Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The sun brushed past the window lattice, and clouds drifted into the room, casting a fine, scattered shadow across the desk.

Yan Shisheng leaned over the desk, sketching the appearance of the White Cow tea tree for Mu Wanyao, as she had requested.

Mu Wanyao had heard that Yan Shisheng only had less than a pound of this White Cow tea, and she felt quite disdainful. She thought to herself: With such a meager amount, how could it possibly be enough to satisfy those in Chang’an?

The best method would be to identify exactly what the tea tree looked like, so she could send her own people out into the wilderness to find them. If she could manage to transplant the White Cow tea trees from Lingnan and cultivate them in Chang’an, that would be the best outcome of all.

With the provincial examinations looming, Yan Shisheng needed to study, so he was only willing to help Mu Wanyao sketch the tree. Even this was an exchange for Mu Wanyao’s promise to teach him the Qieyun (a classic rhyme dictionary) and help him correct his ancient phonetics.

So, for the afternoon, it was naturally Mu Wanyao who was lazily flipping through the Qieyun, while Yan Shisheng drew the tea tree.

In the midst of the quiet peace, the sound of rhythmic hoofbeats traveled from beyond the courtyard’s wicker fence. Before the person had even entered, they were shouting: “Second Brother Yan! Second Brother Yan, come out quickly!”

Startled by the voice outside the window, Yan Shisheng pressed down with his brush, causing a glob of thick ink to bleed into the rice paper. A deep, dark shadow suddenly marred the trunk of the tree he had been drawing.

Mu Wanyao felt a pang of sympathy for the painting: “Who is making such a racket out there?”

Chunhua, the maid, walked toward the door: “This servant will go and see.”

Hearing someone calling for him, Yan Shisheng was about to stand up to investigate. Mu Wanyao reached out to pull him back, turned her face toward the window, and said: “Let Chunhua go see what is going on. With such loud shouting, what if it’s a villain wielding a club intent on harming you?”

The brush in Yan Shisheng’s hand trembled. He looked at Mu Wanyao with a mix of incomprehension and warmth: This lady is actually defending me? Did I hear that correctly?

Mu Wanyao added, “You still have to help me draw the tea tree. You cannot get injured right now.”

Yan Shisheng was speechless.

Outside the Yan family’s wicker fence stood a brown horse. A young scholar had ridden in on it, the mount burdened with thick volumes and dry rations.

The young scholar dismounted and began shouting before even stepping into the courtyard: “Second Brother Yan! Yan Shisheng! My father sent me to find you—where are you?”

After dismounting, he noticed that the Yan household was different from before; there were many guards and maidservants in the courtyard. He was merely puzzled, not alarmed, and continued pulling his horse into the courtyard gate.

The rest of the Yan family was not at home at the moment, so no one was there to greet the guest. Chunhua pulled aside the curtain and walked out, her voice crisp and sharp: “Who is making such a clamor here?”

Chunhua stepped off the threshold, and as the maids beside her pointed, she saw the youth who had entered the courtyard but had been stopped by the guards.

Chunhua looked at him and froze. The man was young, dressed in fine silk, with refined features and an air of talent—entirely different from the typical locals of Lingnan.

Chunhua muttered to herself: In a place as desolate as Lingnan, it’s already rare to have a Yan Shisheng who looks decent. How did another one pop up? A stranger seeing this might mistake Lingnan for the Golden Grotto of Chang’an.

The youth had not expected such a slim-waisted, beautiful woman to be standing haughtily before the steps. He was also stunned; the arrogance and impatience in his eyes vanished instantly, and a sudden, awkward flush spread across his fair face.

He nervously let go of the horse’s reins and bowed: “May I ask how to address this young lady? Is this the residence of Second Brother Yan? My surname is Liu. My father sent me to find Second Brother Yan to discuss this year’s provincial examinations. If there are no other obstacles, my father instructed me to accompany Second Brother Yan to take the exams together.”

