Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Chunhua’s departure from the Princess Residence to enter Prince Jin’s mansion was merely an insignificant interlude. Because the goal of those who orchestrated this matter was not achieved, a scheme that fails to reach its end is meaningless.

Nowadays, what the scholars of Chang'an discuss with the most relish is still Yan Shang, also known as Yan Suchen.

There is also hearsay that Prime Minister Liu once wanted Yan Shang to enter the Secretariat directly, only to be refused by Yan Shang himself. This is because Yan Shang still wishes to try his luck at the imperial examination in the tenth month.

The scholars were at once astonished, jealous, envious, and filled with regret.

What an incredibly important organ of the imperial court the Secretariat is! If one could enter the Secretariat, even if one did not eventually become a Grand Councilor or Prime Minister, the future would be bright... A prospect that scholars exhaust every effort to pursue, yet fail to attain, was easily rejected by Yan Shang. Even though Yan Shang’s character is widely praised, this act is truly enviable and jealousy-inducing, leaving people with complex feelings.

Not to mention the jealousy of scholars from humble backgrounds; even the children of noble families could hardly keep their composure for a moment.

While Yan Shang’s fame was spreading throughout Chang'an, Zhao Lingfei was in the small martial arts arena at home, wielding a spear to practice.

Zhao Lingfei’s father, Zhao Ye, is the current Libationer of the Imperial Academy. This official position is high in rank but clear, leisurely, and noble—a post that civil officials greatly admire.

However, this kind of position, which lacks real power and cannot touch upon actual governance, is very much disliked by Zhao Ye, who has always strived to cling to power and wants to elevate his family to the next level.

With a dark face, Zhao Ye walked into his backyard and heard the sounds of weapons clashing coming from the small martial arts arena. This instantly gave him an even greater headache—it is a pain not to have the power and status one craves; it is also a pain for a man of letters like himself to have a daughter who loves fighting and killing.

But today, upon hearing the sounds of Zhao Wuniang practicing in the courtyard, Zhao Ye did not get a headache at the mere mention of his daughter as he usually did. Instead, he became thoughtful.

Zhao Ye asked the servant beside him: "What has Wuniang been doing lately? Has she been going out?"

The servant replied: "The young lady spends most of her time practicing martial arts and reading. She goes out occasionally, but that is only to go to the tavern to drink a little and listen to storytelling."

The servant added a superfluous remark: "The young lady hasn't caused any trouble lately."

Zhao Ye glared at the chatterbox servant: Since when has "not causing trouble" become a virtue for a young girl?!

Zhao Ye flicked his sleeves and went to the place in his home he liked the least—the small martial arts arena.

In the sunlight, he stood in a corner of the corridor and saw the young girl, petite and dressed in riding gear, her forehead beaded with sweat that shone like pearls in the light.

Her gaze was bright and focused. Holding a long spear, she wielded it in the empty martial arts field with such force that it whistled through the air. Each sweep produced the sound of tearing wind, causing the watching servants to tremble in their hearts.

Yet this violent young lady had a delicate and charming appearance. When she stopped and her maid wiped the sweat from her brow, she smiled again, carefree and untroubled.

Zhao Ye sighed mournfully.

He thought to himself that it was not easy for Wuniang to find a match, not only because of his own reasons but also because this daughter’s martial prowess was too great. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have let Wuniang hang out with that brat Yang Si all the time when she was young. What has become of a perfectly good girl?

Zhao Ye called out: "Lingfei!"

Zhao Lingfei was standing by the weapon rack wiping her sweat. Hearing her father’s voice, she turned her head and was surprised to see him. Because her father detested her martial practice, the two often quarreled over it. Zhao Ye would rather take a detour when returning to the inner quarters than pass by the small martial arts arena.

Zhao Lingfei ran over. Under the gaze of Zhao Ye, whose eyes were twitching, his beautiful daughter didn't even walk properly; she gently placed a hand on the railing outside the corridor and hopped over with incredible agility, leaping into the corridor.

