Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Mu Wanyao had Yan Shang sit on the divan by the window. She took the medicinal powder and a small spoon, then gestured for him to tilt his head back so she could apply the medicine.

As her fingers brushed against his face, she noticed that his skin was slightly warm beneath her touch, and he gave an involuntary tremor.

Mu Wanyao lowered her gaze to look at him, but he kept his eyes cast down, avoiding her stare. However, when Mu Wanyao glanced at his temples and saw his earlobes flushed with a faint red, she scoffed inwardly.

He was merely trying his best to appear indifferent.

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips, feeling as though her own fingertips were about to be scorched by the temperature of his skin.

Yet, who among them was truly indifferent?

Mu Wanyao had always been quick to shift her emotions; she had been so furious earlier that she could have torn him to shreds, but now she was holding his face with absolute composure, forcing him to look up. When he resisted slightly, Mu Wanyao scolded, "Don't fidget."

Yan Shang kept his eyes lowered, whispering, "Your Highness, just use clean water to cleanse it; please, do not use wine."

Mu Wanyao’s hand had been about to touch the cup of clear wine resting on the table beside them. Surprised, she asked, "And why is that?"

Yan Shang replied in a low voice, "Your Highness knows that I have never been able to hold my liquor. I cannot touch even a drop. I fear if even a little wine touches me... I shall be drunk."

Mu Wanyao: "..."

What kind of miraculously delicate constitution was this?

She suddenly recalled the night she refused the Imperial marriage decree, when Yan Shang came to see her. That night, while she was tipsy, she remembered Yan Shang stumbling slightly as he entered... Was it possible he had been dizzied by the scent of alcohol back then?

And he, he had actually... managed to endure the discomfort to reject her.

That was no easy feat.

Mu Wanyao lazily uttered an "Oh," poured a fresh cup of water, and said, "It will sting a little, so try not to cry out."

Yan Shang could not help but lift his eyes and cast a glance at her.

She was watching him with a playful, teasing look.

He let out a cough and averted his gaze.

Following that, it was a simple matter to cleanse the wound with water, pat the blood dry, and then, taking up the medicinal powder, sprinkle it bit by bit onto his face with the spoon, gently rubbing it in.

Only, Mu Wanyao’s hands trembled slightly. After wiping away the blood, she saw that the long, narrow scratch almost bisected half of his left cheek. Although the mark could not ruin the handsome appearance of such a young gentleman, it was, nonetheless... a blemish.

Guilt welled up in Mu Wanyao’s heart.

It was her own hot temper that had hurt him.

Mu Wanyao used a cotton swab to gently rub the powder into his skin. Perhaps it did sting, for his lowered eyelashes trembled slightly. Standing before him, she sensed his body was held very rigidly. Looking down, she saw the blush on his face flowing down into his neck and continuing further.

The sunlight sprinkled a layer of gold dust upon his eyelashes, and as they fluttered, it was like flowing light in motion—breathtakingly moving.

Mu Wanyao was momentarily dazed, stopping the movement of her hands.

Yan Shang assumed he had distracted her and spoke up: "Apologies, I will not move again."

Mu Wanyao blinked, muttering, "It is not your fault..."

She continued to cradle his face and apply the medicine.

Yet this time, she could not help but study his face carefully.

In truth, she rarely looked at Yan Shang properly. Her heart was always filled with anger and disdain for him, or, when she was in a good mood, she treated him like a mere toy. She had known he was handsome since the first day they met, but what of it?

Princess Danyang’s heart was without ripples, a pool of stagnant water.

Only now, forced to lean in close to apply the medicine, did she find herself holding his face, their breathing intermingling. She watched the golden light dancing on his long, lowered lashes, noted the delicate shape of his high-bridged nose, his slightly reddened, pursed lips, and his tranquil expression.

He was born with a handsome, slightly gentle, and soft appearance. His nose, mouth, eyes, and brows—every feature highlighted that calm and serene side of his character.

Mu Wanyao said slowly, "Yan Shang."

