Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Caught off guard, the world turned upside down.

In an instant, Mu Wanyao was pressed against the bedding, her wrists caught and held firmly on either side of her body.

Moonlight poured in.

The light was at their backs, and when Yan Shang finally succumbed and pressed her down, a sliver of light fell upon Mu Wanyao’s face, yet it could not reach Yan Shang’s.

The atmosphere became intimate, with her body pressed against his. The laughter began to blur into something ambiguous.

Yan Shang had always been composed, yet he could not withstand Mu Wanyao’s constant teasing. That sound of "Er-gege" had shattered his composure; when he pressed her down, his breathing was slightly ragged. For that brief moment, the taut string in Yan Shang’s mind was snapped.

His mind was blank; his thoughts had vanished.

Yan Shang looked down at the young girl beneath him, watching her every expression, every graceful, captivating movement.

In all his life, he had never seen anyone who could better embody the phrase "a vibrant, living beauty" than Mu Wanyao.

With his self-control gone and his thoughts in chaos, he didn't even realize what he was doing. Yan Shang’s eyes were fixed squarely on her, his head lowered as his nose brushed against hers, on the verge of kissing her moist, fresh, petal-like crimson lips.

Then, at the same time, Yan Shang discovered that fear had emerged in the eyes of the Mu Wanyao he was holding down.

Her body had gone completely rigid.

The extreme terror revealed in her eyes was as if she had encountered some monstrous flood or beast... Yan Shang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

The room was pitch black, their breaths intertwined, yet neither moved.

At first, Mu Wanyao couldn't see Yan Shang, but when he pressed her down, when he gripped her wrists... the strength of a man and a woman could never be compared; all those previous times when Yan Shang had been pushed over by her, it was simply because he had been indulging her.

When Mu Wanyao struggled once and found she could not break free, she instantly fell into a state of terror that twisted her heart.

The past resurfaced in vivid detail.

Powerful, terrifying men; the carnal intimacy she could not escape. The beast-like, burning gaze of men staring at her in the dark, those turbid breaths hidden in the shadows, and a fate from which there was nowhere to run... all made Mu Wanyao’s entire body stiffen.

For a moment, she was in a trance, thinking she had returned to Wuman.

She remained rigid, even uncontrollably beginning to tremble... until Yan Shang whispered, "Your Highness."

The light in the eyes of the young Princess, pressed against the bed, flickered gently.

Yan Shang looked down at her, his voice soft: "Your Highness, don't be afraid. It’s me."

It was Yan Shang’s voice.

Mu Wanyao returned to her senses.

She struggled immediately, and Yan Shang followed her lead, releasing her wrists and retreating to sit up. Mu Wanyao also sat up, clutching her own heart as she looked at the young man leaning against the bedpost.

He still had damp locks of hair clinging to his face, and his apricot-yellow outer robe cast a soft, warm glow in the moonlight.

He sat there watching her.

Mu Wanyao instantly turned her head away in embarrassment and fell into silence.

She knew she had ruined it.

He had originally been teased to the point where he couldn't control himself, wanting to kiss her... He had intended to kiss her, but she had suddenly displayed such intense fear. Yan Shang’s heart must have turned cold in an instant.

Mu Wanyao sat dazed on the bed, feeling annoyed, bewildered, and hating herself for that hurtful reaction.

Why was she afraid?

Was it such an easy thing for Yan Shang to soften his heart once and be teased by her?

Watching Mu Wanyao sitting there, head bowed and lost in thought, Yan Shang—a person of his character—was most capable of empathizing with the feelings of others. Seeing her sit there so listlessly, head down and silent, Yan Shang felt a sudden, slight ache in his heart. He could not bear to see the usually arrogant Princess sitting there so lonely and dazed.

And so, even knowing he shouldn't, even though his reason had already returned, Yan Shang leaned forward and sat closer.

As Mu Wanyao was lost in her confusion, she caught the scent of the Agarwood, clear and soothing.

Yan Shang gently wrapped his arms around her back, embracing her softly.

He said warmly, "Your Highness, don't be sad. I will not hurt you.

"Your Highness also doesn't have to call me 'Second Brother.' I am a man of my word. Since I promised to be your house retainer, I will not easily change my mind. You don't need to worry that my help is for some ulterior motive; even if there were one, I would never harm you.

