Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 139

Chapter 139

The Yan family had come to Chang'an for Yan Shang's wedding. Once the wedding banquet concluded, Father Yan, feeling both gratified and melancholy, declared that it was time to return to Lingnan. Yan Shang felt a lingering sense of reluctance; he hadn't seen his family for years, and now that they were leaving after such a hurried reunion, he felt deeply ashamed.

At times, a bold notion would even cross his mind: what if his eldest brother stayed in Chang'an? If his eldest brother remained, his father would surely stay as well. And since their family did not practice separating the household, his third brother’s family would naturally stay too. As for his younger sister, who was yet to be married, she would stay with them regardless.

However, this thought was usually just a fleeting spark, which he would quickly extinguish himself. The political climate of Chang'an was treacherous, and both he and Mu Wanyao were already walking on thin ice, caught in the center of the whirlpool. His family was accustomed to the bold, unrefined lifestyle of Lingnan and understood nothing of politics. If they remained in Chang'an, they would easily become pawns or leverage for his political rivals.

His eldest brother had a simple, honest nature, unsuited for the capital; while his third brother held the status of a jinshi (imperial scholar), he only sought to use that status to engage in some quiet, low-profile business and had no desire to be an official. If Yan Shang forced them to stay, he would only be harming them.

Thus, Yan Shang only persuaded his family to stay in Chang'an for a few more days, telling them there was no rush to return to Lingnan.

As for Mu Wanyao, being Yan Shang’s new bride, regardless of how she usually conducted herself, she felt compelled at this moment to play the part of the perfect daughter-in-law. She wanted to ensure Yan Shang’s family lived comfortably in Chang'an and experienced her meticulous care.

To maintain this appearance, Mu Wanyao had held few banquets at the estate recently and had not met with many officials—although Yan Shang’s family would certainly never voice any complaints openly, she still feared that Father Yan might perceive her as unvirtuous or feel she was unworthy of his son.

And so, by the tenth lunar month, Yan Shang’s family was still in Chang'an.

In that same month, the results of Yang Si’s half-year reassignment were finally finalized. The central government sent him to the border of Youzhou to fight and defend the frontiers of the empire. With the rank of General, Yang Si departed Chang'an to take up his post in Youzhou.

Compared to the meager circumstances of his previous enlistment in Longyou, this time his departure was accompanied by quite a few attendants. Yet, while his father had come to see him off at the city gates last time, this time the Yang family was embroiled in the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin. They were overwhelmed and frantic, and no one in the family had the heart to see him off.

Mu Wanyao would not see him off either—following the incident at the Ministry of Revenue, she and the Crown Prince stood on opposing sides. Given Mu Wanyao’s cold-blooded nature, she would never give anyone the space to harbor false hopes.

However, beneath the city gates of Chang'an, there were still those who came to bid Yang Si farewell.

At the first light of dawn, amidst the lingering mist, Yang Si stood on the city wall, arms draped over the shoulders of several young generals, all of them reeking of alcohol. They were leaving the city today, yet just yesterday, Yang Si had been drinking heavily with them in the Northern District. Today, even though these generals were changing shifts, they had specifically come to the city wall to see him off.

Speaking with thickened tongues, the men thumped their chests, promising Yang Si: "Rest easy, Third Brother. Your brothers will keep an eye out for you. If anything happens to your family, we will send word immediately; we definitely won't keep it from you!"

"That’s right! You go and fight well in Youzhou; we’ll help you watch over things in Chang'an!"

Yang Si squinted and laughed along with them, patting their shoulders. His eyes were bleary with drink, and he chatted with them for a long time, holding their hands. Just as the atmosphere on the city wall reached a peak of sentimental, unshakable loyalty, one of Yang Si’s attendants climbed the wall. "Third Brother."

Yang Si turned his head. A faint flush touched his handsome, cold features, making him look quite intoxicated, but when he looked back, his eyes were sharp, cold, and crisp, devoid of any sign of drunkenness.

The attendant hesitated. "...A young lady has come to see you, Third Brother."

