Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

When the maidservants came to lift the bed curtains, they were astonished to find the Princess already awake.

It was unclear when she had risen; she was sitting on the couch, dressed only in her inner robes, her long hair scattered messily over the bedding. In the dim light of the room, as Chunhua pulled back the curtains, she saw the Princess’s skin, pale to the point of translucence, staring blankly into the middle distance, lost in thought.

Mu Wanyao’s brows were knitted, and she appeared faintly displeased.

The maidservants signaled to one another with their eyes, reminding each other to serve with care, as the Princess was in a foul mood today for reasons unknown.

After Mu Wanyao finished her morning toilette, she went out and stood in the corridor, watching the guards practicing martial arts in the small courtyard of the Yan residence. She watched for a good while until the door of a side room near the wicker fence opened, and Yan Shisheng, clad in green robes with wide sleeves, emerged holding a stack of books.

Yan Shisheng looked up and saw Mu Wanyao standing beneath the eaves. He stepped forward and offered a salute: “My lady has risen very early today.”

Mu Wanyao withdrew her gaze, which had been resting vaguely upon the guards, and looked toward the young scholar performing a cupped-hand salute at the foot of the steps.

Yan Shisheng assumed she was likely still blaming him for mentioning her husband the day before. He felt he could neither explain nor persuade her, so he simply pondered to himself that this lady must have a poor relationship with her husband, which was why she so disliked others mentioning him.

Seeing that she had not yet cooled her anger, Yan Shisheng prepared to take his leave.

Unexpectedly, Mu Wanyao stared at him, her gaze as sharp as lightning and blades. It was enough to make Yan Shisheng, who had looked up, go stiff, feeling as though she intended to grind his bones to dust.

Looking at Yan Shisheng’s face, Mu Wanyao recalled her dream from the previous night. Thinking of that dream, she remembered how she had replaced her former husband in her mind with Yan Shisheng.

Following that, Mu Wanyao projected the history between her and her former husband onto Yan Shisheng.

As she looked at Yan Shisheng’s handsome face, now wearing the identity of her former husband, he showed her none of the respect due to a Princess of the Great Wei.

He mocked and looked down upon her without restraint, allowing his clansmen to insult and defame her. He walked hand-in-hand with other women, and permitted his concubines to flaunt their power in her presence…

The fifteen-year-old Mu Wanyao—the Mu Wanyao who knew only how to hide in her room and weep… Her regal dignity had died in the hands of her former husband, and the pride of a Princess had withered in barren soil.

When the Great Wei envoys appeared to visit her, her former husband threatened her, and she dared not even seek help. She knew that even if she did, it would be futile; an envoy could not make decisions for her. Those who could make decisions only hoped she would remain there forever and never return. Once the envoys left, her husband would begin his torments again…

How detestable!

Standing under the eaves, Mu Wanyao’s expression grew increasingly ugly and icy.

Yan Shisheng, who had merely offered her a salute, was rendered speechless by her cold glare. He felt a sense of wonder as to why the killing intent in her eyes grew more concentrated the longer she looked at him…

Yan Shisheng hurriedly spoke to interrupt her train of thought: “My lady’s complexion is poor; did you not sleep well last night?”

Mu Wanyao’s thoughts were broken. She looked down at Yan Shisheng for a long moment, let out a cold snort, and ignoring him entirely, turned and walked into the room.

Yan Shisheng: “…”

He could not have imagined that Mu Wanyao’s dream last night should have been a romantic one. Yet, having no trace of young maiden sentimentality, Mu Wanyao acted in complete opposition to her own dream.

By imagining Yan Shisheng as her husband, Mu Wanyao was not happy; rather, the more she thought, the angrier she became. Consequently, all fondness she might have felt vanished the moment she saw him, replaced by growing repulsion.

That day, as Mu Wanyao was playing cards with her maidservants in the room, she heard that Yan Shisheng had arrived.

She said with disgust: “Why does he come so diligently every single day? It’s annoying just to look at him.”

Chunhua, the maid, had grown familiar with the Yan family recently, so she spoke on behalf of the second son: “Second Brother Yan respects you, my lady. Let this servant go out and see.”

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips, saying neither yes nor no.

Chunhua understood instantly that the Princess wanted to speak with him but could not set aside her pride.

A short while later, Mu Wanyao looked toward the window and saw Chunhua and Yan Shisheng exchange a few words at the door. Then, Chunhua turned around and actually led Yan Shisheng into the room.

Mu Wanyao: “…?”

She felt a sudden, frantic panic and ordered her maids: “Lower the curtains! I will not meet with men!”

The maidservants looked at each other, helpless, and had to stand up to lower the bamboo blinds in front of the Princess.

When Chunhua led Yan Shisheng over, all he could see through the bamboo screen were the vague, seated silhouettes of Mu Wanyao and her maids.