"Your Highness, can you trust me just once?"

Mu Wanyao pressed her lips together.

She thought to herself that she didn't believe him.

She didn't trust the promises of anyone, especially men.

However, Yan Shang was holding her and comforting her gently, his hand resting on her back through the thin spring garment, and she was enveloped by his scent.

So, she must have truly lost her senses.

Mu Wanyao whispered, "You are a gentleman. A gentleman’s character is more definitive than my Imperial Father’s, and you are even less likely to go back on your word.

"I am willing to believe you once."

Yan Shang was just about to smile when he heard Mu Wanyao’s voice turn cold and gloomy: "But if I feel you are untrustworthy, I will kill you. If you choose a different side than mine, I will strike at you.

"If that day truly comes, you and I will rely on our own abilities; neither of us needs to hold back against the other."

Yan Shang sighed, seeing how stubborn she was.

He sat on the bed holding her, and with the necessary words spoken, the atmosphere between them stiffened, becoming awkward once again...

The arm Yan Shang had draped over Mu Wanyao’s back went rigid; he began to frown, fretting over what he should say next. It was all for naught that he was usually good at guiding a conversation, but Mu Wanyao never followed his lead and instead forced him to follow hers... Yan Shang now found it bothersome to try to guide Mu Wanyao’s emotions back to calmness.

Fortunately, at this very moment, a timid call from a servant sounded outside: "Young Master, Young Master... the horses have been brought; it is time for you to leave."

Inside the room, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao both breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts simultaneously.

Because if no one had come to interrupt the strange atmosphere between them, they would both have been at a loss for what to do.

The servant calling out for Second Master Yan outside was also in a state of immense inner conflict.

Because Princess Danyang had barged in.

The sky had turned dark, and the lanterns in the courtyard were gradually being lit one by one.

If the two of them were talking in the room, why hadn't they lit the candles? If they hadn't, and a man and a woman were alone in a room, who knew what might happen.

But if something had happened between them in that pitch-black room, and they servants called out and disturbed them... Second Master had a good temper, it would be fine; but if Princess Danyang got angry, what were they supposed to do?

But if they didn't call out, the time Young Master had agreed to meet his friends would pass.

Just as the servant was struggling, he heard Yan Er’s clear, gentle voice from the room: "Very well, I will be out immediately."

The servants breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside the room, Yan Shang released Mu Wanyao and stood up. He explained to Mu Wanyao once more that he had an appointment and had to leave, but seeing the state she was in, he suggested she sit for a while longer to tidy her appearance before returning to the Princess’s estate.

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: "If I leave after you, doesn't that just invite misunderstanding? People will think that you and I did something in the room, and that I, being a woman, couldn't handle you and had to rest a while before I could leave."

Yan Shang was slightly stunned.

Clearly, he hadn't thought of that.

Mu Wanyao gave him a look of disdain and stood up: "Let’s go together."

The two of them straightened their clothes slightly and stepped out. Seeing them emerge so quickly, and with Mu Wanyao’s warning earlier still in his mind, Yan Shang caught a glimpse of the servants' expressions and his own expression became indescribable.

He thought: So, the servants really did think he had done something with the Princess? They had come out so quickly, yet they were actually relieved?

Neither Mu Wanyao nor Yan Shang spoke. The little Princess who had shown a glimmer of vulnerability while in the room had now completely vanished.

After leaving the backyard and entering the front yard, Mu Wanyao saw a servant leading a horse and holding a lantern, waiting there. She turned her head to look at Yan Shang, startled: "You’re actually going out on horseback?"

Yan Shang paused, confused by her look of shock: "...Time is running out; horseback is always faster, isn't it? Is there something wrong with that?"

Mu Wanyao: "I thought that since you couldn't carry a weight on your shoulders or lift a load with your hands, I didn't expect you to know how to ride a horse."

Yan Shang: "..."

He was exasperated: "It is true that the first time I rode a horse in Lingnan, I rode poorly, and Your Highness laughed at me. But I have practiced since then, and I am quite good now."

Mu Wanyao said dismissively: "Oh."