"...Yes?" He had been so close that her breath brushed against his face; the temperature on Yan Shang’s skin rose even higher. Yet he never raised his eyes to look at her; it was only after a moment of hesitation that he replied.

Mu Wanyao asked, "Do you ever think that my temper is perhaps a bit too foul?"

Yan Shang was slightly startled, and at last, he lifted his eyes to hers. The moment he looked up, his lashes swept upward, trapping the golden sunlight in his eyes like light shimmering on a clear lake. It was so beautiful that Mu Wanyao’s hand trembled slightly, pressing down on his wound and causing him to stiffen once more.

However, he did not show it, so Mu Wanyao did not even realize her clumsiness had caused him pain again.

Yan Shang watched her for a moment and said, "Why does Your Highness say that?"

Mu Wanyao continued to apply the medicine in a leisurely fashion, saying slowly, "It is obvious, is it not? I am frequently furious, I often give you a cold shoulder, and now I have even raised a hand to injure you. I am unreasonable, ignoring your words; I am willful and pretentious, with eyes only for myself."

The corners of her lips curled up.

With a self-deprecating, cold smile, she added, "It must be very exhausting to associate with someone like me, right?"

Yan Shang replied, "It is, indeed, quite exhausting."

Mu Wanyao: "..."

Fire instantly ignited in her eyes, and she glared fiercely at him.

She watched as Yan Shang, who sat on the divan looking even shorter than her, smiled slightly. Mu Wanyao noticed his leaning, kneeling posture.

If they were lovers, this standing position would have been perfect for him to reach out, wrap his arms around her waist, and pull her onto his lap for comfort.

Alas, Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang were not that kind of relation.

Yan Shang’s arms were braced on the divan; the distance between them was close, yet he was trying hard to hold himself up without straining. His upper body leaned back, his face tilted up—this posture... Mu Wanyao glanced at his waist, thinking to herself that his waist must be under quite a strain.

Yan Shang, of course, was unaware that Mu Wanyao was lost in thought, letting her imagination run wild about his waist.

He spoke in a soft, gentle voice: "Although associating with Your Highness is indeed very arduous, for me, it actually seems to be alright."

As he analyzed himself, he laughed with a touch of unease: "Your Highness knows the kind of person I am; I have always been adept at handling people. Few things leave me feeling at a loss or unable to know how to proceed. As time passes, the truth is, in my interactions with others... I have certain set patterns."

Mu Wanyao scoffed, "Smooth and slick, as expected."

Yan Shang was the type of person accustomed to self-analysis. He frowned slightly and continued to dissect himself: "But I often fail to grasp Your Highness's intentions; I do not know what you are thinking... because Your Highness is capricious, happy one moment, only to turn cold and ignore me the next. Being with you forces me to truly use my heart, which honestly gives one a feeling..."

Mu Wanyao interrupted, "A feeling that you are still human and haven't become a saint?"

Yan Shang: "..."

He replied helplessly, "That is roughly what I meant."

Even though Mu Wanyao had put it quite harshly.

Mu Wanyao looked down at him and suddenly smiled. She said softly, "In truth, I was not like this before... I used to be very gentle, with a temperament even better than Lady Zhao’s. If you find her lovely, then the old me was even better. Had you met me back then, you surely would have found me obedient and exquisite."

She thought for a moment, puffed out her cheeks, and said resentfully, "However, had I met you back then, I surely would have been so hopelessly deceived that I would have counted the money for you while you sold me off. I would have thought you were the best gentleman in the world and would have cried and begged to marry you."

Yan Shang let out a laugh, perhaps imagining what a docile, obedient Mu Wanyao might look like.

His smile was shallow, and he shook his head, not refuting her jab at him. It was rare to see him in such a relaxed state, no longer wearing that steady, unshakeable mask that remained unmoved even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.

Mu Wanyao felt a stir in her heart.

She had already finished applying the medicine, yet she was reluctant to let go of his face. The gauze lay on the table, but her fingers remained cupping his jaw, watching him smile.

