Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 85

Chapter 85

By the time evening arrived, accompanied by a light snow, the events that had occurred at the Southern Mountains during the day had been managed by the general in charge. He had detained and interrogated the parties involved, invited the envoys back to give them a stern warning, and finally summoned an imperial physician to tend to the Wuman King.

Once these tasks were completed, the general headed to the Prince of Qin’s residence to report on the progress of the matter.

Ever since Princess Danyang and the Wuman King had both left, the only people the general could hold were the guards from the Princess’s residence and the subordinates of the Wuman King. However, prompted by Second Young Master Yan, the general understood that these people would eventually have to be released, so he dared not offend them and instead treated them with proper food and drink.

Believing that he had handled the matter appropriately, the general approached Prince of Qin with a sense of self-satisfied triumph.

The Prince of Qin was in the middle of drinking tea. His temples were already throbbing from the general’s report, and upon hearing that Yan Shang and Princess Danyang had both left the scene, he could no longer contain his temper and slammed his tea cup down.

The boiling hot water and tea leaves splashed directly onto the general’s head.

Soaked in tea and hot water, the general was left dazed. Looking up at the Prince of Qin’s gloomy expression, he realized he had likely made a grave mistake and clamped his mouth shut.

The Prince of Qin was so infuriated he began to laugh: "You let Yan the Second and the Sixth Princess leave? Such a major incident occurred at the Southern Mountains, and you just let the people involved run off? Who did the killing, who started it, who struck the Wuman King... The Wuman King is currently suffering from an arrow wound! And you even let the person who shot that arrow go?! Are you a fool?"

The advisors and strategists sitting on either side also shook their heads and sighed, casting disdainful glances at the general, thinking: These men who only know how to swing swords really have no brains.

One strategist hypocritically advised: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. General Ye likely did not have the audacity to release them on his own. It is highly probable that someone whispered something in his ear... General Ye, why don't you tell His Highness the truth?"

General Ye shivered and hurriedly replied: "It... it was my incompetence in handling the matter! The reason I let them go was because Second Young Master Yan kindly helped me analyze the situation..."

He dared not hide anything now and repeated Yan Shang’s words.

At first hearing, Yan Shang’s logic had sounded quite sound. But as General Ye recounted it now, without the Prince of Qin even saying a word, he himself began to sense something strange about it.

The Prince of Qin sneered: "So, you were fooled by his few words... When you arrived, you saw that he and the Sixth Princess had both fired arrows, didn't you? You didn't dare arrest the Sixth Princess, and you let Yang the Third go, but surely you could have arrested a lowly eighth-rank official like Yan the Second?

"He used his words to baffle you, making you afraid to even ask the Sixth Princess a single question. And then you were grateful to him, watching as he left with her... You are an utter fool! He was the one who fired the arrow! He is the one suspected of attempting to murder the Wuman King! In this matter, at the very least, you could have pushed all the blame onto Yan the Second alone!

"You didn't dare touch a princess, but you couldn't even handle a mere Yan the Second? Now that you didn't seize him on the spot, following up on this matter later will be troublesome!

"After all, he is an official of the Secretariat and his teacher is the current Chancellor. Without apprehending him on the spot, what excuse do you have now to detain a court official?

"And you! For the sake of your own selfishness, fearing potential punishment later, you let a great achievement slip through your fingers... You missed a golden opportunity to climb the ranks!"

General Ye was covered in cold sweat, his heart filled with bitter regret. Climbing from a common soldier to a general, and then maneuvering through the political landscape of Chang'an—how difficult that had been... And yet, he had been tricked so easily by Yan Shang.

In an instant, General Ye no longer felt that the young Master Yan was as gentle as jade and looking out for his best interests; he began to see him as incredibly sinister.

How could there be such a sinister person in this world?

Why would someone who appeared so sincere and caring turn out to have such hidden depths?

Enraged, General Ye turned to head out of the hall: "I shall go and arrest them again immediately!"

The Prince of Qin sneered: "Come back! Do you think you can still catch them? How do you intend to arrest them now? Are you going to go after the Sixth Princess, or interrogate Yang the Third, or just target Yan the Second alone? The Secretariat and the Crown Prince will both be looking into this matter now... A perfect opportunity was squandered, and trying to recover it will not be so easy!"

