Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 121

Chapter 121

[Poem]

When apes and monkeys bid farewell, it is but the grinding of a few stones, back to the days of childhood. In the copper and iron furnace, the flames roll; one asks when it can be predicted? It is but a few thousand chills and heats. In the human world, it is hard to encounter a hearty laugh; on the battlefield, we each bend our bows like the moon. Blood flows everywhere across the wild plains.

Once I finish reading, my head is covered in flying snow, only remembering the spots and specks—a few lines of ancient traces. The sacred deeds of the Five Emperors and Three Sovereigns have deceived countless travelers. How many dashing figures have there been? After the reputations of Dao Zhi and Zhuang Qiao flowed on, Chen Wang arose and swung his yellow battle-axe. The song is not yet finished, and the East turns white.

—— "He Xin Lang: Reading History" ——

The rain in Chang'an does not cease.

Yang Si had just returned from the military office in the suburbs. Because of the rain, pedestrians on the streets were sparse. He rode his horse at a gallop down the empty, long street and stopped in front of a tavern where he often went to buy wine.

Immediately, an agile shop assistant at the entrance came forward to tether his horse. Yang Si, not caring in the least that he was soaked by the rain, strode directly into the tavern.

Because of the rain, there were few guests in the tavern. In front of the counter on the first floor, Yan Xiaozhou, wearing a muli (a veiled hat), was talking to the shopkeeper behind the counter.

She was softly and gently introducing a jar of wine she had placed on the counter to the shopkeeper: "This is truly Lingxi Wine. I brewed it myself for three years before it was ready. Why doesn't the shopkeeper taste this wine and then tell me if it's worth the price?"

The shopkeeper laughed: "Is it really Lingxi Wine? Young lady, do not deceive me. Many of the guests who frequent this tavern are high-ranking officials and nobles. If they say it is fake, my shop's reputation will be ruined, and I will have to come to you to settle the account."

Yan Xiaozhou smiled: "That is exactly what I intended to say. You can come find me to settle the account at any time. However, regarding the price of this wine..."

As it turned out, Yan Xiaozhou had come to the tavern to sell wine.

Yan Sanlang and Yan Xiaozhou had ultimately not sold their house, because Mu Wanyao would not allow people whose background she did not know to live across from her home. While Yan Sanlang was worrying about how to explain things to his second brother, Mu Wanyao and her future prince consort left Chang'an.

After the brother and sister discussed it, they decided to write a letter to their second brother and stay at his home first, focusing primarily on their studies for the examinations.

Even through the veil, the shopkeeper could vaguely tell that this young lady was beautiful and youthful. Furthermore, the young lady spoke softly and gently, her voice was pleasant to hear, and there were not many guests in the tavern. The shopkeeper was happy to haggle back and forth with Yan Xiaozhou, finding it a pleasure to chat with her.

Suddenly, he heard a clear, loud voice from the young man who had just arrived from outside: "Shopkeeper, pour me some wine!"

Yang Si stepped through the door and walked toward them.

The shopkeeper hurriedly stopped his conversation with Yan Xiaozhou and responded loudly. Seeing the shopkeeper's urgency, Yan Xiaozhou guessed that the guest who had arrived was of unusual status, and she took the shopkeeper's busyness as a reason to conclude the price in a few words.

The shopkeeper, having no time to haggle, quickly agreed.

Yang Si placed his hand on the counter, lowered his eyes, and said slowly: "Is there any good wine in the shop?"

His lowered gaze fell upon the young woman standing across from him. Dressed in a muli, she was wrapped from head to toe. Behind the white gauze, the young lady’s rouge-colored long dress was exceptionally vivid. His expression was indifferent, but in his mind, he was trying to recall the voice of this lady he had heard just as he walked in.

Years of life as a soldier in Longyou had cultivated a habit in him entirely different from the Yang Sanlang of the past—he would pay attention to everyone he came into contact with, to prevent them from being spies from the border trying to pry information out of him.

Yang Si felt this lady's voice was very familiar.

