Misty Rain of the Old Times

To help her best friend, Zhang Yu went to great lengths, racking her brains to let Chen Xuan know about Zheng Wanqian's good side.

Zhang Yu was unaware that Chen Xuan had a poor impression of Zheng Wanqian when they first met at the foot of Niushou Mountain. He didn't exactly hate her, but he certainly didn't like her.

When Zheng Wanqian was rescued, her first action was not to check on the casualties of her subordinates, but to immediately identify herself and express her gratitude. This action displeased Chen Xuan.

However, that was all in the past. Later, Chen Xuan learned that she had properly arranged for the burial of her injured and deceased subordinates and personally visited their families to offer condolences and compensation, which helped to salvage her first impression of them.

But that's all. They can be considered friends now. Despite Zheng Wanqian's repeated attempts to get closer to him, Chen Xuan has not developed any romantic feelings for her. No matter how rich she is, Chen Xuan is no longer the boy who dreamed of living off a rich woman.

At this moment, Zhang Yu ignored Zheng Wanqian's obstruction and continued, "The reason why Sister Wanqian wanted to bring about this martial arts tournament is because she is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see the suffering of the people. She wants to transport grain to the south to lower the soaring grain prices as much as possible, thereby saving more people..."

"Sister, why are you saying all this?" Zheng Wanxi interrupted again, looking at Zhang Yu pitifully with an expression that begged her to stop talking.

"I did all this for you, silly sister," Zhang Yu said, unmoved. She continued, "Don't interrupt, sister. I haven't finished yet. It's a good deed that everyone admires, not something shameful."

As she spoke, she looked at Chen Xuan and said, "Young Master Chen, you don't know, but Wanqian's good deeds have been met with many setbacks. This is because after the severe drought in Rong Kingdom last year, war broke out everywhere and the country was constantly at war, which led to rampant banditry. Not to mention the chaotic situation in Rong Kingdom, even in the southern part of our Jing Kingdom, there are small bandits every ten miles and fierce bandits every hundred miles. Grain simply cannot be transported to the corresponding locations smoothly and is often robbed. In addition to greatly increasing the cost, the grain transport teams also suffer heavy casualties at great risk!"

"Therefore, in order to successfully carry out her good deed, Sister Wanxi spared no expense to facilitate this martial arts gathering, with the aim of using martial arts practitioners to quell the banditry and thus transport grain to various places to save countless people who could not afford to eat."

After speaking in one breath, Zhang Yu seemed a little thirsty, so he picked up his wine glass and took a big gulp.

She had already said it all, and Zheng Wanxi was powerless to stop her. She said helplessly, "Sister, why bother? People say the rich are heartless. I was just doing what I felt I should do. Besides, the outcome is still unknown. There's nothing worth mentioning."

After hearing the reason behind it, Chen Xuan put away his previous casual curiosity. Everyone with a kind heart deserves respect. Chen Xuan didn't consider himself a good person, but he respected every kind person.

Looking at Zheng Wanxi, he said with sincere admiration, "Miss Zheng is too modest. Such a great act of kindness is praised by everyone. Why bother with such embellishments? Miss Zheng is righteous and courageous, a true heroine who is no less than any man in the world. I admire you. Let me toast Miss Zheng."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan raised his cup with both hands and drank it down in one gulp, his heartfelt admiration for kind people genuine and without a trace of pretense.

The little princess also put away her indifferent smile and drank a cup with him, thinking to herself, "Husband, aren't you also kind-hearted? You just always say that your abilities are limited and you don't want to show off. Like the rain and wind that nourished the Yang County overnight, how many people know that you were bringing sweet dew to the hardworking farmers? If you think about it this way, husband, you and Miss Zheng are really a good match. I have to find a way to bring you home."

'A husband as good as you deserves to be surrounded by beautiful women and have many wives and concubines. I am already incredibly lucky to have married you. Selfishly keeping him all to myself will only bring me bad luck. But no matter how outstanding you are, Miss Zheng, I will not give my husband to you. At most, I can only share him with you all.'

As these thoughts crossed the little princess's mind, Zheng Wanqian felt somewhat at a loss and said, "Young Master Chen, you flatter me. I was just doing what I could, it's nothing, and I shouldn't be making such a fuss."

“Good deeds are not limited by size, and evil deeds are not limited by purpose. Justice resides in the hearts of the people. Miss Zheng deserves everyone’s respect,” Chen Xuan said earnestly.