General Ye said indignantly: "But we still have the guards from the Princess’s residence in our custody! Many people saw the killing at the Southern Mountains today! The Wuman King was injured, and someone must take responsibility."

The Prince of Qin’s eyes darkened.

He said: "...That will have to be left to the Wuman King."

After pondering for a moment, he ordered a strategist to pass on a message: "Take some precious medicinal herbs and visit the Wuman King on my behalf. By the way, tell the Wuman King that no matter how he intends to resolve this matter, I stand on his side."

The designated strategist stood up, bowed, and prepared to leave, only to be called back by the Prince of Qin.

The Prince of Qin mused for a moment, a mocking smile appearing on his lips: "Also, tell him that I have discovered Yan Shang, Yan Shuchen, is the very person he calls Yan Shisheng."

The strategist was confused but nodded in agreement.

In fact, the Ministry of Personnel had long since discovered that Yan Shang was Yan Shisheng.

However, the Prince of Qin had not told the Wuman King.

The Prince of Qin was very curious as to why Yan Shang had caught the Wuman King’s attention so thoroughly and what Yan Shang had done in the past.

The Prince of Qin had been waiting for a suitable opportunity to inform the Wuman King.

And now... that suitable opportunity had finally arrived.

At that moment, a servant knocked on the door: "Your Highness, the Eastern Palace summons you to the palace for questioning."

The Prince of Qin’s expression remained unchanged: "Did they only summon me?"

The servant replied: "It is said that they also summoned Second Young Master Yan."

The Prince of Qin muttered: "I knew it. This is their way of showing a desire for reconciliation between both sides."

An advisor asked anxiously: "If this is the case, does it not mean the Crown Prince and the Secretariat are joining forces? If the two of them unite to suppress this, will Princess Danyang really slip out of our control and no longer need to be sent for the marriage alliance?"

The Prince of Qin was thoughtful: "Not necessarily. Perhaps to appease the Wuman King, they will still send the Sixth Princess away... I shall go and see for myself."

The advisors also began to look troubled, whispering among themselves.

In Princess Danyang’s sleeping quarters, the light from the lantern on the low table was dim and flickering.

Yan Shang sat on the edge of the bed, embracing the mound of the quilt, and spoke many words. People sent by the Crown Prince were still urging him to go to the palace, but he could not bear to leave Mu Wanyao there alone.

However, ever since he began talking, he could no longer hear the faint, suppressed sobbing that had initially been coming from under the quilt.

The room was silent, as if he were talking to himself, with no response whatsoever.

Yan Shang knew that having said so much without a response from Mu Wanyao, she would not emerge from the quilt no matter how much more he said. Unable to force her out, he had to try a different approach.

After some thought, Yan Shang asked softly in the darkness: "May I ask, Your Highness, what was your next step in your original plan after killing the Wuman King? Did you think that killing him would be the end of it? Matters are never that simple. Someone must take responsibility for the aftermath. I wonder what you originally intended?"

He looked down at the bulging quilt.

Still, no one spoke.

Yan Shang said: "I am already involved in this matter. That arrow that struck the Wuman King today was partially my doing. Even if I am to take the fall for you, Your Highness, you should at least let me die with clarity, should you not?"

A muffled voice came from the quilt: "You won’t die. Don't take me for a fool."

Her voice was hoarse and damp with tears, but at least she had spoken.

Yan Shang’s eyes brightened slightly, and he leaned forward instinctively. Fearing he might frighten the person hiding inside, he controlled himself from getting too close, placed a hand over his lips, coughed, and said with a hint of a smile: "Even if I don’t die, surely it wouldn't be difficult for them to throw me in prison once they react to what happened?

"Am I to be sent back to prison?

"Will you not help me, Your Highness?"

He reached out and gently tugged at the corner of the quilt. A corner of the bedding slipped from his grasp in a panic and retreated further into the bed. He pretended not to notice, sitting only on the very corner of the bed, and sighed: "But if I knew what you originally intended, having some foundation in my mind, perhaps I could help contain this situation."

