Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 142

Chapter 142

The wind was clear, and the people were still.

The Crown Prince leaned against a low table, one leg curled up and the other stretched out. He sat in a somewhat lazy posture, looking at Yang Si, who stood before him demanding an explanation, with a sense of waning interest.

The recklessness of youth had been replaced by the steadiness of early adulthood, yet Yang Si was still Yang Si; he could not sit by and enjoy the fruits of others' labor while watching them sacrifice themselves for him.

He remained the Yang Third Young Master of fresh clothes and spirited horses. Despite having defied orders to secretly return to Chang'an, he did not care if he would achieve the outcome he desired.

But he had come nonetheless.

Just as the Crown Prince was about to speak, fireworks burst open outside, brilliant in five colors.

The Crown Prince turned his head to watch the fireworks exploding in the sky, observing their intricate and diverse beauty, then watching them fall from the sky like dust.

Brilliant at the start, eventually careless and scattered.

Life was nothing more than this.

Yet, one was unwilling to accept it as such.

The Crown Prince said indifferently: "Since you already guessed what I intended to do, why return? My affairs are naturally inseparable from the Yang family; I only wanted you to go far away to keep you safe. If I succeed, there will be no lack of benefits for you. If I fail, I can minimize your involvement."

"Only a fool would come back."

Yang Si said: "Only a fool would not come back."

He knelt down, looking at the Crown Prince’s indifferent face. A great stone pressed against his chest, astringent and heavy, yearning to burst forth. He clenched his fists, took a few deep breaths, and reopened his cold, sharp eyes.

Like a heavy sword without an edge, he knelt straight and spoke to the Crown Prince in a hoarse voice: "Brother Lang, I don't need you to be like this. We have been together since we were children; there is no reason to cast me aside at a time like this. You may believe this logic, but will others?"

"You and I rise and fall together; we prosper and suffer as one. I have listened to everything you said. You told me to return to Chang'an, so I returned; you told me to leave, so I would have left. You told me to marry whomever, so I married; had you told me not to, I would have said no. And all these years, I have relied on your care... I know that I could act recklessly because you were shielding me. I know I could be the carefree Yang Third Young Master because you were cleaning up my messes."

"People often say that the imperial family is heartless, and you are indeed heartless, but you are different toward me. I have nothing to say about how others blame you, but I, above all, cannot say a single negative word about you. You have done everything you could for me, yet I would turn and walk away—Brother Lang, where in this world is there such a logic?"

A strange look appeared in the Crown Prince’s eyes; his gaze was no longer so perfunctory.

The Crown Prince mocked: "What do you want to do?"

Persuade him to give up?

Yang Si: "I will do it with you."

The Crown Prince’s eyes froze, and he stood up in anger: "Nonsense!"

Yang Si remained kneeling. He looked up, his face cold and grave, his eyes calm: "I will not persuade you; I know it is not easy for you. You have endured for many years, yet that person refuses to die, even now relying on the miracle doctor to extend his life, while your chips are all being plucked away by him... He does not treat you as a son; he has always been suppressing you, pushing you down."

"You have grievances in your heart; you cannot bear it... then let me do it with you. In any case, the Yang family cannot be separated from you, and I was always part of your faction. Brother Lang, between you and me, there is no 'each flies away when disaster looms'; there is only 'sharing weal and woe' and 'comrades in life and death'."

The Crown Prince stared at him, stunned.

For a long time, he gathered his robes and knelt down. He pressed his forehead against Yang Si’s. He was trembling, angry, and sorrowful. No words were needed. He only said: "Good brother, your elder brother will never fail you."

Yang Si: "And I will not fail my elder brother."

Fireworks bloomed in the sky, loud and clamorous, their radiance like a flowing river, as human life drifted like a guest in this world—

The fireworks bloomed in the sky, loud and clamorous, their radiance like a flowing river, but the earth had fallen silent.

In the residence of Princess Danyang, a small table was set in the main hall after the screens had been removed. The servants withdrew, leaving the masters to reminisce.

Wei Shu looked over and saw that Mu Wanyao had not changed her fine robes, and was sitting behind the same table as Yan Shang.

She leaned affectionately against Yan’s shoulder. Because the sound of the fireworks was too loud, she cupped her hand against her cheek, whispering into Yan’s ear to talk to him.

