Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 52

Chapter 52

The sun was blinding, and the air crackled like a sudden thunderclap on a clear day.

Yan Shang’s words exploded in Mu Wanyao’s ears.

On the water-side corridor leading to the library, Mu Wanyao stopped in her tracks and stared blankly at Yan Shang, who had stopped a few steps behind her.

Her mind went blank for two breaths before she finally registered what he had said.

Mu Wanyao: "...What did you just say?"

Yan Shang’s eyelashes flickered slightly; he lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

Mu Wanyao demanded sharply: "What did you say!"

Yan Shang: "Did Your Highness not hear me?"

Mu Wanyao raised her eyebrows.

His silent demeanor was the most vivid expression of his attitude toward that previous statement.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes suddenly brightened, as if brushed by stars.

Before she could overthink, before she could ponder how his attitude had changed so quickly, she felt only surprise—

Was he finally no longer planning to drag things out with her?

It was impossible for Yan Shang to be unaware that their relationship was somewhat strange; it was only due to circumstances that they both pretended things were normal.

Mu Wanyao had some "thievish intentions," however... wasn't he unwilling?

If he was reluctant, she was a dignified princess who could easily find another man; why force him?

If things went wrong and Yan Shang retaliated against her the way he had against the Princess of Luling, it wouldn't be worth the loss... Why bother?

But now... Yan Shang’s attitude had changed—

Mu Wanyao curled her lips upward slightly.

Her expression didn't change much; she neither showed excessive surprise nor displayed confusion or unease about the future. Her expression was calm as she walked a step toward him.

Mu Wanyao: "What does that mean?"

Yan Shang: "Does Your Highness not understand?"

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow.

She strolled leisurely toward him.

There had been a distance of three or four paces between them, but as Mu Wanyao moved forward, that distance narrowed.

As she walked toward him, she asked: "Have you finally seen my merits and bowed before me?"

Yan Shang: "..."

Admittedly, his decision to change their relationship had begun with his admiration for her spirit. He had answered honestly, but Mu Wanyao’s directness still left him stunned for a moment.

He had decided to change their relationship, but he clearly hadn't fully adapted yet.

His face was slightly flushed, and he felt somewhat uncomfortable at her aggressive approach, making him unable to help but take a step back.

Yet, keeping his eyes lowered, he gave her a slow response: "...Yes."

Mu Wanyao: "Do you know what kind of change will happen to the relationship between you and me once you’ve said this?"

Yan Shang sighed: "I think I know."

He said: "Your Highness, please don't come any closer."

Because he had already been backed into a corner by her.

Mu Wanyao thought, you already said your heart wasn't innocent, so what are you retreating for?

She remained unhurried, continuing to press toward him until she saw his knees hit the corridor railing, effectively blocking his retreat.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes brimmed with a teasing smile: "You know I’m a person who acts recklessly, right?"

Yan Shang: "...I know."

Mu Wanyao leaned in. He tilted backward, and with a soft thud, he sat down, changing the angle so that she was leaning over to look at him, and he was looking up at her.

Sunlight fell slantwise through the tree shade onto his face. The robes he had draped over the railing refracted layers of heavy light, and that light reflected onto his face, rippling like a lake.

He appeared even more upright and handsome... and because he had nowhere left to retreat, he possessed an added air of innocence and confusion.

Mu Wanyao: "If you want to change our relationship, you’ll be able to accept whatever I do, right?"

Yan Shang: "...Yes."

Mu Wanyao was curious: "If I force you to stay at my Princess’s Mansion in the daytime, are you willing, too?"

Yan Shang tried to remain composed: "That is fine."

Mu Wanyao: "If outsiders say you are clinging to power and are just a man under the Danyang Princess’s skirts, harming your reputation, is that also fine?"

Yan Shang looked up at her and said slowly: "It is fine."

The smile in Mu Wanyao’s eyes deepened.

The way she looked at him became much more lingering and affectionate. Someone as cautious in every word and deed as him would find it hard to adapt to such an unreserved display of emotion from a woman.

But Yan Shang only flickered his gaze slightly and, in the end, did not look away.

Mu Wanyao said lazily: "Is it also fine to sleep with me?"

Yan Shang was choked by her words.

