Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Han Suxing’s arrival made both of them uncomfortable. However, Han Suxing himself did not feel there was anything amiss. He was not a native of the Great Wei, and he could not discern the nuanced, convoluted thoughts of the Great Wei people.

Han Suxing honestly described the surrounding terrain to Yan Shang, spoke of the water routes nearby, and finally mentioned that he had searched within a radius of one mile without discovering any traces of the enemy, telling them they could be at ease. Only after finishing his report did he feel that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

He looked over and saw that under a small patch of moonlight, Yan Shang was sitting with his collar pulled tight, his body turned sideways with his knees bent, his head lowered in silence; Mu Wanyao was kneeling beside Yan Shang, her fingers resting on her own knees, also head lowered, not saying a word.

Seeing that the two of them had nothing to say, Han Suxing had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue. He said dryly: "Your Highness, I... this servant just took a look at this wooden hut. There is a separate bed in the inner room on the right. Would it be better for Your Highness to sleep there tonight, while I—this servant keeps watch outside?"

He had become accustomed to saying "I" because Yan Shang taught him to, but when facing his former master, the high-and-mighty Princess Danyang, he still could not help but become humble, wanting to please her.

The slave mentality in his bones was something he himself detested deeply, yet he had no way to overcome it.

Mu Wanyao looked up at him. Only then did Han Suxing see that the Princess’s face was somewhat swollen and blood-red, yet Mu Wanyao remained beautiful. Her cool, limpid gaze looked over, both indifferent and condescending, making Han Suxing unconsciously straighten his waist.

Mu Wanyao: "And what about Yan Shang?"

Han Suxing did not understand what she meant, so he interpreted it according to his own understanding: "Isn't the wound on Erlang’s body not yet properly bandaged? I—this servant will help him treat his injury first. I just fetched a pot of fresh water."

Mu Wanyao was left speechless.

She supported her knees, intending to stand up and give the space to the two grown men, as Han Suxing suggested. But as her clothing rustled past, Yan Shang’s fingers, which were resting on his knees, trembled, and he gripped her hand.

Mu Wanyao, already standing, lowered her eyes and saw him holding her hand without letting go. However, as dark hair fell beside his cheeks, the ear half-hidden by his long hair had turned red in a somewhat awkward manner.

Yan Shang whispered: "Han Suxing, go sleep in the side room. You are the only martial artist among the three of us; you need to maintain your strength more than I or Her Highness. Her Highness and I can manage for the night."

Han Suxing was stunned. He thought to himself, But that is the Princess. The best bed should be given to the Princess.

Yan Shang added: "Besides, Her Highness is bandaging my wounds... actually, she’s doing it quite well."

Mu Wanyao did not speak. She had not even begun to bandage his wounds, but if that was what he wanted to say, she didn't mind. And indeed, Yan Shang knew Han Suxing very well; he easily persuaded Han Suxing to go sleep on the bed, leaving Mu Wanyao here.

After Han Suxing left, Mu Wanyao knelt back down and, using the fresh water Han Suxing had fetched, carefully bandaged the wounds on Yan Shang’s body.

Fortunately, they were all superficial wounds, and there was medicine left behind by a hunter here. Although the wound on Yan Shang’s back looked shocking, external wounds would always heal in time. What worried Mu Wanyao more was Yan Shang’s eyes. She fretted that if his eyes could not be medicated on time, his recovery would be delayed. If he were left with a lifelong regret because of this delay, would she have harmed him once again?

Yan Shang gently tugged her hand, looking somewhat uncomfortable: "What is Your Highness thinking about?"

Mu Wanyao collected her thoughts. She looked down for a long while at the hand that held her wrist firmly and said: "I am wondering, what are you doing? Why do you want me to stay by your side? From this afternoon... you have been pulling me and refusing to let go."

Yan Shang was silent for a while. His complexion was somewhat pale, and at this moment he looked even more haggard, revealing his fatigue.