Her cheeks were flushed with a bit of wine, and her eyes were clear, bright, and smiling.

Yan Shang listened to the Princess, smiling as he bowed his head to peel fruit for her.

Mu Wanyao reached out to greet Wei Shu, naturally and frankly: "Juyuan, act as if you were in your own home; there is no need for formality. I haven't seen you for several years, and you have already reached the age of adulthood. Today, I must get a good look at you."

A sense of daze floated up in Wei Shu’s heart, thinking of a certain New Year’s Eve long ago, which he had spent with Second Brother Yan and the Princess.

Only, at that time, the Princess and Second Brother Yan were not yet openly together. At that time, Her Highness sat with him, acting as if to avoid suspicion, deliberately keeping her distance from Second Brother Yan.

But this time was different.

This time, Mu Wanyao could openly lean against Yan Shang’s shoulder, resting her head there without needing to worry about gossip.

A refined smile appeared on Wei Shu’s face, and he sighed softly: "It is wonderful."

Yan Shang looked over, his eyes as black as night, watching him with concern.

Wei Shu said sincerely: "I think it is truly wonderful that Second Brother and Her Highness have married."

Yan Shang’s face flushed slightly. He bowed his hands, naturally finding nothing to say. Mu Wanyao, however, laughed openly, a hint of crimson staining the corners of her eyes: "I think it is wonderful, too."

She sighed: "Before, I was young and naive. I thought marriage was a terrifying thing. Your second brother was always harping on me back then, urging me to settle the marriage, but I kept refusing. Back then, I always felt that whether we married or not made no difference to us. Surely our feelings would not be affected just because we lacked a piece of paper?"

She said sincerely: "Now I know that a name and status are truly important. Second Brother Yan dispelled my fear of marriage, letting me know that not all men are the same. He erased so many of my fears..."

She wanted to say that she wasn't afraid of a man's kiss in the dark because she knew it was Yan Shang; she wasn't afraid of being held from behind because he was so gentle; she wasn't afraid of a man's dominance because Yan Shang would never treat her that way.

A gentleman is like water; the highest virtue is like water. Yan Shang was a gentleman like water; he reflected on his own words and actions every day, forcing himself to be as self-disciplined as a saint, and Mu Wanyao was the one enjoying the benefits of this.

Because these benefits were exceptionally great, she could accept his other shortcomings—

Such as his universal love for all things in the world, and his numerous friends.

Mu Wanyao said softly: "If we had not become husband and wife, we would never truly be family, and there would always be a barrier between us. Only by becoming family could your second brother truly accept me and truly settle down to live a good life with me."

"Do you know that before we were married, he used to sleep with his back to me... Mmph!"

Her mouth was suddenly blocked by a piece of peeled fruit.

She glared at him, and Yan Shang said: "Just eat, don't talk nonsense."

Mu Wanyao knew he didn't want her talking about their private matters. She swallowed the fruit, glared at Yan Shang, and then complained like a little girl: "Your Second Brother Yan is just so stubborn."

Wei Shu smiled.

Mu Wanyao, like all married people in the world, feeling happy and thinking marriage is a good thing, hoped that those around her would be just as happy.

Mu Wanyao leaned toward Wei Shu with great interest: "Juyuan, you have reached the age of adulthood now; is there any young lady you like? Doesn't the Wei family manage your marriage? That’s impossible, right?"

"If you have your eye on any young lady, I can go and scout her for you, or help you propose."

Yan Shang interrupted Mu Wanyao’s enthusiasm from the side: "Juyuan just returned to Chang'an, how could he know any young ladies? Don't just go matching people up randomly."

Who knew that Wei Shu would remain silent for a moment, then speak up: "I actually do like someone."

Yan Shang raised his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting someone as quiet and reserved as Wei Shu to have a crush so soon after returning to Chang'an. He felt a bit of unease, which he suppressed with difficulty, asking with a smile: "I wonder which young lady it is?"

Wei Shu’s face looked slightly uncomfortable.

He said: "It is Zhao Wuniang."

Mu Wanyao immediately said: "Ah... so it is her."

Yan Shang followed up: "The Fifth Daughter from the Zhao Censor’s family? The one who traveled with you as an envoy?"

Wei Shu nodded.

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang exchanged a look, both inevitably thinking of some hidden risks. At this stage in their lives, neither of them cared about the past when Zhao Lingfei had desperately pursued Yan Shang.