Yang Si’s gaze went blank for a split second.

His drinking companions behind him were filled with curiosity, reaching out to hook their arms around his shoulders: "Third Brother, could it be your little sweetheart? That’s not very brotherly of you, you never told us. Won't you introduce us?"

Yang Si turned back and laughed. "That is Second Brother Yan’s sister. Do you dare provoke her?"

The group of drunks shivered, all of them suddenly silenced. Yan Suchen’s reputation in Chang'an was vast... built upon a series of cold, ruthless events. Three years ago, during the Ministry of Revenue case, the entire Chang'an officialdom had grown somewhat fearful of Yan Suchen. And now that Yan Suchen had returned to Chang'an... even the Prince of Qin, who had cooperated well with Yan Shang in the past, felt a prickle of unease.

Since his marriage, Yan Suchen had vaguely begun to lead the entire faction of scholars from humble backgrounds. The noble families were all watching, not daring to provoke him. After all, Yan Suchen now held a position in the Ministry of Personnel... a department known as the head of the Six Ministries. With a man like him holding such an important post, the officials of Chang'an found themselves weighing their actions carefully before making any moves.

Who would dare to provoke Yan Suchen’s sister?

Yang Si dismissed them and went downstairs with his attendant. There was no unsteadiness in his gait; as he descended, his mind grew clearer and his heart heavier.

The sky was not yet fully bright, and the city gates had not yet opened. Yang Si stood beneath the city wall, watching a young lady near the corner tower hand the reins of her horse to her maid before gracefully walking toward him. In the morning light, the hem of her light yellow skirt fluttered slightly, and her eyes were like glazed crystal, her lips stained with the color of peach blossoms. She looked as fresh and pure as a hidden orchid still damp with morning dew in a valley.

Yang Si watched in silence as Yan Xiaozhou, a soft and gentle smile playing on her lips, stopped before him.

She was beautiful and graceful, with a touch of a young girl’s cunning and spirit in her eyes. She bowed to him in greeting, smiling brightly: "I heard that you are being promoted to a high position in Youzhou to protect our country. A man’s ambitions should lie in the four corners of the world; I admire you greatly, Third Brother. It is a pity you didn't tell me when you were leaving, so I had to guess the time to come and see you off."

She looked up, beaming. "I guessed right."

The light in the young girl’s eyes was soft and secretly joyful, looking at him with a touch of anticipation—as if she were waiting for his praise.

Yang Si thought of the night talk he had with the Crown Prince, and his heart sank even further.

He said quietly, "You have always been clever."

Yan Xiaozhou looked at him with a trace of confusion, her delicate brows knitting together. She couldn't fathom why his attitude had changed so drastically from before. Could it be that he blamed her for not telling him that her brother was Yan Shang? Could it be that he disliked her brother... just as the rumors in Chang'an said, that her brother had snatched away the Princess, a childhood sweetheart of Third Brother Yang, and that Third Brother Yang despised her brother?

Yang Si turned his face slightly toward the red sun rising on the horizon. "Is there something you need?"

Yan Xiaozhou bit her lip and lowered her head, taking a string of gold bells from the pouch hanging at her waist. Her ivory-white skin was flushed with the glow of the rising sun. She held the gold bells out toward him, bowing her head and saying softly, "A gift for you."

Yang Si looked down at the bells, and at her slender, fair fingers.

He kept his hands behind his back, clenching them into fists, trembling slightly. His face remained as stern as ever; he looked down at the bells for a long time but did not reach out to take them.

The rosy flush on Yan Xiaozhou’s face faded, turning somewhat pale. She looked up at him with dark, clear eyes, but her hand remained stubbornly extended, refusing to pull the bells back.

Yan Xiaozhou whispered, "You said that the day we first met, you heard my voice, and from then on, you felt that only my voice could awaken you. I cannot give you my voice, so I offer you this string of bells... a keepsake for you to remember me by."

Yang Si watched her for a long time.