Chunhua understood immediately.

Every deep winter, the various prefectures and circuits of Great Wei would hold examinations to recommend qualified students to the Ministry of Rites in Chang’an. When that time came, it would be the “Imperial Examination.” This young scholar had come looking for Yan Shisheng naturally for that initial “recommendation” exam.

Chunhua curtsied and replied softly: “Please wait a moment, young master. This servant will go find Second Brother Yan right away.”

She turned to enter the house, then glanced back at the scholar surnamed Liu, who had come from afar.

The scholar stared at her blankly, his eyes bright and unable to tear themselves away.

Watching the warm winter sun shimmer, he saw the young woman standing tall and elegant, blooming like a flower—a beauty beyond the ordinary.

A breeze blew loose hair across her cheeks, and Chunhua felt her face flush again. She offered the scholar a faint smile and lowered her head. This time, she did not look back and went straight inside to find the Princess.

The scholar was named Liu Wenji, just turned eighteen this year, a year older than Yan Shisheng.

His father had once served as an imperial censor but had offended a high-ranking official at court and was banished to Lingnan.

According to Yan Shisheng, Liu Wenji was a famous prodigy in the Lingnan circuit. Yan Shisheng’s own studies were conducted under the guidance of Liu Wenji’s father. Yan Shisheng had already participated in the provincial exams for three years, but Liu Wenji was not as impatient.

This was Liu Wenji’s first year taking the provincial exam. He had been sent by his father to consult with Yan Shisheng about the experience and planned to travel with him to the exams.

Although it was his first time taking the test, Liu Wenji was full of confidence, certain he would pass.

For convenience, Liu Wenji planned to stay at the Yan house. Yan Shisheng explained Liu Wenji’s situation to Mu Wanyao, hoping she would allow him to stay.

Mu Wanyao glanced at Yan Shisheng, who was explaining the situation. It was clear that Yan Shisheng was being so patient because he wanted to keep the guest.

Chunhua added softly: “The towns in Lingnan are very far apart. Master Liu had a difficult journey to get here; if we send him back, it might delay his exams.”

Mu Wanyao’s expression turned strange: “You want him to stay so you can go to the exams together in two days?”

Yan Shisheng replied warmly: “Yes. Brother Liu’s scholarship is excellent. If he stays, I can ask him for guidance. And if we go to the exams together, we can look out for each other.”

Mu Wanyao: “He is called a prodigy?”

Yan Shisheng nodded.

Mu Wanyao was extremely curious: “How does your scholarship compare to his?”

Yan Shisheng flushed, ashamed: “Brother Liu has a profound family learning; I am not his equal.”

At this, Mu Wanyao was genuinely shocked.

She stood up and walked a circle around Yan Shisheng: “So you are saying you intend to keep a person who threatens you—a person who is very likely to steal your ranking—in your own home? For such a dangerous threat, not only do you refuse to drive him away, but you fear he won’t rest well, and you intend to provide him with food and drink? Have you already prepared yourself to fail the exam and decided to curry favor with this prodigy?”

Yan Shisheng said: “I won’t necessarily lose.”

“Pfft.”

Yan Shisheng: …What does “pfft” mean?

Mu Wanyao sat back down and looked up at him with wide, eager eyes: “The Great Wei has fifteen circuits from north to south and fifty passes from east to west. Every year, talent is recommended to the Ministry of Rites to take the imperial exams. Between the fifteen circuits and fifty passes, there are countless scholars in the world, yet only a thousand are recommended each year.”

“The large prefectures get many recommendations, but in a remote place like your Lingnan, there are only one or two spots per year. Since Liu Wenji is called a prodigy, he is your greatest threat.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes flashed with mischief, and she excitedly offered him a strategy: “You could exclude this threat right from the start.”

Yan Shisheng was silent for a long moment.

He asked: “Do you think I should drive him away?”

Mu Wanyao rested her elbows on the desk, looking both innocent and charming: “Of course you should let him stay.”

