Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Yan Shang stood in a standoff with Meng Zaishi. However, due to the disparity in their status, it was Meng Zaishi who held the upper hand.

Meng Zaishi’s playful, mocking eyes were fixed on Yan Shang, his entire demeanor aimed at forcing the latter to resign.

Ever since Meng Zaishi discovered that Yan Shang was the legendary Yan Shisheng, he knew he could never let him off. Yet, moving against a court official was nearly impossible. His only option was to force Yan Shang to resign; only when Yan Shang was reduced to a commoner could he kill him without facing the consequences.

Given that Yan Shang was Yan Shisheng, he surely wouldn't fail to see through Meng Zaishi’s intentions.

Now, it was merely a matter of choice.

Meng Zaishi had asked him to abandon his position and abandon Mu Wanyao, promising in return to also abandon his claim to her. Meng Zaishi was deeply curious to see if Yan Shang would go that far for Mu Wanyao—

During the battle at the Southern Mountains, Yan Shang had stood side-by-side with Mu Wanyao. A mere civil official had actually uttered the laughable promise of protecting a princess.

Meng Zaishi wanted to know: when his own interests were at stake, would Yan Shang still choose Mu Wanyao, even at the cost of his own future?

Yan Shang stared at Meng Zaishi for a long time before saying: "...The Great King’s request is truly harsh and leaves my heart in turmoil. I cannot provide an answer this instant and require two more days to consider."

A relaxed, mocking smile surfaced on Meng Zaishi’s face, and the taut tension in his heart eased slightly. He leaned back, thinking: So that’s all he is.

Simultaneously, his heart was filled with a sense of resentment toward Mu Wanyao: Yan Shang is nothing more than this! His affection for you is nothing more than this!

...And what makes you think he is better than me? Clearly, when faced with his own interests, Yan Shang will still consider himself!

Meng Zaishi said perfunctorily: "Then go and consider it well. As you say in Great Wei, my words are as heavy as a tripod. As long as you resign and guarantee that you will not marry the Princess, I will immediately renounce the marriage alliance and leave Great Wei. No ifs, ands, or buts."

Yan Shang remained silent. He leaned forward, performed a perfectly standard bow, turned, and walked toward the door.

The official sent by the Eastern Palace, who had been following Yan Shang, hurried to offer a panicked bow to the Wuman King before rushing out to chase after Yan Shang.

The official nervously pursued him: "Second Young Master, you must never listen to that Wuman King and actually resign! Your future is limitless. As long as you remain firmly in this position and avoid making any mistakes, even just by grinding out your seniority, you can make it to the upper echelons of the Secretariat... You must never resign!"

This official was a man of the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince’s current attitude toward Yan Shang was primarily one of support. The Crown Prince was unable to insert his own influence into the Secretariat, yet the Secretariat was of vital importance. Yan Shang was his only foothold there.

Yan Shang had not committed any errors thus far. Naturally, the Crown Prince hoped Yan Shang would rise through the ranks, thereby enhancing his own political voice.

To resign at a time like this would be utter stupidity.

Walking beneath the covered walkway, Yan Shang listened to the official’s incessant advice. He patiently stated that he needed time to think and was not offering an answer right now. Seeing Yan Shang’s gentle tone, the official didn't feel Yan Shang was annoyed and thus became increasingly long-winded and mutter-prone.

Heavy green foliage cast shadows upon the walkway. Light poured down from outside like a cascading waterfall, landing on his green, bamboo-leaf-patterned robes, and then on Yan Shang’s profile.

Even just from his silhouette, one could feel his noble and refined air.

The official trailing behind him, who couldn't stop chattering, couldn't help but sigh in admiration, his heart filled with genuine, heartfelt regret—

Second Young Master Yan was barely nineteen this year.

Neither his appearance nor his temperament had reached their prime.

If such a young and talented official were truly to resign, it would be a loss for the central government.

Yan Shang appeared gentle on the surface, but inside, his heart was restless. Meng Zaishi’s words had indeed affected him. The man had used the Princess to threaten him, yet if he did resign, he would very likely be hunted down by the Wuman... Both sides were cliffs; this road was truly treacherous.