There was no one else in front of the city gate; they just stood there foolishly. The maid waiting for Yan Xiaozhou in the distance had become angry at Yang Si’s cold indifference and wanted to urge her mistress to leave. Yet, nearby, Yan Xiaozhou still did not withdraw her hand.

Yang Si said slowly, "Little sister Xiaozhou, I am going to Youzhou this time to be married."

The hand with which Yan Xiaozhou held out the bells trembled, and her face went paler. She bit her lip and forced a strained smile, lowering her eyes. She said softly, "Then... then that is wonderful... I wish you happiness. I meant nothing else by this; please take the bells. Just consider them a memento from an old friend."

Yang Si steeled his heart. "I cannot allow my future wife to have any misunderstandings."

Yan Xiaozhou kept her eyes downcast. "I do not take back what I give. My feelings were not wrong. You are the one causing misunderstandings. You may take the bells, discard them, or smash them. Regardless, I have given them, and I have done no wrong... I only wanted to see this through to the end."

Suddenly, she grabbed his hand and shoved the bells forcefully into his palm. Yang Si stepped forward, and Yan Xiaozhou turned and walked away toward her maid. She did not look back, but with Yang Si’s keen eyesight, he could see the mist of tears gathering in her eyes as she turned her face away... His heart felt as though it had been pierced through by thorns.

Yet, Yang Sanlang in the city of Chang'an did not possess true freedom; every act of indulgence came with conditions and people to bear the consequences. Since he had accepted the kindness of others with a clear conscience, he could not shirk his own responsibilities. Moreover, the feelings he had shared with the Crown Prince for so many years... could they ever be false?

Yang Si took a deep breath, clutched the gold bells tightly in his hand, and turned toward the city gate. His face was cold and merciless as he shouted to his attendants: "Open the gates! We leave now—"

Yan Xiaozhou rode her horse back to the estate, feeling heartbroken the entire way.

She kept her head lowered, tears streaming down her face, unable to wipe them away with her handkerchief. This was the first time she had liked a young man, and he was the one who had pursued her... yet today, the joys and the unspoken, mutual affection of the past few months felt like a lie.

Perhaps Yang Si had his own unavoidable reasons, or perhaps he had just been toying with her and was afraid to continue once he realized she was Yan Shang’s sister... Regardless of the reason, her romance had withered away.

When Yan Xiaozhou returned to the alley where the Princess's residence was located, she hurriedly tidied her appearance with her maid. She had to return to the mansion where Yan Shang had previously lived—now occupied by the Yan family—and she was afraid that her family would notice she had been crying and worry about her. Naturally, she had to dry her tears.

As Yan Xiaozhou dismounted at the gate, she encountered Mu Wanyao coming out of the Princess's residence.

Mu Wanyao was holding a feather fan, swaying as she emerged. She covered half of her face with her circular fan, her gaze looking over with a seductive, charming air. Her hair was like clouds, adorned with pearls, emeralds, and fine silks.

Her sister-in-law, the Princess, was always exquisite and resplendent, shining like a brilliant pearl wherever she stood.

Yan Xiaozhou quickly stood straight and respectfully offered a greeting to her sister-in-law. She instinctively felt a sense of fear toward her, perhaps because of Mu Wanyao’s status as a Princess, or because Mu Wanyao had been fierce toward her when she was younger... In any case, Yan Xiaozhou wished she could serve her sister-in-law like a Bodhisattva.

Mu Wanyao had been planning to drift over to the house next door to chat with the Yan family and cheekily share their lunch. Since Yan Shang was busy at the Ministry of Personnel and wouldn't return, Mu Wanyao intended to get on better terms with his family.

Mu Wanyao glanced at Yan Xiaozhou and stopped in her tracks. "Why are you crying?"

Yan Xiaozhou trembled. "...I’m not."

Mu Wanyao frowned. "The powder on your face has been streaked by tears, and you say you aren't?"

Yan Xiaozhou was bewildered, wondering how her sister-in-law had such sharp eyes. Her maid had sworn it wouldn't be noticeable.