This jumping height and ability… most young men couldn't even do that, right?

Zhao Lingfei smiled brightly: "Father, why have you come to see me today? Is it because you want me to go and check out another fine young man? I’ve told you, I don't fancy any of those you pick!"

Zhao Ye got angry at the mention of this: "A girl like you, fighting and killing all day long—good young men don't even like you! Who wouldn't be afraid that if they married you, they’d be beaten half-crippled?"

Zhao Lingfei kicked a pebble under her feet and said nonchalantly: "I am a reasonable person; I don't just beat everyone I see. Why would I beat a decent young man? Why would I beat them if they haven't done anything evil? Some men commit a pile of bad deeds themselves, yet complain that I am not gentle and virtuous enough… but there are truly men in this world who are as bright as the moon, with the demeanor of a gentleman. I would only respect such men; I would never beat them."

Thinking of Yan Shang again, her words carried a lot of melancholy.

She also blushed slightly.

Looking at her like this, Zhao Ye paused and said: "That Yan Erlang, have you not gone to see him lately?"

Zhao Lingfei tilted her head, staring at her father with eyes like black grapes: "Didn't you hate me going to see him? Saying he was too poor to match us? I haven't seen him in a long time."

Zhao Ye coughed once.

Then he said solemnly: "I have now discovered that I was too narrow-minded. Yan Erlang is a person of consequence. If you like him, how can you just give up because I said a few words to you?"

Of course, Zhao Lingfei didn't give up because of her father’s few words.

She stared at Zhao Ye for a long time, half-smiling: "Oh, I see. You now see Yan Erge’s reputation spreading throughout Chang'an, and you know that even Prime Minister Liu appreciates him… you’re anxious, thinking that such a person should be courted. So you remembered me, hoping I would rely on old feelings to win over Yan Erge, help you open up the situation in the officialdom, and help the Zhao family reach a higher level."

Hearing his daughter call Yan Shang "Yan Erge," Zhao Ye was happy about their good relationship.

But hearing his daughter point out his thoughts with such surgical precision, Zhao Ye could not help but feel embarrassed.

He said angrily: "I am doing this for the good of the family!"

Zhao Lingfei looked up at the sky, disdainful: "Ha!"

Zhao Ye: "In any case, I agree to your marriage with Yan Erlang!"

Zhao Lingfei put her hands behind her back: "So what? I won't go and disturb Yan Erge just because you think highly of him!"

Zhao Ye: "…You young girl, do you have something wrong with you? Where is the courage you had when you were locked up by me and still shouted that you wanted to find a man?"

Zhao Lingfei said: "I am not lacking in courage. As long as Yan Erge likes me, I would dare to brave any blade or fire. Even if he doesn't like me, as long as I like him, I have a heart full of courage to offer him. But the problem now is that Yan Erge is busy with exams, and there are too many people in Chang'an wanting to curry favor with him. He already has enough to deal with, and I don't want to cause him trouble or make him worry."

"Besides, I am not worthy of Yan Erge yet. I listened to the storytellers talk about Yan Erge killing that Zheng clan head, and I finally understood what the Princess was saying that day. After hearing what Yan Erge did, I feel both respect and fear. I respect that he was just a waiting official but dared to kill; I fear his decisiveness—if I were someone beside him, and I couldn't understand him, and I hated him and caused trouble, what would happen?"

Zhao Lingfei hung her head and gave a self-deprecating smile: "In short, I am not worthy to be with Yan Erge right now. When I can understand him, and if he is not yet married, I will go find him… I hope I can grow up soon and understand him before Yan Erge marries!"

Zhao Ye: "…"

He said: "You are a crazy girl, aren't you? I don't know what kind of gibberish you are talking about all day!"

Zhao Lingfei waved her hand; her thoughts and her father’s had never been the same anyway. They had been arguing for so many years that they couldn't understand each other, so there was no need to say too much.

