Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 122

Chapter 122

After dealing with the commoners, Yan Shang returned to his quarters, feeling completely out of sorts. Because his eyes had become this way, it no longer mattered whether he lit a lamp at night, so he sat in the darkness, lost in his own thoughts.

That fiancé of hers, known as "Young Master Pei," must be Mu Wanyao's future prince consort, Pei Qing.

In his heart, Yan Shang was thinking about the afternoon, after he descended from the platform, when she had come over to drape his coat over him. Her hands had rested on the back of his neck, stroking it gently. She had leaned into his embrace, her eyelashes brushing softly against his throat.

His body seemed to remember her completely. It felt as if the moment she leaned in, before he could even react, his body had already awakened first.

Yan Shang also thought about earlier times, when they were reunited on the mountain path; seeing him appear, he remembered the look in her eyes as she gazed at him.

Yan Shang was somewhat annoyed with people like Yun Shu and Han Shuxing; they should have known it was Mu Wanyao long ago, but perhaps they had been threatened by her, and so none of them told him.

And so, he had remained unaware that she was right by his side all along.

She stood beside him, watching him.

The more he thought about these things, the sadder Yan Shang felt. He braced his forehead with one hand, and his heart felt a sudden, violent pang of pain. He sensed the changes in Mu Wanyao. Three years ago, how could she have watched him quietly without coming over to tease him... She had changed, grown up, matured.

She knew what could be approached and what could not.

And these were all the bloody costs of growing up.

Discarding the momentary excitement and joy he felt when he recognized her that afternoon, by nightfall, Yan Shang felt unbearable sorrow, reflecting on these things as if in self-torture. The more he thought, the more he hated himself; the more he thought, the more he felt that her becoming this quiet and mature was entirely his fault.

If not for him, she would still be lively and mischievous, still haughty and arrogant...

He had always hated that he appeared in Mu Wanyao's life, causing her to be hurt by human emotions once again. Especially this night, he hated his own wickedness even more.

When she suddenly appeared, rather than being filled with surprise and joy, Yan Shang’s primary reaction was one of self-denial and torment.

Therefore, he emphasized to himself even more: do not approach her, do not influence her again.

A person like him was simply unworthy of loving a lady, of feeling affection, of receiving love. The last thing he should do was cause Mu Wanyao heartache. Now that she had a fiancé like Pei Qing who was good to her, he should stay away from her all the more—

Yan Shang had recognized Mu Wanyao, but he said nothing, acting as if he still did not know. Yun Shu and the others spent every day painstakingly acting to keep the truth from him, and Yan Shang did not speak of it either.

In truth, there was no need for him to speak.

Because the very next day, he caught a cold, developed a high fever, and fell ill.

When Mu Wanyao and Pei Qing were having breakfast, Pei Qing mentioned leaving Nanyang.

Mu Wanyao was lost in thought, and it took Pei Qing two tries for her to hear him. She said: "Isn't it you who wanted to take a good look at Yan Shang? You've only been watching for two days, and you don't want to watch anymore?"

Pei Qing’s mood was low, and he mocked himself: "Yesterday, seeing Yan Erlang praying for clear skies in the rain, sitting in the downpour for a full three hours with all the commoners watching him, and Your Highness watching him too... I no longer wish to watch. I know I cannot compare, and if I stay any longer, I may only be courting humiliation."

He said distractedly: "...Before I came, I thought he was just fishing for fame, but I did not expect him to truly be that kind of person."

Mu Wanyao lowered her head to sip her tea, thinking: how could a person she had once loved be anything but good?

She had always been indifferent toward Pei Qing; no matter how hard she tried, she could not muster a shred of enthusiasm for him. She had often wondered what was wrong with her, and frequently felt annoyed with Pei Qing... Yet today, with Pei Qing praising Yan Shang like this, Mu Wanyao felt a rare sense of happiness toward Pei Qing.

Pei Qing once again urged Mu Wanyao to leave Nanyang with him.

Mu Wanyao hesitated in her heart and said nothing.