Just as Yan Xiaozhou was contemplating how to lie her way through her sister-in-law's questioning, Mu Wanyao rested her chin on her feather fan, her heart giving a slight tug. Yan Xiaozhou was the sister Yan Shang doted on most; if she acted as an understanding sister-in-law, couldn't she earn some credit with him?

Mu Wanyao immediately offered the younger sister seven parts of genuine concern. "Quick, come back to the residence with me to wash your face and redo your makeup. If you go back like this, you will make your father, brother, and sisters-in-law worry."

Yan Xiaozhou hurriedly said it wasn't necessary, but Mu Wanyao didn't give her the chance to refuse. The maids coaxed and escorted the sister-in-law back to the Princess's residence. Mu Wanyao glanced at Yan Xiaozhou’s bewildered maid and gave a wink to Qiusi, signaling her to probe and find out why Yan Xiaozhou was crying.

Half an hour later, Mu Wanyao was firmly holding Yan Xiaozhou, heart-strickenly discussing her romantic troubles with her. Yan Xiaozhou initially refused to admit it, but after being caught out by Mu Wanyao several times, she finally broke down. After all, she was a young girl who had never known love before; how could she compare to her sister-in-law’s rich experience?

Furthermore, her sister-in-law gritted her teeth along with her: "Yang Si really is a jerk! I warned him before not to touch you, but he couldn't control himself, and he didn't even discuss it with me! This jerk, I’ll help you curse him!"

Yan Xiaozhou, who had almost stopped crying, was brought to tears again by Mu Wanyao. Mu Wanyao beat around the bush to ask questions, and Yan Xiaozhou, sobbing, could not choke back her emotions.

She looked up with her pinkish-white face, her eyelashes tangled together, and asked blankly: "Sister-in-law, was I really just being toyed with?"

Mu Wanyao hesitated.

Yan Xiaozhou possessed a sensitivity similar to Yan Shang’s; she noticed the slight pause in Mu Wanyao’s eyes. Yan Xiaozhou whispered, "Sister-in-law, does Third Brother have some hidden difficulty? Please, tell me. I won't pester him; I just want to understand where I went wrong."

Mu Wanyao remained silent for a long moment before slowly speaking in a way Yan Xiaozhou could understand: "Xiaozhou, you and your third brother have stayed in Chang'an for more than half a year now. Can you understand that the political situation in Chang'an is extremely volatile? People like me, like your brother, like Yang Sanlang... all of us are unable to act according to our own wills. Every decision we make affects not just ourselves, but many others."

Yan Xiaozhou seemed to grasp the meaning. "Sister-in-law, are you saying someone made Third Brother stay away from me? Is it..."

She suddenly understood: "Sister-in-law, do you and my brother hope for me to keep my distance from Yang Sanlang?"

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes wide, marveling to herself that this sister of Yan Shang’s was truly quick-witted.

Mu Wanyao twisted her brows and said, "I just found out about you and Yang San; I imagine your brother doesn't even know yet. Our attitude... is actually fine. Because while a marriage alliance is a sign of a political stance, it isn't the only one. And a man like your brother probably cares more about whether you are happy, not so much about the rest.

"But Xiaozhou, most people in Chang'an are different from your brother, do you know that?

"I grew up with Yang San; I must speak a word of justice for him. He is certainly not a man who would toy with a girl on a whim. If his attitude has been so contradictory, it can only mean that either the Yang family refused to ally with us, or the Crown Prince demanded he refuse. Regardless of the cause, problems caused by political stances are problems between families, not just between two individuals."

Yan Xiaozhou lowered her eyes.

She whispered, "Then were you and my brother standing on the same side, marrying only for an alliance?"

Mu Wanyao stood up immediately, raising her voice: "Of course not!"

Yan Xiaozhou was startled.

Mu Wanyao softened her tone and said gently, "Your brother loves me dearly, which is why he married a Princess. Of course we are different from others."

Yan Xiaozhou was stunned. Seeing Mu Wanyao speak so brazenly about how her brother was infatuated with her, and how frank the Princess was, Yan Xiaozhou flushed with embarrassment for her sister-in-law and could not speak for a long while.