Her heart fluttered, and she fell into a bit of a stupor.

She murmured, "But then again, who can say. You are such a good person—how could you possibly deceive a weak and innocent young lady like me?"

Yan Shang could not help but glance at her, sighing, "At last, Your Highness has spoken a word of justice for me."

Mu Wanyao watched her own reflection in his upturned eyes; she was spellbound, distracted, and muttered, "...Why did I not meet you back then? If I had known you back then..."

Perhaps, even if she could not have escaped the fate of marriage, things would not have come to this point today.

If she had known Yan Shang back then, if Yan Shang had still been willing to help her, if he had comforted her back then when she was in Wuman... she thought she would not have turned into the wretched personality she was today.

Yan Shang remained silent for a long moment.

It was quite some time before he said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, have you finished applying the medicine?"

Mu Wanyao returned to her senses and stepped back.

She lowered her eyes and watched Yan Shang stand up. He stood before her for a long moment before whispering, "Does Your Highness still require me to apply medicine for you?"

Mu Wanyao looked up: "Are you not unwilling to apply medicine for me?"

Yan Shang said warmly, "I only feared being presumptuous and staining Your Highness’s reputation. Why would I ever be unwilling?"

Mu Wanyao said, "...I thought you were afraid your own good name would be dragged down by me."

Yan Shang paused; he could not bear such clear-eyed perception from her.

Mu Wanyao always understood everything in her heart... Yan Shang felt a slight pain in his chest and took hold of her wrist, saying in a low voice, "My reputation—how could it possibly be more important than Your Highness?"

He thought for a moment and said slowly: "Your Highness, you are a Princess. You can be whoever you wish to be. If even a Princess must suppress her own temper, would life in this world not be too difficult? Naturally, Your Highness can be a Princess who is beloved and admired—bearing burdens with dignity, remaining calm in the face of all things, leaving not a trace of struggle so that everyone around you trusts and follows you.

"But if you do not wish to be that, what does it matter? Who dictated that a Princess must be a certain way, or that the women of this world cannot have a temper of their own? I have never seen Your Highness go around beating your servants; at most, you throw a few scolding words... I think that for a Princess, who could do anything she wishes, the fact that you only throw the occasional tantrum is already quite good.

"Your Highness... living freely is quite enough."

Mu Wanyao looked up at him.

She did not speak, though in her heart she thought that Yan Shang spoke this way because he did not yet understand her past; once he found out, he would know, just like everyone else in Chang'an, that her reputation as a Princess was not very good at all.

Yan Shang was a person described as smooth and slick, yet every time he spoke to someone, he was deeply sincere. He seemed to see the hardships of everyone and empathized with them... such a person was a hypocrite, yet he also possessed the air of a gentleman.

Whether he was sincere or false, if Second Master Yan were willing to treat others this way his entire life, then he was a gentleman. These words of his had moved Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao gave an indifferent smile, lowered her eyes, and nudged him, saying, "Go get the medicine."

Yan Shang turned around, tidied the medicines on the table, went out to hand them to the maid, and retrieved fresh ones. While he was out, Mu Wanyao tossed a mint leaf into a cup of clear water and took a sip, her lips pursed.

She had flushed cheeks and a furrowed brow.

She thought that in a moment, he would be applying medicine to her mouth.

She would have to rinse her mouth behind his back before he returned—

At night, the Princess's estate was ablaze with lights.

Mu Wanyao sat on the third floor of the inner courtyard’s pavilion, silently watching the estate across from hers. Behind her, not to mention the waiting maids, three or four political advisors stood by, accompanying the Princess.

However, the Princess remained seated and silent, not knowing what she was looking at, which left the advisors quite confused.

In Mu Wanyao’s eyes, the lights of the estate across the street remained sparse and dim. It indicated that only servants were there, and Yan Shang was absent.

Half an hour ago, Zhao Lingfei had still been waiting in the alley; now, the district gates were about to close, and Zhao Lingfei had departed, full of lingering attachment.

