Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 84

Chapter 84

In the lush forest, Yan Shang drew his bow, aiming directly at Meng Zaishi, who was crouched near the rocks. The threat posed by his bow was palpable.

Meanwhile, less than ten paces away from Mu Wanyao, who sat in the muddy, slippery pool, Yang Si and Meng Zaishi were locked in close-quarters combat, splashing up massive waves.

The early spring water was icy and turbulent, and the wind in the Southern Mountains was biting.

As the three of them faced off, Meng Zaishi knelt in the pool, his injured waist knocking against the rocks to the side, his chest dull with pain from the brute force of this suddenly appeared young man. Seeing two people arrive, one of whom was Yan Shang, whom he recognized, Meng Zaishi fell into deep thought.

Far from being afraid, his fighting spirit was stirred to its core.

Meng Zaishi coughed as he laughed: "Second Young Master Yan, it has only been two days; do you miss this King so much? Ha, seeing you appear, and not the guards from the Princess’s residence... it seems the people from the Princess’s residence were indeed delayed."

Standing on the high ground, Yan Shang said calmly: "If the Wuman King stops now, there is still room for negotiation between us."

Meng Zaishi sneered and said: "Stop?"

He suddenly looked at Mu Wanyao, who was sitting in the water, staring at him with dark, cold eyes. She sat in the current, her hands still bound by the belt he had used, her sleeves torn open during their earlier struggle. The water surged against her, deep and shallow, the apricot yellow and deep red of her clothes making her resemble flower petals, igniting a man’s desire for destruction.

Meng Zaishi looked at Mu Wanyao and mocked: "You should ask Princess Danyang if she wants to let me off."

Without waiting for Mu Wanyao to use her sharp tongue to taunt him again, Meng Zaishi turned to the young man before him. He sighed and smiled at Yang Si, reaching out to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth: "Little brother, your martial arts are not bad. But you still cannot kill me. Try again in a few years... May I ask your name? You had better think carefully—you are helping Princess Danyang today, but that woman is one to turn her back and disown anyone. If you change her circumstances, she will turn around and want to kill you too..."

Mu Wanyao suddenly interrupted: "Why are you questioning others? Do not drag innocent people into this!

"And don’t be so self-righteous! Don't make our relationship sound so ambiguous! Back then it was mutual, and today we are enemies—that too is mutual! I want to kill you, and no matter how many people you try to alienate with your lies, I will still want to kill you... Even standing before my Imperial Father, that remains my answer!"

Yang Si: "Enough!"

He cut off everyone’s words, his eyes deep as a tranquil river, his only target being Meng Zaishi. Yang Si said coldly: "I do not change my name or surname: Yang Si, Third Young Master of the Yang family of the Hongnong Yang lineage in Chang'an! Wuman King, I intend to kill you today. If I cannot, and you seek revenge later, you may come directly for me—do not involve the innocent!"

Meng Zaishi praised: "Yang Third Young Master, is it? What courage!"

Before the words had faded, he suddenly struck with a fist, sending a massive wave splashing out. Yang Si twisted his body, dodging the blow with a side-step, but his upper body remained unyielding. In a difficult backward-leaning posture, he drew a horizontal blade from his waist; as he bent low, the blade slashed toward Meng Zaishi, who had surged to his feet.

Meng Zaishi roared: "Fine martial arts! To think Great Wei still possesses such characters!"

He met the blade with his bare hands!

Both men possessed formidable strength. After a few exchanges, they broke out of the water. Splashes rose three or four meters high as they fought at close quarters, and Meng Zaishi finally drew the blade he had not yet used. In mid-air, when their weapons collided with a "bang," the surrounding trees were shaken so violently that leaves showered down like rain.

The two fought with reckless abandon, a dizzying sight for any observer!

Yet, even in the heat of battle, both Meng Zaishi and Yang Si kept a portion of their attention on Mu Wanyao. Meng Zaishi was injured; he saw Mu Wanyao struggling to stand in the water, and seeing the strange look in her eyes as she stared at them, his heart felt a sudden emptiness.

That look... her hatred was bleeding out.

For a moment, he began to doubt all his memories. He doubted whether the Mu Wanyao in his memories was the real one, or if this Mu Wanyao before him was the true version. All their beautiful pasts had been his own wishful thinking. Mu Wanyao only had use for him, no affection...

His heart suddenly ached.