It had that light, sticky, and unique "Wu softness" peculiar to Southerners. The way she spoke was like singing; the sound was clear, graceful, and gentle, not at all like a native of Chang'an.

His slender fingers tapped the counter, thinking he must have heard this voice somewhere before.

His lowered eyelids felt that the young woman behind the veil was staring at him. Yang Si’s fingers, which were tapping the counter, stopped: Hmm?

At this moment, the shopkeeper asked Yang Si with a smile: "There is some newly arrived Lingxi Wine in the shop, would the Young Master like to taste it?"

Yang Si was indifferent: "Hmm."

The young girl standing opposite him gave a soft laugh.

Yang Si abruptly raised his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a falcon's, shooting straight toward her. The lady behind the veil was apparently startled by the cold, fierce aura surrounding him and took two steps back.

But Yan Xiaozhou only retreated two steps before she calmed down. She bowed and explained softly: "This woman was only laughing at how good the shopkeeper is at doing business; I have absolutely no intention of offending you, young master. You have misunderstood."

By now, Yan Xiaozhou had recognized this young master as the one she had saved by the small creek on the mountain road before coming to Chang'an. However, it was clear that this young master was very guarded against people, and Yan Xiaozhou had no intention of striking up a relationship, so she simply gave a gentle explanation.

After the shopkeeper handed a string of copper coins to Yan Xiaozhou, she bowed once more to the young master who was staring at her unblinkingly, then turned around, took her umbrella, and left the tavern.

In the tavern, the shopkeeper personally poured wine for Yang Sanlang. Yang Si watched Yan Xiaozhou's retreating back, his mind still searching for that sense of familiarity. Suddenly, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning; the voice of that young lady just now aligned with a voice he had heard not long ago—

The younger sister of the pair of siblings who had sent him to the post station!

That voice, as graceful as singing and full of the soft accents of Wu, was exactly the same as in his memory!

This was his life-saving benefactor!

Yang Si didn't even think; without waiting for his wine, he turned and chased after her outside the tavern. The shopkeeper couldn't call him back. Once Yang Si exited the tavern, he saw the vast, drenching rain between heaven and earth, and the young woman's figure was nowhere to be seen.

The shop assistant at the tavern entrance had just returned after tethering the horse for the young master. Seeing Yang Sanlang emerge, he hurried to apologize with a smile: "Young master, rest assured, the horse has been tethered..."

Yang Si: "Bring me the horse!"

Shop assistant: "Ah?"

Yang Si thought for a moment: "Never mind."

He no longer waited for the assistant to bring the horse over but plunged directly into the world of continuous rain. He was familiar with Chang'an, his gaze scanning the surrounding buildings inch by inch, and he immediately chased in one direction. He wove through the small alleys, sometimes running through them, sometimes vaulting over walls and trees. Finally, the scene before his eyes suddenly brightened; he had emerged from the winding, tangled alleys.

At the mouth of the alley, Yang Si panted, wiping the rain from his eyelashes. Through his blurred vision, he saw a carriage parked there, and Yan Xiaozhou being helped into it by her brother.

Yang Si: "Hey—"

The carriage door closed, and the driver set the horse in motion. The tightly shut doors separated the two worlds, inside and out.

Yang Si didn't care that the carriage had already left: "What is your name!"

He shouted loudly toward the carriage: "We will meet again—"

He held no hope, but just as the carriage turned onto a street and was about to disappear from his sight, the window opened, and Yan Xiaozhou looked toward this side.

She was sitting in the carriage, clearly no longer wearing her muli. Yang Si's vision was far better than others; no matter how dim the light was after the rain, he could clearly see the young lady looking back at him from the carriage—her lips vermilion and teeth white, her pupils clear and black.

It struck him like a bolt of lightning.

For the first time, Yang Si saw her face clearly. Unstained by dust, translucent and crystal clear; her eyes slightly curved, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. She was naturally innocent and sweet, yet also remarkably intelligent. She did not speak, only gently waved her hand toward him from across the window.

Yang Si's eyes lit up: Had she recognized him?