Although he knew she had always been... still, she was just too...

Awkward yet calm, he whispered: "Yes."

Mu Wanyao: "Can you accept me being on top?"

Yan Shang wondered what that was supposed to mean.

He said vaguely: "Yes."

Mu Wanyao: "If I want to play games, will you not pull a long face and lecture me on propriety?"

Yan Shang sighed: "Your Highness, who do you think I am?"

The summer day was hot, and Mu Wanyao had been feeling dizzy from the sun. But at this moment, she didn't feel hot at all. Her interest had been piqued by him; she looked at Yan Shang joyfully, left and right, and liked him more the longer she looked.

Not wanting to get married was one thing, but a night of passion was another.

Of course, what she feared most was having to be responsible.

Thinking of this, she asked nervously: "After sleeping with me, you won't cry and scream, demanding that I take responsibility, will you?"

Yan Shang paused, as if sensing something: "..."

He didn't think much of that intuition, assuming she had misunderstood him for someone who wanted to use her to gain an official position.

With a trace of reproach and hidden anger on his face, he asked: "What do you take me for, Your Highness?"

After a pause, Yan Shang added: "However, I believe that between a man and a woman, one should pay more attention to spiritual connection."

He explained in detail: "I do not yet hold an official position, so I am not thinking of those other things."

Mu Wanyao hadn't listened to his rambling explanation at all; she only focused on his previous answer and couldn't help but widen her eyes.

What kind of stimulation had Yan Shang gone through to be able to accept this?

The Princess of Luling shouldn't have been able to successfully sleep with him, yet he hadn't been able to do it then. Now, he... could?

Mu Wanyao coughed once.

The two of them stopped talking, falling into a silent, awkward pause—

Following that, they entered the library, neither of them speaking again.

Yan Shang felt that since he had expressed this attitude, he should maintain a sense of propriety and not put any more pressure on Mu Wanyao.

He didn't know how men and women should get along, but he knew how to get along with anyone—proceeding step by step, without being overly hasty.

As for Mu Wanyao, after the excitement, she came to her senses and began to guess why Yan Shang’s attitude had changed so suddenly.

After all, she was relatively experienced in matters of love, unlike Yan Shang, who was a blank sheet of paper, easily written upon.

Thinking it over, Mu Wanyao concluded that it must have been the words she used to shoo away Consort Zhao Ling that moved him... Mu Wanyao froze, thinking that those were just words she had made up on the spot.

She would be moved by his aspirations and his intellectual depth, but what kind of person she was herself was another matter. Just because she admired someone didn't mean she wanted to become that kind of person herself.

Yan Shang had clearly... misunderstood. He hadn't fallen for her as a person, but had fallen for something in her that didn't exist? He had been involved in ambiguity with her for so long and had managed to hold back; was it because of those few words that he couldn't hold on anymore?

After a moment of dullness, Mu Wanyao grew a bit angry and bit her lip resentfully. She wondered if she should clarify this misunderstanding?

If she clarified it, it would make them both awkward. Moreover, they had already taken a step forward—how could they go back?

And if she didn't clarify... if she didn't clarify, she could sleep with Yan Shang.

Then she wouldn't clarify.

While Mu Wanyao was busy thinking nonsense, Yan Shang stood beside her, examining the books on the shelves.

It was his first time in the library of the Princess of Danyang’s mansion. Standing here and looking around, he saw that the collection contained many rare books and treasures not found at the Hongwen Academy, and there were so many of them.

Yan Shang couldn't help but feel admiration, and also a bit of inferiority.

He thought that the distance between him and Mu Wanyao was, in the end, quite far. He wanted to walk toward her step by step, but he feared it would be a very long road.

But he quickly adjusted his mindset, telling himself that a gentleman’s actions should always move forward rather than retreat; if there is a fault, correct it; if not, improve oneself. Since he had already decided on a matter, he should plan it carefully rather than hesitate.

A Confucian scholar entering the world should not be looking back and forth.

As Yan Shang was pondering this, he saw the book Wei Shu wanted on a shelf behind Mu Wanyao.

He walked over.

When Mu Wanyao was lost in her chaotic thoughts, she was stunned to see his sleeves fluttering as he walked in her direction.

What was he doing coming over?