"Pfft—" Distracted, he found his enemy offered no mercy. Yang Si seized the opportunity to swing his blade, the force of his internal energy whipping the wind. Meng Zaishi was struck squarely in the chest and flew backward, crashing into the thickest tree nearby.

The ancient tree shook violently!

Meng Zaishi slid down the trunk and saw Yang Si pressing the attack once more. Holding his blade, Meng Zaishi stood up, trembling, forcing himself to endure: I cannot lose!

I cannot die here!

He did not want to see Mu Wanyao’s relieved expression after his death. He did not want to see her happy because he had died...

His subordinates were still in Great Wei, the problems of the Wuman and Nanman remained unsolved, the Wuman had not yet developed or grown strong, and their power was not yet unified... With his ambitions unfulfilled, how could he dare to die?!

His long hair fell loose, his martial robes were torn, and the scent of blood filled the air between heaven and earth. Meng Zaishi threw his head back and let out a long howl, shouting: "Splendid!"

He immediately swung his blade and charged to meet the attack, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens! —

As Yang Si drew Meng Zaishi away, Mu Wanyao stumbled and struggled to climb out of the water.

The next instant, Yan Shang came down from the high slope above and stepped directly into the water. Mu Wanyao remained expressionless as Yan Shang set his bow and arrows by the pool, stood in the turbulent current, and bowed his head to untie the cloth strip binding her wrists.

Mu Wanyao’s gaze remained on the battle, while Yan Shang looked down at her wrists, which were chafed a deep, raw red.

He looked up at her, took off his outer robe, and wrapped it around her, covering her clothing which was both soaked by the water and torn open by Meng Zaishi.

He did not realize that this thoughtful gesture struck directly at Mu Wanyao’s pride, causing her to explode.

Mu Wanyao glared at him angrily: "Why did you come here? Did you hear everything Meng Zaishi and I said?"

Yan Shang’s eyelashes flickered. He tried his best to choose tactful words that would not provoke her: "...Third Young Master and I hurried here to save you. Thanks to his martial arts, we succeeded. As for your words, I only heard a little..."

Mu Wanyao said sarcastically: "Yet to glimpse a word is to know the whole! Who would dare underestimate the wisdom of the Second Young Master Yan!"

Yan Shang’s pupils contracted slightly.

He reached out to gently put an arm around her shoulder, saying: "People will arrive soon; let us leave this place first..."

The moment his hand touched her shoulder, she flinched and pulled away from his fingers, stumbling over a stone in the pool as she did so. Yan Shang watched, his heart aching, yet he dared not approach her again.

She looked a sight now: soaked from head to toe, her long hair clinging damply to her face, spreading like water weeds over the clean men’s robe he had draped over her. She had never looked like this before... so disheveled, her ferocity masking a deep fragility.

Mu Wanyao shouted sharply: "Leave? Leave what? Why miss such a perfect opportunity to kill? Where are the men? Didn't you and Yang the Third bring anyone? Are there only the two of you! Bring the men here and kill Meng Zaishi!"

She waded through the water, step by unsteady step, heading for the bank. Fearing she would fall, Yan Shang followed at a distance of about three paces, answering: "A detachment of the army has arrived. The Princess’s guards could not handle them, so Yang the Third’s men remained there to assist... Your Highness, let us leave quickly."

He was practically pleading with her: "We can discuss matters later."

Mu Wanyao ignored him, turning back to look at Yan Shang, urging him to pick up his bow: "So it was the Third Brother’s men who came. Heh, they followed closely indeed. Those people were delayed, but what about you? Are you not a man? Go! Take your arrows and kill Meng Zaishi for me!"

Yan Shang froze for a moment.

Mu Wanyao immediately said: "You won’t go, is that it? If you won’t go, I will!"

As they struggled, they reached the edge of the pool. As they were about to step onto the bank, Mu Wanyao bent down to grab the bow and arrows Yan Shang had discarded by the water’s edge, lowering her head to nock an arrow. Yan Shang could no longer bear it; he walked over and grabbed her wrist, his tone growing severe: "Stop making a scene! Come with me!"

Slap— Her hand swatted his away.

Mu Wanyao turned to face him, and as she looked up, her eyes were glistening, her voice trembling: "Finally couldn't help yourself, could you? Think I’m being unreasonable, don’t you? You heard it all! You heard every word, didn't you?!"