The way he drooped his face was both sorrowful and resentful, a contradiction of emotions rarely seen on him. Mu Wanyao observed him and saw him raise his face, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Naturally, I want Your Highness to stay by my side and not leave my sight for a single step... I originally thought Pei Qing would... would protect you well. But you were actually captured by the mountain bandits... I cannot trust others anymore.

"I only trust myself."

He thought again of the sound of slapping he had heard. At that time, he felt as if he were suspended over a bottomless abyss, his entire body growing cold inch by inch, and all his strength draining away. The girl he cherished so much, the one he wanted so desperately to protect... how could she be beaten by someone else right in front of him?

He hated himself!

Mu Wanyao stared at him, then said: "So, you are saying that I cannot leave your sight tonight either?"

Yan Shang: "Yes... please don't blame me."

Mu Wanyao did not speak for a long time. She leaned against Yan Shang’s shoulder, her mind blank, feeling quite exhausted. She didn't know if it was because of what happened today or the weariness that had been weighing on her heart for three years. Human emotions are hard to explain clearly at once, and when her spirit felt desolate, it was only by leaning against Yan Shang that she felt she could finally take a break.

Yan Shang could not hear her speak, so he could not judge her mood. Yan Shang whispered, hesitating: "You, why did you go out of the city... did you get separated from Pei Qing? Why did you leave the city? Why didn't you listen to me and bring more guards?"

Mu Wanyao turned her head to look at him. Of course, he could not see her, and a mocking expression appeared on the corners of her lips: "What do you think it means for a man to lead a woman out of the city without bringing more guards?"

Yan Shang was stunned.

He said: "...I don't know."

Mu Wanyao replied casually: "He wanted to sleep with me."

Yan Shang: "..."

The force with which he gripped her hand suddenly increased, and the shoulder she was leaning against stiffened as well. Yan Shang held his breath, his entire body rigid; clearly, he had been so focused on conspiracies that he had never expected such a conclusion. His expression went somewhat blank, and for a moment he didn't know how to react.

It was as if he were bewildered, sorrowful, and also... unhappy.

Mu Wanyao was almost amused by him.

She rested her forehead on her hand and said: "Pei Qing has pursued me for three years, but unfortunately, I never gave him a good look. Didn't I have a ready-made opportunity recently? Some people don't want things, while others treat them as treasures. I thought he was the right one. He followed behind me, always 'Your Highness this, Your Highness that.' You hurt my heart so much, and yet he saw how much I couldn't let you go, but he still offered me warm concern... I’m a little tired.

"Yan Shang, I’m a little tired. I just thought, maybe finding someone who loves me is better than finding someone I love. I could see Pei Qing’s courtship, so I thought I would accept him.

"If he wants to kiss me, let him kiss; if he wants to spend a romantic night with me, then so be it. It’s just that I cannot bear children; I don't know if he can accept that... If he can't, it doesn't matter; I'll just find him a few concubines later. Between men and women, between husband and wife, once things are muddled through like that, a lifetime passes."

She was silent for a long time.

Yan Shang tightened his grip on her hand. After a long while, he whispered: "I'm sorry."

Mu Wanyao said coolly: "Don't always say 'I'm sorry.' You are just like this, always liking to give blindly. It is because you always stood in a low position with me that I became accustomed to this behavior in men. But now I have discovered... not everyone is like you.

"If you could speak beautiful words like Pei Qing, I would have been tricked away by you long ago. In this world, there are many people like Mu Wanyao, but like Yan Shang, I have only ever seen one."

She thought of Pei Qing, and of the things that had happened during the day. She thought of Pei Qing’s initial protection when the bandits appeared, followed by his cowardly flight... At that moment, she had simply watched, her heart not fluctuating much, feeling only that it was ridiculous.

The person she had carefully selected was nothing more than this. Perhaps, the person Pei Qing loved was not Mu Wanyao, but the "Princess Danyang."

Mu Wanyao whispered: "I don't want to settle anymore."

Just like Yang Si said. She was a Princess; why must she settle?