Mu Wanyao sat in the cold wind for a while longer until she saw the lights in the opposite estate gradually brighten, twinkling here and there as if the whole courtyard had suddenly come to life. Mu Wanyao changed her sitting posture and rubbed her neck, knowing that Yan Shang had returned to his residence.

Only after his return did the place cease to be like stagnant water, devoid of waves.

Mu Wanyao asked the maid behind her, "For these past few days, has Lady Zhao continued to block Yan Shang’s path every day?"

The maid on duty today was Xia Rong, as Chun Hua had claimed to be feeling unwell and had gone to bed early.

Xia Rong replied hurriedly, "Yes, Lady Zhao has persisted for nearly ten days now. It appears... she still intends to go on."

Mu Wanyao gave a mocking smile, though in her heart, she felt a trace of envy.

Such persistence. To be determined to follow one person for a lifetime? Mu Wanyao had long lost that kind of mentality.

For Mu Wanyao, things already in her hand could be tossed back into the pool for the sake of profit, let alone those yet to be acquired.

However, Mu Wanyao now left her estate every day and felt annoyed at the sight of Zhao Lingfei. To spare herself that annoyance, she intended to resolve the matter.

Mu Wanyao asked her advisors, "You are all men, so I ask you: if a woman were to hound you relentlessly, insisting on marrying you, and she came from a prominent family so you could not afford to offend her, how would you go about avoiding such a woman?"

The advisors realized Mu Wanyao was speaking of Second Master Yan.

They feigned ignorance and offered their suggestions: "If it were us, we would simply say that we already have a woman whom we admire in our hearts."

Mu Wanyao looked at the maid Xia Rong.

Xia Rong stared back, bewildered.

Mu Wanyao said impatiently, "Take this advice to the servants of that estate across the street; have them give a hint to that master of theirs who does not know how to refuse people."

Xia Rong responded with a series of "Oh, oh, oh," ashamed that she and the Princess lacked understanding, and hurried out to carry out the task.

But a short time later, Xia Rong returned.

She said tremblingly, "This servant went to find the page boy named Yun Shu, who often follows the Second Master. He said that their master had long ago tried to soothe Lady Zhao with such an excuse, but it was completely useless."

Mu Wanyao was puzzled: "How could it be useless?"

Xia Rong did not dare tell the Princess that Yun Shu had said their master had already thought of such simple methods long ago, and did not need anyone else’s reminders.

Xia Rong picked out the important parts to say: "Second Master Yan told Lady Zhao he had a woman he liked, so Lady Zhao forced him to say who it was. The Second Master made up a lie on the spot, and that day, Lady Zhao left in great sorrow. The Second Master thought she had finally left, but who would have known that Lady Zhao remembered what he said and went off to find the woman whom the Second Master had lied about admiring.

"Once she went looking, she naturally found out the Second Master had lied. When Lady Zhao returned to see Second Master Yan, not only did she not confront him about why he deceived her, but she confessed to him once more with tear-filled eyes, begging him that even if he did not like her, he should not toy with her.

"With such a gentle person as the Second Master, what could he do? Now, he can only hide, not daring to be seen."

Mu Wanyao said, "Useless."

It was unclear whether she was calling Yan Shang useless, or the advisors behind her who had offered their suggestions useless.

In any case, the people standing behind the Princess bowed their heads, not daring to speak. Later, they offered a few more ideas, only to find that the Second Master had already tried them all, and they were completely ineffective. Everyone looked at each other as the Princess gave a cold snort, rose, and left.

Mu Wanyao said impatiently, "Such a simple matter, yet it requires me to step in personally."

Xia Rong whispered, "It is mainly a burden due to his reputation..."

After being glared at by the Princess, she immediately dared not speak again. Trembling with fear, she secretly prayed for Chun Hua to recover from her illness quickly. Serving the Princess closely was simply too exhausting—

The next day, as Mu Wanyao returned from outside, she once again saw Zhao Lingfei crouching at the gate of Yan Shang’s estate, chatting and laughing with the maids.