Yan Shang’s tone tightened: "Even if I heard it... so what?"

She looked at him with a cold laugh: "You heard, so you pity me, is that it? I do not need your cheap pity! By what right do you pity me? Is this my shame? This is the shame of all of you! You men, your eyes see only the 'greater picture,' only your grand enterprises. You ask me to be 'reasonable,' to negotiate and maneuver... To serve both father and son—that is normal in your eyes, isn't it?"

Yan Shang gritted his teeth: "I have never felt—"

Mu Wanyao hoarsely interrupted: "Of course it is normal! Just a princess, traded for peace between two nations—in the eyes of you men, what is wrong with that? Who will remember my sacrifice? Who will care about it?"

Yan Shang: "You could have sought help from Great Wei..."

Mu Wanyao shouted: "When the new Wuman King wanted me to be his Queen, I sought help from the Great Wei border army! The answer from Great Wei was: 'Please, Princess, consider the greater picture.'"

She gave a miserable laugh: "It is I who am unreasonable! It is I who demand too much! Knowing that in my Imperial Father’s eyes there is only the world, and that the Empress is too ill to manage state affairs, and that the two of them are fighting each other to the death... who would care about me, a woman married far away to a foreign land!"

Staring into the void, looking at the shadows of Meng Zaishi and Yang Si still locked in combat, she watched leaves fall with a rustle; the wind seemed even colder now.

Mu Wanyao looked at Yan Shang, her expression sorrowful, the glistening tears in her eyes swaying precariously.

Her thin, slender body swayed gently in the wind, and she demanded: "Since ancient times, is a beautiful woman destined only to be seized by others?!"

Yan Shang stared at her blankly. The emotion in his eyes, that empathy and pain... such gentleness seemed to force Mu Wanyao to look directly at her own scars.

Such gentleness was, in fact, quite cruel.

Mu Wanyao suddenly turned her face away. She did not want to look into his eyes anymore, did not want to understand his emotions through his gaze, did not want to see her own battered scars reflected there.

She muttered to herself: "It doesn't matter. No one in this world protects me, so I will protect myself. I do not need you."

Behind her, the water surged faster, and the sound of the waterfall grew louder.

Suddenly, just as she was about to step onto the bank, her body stiffened. She was embraced from behind.

She struggled, but Yan Shang did not release her as he usually did the moment she fought back. He held her tightly. Mu Wanyao shrieked: "Let go! Let go!"

Yan Shang’s cool cheek pressed against hers as he hugged her tighter from behind, whispering: "How can you say there is no one to protect you?"

Mu Wanyao shouted: "Are you going to lecture me on grand principles again? I don't want to hear it, let me go. If you won’t do it, I will kill Meng Zaishi myself!"

Yan Shang: "I will protect you!"

Mu Wanyao froze. She stopped struggling, and nestled in his arms, she tilted her head slightly to look at him.

He lowered his eyes: "As long as I am alive, I will protect you for a lifetime."

He loosened his arms, took two steps through the water, and retrieved the bow and arrows he had left on the bank. Nocking an arrow, he placed the bow into Mu Wanyao’s hands.

Steadfast, the two stood in the pool, splashed by the waterfall. Yan Shang’s hands gripped Mu Wanyao’s, helping her hold the bow and arrow.

He said, word by word: "Since ancient times, no one shall seize her!"

He said: "I still oppose you killing the Wuman King, but you must eventually walk out of the past, out of the shadows—"

The next moment, he stood behind her, guiding her as they drew the bow, aiming straight at the fight above. He watched the battle quietly, the wind blowing, brushing against her cheeks and his serene, quiet eyes.

Yan Shang called out: "Third Brother—"

Twang—

The arrow flew!

The battle in mid-air stalled. Although it was the first time Yang Si and Yan Shang had worked together, their cooperation became increasingly tacit after seeing Yan Shang’s previous archery and Yang Si’s swift dismount. Now, with Yan Shang’s simple shout of "Third Brother," Yang Si twisted his body and retreated immediately.

The black arrow flew from the bow held by Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang toward the sky—

The glistening water in Mu Wanyao’s eyes dripped down. Tears flowed down her cheeks, never stopping for a long time—

Meng Zaishi retreated immediately in mid-air, but the arrow had predicted his path, and Yang Si was there to block his retreat. In a split second, there was no way to dodge. In the blink of an eye, Meng Zaishi could only grit his teeth and twist his shoulder to avoid a lethal blow, and the arrow pierced his chest.

