Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 107

Chapter 107

The Li Mansion in Jinling is the place most yearned for by all the scholars and prestigious families across the entire region. To stand within Master Li’s study is a source of pride worth bragging about to others.

Yet today, the person who burst into the study, sword in hand, was a woman.

Although she is a Princess, she was only ever treated as a tool in the past. On the Li family’s side, no one had truly looked at her with any seriousness.

But after the words this Princess spoke, the Li family could no longer regard her merely as a tool for marriage.

Master Li, standing before his bookshelves, slowly turned to look at his granddaughter, who was brimming with aggressive momentum.

Mu Wanyao is brilliant and young, possessing a natural, innate air of noble elegance. While Master Li scrutinized her, she, too, felt apprehensive within, observing this maternal great-grandfather of hers.

Master Li is her maternal grandfather. He is already in his sixties or seventies, his temples graying, his face thin and refined, his figure extremely lean. However, when Master Li looked at her, his eyes were like stars and lightning, scanning her with sharp judgment. He is not a muddled old man; he will not believe whatever Mu Wanyao says simply because she says it.

Mu Wanyao held her chin high, not intimidated in the slightest.

Master Li stared at her for a long while. When a servant rushed in, terrified and begging for mercy, claiming they should not have let the Princess break in, Mu Wanyao let out a disdainful snort. Master Li calmly ordered the guards who failed to stop her to be given twenty strokes of the cane and expelled from the Li mansion before he picked up his book and sat down at his desk.

Hearing Master Li order people directly expelled from the Li mansion, Mu Wanyao’s eyes flickered. Jinling is the Li family’s home base; if Li family servants are driven out, what other residence would dare to take them in later?

This is cutting off a person’s path to survival.

How ruthless.

Observing her expression, Master Li said calmly: "Why? Is Your Highness feeling soft-hearted? Those who are soft-hearted cannot play at politics. A lady who is soft-hearted would be better off marrying early and bearing children. After marriage, you may continue to be your arrogant and domineering Princess."

Mu Wanyao replied immediately: "I am not soft-hearted! If Great-Granduncle does not even care about the servants of the Li family, why should I? I grew up in the palace and have seen palace servants beaten to death since I was a child. If I were to be soft-hearted, I would have been long ago. Why wait until now? What I speak of with Great-Granduncle today is the overall situation, it is statecraft. Do you truly think the life or death of a few servants could make me retreat?"

With bright light in her eyes, she took a step forward, standing in the sunlight at the center of the study: "Having reached this point today, I will not retreat a single step."

Master Li gazed at her deeply.

Then he said flatly: "So, you refuse to marry? The condition for the Li family’s support back then was that you would enter a marriage alliance. Now that Your Highness’s wings have hardened, you wish to go back on your word?"

Mu Wanyao retorted sharply: "Times change. Back then, you took advantage of my youth and ignorance of politics to hastily make decisions for me; how could I have had any thoughts of my own? Today is not a matter of going back on my word; it is that the situation has shifted. The Li family has been away from Chang'an and distant from the political center for too long. The momentum of the world is ultimately determined in the Central Plains. The decision Great-Granduncle made that day has no necessity to be carried out today."

"I maintain what I said before. Whether I marry or not is truly inconsequential. I am a Princess, after all, and all you require is a marriage alliance. Even if I were to marry and then find I did not like Wei Juyuan, I could keep a few male favorites—what could the Wei family say? It is only because my heart is with Great-Granduncle and I do not wish to see the Li family suffer a loss that I rushed to Jinling to explain. After all, this is my maternal family; how could I watch them repeat past mistakes and be swallowed by the changing tides?"

Master Li did not speak for a long while.

As Mu Wanyao said, the Li family has a major flaw: because they have been away from the center of politics for so long, it is difficult to judge the current situation. Master Li was genuinely unsure how much of Mu Wanyao’s words were true.

Master Li asked: "How would the Li family being linked to the Wei family cause them to be swallowed by the situation?"