Yan Shang’s mind spun rapidly, pondering Meng Zaishi, analyzing every expression and word the man had used. He thought back vaguely to the events at the Southern Mountains, to the subtle expression Meng Zaishi had made while pointing his finger at him as he left after being shot...

Yan Shang abruptly stopped his footsteps, sensing that something was wrong.

The look Meng Zaishi had given him and Mu Wanyao when he looked back while leaving the Southern Mountains—

It was an attitude of raising his hand high, but letting it down gently!

Yan Shang’s heart pounded violently as he realized he had caught a glimmer of inspiration. He forced himself to stay calm, following this thread of thought. Suddenly, he remembered the test question Chancellor Liu had given him a while back regarding the differences between the Great Wei army and the Wuman army.

Yan Shang had ultimately provided Chancellor Liu with an answer that anyone would naturally overlook... His teacher had been busy with household affairs the last two days; he hadn't cared what Yan Shang was doing lately, and surely hadn't had time to look at the answer Yan Shang had provided.

But as Yan Shang combined that answer with Meng Zaishi’s subtle attitude, his palms became slick with sweat. He reached a bold conclusion—

Meng Zaishi was bluffing!

Meng Zaishi had no desire to be an enemy of Great Wei, nor did he care about Mu Wanyao’s attempt to kill him.

Meng Zaishi came to Great Wei, and perhaps Mu Wanyao was only a tiny, negligible reason. If he could get her, that was fine; if not, it didn't matter... The Wuman King’s purpose in coming to Great Wei had never been Princess Danyang!

Realizing this, Yan Shang’s pace quickened. He urgently needed to return to the Secretariat, organize his thoughts, and then use his own reasoning to persuade the high-ranking officials of the Secretariat...

As Yan Shang increased his pace and walked down the steps from the walkway, he collided with someone.

Yan Shang quickly apologized and bowed.

The other person returned the gesture, replying in authentic, well-enunciated Great Wei speech: "It is fine, I was the one who ran into you, sir."

Shifting his shoulder, Yan Shang’s eyelashes gave a slight flick, and he looked up at the middle-aged man he had bumped into.

The other party looked genial, possessing the features of a Great Wei native, unlike the deep-set features of the Wuman people. Yet, his clothing and grooming were that of a Wuman person... Yan Shang was thoughtful: "A Great Wei person?"

The man’s pupils contracted. With a cold and wary look, he took a step back, bowed once more, and walked into the corridor.

The official behind Yan Shang said disdainfully: "I recall this man. He is one of the envoys who came with the Wuman this time. He looks like a Great Wei man, yet he recognizes a thief as his father, considers himself a Wuman, and has become an enemy of our Great Wei. A spineless wretch, it’s disgraceful."

Yan Shang said softly: "Everyone has their own difficulties. Since we do not see the whole picture, it is better not to judge lightly."

The official sighed: "Oh, Second Young Master, you are just too good-natured. That will never do."

Yan Shang smiled slightly, withdrew his gaze, and left the area—

The man who had collided with Yan Shang was Luo Xiu, an envoy from the Southern Barbarians who had been sent to the Wuman and had followed them to Chang'an.

Luo Xiu had heard that the Wuman King had been shot with an arrow, so he had rushed over to stir up trouble between the Wuman and Great Wei, intending to use fierce rhetoric to demand an explanation from the Wuman regarding Great Wei.

Luo Xiu had prepared many impassioned words to explain how little Great Wei regarded the Wuman.

But upon being led into the study and seeing the young man with disheveled long hair sitting inside, dressed in robes and looking quite unrefined, Luo Xiu was momentarily stunned: "Why are you here? Where is the Wuman King?"

Meng Zaishi wore a smile that was not quite a smile.

Only then did Luo Xiu realize in a flash that this was the true Wuman King.

Luo Xiu’s face turned pale; he realized the Wuman did not trust him.

Luo Xiu failed to gain any favor from the Wuman King in the study that day and realized that since the Wuman didn't trust him, the information he sought would surely be blocked by them. Since that was the case, Luo Xiu intended to use his status as a "Wuman envoy" in the eyes of the Great Wei people to work for his own benefit—

In the Hanlin Academy, Liu Wenji was scolded by an impatient eunuch because he had stayed for too long.

