, future generations would recognize him as the wise ruler who had recognized and nurtured her talent.

Meanwhile, Shen Jiayao’s master in the capital had just discovered that he had no real connection to Shen Yunxuan. Infuriated that Shen Jiayao had been scheming in his household, he had him beaten and thrown out.

As he wandered the streets, Shen Jiayao heard the news that Shen Yunxuan had become Princess Zhen Guo and was now living in a grand palace with the Grand General. He found it laughable—laughable that he had been so blind.

He had once thought that without the Li family’s support, Shen Yunxuan would be nothing. But in reality, she had always relied on her own abilities. In their past life, she had been stifled in the Li household, unable to reach her full potential. In this life, because he had taken her place, she had been set free to grow and rise to unprecedented heights.

He should have cooperated with Shen Yunxuan from the beginning. The most powerful ally had been his cousin all along—his own blood relative, right there beside him—and he had let the opportunity slip away. If he had treated her well after being reborn, wouldn’t he be living a life of luxury now? But it was too late for regrets. He would never get another chance at rebirth.

---

As for Shen Yunxuan’s method for increasing rice yields, it was still in its early stages. There was no way she could have fully developed it in such a short time, but she had seen promising results from her own experimental fields. That was enough to prove its potential. Once she presented it to the court, the emperor would assign officials to further research and implement it.

She understood how to balance her position. She loved working with food innovations, but many of her ideas came from the book of memories from her past life. This was still an empire ruled by an absolute monarchy—she couldn’t be too conspicuous. So, she chose to step back and let others take part in the research, ensuring that credit would be shared.

This way, when the method for increasing rice yields was fully developed and when cowpox vaccination was widely implemented, the greatest recognition would go to the emperor, followed by the officials and physicians involved. Everyone would benefit. As for her, she was already widely known as the one who had discovered these innovations—that was more than enough. Now, she had full confidence that she could protect her children in the future.

---

In the years that followed, their lives remained smooth and prosperous. Shen Yunxuan waited until she was twenty, when her body was in its best condition, to have children. She gave birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, adding another layer of mystery and wonder to her legendary life.

As for her disciples, Zhang Lishan achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination and, with the support of Lord Lin and Prime Minister Lin, secured an excellent official position. Shen Xing became the most skilled businessman under Shen Yunxuan’s guidance, managing her enterprises with increasing success.

Xiao Feng and Xiao Lin fulfilled their dreams by passing the military examination and entering the army, where they flourished. Xiao Yue mastered medical skills and became a physician for noblewomen in the capital, eventually marrying a husband who fully supported her ambitions.

Others pursued their own passions—some studied cooking under Shen Yunxuan, while others dedicated themselves to writing and storytelling. Each of them found what they truly loved and became successful in their respective fields.

Every year, they visited Shen Yunxuan multiple times, and they always arranged a special gathering on a set date to reunite. Though they were not her biological children, they treated her as if she were their mother, showing her the utmost respect and devotion.

Shen Yunxuan’s story was even adapted into a stage play, performed across the country. Her legendary experiences were sung in operas, with audiences marveling at the hardships women faced, praising Shen Yunxuan’s intelligence and wisdom, and condemning the heartless Shen family. Her love story with Wu Feng also became widely known, making them one of the most legendary couples of their time.

Those who had once envied her, resented her, or coveted her success could now only hear about her through performances and songs. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan had long forgotten the misfortunes of her past life. This time, she had been dealt a winning hand, blessed with fortune and success at every turn. She was truly happy—so happy that she no longer had any regrets.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