Mu Wanyao felt a sense of relief, knowing the other party had begun to waver. Yet, she reminded herself not to be complacent; she must remain steady and maintain an overwhelming presence. If she showed even a hint of fear, she would be easily seen through. When dealing with someone who has played at politics for decades, she dared not make a single wrong move.

Therefore, she had to be half-truthful and half-deceptive to manage him.

Mu Wanyao kept her expression calm: "In the past, when the Li family controlled the Southern frontier armies, you were the top among all noble families, and no one dared to say a word. After the Li family retreated to Jinling, over these years, the Nanyang Jiang clan—my Third Brother’s maternal family—has gradually begun to replace the position the Li family once held."

"The Jiang clan is near Guanzhong, a major Northern noble family, and it was easy for them to intervene. Naturally, someone had to take up the military power the Li family relinquished, and that person who received it became the clan of my Third Brother’s mother. Relying on that military power, the Jiang clan has become vaguely arrogant these past few years, to the point where my Third Brother dares to contend with the Crown Prince for that position. Even the Emperor cannot say much."

Master Li scoffed: "Your Emperor is old."

Mu Wanyao nodded: "Great-Granduncle is right. Ever since the Empress passed away, the Emperor’s health has not been what it once was. In past years, he knew how to suppress the Li family, but he no longer has the energy he once had to suppress the Nanyang Jiang clan. However, the noble families are ultimately a thorn in the Emperor’s side. He cannot sit by and watch the Jiang clan grow so powerful that they become what the Li family once was. His current methods are much more subtle; compared to his past thunderous strikes, he now uses the strategy of leveraging one power against another."

"This time, the envoys have been acting frequently in Chang'an with my Third Brother; how could the Imperial Court not know? Once the envoys departed, the central government immediately used this as a pretext to place my Third Brother under house arrest. Afterwards, when the Crown Prince took control of the Chang'an military power, the Emperor used the Crown Prince’s hand to mobilize the Northern Imperial Guards. Ultimately, the Emperor favors the Crown Prince, helping him seize military power so that my Third Brother does not become too dominant and threaten him."

Master Li contemplated for a long time, wondering if the Emperor had truly become soft in his methods, no longer striking like thunder?

Is this still the Emperor that the Li family fears? Could it be that the old Emperor is truly old... or has he grown soft-hearted because of his daughter?

His daughter has passed, and he has begun to repent. That is laughable.

Master Li said calmly: "However, what does this have to do with my Li family?"

Mu Wanyao spoke clearly and loudly: "Is the Li family’s past not the Jiang clan’s present? Is the Jiang clan’s present not the future of a Li family that insists on marrying into the Wei clan? The Emperor does not permit noble families to grow too powerful, yet you insist on doing so; is this not planting a thorn in the Emperor’s side? Great-Granduncle, you are disheartened because of your marriage into the royal family; you know the terror of imperial power and do not wish to be an enemy again. But does Great-Granduncle truly hope to clash with imperial power one more time?"

"Back then, you were forced back to Jinling. If you clash again, will the Li family simply cease to exist?"

"Presumptuous!" Master Li slammed his desk in anger.

Mu Wanyao pressed on, step by step, her beautiful, bright eyes staring at him like flames: "Great-Granduncle! In this world, imperial power is supreme! No matter how strong a noble family is, they must give way. Unless you intend to rebel and name yourselves Emperor... but if you name yourselves Emperor, you become the new imperial power!"

"The Emperor is consolidating imperial power and fortifying it. The noble families in Chang'an are all acting like cowards, refusing to take the lead. Should we be the ones to stick our necks out and be crushed?"

"Why did the Wei family agree to let Wei Juyuan marry me? Because Wei Juyuan is merely a child of a concubine; to put it bluntly, he was born to a mistress! With such an origin, the Wei family can abandon him at any moment. If something goes wrong, the Wei family will sacrifice a Wei Juyuan to protect themselves. What would the Li family have to sacrifice? Me?"