Yan Shang turned his face toward her and said earnestly: "Nonsense. Your Highness must not belittle yourself; I have also only ever seen one 'Mu Wanyao.' Standing motionless when facing bandits, never showing a sign of weakness, and even when captured, daring to resist bandits thousands of times stronger than you... never bowing your head to fate. I only know one 'Mu Wanyao' like that."

Mu Wanyao could not help but curl her lips, leaning even closer to his arm. Being complimented always made one happy. Especially when the person was Yan Shang, who made her love and hate him, with a character as noble as a saint. She hated the saintly style, but she also yearned for the sense of safety the saint brought her.

It was too contradictory.

Mu Wanyao tilted her head to look at his smooth chin for a moment, and suddenly changed the subject: "Are you and your fiancée finally breaking off the engagement or not?"

Yan Shang was stunned, not expecting her to bring this up suddenly.

After a long while, he whispered: "Do you care about this that much?"

Mu Wanyao had just wanted to explain that she was just picking a random topic—she actually didn't want to discuss that with him, because she didn't want to slap him again... when she heard him say somewhat wearily: "I will break off the engagement. It’s just that I need some time so as not to ruin the lady’s reputation. After all, I am too famous, and I don't want her name bound to mine, forcing her to hide her identity for my sake."

Yan Shang gently hugged her shoulders. He lowered his head and gave her what was likely a smile, but it was a very bitter one: "If you truly care that much, I will not marry. I will wait for you... wait for you to get married for two or three years... wait until you have completely let go, then I will consider marriage. In any case, if one wants to get married, when can one not?"

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

She murmured: "...You are actually willing to drag it out for a few more years for my sake? What about your family? Don't you want your reputation anymore?"

Yan Shang: "If I don't do this, what else can I do? You are so unable to bear this; I cannot ignore you."

Mu Wanyao gripped his arm tightly, her heart dampening. In an instant, she once again felt Yan Shang’s kindness toward her. He had not made any promises to her, yet to cater to her feelings, he had gone this far. And if she were sensible, she should cherish him... Mu Wanyao looked up, almost blurted out that she wanted to tell him about her and Pei Qing, wanted to tell him that she had never liked Pei Qing.

She wanted to tell him about what happened during the day... he didn't need to guard for her; she wouldn't marry Pei Qing.

But looking up, Mu Wanyao saw Yan Shang drooping his face, his haggard appearance, and she paused. He was forcing himself to chat with her about these things to appease her mood. But with so many things happening today, Yan Shang was already very tired...

These things could wait until later.

Mu Wanyao leaned against Yan Shang’s arm and slowly closed her eyes.

There were still pursuers, and it was still unsafe. However, her heart no longer felt like a dark, empty hurricane; the cold stars no longer trembled, and the wild fields were no longer desolate. The hurricane had stopped, the candle flame that was about to be extinguished had reignited, and her safe harbor had returned.

Although he had not completely returned yet.

But then again, perhaps he had never left.

Let her have a good dream tonight—

The next day, the chirping of birds became sparse after the earth dragon’s wake. When Mu Wanyao woke up, she found herself curled up sleeping on the straw-covered ground. When she scrambled up, rubbing her aching arms, a man’s outer robe stained with a bit of blood fell from her shoulders.

Mu Wanyao was dazed for a while, then jumped up in a hurry. She did not say a word, grabbing the man’s outer robe in her hand, and circled the wooden hut. She neither saw Yan Shang nor found Han Suxing.

Mu Wanyao ran directly out of the house, fear crawling all over her heart, her blood freezing in terror. She panicked, wondering if they had all left, if she had been abandoned again. But how could Yan Shang abandon her? He shouldn't be that kind of person; she shouldn't have misjudged even Yan Shang’s character.

If even he was not the person she thought, she would be too pathetic.

Mu Wanyao searched around the wooden hut, unable to call out a single word. She did not know how long she had been pacing; she was just stubbornly unwilling to return to that now-empty hut. She heard the sound of a gurgling stream and followed it up.