Mu Wanyao remained expressionless and called out, "Zhao Lingfei."

"Ah?" Zhao Lingfei looked up. Seeing the Princess had returned, she quickly stood and bowed, smiling brightly, "Your Highness has returned quite early today."

There was a hint of melancholy in her tone; she thought to herself that she would certainly not be able to see Second Master Yan today either.

Mu Wanyao looked at her: "Come with me to my estate. I have some words to entrust to you."

Zhao Lingfei was bewildered, but quickly lifted her skirts and followed Mu Wanyao with a smile.

Having played with her cousin for a long time, even though she often saw Mu Wanyao’s cold face, because Yang Si always used such a casual, rogue-like tone whenever he mentioned her, it gave Zhao Lingfei the impression that the Princess was not a bad person.

However, the others did not think so.

The maid who had been happily chatting with Zhao Lingfei at the gate grew anxious, knowing Princess Danyang’s temper was foul and fearing that the lively and cheerful Zhao Wuniang would be bullied by the Princess. The maid hurried off to find a servant to help, and one of them said he would go find Second Master Yan.

If the Princess were to torture Zhao Wuniang... the Second Master was probably the only one who could stop the fight—

Mu Wanyao led Zhao Lingfei into the main hall and had the maids serve her tea and snacks first, while she herself went back to the inner chambers to change her clothes.

When Mu Wanyao returned, she saw Zhao Lingfei standing there with a smile, chatting with the maids who were waiting in the hall.

The atmosphere among them was very harmonious and friendly, but as soon as the maids saw the Princess return, they immediately composed their expressions, feeling embarrassed to show they were on good terms with Lady Zhao in front of her.

Mu Wanyao glared at those maids before taking her seat.

Watching as Zhao Lingfei also knelt to the side, Mu Wanyao said, "Do you know what it is that I have asked you here to discuss today?"

Zhao Lingfei thought for a long time: "...Is it to chat with me about my cousin?"

Mu Wanyao: "..."

She was momentarily stunned, only then remembering that Zhao Lingfei was Yang Si’s cousin. It seemed that in Zhao Lingfei’s eyes, the only intersection between the two of them was Yang Si.

Mu Wanyao felt secret resentment.

She said with a straight face, "I want to talk to you about Yan Shang."

Zhao Lingfei came to a sudden realization, but became even more confused: "So that’s it... however, however, why would Your Highness want to talk to me about him?"

Mu Wanyao said concisely, "I want you to give up on Yan Shang and stop chasing after him."

Zhao Lingfei was dazed—

The district where the Princess’s estate resided had an excellent location, being exceptionally close to the Imperial City. For the people of the Yan estate to help Lady Zhao, riding a horse to the Imperial City to find someone to pass a message to the Hongwen Pavilion and have the Second Master come out would only take the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

When Yan Shang came out, he heard the page boy Yun Shu say anxiously that Mu Wanyao had brought Lady Zhao away in a threatening manner, and the display was very frightening.

Yan Shang was momentarily dazed.

The page boy Yun Shu said anxiously, "Young Master, you must hurry back with me to see. If we go back too late, what if the Princess beats the poor Lady Zhao to death?"

Yan Shang suddenly found it laughable.

He said, "How could that be? She is not that kind of person."

He pursed his lips slightly, his tone curious: "Besides, Lady Zhao is Yang Sanlang’s cousin; even if only for the sake of Yang Sanlang’s face, it is impossible for her to make things difficult for Lady Zhao."

The page boy could not detect the subtlety in Yan Shang’s tone at all; he only tugged at Second Master Yan’s sleeve, hoping Yan Shang would go back to stop the war between the two young women.

On second thought, Yan Shang also felt it was improper.

Mu Wanyao had a foul temper, and Zhao Lingfei was skilled in martial arts... what if Mu Wanyao said something sharp in her haste, and Zhao Lingfei lost control for a moment and accidentally hurt Mu Wanyao?

Moreover... he was extremely unwilling to be caught in the middle between two young women.