The discrimination among eunuchs themselves was no less severe than the discrimination scholars showed toward them.

Luo Xiu often came to the Hanlin Academy to look for information on Great Wei, and he had seen this eunuch named Liu Wenji many times—the man was frequently being punished.

Luo Xiu’s expression shifted. He said to the group of older eunuchs who were pushing the frail young eunuch around: "What do you think you are doing?!"

The men turned around, and seeing that it was a Wuman envoy, their expressions turned subtle. They bowed their heads, saying they had disturbed a noble guest.

Luo Xiu scolded them, using the arrogant and haughty manner of the Wuman, and took Liu Wenji away from them. Once they were out of the Hanlin Academy, off the official road, and beside an ancient tree around a bend, Liu Wenji stopped walking.

Liu Wenji looked at him sideways, his eyes peculiar: "Sir, you saved me on purpose. Do you have some objective in mind?"

Luo Xiu: "...Why would you say that?"

Liu Wenji smiled faintly. His eyes were cold, his words permeated with a realistic sense of indifference: "I have seen you at the Hanlin Academy many times. I have been punished many times before, yet I never saw you offer to help. I have seen enough of the world’s cold indifference. If you saved me, you must want something. What is it you want?"

Luo Xiu was no longer truly a man of Great Wei. He didn't even notice that Liu Wenji didn't refer to himself as a "servant," but as "I."

He simply felt that this eunuch didn't have that gloomy air that other eunuchs had. But that did not mean Liu Wenji’s temperament was particularly good or different from the others... What Luo Xiu felt from Liu Wenji was a bone-deep coldness.

That sort of indifference toward the affairs of the world.

Luo Xiu tentatively said a few words to Liu Wenji, but unfortunately, this eunuch was truly cold and didn't really respond to him. With no other choice, Luo Xiu stated his true purpose: "...Actually, this won't be troublesome for you. I just want to know the true situation in Great Wei—for example, the state of the military, the finances, and the views of the officials and the Emperor toward forces outside of Great Wei... I want detailed information on Great Wei. Someone like you, who frequently enters and leaves the palace and the government offices, should know more secrets than anyone else."

Liu Wenji looked down at him, deep in thought.

Luo Xiu bit the bullet: "And in return, I can do you a favor."

Liu Wenji: "Why do you want to know the true situation in Great Wei? Does the Wuman want to start a war with Great Wei, or do they want to unite with surrounding small nations to start a war with Great Wei?"

However, before Luo Xiu could explain, Liu Wenji interrupted: "It doesn't matter. You don't need to tell me. Regardless of whether what you are saying is the truth, knowing too much won't do me any good."

Luo Xiu: "Then...?"

Liu Wenji’s lips curled into a faint, indistinct smile.

He squinted, watching the fiery, magnificent evening glow in the sky at dusk, and saw the wilderness grow dim as the night was about to arrive.

Liu Wenji said slowly: "I can cooperate with you. And the favor I need from you is simple. Beside His Majesty, the Grand Eunuch has three disciples he values the most, whom he has cultivated to be his successors. Of the three, I am the weakest."

"I want you to approach those two. Then, in front of His Majesty and the Grand Eunuch, praise one of them. His Majesty is suspicious, and the Grand Eunuch dare not disobey His Majesty; he will suspect that the eunuch you praised is in collusion with the Wuman. That eunuch will be secretly executed."

"Then the Grand Eunuch will be furious and will investigate who did it. And because you are frequently in contact with the other eunuch, the Grand Eunuch will easily suspect that the surviving eunuch went to frame the one who died."

Luo Xiu murmured: "Once the two capable disciples are gone, only you will be left by the Grand Eunuch’s side. He will have no choice but to use you."

Liu Wenji’s lips curled, his eyes filled with ice, his lowered eyelashes blocking the look in his eyes—

He had no choice.

If one wanted to climb the ladder, one’s hands could not remain clean.

This was only the beginning of his climb—

Luo Xiu agreed to Liu Wenji’s answer, and Liu Wenji promised that once the first eunuch died, he would give Luo Xiu the information he wanted.