Mu Wanyao said in a muffled tone: "Knowing wouldn't help. My original plan was completely different from the current situation. You wouldn't be able to use it at all."

Yan Shang said: "If the Wuman King doesn't survive his arrow wound and dies tonight, wouldn't my plan be relevant? Wouldn't I be the one who has to pay with my life?"

These words of his finally moved Mu Wanyao.

Yan Shang sat by the bed, not daring to get closer, and saw the bulging quilt, now curled into the innermost corner, gently lift a corner. He remained motionless in the dark. Perhaps feeling she was safe, the quilt was finally lifted, tentatively and little by little.

She sat up, wrapped in the quilt, and looked over.

In the dim light, she appeared so small and fragile, enveloped entirely in the bedding. One could only vaguely see her long hair scattered in disarray, her eyes red, and her eyelashes tangled with tears. The Princess possessed delicate features and soft, pale skin that glowed with a milky radiance in the lamplight.

Having cried so hard, there were still tear stains on her face, and as she looked over, she possessed a sort of sickly, weak beauty.

Yan Shang’s eyes flickered.

A wave of turbulence shook his heart, making his body tense. His hands, hidden within the long sleeves hanging down to the floor, were tightly clenched into fists as he felt a deep hatred toward those who had bullied her.

Yet, Yan Shang remained outwardly composed, not even changing his sitting posture, nor attempting to move closer. He simply looked at her with a smile, as he always did, waiting for her explanation.

Feeling that she was safe, Mu Wanyao gathered the quilt around her and, with a hoarse, tired voice, told him: "I had arranged for someone who looked very much like Meng Zaishi. The plan was that if Meng Zaishi died, I would replace him with this person. I wanted to establish a puppet king for the Wuman nation, one who would follow Great Wei’s every instruction.

"I am quite familiar with Meng Zaishi, so I could have someone perfectly mimic him from the start. And when the ruse could no longer be maintained, the person I arranged should have already gained enough power to control the Wuman. As long as this person is a puppet, a fake, he would never truly be able to control the Wuman. He would always need the support of Great Wei.

"There would still be no war. Great Wei could easily disintegrate the Wuman. And I would not need to go for a marriage alliance. Isn't that good?"

Yan Shang was stunned, momentarily struck by the sheer boldness of Mu Wanyao’s idea.

What could he say?

Should he say... as expected of a princess? Did she have the courage only a princess could possess?

Such a plan, if proposed by anyone else, would be seen as wishful thinking or a pipe dream... and yet, now that Mu Wanyao had developed her own power base in the court, if left to her own devices, she might truly be able to execute this plan perfectly.

Especially if the real Wuman King were to die, all the officials of Great Wei would inevitably have no other choice but to stand on the same side, gritting their teeth and following through with Mu Wanyao’s plan.

Seeing Yan Shang silent, Mu Wanyao asked in a low voice: "What, is my plan not good?"

Yan Shang looked down: "In this, I was the one who was wrong."

Mu Wanyao was indifferent, her eyes fixed on the void, ignoring him.

She heard Yan Shang say in a low voice: "It was I who lacked the courage and ruined your plan, Your Highness. If I had had more courage today and helped you carry out your plan... the situation might have truly been reversed."

Mu Wanyao was taken aback.

Her vacant eyes shifted back to him, watching him apologize in earnest. She stared at him for a long time: "You think my original plan could have been executed?"

Yan Shang said: "Although it was too bold... it might not have been without its chances. If I had trusted you more, it would have been for the best. It was all my fault for hindering your affairs."

Mu Wanyao gazed at him for a while, and tears slowly welled up in her eyes. She murmured: "It’s not your fault. It’s that I’m usually too fierce, making you think I’m brainless and reckless. I didn't trust you, and I didn't consult you about anything. Even when you came to the Southern Mountains today, you figured it out yourself; I didn't tell you."

She lowered her long eyelashes, mocking herself: "And if you and Yang the Third hadn't come, perhaps today I would have... I truly underestimated Meng Zaishi. I thought my arrangement was sound, but his scheming is not shallow either. He had already been colluding in secret with the Prince of Qin; even without you, my plan would likely not have succeeded.