Zhao Lingfei: "If Father has nothing else to do, I will continue to practice! Tomorrow I have an appointment with Cousin Yang San to play Cuju; Father can let Mother go take a look too."

Zhao Ye: "Covered in sweat, what is there to see! A girl should be quiet and elegant!"

Having said this, he left in a huff—

In the evening, Yan Shang was in his quarters, using medicinal powder to dress Liu Wenji’s wounds.

Liu Wenji had sat blankly for several hours, listened to Yan Shang’s explanation, and gone to wash up. Now, having changed out of the mud-stained clothes into Yan Shang’s old robes, he sat in Yan Shang’s room, staring blankly for a long time.

The corners of Liu Wenji’s eyes and mouth were bruised from the Princess Residence guards’ beating. When Yan Shang helped him apply the medicine, he had no reaction at all, as if it didn't hurt one bit.

Liu Wenji was undoubtedly a refined young man, so even with the injuries on his face, he only gained an air of pitiable innocence. It was just that the bright, upward-looking pride usually seen in him was now completely gone. He seemed as if he had been covered in a layer of dust.

After Yan Shang tidied up the medicine, he sat across from him and whispered: "…In short, that is how it is. Chunhua was used as a pawn; she had no choice but to enter Prince Jin’s mansion."

Liu Wenji lowered his eyes: "But she was pregnant before entering the Prince’s mansion. If it weren't for this fetus, if she weren't carrying royal progeny, perhaps there would have been room for maneuver."

Yan Shang was silent for a moment and said: "What room for maneuver could there be? Conceiving a royal heir and trying to secretly abort it is a capital crime. It would be fine if it weren't discovered… but who can guarantee they won't be discovered in a lifetime? Besides, the Princess told me that if Chunhua lost this child, she might never conceive another. If a woman goes through life without her own child, how many can withstand the strange looks she would receive?"

"How could you bear to let Chunhua reach that point? You are an only son; you must have descendants. Even if you say now that you are willing to give up for Chunhua, would your father and mother agree? How would they treat Chunhua? They would think this ‘demon woman’ ruined the Liu family, and they would hate your wife."

"Chunhua has already made her choice, and you should accept it."

Liu Wenji covered his face, slowly bending over and burying his face in his palms.

His voice choked with sobs: "I understand, I understand everything! With you, Yan Er, analyzing things so logically for me, how could I not understand… but our love, Chunhua’s and mine—who can compensate us for that? I am just aggrieved; I am just unreconciled."

"Without me knowing, Chunhua became pregnant with Prince Jin’s child. By the time I knew, the situation was already irreversible. I skipped over the anger, the unwillingness, the jealousy… every stage; I had to directly accept the ending that the woman I adored would become a concubine for a prince. I am too, too… miserable."

Yan Shang was silent, hearing the sobs of his friend of many years muffled in his palms.

Liu Wenji’s shoulders trembled. Yan Shang patted his shoulder silently and sat with him, offering comfort through his presence. Yan Shang was a person with strong empathy; he could easily empathize with the experiences of others, so as Liu Wenji cried with his face in his palms, Yan Shang also felt that heart-wrenching, heavy sorrow.

Yan Shang whispered: "Don't blame Chunhua."

Liu Wenji sobbed.

Yan Shang: "You must live your own life well for her departure to have meaning."

Liu Wenji’s shoulders trembled even more violently.

Yan Shang said slowly, sounding somewhat dazed: "We are weak and powerless against this right now. Perhaps when you enter the court, when you have an official position, you will have a way…"

Liu Wenji: "What way?"

He lifted his face from his palms, his eyes red and hot, tears rolling down.

Liu Wenji was shaking: "Are you trying to get me to endure it? Are you afraid I’ll do something foolish, trying to persuade me that 'a gentleman’s revenge is not too late in ten years'? But Suchen, a gentleman’s revenge is indeed not too late. But who am I to seek revenge against? This whole thing… it’s a vicious cycle!"