After a while, Yan Xiaozhou brought the topic back to Yang Si, saying wistfully, "He did not betray me; I do not blame him anymore."

Mu Wanyao comforted her sister-in-law thoroughly. Seeing that her mood had improved, she took her by the arm, and they went to the house next door to share lunch. Yan Xiaozhou, though feeling uneasy about her sister-in-law’s intense enthusiasm to get on well with them, composed herself and decided to try to help her sister-in-law out.

At the Yan residence, when Father Yan and the others heard that Princess Danyang was coming again, they all gave a wry smile—ah, a Princess.

But naturally, they could not refuse.

And so, the family sat down for lunch, with the exception of Yan Shang. There was a natural barrier between Mu Wanyao and them, but with Yan Xiaozhou helping to make some witty remarks, the atmosphere at the table was just barely passable.

However, a small mishap occurred in the middle of the meal.

Mu Wanyao choked on a piece of food and turned her head to cough into her handkerchief. Her maids were waiting outside the room, and when the Princess began to cough, the wife of the third brother, sitting next to her, was startled and scrambled to pour water for the Princess in a panic.

Mu Wanyao was still coughing, having forgotten who was beside her, and spoke sharply as if she were talking to her own maid: "Why pour wine? Can't you see I’m coughing? Take this dish away, I can't eat it."

The eldest brother’s wife quickly responded, busying herself.

The third brother’s wife began patting Mu Wanyao’s back, and the eldest brother’s wife took the handkerchief the Princess handed over quite naturally, presenting a new one to her. Yan Xiaozhou cleverly jumped up to brew tea for her sister-in-law.

The other men of the Yan family all stood up, surrounding the Princess in a fluster, voicing their anxious concern.

By the time Mu Wanyao finally recovered and breathed a sigh of relief, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked at the crowd... She realized that both sisters-in-law were kneeling at her feet like maids, the three men were standing around like servants listening to her instructions, and Yan Xiaozhou was waiting with a teapot to help her rinse her mouth.

Mu Wanyao: "..."

Her face flushed red, and she felt deeply annoyed at herself for treating Yan Shang’s family like servants.

The Yan family also slowly realized what was happening. The sisters-in-law awkwardly returned to their seats, and the men could not find anything to say. Finally, Father Yan spoke dryly: "Your Highness, this meal... shall we continue?"

Frustrated that she had failed to be a good daughter-in-law, Mu Wanyao could only grit her teeth: "Continue!"

While Mu Wanyao was trying her best to be a good daughter-in-law, Yan Shang was summoned to the palace by the Emperor. Ever since his return to the capital, he was often summoned to face the Emperor. The Emperor used him as a tool, placing him wherever he was needed, and Yan Shang had grown accustomed to it.

But on this day, Yan Shang had not even had the chance to eat lunch before being summoned to the palace, and the Emperor did not see him right away.

Yan Shang waited for about half an hour before the Emperor woke from his nap and allowed him to enter the hall.

After being granted a seat, the Emperor coughed and finished his medicine for the day. Yan Shang sat in the lower position while the Emperor reclined on a chaise longue, turning his face to look at the autumn maple leaves outside the window, saying slowly: "Another year is coming to an end. Once the leaves have all fallen, it will be the end of it again. A human life lasts only a few decades; it is much the same."

Yan Shang said warmly, "Why is Your Majesty so sentimental? Your Majesty is blessed by heaven and attended by miracle doctors from overseas; you will surely enjoy a long and enduring life."

The Emperor mocked himself: "There are many people who desperately want me dead."

Yan Shang spoke in a gentle, persuasive tone.

He always spoke this way; even if the Emperor knew that this man might not have any genuine affection for him, words reflected a person’s cultivation. Yan Shang’s pleasant manner of speaking made the Emperor’s complexion soften considerably. The Emperor chuckled: "I understand now what Wanyao saw in you."

As Yan Shang sat quietly, his eyelashes fluttered slightly.

The Emperor continued: "As long as a man is good-looking and knows how to be clever and obedient, who wouldn't like him?"

