Chapter 205: Special - : Xu Shi

Chapter 205

Special Chapter: Xu Shi

When Xu Shi was fifteen years old and had just undergone the hairpin ceremony, her parents called her for a conversation. They told her that she had been betrothed to Song Yan, the heir to the Yong An Hou title. Before that, she had never known him. The Hou seldom attended social gatherings, and people only talked about him. Upon learning that she was to marry him, Xu Shi began paying attention to any information about him she could find.

Society had plenty to say about this Hou Shizi. He was known for being cold and unapproachable, spending most of his time battling at the border with foreign forces, which left him with a rough and wild temperament. It was said that he spoke in a harsh, loud manner and rarely showed kindness or warmth to anyone. His only redeeming qualities were his noble birth—besides being a distant royal relative, he was extremely affluent.

Hearing these things left Xu Shi feeling quite anxious. Although her family did not match the social standing of Song Yan’s, she had a good reputation and had never been tainted by any scandal. She herself was also regarded as a famous beauty in the capital, skilled in both household management and the female virtues. If possible, she would have preferred to marry a gentle, considerate husband—not someone who seemed arrogant and unapproachable.

Her peers had all been engaged to young sons of officials in the capital. Some were just starting their careers and were not yet prominent, unlike Song Yan, who had already gained merit in battle and been promoted to General at a young age. Still, those other young masters were familiar faces in social circles, friendly and sociable. Xu Shi couldn’t help but feel envious of her friends. Even before the wedding, she was already afraid of her future husband.

Song Yan, at twenty-five, was not considered young anymore. He took a short leave from the battlefield to marry, as his parents had arranged. Before the wedding, she had never seen him, and the first time they met was when he lifted her veil in the bridal chamber. At that moment, she was trembling with fear, all the negative rumors about him rushing through her mind. But his solemn and serious gaze remained fixed on her.

He did not smile at her even once. Instead, he helped her to her feet and led her to dine. As the food touched her lips, Xu Shi realized just how tired and hungry she was and ended up eating quite a lot. Song Yan accompanied her, eating in a perfunctory manner. When she set down her chopsticks, he poured a cup of wine and offered it to her.

Though Song Yan did not say much, his actions eased her nerves considerably. He helped her stand, and they linked arms to drink the ceremonial wine. She gradually realized that he wasn’t as frightening as she had imagined. Her fear of him began to diminish. In fact, Song Yan was a rather imposing and handsome man, far from the uncouth and rude person the rumors had made him out to be.

Xu Shi’s wedding night passed in a whirlwind of heat and confusion. The Hou, who seemed fierce and intimidating on the outside, had been surprisingly gentle with her. However, their time together was short-lived. Just seven days after the wedding, he had to return to the battlefield. At that time, Xu Shi found herself worried about him. Although they had become intimate, he was still a man of few words. Before he left, his mother spoke to him at length, expressing her concern. Xu Shi also wanted to tell him to take care and return soon, but Song Yan merely mounted his horse and rode off without so much as a backward glance. At that moment, she couldn’t help but feel a little hurt.

Xu Shi, living in the manor, diligently served her mother-in-law, and to her surprise, after such a brief time together with her husband, she became pregnant. Her in-laws were overjoyed, and her life in the Hou’s household became quite comfortable. When she gave birth to Song Qilin, the eldest son and heir of the family, her future seemed secure. In that sense, her marriage to Song Yan turned out to be fortunate, though she had very few chances to see him.

When Song Qilin was six months old, Song Yan returned home, but Xu Shi only got to see him once a year, for short periods of less than a month. Afterward, he would quickly depart again to lead military campaigns at the border. In some years, he didn’t return home at all. However, every time he did return, Xu Shi would conceive another son. By the time she gave birth to their third child, tragedy struck—the carriage her in-laws were riding in to offer prayers for their new grandchild at a temple accidentally fell off a cliff. Xu Shi, having just finished her postpartum confinement, was left alone to care for her three children and handle the funeral arrangements by herself.