Yang Si took a step back and leaned against the wall. After a long while, he laughed out loud to himself—

That night, Yang Si went to the Eastern Palace for dinner.

Seeing him looking so happy, the Crown Prince could not help but ask: "What good thing happened?"

Yang Si: "Do you remember the young lady from my dreams I told you about last time? I met her today."

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow: "She must be very beautiful, right?"

Yang Si smiled but did not speak, yet after only a moment, he tilted his head back and laughed aloud.

The Crown Prince couldn't help but shake his head and laugh: "You rascal."

A moment later, the Crown Prince murmured: "That is good. You should have married long ago."

It is good to be able to jump out of this quagmire.

The Crown Prince became quite interested in Yang Si’s dream lady and asked in detail about her family background. Yang Si knew nothing about it, yet he was very interested in discussing it with the Crown Prince. The two talked past each other for a long time, and Yang Si’s shameless attitude finally annoyed the Crown Prince, who stopped paying him any mind—

This year, there was much rain.

It was raining in Chang'an, and in Nanyang, the rain had been falling for a full half-month.

Before the rain, the Nanyang magistrate and the regional commander had worked together to eradicate the mountain bandits, engaging in a battle of wits and courage for a long time. But once the rain started, the suppression was stalled, and both sides were anxious.

What was more troublesome was that when Yan Shang went to see the situation for himself, the large pits they had dug on the mountain roads specifically to trap the bandits did not catch any, but instead trapped the carriages of some nobles passing through Nanyang.

Yan Shang was on the mountain at the time and, disregarding the injury to his eyes, personally came to apologize. The other party not only demanded compensation but also insisted on staying in Nanyang, waiting for the rain to lighten before continuing their journey. Yan Shang, as a magistrate, would never refuse such a small request. He immediately used his authority in front of the visiting nobles to arrange for city housing for them.

The party requested to stay in his official residence.

Yan Shang thought that these nobles probably felt his magistrate's residence was the best place available, which was why they wanted to stay there. This was fine, as long as they didn't mind.

In this way, Mu Wanyao did not utter a sound, directing Pei Qing to talk with Yan Shang, and easily finalized the arrangements for their stay.

Thus, in a side room of the magistrate's residence, Pei Qing greeted those outside the door, and after receiving permission, he pushed the door open. The serving maids who had been wiping the Princess's hair bowed to him and exited the room.

Pei Qing looked at the young woman sitting on the bed.

She had already changed her clothes; her long, soft silk skirt spread out beneath her on the dais. Her slender fingers supported her cheek, which was as fair as jade and snow, and she was staring blankly at the rain outside the window.

Pei Qing was slightly annoyed: "Your Highness, why must we stay in this place?"

Mu Wanyao looked at him and said indifferently: "Isn't it because you wanted to see what kind of person Yan Shang really is? Isn't it because you wanted to pull the thorn out of my heart? If I don't get close to him, how can I give up, and how can you give up?"

Pei Qing was stunned, suspecting he was being too sensitive: "So, in the short time Your Highness was on the mountain earlier, you thought of all this."

Mu Wanyao did not speak.

She hadn't thought that much at all.

When she saw Yan Shang walk over, half of her body had gone stiff. By the time she reacted, he was standing five steps away, smiling and bowing to them, and she, staring at the white gauze covering his eyes, just wanted to know what had happened to them.

She forced Pei Qing to talk with Yan Shang and insisted on staying. She just wanted to know what had happened to Yan Shang's eyes!

Mu Wanyao instructed Pei Qing carelessly: "I do not want to be recognized by him. He is blind now and doesn't know it is me. You pass down orders that the attendants are not to call me 'Your Highness'; change to another form of address. Also, there are a few servants around Yan Shang who are old acquaintances and would recognize me; you also send people to threaten them and forbid them from telling Yan Shang my identity."

She tilted her head and said coldly: "Just say that I am merely passing through and do not wish to have any association with Yan Shang. If they dare let Yan Shang know who I am, I will not let them live."

Pei Qing's expression softened considerably.