Zheng Wanxi didn't think what she had done was anything special, and was about to modestly offer her assistance when Chen Xuan stopped discussing it and instead said, "My husband and I will be traveling south this time. If you haven't gone far yet, Miss Zheng, please don't hesitate to ask for help. We'll do our best to help within our capabilities."

With Zhang Yu constantly giving her meaningful glances, Zheng Wanqian opened her mouth and nodded, saying, "Then thank you very much, Young Master Chen. If I need any help, I hope you won't mind troubling me then."

Relationships between people are established gradually through interactions. The intelligent and perceptive Chen Xuan was already in love with her, and with Zhang Yu's reminder, she naturally had no reason to refuse.

Of course, that's what she said. She wouldn't bother Chen Xuan unless absolutely necessary. She would try her best to do things herself. She believed in her abilities. Chen Xuan was such an outstanding person. If she couldn't even handle these things, what right would she have to stay by his side in the future?
With a smile, Chen Xuan pondered and asked, "Why did Miss Zheng choose to quell the banditry through martial arts figures instead of asking the imperial court for help?"

Chen Xuan was genuinely curious about this. Given the Zheng family's wealth, in a place like the capital where powerful and wealthy people congregate, most would give them some face when they made similar requests, let alone in a local area. But she chose a different, more troublesome way, which was truly puzzling.

Now that things were out in the open, Zheng Wanqian no longer hesitated and frankly said, "Young Master Chen, you may not know this, but our Jing Kingdom and Rong Kingdom are bordered by more than ten thousand miles. Right now, Rong Kingdom is in great turmoil, and all the neighboring prefectures are on high alert. They can't spare much energy to suppress bandits. Moreover, you probably know how troublesome it would be to ask the government for help. So we can only settle for second best. After all, people in the martial arts world often prioritize chivalry, and they have plenty of time."

Zheng Wanqian's so-called trouble of asking the government for help is nothing more than extortion and bribery. Often, they take the benefits but do nothing, and there's nothing you can do about it. This phenomenon is the same everywhere. On the contrary, people in the underworld are more straightforward.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan nodded and said, "I see. That's not a bad idea."

“Since the severe drought in Rongguo last year, war has broken out everywhere, and many refugees have flocked into the country to escape the disaster. Along with them, countless villains and bad people have also arrived, causing rampant banditry along the border and making everyone feel insecure. The impact on people’s livelihoods has been enormous, leading to soaring prices, especially for food. Many people can’t afford to eat. Sister Wanqian doesn’t just want to transport a large amount of grain to our Jingguo border area so that more people can afford to eat. If there is any surplus, she also wants to transport some to Rongguo, where the situation is even worse,” Zhang Yu chimed in from the side.

She prioritizes her own country's interests first, and only considers other countries when she has the ability. Perhaps kindness knows no borders, but people are divided by their families and countries. Zheng Wanqian has her own scale in this regard and is not a blindly kind person.

Given the Zheng family's wealth, they certainly had the resources to push forward such a project. Their trade extended far and wide, enabling them to gather grain from various places to fulfill their desires.

At this moment, Zheng Wanqian no longer cared about Zhang Yu's idle chatter. Instead, she said with a sorrowful expression, "In recent years, I have traveled to Rongguo several times with merchant caravans. Only after witnessing it firsthand did I truly understand the devastation caused by natural disasters and man-made calamities there. The fields are littered with bones, and countless people are starving to the point of being skin and bones. Cannibalism is commonplace. Looking around, there is hardly any green in the mountains and fields. The bark of trees and the roots of grass have all been eaten. I am just a weak woman and cannot concern myself with the affairs of the world. I only want to save as many people as I can."

Hearing her heartfelt words, a chord deep within Chen Xuan's heart seemed to be plucked, and his gaze towards Zheng Wanqian momentarily wavered.

In his eyes, Zheng Wanqian had shed her rich woman aura; instead, her delicate and graceful figure seemed to have grown taller and more imposing, as if she were radiating light, making Chen Xuan feel somewhat ashamed of himself.

Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked away, saying, "Miss Zheng, just do what you want to do. It's all about effort; just do your best and don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Chen. Actually, I never intended to take on everything. After all, my abilities are limited. Even if I gave away all my wealth, how many people could I help? Let's take it one step at a time. Spreading the baton too thin would only backfire," Zheng Wanqian nodded. She was not the kind of person who was blindly arrogant; she had a complete plan for every step.

Of course, businessmen are profit-driven. While doing good deeds, she will also look for business opportunities in other areas, rather than just throwing money away. In any case, she won't lose out. She is a professional when it comes to business operations.