Looking at her haughty profile, Yan Shang felt a bit defiant. After all, he was still a young man, and even if he tried his best to become a sage, he hadn't truly mastered the discipline of one.

He couldn't help but add: "And it isn't true that I can't carry or lift; I listen to my eldest brother, and I practice martial arts every morning."

Mu Wanyao scoffed.

Seeing her disbelief, Yan Shang felt stifled. But he had no way to prove to her that he wasn't frail.

Mu Wanyao walked out of his residence in a leisurely manner. In front of the Princess’s estate, Fang Tong and the others had long since returned. Seeing the Princess finally emerge from across the street, followed by Yan Shang leading his horse, everyone finally relaxed.

Yan Shang nodded slightly to them with a smile, and everyone immediately returned a polite smile. They thought to themselves that Yan Er was still as gentle as jade; it seemed the Princess had not tortured him.

Mu Wanyao saw the irrepressible smiles on her people’s faces. She knew, of course, that they weren't smiling for her, but for the person behind her.

She huffed, and the servants quickly reined in their expressions. Mu Wanyao turned back, standing on the steps, and looked at Yan Shang, who was already mounted on his horse in the alley.

Mu Wanyao said, cold and indifferent: "Yan Shang."

Yan Shang looked toward her.

She said: "If you have any questions about Wuman, just ask me directly. Whatever you ask, if I know the answer, I will tell you. I am not as fragile as you think, causing you to be afraid to ask anything. My life has nothing that cannot be spoken of. As long as you dare to ask, I dare to answer."

The presence of Princess Danyang drew sighs of admiration and respect from the servants across the street who had come out to send their Young Master off.

Fang Tong, Chunhua, and the others, however, remained calm; they knew that since returning from Wuman, the Princess had long ago forged a heart of iron and stone. She could endure even the smallest of trifles.

The Princess did not avoid the past regarding Wuman. It was only those around her who assumed she did.

Looking down into Mu Wanyao’s eyes, Yan Shang smiled slightly: "Yes, I thought too narrowly of Your Highness. Your Highness is more extraordinary than I imagined."

Mu Wanyao grunted "Mn" and said: "I know your abilities are formidable—your capacity to handle affairs is even greater than your capacity for scholarship. But what is more important now is the Boxue Hongci (Extensive Learning and Grand Literary) examination in October. You should put your heart into that. If you fail to pass, you will have wasted another year. I don't have the time to wait for my retainer year after year."

She showed him no mercy in front of so many servants.

The servants felt rather awkward on behalf of Second Master Yan.

Yan Shang, however, only smiled: "Many thanks to Your Highness for the instruction."

Such a composed state of mind.

It made people admire him all the more—

Yan Shang rode his horse to the banquet, but his mood was far from as peaceful as he appeared.

He kept thinking of the evening, of the terrified expression Mu Wanyao had shown while lying on his bed.

Her expression had been so fearful... as if he were about to force her.

In that instant when his heart went cold, Yan Shang had also felt a heart-wrenching hatred for whoever had hurt her.

A princess should never have been bullied by anyone. Before this, Yan Shang had always guessed that she had lived very poorly in Wuman, assuming only that a young princess in her teens, who had grown up in Great Wei, could not adapt to the savage life of a foreign tribe.

Yet, Mu Wanyao’s reaction told him... it was more than that.

She had a fear of male oppression.

He had merely been unable to help himself and had pressed her down, and even that could make her afraid. Just how bad had her life in Wuman been... to make her fear even that? Was it that she could only act on her own, and could not allow others to take the initiative?

The horse’s hooves clattered against the bluestone pavement. Yan Shang held the reins, but his mind was wandering.

The arrogant Mu Wanyao; the Mu Wanyao who teased and played with him; the Mu Wanyao who hugged and held him, and who, when her emotions reached a peak, wanted to kiss him... the Mu Wanyao who knew how to act spoiled and charming, but who was also heartless enough to ignore him whenever she pleased.

A thousand versions of Mu Wanyao appeared in Yan Shang’s mind.

He thought of her blankly, his heart filled with both pity and affection. He found himself both wanting to draw closer to her and being angry at her dismissive, hands-off attitude... She was both contradictory and adorable, both good and bad.