His eyes looked at Mu Wanyao tenderly, delighted by her reaction. He agreed repeatedly, saying he would go and give the instructions so that the Princess's travel itinerary would not be exposed.

After a while, Pei Qing hesitated: "I only saw Yan Erlang today... well, although he does indeed have a good demeanor, he is just an ordinary person. He is now nothing more than a common magistrate. I truly cannot see any difference between him and others, and I do not know why Your Highness liked him in the past."

Mu Wanyao held a strange smile at the corner of her lips and said: "You will know soon."

Just as Pei Qing was puzzled, a maid knocked on the door from outside and said respectfully: "Young Master, Young Lady, are you two in the room? Our Master has instructed this servant to apologize to you both and to invite you to a banquet this evening to make amends to the two noble guests. Our Master also says that since you have just arrived and Nanyang has not prepared, our Master is afraid the two of you are not staying comfortably, so he has specially given up his own quarters for the two of you. I do not know if the two noble guests have any taboos; our Master will arrange everything accordingly."

Pei Qing intentionally wanted to make things difficult: "We are both fine, but the servants..."

The maid outside laughed: "Young Master, rest assured, our Master has already prepared clean clothes and ginger soup for them. Our Master said that, by rights, he should have prepared for the two of you as well, but because of your noble origins, he feared you would not casually use things prepared by outsiders. Fearing that you might be inconvenienced, he specifically invited tailors to the residence to make new clothes for you both."

Pei Qing was dumbfounded.

He looked at Mu Wanyao in astonishment and saw the smile on her lips deepen as she continued to turn her face to look at the rain outside the window, clearly expecting what Yan Shang would do.

Mu Wanyao whispered to Pei Qing: "Ask her what happened to Yan Shang's eyes." —

Yan Shang’s eyes should be fine.

The maid said that when their master first came to Nanyang, his eyes were not very good and could not look at strong light, as if he had suffered an old injury. Later, as time went by, the master’s eyes got better. But a while ago, during the bandit suppression, the master’s eyes were accidentally injured. Thus, he had been covered with gauze for the past two days and had been applying medicine, and they would soon be better.

Mu Wanyao stood up and said to Pei Qing: "I am going to check on Yan Shang's eyes."

Pei Qing: "..."

He did not stop her, comforting himself in his heart that the Princess was only worried about the other man's eyes. Even if he kept trying to block her, it was unclear if he would succeed, and he feared that if Mu Wanyao remained fixated on it, it would only be worse.

Because Mu Wanyao was not comfortable speaking in front of Yan Shang, fearing he would recognize her, she took a maid who acted as her voice to find him. She left behind Xia Rong, whom Yan Shang was familiar with, and brought Qiusi, who had gradually come to prominence in the past two years.

Because Xia Rong was to be married in the next two years, more of her tasks were being arranged for Qiusi. Mu Wanyao had been using Qiusi more, and since Qiusi was relatively lively and loved to talk, she and the fifteen-year-old maid had developed some rapport.

Qiusi patted her chest and promised Mu Wanyao: "Young Lady, rest assured, I will definitely not let Yan Erlang recognize us." —

Yan Shang returned to the residence, and after washing up, he sat in his room in deep thought. Two young servants stood beside him; one was taking the replaced gauze and other items, preparing to apply medicine to his master’s eyes. The other servant was Yun Shu, who was standing there in a daze with a look of extreme frustration, filled with inner conflict.

The moment Her Highness the Princess entered their residence, he had recognized her.

But the Princess’s head of guards, Fang Tong, had flicked his finger and sealed his acupoint, so Yun Shu hadn't been able to say a word at the time.

Afterwards, the Princess’s people had threatened him, forbidding him from revealing the Princess’s identity... Yun Shu could only pray that the Princess was truly just passing through Nanyang and would not stay here for long.

The Princess had no idea how much she had made Yan Shang unable to let go, how much she had hurt him.

As Yun Shu struggled with himself, a crisp, sweet voice of a maid came from outside the door: "Is the Magistrate in? Our Young Lady is concerned about the Magistrate's eyes and has come to take a look."