When Song Qilin turned thirteen, the Hou returned to the capital severely injured. Xu Shi remembered crying so hard that she nearly fainted, with Song Qilin, still a boy, comforting her. He had to take his father’s identification plaque, now inheriting the Hou’s title, and send for the royal doctors. The doctors, upon seeing the Hou’s condition, wore grave expressions. His body was covered in deep, gaping wounds, particularly on his right thigh, where a sword had cut down to the bone. Although he had received basic treatment on the battlefield, by the time he was sent back, the wound had already begun to fester. After feeling his pulse, the doctors quickly prescribed medicine, ordering it to be brewed for the Hou as fast as possible, and Xu Shi personally nursed him day and night.

When the Hou regained consciousness and realized he was no longer on the battlefield, he was furious. Song Yan, being a stubborn man who deeply valued the honor and dignity of his family, refused to abandon his duties. Xu Shi tearfully begged him to focus on recovering first, but the Hou insisted on getting dressed and returning to the frontlines. His severely weakened body, however, could not keep up with his willpower. He collapsed, dragging Xu Shi down with him as she tried to help him. He was a tall and strong man, and Xu Shi couldn’t support his weight. It was then that the Hou realized how fragile his body had become—once strong and formidable, he now couldn’t even stand up on his own. His mental state deteriorated day by day.

Understanding that his father’s heart was still consumed with thoughts of war, Song Qilin volunteered to fight in his father’s place. He promised not to tarnish the family name and vowed to defend the land, even if it meant sacrificing his life on the battlefield. He would never turn his back on the enemy. The Hou was filled with pride at his son’s resolute expression, but Xu Shi wept once again when she realized her eldest son was about to leave.

Song Qilin was not a naive thirteen-year-old. From a young age, he had been taught that he would one day inherit the title of Hou and the position of General from his father. He had diligently studied both martial arts and military strategy until he was thoroughly familiar with them. Each time the Hou returned home, he tested his sons’ skills, and never once did he criticize Song Qilin. He entrusted his eldest son to the care of trusted subordinates while he remained behind to recover in the family manor.

When the Hou’s wounds had healed, he continued to experience pain in his right leg and could no longer walk normally. Doctors unanimously concluded that his tendons had been damaged beyond full recovery. From that point on, the Hou became irritable. A proud man, he had never imagined that one day he would lose his physical capability.

Although they had four children together, Xu Shi and the Hou spoke very little to each other. They maintained a respectful yet distant relationship, almost like strangers. After his return from the battlefield, the Hou became even more withdrawn, rarely speaking to anyone. Xu Shi understood that he was grieving and chose not to disturb him, simply ensuring that he was well cared for. Life in the Hou Manor continued in this way. Outsiders envied Xu Shi—her husband had no concubines, and she had given him four sons. Song Qilin, who had gone off to battle at a young age, had already made a name for himself and risen to the rank of General, like his father. Years passed, and the Yong An Hou Manor was in the spotlight once again when it was announced that Song Qilin was to be married.

At that time, everyone in the house felt sorrowful. The pride of the Yong An Hou Manor like Song Qilin shouldn’t be marrying a woman of such low status. The wedding was held simply, and no one was excited or happy about it. Even the tea ceremony, which should have been a joyful occasion, was conducted without enthusiasm. However, when Xu Shi saw her daughter-in-law for the first time, she sensed something special about the young woman that was hard to ignore. Having experienced many things in life, Xu Shi accepted this daughter-in-law, hoping only that she would be modest and bear many children for the Song family.

Xu Shi never interfered when Song Qilin took concubines or distanced himself from his wife. She understood that for a young man like him, it was difficult to accept the situation. Yet, she was surprised by how clever and endearing her daughter-in-law turned out to be. Before long, she had won both Xu Shi’s heart and Song Qilin’s affection. During that time, the Hou remained stubborn and prideful, refusing to accept his daughter-in-law until the day Nie Shuang ran away from the manor.