Mu Wanyao stopped in her tracks.

Beside the gushing stream, she saw the young man’s shoes and socks left on the bank, and the young gentleman, with his sleeves rolled up, bare feet, and his body hunched over, standing in the cold stream water, was none other than Yan Shang—the man she had searched everywhere for, the one she had thought had already left with Han Suxing.

The white gauze bandaged over his eyes was dampened by the water. He stood in the water, bending his waist; because of his limited mobility, along with his rolled-up sleeves, the stream water had soaked the hems of his clothes. He was groping for something in the water when he heard the girl’s startled, angry cry from the bank: "Yan Shang!"

Yan Shang turned his face and revealed a smile: "Your Highness is awake?"

Mu Wanyao walked toward him in a huff. He heard the footsteps and hurriedly stopped her: "Your Highness, don't come over, don't get your clothes wet. The water in these mountains is a bit cold; it’s better for a lady not to touch such cold water."

Mu Wanyao was so angry she couldn't speak, yet she was stopped by him on the shore. She held his robe in her arms and glared with red eyes: "The water is a bit cold, so why are you standing in the water?"

Yan Shang smiled helplessly: "Han Suxing went to help me check for news. I wanted to try and see if I could catch a fish; I can't let Your Highness go hungry. Of course, if I can’t catch one, that’s fine... there are dry rations in the wooden hut."

Mu Wanyao frowned: "If there are dry rations, what are you busy messing around for? As a blind man, is it easy for you to grope your way here?"

She looked down and saw, after he stood up, the red scratch marks on the back of his hand. Mu Wanyao’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt a piercing pain. She was an extremely stubborn person, yet seeing him like this made her prone to tears.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes were misted with water: "Are you... do you think I can't eat those dry rations? Do you think I'm pampered and accustomed to luxury, and hard to support? Yan Shang, stop looking down on people!"

When she roared at him, her voice carried a hint of sobbing. Although she tried to hide it, how could it escape Yan Shang, who now only had his ears and was desperately practicing his keen hearing? Yan Shang hesitated for a moment, feeling somewhat panicked: "Are you crying? Did I do something wrong again?"

He hesitated, intending to walk toward the bank, but the moment he stood up, he frowned in pain, feeling something hit his leg, which was still in the stream with his pants rolled up... Mu Wanyao saw it clearly, reaching out and screaming: "Fish! Fish! Fish! There are so many fish by your legs..."——

Two quarters of an hour later, a fire was lit in the wooden hut. Sitting by the bonfire, with a robe draped over his shoulders, Yan Shang handed the grilled fish to Mu Wanyao.

The steaming fish gave off heat. Even though, because one of them was blind and the other knew nothing about cooking, the appearance of the fish was truly not very pretty, when Yan Shang handed it over, Mu Wanyao, having been hungry for too long, could not help but feel joy, no matter how reserved she tried to be.

She just lowered her head to take a bite and let out an "ooh."

Yan Shang lowered his head, concerned: "What’s wrong? Is it too hot?"

Mu Wanyao covered her cheek, not telling him it was because her face was swollen, so eating was especially painful. She was afraid that if she told him, he would blame himself. Sitting with him in the corner of the hut by the sunlight, grilling fish, and looking up at Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao was once again glad he was blind.

He didn't have to see half of her face, which was currently badly swollen, and wouldn't see her at her ugliest.

Mu Wanyao smiled: "It’s a bit hot, but it’s delicious. You have a taste too."

She eagerly held out the fish strung on a wooden stick to his lips, wanting to share it with him joyfully. Yan Shang lowered his head and smiled, opening his mouth to take a bite. Mu Wanyao watched his reaction, seeing him frown slightly before his long brows relaxed, saying "It’s delicious." Mu Wanyao was even happier, turning her head to find another stick, wanting to share half of the fish they had worked so hard to grill together.