Chunhua was startled by the Princess’s redundant action but simply curtsied: “My lady, Second Brother Yan has something to say to you.”

Mu Wanyao sat with solemn dignity, looking down at her cards, and said lazily: “What is it you wish to say to me?”

The cards she held were leaf-shaped and looked exceptionally novel. Yan Shisheng caught a glimpse through the screen; never having seen such items before, he felt a spark of interest.

Yan Shisheng collected his thoughts and said: “I came to bring you some tea, my lady.”

Mu Wanyao scoffed: “How much fine tea have I not tasted? I have no interest in the countryside tea you have here.”

Yan Shisheng smiled: “Since I brought it for you, it naturally has its merits. You should taste it.”

Yan Shisheng called out, and his younger sister, Yan Xiaozhou, entered holding a teapot.

Yan Xiaozhou sat behind Yan Shisheng, peering timidly at Mu Wanyao behind the screen.

Every time she saw Mu Wanyao, Yan Xiaozhou felt the other party was so noble that she didn’t even dare to look at her for long. Yan Xiaozhou peeked at her second brother and saw that he was exceptionally calm.

Yan Shisheng sat behind the screen and had Chunhua and the others bring tea cups. He poured the brewed tea into the cups one by one, his posture appearing composed and unafraid.

He signaled for a maid to take a cup of the clear tea to Mu Wanyao behind the screen.

Mu Wanyao took the tea and saw the leaves floating in the water, vibrant green and slightly curled, the tea color bright. Her heart leaped with joy, knowing it was good tea.

However, she remained unperturbed, and after taking a sip, she closed her eyes to savor it. She felt the fragrance of the tea was clear and strong, the taste sweet, mellow, and rich, with an endless aftertaste.

Yet, was Mingqian Longjing or Yuqian Longjing not superior to this?

Mu Wanyao sighed, shaking her head. She thought Yan Shisheng was, in the end, just a bumpkin raised in Lingnan who had never tasted truly fine tea and was trying to curry favor with her by passing off ordinary tea as something special.

But he had picked the wrong way to curry favor.

Seeing her shake her head, Yan Shisheng only smiled: “What is it? Is it not to your liking?”

Seeing him proactively offering the tea, the disgust she had felt toward his face for the past two days dissipated slightly. After regaining her composure, Mu Wanyao felt she was being unreasonable to vent her anger on Yan Shisheng because of a dream.

Mu Wanyao offered a kind analysis: “It is merely mediocre. You should not bring this tea out to show off in the future.”

Hearing this, Yan Shisheng remained unmoved, but Yan Xiaozhou, sitting behind him, turned bright red, feeling quite ashamed.

Yan Shisheng insisted: “But the taste of this tea can be considered above average, correct?”

Mu Wanyao felt pity for his lack of exposure and nodded.

Yan Shisheng smiled and said: “Then look again.”

He did not drink his tea, but turned sideways to take a tea leaf from the handkerchief in his sister’s hand.

He placed the tea leaf in his mouth. As Mu Wanyao watched in astonishment, he took a copper coin from the worn, color-faded pouch at his waist—which had crude stitching—and placed that in his mouth as well.

He chewed the tea leaf and the copper coin together.

The room was deathly silent; everyone stared at Yan Shisheng in amazement, save for Yan Xiaozhou. Afterward, everyone heard a faint crunch, and Yan Shisheng spat the contents of his mouth onto the square handkerchief in his hand.

Chunhua, who was closest to Yan Shisheng, saw it first and gasped: “My lady, the copper coin is split in two! It’s shattered!”

Mu Wanyao suddenly pushed aside the curtain and finally stepped out from behind it.

She reached Yan Shisheng’s side in an instant, leaning down to look at the shattered coin on the handkerchief in his hand. Yan Shisheng took another cloth to spit out the tea leaves as well.

After finishing, Yan Shisheng turned back and froze, seeing Mu Wanyao leaning down right in front of him, her face nearly pressing against his.

Mu Wanyao reached out and gripped his chin, commanding: “Open your mouth. Let me see.”

Yan Shisheng’s eyelashes fluttered violently, his gaze unfocused.

Yan Xiaozhou was stunned.

This lady was so bold! Not only did she dash out from behind the curtain, she even grabbed her brother’s chin and ordered him to open his mouth…

Yan Xiaozhou lowered her head; Mu Wanyao felt no shame, but she felt so awkward her face turned red.

Yan Shisheng was only slightly better off than his sister.

His ears turned red, and after a moment of composure, he opened his mouth. Fragrant winds drifted toward him; he held his breath as her face magnified before his eyes.

Knowing she was looking inside his mouth, Yan Shisheng could not help his thoughts from wandering: Had he rinsed his mouth thoroughly today? Were there any traces of the tea leaves left behind? Was the color of his tongue normal? Were his teeth straight…?