Though not a vital spot, the arrow caused Meng Zaishi to vomit blood and fall from mid-air.

With the enemy weakened, Yang Si stepped forward to deliver the killing blow, but the sound of iron hooves arrived just in time.

A general shouted: "Stop! Who dares to commit murder here..."

Yang Si ignored the command entirely. His blade was already descending toward Meng Zaishi when a small knife was hurled at his vital point from behind. To dodge, Yang Si had to pull back, and he saw the sound of horse hooves surrounding them. The Great Wei army had arrived.

Two soldiers immediately dismounted, one on each side, seizing Yang Si’s arms and preventing him from striking again.

Two others dismounted and pulled up Meng Zaishi, who lay collapsed on the ground, still laughing. The general dismounted and bowed to Meng Zaishi: "My apologies, Great King. We were ordered by the Prince of Qin to come and assist, but we arrived a step late, and Your Majesty has been injured."

With the arrow in his chest, Meng Zaishi was in such pain that cold sweat covered his face and he could not speak. Yet, even while coughing blood, he laughed and looked at Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang, who were also being surrounded.

But, after all, she was Princess Danyang.

Even surrounded, no one dared to step forward and lay a hand on those two.

The general looked at Meng Zaishi, drenched in sweat, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, please come away with us and have your wounds treated."

Meng Zaishi: "What about them—"

The general: "We will naturally give Your Majesty an account!"

Meng Zaishi extended a finger, pointing vaguely at Yan Shang, with the clear implication of "You just wait." His gaze swept over Mu Wanyao standing beside Yan Shang; he paused for a moment, but then looked away.

The conversation between Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang just now... he had heard it all.

Meng Zaishi was supported by the guards, but he gritted his teeth and called out to Mu Wanyao in a hoarse voice: "With this arrow as compensation, can the Princess’s hatred for me be reduced by even a fraction?"

Mu Wanyao, draped in Yan Shang’s robe, didn't even acknowledge him. She was held by the shoulder by Yan Shang. Yan Shang said something to the nearby guards, and the soldiers actually gave way, allowing Yan Shang to support Mu Wanyao to the bank.

From Meng Zaishi’s direction, he saw only Mu Wanyao’s pale profile, looking extremely fragile. She leaned weakly against Yan Shang, being dragged upward as Yan Shang held her. She kept leaning on Yan Shang, her eyelashes lowered, ignoring him entirely.

The air grew cold and stagnant.

Meng Zaishi smiled self-mockingly, thinking that she truly hated him to this extent.

A woman hating him to this extent... the bond between them had, in fact, reached its end.

Even Meng Zaishi, having walked out of bloodbaths and survived countless battles, could not help but feel a chill, wishing he could just let it all go. She was not someone he had to possess; he did not want her to hate him the way she hated his father.

The general finally persuaded the dispirited Wuman King to leave.

Turning back, the general wiped his sweat, steeling himself to question Princess Danyang and find out exactly what had happened—

However, the general did not see Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao had been helped onto a horse by Yan Shang, and it was Yan Shang who came to communicate with the general.

Yan Shang bowed to the general. Although he had lost his outer robe, the "Second Young Master Yan" remained as refined as ever. After stating his official rank and identity, the general, having heard of the famous "Second Young Master Yan," returned the bow politely.

Yan Shang said: "General, were you sent by the Prince of Qin? General, please listen to my words: the events at the Southern Mountains today should be explained simply as a dispute that occurred during the hunt between the Princess and the Wuman King. On no account should you mention swords, or killing, or injury."

The general said: "But that is not what the Prince of Qin’s order was."

Yan Shang said warmly: "I can guess what the Prince of Qin would say. The Prince of Qin surely hopes today’s events will escalate so the Princess will obediently go to the marriage alliance. However, General, think about this: what if the outcome of this matter is not so? Once the Princess does not go to the marriage alliance, she will naturally come to settle accounts with you regarding today’s coercion.

"I suspect the Prince of Qin’s orders were not detailed. He dared not make them detailed for fear of leaving evidence. If even the Prince of Qin fears leaving evidence, would he really leave this offensive work for you to do? And if, for the sake of argument, the Princess really does go to the marriage alliance because of this event, will the Crown Prince let you off, or will the Yang family let you off?"