His voice became hateful: "Should I go seek revenge against the Prince of Qin, who wanted to use all of this?"

"Or seek revenge against Chunhua’s brother, who wanted to sell his own sister?"

"Or the Zheng clan, who forced Chunhua’s brother to sell the family’s land?"

"Or Prince Jin, who forcibly occupied Chunhua?"

"Prince Jin’s wife, who forced Chunhua into the Prince’s mansion?"

"Or all of you, who watched this happen with cold eyes, knew everything, yet were powerless to do anything?"

Yan Shang was stunned.

Watching Liu Wenji stand up tremblingly in the room, Liu Wenji looked toward Yan Shang with a look of misery and disappointment.

Liu Wenji cried out tragically: "Aren't there too many people for me to seek revenge against? I am but a scholar—must I challenge the entire imperial power to get my revenge? Could it be that everything they did was to humiliate Chunhua? Suchen, do you know what the saddest thing is? It’s that Chunhua and I were the ones sacrificed, yet I knew nothing, and Chunhua was powerless."

"We were the ones sacrificed. But the whole thing, the whole thing… even I and Chunhua are the most meaningless parts of it!"

"Does the Prince of Qin care about us? Was all this scheming meant to deal with me and Chunhua? Does Prince Jin care about us? He just wanted a maid carrying his child to enter his mansion; he doesn't care about anything else. Or Princess Danyang, or the Crown Prince high above… the meaning of this matter to them is to crack down on powerful clans and restore clarity to the world."

Liu Wenji stood empty-handed on the floor, weeping with his head lowered.

He muttered: "We are the least important ones. Tell me, Suchen, if I want to seek revenge, who should I seek it against? I can’t even find a direct cause."

Yan Shang was quiet.

He looked at the desolate Liu Wenji, and for the first time in his friend, he realized the terror of politics.

Politics is a monster; it makes everyone unrecognizable, and it makes everything seem impossible.

This terrible monster is devouring them… but the tragic part is that they are powerless—

Half an hour later, Yan Shang led Liu Wenji to the neighboring Princess Residence to request an audience.

It was Liu Wenji’s first time coming to the Princess Residence, not to see Chunhua, but to pay respects to the Princess.

The Princess Residence was magnificent and rich, brightly lit at night, with its own lush scenery. Liu Wenji, however, had no heart to appreciate it. He followed Yan Shang like a soul lost in grief, watching the elegant, bamboo-like figure of his friend, listening to his friend’s gentle greetings to the people of the Princess Residence.

At night, Mu Yaoyao naturally would not receive guests in the main hall. They entered the inner residential hall of the Princess Residence, and the maids asked Liu Wenji to wait there for a moment.

Yan Shang said gently to Liu Wenji: "Brother Liu, wait a moment. Once I have a word with the Princess, she will summon you."

Liu Wenji nodded blankly; his eyes were vacant, and he was indifferent to everything.

Knowing that the blow he had received today was too great, Yan Shang sighed and did not say anything more—

The maid lifted the curtain for Yan Shang, and he entered the Princess’s sleeping quarters.

It was said that Mu Yaoyao had a headache and had slept for a while in the afternoon, having just woken up. Therefore, it would be a while before she would receive Liu Wenji, as she was not in the mood to see anyone right now.

When Yan Shang entered, he saw Mu Yaoyao sitting under the window writing.

The gold-woven, sand-like curtains were flying; under the canopy, the young girl had her hair loosely gathered, her appearance as vivid as jade and cinnabar.

Yan Shang stared curiously at her slender, fair fingers for a few moments. It was the first time he had seen Mu Yaoyao pick up a brush to write. Usually, all letters and documents were handed to those around her; Mu Yaoyao rarely wrote anything herself.

Mu Yaoyao said coldly: "What are you looking at?"

Yan Shang returned to his senses and asked: "What is Your Highness writing?"