The two only touched base hurriedly; when they met afterward, they maintained an attitude of not being familiar with each other, so as not to arouse suspicion within the Hanlin Academy—

However, Liu Wenji encountered Princess Danyang once in the Hanlin Academy.

It was noon that day, and the officials had all gone to eat. While Liu Wenji was grinding ink, he heard that Princess Danyang had arrived.

Liu Wenji’s heart beat wildly, but he hid in a corner. Mu Wanyao was such a noble and beautiful princess. She was adorned with gold, jade, and bright jewels, surrounded by officials, and her eyes never once looked at Liu Wenji.

Mu Wanyao only stood in the outer hall of the Hanlin Academy for a moment, as if looking casually at what they were busy with. Upon learning that the Hanlin Academy was following the Prince of Qin’s orders to compose songs of praise for the Great Ceremony and for His Majesty, Mu Wanyao’s lips curled upward.

Mu Wanyao mocked: "You all really are quite idle."

Leading Mu Wanyao was a young, refined official who, despite his youth, already held the position of Hanlin Academician. It was said that he had been a top scholar in a certain year; Mu Wanyao couldn't quite remember. But upon hearing Mu Wanyao’s words, this top scholar actually displayed a trace of displeasure.

The young Hanlin Academician said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "We only have the pen in our hands to write poetry and prose for the court. Whatever our duties are, everything comes from the center. What do you mean, Your Highness, by sarcastically insulting us for no reason?"

Mu Wanyao paid close attention whenever she saw someone who dared to confront her face-to-face.

Mu Wanyao said: "Listening to what you mean, are you also saying that your duties are too idle and have no meaning?"

The young scholar was startled. Just as he was about to say that he didn't mean that, Mu Wanyao straightened her face and said coldly: "You won’t be idle for long."

Having said this, Mu Wanyao didn't linger in the Hanlin Academy and turned to leave.

After the Princess left, a middle-aged official sighed and nudged the young official who had just countered the Princess: "Yanzhi, you truly are daring. To speak to Her Highness like that—aren't you afraid she will charge you with the crime of disrespect?"—

Two days later, the Prince of Qin’s attempts to have Meng Zaishi deal with the marriage-alliance Princess had failed. Meng Zaishi kept being vague and evasive, making the Prince of Qin wonder if his partner was even interested in this matter at all.

Just as the Prince of Qin was feeling overwhelmed, he heard that Mu Wanyao and Wei Shu had come to visit.

The Prince of Qin was furious: "...How did those two come together?"

He said: "Say I am ill and not seeing guests... Urgh!"

Before he could finish, the steward of the residence gave him a helpless look. In the main hall, Mu Wanyao, dressed in magnificent robes, had already arrived with an elegant gait. Behind her followed the young Wei Shu.

Mu Wanyao cast a glance at the Prince of Qin, her beautiful eyes shining like stars scattered across a lake in the sunlight. Such bright eyes actually made the Prince of Qin feel very uncomfortable.

The Prince of Qin said: "I heard that after you returned from the Southern Mountains, younger sister, you were ill... Why aren't you resting properly instead of coming out?"

Mu Wanyao smiled: "I heard the Ministry of War has been holding the guards from my residence and refusing to release them. I was too sick to get out of bed earlier and meant to ask Yan Shuchen to put in a word at the Ministry of War for me. Unfortunately, Yan Shuchen seems to have been busy lately, and he probably forgot about this... I thought I would come and do it myself."

"Third Brother, it is time to release them, isn't it?"

The Prince of Qin said: "You still dare say that! If not for your recklessness, hurting the Wuman King... I am detaining them as an explanation to the Wuman."

Mu Wanyao’s eyes turned cold: "Does Third Brother mean that if the Wuman King does not agree to reconcile and leave Great Wei, you won't release them?"

The Prince of Qin avoided her gaze and said guiltily: "Sixth Sister, you don't need to worry. It’s not just your people who are detained; those Wuman envoys who caused trouble were also detained. You have no one to use, and the Wuman King has no one to use. I am detaining both your parties to keep you from causing further trouble. I will naturally release them afterward."