“Sister Wanxi is truly capable, which is something I admire. I’m willing to be her little follower. There’s nothing I can’t tell you, Young Master Chen. Actually, Sister Wanxi has already completed the survey and arrangements for the areas in Jing Kingdom where people are suffering the most. We just need to wait for the martial arts practitioners to take action after the martial arts tournament, so that the bandits will have no time to deal with other matters. Then we can start transporting grain to various places to stabilize grain prices. The most difficult place is actually Rong Kingdom. People are suffering, and war is breaking out everywhere. No matter how many holes there are, they won’t be enough to fill. If we’re not careful, we might even get ourselves into trouble,” Zhang Yu said with emotion.

"Don't do things that are not done by the wrong person, and never put yourself in danger," Chen Xuan nodded and reminded him.

Zheng Wanxi looked at Zhang Yu and said speechlessly, "Sister, what are you saying? We're best friends, not 'little follower.' You can't say things like that again." Then she looked at Chen Xuan and smiled, "Don't worry, Young Master Chen, I know what I'm doing and won't put myself in danger."

"Alright, everything is for everyone, we just need to do our best. Just like my husband always says, thinking too much is tiring," the little princess said with a smile, naturally ending the relatively heavy topic with a single sentence.

Having achieved his goal, Zhang Yu decided against pursuing the topic further and instead asked curiously, "Young Master Chen, Your Highness, where are your desires headed?"

Actually, she was asking for Zheng Wanqian. That blockhead was as shrewd as an old fox when doing business, but when it came to relationships, apart from being infatuated, she was completely clueless about how to actively pursue happiness.

"There's nothing I can't say," Chen Xuan said with a smile, "I'm heading south to see the coast, but I haven't made any specific plans yet."

This made it impossible to create a chance encounter. Zhang Yu felt helpless, but also envious: "Wandering around carefree, how pleasant that must be!"

Zheng Wanqian longed to accompany him on his journey, but she was tied up with worldly affairs and couldn't spare the time. Besides, their relationship wasn't at that level. So she could only sincerely say, "Then I wish Young Master Chen and His Highness a pleasant trip. Perhaps it's a bit unnecessary, but I hope you both stay safe."

"Thank you, don't worry. I value my life very much. If we encounter any danger, I guarantee I'll take my wife and the others and run faster than anyone else," Chen Xuan said with a serious expression.

With a wry smile, Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Unless you're tired of living, going after Young Master Chen and his group is just courting death."

"How could that be? Actually, I'm usually quite easy to talk to," Chen Xuan said with a smile, thinking to himself that it's as if I'm not comfortable unless I kill a few people every day.

The meal ended in a harmonious atmosphere, with little alcohol consumed, and both host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

It was getting late after the meal, and the sun was almost setting. It wouldn't be convenient for Chen Xuan and the others to stay at the residence of an unmarried young lady, so they took their leave. Zheng Wanqian and the others tried to persuade them to stay, but they declined, agreeing to meet again at the martial arts tournament the next day.

Left with no other choice, Zheng Wanqian and the others had to give up and escorted Chen Xuan and the others to the edge of the manor, just before they reached the main road. If Zhang Yu hadn't reminded Zheng Wanqian, she probably would have had to take them all the way to their lodgings.

After parting ways, Chen Xuan and his group also received tickets to the martial arts tournament the next day. With these tickets, they wouldn't have to worry about being stopped outside. Although they didn't mean much to Chen Xuan and his group, they still felt a sense of participation, even if they were just watching from the sidelines.

As for the admission ticket that was promised to Zhang Ao, someone will naturally deliver it to him, so there's no need for Chen Xuan and the others to worry about it. Perhaps we'll run into him again tomorrow.

"Everyone's gone, little sister, let's go back. I think your soul has flown away with Young Master Chen," Zhang Yu teased, turning her gaze away.

Watching Chen Xuan and the others leave, Zheng Wanqian felt a deep sense of reluctance, her gaze dim and lost, almost turning into a statue waiting for her husband. Hearing this, her cheeks flushed and she turned back, protesting, "No way! I think you're the one who's reluctant to part. I don't know who it was, but they kept talking to Young Master Chen during the banquet, making me feel superfluous. Girls understand girls best, sister, don't deny it. You've clearly been captivated by Young Master Chen for a long time without realizing it. Let me guess when it was? Was it the first time you met? Or was it the second time you went to cause trouble for him but were easily defeated, and your resentment turned into love?"

A flicker of panic crossed Zhang Yu's eyes. She pouted and glared, saying, "Come on, that Young Master Chen isn't my type. He spanked someone on our first meeting. How can he be a good person? He's clearly a lecher. I'm not going to be as stupid as you and fall for someone like that."