She thought to herself that she should leave, because when she draped the coat over Yan Shang yesterday and leaned close to him, her heartbeat had been louder than the rain. It was her heart, which had been calm for three years, beginning to beat wildly once more. Mu Wanyao had been terrified at the time, afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would not be able to let go of Yan Shang.

She could still control herself for now, but she was truly afraid that in a couple of days, she wouldn't be able to.

However, Mu Wanyao did not want to leave. Because she was worried about Yan Shang's eyes.

If she could not see his eyes recover, her heart would be filled with self-reproach. Three years had passed, and she began to reflect on the damage the time in prison had caused his body. She always felt that she bore some responsibility for her past neglect... With Mu Wanyao silent, Pei Qing could not help but feel a chill in his heart.

Mu Wanyao hesitated: "Let me write a letter and find a famous doctor to come here, and then we will leave first..."

Just as Pei Qing was about to be happy, the maid Qiusi ran in from outside. Through the curtain, Qiusi said nervously: "Young Lady, Yan Erlang has fallen ill."

Mu Wanyao stood up at once. And so, she was no longer preparing to leave, nor was she preparing to pack her luggage; Mu Wanyao was surrounded by her maids and went to see Yan Shang. Pei Qing rose and watched her walk so quickly; he stood there for a long time, his heart filled with utter desolation—

When Yan Shang woke up, he felt that his whole body was drenched in sweat. But he was so exhausted that he didn't want to move a single finger, wanting only to rest a while longer before getting up to bathe.

And so he lay there quietly. After all, whether his eyes were open or closed, all he saw was darkness.

He was not a person to give up on himself; in the last month, he had learned to get used to living with the darkness. Furthermore, being unable to see actually allowed him to calm his mind and think about many more things...

Yan Shang was lost in thought like this.

Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance on a young lady. He felt a sense of terror and his whole body went tense. The next moment, he felt the bed frame depress as someone sat down. Yan Shang was stunned and began to think that being unable to see was not a good thing after all.

Mu Wanyao didn't know how long she had been sitting here; he had only just realized it now... Just as Yan Shang’s heart was in turmoil, he suddenly felt his fingers being held by someone.

He stiffened and struggled with himself for a while, thinking he would just let her do as she pleased and act as if he did not know—

Mu Wanyao had been sitting there watching Yan Shang for an hour.

By evening, his fever had broken, and the servants had fed him some porridge; Mu Wanyao had watched the whole process. Later, when the servants left, Mu Wanyao watched Yan Shang drift into a deep sleep. She sat by the bedside watching him sleep, without feeling the slightest bit of boredom.

He was truly quiet. When he slept, he didn't move at all, nor did he toss or turn, often making Mu Wanyao wonder if he had fainted or if he was asleep.

And yet, no matter how good-looking a person was, watching them for an hour would eventually become tiresome.

Mu Wanyao struggled in her heart for a long time, thinking that since he was asleep anyway, she still wanted to touch him. Once she made this decision, Mu Wanyao cheered herself on in her heart and sat onto the bed. She reached out toward his slender fingers, first grabbing his hand and playing with his fingers one by one.

Yan Shang felt helpless in his heart, thinking: Fine... it’s just his hand anyway.

But Mu Wanyao was soon unsatisfied.

Yan Shang’s waist stiffened, for he felt the girl's soft fingers resting on his waist through his thin inner garment. Mu Wanyao extended her thumb and middle finger to measure a length, her fingers wandering across his waist...

A peach-red flush rose on Yan Shang’s face, and his waist became increasingly stiff as she teased him, yet he had to try his best to feign sleep... He heard Mu Wanyao’s small voice: "Your waist is so thin."

Yan Shang froze, as if struck by a heavy wooden club.

Her voice was soft and raspy; he hadn't heard it in three years.

Mu Wanyao said a second sentence, dissatisfied: "Even thinner than before. You really have lost so much weight."

She was satisfied with herself, smugly saying: "But my waist is still thinner than yours."

Yan Shang: "..."