Yan Shang came back to his senses and stood up with a smile: "That is too polite; it makes me feel ashamed..."

He suddenly stopped speaking, because with a "creak," the door was pushed open directly. Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart paused, thinking that this... future wife of Young Master Pei seemed a bit impolite.

Mu Wanyao saw the two servants in the room, and when Yun Shu looked at her with a ghostly expression, she brushed the hair by her ear and gave him a wink. Yun Shu’s expression became even stranger, and only then did Mu Wanyao look at Yan Shang. She scanned him from head to toe, seeing that on his face covered by gauze, his cheeks were thin, and there was absolutely no flesh on his cheekbones.

He was fully dressed even in his own quarters and did not look flustered by their sudden arrival, but his clothes were different from when he was on the mountain.

He looked entirely lean and haggard.

Mu Wanyao stared at him for a moment, then saw the gauze in the servant's hand. She paused and gave Qiusi a look. Qiusi smiled and said: "Oh my, is the Young Master applying medicine to his eyes? It just so happens that our Young Lady has a medical genius in her household. Let our Young Lady help the Young Master wrap his eyes."

Yan Shang gently refused: "There is no need. How could I bother the Lady..."

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow: 'Lady'?!

What was he reminding her of?

Mu Wanyao felt her desire to provoke him stirred and walked toward Yan Shang. Yan Shang heard the footsteps and smelled the faint fragrance on her. He turned sideways, and Yun Shu hurried over to support his arm. With Yun Shu’s help, Yan Shang backed away.

Mu Wanyao followed his movements and grabbed his wrist.

Yan Shang pulled his hand away, his fingers careful not to touch her skin through his sleeve.

He retreated as if casually, while Mu Wanyao pressed forward intentionally.

Fragrant breezes drifted by, faint and elusive.

Yan Shang still said softly: "You are a person of noble status, how can you labor over such small matters? Besides, my eyes have no major problems. To trouble the Lady with concern makes me feel very bad. The Lady's cultivation makes me truly admire you; I imagine Young Master Pei must be a person of the same standing. Did Young Master Pei not accompany the Lady here?"

Mu Wanyao: "..."

She signaled for Qiusi to speak and shut the person's words down. After a long time, Qiusi found a sentence: "Young Master, what do you mean by this? Our Young Lady is only trying to apply medicine for you. You are being far too evasive."

Yan Shang smiled gently: "I do not have such a meaning; the Lady has misunderstood. It is just that I am already betrothed, and my fiancée is exquisite, cute, and naively innocent. I am naturally open and fearless with the Lady, but people are talkative, and I truly do not wish for such a small matter to make Miaoniang think too much."

Qiusi was stunned, thinking it was over.

She turned to look at the Princess and, sure enough, saw Mu Wanyao’s expression turn cold. Yun Shu stiffened, sweat nearly dripping down his forehead. Yan Shang wore a polite smile, telling Mu Wanyao how much he loved his fiancée, and the more he said so, the uglier Mu Wanyao’s expression became.

She turned and left.

Qiusi hurriedly followed.

Hearing the footsteps recede, Yan Shang sat down with a sigh of relief. Yan Shang suddenly whispered to Yun Shu: "Why were you so stiff just now? What were you nervous about?"

Yan Shang’s observation was such that Yun Shu had been under constant pressure, and he endured his stuttering: "I... I wasn't nervous."

Fortunately, Yan Shang seemed troubled by some difficult problem and did not pay too much attention to Yun Shu’s attitude. Yan Shang frowned, perplexed: "Her voice sounds so familiar; where have I heard it before?"

A long time ago, he had heard Qiusi’s voice. But after all, three years had passed, and it was no easy task to retrieve that voice from his memory—

Yan Shang was lost in thought, reflecting on his momentary daze just now.

Yan Shang thought to himself, the fragrance on that lady...

When she came close, his heart beat violently, and his mouth felt dry.

But he thought that the perfumes used by noble ladies were, in fact, just those few kinds.

They weren't special.

Then why was his heartbeat so unnatural at that time, and why did his cheeks heat up uncontrollably?