"Meng Zaishi is formidable. Even I was both full of hate for him and yet educated by him. It is not so easy for him to die; it was I who was overconfident."

Yan Shang was silent for a long time before saying: "Rest assured, Your Highness, and take care of your health. I will not let you be sent for the marriage alliance. Besides, Yang the Third has returned today... With the Third Young Master by the Crown Prince’s side, the Crown Prince will surely assist you clearly. Your most urgent task now is to rest well and not think about these matters.

"These troublesome affairs... should be left to us men."

Mu Wanyao lowered her head, kneeling with the quilt wrapped around her, her face obscured. Having hidden in the dark, silent for so long, her voice was soft and trembling: "Second Brother Yan."

Yan Shang: "Yes?"

He saw the water droplets on her lowered eyelashes and heard her hoarse voice: "Do you think I am a bad person?"

Yan Shang was silent for a moment; his heart ached as if it were being violently squeezed. He smiled, though his voice wavered slightly: "Why do you say that?"

Mu Wanyao: "I have a bad temper, I always scold you, hit you, criticize you, and mock you. I have had relationships with more than one man; my past in the Wuman nation is so filthy I don't even want to mention it. I am fierce on the outside but weak on the inside. I told you I didn't care, but in reality, I still do. My relationship with Meng Zaishi... is also so unusual.

"I didn't resolve these matters before I came to provoke you. You were originally pure of heart, not liking anyone, not understanding love, not attached to affection... You could have been a good official, yet I make you worry about my affairs every few days. I... have you ever, even for a moment, thought about breaking it off with me?"

Yan Shang looked at her blankly and said: "You should know what kind of person I am, Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao said "Mmh" lightly: "I know, which is why I provoked you. I know you are a very serious person; once you have made a decision, you don't easily regret it, and you won't turn back. So even if I am bad, as long as I don’t mention it, you won’t break it off with me, right?"

Yan Shang: "That is not the reason. You always feel that I do it out of sympathy, out of tolerance... and yet, in this world, there are too many people I sympathize with and tolerate. Sympathizing with someone does not mean I will sacrifice myself to love them.

"Am I truly such a saint, and how good am I, really? In the eyes of others, I am just a lowly eighth-rank official, without talent or flair, and yet I am inextricably linked to you—it is truly overestimating my own capabilities.

"You are scholarly and talented, while I am like a rustic bumpkin; before you, I have not read any of the great or wondrous books. I have heard that your talent is exceptional, that you can paint and compose poetry, yet I am incredibly dull; in the realm of poetry, I fear I will never be able to compare with you in my lifetime, unable to accompany you in composing verses.

"You play the konghou so skillfully; the first time I heard it, it was like the music of the heavens. And I can do nothing. I only know that your playing is wonderful, yet I cannot even articulate why. That day I was stunned by you, and I have never forgotten it. It’s just that you don't play these things often, and I don't know when I will be able to hear you play the konghou again."

Mu Wanyao turned her face and looked at him intently.

Yan Shang finally said: "...It is I who am not worthy of you."

Mu Wanyao gazed at him for a long time; the tears that had just stopped began to fall again, unable to be held back.

Hearing her sobbing, he looked up at her.

Mu Wanyao choked out: "I really didn't want to tell you about my past, didn't want you to see the former me. In the Wuman nation... there are still so many things, and I don't want you to know any of them."

Yan Shang said hoarsely: "It doesn't matter. I never wanted to know anyway... If you choose not to speak of it for a lifetime, I will never ask about it for a lifetime."

Mu Wanyao covered her face, trembling: "You said it, you said that the past is like a shadow that follows you, and it will never be in the past."

Yan Shang’s heart pained again, thinking of the time when he was still in Lingnan and had said those words.

He hated himself for having said such things back then; how sad Mu Wanyao must have been to hear them.

Yan Shang said: "I was young then, my understanding was unclear. The past is ethereal; it shouldn't carry so much weight. What matters is the future. We should live the rest of our lives well and not let the past affect us."

Mu Wanyao lifted her tear-stained face from her palms, her eyes sparkling, and gazed at Yan Shang, a mist gathering in her eyes.

She choked out: "Second Brother Yan."

Yan Shang: "Yes."

