Wen Ning was stunned.
Wasn’t the person in Shen Zhou’s heart supposed to be Qiao Yanxin? Why then was her own name written in the wish register?
She hadn’t known him long, but she understood—Shen Zhou was not someone fickle in affection. Could it be that rebirth had changed their fate?
Wen Ning had a habit: when she couldn’t figure something out, she set it aside. With time, answers would come. And if no answer came, then it wasn’t important enough to matter. She carefully replaced the wish register, then took silver from her private purse to add incense money for Bodhi Temple. Perhaps she was overthinking, but each time she came here, the Buddha statues seemed full of compassion, inexplicably calming her heart. She knelt on the prayer mat, sincerely praying.
She wished that, in this life, Shen Zhou could live more easily, without the hardships and wanderings of his past life.
When Wen Ning came out, Shen Zhou was already standing beneath the Bodhi tree with Xu Yuan, waiting for her.
Shen Zhou strode forward, naturally taking the round fan from her hand, imitating her movements as he gently fanned her. “Why did you take so long?”
Wen Ning looked at his striking face, unable to imagine that he had secretly prayed for her. Such silent protection, asking nothing in return—truly, it didn’t fit his usual temperament at all.
Her bright eyes fixed on him, and she said softly, “I added more incense money.”
Wen Ning thought: if someone wants to play the role of silent guardian, let them. She wasn’t that type. In her view, a little cleverness that made both sides happy was worth it. After all, she had a tongue to speak with!
Sure enough, Shen Zhou stopped in his tracks, surprised. “Didn’t you already give some?”
Wen Ning smiled, her dimples lively. “That was for Mother, praying on Father’s behalf.”
She paused deliberately, then added sweetly, “This time, it was my prayer for the Heir.”
Wen Ning thought: since his wish was her, rounding it up, it was also a blessing for herself.
But Shen Zhou froze at her words, his voice low and husky. “What did you just say—the last part?”
Wen Ning turned her hand to clasp his. His hand was unlike her soft, delicate one—his fingers pale and long, strong, with thin calluses from years of writing.
Such noble, beautiful hands—yet one day they would grip a spear, defend against enemies, and guard the borders.
Looking at those hands, Wen Ning finally understood why Duchess Xu had once been captivated by Shen Shen’s hands in her youth. Such beauty—anyone with a love for hands could never resist.
Wen Ning’s cheeks flushed red. Embarrassed, she turned slightly away and murmured, “If you didn’t hear it, then forget it.”
But Shen Zhou wasn’t about to let it go. He coaxed and teased, lips curved in a smile, his voice tender and indulgent. “I want to hear it. Say it again, won’t you?”
Wen Ning was just about to reply when a clear, upright voice cut in. “What’s the fuss? I’ll say it.”
“Ning Ning said she donated incense money in your name.” Xu Yuan paused, then added, “Remember to reimburse her later.”
Hearing this, Wen Ning let out a long breath of relief and secretly gave her uncle a thumbs-up. As expected—Uncle always came through.
Shen Zhou sneered, “Uncle, you’re not young anymore. Time you settled down.”
Xu Yuan, having spent years focused only on business, had never cared much about marriage. At Shen Zhou’s words, he frowned and replied disapprovingly, “Heir, forgive me for saying so— Why are you, at such a young age, meddling like a matchmaker? Too much gossip will only make people dislike you.”
Seeing Xu Yuan’s smug expression, Shen Zhou decided he would reveal Xu Yuan’s address to the capital’s matchmakers when they returned—arrange blind dates, just to wipe that grin off his face.
On the way, Wen Ning told Xu Yuan she wanted to try doing some business.
Xu Yuan instinctively glanced at Shen Zhou, expecting him to object. After all, merchants had poor reputations, and Wen Ning was the Heir’s wife. If word spread, people might think the Duke’s household treated their daughter-in-law harshly.
Xu Yuan’s mind raced, his eyes flicking repeatedly toward Shen Zhou.
Finally, Shen Zhou lost patience and snapped, “What’s wrong with your eyes—are they twitching?”
Xu Yuan, for once, was left speechless. “You misunderstand. I only wanted to hear your opinion.”
Shen Zhou raised his brows, smiling with charm, his gaze soft as he looked at Wen Ning. “If Madam wants to do it, then do it. If you don’t have enough silver, come to me.”
Storybooks often said: a good husband never misses a chance to earn favor with his wife.
Xu Yuan was astonished. “You don’t mind?”
Shen Zhou replied smoothly, “Mind what? That the family has too much money, or that Madam is too capable?”
Xu Yuan was instantly silenced, his eyes turning toward Wen Ning.
But Wen Ning wasn’t thinking about that. She only felt that although Shen Zhou spoke generously, with his allowance of a hundred taels a month, what business could he possibly manage? Better he save it to buy himself sweets. If she really needed help, Wen Ning thought, even his mother would be more reliable than him. Of course, she couldn’t say that aloud—it would be too hurtful.
So Wen Ning only waved her hand, smiling politely. “Thank you, Heir.”
Xu Yuan could see it clearly now: this Heir was nothing but a lovestruck fool. Since that was the case, he had nothing to worry about. He asked Wen Ning, “What kind of business do you want to do?”
Wen Ning straightened, rare seriousness in her tone. “Uncle, I want to deal in grain supplies.”
She had thought long and hard. Grain supply was not easy—usually managed by great noble families. Even Duchess Xu had her own grain shops.
But Wen Ning didn’t want to ask Duchess Xu for help. First, she had no experience in business. If she lost money, Duchess Xu’s temperament would likely lead her to falsify accounts and cover the losses herself.
Second—and most important—Wen Ning’s grain business needed to grow large enough to meet the shortages before next year’s war.
Such massive stockpiling of grain, even if Duchess Xu loved her, she might not agree to.
Rather than risk straining their relationship, Wen Ning preferred to strike out on her own. She held the betrothal gifts and dowry from the Shen family—enough silver to start.
Xu Yuan, seasoned from years of trade across the land, had countless business connections. And his heart was wholly for her.
She had only learned at the end of her past life that all the shops and properties Xu Yuan had earned over the years were registered under her name.
If Wen Ning wanted to do business, the best partner she could have was Xu Yuan.