Married life was like cotton soaked in warm water—soft, comforting, and endlessly warm. Shen Yanci was still busy, yet he always made time for Su Wan. He accompanied her to water the flowers in the garden at dawn, took her to watch the sunset at the military training ground in the evening, and sat side by side with her in the study at night. He handled military affairs while she read or embroidered; they would glance up and smile at each other now and then, sweetness floating in the air.
One evening, the two sat on the stands of the training ground, watching the sunset dye the sky orange. Ta Xue, the black horse, grazed leisurely nearby, its tail swinging lazily, no longer fierce as it once was.
"Look how gentle it is now," Su Wan leaned on Shen Yanci's shoulder, pointing at the horse with a smile. "It used to snap at everyone; only you can tame it."
Shen Yanci put his arm around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head, breathing in her faint crabapple scent. "It's been with me long enough to know I won't treat it badly." He paused, his voice deepening. "Just like how I treat you."
Su Wan's cheeks flushed warm, as if burned by the sunset, and she snuggled closer into his embrace. "You're saying these things again."
"They're from my heart." Shen Yanci tightened his arm, watching the sun sink slowly in the distance. "Once, I thought life was only about fighting wars and protecting the Shen family. After meeting you, I realized keeping you safe, protecting our home—means more than anything."
Su Wan said nothing, only pressed herself even closer to him. She could feel his steady heartbeat, like the most reassuring drumbeat, echoing in her heart.
Shen Xiaoshan had recently taken a fancy to walking with his birds.
Every early morning, he carried his birdcage and strolled slowly through the garden, watching Shen Yanci and Su Wan water the flowers together, a constant smile on his lips. His aide said the warlord was "old and soft-hearted," but Shen Yanci knew his father had truly let go of his past burdens.
At breakfast one day, Shen Xiaoshan looked at Shen Yanci and spoke suddenly.
"The man in the capital has been quiet lately. I heard his own household is in chaos; he's too busy to care about us in Fengtian."
Shen Yanci's hand paused mid-scoop of porridge. "Good news, but we must not let our guard down."
"I know you have sense." Shen Xiaoshan nodded, then turned to Su Wan. "My dear, I hear you've been teaching the maids to read?"
Su Wan put down her chopsticks and smiled gently. "Yes. Most are from poor families—knowing a few words can only help them."
"You're just like your mother." A hint of nostalgia flashed in Shen Xiaoshan's eyes. "Your mother once ran a girls' school in the south… sadly…" He trailed off with a soft sigh.
Su Wan's eyes lit up. "Uncle Shen, I'd like to open a girls' school here in Fengtian, so more young girls can read and learn. Do you think it's possible?"
Shen Yanci looked at her, surprised at first, then filled with pride. His girl was never a delicate flower hiding behind him—she had her own dreams, her own light.
"Wonderful." Shen Xiaoshan agreed at once. "Ask for anything you need—money, land, I'll approve it all. Fengtian needs a new beginning."
Su Wan smiled until her eyes curved like starlight. "Thank you, Uncle Shen!"
Shen Yanci covered her hand on the table, his heart warm at her touch. "I'll help you."
Running the girls' school was harder than expected.
Some said "a woman without talent is virtuous," calling Su Wan "meddlesome." Others feared educated girls would be "unruly," gossiping behind her back. Even conservative gentry sent messengers, asking Shen Yanci to "control his wife."
Shen Yanci turned all of them away coldly.
"What my wife wants, I want. Anyone who dares to talk nonsense will answer to me."
He supported her not just with words, but with every action. He personally inspected locations, chose an abandoned mansion near the warlord's residence, had it renovated, furnished desks and books, and even went to the countryside to persuade families to send their daughters to school.
"Reading is not only for boys," he told villagers standing on the field ridge. "When girls can read, they know their way, they won't be bullied. My wife's school charges no fees, provides lunch—what more do you fear?"
The villagers, respecting his military status and reputation, were mostly convinced.
Su Wan watched Shen Yanci rush about, his face tanned, yet never complaining. Her heart ached with warmth. "You don't have to tire yourself so much," she whispered as she wiped his face at night. "I can manage."
"Your business is my business." Shen Yanci took her hand and kissed her fingertips. "Seeing you do what you love makes me happy."