The corners of his lips couldn't help but tense up, holding back his amusement. His face grew even redder, and he wondered what on earth she was thinking... No, he couldn't think like that; he should be thinking about how she could play with him like this.

She already had a fiancé; how could she stay in another man's room for so long, and even tease him?

Yan Shang was trapped in this conflict when, suddenly, Mu Wanyao leaned over and hugged him. His fingers couldn't help but jump, feeling the young woman’s lithe, water-like body rubbing into his embrace. Yan Shang was at a loss, beginning to regret why he had feigned sleep.

He should look for an appropriate time to wake up... he couldn't let Mu Wanyao continue making a scene like this.

But in the midst of this struggle, Yan Shang’s eyes beneath the white gauze widened, and a surge of longing rose in his heart. He wanted to see her... he wanted to know what she looked like now.

But his eyes couldn't see, he couldn't even take a look at her. And by the time his eyes recovered, she would surely have already left.

He would never be able to see her again.

Mu Wanyao buried her face in Yan Shang’s embrace, her hands hugging his waist as she held him, and she smelled the scent on him, feeling a satisfying sense of happiness. Everyone had a different scent, and the scent on Yan Shang was just so faint and clear, like sunlight, like the sea...

Mu Wanyao suddenly paused.

She heard the intensely violent heartbeat beneath her cheek.

Each beat faster than the last, each beat more violent than the last.

Mu Wanyao raised her face in disbelief; she saw Yan Shang still lying there motionless, but the redness spreading across his face... He was feigning sleep!

Mu Wanyao frowned, and a sudden sense of displeasure rose in her heart.

He... had such a strong reaction to the proximity of a strange woman?

Lewd!

Filthy!

Disgusting!

Lacking... marital virtue!

Didn't they say he was getting married soon? How could his body have such a strong reaction to a girl who wasn't his fiancée?

Mu Wanyao rose with a start and threw him aside. She stood coldly by the edge of the bed, glaring furiously at the man feigning sleep for a long time, before turning and leaving—

Mu Wanyao stopped going to see Yan Shang after that.

However, she still wrote a letter to Chang'an, asking one of the eye specialists among the imperial physicians to leave Chang'an for Nanyang, treating the eyes in her name.

The rain in Nanyang had stopped, and because she was angry at Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao began to call for people to pack her luggage in indignation, preparing to leave Nanyang. Pei Qing was naturally happy about this, and Yan Shang did not try to stop them, instead sending someone to ask if the two noble guests needed any local specialties from Nanyang, offering to have some delivered to them.

His goodwill reached the door of the side room, but Mu Wanyao had it all sent back.

Mu Wanyao said coldly: "I don't need his fake kindness!"

That night, due to an inexplicable low mood, Mu Wanyao sat in the garden lost in thought. She didn't know how long she had been sitting, but she watched as the sky grew dark, lanterns were lit in the residence, and a layer of cold night mist blanketed the estate. The fog was heavy, and clouds surged through the long corridors.

After sitting for a long time, the accompanying maid Qiusi felt her body going numb. Just as she was about to advise the Princess to return, Mu Wanyao, who had been sitting all this while, moved her eyes and looked in one direction.

Mu Wanyao and her maid saw Yan Shang walking over from the other end of the corridor.

He had no servants accompanying him; he was walking along, feeling his way by the walls and pillars. His thin spring shirt fluttered in the night breeze, and his expression was as gentle as ever, even though he often tripped on the steps.

Yan Shang walked very carefully, but in such a large courtyard, he had been blind for only a month and was truly unfamiliar with every place. Just as he was about to trip on a step again, someone suddenly supported his left hand, holding his arm with their palm upward, and slender fingers pressed against his wrist.

Yan Shang stiffened and was about to pull back.

Mu Wanyao did not let him withdraw, gripping his arm tightly. She gave Qiusi a look, and Qiusi spoke on her behalf: "Young Master, do not be alarmed, it is us. Our Young Lady was resting in the courtyard and happened to see you coming. Seeing that you were about to fall, she came over to lend a hand."