Mu Wanyao slowly pushed aside the quilt covering her, revealing her snow-white undergarments. She knelt on the bed and crawled bit by bit toward Yan Shang, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. She crawled in front of him and looked up; Yan Shang leaned down.

She tentatively leaned forward and brushed her lips against his.

Yan Shang’s eyes curved in a smile.

Only now was he sure that he was still the Second Brother Yan in her heart, forever tolerant, forever wonderful, and unlike any other man in the world. He was the best person in her heart, the best person she had ever seen in the world.

Mu Wanyao wrapped her arms around his waist and buried herself in his embrace. She began to cry gently, holding his neck, and Yan Shang held her, patting her back lightly without speaking. She cried softly in his arms, her whole body shivering, her tears soaking his neck.

Yan Shang’s heart followed her, weeping a shower of rain.

Mu Wanyao said intermittently: "I like Second Brother Yan so much."

Yan Shang hugged her tightly.

Just then, a maid knocked on the door. Mu Wanyao sobbed and looked up blankly. Yan Shang said: "I had Xia Rong brew some medicinal soup. You stood in the icy water pool for so long today, and your health is not good; I was afraid you would get sick. Will you drink the medicine, my dear?"

Mu Wanyao nodded.

Yan Shang sighed: "Yao-Yao is truly obedient."

Xia Rong came in with the soup, and seeing the Princess obediently covered by the quilt, held in Second Young Master Yan’s arms, and actually listening to him as she took the soup and drank it, she was stunned, thinking that Second Young Master Yan truly knew how to handle the Princess.

Mu Wanyao leaned on Yan Shang’s shoulder and suddenly said: "Fang Tong and the others..."

Yan Shang said warmly: "Don't worry about it, Your Highness. I will find a way to have them released."

Mu Wanyao stopped speaking.

Xia Rong, who had been hesitating on the side for a long time, finally gathered her courage and said: "Second Young Master, the people from the Eastern Palace have been urging us for a long time, asking whether you are still going to the palace."

Mu Wanyao looked up at Yan Shang with suspicion. Yan Shang said: "My apologies, tell the people sent by the Eastern Palace to go back first. I will go myself in a little while."

Mu Wanyao: "Are you leaving?"

Yan Shang looked down at her and said warmly: "I will leave after you fall asleep."

Only then did Mu Wanyao set her mind at ease, lowered her head again, and drank the medicine obediently. She added: "I want to eat the candy you gave me before."

Yan Shang was stunned for a moment and apologized: "I will have my family send more in the coming days."

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips, her expression saying she was "not happy." Yan Shang leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

She looked up at him in surprise, and when she lowered her head, she touched her own forehead, the little princess lifting the corners of her mouth, feeling a little happy—

The Eastern Palace’s intent was that Yang the Third would not show his face; regarding the reconciliation for this matter, the Crown Prince sent another official to go with Yan Shang to apologize to the Wuman King.

Privately, the Crown Prince said he feared that if Yang Si met the Wuman King, he would offend him again, so it would be better to confine Yang Si to his home and reflect, to save him from going out and causing trouble.

Yan Shang naturally agreed.

The Secretariat was also quite dissatisfied with Yan Shang’s behavior, but Chancellor Liu had been away from the Secretariat for the past two days due to some family matters. The Secretariat only held discussions and found it inconvenient to target a student of the Chancellor while the man himself was absent.

Both the Eastern Palace and the Secretariat urged Yan Shang to go and apologize to the Wuman King, and as a good-natured person, Yan Shang naturally went with the people sent by the Eastern Palace to apologize every day.

It was just that the Wuman King would not see them.

The official sent by the Eastern Palace could not stand it and changed three people in three days, yet Yan Shang remained unshakable, bringing gifts and visiting every day. Even when the Wuman King would not see him and he stood in the courtyard for a whole day eating a closed door, his expression remained unchanged.

This left those who accompanied him in awe.

They marveled at his self-restraint, which was not that of an ordinary person.

On the fourth day, the Wuman side was probably reminded that he had been punished enough, and only then did they let Yan Shang in to set down the gifts and see the Wuman King—

Meng Zaishi had only been shot a few days ago, yet he was already able to walk. His expression remained cold, and to all appearances, he was no different from his usual self.