Mu Wanyao sneered: "Are you still dreaming, thinking that once I am sent away for the marriage alliance, you will release them and let me leave Great Wei with the Wuman King, and that you can still play the part of a considerate big brother?"

The Prince of Qin shouted sternly: "What nonsense are you talking about! How could I do that to you! We are siblings, is the bond of flesh and blood fake?"

Mu Wanyao said indifferently: "The bond of flesh and blood? If it were Fourth Sister’s people who were detained today, even if you didn't release them, you would be begging to offer explanations. But when it’s me, even though I have come personally, you still won’t let go. The bond of flesh and blood is nothing more than this."

The Prince of Qin paused and actually said: "Your Fourth Sister is currently pregnant and is resting at the residence. Whatever you have to say, tell me directly; don't go disturbing her and alarming her pregnancy."

Mu Wanyao did not speak.

Wei Shu, who had not spoken and was sitting in the position below Mu Wanyao, spoke up this time: "For Your Highness to speak for one younger sister in front of another is a bit too cold-blooded."

The Prince of Qin looked at him angrily: "Wei Juyuan, I was just about to talk to you! I am speaking of private matters with my own sister; what is the meaning of an outsider like you listening in?"

Wei Shu turned his head to look at him.

Clear, cool light fell upon the youth, making him look elegant and clear.

Wei Shu said: "I have come today to submit memorials to Your Highness. There are simply too many officials in the Ministry of Personnel behaving improperly lately, and I have been unable to oversee it all. I have specifically brought the memorials for Your Highness to review."

He handed over the memorials. When the Prince of Qin saw Wei Shu’s page holding a thick stack of them, his eyelids twitched. He secretly hated the problem Wei Shu had. He didn't believe the other departments didn't have any problems at all; why did Wei Shu always fixate on the Ministry of Personnel?

The Prince of Qin irritably flipped through the memorials from beginning to end, his expression turning even uglier. He had to admit that although Wei Shu was young, his eye for detail was excellent, and he was talented... The Prince of Qin truly found it difficult to find a foothold to refute these memorials.

He took a breath: "What do you mean by specifically bringing these memorials for me to see? What do I need to do if I want to withdraw these memorials?"

Wei Shu turned to look at Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes slowly and said leisurely: "It is nothing, just borrowing the Hanlin Academy that Third Brother has been in charge of recently."

Hearing it was just the Hanlin Academy, the Prince of Qin felt relieved. The Hanlin Academy was far less important than the Ministry of Personnel. Keeping the Ministry of Personnel and losing the Hanlin Academy was acceptable to the Prince of Qin.

He was just curious: "The people in the Hanlin Academy do nothing but write poetry and prose; what do you want with them?"

Mu Wanyao’s lowered eyelashes tilted upward, radiating charm: "Naturally, to let them write poetry and prose."

Sitting beside the Prince of Qin, watching the maids pour tea, Mu Wanyao’s voice sounded like an oriole: "It is precisely to have the Hanlin Academy preside over the literati of the world to write poetry and prose. It is just that empty, grandiloquent poetry is boring; I want to set a topic for the literati."

She tilted her head to look at the Prince of Qin, lifting her face playfully and innocently, her black pupils shining brilliantly like obsidian: "Why not set the topic as 'Marriage Alliance', how about that?"

The Prince of Qin’s pupils contracted.

In an instant, he said slowly: "You want to borrow the pens of these literati to express your own grievances. You want these literati to use the voices of the common people to pressure those officials in the court who oppose you. Because you know that literati—especially those who are not involved in state affairs and feel their talents are wasted—are the most sympathetic to marriage-alliance princesses."

"Since ancient times, marriage-alliance princesses have been pitied and used as metaphors."

"If I am not mistaken, you will also select the one that is written the best, grant them an official position, and let the poetry spread throughout the world. And once there are more voices from the common people sympathizing with you, coupled with the support of the aristocratic families led by the Li family of the south... you will have won this battle."

Mu Wanyao curved her eyes.

The Prince of Qin looked at Wei Shu and shouted sternly: "Wei Juyuan, you are at least a court official; are you willing to do such a thing for others? Aren't you afraid I will punish you?"