Mu Wanyao stepped backward.

Yan Shang paused in his tracks.

But he still walked forward.

Mu Wanyao leaned against the shelf, finally thinking that since she was a princess, what did she have to fear from him? She lifted her head and looked over in a daze, seeing him lift his arm, reaching above her head to take a book down from the shelf.

Mu Wanyao saw the cover of the book he had taken; it was exactly the one Wei Shu wanted.

Mu Wanyao: "..."

Yan Shang looked down at her.

His eyes carried a smile.

He said: "What did Your Highness think I was going to do?"

Mu Wanyao’s face flushed red.

She grew angry from embarrassment: "...How would I know!"

She glared at him.

Yan Shang had originally found her reaction interesting and couldn't help but tease her a little. Now that she was glaring at him, he withdrew that bit of amusement.

He looked away and slowly stepped back two paces, clearing space for Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao let out a sigh of relief. She truly didn't like being pressured. Yan Shang’s behavior of consciously giving her an "escape route" was quite to her liking.

Mu Wanyao leaned against the shelf, arms crossed, watching Yan Shang bow his head and flip through the book.

He probably wanted to see what the content of the book Wei Shu wanted was, so he skimmed through it. Mu Wanyao stared at him for a long while and said slowly: "Yan Shang."

Yan Shang, busy reading, replied: "Hm?"

Mu Wanyao: "What are your plans for the future?"

Yan Shang was startled.

He slowly lifted his gaze from the book in his hand and looked at Mu Wanyao. Mu Wanyao looked at him with a half-smile, and Yan Shang immediately knew that she was asking about his plans for their relationship.

Yan Shang replied: "Naturally, at this moment, my status is humble. I am not worthy of Your Highness, nor do I dare to ask for your attention. I want to study first, and I hope for results in October. At the same time, if Your Highness has any questions regarding political matters, I can also..."

Mu Wanyao was annoyed.

She thought, how was this any different from before?

Was her expectation of him really just that of a staff member?

She said succinctly: "Come to my bedchamber tonight."

Yan Shang paused slightly.

Meeting Mu Wanyao’s gaze, he understood what she meant.

Yan Shang coughed, turned his face to the side, and his ears turned slightly red.

He gave a low "hm," and Mu Wanyao let out a soft laugh. She walked over and tugged on his arm, very fond of his tacit acceptance—

After the two found the book and returned to the main hall, Wei Shu was still waiting for them.

Seeing the clear, snowy youth look toward them, both Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang felt a bit more uncomfortable.

Mu Wanyao handed the book to Wei Shu, wanting to dispatch him quickly. She had to properly arrange things for tonight.

Sitting down together, Mu Wanyao couldn't help but look at Yan Shang several times.

Seeing him sitting there so quietly, it was as if nothing had happened at all.

His manner... was practically setting the stage, waiting for her to take the bait.

Wei Shu flipped through the book twice, his eyes lighting up slightly. He looked at Yan Shang and said: "This book has now become a rare volume; others cannot see it even if they want to. Since Second Brother Yan is taking the same exam as me, why don't you study with me tonight and discuss some scholarship? It has been a long time since I slept with Second Brother Yan."

Mu Wanyao: "..."

Yan Shang: "..."

Mu Wanyao’s gaze glared at Yan Shang.

Under the princess’s gaze, Yan Shang’s face felt like it was on fire. He just smiled slightly and refused: "I’m afraid I have something to attend to tonight, so it wouldn't be very convenient."

Wei Shu nodded.

He then looked at Mu Wanyao: "And what about Your Highness? This book belongs to Your Highness; if I ask Your Highness to teach me some scholarship, you won't refuse me, right?"

Yan Shang: "..."

Mu Wanyao was dumbfounded: "..."

Wei Shu looked at her like that, his eyes dark and clear, his lips red and teeth white. Whenever Mu Wanyao saw him, she was delighted; how could she bear to refuse him anything?

Unable to resist the young man’s pleading gaze, Mu Wanyao said pityingly: "Naturally, that is fine."

Yan Shang frowned slightly: "..."

She had set a trap for him, yet she was leaving?

Yan Shang: "Then I’ll come along too."

Mu Wanyao: "...?"

Wei Shu: "...”