Tears pricked Su Wan's eyes. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek quickly, shy like a kitten who'd stolen a treat.
Shen Yanci froze, then laughed lowly, pulling her into his arms. "Kiss me again."
"No way," she mumbled into his chest, smiling softly.
The opening day of the girls' school was more lively than their wedding day.
Over thirty girls came, aged six to thirteen, in washed-out clothes, yet their eyes shone with hunger for knowledge. Su Wan wore a simple blue cotton qipao, greeting them gently and brightly at the door.
Shen Xiaoshan attended too, personally inscribing the plaque:
Qiming Girls' School — Enlightening the ignorant, lighting the way forward.
Shen Yanci stood in the crowd, watching Su Wan hand out books, bend to teach the youngest girl to hold a brush, her glow brighter than sunlight. He suddenly understood what he'd fought so hard to protect.
Not for power, not for fame—
but for this warmth, this hope, to take root and grow on this land.
After the ceremony, Shen Yanci held Su Wan's hand, walking home. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, sprinkling gold over them.
"Shen Yanci," she stopped suddenly, looking into his eyes. "I have something to tell you."
"Hmm?" He looked at her playful, mysterious expression.
Su Wan pulled out a small cloth pouch and handed it to him, shy yet hopeful. "See for yourself."
Shen Yanci unfolded it. Inside was an embroidered handkerchief: a tiny baby holding a silver ingot, cute and round. He froze, then realization hit him like lightning.
"You… you mean…"
Su Wan blushed and nodded softly, her voice almost a whisper. "Yes. It's been over a month."
Shen Yanci's heart was struck hard, swelling with emotion. He lifted Su Wan clean off her feet and spun her around, laughter bursting with joy.
"I'm going to be a father! Su Wan, I'm going to be a father!"
Su Wan laughed, tapping his shoulder. "Put me down—people are watching!"
He quickly set her down, still gripping her hands tightly, his fingers trembling. He looked down at her still-flat belly, where a tiny life was growing—their child.
"I will protect you both," he whispered, fiercely determined.
"Mm." Su Wan leaned into his chest, listening to his racing heartbeat, completely at peace.
Days flowed gently by, soft and warm.
Su Wan's belly grew rounder. Shen Yanci canceled almost all unnecessary gatherings, returning home early every day to walk with her, read military books to her (even though Su Wan always said, "Don't fill the baby with fighting"). Shen Xiaoshan doted on her endlessly, ordering tonic soups daily, even hunting a wild deer himself "for the grandchild."
Qiming Girls' School thrived. More girls came. Su Wan hired gentle teachers with Shen Yanci's help. Watching those once-shy young girls read aloud and write confidently, she knew all the hardship was worth it.
One evening, Shen Yanci walked with Su Wan in the garden. The sunset stretched their shadows long.
"Look," Su Wan said suddenly, pointing to the crabapple tree. "The flowers have fallen, and now there are little fruits."
Shen Yanci looked. Tiny green crabapples hung like emeralds on the branches.
"When they ripen, I'll make crabapple jam for you."
"Good," Su Wan leaned on his shoulder, gently touching her belly. "And let the baby taste it too."
Shen Yanci held her hand, warming it in his own. The evening wind blew, carrying the scent of leaves, soft as a lover's kiss.
He thought of the first time he saw her—crouching under the crabapple tree digging winter bamboo shoots, petals in her hair.
Of her standing bravely in front of gunfire, pale but unyielding.
Of her sewing shoulder pads, making rice cakes, melting his cold heart with quiet tenderness.
All meetings were fate.
All storms were only paving the way for this warmth.
"Su Wan," he murmured, his voice slightly hoarse. "I'm so lucky to have you."
She lifted her head, looking at his eyes that held only her, smiling, her dimple soft and sweet.
"I am too."
The sun fully set, leaving a faint orange glow in the sky. Shen Yanci held Su Wan's hand, walking slowly home. Their shadows overlapped, stretched by moonlight, an endless poem carved on the stone path.
The turbulent world might not yet be over.
The road ahead might still hold storms.
But as long as they held each other's hands, they feared nothing.
Love was their strongest armor, and their warmest home.
And their story—like the crabapple blossoms blooming year after year—would bloom gently, tenderly, forever in time.