"If you abandon me, you will have absolutely no connection to the center of political power! The Li family is peaceful now because I am here! I rely on the Li clan, and the royal family also uses me to control and adjust their relationship with the Southern noble clans. If you abandon me, are you preparing for a total break? It has only been a few years since the Li family was defeated and fled to Jinling; have you truly recovered enough to have the strength for a total break?"

"You should trust me, leverage my influence, and properly manage the Southern noble clans. I understand the Li clan wants to return to Chang'an, but right now... at least while my father is in power, that is impossible. However, as soon as the Crown Prince ascends to the throne... the Crown Prince trusts the noble families! As long as the Crown Prince takes the throne, we will have our chance!"

Mu Wanyao spoke eloquently, her voice like pearls of jade.

Yet, she was no longer the ordinary puppet that allowed the Li family to control her.

Master Li stared at her, stunned, seeing the light of confidence in her eyes. She spoke extensively on the situation, adding her own analysis. Even if every detail wasn't perfectly accurate, her judgment was broadly correct. In a trance, Master Li saw the figure of his beloved daughter in her, saw how she was when she was still an unmarried girl—just as confident, just as casually critiquing the heroes and the state of the world...

How proud Li Nuan was!

When she was a young girl, she critiqued the heroes of the world, and the Emperor—who was still a Prince at the time—happened to hear her while on a private visit. That man sought to marry Li Nuan, while the Jinling Li clan hesitated over whether or not to cooperate with that Prince. It was Li Nuan who ran to the study, standing exactly where Mu Wanyao stood now, speaking eloquently and confidently, saying she would surely help that Prince ascend the throne, surely help the Li clan reach its peak...

In a flash, thirty years have passed!

Thirty years!

Master Li thought he would never see the spirit his daughter once had in any other girl ever again.

Mu Wanyao said: "Therefore, I cannot marry!"

This voice overlapped with the voice of Li Nuan in Master Li’s memory. And what Li Nuan said back then was—"Therefore, I must marry!"

After Mu Wanyao finished saying this, she heard no response. Her heart panicked a little, and she turned to look at Master Li. She was shocked to see Master Li staring at her blankly, his eyes filled with weariness, looking as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant.

Mu Wanyao was stunned, whispering: "Great-Granduncle... what is wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Master Li reined in his chaotic mind, using his sleeve to cover his expression. When he raised his face again, he had regained his composure.

Master Li said wearily: "So you do not wish for the Li clan to marry into the Wei clan because you feel the Li clan cannot afford to lose. You hope we continue to cooperate with you, providing you with support, letting you help the Li family maneuver in Chang'an. Your thoughts are excellent... but you are ultimately a girl. You will always have to marry and have children, so why not simply listen to us? Is there something about Wei Juyuan, whom your uncle chose for you, that is not to your liking? The husband we chose for you is not a bad one. To marry into a family is to build a bond, not to build enmity."

Mu Wanyao said softly: "Wei Juyuan is very good. My cooperation with him... is actually quite pleasant. I know that although the Li family wants to leverage me for a marriage alliance, you also hope for my marital happiness. After all, I am my mother’s only daughter, and you are my actual maternal grandfather; you would not watch me spend my life in sorrow..."

"But I am a Princess who returned from an arranged marriage. I have seen through marriage and have no interest in it. I am bound together with the Li family; we prosper together and suffer together. Great-Granduncle should focus on resting and recuperating. The Li family, right now... should not be sticking its head out. Let the other noble families take the lead, and we shall watch the play."

"If Great-Granduncle does not believe my judgment, why don't we make a wager? The Emperor will definitely clean up the clan of my Third Brother’s mother."

Master Li was silent for a long time before saying: "Stay in Jinling for two more days and tell us more about the situation in Chang'an."

He gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Having been away from the political scene for so long, I have become a frog in a well, making people laugh. Now I have to rely on a young girl like you to know the affairs of Chang'an... The Li clan in my hands is truly managed poorly. When I go to the underworld, I will be ashamed to face our ancestors."