Yan Shisheng raised an eyebrow in astonishment.

Mu Wanyao offered her advice: “He seems like someone who is proud and has never faced a setback. Such people are easily broken when pushed. With your schemes, you could easily disturb his peace of mind while ‘stealing’ his knowledge, causing him to fail the exam and becoming a stepping stone for you to succeed in your provincial exams. Even if you don’t necessarily win, he will certainly lose.”

“In life, to forge ahead is to ‘compete’!”

The Princess’s words were smiling, but the content was ruthless.

Yan Shisheng stared at Mu Wanyao for a moment before saying slowly: “In life, forging ahead is not just about ‘competing.’ There is also virtue, loyalty, benevolence, and righteousness.”

He continued: “My scholarship is indeed insufficient. I cannot claim the title of prodigy, and I have taken the provincial exams for three consecutive years without result. But I will never use someone else’s future to pave my own path. Heaven rewards those who strive; I have my own path, and I only seek to live with a clear conscience between heaven and earth.”

Mu Wanyao’s expression did not change.

She continued to entice him to be a villain: “If you don’t tell, who would know what you’ve done? Once it’s done, it’s in the past.”

Yan Shisheng replied gently: “In this world, nothing truly passes. It does not go away.”

Hearing him speak these grand principles, Mu Wanyao had not shown much reaction, but these words struck her heart like a heavy hammer, causing a sharp, sudden pain in her chest.

She took a step back, her complexion shifting, turning somewhat pale.

Is it true that nothing in this world truly passes? All traces of the past will turn into nightmares, returning time and again to torment you… is that right?

Seeing her pale look, Yan Shisheng asked with concern: “What is wrong?”

Mu Wanyao gripped the desk, her thin knuckles trembling slightly. Yet she refused to show any sign of weakness, hissing viciously: “I have already given my advice. Since you won’t listen, then get out!”

Yan Shisheng observed her for a long time, but unable to glean anything, he withdrew his gaze.

Two days later, Yan Shisheng and Liu Wenji came to bid Mu Wanyao farewell. The two were going to participate in the provincial exams together and would not be back for a day or two.

Mu Wanyao watched Liu Wenji sneak glances at her maid, Chunhua, while Yan Shisheng remained gentle and calm. The Yan siblings encouraged Yan Shisheng to do well, seeing him off with great reluctance.

Behind the curtain, watching them encourage each other with deep sibling affection, Mu Wanyao said sarcastically: “So you are off to pluck the laurel from the Toad Palace?”

Yan Shisheng replied politely: “Thank you for your kindness and care these past few days, my lady.”

Mu Wanyao asked with feigned concern: “Have you ever considered that you might not pass at all?”

The Yan family all glared at Mu Wanyao in unison.

No one wanted to be the villain, but Mu Wanyao took a perverse pleasure in playing the part. She covered her mouth, feigning surprise: “I am only speaking the truth. Heaven’s will is difficult to predict; could it be that you haven’t prepared for the worst?”

Yan Shisheng replied with great courtesy: “Then this student can only pray that human determination can overcome Heaven.”

Once Yan Shisheng left, Mu Wanyao no longer greeted anyone with a smile; instead, she chased them all out.

She barked at her guards: “Follow me to the wilderness! We are going to find the White Cow tea tree! Once we find it, we will leave this place. After seeing my uncle, we return to Chang’an!”

Chunhua asked timidly: “Are we not going to wait for the results of Second Brother Yan’s exam? Not going to wait for him to return?”

Mu Wanyao said: “Why wait for him?”

She said disdainfully: “Without anyone to pull strings for him, can he even pass?”

Chunhua was moved: “Perhaps, my lady, you could…”

Mu Wanyao smiled: “Didn’t he want to rely on his own ability to gamble against Heaven’s fate? How could I dare to delay Second Brother Yan’s righteous path? A small-minded person like me had better focus on finding my tea trees.”