Mu Yaoyao said indifferently: "Writing letters to a few court officials, asking them to attack some of the recent actions of the Imperial Consort in the court."

Yan Shang was puzzled: "What does this mean?"

Mu Yaoyao was concise: "The Imperial Consort is the birth mother of my third brother, the Prince of Qin."

Yan Shang understood immediately.

Mu Yaoyao was retaliating for the Prince of Qin’s previous actions.

The Prince of Qin caused Mu Yaoyao to lose the Zheng clan; now that Mu Yaoyao had the free time, she was going to use the Imperial Consort to make the Prince of Qin pay for her losses.

Staring at the Princess’s cold profile, Yan Shang thought again of Liu Wenji’s wailing… Politics, this monster, made Mu Yaoyao suddenly seem strange and distant in his line of sight.

Mu Yaoyao turned her head and looked at Yan Shang: "How is your hand?"

Yan Shang froze, remembering that his hand had bled after being bitten by Liu Wenji. Yan Shang walked toward Mu Yaoyao, lifted his sleeve to show her his hand, which had already been treated, and said: "It’s nothing."

Mu Yaoyao, however, frowned and pulled his hand to make him sit: "What kind of medicine is this? Too casual, let me re-dress it for you."

Yan Shang was pulled to sit by her, and seeing her ask the maid to fetch medicine, he felt a smile in his eyes, thinking he had been wrong before. Politics might be terrible, but Mu Yaoyao was still the little Princess he knew—stubborn but soft-hearted, the cutest one there was—

Mu Yaoyao held Yan Shang’s hand, dressing his wound while asking: "How did it go?"

Yan Shang paused.

He said: "The conversation between me and Brother Liu that you asked about seems to be with ulterior motives."

Mu Yaoyao glanced up at him and said: "Have I only known you for a day, Yan Shang? You won't do anything useless. Even when comforting your friend, you will definitely comfort something out of it. Otherwise, I would have seen Liu Wenji directly; why would I have let you take him away?"

She said languidly: "Tell me about it."

She was listless, holding his hand while sprinkling golden medicinal powder on the back of his hand, and then lowering her head, her lips brushing against his hand, gently blowing to spread the powder.

Her red lips were almost touching his fingers…

The scene made Yan Shang’s heart thud, and he quickly looked away to hide his momentary unease.

He coughed before saying: "Chunhua had been in contact with Brother Liu before. After being taken away by Prince Jin’s wife, she planned to break ties with Liu Wenji. So she wrote letters at that time, paving the way step by step. At first, she said it was a small cold that would be better in two days. Later, she said she had a persistent cough and was afraid of infecting Brother Liu, asking him not to come see her. After that, the letters stopped. According to Brother Liu, he thought she was recovering from an illness."

"But Brother Liu had always been very worried about Chunhua’s condition. So, yesterday when Your Highness returned to the residence, Liu Wenji came quietly today to check on Chunhua’s health. He did not expect to witness the scene of Chunhua being taken away… so this was all a coincidence, not something intentionally orchestrated by anyone."

Mu Yaoyao nodded and said: "When I returned this afternoon, I checked the Princess Residence and found no signs of internal informants. I can only say… everyone has their own thoughts, and when they pile up, it becomes such a coincidence."

Holding Yan Shang’s hand in hers, she had already finished applying the medicine; lost in thought, she forgot to let go of his hand.

Yan Shang: "…"

He felt his hand was being held until it was red.

He struggled gently toward the outside, and only then did Mu Yaoyao react, letting go of his hand. Mu Yaoyao was very composed, but Yan Shang felt a tinge of melancholy in his heart, a sense of loss. He looked at Mu Yaoyao, then looked at the desk separating him from the Princess.

At such a distance, Mu Yaoyao was all business… Yan Shang frowned, thinking to himself that lovers shouldn't be like this, right?