The general was struck with fear and looked fiercely at Yang Si on the other side, who had stood up and was being watched by two soldiers, yet remained cold and menacing as he stared at the general.

Yang Si’s robes were stained with blood, but his gaze was cold and intimidating. These scions of local great clans in Chang'an, even if captured now, would be released later... Offending Yang the Third was not a good thing.

The general gave a bitter smile, realizing how difficult this task was.

Facing Yan Shang, his tone could not help but soften, and he actively sought advice: "According to your opinion, how should I handle this errand? Please teach me, Young Master!"

Yan Shang said warmly: "Seal off the Southern Mountains, take all the envoys back, and silence everyone. When reporting to the Prince of Qin later, you can tell the truth. As long as this matter does not spread and become known to everyone in Chang'an, then the private discussions of the Prince of Qin, the Wuman King, or even the Crown Prince and the Secretariat, are of no great consequence.

"The Prince of Qin will not blame you. Other powers will not blame you either.

"As long as you... seal off the events of today, no one will know."

The general thought for a moment and felt that this way, he could indeed remove himself from the situation. Let the conflict between the Princess and the Wuman King be a battle of the elites... The general bowed and said: "Many thanks, Second Young Master! If this matter is truly handled properly, I shall certainly invite you for a drink when the opportunity arises!"

Yan Shang smiled warmly and returned the bow: "I do not drink. General, please invite me for tea instead."

The general could not tell whether he was being serious or not, so he said no more, turned, and went to carry out his duties.

Yan Shang rubbed his forehead, beginning to ponder: It was best if this matter was resolved within the smallest possible circle.

Everyone thought that the marriage alliance was a matter for inter-state negotiation. Great Wei had been arguing about it internally, but Yan Shang now thought that if Meng Zaishi no longer wanted the marriage alliance, wouldn't the matter be solved?

After the events of today... Yan Shang began to ponder how to compensate Meng Zaishi, and how to get Meng Zaishi to back down.

A chill touched his forehead.

Yan Shang looked up and saw that it was actually snowing in the sky—

At dusk, in the early spring, a light snow began to fall, drizzling down.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was reviewing official documents. An internal eunuch entered and whispered a few words in the Crown Prince’s ear. The Crown Prince’s expression changed instantly, and he stood up abruptly. He did not even have time to put on his shoes as he hurried out and pulled open the palace door.

He saw Yang Si kneeling in the courtyard under the gallery.

Yang Si was kneeling on the ground in his narrow-sleeved black robes, the smell of blood washing over the air. The sky was getting dark, and the lanterns under the gallery shone on him. Yang Si looked up, and the Crown Prince’s eyes contracted violently as he saw the bloodstains on the young man’s face.

The Crown Prince held his body taut, and after a long moment, he gritted his teeth: "Whom did you kill?!"

Yang Si: "I didn't succeed."

The Crown Prince breathed a small sigh of relief, only to hear Yang Si’s next sentence: "I nearly killed the Wuman King. Yan Shuchen also took action."

The Crown Prince said: "The Wuman King is not dead?"

Yang Si gave an "Mmh" sound, causing the Crown Prince to step back two paces, catching his breath.

The Crown Prince was furious: "You truly cause me trouble all day long! Not a single day of peace!"

Yang Si kept his head lowered.

After steadying his nerves, the Crown Prince descended the steps, snatched a whip from a nearby guard, and lashed out, striking Yang Si once. Yang Si did not even flinch, receiving the blow steadily. The whip cracked in mid-air, and the palace maids under the gallery all shivered.

The Crown Prince cursed loudly: "Scoundrel! Madman! Did you not think of the consequences when you moved to kill? Relying only on a moment of satisfaction, not thinking about how to handle the aftermath?"

He kicked Yang Si to the ground.

The Crown Prince shouted sharply: "Kneel back!"

Yang Si gritted his teeth, spat out the blood in his mouth, and knelt back into position. Thereupon, another lash of the whip fell. Yang Si held his head down and received it steadily, letting the whip knock off his hair crown and scatter his long hair.

No one in the courtyard dared to intercede. The Crown Prince stood with a cold expression, beating, cursing, and kicking Yang the Third. He let out his rage for a full fifteen minutes before finally stopping.

Afterward, the Crown Prince breathed heavily, handed the blood-stained whip to the guards behind him, and looked down at Yang Si from his height. The Crown Prince’s gaze was cold, his facial muscles tight. After a moment of anger, the Crown Prince sighed and helped him up.

