Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Yan Shang loosely held Mu Wanyao, while Mu Wanyao, who had dissolved into tears, was frightened. She had held it in for so long, and now that her uncontrollable sobbing had been heard by him... wouldn't he know that she was fundamentally unable to let him go?

Mu Wanyao stiffened. Even as he held her back, she wanted to flee.

However, she had overthought it.

Just as she froze, wishing for her humiliating display to vanish, Yan Shang had merely opened his eyes to glance at her before closing them again. He leaned crookedly against the bedpost; his already loose collar pulled even wider by the movement, clearly revealing the bandages and gauze beneath.

He kept his eyes shut, his face pale, dark hair sweeping across his features. Yet, his hand stroked her back like he was soothing a cat that had tensed its spine, comforting her: "Yaoyao, don't cry. I'm fine..."

No sooner had he spoken than his body actually slid downward along the bedpost.

It was only thanks to Mu Wanyao, who hurriedly reached out in a panic, that she managed to catch him.

She realized that he had simply passed out like that.

Mu Wanyao felt the scorching heat of his cheeks. She stared at the gauze covering his forehead, spotting a trace of red seeping out from the edge. She was once again terrified: "Yan Shang? Yan Shang?"

Her tears fell once more, effortlessly tumbling down as she blinked.

A sense of suffocation gripped her throat.

Mu Wanyao was desperate and shouted for help in a hoarse voice. She thought her voice sounded commanding, but she was so terrified that it trembled, quivering: "Where is the physician? Where is the Imperial Physician? The Assistant Physician? Just come—any of you, just come!"

As soon as Yan Shang was brought back injured, the Ministry of Revenue had invited the most skilled doctor from the Imperial Medical Bureau under the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to attend to his wounds. After the doctor had dressed Yan Shang's injuries, Mu Wanyao arrived, and a short time later, the Princess personally summoned an Assistant Physician from the Palace Pharmacy Bureau.

After the Assistant Physician re-examined Yan Shang’s wounds, he comforted the Princess, saying that the previous doctor had already handled them properly and that she need not worry.

Mu Wanyao spoke with the Assistant Physician outside the screen. She had seen the wounds when they were being redressed—great swathes of red, burned marks on his shoulders and back. They were shocking to behold... so terrifying that her whole body went cold, yet she could not help but feel relieved that his face had not been harmed.

If his face had been scarred, his official career might have withered on the vine.

Mu Wanyao remained worried: "After the medicine is applied, will he heal? If he is cared for well, will there be no scars left behind?"

The Assistant Physician replied: "That will require expensive herbs..."

Mu Wanyao glared back at him: Did she look like she didn't have money?!

The Assistant Physician had originally wanted to say that since Yan Shang was a government official, his injuries should at most be treated by the Imperial Medical Bureau, and that it wasn't the responsibility of the Pharmacy Bureau, which served only princes and princesses. Moreover, Yan Er-lang should be paying for these medicinal herbs himself.

But seeing the Princess’s glaring eyes, the Assistant Physician immediately understood: Princess Danyang intended to pay out of her own pocket for Yan Er-lang’s treatment.

Mu Wanyao: "Use the best medicine! Use the kind you usually only use for me! No matter what herbs are needed, use them without hesitation. If he is left with scars, I will hold you solely responsible!"

The Assistant Physician, long accustomed to being threatened by members of the royal family, simply bowed and agreed.

The Assistant Physician only instructed: "When the Young Master sleeps at night, someone needs to watch him to ensure he does not turn over at will. He must not be allowed to touch the wounds if they itch or hurt, to prevent him from scratching them."

Mu Wanyao nodded, noting down many of the instructions given by the Assistant Physician.

She frowned: "He is very hot to the touch. Is he running a fever?"

The Assistant Physician replied: "That is the most dangerous part. The burns are a minor issue; the fever is a major one. Has Young Master Yan been overly busy with official business lately? His vitality and spirit are depleted, and this injury happened to strike at the perfect moment, causing the illness to become ferocious. Your Highness, please send someone to watch over him tonight and help him lower his temperature... If he is not cared for properly and the fever persists, it would be normal for a person to be burnt away by it."

Mu Wanyao was frightened, her face turning pale. She nodded repeatedly, promising to take good care of him. She then refused to let the Assistant Physician return to the palace, insisting that he stay at the Yan residence tonight in case of an emergency.

When it came to staying to look after Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao stood in the corridor and saw rows of Yan family servants. She frowned, still holding a grudge because some of them had held white silk earlier, scaring her into thinking Yan Shang had passed away.

How could such servants take good care of Yan Shang?

Mu Wanyao: "Keep five people on a couch outside, rotating through the night. I will care for him inside personally; I don't need you."

The servants were all shocked, and Xia Rong went so far as to say directly: "Your Highness, how can this be? What if you become ill from exhaustion because of this?"