He had a premonition in his heart that he could not keep drawing closer to Mu Wanyao like this; she would destroy his peaceful life, disrupting his life plans and pace... Yan Shang felt that it was becoming increasingly difficult to control the safe distance between the two of them.

This left him feeling troubled and lost.

The best method, he concluded, was still to try his best to retreat to a safe place and not get too close to Mu Wanyao.

That was what Yan Shang told himself.

When he arrived at the gates of his friend’s residence, as he dismounted and handed the reins to the servant who came to greet him, he was still trying to persuade himself of this in his heart.

Someone behind him called out to him happily: "Yan Er-ge, you’re here!"

Yan Shang stiffened abruptly and turned to look behind him.

It was his friend, who had long since grown impatient and had come out personally to welcome him.

Seeing the blank look on Yan Shang’s face, the friend asked with concern: "Yan Er-ge, what is wrong?"

Yan Shang: "...You had better not call me 'Er-ge' anymore."

The moment he heard someone call him "Er-ge" just now, he had immediately recalled Mu Wanyao’s sweet, delicate voice calling him "Er-gege."

His friend looked at Yan Shang strangely. Yan Shang came back to his senses, waved his hand, and asked the other party with a bitter smile not to mind him—

In the following days, Yan Shang honestly studied at the Hongwen Pavilion, leaving early and returning late, trying his best to avoid Mu Wanyao.

He did not know if Mu Wanyao was avoiding him as well.

The two of them hadn't met for several days.

As for Chunhua, after the Princess had perfunctorily told her it didn't matter, she made up her mind to let go of the Prince of Jin and planned to reconcile with Liu Wenji.

Liu Wenji received her letter while he was studying and immediately went out to find her. Chunhua had arranged to meet him at a tavern, but Liu Wenji was too impatient; he hurried on horseback to the appointment.

Chunhua had just left the Princess’s estate with a heavy heart, intending to lead her horse out of the alley, when she heard Liu Wenji’s uneasy and joyful voice behind her: "Chu, Chunhua."

Chunhua turned around to see the handsome young man leading his horse, standing there in unease. He took a step forward, but fearing she would retreat, he stopped.

Chunhua was startled; she hadn't seen him in a long time.

Liu Wenji looked at her with longing, only able to stare blankly, not daring to move for a long moment.

 

Chunhua slowly pressed her lips together and smiled. Shy that people from the Princess’s estate might see her like this, she turned her face away and chided: "Didn't we agree on a place? Why have you come here?"

Liu Wenji looked at her without blinking, stammering: "Because you hadn't seen me for so long, and I was afraid you wouldn't come... I truly couldn't hold back; I wanted to come and see you. I’m sorry."

Chunhua lowered her head: "What is there to apologize for?"

She lowered her eyes and saw her lover take a step forward.

He said with slight agitation: "Chunhua, have you truly forgiven me? Are you willing to reconcile with me?"

Hearing him speak of "forgiveness," Chunhua smiled bitterly in her heart, thinking that she was the one who had done something wrong. She nodded in a haphazard and perfunctory manner, wanting to steer the topic away, but Liu Wenji suddenly took a large step forward and let go of his horse’s reins.

He pulled her into an embrace.

Chunhua let out a cry, her feet leaving the ground as he held her. She flushed red and patted his shoulder: "Liu-lang, put me down!"

Liu Wenji refused to let go, looking up at the young woman he had hoisted into the air; his eyes shone with the light of stars.

He laughed: "I won't! Chunhua, you really have forgiven me, you really have reconciled with me, haven't you? You aren't blaming me anymore, are you? I’m not dreaming, am I?"

Chunhua’s face turned bright red.

The guards at the gate of the Princess’s estate were all looking over with curiosity. The servants at the gate of the residence opposite the Princess’s estate were also watching.

Chunhua was so embarrassed she patted Liu Wenji’s shoulder, but he refused to put her down. He looked up at her with bright eyes, and Chunhua could not help but be infected by his emotions.

She couldn't help but press her lips together and smile, resting her hand on his shoulder as she looked down at him: "You like me that much?"

Liu Wenji said: "Naturally. I liked you immensely the very first time I saw you, but you were too shy and were always following behind your Princess, so even if I wanted to find you to talk, I couldn't.