Yan Shang pondered; he had to resolve this matter completely.

Thinking this, Yan Shang mounted his horse and returned to the residence with his servants.

The people at the Princess’s estate were already very accustomed to seeing Second Master Yan visit. Yan Shang only had to arch his hands, and they let him pass.

Fang Tong led Yan Shang into the estate, and Yan Shang said gently, "I do not think the Princess will harm Lady Zhao, so I am not here to bring charges against anyone. I will just observe the situation first."

Fang Tong understood: "The main hall has no walls on four sides, only screens blocking the view. If you stand behind the screen, Second Master, and listen to them talk, you will understand the situation roughly."

Yan Shang nodded.

The attendants retreated, and Yan Shang found a spot behind the screen near a tree. While he was still pondering, he first heard Mu Wanyao’s clear, crisp voice: "It is not because I rejected his marriage proposal that I forbid other women from admiring him. I merely believe that you are not worthy of him."

Yan Shang was stunned and could not help but look toward the direction from which the voice came.

Alas, he was blocked by the screen, and he could only see blurred, shadowy lights—

In the main hall, Zhao Lingfei, who had been provoked by the Princess until she jumped to her feet, was red with fury.

She was unconvinced: "Why does Your Highness say that I am not worthy of Second Master Yan? My appearance, my family background, my talent, my martial arts—where is it that I am not worthy?"

Mu Wanyao smiled slightly, at ease.

Adorned in golden turmeric makeup, Princess Danyang looked magnificently beautiful, firmly suppressing Zhao Lingfei, who stood in the hall wearing only ordinary women's clothing.

This was, naturally, the result of Mu Wanyao’s deliberate choice to change her clothes.

She lifted the lid of the teacup in her hand without even raising her eyelids: "In your eyes, for a marriage to a gentleman, is beauty, family background, talent, and martial arts... enough? If these things are good enough, do you feel that a gentleman should marry you? If he marries you, is it because you are good enough and satisfy his conditions?"

Zhao Lingfei was stunned.

She was young, just experiencing the first stirrings of love, and was indeed ignorant in this regard, unable to out-talk Mu Wanyao, who was four or five years her senior.

Zhao Lingfei muttered, "Is there something wrong with that?"

Mu Wanyao set down the teacup and looked at Zhao Lingfei: "Do you know that it will soon be October, and soon the erudite and grand examination will be held? Yan Shang hails from Lingnan; his father is said to be a Jinshi (presented scholar), but his family is nothing more than farmers. He has come thousands of miles from Lingnan to Chang'an—do you think it is easy? Do you think he came to Chang'an to be affectionate and romantic with you?"

Zhao Lingfei froze.

Mu Wanyao said, "Do you know that of the two thousand people who take the exam every year, only twenty-two are selected? Do you know that even if those twenty-two are selected, these Jinshi cannot immediately hold office, but must wait for the Imperial Court to appoint them? Some people cannot wait those few years and simply leave Chang'an. For those who cannot afford to waste time, the fastest way to become an official is the annual examination held in October for all Jinshi. Once accepted, an office is arranged immediately. This is the only chance for these Jinshi without a prominent background.

"Every Jinshi who cannot become an official and waits for a mandate goes to fight for these subjects; do you know that this is even harder than the Imperial examination? And among these subjects, the most difficult and the one ranked first is the erudite and grand examination. Yan Shang chose the erudite and grand examination because he has high ambitions, but at the same time, it also shows that he must go all out and should not have much time to deal with other trivial matters."

Zhao Lingfei was helpless: "I, I know that... no, I didn't, I never, never thought his situation was so difficult... I didn't mean to, I didn't want to hold him back..."

She lowered her eyes and said guiltily, "I understand now. I will never come to find him again."

Mu Wanyao said, "Do not look for him in the future either."

Zhao Lingfei looked up: "How can that be? How can Your Highness do this? I will not delay his examination; won't it be fine after he finishes the exam? Does he never intend to discuss marriage or take a wife?"