But just as she picked up the stick and turned back to ask Yan Shang for help holding it, she saw Yan Shang sneakily lifting his sleeve and spitting something out to the side.

Mu Wanyao paused and called out: "Yan Shang."

Yan Shang looked up.

Mu Wanyao darkened her face: "What’s wrong with you? Is something uncomfortable?"

Yan Shang was slightly stunned, then shook his head and smiled: "No."

Mu Wanyao was instantly angry, "slap"—she shoved the fish on the stick into his hands. She didn't want to pay attention to him anymore and stood up to move and sit on the other side. Yan Shang’s reaction this time was actually quite fast; he reached out and grabbed her hand, raising his face, appearing somewhat bewildered: "Did I make you unhappy again?"

Mu Wanyao said coldly: "Now that the two of us are depending on each other for survival, you don't tell me if you feel unwell and always suffer in silence. What do you want me to think? I know you are considerate and taking care of me, but if you fall ill, wouldn't I be sad? You always protect me like this; how long are you going to keep protecting me? Are you never going to let me grow up?

"I have such a bad temper; it’s all because you spoiled me! I can't get married; it’s all your fault! You got me into this state, and then you just walk away—what am I supposed to do alone?"

Yan Shang was lost for a long time, not knowing how she had blown things so out of proportion. But he was incomparably intelligent, and under her nagging complaints, he quickly guessed why she was so angry. Yan Shang could not help but smile, feeling a touch of warmth in his heart.

He pulled her back to sit down again, whispering in embarrassment: "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything, and I don't feel uncomfortable at all."

Seeing him still not admitting it, Mu Wanyao widened her eyes: "I saw you spit! You were so uncomfortable that you vomited, and you still say you’re not uncomfortable!"

She felt a pain in her heart that made her want to stamp her feet: "Actually, I realized it a long time ago. Ever since I met you again this time, your body has looked like it’s in bad shape... you’ve grown so thin, and your waist is so slim..."

Yan Shang blushed and whispered: "Why are you talking about my waist again?"

Mu Wanyao found it strange when she had talked about his waist, only to hear him explain gently: "I am not uncomfortable. I wasn't vomiting just now... I was just stuck by a fish bone. You can't even let me spit out a fish bone, can you?"

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

Then her face burned bright red.

She felt incredibly embarrassed and foolish, unable to speak for a long time. Yan Shang had never teased her like this, only sighing with a sense of loneliness: "If only my eyes could see... I could have helped Your Highness pick out the fish bones. Now, I can only trouble Your Highness to take care of yourself."

Mu Wanyao said: "Long-winded! How could I possibly get stuck by a fish bone! I have never been stuck by a fish bone... ah."

Yan Shang understood and said: "Stuck by a fish bone? Can I take a look?"

Mu Wanyao covered her mouth vaguely: "No, no! You can’t see, you aren't allowed to touch me."——

Yan Shang regretted that he shouldn't have grilled fish for them to eat, because Mu Wanyao really lacked the ability to take care of herself, and the breakfast was very difficult to finish. Before they could finish the fish, Han Suxing returned. Han Suxing had never been able to understand the awkwardness between those two and went straight to talking about the current situation in Rang County.

"After the earth dragon, many houses in the city collapsed, and the commoners were buried underneath. The places where those mountain bandits used to live have likely collapsed by half as well. Although the official troops and mountain bandits are trapped in the mountains, their minds are obviously no longer solely on each other. This morning, Master Pei led troops into the mountains to rescue everyone and has been searching for the Princess the whole time..."

Han Suxing looked at Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao sat beside Yan Shang, looking very cold and indifferent.

Han Suxing continued: "It is rumored that the Princess was captured by mountain bandits, and the Prefect was also captured by the mountain bandits while trying to save the Princess. Both the Nanyang Governor and the regional commander are extremely anxious, claiming that they must rescue the Princess from the mountain bandits. They have captured a portion of the mountain bandits, but the captured bandits are also confused and cannot figure out if the Princess is in their hands. Because there are eighty routes of mountain bandits, and they are not all on the same path.