When he was at Beili, he had seen men and women flirting and being intimate. Even if serious lovers wouldn't be that sticky and soft, it shouldn't be like him and Mu Yaoyao—as cold as a monarch and subject, separated by a desk, each sitting on their own side, right?

While Yan Shang was letting his imagination run wild, Mu Yaoyao rested her chin on her hand and said slowly: "Let’s review this matter and compare notes to see if you and I think the same thing."

Yan Shang returned to his senses: "Alright."

Mu Yaoyao: "At the very beginning, it must have been the Prince of Qin who knew that Prince Jin was coveting the maid in my residence, and utilized the Zheng clan’s arrogance and Prince Jin’s liking for Chunhua to launch this. It was easy for the Prince of Qin to know; as long as the third brother and fifth brother drank two cups of wine together, perhaps the fifth brother would reveal something while drunk, which the third brother would learn. Or some other reason… in any case, getting this information wasn't complicated."

Yan Shang nodded.

Mu Yaoyao added: "After that, I believe the fifth brother also utilized this matter. The fifth brother usually appears to not meddle in government affairs and merely watches from afar as the Crown Prince and third brother fight, but now that I think about it, I don't think the fifth brother is that stupid. Even if the third brother used him, and he didn't know at first, he wouldn't have remained ignorant later. But the fifth brother acted as if he didn't know, and followed the plan arranged by the third brother."

"Either the fifth brother went with the flow, wanting to take Chunhua to curry favor with the Li family behind me, and letting the Crown Prince and me grow estranged—which isn't a bad thing. Or, from the start, the third brother and fifth brother were in league. Perhaps they were wary of the Crown Prince’s prestige; the Father Emperor’s health this year makes them anxious, and the Crown Prince is now busy pleasing the Father Emperor by building a garden for the year-end grand ceremony… they fear the Crown Prince will gain the Father Emperor’s commendation, and they fear the throne will belong to the Crown Prince, so these two joined forces."

After speaking, Mu Yaoyao looked at Yan Shang.

Yan Shang looked at Mu Yaoyao with some approval in his eyes.

He said: "Anyone could guess that the Prince of Qin intervened. That you, Your Highness, could guess that Prince Jin was also not innocent shows much progress compared to a few months ago. Your olfactory sense in politics is far beyond what it once was."

Mu Yaoyao blushed at his praise.

She coughed and said: "And the Crown Prince might have seen it too. The Crown Prince was waiting for me, seeing how I would choose. My choice to remove the powerful clans probably allowed the Crown Prince to breathe a sigh of relief. Because if I hadn't chosen this way, he might have had to take action… after all, he lacks sufficient background, and he doesn't want to easily offend the powerful clans. So my taking action satisfied him. Afterward, he took the opportunity to also include my aunt as a target for suppression, probably for the sake of money."

"He wants to use this opportunity to fill the Ministry of Revenue. Otherwise, with no money all the time, he has to patch things up here and there, which is also very annoying for him."

Yan Shang nodded. With Mu Yaoyao’s analysis, he also saw many things, so he added a few more sentences.

As the two discussed it, re-evaluating these events, they couldn't help but sigh.

Mu Yaoyao was thoughtful: "I always thought the fifth brother wasn't greedy for the throne, and that it didn't matter to him who became emperor… In this matter, the fifth brother looks like a victim; no matter who won or lost in the end, the fifth brother lost nothing. The fifth brother is so obedient, still looking the same as always… but if the fifth brother really cooperated with the third brother, this is what is truly terrifying. This means we have been underestimating the fifth brother all along."

Yan Shang said: "We will have to keep watching."

Mu Yaoyao said "Hmm": "I will remind the Crown Prince."

Just as she was about to pick up her pen to write the letter, she saw Yan Shang frown slightly, his fleeting expression very subtle. Mu Yaoyao looked at him: "What did you think of?"

Yan Shang looked at her and shook his head.

Across the desk, Mu Yaoyao instantly kicked off her embroidered shoe and kicked her leg toward his knee.