Mu Wanyao said warmly, "For a person like Yan Shang, when he wishes to take a wife, would he choose an ordinary woman? Fifth Daughter, you have known him for half a year; you should know that his ambitions are not limited to merely being an official."

Zhao Lingfei: "...What other ambitions does he have?"

Mu Wanyao did not know either.

But Mu Wanyao could make it up; she could deceive the young girl: "He has ambitions for the people’s livelihood. He wants to be an official only because he wants to do things for the people of the world and make the world righteous. He wants the people of the world to be educated; he wants to break the oppression that the distinction between noble and commoner places upon the world; he wants to change the monopoly of the influential families; he wants to have compassion for the poor who cannot survive from one day to the next.

"His entire heart is bent on seeing the world move in a better direction. His ambitions, his vision, his realm, and his breadth of spirit do not lie in ordinary romance. If you wish to be with him, will you not feel that you are dragging his feet? Can you truly understand him? If he were to choose the nation over his family, would you not blame him? If he were to sacrifice a hundred people to save ten thousand, and those hundred included your own kin, could you truly support him?

"Can you understand his selflessness? Can you understand his heart for the world? Can you love him forever as you do today, rather than, one day... coming to hate him?

"A person like him would never put the petty love between a man and a woman in the first place. You feel you can accept it now, but as the months and years go by... you will never receive that singular love from him; will you not come to hate out of love, hating yourself for why you chose such a husband?"

Zhao Lingfei was completely stunned.

Mu Wanyao continued to say much, much more, yet Zhao Lingfei’s brain had become a paste. She felt her heart being gripped by the Princess’s words; she was forced to blush, and she took several steps back.

She tried to interrupt several times, yet Mu Wanyao spoke faster and faster, her words becoming more and more severe... like the strike of thunder and lightning, forcing Zhao Lingfei to face her own heart.

Finally, Zhao Lingfei stumbled backward, tears already pooling in her eyes.

She muttered, "Indeed... I am not worthy of Second Master Yan’s heart right now."

Mu Wanyao ceased her tongue, not wishing to push anyone too far.

Seeing Zhao Lingfei remain dazed for a long while before wiping away her tears, she said in a low, sad voice, "Indeed, if I were to force myself to be with him now, I could rely on my family’s status to coerce him, and I could even coerce my father into agreeing. However, I am not worthy of Second Master Yan’s frame of mind. I do not know his ideals, and I cannot reach his requirements.

"I... I will go back and practice martial arts diligently and study diligently. It is not that I am giving up on Second Master Yan, but... I must think more and let myself grow. I want to stand side by side with Second Master Yan; I want to help him, rather than, rather than become a burden to him. It is not that I cannot understand him for a lifetime, and he does not know how to face me."

Zhao Lingfei bowed to Mu Wanyao, wiping away her tears and choking up: "Many thanks to Your Highness for your instruction. I understand now; I will never come to bother him again."

Mu Wanyao gave a click of her tongue.

Yet another "Second Master Yan."

Let Yan Shang recognize brothers and sisters everywhere—

After sending Zhao Lingfei away, Mu Wanyao felt high-spirited and sipped her tea in a leisurely fashion.

A maid leaned over and whispered a single sentence in her ear. Mu Wanyao’s face stiffened instantly as she looked in the direction of the screen.

She saw Yan Shang walking out from behind the screen, watching her in silence.

Mu Wanyao exchanged a look with him.

A long silence ensued.

Mu Wanyao sneered, "What, seeing me scare away Lady Zhao, do you feel I am very wicked?"

Yan Shang reproached, "How can Your Highness say that?"

Mu Wanyao was momentarily dazed.

She thought for a moment, changed her tone, and teased, "Or is it that you heard me praising you, praising you until you were supreme in heaven and on earth, and you can no longer keep your composure in front of me?"

Yan Shang did not speak, watching her quietly.

The hand Mu Wanyao used to cup the teacup stiffened.

Her heart gave a thump—

He could not have truly lost his composure, could he?