As his face grew redder and redder, Mu Wanyao remarked in wonder: “You really did shatter the copper coin!”

She was as delighted as a small child.

She released his chin and turned her head to look at the shattered coin on the cloth again. Mu Wanyao had never seen such a curious thing; she didn’t believe it and reached out to touch the coin to see if it were real.

In his urgency, Yan Shisheng gripped her slender, reaching fingers in his hand.

Mu Wanyao paused when her hand was held by him.

Yan Shisheng said: “My lady, that is dirty; do not touch it!”

It was only then that Mu Wanyao remembered it had been in his mouth… She jerked her hand away from his with hatred and roared: “Do you think I don’t know that?! I don’t need you to tell me!”

Yan Shisheng looked at her helplessly.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes flickered, avoiding his gaze as she lowered her head to rub the hand he had touched—

A moment later, everyone had tasted the tea, proving that it could indeed shatter copper coins, and everyone was amazed.

Yan Shisheng said: “This is White Cow Tea, produced here. People don’t pay much attention to it; the tea trees just grow wild in the fields, and no one tends to them. I feel it’s a pity. There are many fine teas in the world, but this is the only one that can shatter copper.”

Mu Wanyao nodded repeatedly: “You are very thoughtful. If you took this tea to Chang’an to sell, the nobles would certainly like it very much.”

Yan Shisheng said: “It was just a gift for you, my lady.”

Mu Wanyao instantly calculated the political benefits she could gain if this tea fell into her hands. She wondered if this Second Brother Yan understood… but regardless, she was going to monopolize this tea.

While she was calculating how to seize control of the tea, her expression softened, and she looked at him with soulful eyes.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she said softly: “I understand. Thank you. Is there anything you wish to ask of me?”

Yan Shisheng: “Actually, there is one thing.”

Mu Wanyao’s face instantly sank.

She felt displeased and wore a half-smile: “What? You just gave me a little tea and you want to extract benefits from me already? Aren't you afraid that such materialism will make me despise you?”

Yan Shisheng said: “I only wished to ask what kind of game you were playing, my lady. I have never seen it before, and I am quite curious.”

Mu Wanyao looked at him for a long while before breaking into a smile again.

She said gently: “These cards are called ‘You Xianghe’; they are a type of game played only in the Chang’an imperial court. The empresses and princesses there get bored, so they play ‘You Xianghe’ all day long.”

Yan Shisheng’s expression stirred: The imperial court, empresses, and princesses… he had probably guessed this Lady Mu’s identity.

Mu Wanyao added softly: “My dear, come over here. Not only will I give this set of cards to you, I will also teach you how to play.”

Yan Shisheng: “…This student must go read; there is no need to play cards.”

He had only come to probe Lady Mu’s identity, and now that he had… his goal achieved, Yan Shisheng had no intention of staying.

Mu Wanyao narrowed her eyes at him: “But I insist on teaching you.”

“Sit down! Play cards with me!”

Yan Xiaozhou, who had been watching from the sidelines, saw her second brother being dragged away by Lady Mu behind the bamboo screen. It looked quite like a “vicious woman forcing a man.”

Mu Wanyao forced Yan Shisheng to sit down. After he refused several times, Mu Wanyao sighed helplessly: “Then suit yourself.”

Yan Shisheng stood up and donned his wooden sandals, preparing to leave.

Mu Wanyao said slowly: “My dear.”

Yan Shisheng stood with his back to her, his spine rigid: “…Could you please not call me that, my lady?”

Mu Wanyao disregarded his wishes: “My dear, you have studied for so many years, but are you aware that your ancient phonetics are incorrect? With incorrect phonetics, even if you pass your provincial exams, there is no hope for you to place high in the imperial examinations. So, even if you leave Lingnan, it seems it won’t be of much use.”

Yan Shisheng turned back, looking at her in silence. It was indeed the first time he had realized his ancient phonetics were wrong. His father had provided him with enough to study, but ancient phonetics were never a concern.

And Mu Wanyao had watched him study for so many days, only to say this today…

Truly detestable!

The detestable Mu Wanyao stood leaning against the door frame, her eyes and brows overflowing with charm.

Yan Shisheng rolled up his sleeves and walked back: “Then I shall play cards with you for the afternoon. I only ask that you teach me the ancient phonetics.”

Mu Wanyao made it difficult for him: “That depends on how well you play. I’m naturally unhappy if I lose, and I’m also unhappy if I win. You’ll have to figure that out for yourself.”

Yan Shisheng sat down with a smile: “Let’s see if I can coax you into happiness.”

Yan Xiaozhou: “…”

Yan Xiaozhou and the Princess’s maidservants looked at each other and retreated from the room.

They felt entirely redundant.