The Emperor spoke as if Yan Shang were merely a plaything kept by Mu Wanyao, needing only to wag his tail and beg for pity.

Yan Shang did not change his expression and said he was ashamed.

The Emperor’s thoughtful gaze shifted away from his face. Yan Shang remained calm and composed throughout, which filled the Emperor with a sense of reluctant admiration. If the Emperor were in good health, he might have been interested in playing games with a young man like this. But now... for someone like Yan Shang, the Emperor felt only fear.

He needed to use this man, yet he was terrified that this man could not be controlled.

The Emperor smiled slightly as he looked at the scenery outside the window, falling into memory: "I do not have many children; Wanyao is the daughter I love most. Until she was fifteen, she grew up in a honey pot, doted on by both her mother and me. We raised her to be innocent and charming, ignorant of the ways of the world. If it were possible, I only wished for her to remain that way forever.

"But as a Princess, when the country has a need, she must make her own contribution."

Yan Shang listened in silence.

The emotion in the Emperor’s eyes shifted from tenderness to coldness: "I have never regretted my decision to send her for a marriage alliance. It was a sacrifice she made for Great Wei, and all of Great Wei will be grateful to her. This is her mission as a Princess; even if she is the daughter of an Empress, it matters not.

"My only pain is that the Wuman are unrefined, crude, and barbaric. Wanyao has been married there for over two years, and her health has been ruined. My daughter can never bear children again. She is no longer a complete woman!"

Yan Shang slowly raised his eyes to look at the heartbroken Emperor.

When the Emperor spoke with agitation, he began to cough violently again. The grand eunuch beside him hurriedly patted the Emperor’s back, anxiously begging him not to get agitated. The Emperor would not listen, sighing and telling Yan Shang about his daughter’s inability to bear children, his face streaming with tears... Then he looked at Yan Shang.

Seeing that Yan Shang’s expression remained quiet.

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed: "Did you know?"

Yan Shang felt weary; he sighed lightly in his heart.

Yan Shang could see the Emperor’s coldness and cruelty. The Emperor’s pretentiousness was, in Yan Shang’s eyes, utterly ridiculous. Yet, this was the Emperor. Even if Yan Shang did not care about these matters, he could not question an Emperor... Yan Shang simply felt a bone-deep exhaustion from every brief interaction he had with him.

Yan Shang replied, "Your servant is aware that Her Highness cannot bear children."

The Emperor was stunned; he had not expected that Mu Wanyao would have told Yan Shang even this. He could not comprehend it—if Mu Wanyao told Yan Shang this, why would they still be married? Did Yan Shang need Mu Wanyao’s power? Could he endure this for the sake of power?

The Emperor’s expression turned cold. "Since that is the case, I will not speak any more nonsense. I love Wanyao the most and cannot bear to see her wronged. You are her consort, and you should share in her glory and her ruin. She cannot have children, but you can. I fear that you might keep a mistress on the outside, secretly have children, and return to manipulate my Wanyao.

"As a father, I must make the decisions for Wanyao."

Yan Shang was silent for a long moment before saying, "What does Your Majesty want me to do? Vow to have only her as a woman for the rest of my life?"

The Emperor smiled indifferently.

He said: "I do not believe in such things. I will have the imperial physician send a bowl of infertility soup. Drink it, and I will believe you."

Yan Shang remained still for a long time.

He said: "Very well."

Liu Wenji returned from the palace drill grounds, soaked in sweat. While changing clothes in an inner chamber of the palace, a young eunuch whispered a few words into his ear. Liu Wenji’s expression changed slightly, and he immediately headed back out of the palace.

—The old Emperor seemed to be getting more ill by the day.

He wanted to render Yan Shang infertile!

His own daughter could not have children, so he wanted to make others childless as well?

Was this the logic of their Imperial house?

Liu Wenji stood under the scorching sun, his heart filled with anxiety for a long time. Finally, he decided to test Mu Wanyao—if she was truly that heartless toward her own husband, then there was nothing left to say.