Hearing an old man say such things, Mu Wanyao felt a sting of sadness in her heart.

However, she let out a slight sigh of relief, knowing that the purpose of her trip to Jinling had basically been achieved.

She became relaxed, a smile touching the corners of her lips. But when Master Li glanced at her, she quickly reined in her triumph.

Master Li shook his head, thinking that expressing joy and anger so easily showed the young Princess was still green.

As Mu Wanyao was about to take her leave, Master Li suddenly called out to her: "Yaoyao."

Mu Wanyao paused, turning half a shoulder and gazing back.

She heard this old man speak gently: "Yaoyao, do not blame us, do not blame your mother. Sending you to be married off back then was truly an unavoidable circumstance. After you left, your mother fell ill with a broken heart, washing her face with tears every day, filled with regret. Your mother told me at the time that she hoped the inner strife between the Li family and your father would end soon; she wanted to bring you back. No matter what conditions the Wu people proposed, your mother wanted to bring you back."

Mu Wanyao’s face stiffened instantly.

There was a breath trapped in her chest, caught there in an instant.

She does not think about it, never dared to think about it.

When she was sent to be married off, she was separated from her mother, never to see her again. She returned to Chang'an using the news of her mother’s passing... she never had the chance to ask her mother: "When you sent me off to be married, did you ever regret it?"

The world always says a mother is more soft-hearted than a father.

Yet her mother was so ruthless; in order to get revenge on the Emperor for the sake of her second son, she even dragged her daughter into it.

Did you ever regret it?

In the afterlife, knowing what I had to endure, Mother, did you ever feel regret?

Is the second son your flesh and blood, and I am not? Did you only love the second son, and not love me?

...Mother, I am so disappointed in you all. So much so that now, when Great-Granduncle says this, I do not even know if he is speaking the truth, or if he is just trying to use family affection to keep me steady. You people... hypocritical, filthy, sinister... and I am becoming just like you.

Master Li watched the young Princess standing at the study door in silence.

Seeing Mu Wanyao stand there for a long while before turning back with a smile, her eyes glimmering like rippling lakes: "I know. Regardless of whether what Great-Granduncle says is true or false, if Mother loved me even a little, I will always find some comfort in my heart."

Seeing her like this, Master Li knew she did not fully believe him.

Master Li gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He sighed: "Yaoyao, perhaps you blame us for being ruthless. But the ways of the world, the people of the world... are all like this. You were born into the royal family, and you are also the granddaughter of the Li clan; in the end, you must walk the same path as we do. What you said earlier was excellent, very capable of bluffing people. But now you have shown your fear... Yaoyao, you must make your heart even harder, and be even more cunning."

Mu Wanyao turned her face slightly.

She thought of the three books that the Emperor ordered the Hanlin Academy and the scholars to compile when the envoys were still there:

"Tales of Chang'an Daughters," "Tales of Chang'an Youth," and "Records of Chang'an Heroes."

Mu Wanyao whispered: "I know I will become just like you... but I want to be a hero even more."

Master Li paused for a moment and said: "And yet, among those who are heroes, who was born a great hero?"

Mu Wanyao sighed softly, nodding as she gazed at the patch of sky visible outside the study window—

Yes, who is born a great hero? —

Mu Wanyao was kept in Jinling by the Li clan, who wanted her to describe the political situation in Chang'an in detail. Although Mu Wanyao was anxious to return, she still patiently persuaded the Li clan. She described the political situation in Chang'an as more severe and chaotic than it actually was, so that the Li clan would decide not to muddy the waters.

Chang'an, meanwhile, was filled with constant rain.

In a tavern, Wei Shu was sitting by the window, drinking alone. Hearing the waiter’s greeting, he turned his head and saw Yan Shang being led upstairs by the waiter. As Yan Shang climbed the stairs, he closed his umbrella and flicked the water droplets from his shoulders, while simultaneously leaning his head to speak softly to the waiter.