"Chunhua, I may have many faults, and I may make many mistakes, but I truly like you... I like you especially. The moment I first saw you, I felt that I would not marry anyone but you in this life. If I couldn't be with you, how dull my life would be."

He looked up at her, pleading: "So Chunhua, don't leave me, all right?"

Chunhua’s brows and eyes held a smile; she was deeply moved, and the directness of his words made her face turn even redder.

She, too, had wanted to look back at him the first time she saw him, even though she had already turned to go back to report to the Princess. Just that one glance back at him had set her heart racing, and she had liked that clear, handsome young man. It was just such great luck that Liu Wenji liked her too, took the initiative to talk to her, and took the initiative to find her.

Her luck was truly excellent.

Chunhua whispered: "Put me down first."

After a long moment, she stifled her shyness and whispered: "If you do not betray me, I will not leave you."

Liu Wenji was, naturally, overjoyed. He took Chunhua with him, and the two of them rode their horses out of the alley; having reconciled, they naturally went out to play. Chunhua asked him how his studies were going, and he said it was no matter, it was all destiny.

Seeing that Liu Wenji’s state of mind was much more open than before, Chunhua was happy for him and accompanied him for the whole day. When lovers are together, even if it is only for a moment, they always feel the time is too short—needless to say, they spent the day together—

Mu Wanyao had consumed one too many cups of wine. She had arrived by horse, but returned by carriage.

She had retreated from a banquet and was just beginning to drift into a drunken slumber against the carriage wall when she heard Fang Tong’s voice from outside: "Your Highness, I see Second Master Yan."

Mu Wanyao did not speak.

That night, Yan Shang had seen her in such a wretched state, and he had almost kissed her... her feelings were complicated, so she had not wanted to see him for several days. But the fact that she hadn't seen him, and he hadn't come to her, had only made Mu Wanyao even angrier.

Hearing that Fang Tong had seen Yan Shang—in the past, Mu Wanyao would surely have been too lazy to pay any mind, simply letting the carriage pass and hoping Yan Shang would see her and realize she was ignoring him.

But today, perhaps because she had consumed a couple extra cups of wine, Mu Wanyao’s head felt a bit dizzy. Hearing Fang Tong mention Yan Er, her heart stirred, and she lifted the carriage curtain.

She saw Yan Shang’s thin, tall, and elegant back, with a little servant following alongside him.

He was painstakingly carrying a crate of books, and his servant was also carrying a crate of books.

Mu Wanyao reached out, tapped on the outer wall of the carriage, and said sarcastically: "Only rode a horse for two days, and now you’re not riding anymore. What, did riding a horse hurt you? Did it rub your delicate skin raw against the saddle, leaving you unable to ride?"

In Great Wei, regardless of gender, the fashion was to be unrestrained and romantic, and naturally, horseback riding was the favorite mode of travel for noble men and women.

Yan Shang was struggling with the books when he heard that cold, mocking voice; he knew it was Mu Wanyao. He sighed; in truth, he had noticed Princess Danyang’s carriage earlier, but he had assumed that, just like the previous few times, Mu Wanyao would never pay him any heed.

Who knew she would actually lift the curtain to speak to him?

Yan Shang lifted his eyes to look at her, ignoring Mu Wanyao’s mockery, and greeted her with good temper.

Mu Wanyao’s gaze flickered slightly.

The weather had begun to heat up in June, and there was a bit of sweat on Yan Shang’s forehead and neck. Perspiring like this would smell foul on any other man, but on a beautiful young man, it was quite different.

After Yan Shang’s servant greeted the Princess, he spoke up in defiance on behalf of his master: "Your Highness is mistaken. When we were returning, the Young Master saw a family of people coming into the city to trade, and their old horse died on the road. The family was heartbroken, so our Young Master gave our horse away.

"Our Young Master did a good deed, he is not unable to ride!"

Mu Wanyao’s eyes turned toward the servant who spoke up for Yan Shang.

Yan Shang whispered: "Yunshu, do not be impudent before Her Highness."

Mu Wanyao’s gaze fell back onto Yan Shang’s face: "I never would have guessed that even you had a personal servant. Have you paid back the rent you owe me for the house?"

Yan Shang replied with an excellent temper: "It has already been paid."