Wei Shu looked at the Prince of Qin and said faintly: "What crime does Your Highness want to punish me with?"

The Prince of Qin couldn't speak for a long while, only saying in a tone that was fierce on the outside but weak on the inside: "Then I can also hold up your official position so that you cannot be promoted. Or find a mistake and demote you!"

Wei Shu said: "Then I will go back to Luoyang to live in seclusion."

The Prince of Qin was choked: "..."

He wanted to curse.

This was the confidence of an aristocratic family!

If you aren't an official, you just go home and rest. And after a few years, you can come out again... Even though the Prince of Qin was backed by several large families, he felt that these aristocratic children were too foul-playing and truly hateful!—

After leaving the Prince of Qin’s residence, the negotiation was a success, and Mu Wanyao let out a long sigh of relief.

She looked at Wei Shu, and Wei Shu smiled at her slightly. Mu Wanyao felt moved in her heart, knowing that he did not like to talk, and that helping her like this was already his stance.

Mu Wanyao didn't say much more; she patted Wei Shu on the shoulder twice and invited him to come to the residence for tea another day.

Wei Shu said: "It is nothing. It is not just me who will help you, Your Highness; I believe if Second Brother Yan were in my position, he would also help you."

When Yan Shang was mentioned, Mu Wanyao felt gloomy.

Since returning from the Southern Mountains, he had consoled her on the first night, coddling her over and over. Since then, he had vanished as if he had disappeared, going out early and returning late every day, and she didn't know what he was busy with.

Mu Wanyao had even been weak and ill for two days, and she had only seen Yan Shang send people to ask about her; he had not come himself.

She was so angry!

In her anger, there was also a trace of unease—

Was he only comforting her that night, and in fact, he still looked down on her?

Now that Wei Shu mentioned Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao showed displeasure and said testily: "Don't mention him to me. He never comes to see me all day; is he quite right?"

Wei Shu looked at her and said softly: "Second Brother is in the Secretariat, and the Secretariat is the center of the court; he must be very busy. If Second Brother Yan is extremely busy and cannot take care of you, Your Highness, you should be considerate."

Mu Wanyao glanced at him. Just as she was about to wonder why Wei Shu was so partial to Yan Shang, she saw the youth flushing and turning his gaze away from her.

Mu Wanyao knew he was thin-skinned, so she sighed helplessly: "Alright, I know. You go back to the Censorate to handle your official business; I will go see for myself what Yan Shang is busy with."—

When Mu Wanyao was sending Wei Shu back to the Censorate, she stopped by the Secretariat on the way. The Secretariat was indeed very busy, with pages of paper flying, all kinds of documents being strewn about, and officials coming and going with reports.

They sent someone to greet the Princess. The official leading the way was sweating profusely. Hearing Mu Wanyao’s question, his expression turned strange: "Yan Shuchen? Isn't he representing the Secretariat today to negotiate with the Wuman King?"

Upon hearing "Wuman King," Mu Wanyao’s heart skipped a beat before she said faintly: "Negotiate what with the Wuman King?"

The official’s expression became even stranger: "...Isn't it about your affairs, Your Highness? Isn't Shuchen your neighbor? He didn't even tell you?"

Another official passed by and chimed in: "Originally, you should have negotiated with the Wuman King in person, Your Highness. But Yan Shuchen said you were ill and that it was inconvenient. Looking at you now, have you recovered?"

Mu Wanyao was stunned. After giving them a perfunctory reply, she left the Secretariat, got into the carriage, and ordered the driver: "...Go to the embassy to see the Wuman King."

The power of Princess Danyang’s presence meant that the people at the embassy did not dare to stop her.

An official from the Ministry of Rites followed Princess Danyang, saying that he had to inform the Wuman King before Her Highness could enter the courtyard. Mu Wanyao snorted coldly. The guards following her blocked the official from the Ministry of Rites, and Mu Wanyao lifted her skirt, naturally stepped over the threshold, and entered the courtyard where the Wuman King lived.

She charged straight inside.

Anyone who tried to shout or warn was stopped by the Princess’s people.