Wei Shu saw how enthusiastic the usually dismissive waiter was toward Brother Yan; not only did he take the initiative to help Yan Shang with his umbrella, but he also brought a cloth to wipe the rain off Yan Shang’s shoulders. Yan Shang offered another round of thanks and insisted on giving the man a tip.

When the waiter left, Wei Shu felt the man was completely dizzy, moved to tears by Brother Yan.

Wei Shu watched quietly.

After climbing the stairs, Yan Shang saw him as well, and with a gentle smile, walked toward him. He was cultured and handsome, his entire temperament as clear as jade. Such a fine bearing was even better than when Wei Shu had first met him.

Wei Shu thought to himself that there are people in this world who, the more you get to know them, the more boring they become; yet there are others who, the longer you know them, the better you feel about them.

Yan Shang came over and sat down, apologizing: "I saw Brother Liu leading the Northern Imperial Guard troops past the Imperial Street on my way over. I was overcome with emotion, so I followed the commoners to watch for a bit, which delayed me. I shall punish myself with a cup to apologize to you."

Wei Shu looked at him and said: "Punish yourself with alcohol?"

He naturally knew that Yan Shang did not drink easily.

Yan Shang paused, then smiled and accepted: "Very well, wine it is."

After saying this, he poured a cup of wine and downed it in one breath. Seeing Yan Shang was willing to drink, a smile appeared in Wei Shu’s eyes, knowing that Yan Shang’s apology was sincere.

Wei Shu said: "The Brother Liu you speak of is Liu Wenji, right?"

Yan Shang nodded.

Wei Shu’s voice was clear and cool: "Of all of us, you are the only one who still thinks of Liu Wenji."

Yan Shang was silent for a moment, then said softly: "It was not easy for him to reach where he is today."

Wei Shu did not care; he leaned against the window frame, lowering his head to look at the clear wine in his cup, and said flatly: "He has no ability, yet he pushes himself forward. He will bear whatever consequences come. Who in this world has it easy?"

Wei Shu is a cold person by nature; usually, others seek him out, and he never takes the initiative to seek anyone out. Since becoming a Censor, Wei Shu has become even colder and more solitary, and is disliked by many in the court. This was the first time Wei Shu had taken the initiative to critique Liu Wenji.

Yan Shang looked at him and saw that the young man’s eyes were a bit red at the edges, and the light within his eyes was somewhat misty. Yan Shang weighed the more than half-empty wine jar and sighed with realization: "Juyuan, you have had too much to drink. You are still young; how can you drink without restraint like this?"

Wei Shu said: "I am not young; I am already sixteen. The Wei family is even preparing to arrange a marriage between me and the Princess—am I still young?"

Yan Shang did not speak, but called for the waiter to brew some hot tea for Wei Shu to sober up. Yan Shang began to get busy again; he seemed to have developed a habit of taking care of those around him. Wei Shu sat across from him and watched him for a long while, then suddenly said: "I am going to serve as an envoy to various nations, leaving the Great Wei, resisting the marriage alliance with the Princess—should you not thank me?"

Yan Shang was stunned and asked back: "Do you need me to thank you?"

Wei Shu did not speak.

Yan Shang sighed softly: "Juyuan, although you are young, you have a very strong sense of purpose. You have been able to hold your own in the court at such a young age; how could I underestimate you? Whether you refuse the marriage or not, you have your own ideas. What you want is not a word of thanks from me. What you want is my support."

"I know you have ambitions and do not wish to be reduced to a pawn for others. You took this step out of the game with great decisiveness. Even if I were in your position, I could not have done better than you. To act when the time comes to act... I am no match for the courage of the Seventh Young Master of the Wei family."

Wei Shu stared at him blankly. After a long while, he couldn't help but smile; his shoulders relaxed, and he slumped onto the desk.

Wei Shu muttered: "Brother Yan always speaks so pleasantly."

Yan Shang replied warmly: "I speak the truth."