Qiusi curiously asked on her own behalf: "But Young Master, where are your servants? Is it alright for you to come out alone? It is so late, where are you going?"

Mu Wanyao, supporting Yan Shang’s arm, looked at Qiusi with approval: Well asked. It was what she wanted to know as well.

Yan Shang adjusted his emotions. Knowing that it was Mu Wanyao supporting him, he felt even more ill at ease, and was very suspicious as to whether his clothes were worn correctly or if there was something untoward about his appearance. But he soon discarded these distractions, inwardly ashamed of his lack of composure.

Yan Shang answered gently: "It is nothing major; I remembered some official business and wanted to go to the magistrate's office. It is not far from here, and I sent Yun Shu away to deliver some messages, so I was wondering if I could make it to the office by myself."

He said shamefacedly: "It seems I overestimated myself and have disturbed the Lady. I had better return to my room."

Under Mu Wanyao’s gaze, Qiusi quickly said: "No need! Young Master, it’s not far, let us accompany you to the office."

Yan Shang tried to refuse, but with Mu Wanyao insisting, he could not decline and had to accept.

And so, he was supported by Mu Wanyao by the arm, walking all the way toward the residence gate.

No matter how strange the servants' expressions were as they walked along, Qiusi just grinned and followed behind the two of them, glaring at those who wanted to disturb the Princess and Yan Erlang. She was fifteen, the most lively and youthful age, and seeing her own Princess supporting Yan Erlang, with their two shadows cast upon the corridor, Qiusi watched and felt it was very pleasing to the eye.

The Princess was elegant and graceful; Yan Erlang was refined and handsome.

How could anyone be allowed to disturb such a perfect match?

Qiusi was different from the previous Chunhua and Xia Rong; she hadn't seen Mu Wanyao during her most difficult times, only seeing the Princess’s power grow ever higher. Therefore, in Qiusi’s eyes, the Princess didn't need to look at anyone else’s face; she could do whatever she wanted.

She never felt that just because the Princess had a fiancé, it mattered one way or another. The Princess was the most important; even if the Princess were married, she wouldn't need to pay attention to a husband if she wanted to keep a lover. Besides, the Princess wasn't even married yet!—

Each harboring their own thoughts, they exited the residence in this eerie manner.

Yan Shang’s arm felt numb from being supported by Mu Wanyao. Along the way, he acted as if he didn't know it was her, while his brain was racking its wit to find a way to persuade her to leave. However, Mu Wanyao was very happy; perhaps she felt it was fun to lead a blind man, so she led the way with extra seriousness and fell in love with the feeling.

Sensing that Mu Wanyao was playing quite happily, Yan Shang gave a helpless smile, thinking that his inability to see seemed to have provided her with something fun.

Making her play the mute, refusing to acknowledge him, and then secretly teasing him back and forth.

Just as they were about to exit the residence, Qiusi was humming a little tune, her eyes casually glancing around, signaling the obstructive servants to move aside and not block the Princess’s path. Unexpectedly, in such a casual glance, Qiusi saw the wall at the residence entrance reflecting the swaying plants, and among the moving plants, a snake was sticking out its tongue and crawling higher and higher.

Qiusi screamed on the spot, jumping up in fright: "Snake! There's a snake! Help—"

Mu Wanyao didn't see any snake, but she was frightened by the maid’s piercing scream. She also shrieked, her whole body shivering, and she gripped Yan Shang’s hand hard. She screamed with a sob, jumping up along with Qiusi.

Qiusi was so scared she could only hide far away, but Mu Wanyao had Yan Shang by her side.

Mu Wanyao screamed and threw herself into Yan Shang’s arms, holding him tight, sobbing and screaming: "Snake! Snake!"

Yan Shang embraced her, his hand wrapped around her back, gently stroking it, saying softly: "Alright, alright, don't cry..."

He turned his face to the side, knowing there must be servants nearby, and asked: "Is there a snake in the grass?"

When the two girls shrieked one after the other, some servants were startled and ran over to look. Qiusi slipped away several yards away, and a servant carefully entered the grass. After checking for a long time, he said speechlessly: "Young Master, it is just a tree branch."