"In short, while the government is settling the commoners, they have begun to search for the Princess and the Prefect all over the mountains and plains. Master Pei is the most proactive; he wants to ask Chang'an for help, but the two big shots of Nanyang are begging for two more days. They say they must see a living person if they are alive, and see a corpse if they are dead."

Mu Wanyao was lost in thought.

Yan Shang also sat with his face lowered, deep in thought.

Han Suxing looked left, then right, not knowing what each of them was thinking. Han Suxing suggested: "Erlang, Rang County is in complete chaos right now; it is the perfect time for you to go back and reorganize. Taking advantage of this earthquake, you can pull out the internal thieves that were planted in our residence before. You can even make the commoners trust you more!"

Han Suxing said optimistically: "The same for the Princess. I saw Master Pei looking like he was about to cry from anxiety, and Guard Fang is also very worried. They are all waiting for the Princess to return. After the Princess returns, you can catch those who betrayed you and give them a good lesson."

Mu Wanyao said: "I am not going back."

Yan Shang spoke at the same time: "Her Highness should not go back."

Han Suxing was bewildered, seeing Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao exchange a look. Yan Shang explained: "Does Your Highness... also feel that going back is not safe?"

Mu Wanyao said indifferently: "Of course it’s not safe. I’m not a fool. The people in charge of Nanyang have set me up like this; if I go back now, without catching them in the act, wouldn't I have been captured by mountain bandits in vain? Then what is the point of this trip? To help Yan Erlang suppress bandits? Suppressing bandits is Yan Erlang’s business, not mine. Whether Nanyang has many mountain bandits or not has nothing to do with me.

"Only by staying 'missing,' with no sign of life or death, can I make the people of the Nanyang Jiang clan anxious. If they are ruthless enough, they will send people to hunt me down and finish me off in this place... After all, the 'mountain bandit' excuse is truly too useful. If they don't jump out, I won't have an excuse to suppress Third Brother. If they jump out on their own... I can just make a big deal of it, saying Third Brother wants to kill me, and make Chang'an restless."

She lowered her eyes, already starting to think about how to use this incident.

Yan Shang did not refute her. Although he was not thinking in the same direction as her, and he did not care about the situation of the Prince of Qin in Chang'an, he indeed felt the same as Mu Wanyao. He also felt that Nanyang was not safe right now and that the Nanyang Jiang clan would use this incident to kill Mu Wanyao and silence her.

And Pei Qing... Yan Shang did not trust Pei Qing either and did not want to hand Mu Wanyao’s safety over to that person. He wanted to persuade Mu Wanyao to break off this engagement, but was afraid that if she hadn't figured it out yet and he brought it up, she would argue with him... So, after thinking it over, Yan Shang said: "Your Highness should leave Nanyang first. Afterward, keep those people on a leash, and have Guard Fang check for clues in the back to see who is acting against Your Highness.

"The Jiang clan’s influence in Nanyang is extremely deep. It is impossible to topple the Jiang clan, but we can use this incident to have the heads of the Jiang clan replaced—replaced with people favorable to us."

Mu Wanyao nodded, and the two began to lower their voices to discuss the arrangements.

Han Suxing was completely confused and decided to keep his mouth shut. Seeing that the two had discussed for about half an hour and settled on a method, Han Suxing felt encouraged because he finally had a role to play. Yan Shang crouched on the ground, drawing a map with a tree branch to explain the terrain to Han Suxing, telling him to escort Mu Wanyao safely out of Nanyang quietly.

He said there would be pursuers later and that they must be careful.

Mu Wanyao crouched on the ground listening, and when she heard Han Suxing would escort her, she did not object. Since he was a person trained by Yan Shang, even if he were from Wuman, she would trust Han Suxing for Yan Shang’s sake. It was just that after Yan Shang finished saying these things, he hesitated for a long time; he clearly had more to say, but he failed to say it several times.