Yan Shang frowned in confusion, unable to understand his body’s reaction.

He was a bit annoyed, a bit puzzled, and a bit despondent. He thought haphazardly in his heart, could it be because he had been away from young ladies for too long and hadn't been this close while talking, causing such a reaction?

Sigh, Yan Shang, oh Yan Shang.

How can you be so lewd—

Mu Wanyao was not lightly angered by Yan Shang’s repeated use of "Lady," and her interest was greatly dampened by the fiancée he intentionally emphasized.

Seeing that even though his eyes were covered with gauze, he was eloquent and in a great state, Mu Wanyao became too lazy to pay him any attention.

And with Mu Wanyao not intentionally seeking out Yan Shang, the person most relieved was Pei Qing. Pei Qing was overjoyed that his decision to specifically detour to Nanyang was so correct. Indeed, the more the Princess saw Yan Shang, the more she would find him ordinary. He believed that after staying another two days, Mu Wanyao would completely lose her old feelings for Yan Shang.

It was just that since coming to Nanyang, Mu Wanyao had stayed in the room, which was a bit boring. Pei Qing inquired about some interesting historical sites in Nanyang, wanting to go out and have fun with Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao was bored staying at the residence as well, especially since Yan Shang left early and returned late—a blind man working actively every day, which was inconceivable. Mu Wanyao then let Pei Qing arrange the itinerary and went out to have fun with him. But of course, Pei Qing didn't just want to go out and have fun with the Princess; he also wanted to further ruin Mu Wanyao’s impression of Yan Shang.

So, on the afternoon of this day, when Mu Wanyao and Pei Qing were sitting in the carriage returning to the residence, the carriage stopped, and Mu Wanyao heard the clamor outside.

She asked suspiciously: "What is going on?"

Pei Qing opened the carriage door first and said: "It looks like Yan Erlang has been blocked by people."

Mu Wanyao then looked outside.

She saw their carriage stopped outside the magistrate's residence. Yan Shang emerged from the residence, supported by Yun Shu, walking with some difficulty. But as soon as he came out, he was surrounded by people from all directions. Yun Shu was startled, and Han Shuxing, who was following Yan Shang, abruptly drew his sword.

Yan Shang commanded sharply: "Han Shuxing, put your sword away! You are not allowed to draw your sword against the common people."

Han Shuxing put away his sword unwillingly, only trying hard to shield Yan Shang and prevent the visually impaired Yan Shang from being crowded by the people. Yan Shang spoke in a gentle voice, urging everyone to quiet down and tell him what was happening, but his clear voice was drowned out by the voices of the people.

Han Shuxing raised his voice and said angrily: "Your magistrate has injured his eyes because of bandit suppression! If you make such a racket and hurt him further, let's see who will manage your affairs!"

Once this was said, the chaotic crowd of people quieted down.

Hearing that the sounds on all sides had finally quieted, Yan Shang sighed and said: "What exactly is the reason for blocking the magistrate's residence?"

The people pushed one another and sent a representative forward: "Magistrate, this rain has been falling for two months. If it continues like this, what will happen to this year’s harvest? Will Nanyang be flooded? Magistrate, is it possible that you officials did something wrong that angered the Heavens and made the Dragon King furious? Should we offer some sacrifices to the Dragon King?"

Yan Shang: "...What kind of sacrifices?"

The people were excited: "We have selected a pair of young boys and girls! If we send them to the Dragon King, he will calm his anger, and the heavy rain will no longer flood us!"

The people were so ignorant.

Pei Qing, on the other side, showed an expression of disbelief. He looked at Mu Wanyao and saw that she was merely lifting the curtain to look at Yan Shang, who was surrounded by the ignorant people. Mu Wanyao’s eyes were dark, and she did not speak.

Yan Shang said gently: "Everyone, you have misunderstood. Sacrificing to the Dragon King is not done this way. Please listen to me: Nanyang has not incurred the great wrath of the Heavens. The Heavens are so busy day and night that even if they were to favor mortals, they would pay attention to Chang'an; how could they notice a small place like ours? It must be that the Dragon King has fallen asleep. It is no matter; we shall pray to him for clear skies..."