The official from the Ministry of Rites couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking that since this Princess had even dared to shoot the Wuman King, this little thing was nothing—

As for the Wuman King, it was the same study as last time, and it was still Meng Zaishi sitting draped in a robe, waiting for Yan Shang.

Seeing that Yan Shang had come alone this time and had not brought other officials, Meng Zaishi clicked his tongue, thinking in boredom that it seemed Yan Shang intended to come and surrender to him.

Meng Zaishi’s martial arts were extremely high; as he sat there, his ears moved, and he heard the chaotic noises in the courtyard outside.

Meng Zaishi tilted his face, looking thoughtful as he saw a slender figure standing under the window. The light was very weak, and the position that person was standing in was very hidden, but it could not be hidden from a martial artist like Meng Zaishi.

Looking up, he glanced at Yan Shang standing in the courtyard. Seeing that Yan Shang was unaware, Meng Zaishi mocked: Yan Shang certainly didn't know that Mu Wanyao was eavesdropping on their conversation outside the window.

Good.

Then let Mu Wanyao see Yan Shang’s true face.

Let Mu Wanyao know... among the men of the world, Yan Shang was no better than him!

Meng Zaishi said lazily: "Regarding the matter from last time, if you give up your position and give up the Princess, I will agree to give up on Princess Danyang. Looking at your stance, does this mean you have come to refuse me?"

Yan Shang looked at him, his tone gentle: "I have indeed come to refuse you."

Meng Zaishi saw the slender shadow outside the window sway, and the smile on his lips deepened. Just as he was about to say "Good," he heard Yan Shang’s next sentence: "Since you have already developed a rift with Great Wei, Great King, let’s stop talking about marriage alliances. A princess is nothing between two countries."

Meng Zaishi: "What is your suggestion?"

Yan Shang smiled: "My suggestion is that the Great King should go to war directly with Great Wei."

Meng Zaishi: "…?"

Outside the window, Mu Wanyao, who had been too heartbroken to leave: "…?"

What kind of crazy talk is this?

After a long while, Meng Zaishi said coldly: "Are you crazy? Do the officials of your Great Wei know about this? If you incite a war between two countries, can you take responsibility?"

Yan Shang said: "I have come precisely to take responsibility for this matter. Don't worry, Great King; our dialogue today has received the approval of the Secretariat... which is the most important department of our Great Wei court. Our Great Wei believes that the affairs of two countries cannot be trifled with. Although the Princess has offended your honorable nation, she is, after all, a princess of our country, and we will not allow you to be so offensive."

Meng Zaishi said coldly: "A war between two countries is not a trifling matter. Do you think your Great Wei can afford it? You have never been able to beat us."

Yan Shang did not give an inch, saying faintly: "Even if we can't beat you, we must fight. As long as you agree, the center will immediately issue a decree to prepare for war. Great King, you should leave Great Wei immediately to avoid any untoward incidents here. Since we are now enemies, if anything happens to you while you are in Great Wei, I will not be responsible."

Meng Zaishi: "Your princess just almost killed me!"

Yan Shang’s brows were cool and clear, his words measured: "Since that is the case, we should go to war all the more! Our princess has offended your life, and your country has offended the dignity of our princess... The contradiction cannot be reconciled; only a war can clarify the theory."

The two sparred with each other, needle for needle. But after a moment, Meng Zaishi fell silent, coldly watching Yan Shang.

His initial nonchalance was now completely withdrawn. His breathing became heavy, and the muscles all over his body tensed. A cold, eerie air settled over Meng Zaishi, and the look he gave Yan Shang was fierce.

Yan Shang had said much, his demeanor righteous and patriotic.

Then he lowered his eyes and watched Meng Zaishi sitting behind the desk with an expressionless face. Yan Shang paused, and his attitude softened.

Yan Shang smiled slightly and said: "What, is the Wuman unwilling?"

Yan Shang’s smile was clear and light.

He said politely and courteously: "You don't need to look at me like that; you don't have the ability to play this game with me."

"If you want something, you’d better be open and honest sooner. Playing these games—you are no match for me... Wuman King."

And outside the door, Mu Wanyao, who had been eavesdropping, was already listening with a heart stirred by surging emotions—

My dear is wise and agile.

He has thrown my heart into utter turmoil.