Qiusi clutched a pillar, poked her head out from behind it, and shouted: "Are you sure you’re looking right? I really saw a snake."

And so, Mu Wanyao in Yan Shang’s arms gripped Yan Shang’s clothes even tighter, shivering once.

Yan Shang’s hand kept stroking her back; seeing that she was still afraid, he couldn't help but suppress a laugh: "How could there be a snake? Don't be afraid, it's nothing... I am here."

The servants looked at each other, and seeing their young master hugging someone else's lady and gently comforting her, their expressions were strange. But they couldn't say anything, so they had to withdraw awkwardly. Only Qiusi remained hiding behind the pillar, clutching her fragile heart and murmuring: There must be a snake.

Yan Shang stood at the residence entrance hugging Mu Wanyao, whispering and coaxing her for a long time before she raised her face from his embrace. She had been crying for a while, and just as she wanted to say something to Yan Shang, she felt Yan Shang’s body suddenly stiffen, his complexion looking somewhat unnatural.

Mu Wanyao realized belatedly: Oh, right. He is holding her.

Yan Shang’s arm holding her stiffened, and he said in a low voice: "I have been presumptuous."

He returned to that earnest appearance, gently trying to push her away. Mu Wanyao remained silent, grabbing his arm and refusing to let go. Yan Shang turned his face to the side, and although he could not see her, he could imagine her suddenly acting stubborn again.

He whispered: "I know, I know you were startled and need someone to accompany you... but, but this, this is not according to etiquette. I will find your fiancé for you right now..."

Mu Wanyao was annoyed: She didn't want Pei Qing!

If Pei Qing appeared right now, she would be annoyed to death!

Just as the two were at such an impasse, Pei Qing’s voice came from the direction of the residence entrance, suppressed with anger: "What are you doing?"

Pei Qing entered from outside and saw Yan Shang hugging the Princess, head bowed, talking to her. To be so intimate, how could this be proper! —

Yan Shang reacted and turned his head in the direction of the residence gate, looking blankly.

Mu Wanyao was still holding his arm, and for some reason, she did not move at all. Yan Shang heard her let out a sob, as if she hadn't regained her senses from the previous emotion at all.

Hearing Pei Qing’s footsteps coming toward them, Yan Shang was instantly tense, his heart filled with panic.

He reached back and grabbed Mu Wanyao’s arm, pulling her behind him. Facing Pei Qing walking toward them, Yan Shang’s lips were stiff, and his voice was low, as if begging for peace: "Young Master Pei, calm down first. Things are not as they appear... The Young Lady was frightened by a snake, and seeing she was startled, I could not help but comfort her. This matter has nothing to do with the Young Lady..."

Mu Wanyao was pulled behind Yan Shang in a daze, and hearing him suddenly stop calling her "Lady" and changing to "Young Lady," her eyes blinked.

Pei Qing was frantic with anger: "Move aside!"

Yan Shang retreated, but refused to let Mu Wanyao be taken away by Pei Qing. He sensed the anger in Pei Qing’s words and worried that the other party would hurt Mu Wanyao because of what he had seen.

Yan Shang was incredibly ashamed in his heart, yet his words were firm as he tried to persuade him: "It truly has nothing to do with the Young Lady; people often say that seeing is not necessarily believing..."

Mu Wanyao came to her senses.

She hid behind Yan Shang, being held by the arm, and the more Yan Shang said this, the angrier Pei Qing became. Mu Wanyao couldn't help but smile, mischievously poking her head out from behind Yan Shang, curiously watching the two men—one wanting to take her away, the other refusing to let her be taken.

Pei Qing: "Yan Erlang, how could I harm her?"

Yan Shang froze.

Then, he heard a mischievous laugh from Mu Wanyao, who was leaning against his back.

Following that, Yan Shang suddenly woke up, realizing what he had done.