The two sides met in the study. Meng Zaishi sat draped in a robe, coldly watching Yan Shang and the other official from the Eastern Palace enter. They defined Mu Wanyao’s shooting of him as a misunderstanding, hoping for the Wuman King’s forgiveness and a private reconciliation.

Meng Zaishi watched Yan Shang standing with lowered eyes, thinking of the information the Prince of Qin had shared: this man was Yan Shisheng.

Heh, no wonder.

Meng Zaishi said lazily: "Do you think a few gifts are enough to gloss over the fact that you almost killed me? My subordinates are still being held by you even now."

Yan Shang said: "If you want them back, Great King, they can be released at any time."

Meng Zaishi: "The arrow you fired that day... you didn't even have to spend time in jail? Is this the custom of your Great Wei, to bully others?"

Yan Shang raised his eyes and scrutinized the Wuman King, who sat there roughly, wantonly playing with an inkstone on the desk, and said: "How does the Great King wish to punish me?"

Meng Zaishi looked at him slowly, his heart filled with resentment because the other party’s scheme had incited a war that had dragged on for two years. Although they had wiped out the Chiman and benefited from it, Yan Shang’s initial idea had clearly been ill-intentioned.

Meng Zaishi answered a question with another: "During my recovery these past two days, I read your Great Wei’s books, and only then did I learn that the character 'Man' in 'Wuman' is not exactly a kind word in your Great Wei."

He sneered and slammed the inkstone onto the desk, making the official behind Yan Shang shiver.

Meng Zaishi looked gloomily at Yan Shang: "So, even though our two nations are allied, Great Wei has looked down on us from the very beginning. You view us as barbarians and refer to us as 'Wuman'—it was never a kind term... And yet, we didn't know, and even took pride in it, being mocked in your hearts for many years, haven't we?"

Yan Shang was composed: "Regarding how your honorable nation is addressed, I truly do not know. I was not present when the alliance agreement was made, and I was not responsible for this matter. If your honorable nation wishes to change its name, you may do so as you please. I will convince my sovereign and his court to cooperate actively; there will be no objections. It is merely a name, after all; it is entirely up to the Great King."

Meng Zaishi watched him with cold eyes.

He said: "Princess Danyang..."

Sure enough, as soon as he mentioned those four words, Yan Shang’s gentle eyes changed slightly, and his gaze toward him turned sharper.

Meng Zaishi sneered and said: "I can ignore Princess Danyang’s attempt to kill me. But since you were also involved, if you wish to protect her, you must pay the price. I have heard that you yourself lack talent and that you reached your current position as an official entirely through Princess Danyang’s promotion. If you want me to calm my anger and not implicate innocent people, I will give you a choice.

"Resign from your office now and do not serve as an official in Great Wei for five years. Then, I will never mention the matter of the Southern Mountains again."

The official behind Yan Shang’s complexion changed, and he immediately retorted: "Great King, you go too far! Second Young Master, you must not agree!"

Yan Shang, however, looked at Meng Zaishi for a long time and said quietly: "If I resign, will you also no longer mention the marriage alliance?"

Meng Zaishi found it laughable: "You, a mere eighth-rank official, think yourself important enough to equate yourself with the marriage alliance of a princess? Very well, if you want me to give up on the marriage alliance, I fear you must add one more condition."

Yan Shang smiled and said: "What other condition do you wish to add?"

Meng Zaishi’s eyes lost their mocking color and he stared at Yan Shang seriously. After a long while, Meng Zaishi said: "As long as you resign and also vow to never marry the Princess for the rest of your life, I will not make things difficult for you!"

Yan Shang remained expressionless and said with a smile: "Why don't you just let me follow you back to the Wuman nation, Great King, to help you devise strategies and do things for you?"

Meng Zaishi also smiled as he replied: "I am afraid that if you were to work for me, the more you helped, the more I would be deceived by you until I was utterly confused, resulting in a losing business... Yan Shisheng."

The air froze.

Both had smiles in their eyes, yet the smiles were icy, tearing away the final layer of pretense.

And the minor official behind Yan Shang was nearly frightened to the point of fainting by their audacious dialogue.