Mu Wanyao wanted to find fault again, but seeing a drop of sweat fall from his forehead, tracing his nose to his lips, her expression softened. She calmed her mood and said: "Is it really that hot? You’re going back to your residence, right? Get in the carriage, I’ll give you a ride."

Yunshu, who was beside Yan Shang, had assumed that someone as polite as his Young Master would surely refuse repeatedly, but to his surprise, Yan Shang did not refuse at all, only saying: "Then I will trouble Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao’s eyes lit up with joy. She happily ordered the carriage to stop and personally opened the door to pull Yan Shang into the carriage.

Yan Shang did not refuse, naturally knowing that Mu Wanyao hated being refused; the more he refused, the angrier she would become, and she would eventually force him anyway. Since he was destined to be forced, it was better to comply with her from the beginning—

Sitting inside the carriage, Mu Wanyao enthusiastically pushed the ice slices covered by the cage toward Yan Shang, and then took out a handkerchief for him to wipe his sweat.

She rested her chin on her hand, leaning over the table, her posture lazy, her clear eyes dark and liquid as she silently admired the way he wiped his sweat. She was both brilliant and cold, staring at him for a long time.

It was long enough to make Yan Shang’s neck flush red; he turned his face away, avoiding her gaze.

The two had nothing to say.

After quite a while, Yan Shang managed to scrape together a topic: "Where is Your Highness returning from?"

Mu Wanyao said lazily: "You can spare me that kind of polite small talk. No matter how much you say, I won’t get a better impression of you."

Yan Shang whispered: "When people speak to one another, it isn't only for the sake of making a good impression. Could I not be concerned about Your Highness?"

He looked toward her, slightly reproachful.

Without realizing it, under his gaze, Mu Wanyao felt that her casual demeanor wasn't quite right. She coughed, sat up a bit straighter, and answered his question honestly: "I haven't been doing anything. By the way, in the next two days, I am going to host a banquet for the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Since you are 'my person,' you should come to my estate and meet them so you can look after each other in the future."

Yan Shang nodded.

But he said: "I am not 'your person'."

Mu Wanyao chuckled and said: "Whatever you say."

After chatting casually for a bit, the strange atmosphere between them receded slightly, and they were able to speak freely. However, both of them tried their best to measure their words and not steer the conversation in an uncontrollable direction.

The carriage reached the mouth of the alley and stopped, but the people outside did not call for them to get off for a long time.

After a while, Yan Shang’s little servant, Yunshu, said blankly: "Er-lang, our... our residence... there are so many people."

Yan Shang laughed: "How could it be for me? It must be for Her Highness."

Mu Wanyao felt the same way; it was possible for her Princess estate to be bustling with visitors, but how could there be anyone looking for Yan Shang, who was still just a candidate waiting for appointment at the Hongwen Pavilion?

Yunshu stuttered from outside: "N-no... Young Master, you will understand when you see."

Pushing open the carriage door, Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang curiously looked out together.

They saw the front of the residence piled high with goods, and a charming young lady standing in front of the house, her voice like that of an oriole, directing the servants to carry items into Yan Shang’s residence. The Princess’s estate guards had been watching curiously for a long time, while the servants from Yan Shang’s residence were being directed by that young lady to help move things.

Everyone was confused.

Hearing the commotion by the carriage, the young lady turned back to look.

Her complexion was like the dawn of spring, filled with spirit.

She saw Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang sitting in the carriage, was startled for a moment, offered a perfunctory salute to Mu Wanyao, and then waved at Yan Shang with immense joy.

As she spoke to Yan Shang, she couldn't help but blush: "Er-lang, you’re back. I heard you moved, but honestly, why didn't you tell me? I’m here to celebrate your housewarming."

Mu Wanyao knew this young lady.

Because she was the cousin of Yang San-lang (Yang Si), the fifth daughter of the Zhao family, Zhao Lingfei.

Zhao Lingfei stared at Yan Shang with a gaze that was both shy and bold; who didn't know what she was intending?

Yan Shang, sitting in the carriage, instantly went rigid.

Mu Wanyao’s gaze shot toward him like an arrow, and she clamped her hand onto his arm: "What is going on?"

Yan Shang looked at her.

Gone was his composure; he stammered: "I, I don't know either.”