Yes, what could Pei Qing do to Mu Wanyao? Mu Wanyao’s status was not that of an ordinary lady. She was a Princess. What could a fiancé who hadn't yet married in... hadn't yet been brought in... haven't yet been accepted into the household do to the Princess, even if he were angry about the Princess acting intimately with other men?

It was Yan Shang whose heart was in chaos, treating Mu Wanyao as an ordinary lady, fearing Pei Qing would scold her or hit her, so he protected her to prevent Pei Qing from touching Mu Wanyao.

This thought was too ridiculous.

Yan Shang was too ashamed to speak, standing there in a daze. Seeing that he had finally realized, Pei Qing felt a bitterness in his heart and sighed.

Pei Qing couldn't help but think: How good must the relationship between the former Yan Erlang and the Princess have been for Yan Erlang to have forgotten Mu Wanyao’s status as a Princess?

For Yan Erlang to have been unable to restrain himself and treat a Princess with the attitude reserved for ordinary ladies?

Would the Princess not accuse him of showing disrespect to his superior? Would the Princess allow Yan Erlang to get that close to her? —

Pei Qing couldn't help but think that his own marriage to the Princess... would probably, probably not happen —

Back in the quarters, Mu Wanyao sat down to drink tea, lost in thought.

Pei Qing stood by her side, softly advising her to stay away from Yan Erlang.

Mu Wanyao was impatient: "Noisy. Shut up."

She rested her fingers on her forehead, feeling like something wasn't right. Pei Qing had been chirping in her ear the whole way, constantly interrupting her train of thought, preventing her from figuring out where that wrongness lay.

Now that Pei Qing had shut up, Mu Wanyao was finally able to think about it carefully.

Yan Shang’s attitude toward her... was not right.

She hadn't thought about it carefully before, but now that she did, him holding her tonight, him being unable to help himself when comforting her... this was his attitude toward Mu Wanyao, not his attitude toward an ordinary lady.

Tracing things back further... his half-hearted distance from her, his inexplicable concern. When he was sick, the violent beating of his heart when she held him... going back even further, on the day of praying for rain, when she draped the coat for him and he held her in his arms.

Mu Wanyao gasped: Ah! She realized in a flash: So his "wrongness" had appeared so long ago.

So... Yan Shang had recognized her!

Mu Wanyao stood up abruptly, startling Pei Qing. She walked out with a dark face, and Pei Qing followed: "Where is Your Highness going again?"

Mu Wanyao sharpened her knives, full of intent: "To find Yan Shang!"

Pei Qing: "..."

Pei Qing was going insane: "Didn't you just finish being intimate right in front of me, why is Your Highness going to find him again?"

Mu Wanyao hesitated, feeling she might have been a bit excessive, so she stopped at the door to explain: "I just found out he lied to me, that's all..."

Pei Qing’s eyes lit up slightly and he said: "Then Your Highness, quickly go find him."

Mu Wanyao: "..." —

Yan Shang had originally wanted to go to the magistrate's office, but because of that accident involving Mu Wanyao in the evening, he didn't make it and returned to his quarters.

He was restless; although he persuaded himself that Mu Wanyao was a Princess and would not be affected, he still couldn't help but worry about her being reproached by Pei Qing. She liked Pei Qing so much; if Pei Qing refused to marry her because of him, how heartbroken she would be...

"Bang," the door was pushed open.

Mu Wanyao said sharply: "Yan Shang!"

Yan Shang raised his head, stood up, and frowned. He said softly: "I have thought about it; why don't you shift the blame onto me, and say that I behaved improperly, forced you, and wanted to hold you; then he will not blame you. Let's just not mention any snakes; so many factors make people disbelieve..."

He rambled on for a while before realizing something was wrong, and gradually ceased speaking.

He heard Mu Wanyao’s sneer.

Yan Shang was silent for a long time, then whispered: "What did you say?"

Mu Wanyao scoffed: "Still pretending? Didn't you recognize who I am?"

Yan Shang was speechless.

He lowered his eyes, thinking he hadn't spoken, yet that extremely low murmur, that lingering whisper, melted by Mu Wanyao’s ear, making her ear burn: "...Yaoyao."