Mu Wanyao looked up at him: "What’s wrong?"

Yan Shang pursed his lips and whispered: "Besides Han Suxing escorting Your Highness out of Nanyang, I also want to go with you."

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

Then she frowned: "No."

The situation in Nanyang was precisely at a point where he needed to go back and preside over things, and the people hunting her down were precisely the ones he needed to deal with from the rear. Mu Wanyao only trusted Yan Shang; if the person behind her was not Yan Shang, she would still fear the situation would be out of her control.

Yan Shang whispered: "I... I am not at ease with you going alone. I am familiar with all the terrain in Nanyang and familiar with all the deployments of the officials. Even if I am not in Rang County, Yun Shu is there, and my personal followers are all there; they will stay in contact with me... I want to send Your Highness safely out of Nanyang. Nanyang is so unsafe, and Han Suxing is just a martial artist; I’m afraid he won't be able to handle the traps laid by the government.

"As for Rang County... it doesn't necessarily have to be me. Isn't Master Pei in Rang County? His official rank is even higher than mine. If Your Highness thinks he is trustworthy... why not let him handle the rear matters, why must I stay? I don't want to stay."

Mu Wanyao spoke earnestly: "But he is not the local magistrate of Nanyang, how is he supposed to fight those two big shots of Nanyang? He is not like you... Yan Shang, don't be so willful, can you just consider the big picture?"

Yan Shang kept his head lowered.

After a long while, he said: "I have always considered the big picture, and I have never been willful... but the result for me was not good. I heard you being... being treated like that by others... I cannot be at ease. This time, I want to be willful once."

Mu Wanyao was dazed: "It was just a slap... don't make it sound like I was forced, okay?"

He kept his face tense, his expression already somewhat miserable. Han Suxing stood by and coughed.

Mu Wanyao: "..."

Mu Wanyao softened her voice: "But you’re a blind man, what use are you following me?"

Yan Shang countered: "Who caught the fish for you, who grilled the fish for you?"

Mu Wanyao turned her face away: "I don't know!"

Her face was still expressionless, but her fingers tightened on his sleeve, and her heart could not help but feel a little happy. But she endured it and did not show it. She just covered her own half-swollen face, feeling that it didn't seem to hurt quite so badly anymore——

The three talked about how to flee under the arrest of the officials.

Yan Shang said: "Let’s pose as brother and sister."

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: "What kind of brother and sister? Are you older than me? You should be calling me 'Sister Yaoyao.' It would be better to pose as sister and brother."

Yan Shang was stunned. His face flushed slightly, and he said unnaturally: "...Don't you usually always call me 'Brother Yan Er'?"

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes wide: "Since when? Han Suxing, have you ever heard me call him that?"

Han Suxing had of course never heard it. Han Suxing had only had more contact with Mu Wanyao after she reunited with them this time. And this time, every word out of Mu Wanyao’s mouth had been "Yan Er" or "Yan Shang"; there was no way she had called him anything like "Brother." Yan Erlang was far too imaginative.

Yan Shang was speechless.

Mu Wanyao was smug; although he couldn't see, she still threw a triumphant look his way. But Han Suxing immediately asked: "But regardless of whether you pose as brother and sister, or sister and brother, can you stay in the same guest room at night?"

Mu Wanyao was slightly startled.

Yan Shang stammered: "Wh-why would we stay in the same guest room?"

Han Suxing found it strange: "Isn't Erlang supposed to escort the Princess out of Nanyang? Shouldn't a close-body escort stay in the same room? If you stay in the room next door, and the Princess is abducted in the night, wouldn't neither of you know? I don't know if it would be considered strange for a brother and sister to stay in the same room according to the Great Wei custom?"

Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao both fell silent.

After a long while, Yan Shang said softly: "...Let’s pose as a married couple."

Mu Wanyao’s voice was as small as a mosquito: "...Mm."

Han Suxing did not understand: "Does that mean posing as a husband and wife?"

Mu Wanyao: ...This person is so redundant!