"Sister, you're getting anxious. You still say no? Hehe, I don't care. Anyway, we've already agreed that if I'm lucky enough to marry into the Chen family in the future, you'll marry into the family with me. That way, you'll have company. We've promised to be best friends forever." Catching the fleeting panic in Zhang Yu's eyes, Zheng Wanqian immediately pressed her advantage.

With a glare, Zhang Yu said fiercely, "Don't give me that! When did I agree to my sister's request? It's clearly you, you little hussy, who's in heat for love. I'll scratch you! The thought of you going to end up with that lecherous bastard makes me think I'll get my hands on you first."

"Oh dear, sister, don't be silly. Speaking of which, I'm afraid there aren't many girls who wouldn't fall for a man like Young Master Chen. For example, Princess Chen, and Miss Guo Qingxue from the Cold Mountain Sword Sect. By the way, even He Hongyi from the Jade Flower Kingdom traveled thousands of miles to follow him to Yang County. There are probably many more who don't know this, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about, sister," Zheng Wanxi said with a smile, trying to dodge the question.

Undeterred, Zhang Yu snorted, "Sister Wanqian knows so much! That Young Master Chen is the same; he's always attracting attention. Who knows how many girls will be swarming around him in the future? Don't even mention the future, he already has a bunch around him now. Look at the girls around him, which one of them doesn't only have eyes for him? What will happen to you after you marry him? You'll be spending your days alone in an empty room!"

“It’s normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. I would be content if I could bear him a son or daughter. I don’t dare to ask for him to be with me day and night,” Zheng Wanqian said dreamily.

Zhang Yu glanced at her with a melancholy look, then said maliciously, "Little sister, you're thinking so far ahead, you're hopeless! But I think you'll probably get what you want."

"Oh dear, sister, don't pinch there, it'll break. Why do you say that?" Zheng Wanxi asked earnestly, blushing as she tried her best to dodge.

Zhang Yu couldn't help but pinch Chen Xuan's cheeks a couple of times, then said frankly, "What else could it be? Didn't you see that Her Highness the Princess wasn't displeased at all? On the contrary, she was always smiling. This means that you have already gained the approval of the principal wife. It's only a matter of time before you enter the Chen family."

"Really? But that doesn't prove anything..."

The two sisters went back amidst playful bickering and laughter. They hadn't had any maids or servants accompanying Chen Xuan and the others before, and only when there were no outsiders around did they dare to play around so freely.

On the other side, as Chen Xuan and his companions walked back, the little princess, with her hands behind her back, looked at Chen Xuan with a half-smile and teased, "I never imagined that my husband would fall for Miss Zheng after just one meal. If I had known this, why would I have bothered with all this? If I had let you two meet sooner, you probably would have already gotten married."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan felt inexplicably guilty and said, "No way, my wife, don't talk nonsense."

"Tsk, stop making excuses. We've been sleeping in the same bed for so long, I know what kind of person you are, my husband. If you're interested, so be it. I don't mind at all, in fact, I'd love for it. I've been wanting more sisters in the family for a long time. You're such a stubborn person, hmph," the little princess said, covering her mouth with a smile.

Hesitant to speak, Chen Xuan, after all, was his wife, so he simply opened up and nodded frankly, saying, "To be honest, my wife, I originally had no feelings for that Miss Zheng. But during dinner earlier, when I heard what she said, especially about the tragic situation she witnessed in Rongguo, which led to her current actions of wanting to help more people, her genuine kindness couldn't be faked. At that moment, I was truly moved, and even felt a little ashamed. I couldn't bear to let such a good girl down. To be honest, it's just selfishness; I want to keep the good things around me."

“That’s right! My husband has finally come to his senses. It should have been done sooner. Since you are both interested, I will take care of this matter and help you win the heart of your beauty as soon as possible. If you wait for me to take the initiative, I don’t know how long Miss Zheng will be heartbroken,” the little princess said excitedly. Her husband’s marriage was finally on track, and she began to think about it seriously.

Chen Xuan, both amused and exasperated, said urgently, "Wife, please don't do anything rash and scare the girl. I was just saying that to you."

"I know what I'm doing. Oh, we're not even married yet, and my husband is already starting to pamper his little beauty. Don't worry, I won't bully her," the little princess waved her hand, her mind preoccupied with how to bring her little wife home for her husband.

Du Juan and the others exchanged glances and smiled knowingly. They all understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it was only a matter of time before a new wife joined the family… (End of Chapter)