On Pei Qing’s side, he heard Yan Shang talking about praying for clear skies, about touching the Heavens and moving the Earth... Pei Qing thought: "Is Yan Shang crazy? 'The Master does not speak of strange phenomena and prodigies'; has he studied all his books for nothing? How can he deceive the people like this?"

Mu Wanyao said faintly: "Because your high-minded principles are things ordinary people cannot understand, nor do they believe them. Clear skies mean the Heavens are happy; rain means the Heavens are angry. A good harvest means the Heavens are showing favor; a bad harvest means the Heavens are punishing them. Studying is peeking into the will of the Heavens, and not studying is a grace from the Heavens."

"This is the way ordinary people think."

"If you tell them now that wind and rain are daily occurrences and there is no need to panic, they will think you are a monster or demon who does not look at things from their perspective."

"Therefore... Yan Shang is promoting education."

Pei Qing looked at Mu Wanyao with a strange gaze. He never thought a Princess could have such an understanding. He said: "Your Highness is so concerned about the people's livelihood..."

Mu Wanyao: "I am not concerned."

She paused and lowered her eyes: "Yan Shang told me."

Pei Qing: "...Your Highness hasn't been in contact with him for three years."

Mu Wanyao: "Before he left, he gave a memorial. Besides suggesting how I should keep a low profile, he also told me about the things he saw while traveling in Jiangnan when he was young."

The rain pattered down, the sound like thunder.

Pei Qing felt a sourness in his heart for a moment, and after a long while, he squeezed out a sentence: "...But he betrayed Your Highness for such common people. Yet, I would not."

Mu Wanyao did not speak. She watched as the people there swarmed and followed Yan Shang in one direction, so she instructed the driver: "Follow them and see."

Pei Qing felt uncomfortable immediately. His original intention was to let Mu Wanyao see Yan Shang’s foolishness, but now Mu Wanyao was the one actively wanting to follow and see—

As it turned out, Yan Shang had agreed to pray for clear skies for Nanyang for these people.

The rain in Nanyang had fallen straight from the second month to the fourth month. Yan Shang was surrounded by the people and ordered the gates of the markets to be closed. He arranged for an earthen platform to be built in the very center of Nanyang, with an altar and yellow banners placed on the platform, and everyone prayed for the rain to stop.

Mu Wanyao’s carriage stopped at the entrance of a teahouse. She saw more and more people from all directions gathering around, all kneeling beneath the platform one by one, muttering prayers for the rain to stop. Officials were as if facing a great enemy, patrolling among them, most afraid that someone would take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble.

Conflicts were breaking out between the people and the officials. The officials asked the people to disperse or simply go home, while the people argued about what would happen if the rain didn't stop, claiming the officials were harming them.

Amidst the arguing, they suddenly looked up and saw Yan Shang being helped up onto the platform.

Rain poured down from all directions. Yan Shang’s white robes were like snow, soaked by the rain. The gauze bandage covering his eyes fluttered, which only highlighted his pale and elegant appearance. He stood on the high platform, sat down in this manner, and bowed to the people below.

Yan Shang said: "I am praying for clear skies here myself; I ask that all fellow countrymen do not dispute, for fear of shocking the will of Heaven."

The people looked up blankly, watching their magistrate sitting under the banners, his face thin and handsome, so youthful. He sat there just like that, watching the shamans pray, watching the shamans dance while wearing masks. The wind and rain attacked from all sides, flying onto his already soaked robes.

He looked even thinner, even more clear like moonlight.

He just sat there quietly, not saying a word.

Gradually, the chaos below subsided. The people were willing to listen to the officials’ arrangements and disperse, no longer crowding together. They stood quietly below, watching the shamans pray for clear skies, no longer speaking wildly or walking around aimlessly.

From dawn until dark, for a full three hours.

Whenever they felt anxious, they would look up and see the Magistrate still sitting on the platform, and their hearts would regain their calm—

For three full hours, other than the voices of the shamans’ prayers and the sound of the rain, there was no other human voice to be heard.