Mu Wanyao was inherently delicate; a light breeze or an extra day of rain was enough to bedridden her. It was only because Mu Wanyao was a princess, cared for meticulously by others, that she was as healthy as she was today. How could someone with such a constitution care for another patient?

Xia Rong had gradually become bolder than before, managing more than before, and now even dared to contradict Mu Wanyao. Mu Wanyao ignored them, turning and walking into the room to see Yan Shang. Seeing the Princess like this, Xia Rong could only sigh and arrange for the maids to look after her.

For the next two days, Mu Wanyao slept at Yan Shang’s place every night. Fortunately, their two manors were very close, and the servants were all from the Princess’s manor, so no one knew of the Princess’s willful behavior.

Mu Wanyao held Yan Shang, caring for him meticulously and clumsily.

She knew the servants could do better than her, but none of them would be as attentive as she was.

She held him, pressing her forehead against his. If his temperature rose even a little, she was terrified; if his body turned cold, she was panicked. She held his hands, afraid to let him roll over in his sleep, fearing he would disturb his wounds. She slept beside him, and the slightest change in his breathing would jolt Mu Wanyao awake.

In Mu Wanyao’s eyes, Yan Shang was not a powerful official in the imperial court; he was just a frail scholar.

She treated him so well.

She asked for nothing; if only he could get better, she could rest easy.

After two nights, Yan Shang finally stopped running a fever. Only after the maids knelt and persuaded her did Mu Wanyao return to her own manor to sleep. Even so, she still came over every day, staring at the people caring for him.

The maids looked at each other; previously they only thought the Princess liked the Young Master a little; now they realized the Princess loved him this deeply.

Yan Shang had been half-awake for two days.

He was initially jolted awake by Mu Wanyao’s crying and tears; once awake, he fainted again after a short while. For the next two days, although he was in a deep sleep, he vaguely felt that Mu Wanyao had been by his side the whole time. Her scent surrounded him; she applied medicine to him and fed him porridge.

At night, she would hold him. Sometimes they did nothing, but other times she would sob softly, whispering, "Yan Er-gege."

Yan Shang felt an aching bitterness, his heart as if soaked in astringent water; he only hated that he could not wake up sooner so she wouldn't have to worry.

In his dreams, he always felt the air was damp, as if she had been crying the whole time. Yet she only cried, saying nothing. The desperate words she had uttered when she broke down at the start—"What am I to do if you leave me?"—never appeared again.

Calm, indifferent. Yet always crying.

Why cry? Didn't she say she didn't like to cry anymore? Didn't she say she would never cry again? Didn't she say she had broken up with him?

Then why do this?

On the third day, Mu Wanyao was sitting by Yan Shang’s bedside as usual, lowering her head to feed him medicine. When she finished and moved to leave, her wrist was gently held.

The strength was incredibly light.

Mu Wanyao turned her head and saw the person lying on the bed—haggard, his face pale, yet he had opened a pair of gentle, moist eyes like autumn mist, and reached out to hold her.

Mu Wanyao stiffened, looking down to meet his gaze.

Facing a patient who had just regained consciousness, her reaction was too cold; she merely looked down at him, showing not even a hint of pleasant surprise.

Yan Shang said hoarsely: "Yaoyao..."

He had struggled desperately to wake up, only to tell her not to worry. But having just woken, his voice was raspy, and he could not speak. He could only force a smile, hoping she would understand his expression.

Mu Wanyao pulled her hand from his grip and hid it behind her back.

She said indifferently: "I did not come to care for you. I am simply acting as a good neighbor, making a routine visit to a patient. Since all the high officials are coming, it would look bad if I didn't. Do not overthink it; this does not represent anything."

Yan Shang could not speak, only staring at her blankly. She lowered her eyes and rose to stand behind the edge of the bed, her eyelashes thick, blocking all emotion in her eyes from view.

It was as if his regaining consciousness had once again brought their relationship to a freezing point.

Mu Wanyao said coldly: "Do not call me 'Yaoyao.' We have already separated; Young Master Yan, mind your words and actions, do not ruin my reputation. I have finished my visit; I will not be coming again. Take care of yourself."

Yan Shang was stunned.

He struggled to sit up and speak, but she turned and fled as if escaping, leaving him no time to utter a single word of retention. The next moment, servants poured in, excited to serve the Young Master, surrounding him completely.

Inside, the servants were bustling, crying and laughing, and running off to summon the physician. Outside the room, Mu Wanyao leaned against the wall, steadying her emotions.

She had already ordered the servants—from both manors—that no one was to mention that she had cared for him for two days and two nights.

She thought she must have performed quite well, playing the part of a former lover visiting a patient in a very normal way.

She was glad she had run fast; otherwise, Yan Shang would have seen the ugly sight of her eyes brimming with tears, sobbing uncontrollably again. She was glad she had run fast; otherwise, she would have thrown herself into his arms and choked back sobs.