Before meeting Nie Shuang, Xu Shi had never imagined that a woman could accomplish such great feats. Her daughter-in-law had abandoned her son, the Hou Shizi, without hesitation, embarking on a large business venture and raising her three children on her own. When the Hou returned and relayed what had happened, Xu Shi was both delighted and astonished.

Once she had grandchildren, Xu Shi’s life became filled with joy. Everyone envied her for having triplet grandchildren, all strong and adorable. The once stern and reclusive Hou also changed, becoming a doting grandfather who spoiled his grandchildren. Sometimes, he even looked at her with jealousy, seeing how much the grandchildren adored her. The couple began to talk more frequently, and at times, Xu Shi would even scold the Hou when he behaved foolishly. The Hou, in turn, began to tease his wife. They had never felt so close to each other before.

Xu Shi followed her son and daughter-in-law to the borderlands, and the Hou came along as well. She had always been curious to see the place where the Hou had spent his youth, stationed on the frontier. It was the first time she had witnessed a way of life so different from that of the mainland.

One day, the Hou invited her for a walk in the city, just the two of them grandparents. He took her up to the city walls, where the soldiers standing guard immediately recognized the Hou and made way for the couple to ascend. From the ramparts, the Hou pointed out the vast landscape that stretched endlessly into the horizon. Herds of livestock were scattered across the land, and tents made from animal hides could be seen in the distance. His eyes reflected memories from the past—times when he rode at the head of his army, the deafening roar of battle ringing in his ears, and the wind sweeping across his face. The vivid feelings of those days were still clear in his mind, though now they were nothing more than distant memories.

The Hou gazed out over the expansive northern land. It was summer, and the fields were lush and green. If he hadn’t injured his leg, he would still be leading his troops. It was unfortunate that in the past few years, he had confined himself to the manor, allowing frustration and resentment to consume him. All the skills and knowledge he had accumulated over a lifetime seemed wasted. Had it not been for the chance to accompany his grandchildren back to the borderlands, he might never have seen the vast plains of the northern frontier—the land he had spent over half his life defending—ever again.

Xu Shi noticed the nostalgic look in his eyes but chose not to disturb him. She, too, reflected on her own life. If it weren’t for her daughter-in-law, she would have never had the opportunity to leave the capital in this lifetime. Though they exchanged no words, both felt a sense of peace and contentment.

After some time, the Hou leaned against the wall to shift his weight off his injured leg. He began recounting to Xu Shi the times he had risked his life in battle—where the army camp had been positioned, where the enemy cities were located. The two of them engaged in lively conversation. Xu Shi, who had never heard such stories before, listened intently. Before they realized it, the sun was setting. The couple watched the wide fields that were bathed in a golden hue as the evening breeze gently blew. The Hou held Xu Shi’s hand beneath his sleeve, and in that moment, they felt closer than ever.

“This is wonderful,”

The Hou murmured. Xu Shi turned to look at him, and he met her gaze with a smile.

“It’s wonderful because it’s you.”

Despite their age, Xu Shi couldn’t help but feel shy at her husband’s words. She turned to look out at the view, a soft smile on her lips. Seeing her reaction, the Hou smiled as well.

“Thank you for raising our children and taking such good care of the Yong An Hou Manor. I never did anything to lighten your load. Over the years, you’ve had to bear so much.”

“That’s my duty. And you had your own burdens at the border, didn’t you? We both had our roles to play. There’s no need to thank me,”

Xu Shi replied, though her expression revealed her contentment. She had indeed managed the household all by herself for years. As they stood side by side for a while longer, they spotted a tall figure riding a horse from afar. Tied to his front was a small bundle. As he drew nearer, they realized it was Song Qilin, returning from the military camp with Bao Bao on his lap. Hand in hand, the elderly couple descended from the city walls to head home.