Wei Shu was silent for a long time, his voice becoming somewhat depressed: "But am I truly doing the right thing? To jump out of the chessboard, I took the initiative to serve as an envoy to various nations. This journey is long and distant; I do not know when I will be able to return. Perhaps I will die outside, perhaps I will never return to Chang'an, or perhaps the diplomatic mission will not be completed well, and my career path will be broken upon my return."

"The Wei family arranged for me to enter government service, and I know what they are thinking. They think I am merely a foster son; if I cooperate well with the Princess, the Wei family will climb up to the royal family, and my future will be bright. After all, the Li family’s past affairs truly cause the noble families to be fearful. However, if the cooperation does not go well, I can also be abandoned at any time; after all, the Wei family has no losses, and I am not a direct descendant of the Wei family anyway."

"My teacher asked me to marry the Princess, also for the sake of cooperation between both sides. I do not know if the teacher’s affection for me as a disciple is stronger, or his intention to utilize me. I was originally content to follow their arrangements... I just became more and more, more and more unwilling to accept it!"

"This was never meant to be my path!"

Wei Shu, who was slumped on the desk, suddenly looked up. His face was extremely handsome, the bottom of his eyes shining with ice and snow—a brightness that was startling.

Wei Shu stared at Yan Shang: "Last year, Brother Yan and I sat for the imperial examinations at the same time, and then both participated in the special examinations. I am of Scholar-level talent, while Brother Yan was merely third in the rankings. Moreover, for Brother Yan’s third-place ranking, who knows how much was secretly guided by the Princess in advance. I do not say it, but I know you were helped by the Princess before you could struggle to pass."

"I know Brother Yan’s talent does not lie here. I know the Princess is helping you. I do not care, but I am also not convinced in my heart. Why should you receive the Princess’s favor? I am the top Scholar; after the special exam, I am an eighth-rank official, and you are an eighth-rank official. You have always been a head shorter than me!"

"I was full of high spirits back then too!"

"However, things are different now... You shot and killed the head of the Zheng clan with one arrow; you hadn't even participated in the special exam yet, and the court was already fighting over you. Then you suddenly took the Prime Minister as your teacher and were favored by the Prime Minister in power. You began to take the spotlight in Chang'an, while I, because I am always inspecting the hundred officials, am not liked by others."

"After that, the envoys from various nations came to court. Your arrow at Nanshan bound you and the Princess together. Then you negotiated with the King of the Wu people, argued based on principle, and helped the Wu people and the Great Wei set new alliance conditions."

"Then there were the military exercises! You are just a civil official; why should the King of the Wu people have you participate? But just because the King of the Wu people disliked you, he insisted you follow a group of military officers into the field."

"During the military exercises, I only managed grain and fodder in the rear, while you and Young Master Yang were on the front lines. Young Master Yang made a great splash, using dozens of men to block the King of the Wu people, forcing them to detour. You burned their grain and cut off their supplies. Later, in the analysis of the military strength of various nations, what you did was no worse than Young Master Yang."

"Then you suddenly surpassed me and became a seventh-rank official. You submitted a memorial to the central government to open trade routes and settle diplomatic missions. And I... am suppressed by the Wei family, forced to serve as an envoy! Today you are going to Shu... Brother Yan, I always feel that since we started being officials, you have always walked better and faster than I have. Why am I so much worse than you?"

Yan Shang watched Wei Shu quietly.

Wei Shu had never spoken of these things before; now, it was only because he was leaving, and he had drunk too much... Yan Shang said: "Juyuan, why do you look at me? You have your own path, you..."

Wei Shu interrupted softly: "But I do not know if I am walking the right path."

He was silent for a while, then said slowly: "If I go to serve as an envoy, can there truly be a good outcome? I have thought about it over and over again; when I first became an official, it was actually to earn a posthumous title for my mother. Later, it was to let the Wei family see that even if I do not walk their path, I can still fight my way through. Afterwards, I began to be at a loss... wanting to do more. I began to feel that if I am only controlled by politics and swayed from side to side, it is somewhat boring."