It was a good thing she ran fast!

Otherwise, she would never have wanted to leave for even a single second, always wanting to lie by his bedside and watch him.

But she could not be like this.

She was a bad woman; she had been selfish for so long, enjoying Yan Shang’s goodness for so long. She could not let herself sink again... She had finally broken free from his influence; she could not let herself repeat the same mistakes!

To her, Yan Shang was like opium. She was truly afraid that she would become unable to live without him, afraid that she would give up everything for him and become isolated and helpless... that was too terrifying. It was like handing over her destiny once more, tying her life to someone else.

She no longer wanted to surrender her destiny.

She also did not want to become a bad princess, letting Yan Shang sacrifice his life for her.

She guarded her heart and her love, refusing to let anyone hurt her final dignity again.

Yet, Mu Wanyao was restless.

She somewhat regretted having gone to care for Yan Shang.

During the month prior, when she didn't see Yan Shang, she really felt she could make it through. But now that she had seen him, she always thought of him. Every time she returned to the manor, standing before the two facing gates, she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the Yan family gate.

If this continued, Mu Wanyao feared that one day she would lose her mind and cross the threshold of the Yan manor, stand by Yan Shang’s bedside, and beg him to return.

She felt that her life was incredibly meaningless.

No one was always following her, meticulously attending to her every word and action; no one used a clear, slow, and gentle voice to tease her and make her happy when she wore a cold face; no one, when she lunged at him to strike him, would merely grit his teeth and endure it without ever hitting back; no one would get a red face from her kissing and hugging, only sighing in default of her actions.

At night, Mu Wanyao sat on the third-floor pavilion of her manor, looking at the lights of the manor opposite.

These past few days, the lights in the study of the manor opposite had not been lit; the lights in the sleeping quarters had been shining constantly.

Mu Wanyao thought about whether his injuries had improved.

Had he returned to the office these past two days?

Had the official who pushed him into the lamp oil come to see him and apologize?

Mu Wanyao knew nothing, and she forced herself not to ask. She was afraid that spilled water could not be gathered, and that once she started asking, she wouldn't be able to stop.

She just sat for a long time in the darkness, watching the lights of the manor opposite, watching that glimmer of light in the thin mist. She could often sit like this all night until it was time to sleep.

However, one night, unexpectedly, the window of the sleeping quarters in the manor opposite opened, and a young man stood in front of the window... Mu Wanyao was startled, falling off her wicker chair and crouching on the ground, calling out in a panic: "Put out the lights! Put them out!"

Once Yan Shang could walk on his own feet, he thought of something and pushed open the window to look at the manor opposite. He saw the lights in the pavilion opposite were on; the next moment, the lantern was extinguished.

Yan Shang, standing in front of the window with his robes draped over his shoulders, was stunned. He thought of those two days during his illness, when he felt in his dreams as if she were holding him and crying. The tears that had felt so painful to him seemed to be felt by him again.

Yan Shang stood stunned for a while, and just like that, draped in his robes and carrying a lantern, he went out. He had injuries, so he could only wear such wide robes to avoid touching them. When Yan Shang went out carrying the lantern, Yun Shu tried to dissuade him but could not hold him back.

Yun Shu had no choice but to help carry the lantern, accompany the Young Master out, and knock on the door of the neighboring manor.

After a while, a gatekeeper of the Princess’s manor opened the door apologetically: "Young Master, our Princess has told us not to let you enter. Besides, it is late, and our Princess has already gone to sleep."

Yan Shang lowered his eyes and said softly: "I only just knocked; I haven't asked you to report it to her, so how do you know she has already gone to sleep?"

The gatekeeper blushed from the lie.

Yan Shang naturally knew who had ordered this. He only said: "I just want to say a few words to her; can it truly not be accommodated?"

Gatekeeper: "Young Master... we have no way."

Yan Shang: "Very well."

The Princess’s gatekeeper thought he was leaving and breathed a sigh of relief, but then he saw the young man standing before the gate, eyes downcast, whispering: "Then please tell the Princess that I will be standing here waiting for her all night, unless she is willing to come out and see me once."

The gatekeeper was terrified and hurried back to report.

Once the gatekeeper left, Yun Shu, who was following Yan Shang, said: "Young Master, will we be able to see the Princess like this? Once you see the Princess and set your mind at ease, will you be able to go back and rest?"

Yan Shang replied: "She will not come to see me."

Yun Shu was astonished.

Yan Shang said helplessly: "When she hardens her heart, she is like this. If I just stand here for a while, she will feel that I am threatening her, and she will be even less likely to see me. If I weren't injured, she would probably have sent guards to beat me out."

Yun Shu: "...Then why are we standing here?"

Yan Shang whispered: "An attitude."

He raised his face and looked at the plaque on the Princess’s manor gate. He murmured: "I must see her."