Yan Shang’s knee felt the pain: "…"

His face turned slightly red, his knee kicked by her jade foot; he sat stiffly, not knowing how to react. Mu Yaoyao had already lectured him: "If you have something to say, just say it! What are you being so subtle for as my retainer?"

Yan Shang sighed: "I’m just afraid I guessed wrong, and I have no evidence."

Mu Yaoyao: "What does it have to do with you whether you’re wrong? Your role is to help me find all the suspicious points; I will be the one to judge whether you’re right or wrong."

Yan Shang then had to voice the thought that had just flashed through his mind, saying slowly: "Has Your Highness ever guessed a possibility, which is that all things were able to proceed smoothly because of the Emperor’s tacit approval? The Emperor wanted to watch this play of yours, and so this play could continue to be performed?"

He said: "The reason I think this way is because Your Highness said just now that Princess Luling once tried to seek an audience with the Emperor, but the Emperor did not see her. This means… the Emperor must have known what all of you were doing."

Mu Yaoyao was dazed.

She met Yan Shang’s gaze.

She said: "The final downfall of the Zheng clan at the beginning—could it have been my Imperial Father’s handiwork? Although the Zheng clan listened to me, as my Empress Mother’s dowry, my Father Emperor must have intervened before. So, did my Father Emperor want to get rid of me, or just get rid of the Zheng clan?"

Yan Shang was silent.

Seeing Mu Yaoyao’s face turn pale, he comforted her: "These are just our guesses. The Emperor actually did nothing, didn't he? He didn't even ask about Prince Jin’s arrow wound. Otherwise, if he had inquired, Your Highness would have had to accept the blame."

Mu Yaoyao lowered her head, thinking of the month she had spent with her Imperial Father, where he was as kind as any father in the world… yet perhaps, behind the scenes, her Father was observing them all, probing them all.

Yan Shang stood up, walked to Mu Yaoyao, bent down, and placed his hand on her shoulder, saying gently: "Your Highness, don’t be sad; no matter what happens, I will stay by your side."

Mu Yaoyao froze.

His hand was on her shoulder, and he was standing in front of her. She suddenly didn't know whether she should push him away—whether she should reprimand him for overstepping like a monarch, or silently allow his proximity like a lover…

A moment later, as if she hadn't noticed his hand on her shoulder, Mu Yaoyao stood up casually and rubbed her forehead.

Mu Yaoyao complained: "Thinking about so much is so tiring."

Yan Shang smiled.

Mu Yaoyao turned her shoulder, and the hand Yan Shang had on her shoulder fell away.

Mu Yaoyao said: "You go out; I’m going to meet Liu Wenji. Chunhua entrusted me with taking care of Liu Wenji, although I don't really like Liu Wenji… but, um, I still want to ask Liu Wenji about his thoughts. If he is willing… I can request an official position for him now to compensate him."

Yan Shang said: "Brother Liu probably has no heart for it right now."

Mu Yaoyao: "But I still have to ask."

She stood up and was about to walk out, intending to go to the sleeping hall to receive him. Yan Shang grabbed her hand, and she stiffened.

Yan Shang stood behind her and said: "I’m not going; I’ll stay here and wait for you to come back, alright?"

Mu Yaoyao: "…"

She feigned composure, saying: "Why aren't you going? Shouldn't you go back and study? Be careful not to fail the imperial examination and embarrass yourself."

Yan Shang said: "I want to study here at the Princess Residence… is that not allowed?"

Mu Yaoyao said casually: "Only to study?"

Yan Shang: "…"

Behind her, there was silence. Mu Yaoyao turned around.

The look she gave him was teasing and playful, her eyes brimming with charm. Under the lamplight, the two pairs of eyes met for an instant, and each knew what the other was thinking.

Yan Shang looked away, blushing, but held her hand without letting go.

Mu Yaoyao also blushed, humming: "As you wish.”