"Brother Yan, I also want to do something..."

As he spoke, his voice grew lower. Because of the confusion in his heart, and because he did not know the path ahead.

Yan Shang suddenly said: "Juyuan, in truth, I am the same as you. When I first became an official, I thought of doing things for the people. However, once I actually became an official, I discovered it was not like that. I entered the Secretariat as soon as I joined the service, and the beginning seemed very good. But in the Secretariat, I spent my days busy with trivial tasks. And my superiors—I do not feel that the things they are busy with are important matters either."

"It is nothing more than one complicated procedure after another. It is nothing more than one government order being sent to this department, only for that department to push it to another. Constantly passing the buck, constantly going back and forth. You tell me, what meaning is there in this? I am busy with these tasks all day; what benefit is there for the people?"

"It is precisely because I do not like doing these things that I strove to participate in the envoy’s affairs, and to constantly submit various memorials... You only saw the central government accept one of my memorials; you do not know that I had many more that the superiors didn't even look at."

Wei Shu raised his head and looked at him.

Yan Shang said: "I am also very frustrated and helpless. I often think, what am I serving as this official for? I am now a seventh-rank official, and I am busy in the Ministry of Revenue all day... to tell you the truth, I feel that the Ministry of Revenue would not be affected even if I were missing. Because many officials are busy all day with trivial and useless official business! Therefore, this time, going to Shu for disaster relief, I accepted it without hesitation. Because I do not like my current work either; I want to do something truly useful."

"Just like you, Juyuan. Your serving as an envoy is truly useful work. When you are busy with the infighting in the officialdom, it always feels very boring."

"The heroes of this world all began from a period like the one you and I are in now. Who is born a hero? Who is born with a heart full of ambition?"

"You do not know if what you are doing is right, or if it will affect your official path. I want to give you one piece of advice—do good things, and do not ask about the future. When the river is narrow, the water surges; when a person is in a hurry, plans are born."

The confused light in Wei Shu’s eyes gradually steadied.

He stared blankly at Yan Shang and repeated: "Do good things, and do not ask about the future?"

Yan Shang said: "I should not have said this. Because in this busy officialdom, many people seek a path of promotion and wealth. I just feel that Juyuan should not be like this... many things in this world will not necessarily have good outcomes, nor will they necessarily have any benefits. Perhaps you will return from your mission and your official path will still be closed; perhaps my trip to Shu will offend many people... However, in this world, there are always some things that should be done by someone."

"Perhaps it is difficult, perhaps there is no benefit, but it is right; it is correct. Then there should be someone to do it."

Wei Shu looked at him and suddenly began to laugh.

He sat up straight and poured wine to toast: "Yes, what you say makes sense. I am doing the right thing; why should I wander? Why should I sway due to the attitude of the Wei family? I am right, even if the ending is not good... but as long as it is right, I should do it."

"Do good things, and do not ask about the future! Brother Yan, I toast you!"

"May we both keep these words in mind and not forget our original intentions!"

The mist and rain were thick, with few pedestrians. Two young men were drinking in a tavern, discussing the heroes of the world when they were drunk; when their spirits were high, they sang while holding their chopsticks, and after their fun was spent, they returned—

At the end of May, Wei Shu served as an envoy to various nations and left Chang'an.

Yan Shang left Chang'an at the same time and set out for Shu for disaster relief.

At the end of June, Mu Wanyao returned from Jinling.

On her first day back, before Mu Wanyao could enter the palace to report her safety to the Emperor, she was already eager to see Yan Shang.

She did not see Yan Shang; she only received a very long letter left in the residence across the street, in which Yan Shang bid her farewell and explained his trip to provide disaster relief.

Holding the letter paper, Mu Wanyao was stunned—

Where was her Yan Shang?

Where was her husband?

Where was her obedient, perfectly fine husband who was waiting in Chang'an for her return?

How could he just be gone?