Yang Si endured the pain, grinned, and looked up with a smile: "All small injuries, I am fine."

He knew that this meant he had passed the trial.

The Crown Prince looked at the blood on his face for a long time, his face still tense: "You still have the face to laugh! This Wuman King, killing him is trouble, and letting him live is also trouble... But since you didn't kill him, there is still room for maneuver. It’s fine... I can cover for it."

The Crown Prince stared at him: "Is it because of the Sixth Sister... Heh, I knew it."

Yang Si lowered his head, sinking into silence for a long time: "Did I cause you trouble again?"

The Crown Prince said coldly: "Are you willing to bear the thorns and go ask for forgiveness from the Wuman King?"

Yang Si sneered: "Of course I am not! Even if you beat me to death today, I will not go to ask for forgiveness!"

The Crown Prince shouted angrily: "Stubborn mule!"

But in fact, the Crown Prince had never held out hope.

Having already spent his anger, the Crown Prince’s tone was rather desolate: "Just returned to Chang'an, and you’re already causing trouble for me... What can I say? You’d have been better off not returning! Forget it, if you won’t lower your head, then don't. Since Yan Shuchen is involved in this matter... if a person like Shuchen has taken action, then your problem is not a major one... Tell me specifically, what exactly happened."

He pushed Yang Si into the palace and patted him on the back twice. Seeing Yang Si had no reaction, the Crown Prince confirmed that he was not seriously injured. Feeling somewhat reassured, the Crown Prince sighed: "Go wash all this blood off yourself first and change your clothes."

Yang Si: "Mmh."

As he was about to exit the palace, he looked back at the Crown Prince, hesitated for a moment, and said: "I’m sorry."

The Crown Prince was deep in thought. He looked up at the young man standing in the doorway, waved his hand impatiently: "Go copy some characters to acknowledge your mistakes later; for now, get out of my sight." —

At the residence of Princess Danyang.

After Mu Wanyao had washed and was applying makeup and dressing in her finery, Yan Shang came to pay a visit.

After Yan Shang entered the chamber, seeing her so solemn, he could not help but be startled, and asked: "What is Your Highness planning to do?"

Mu Wanyao sat before the vanity mirror and said coldly: "Meng Zaishi did not die, so I must resolve the subsequent troubles. I have to go out."

Yan Shang said: "I will resolve this matter. Your Highness... has already been injured today; there is no need to worry about these things anymore. Such trivial matters are truly not worth your Highness’s concern."

Mu Wanyao sat there motionless, while the maids nervously combed her hair. Suddenly, Mu Wanyao stood up, pulled the hairpin the maid had just placed in her hair, and threw it onto the vanity mirror.

She ripped off her earrings, jade bracelets, and other items, her hair hanging loose, her complexion pale, and without a word, she turned and left.

Judging by the direction she was headed, she was going straight back to her sleeping quarters.

Yan Shang watched the maids standing there uneasily, shook his head at them, and softly reassured them, telling them not to worry.

Yan Shang said: "Take good care of the Princess. I need to go out of the residence to see a few people."

The maids asked fearfully: "Is the Second Young Master not staying?"

Yan Shang shook his head, heavy-hearted.

However, when Yan Shang stepped out, he stood in the deepening twilight, watching the snow for a long time. He had already left the Princess’s residence and the mansion across the street had already prepared a horse for him; just as he was about to depart, Yan Shang suddenly turned around and returned to the Princess’s residence.

He went straight to Princess Danyang’s sleeping quarters —

The room was dark and quiet.

Yan Shang knocked on the door outside and had the maid report his arrival, but no one answered from inside.

The door pushed open, and Yan Shang entered the room, closing it behind him. He carried a lantern and walked toward the inner chamber.

He placed the lantern on the low table, lifted the bed curtains, and leaned over to look at the blanket bunched up on the bed.

He knew she was hiding inside.

Yan Shang sat on the edge of the bed, leaned over, and through the blankets, hugged her to his chest. He held her through the quilt and heard her soft, stifled sobbing inside.

His heart ached so much he did not know what to do.

Yan Shang just held her tightly through the quilt, pretending he did not hear her weeping, and whispered: "It’s okay. Whatever the Princess does is fine.”

"I only ask that Your Highness does not push me away, all right?"