Sitting in the carriage, Pei Qing was entranced, and Mu Wanyao watched with focus.

She sat in the carriage, looking up at him sitting in the rain, and in her mind, she suddenly recalled the way he had recited the Shuo Shu during that rain in Lingnan; and then she thought of the time in the Ministry of Justice prison when he argued with her about the livelihood of the people... Now, she looked at him sitting in the pouring rain just like that, accompanying these people, helping these people.

He was so beautiful.

He was like a white crane, he was like a pearl of jade, he was a person who shone with light. He made people involuntarily look up to him and involuntarily follow him.

Mu Wanyao’s gaze did not blink once. She instructed the maid outside: "Go find some clean men's clothing."

Pei Qing guessed what she was going to do, but his heart was sour, and he felt immensely ashamed; he couldn't say a word to stop her—

Just by coincidence, at dusk, the rain actually stopped.

The people did not think it was a coincidence at all; they only felt that their magistrate had moved the Heavens, and they cheered endlessly.

When Yan Shang was helped down from the platform by Yun Shu, he was soaked through and cold all over. He was pale, and his hands were trembling slightly. Suddenly, he heard Yun Shu’s voice, both frustrated and startled: "...Young Lady!"

Yan Shang raised his face.

Mu Wanyao, with maids holding umbrellas for her, walked toward this side, her arm draped with a gray rabbit-fur coat.

The next moment, a fur coat was draped over the exhausted Yan Shang.

The woman’s warm, soft body leaned in close, and she stood on her tiptoes to drape the clothes over him. She said nothing, but her breath brushed against his neck, making Yan Shang lose himself. Her fingers pressed against the back of his neck, signaling for him to lower his head so she could tie the ribbons at the collar for him.

Yan Shang was stunned, smelling that familiar scent on her again. He suddenly realized what had been draped over him and was immediately astonished, feeling that this was far too improper. Yan Shang retreated, but he did not anticipate that Mu Wanyao was currently on tiptoes tying the ribbons. When he pulled back like that, he immediately made her cry out in surprise, dragging her so that she stumbled.

Yan Shang felt his heart suffer a heavy blow.

Again, he heard the sound of the people rushing over: "Magistrate! Magistrate, thank you, Magistrate..."

Yan Shang reached out and grabbed the young lady who was stumbling because of him, not letting her fall. He was afraid that those people, in their ignorance and overly enthusiastic behavior, would bump into her delicate frame. In this way, he actually reached out and caught her, holding her in his arms.

Her face touched his neck.

In an instant, his cheeks felt as if they were being burned by fire, and an unnatural curve appeared at the corners of his pursed lips. He held her, protecting her from being bumped by anyone.

With his hands wrapping around her, he masked his own heartbeat, but as his fingers rested on her back, it felt as heavy as a thousand jun, and he couldn't stop his fingers from trembling.

...Is it her? —

Pei Qing’s voice followed: "...Young Lady."

Yan Shang held Mu Wanyao’s arms and pushed her away.

Mu Wanyao looked up at him, and seeing his expression back to normal, she realized she had already draped the fur coat on him. Mu Wanyao said nothing, and was thus taken away by Pei Qing. Pei Qing turned his head to look at the young master with the white gauze over his eyes behind him. Pei Qing had too many words he wanted to say, yet he couldn't utter a single one.

...With someone like this existing, what could he possibly say? —

The footsteps were chaotic. Yan Shang stood blankly, unable to distinguish who had come or who had left.

After standing there empty-hearted for a while, Yan Shang asked softly to a commoner who had surrounded him to express his gratitude: "The young lady who just left... her eyes... were they a bit round, with the corners of her eyes tilted upward, like... a cat?"

The commoner nodded: "Yes, yes! Those eyes are especially captivating. Oh my, that young lady was truly beautiful..."

Yan Shang stood there in a daze.

He blushed until he looked like blood, and his heart felt as broken as shards. He felt both joy and sorrow—

He knew who she was.