But Wei Shu had just returned to Chang'an; he likely did not understand the current political situation. The couple pushed down their worries and smiled at Wei Shu.

Yan Shang did not mention anything else, speaking only of Zhao Lingfei herself: "Wuniang is charming, cute, bold, and lively. You complement each other; it is quite suitable."

With Yan Shang speaking so kindly, Wei Shu naturally listened with joy.

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips and smiled, watching her husband deliberate, as if trying to supplement some of the uglier truths. Yet, just then, the maids announced from outside: "Your Highness, Miss Yan has arrived."

Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao were both surprised, wondering why Yan Xiaozhou would come at such a late hour.

The two had her invited in. As a guest, Wei Shu stood up, watching as a young maiden with a slender waist and a face like a lotus flower, draped in a thick cloak, walked in with a graceful gait.

After Yan Xiaozhou and Wei Shu exchanged greetings, she smiled at her brother and sister-in-law: "It’s like this: we knew you two were attending the palace banquet tonight, so we didn't want to disturb you. But a moment ago, we heard movement in the Princess’s residence and guessed you had returned."

"Father said it was late, so he wouldn't ask you to come over and keep vigil. He asked me to bring you some New Year’s money."

She took out two red envelopes containing gold leaves and handed them to the Princess’s maid with a smile. She smiled apologetically at Wei Shu, signaling that she hadn't known this young master was here, otherwise she would have prepared an extra envelope.

Mu Wanyao received the money from the elder Yan, stunned and delighted.

She had always felt that the distance between her and the Yan family was vast and that she could not integrate. But receiving this tonight made her feel that the elder Yan truly saw her as a daughter-in-law.

Mu Wanyao turned the red envelope over, touching the gold leaves inside over and over again, asking joyfully: "Is this for me? Truly for me? I have never received New Year’s money before."

Yan Shang felt embarrassed, thinking that even after marriage, he was still accepting money from his father.

But seeing Mu Wanyao so happy, he sighed, pitying the hardships she had endured, and retracted his refusal, bowing his hands to his younger sister.

His sister was smiling as she answered the Princess: "When a new bride joins the family, isn't it customary to give New Year’s money for the first year? That is how it is done here. My brother, after all, has married a wife."

"Although sister-in-law hasn't received it before, you must have received many gifts from His Majesty—gifts far more precious than this. My father was actually worried that Your Highness might look down on it."

Mu Wanyao smiled and said: "It is different."

She frequently received rewards from her father the Emperor, but his rewards didn't shake any foundations; if he rewarded her, it was of no consequence to him, and perhaps he never even knew what he had gifted her—he only knew they were precious.

But the most precious thing is the human heart.

The Yan family was willing to give her this heart, something her father never did.

Mu Wanyao smiled at Yan Xiaozhou: "Tomorrow, Second Brother Yan and I will visit to pay our New Year’s respects and thank Father for the money. By the way, we should have prepared some for you as well—Xiaozhou is not yet married; you are still a child."

Yan Xiaozhou thought for a moment of the appearance of Yang Si, whom she had seen on the street that day.

She blushed and said: "Everything is fine; why does Your Highness say such things?"

Just like that, they happily sent Yan Xiaozhou out of the Princess’s residence. The hour was already very late, and seeing that Wei Shu looked a bit tired, Yan Shang had a maid lead him to his room to rest.

Wei Shu liked the couple, and felt exceptionally at ease in the Princess’s residence, so he did not refuse.

After Wei Shu left, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao returned to the table in the hall to watch the fireworks in the sky together.

Mu Wanyao gazed at the waves of fireworks, holding the money the elder Yan had given her.

Watching Wei Shu walk away, Mu Wanyao sighed: "Lord Zhao is now a puppet of the eunuchs, looked down upon by the scholars. Juyuan likes Zhao Wuniang, but the Wei family will not be willing to marry into the family of a eunuch’s puppet."

Yan Shang said in a low voice: "Indeed. I will explain this to Juyuan another day. He does not understand the conflict between the eunuchs and the scholars. Now that Juyuan has returned from his mission, his status is far from what it used to be, and the Ministry of Personnel is discussing making him a Director of the Ministry of Rites. He is in the prime of his glory, and the Zhao family is also in their prime... but their glory is different from Juyuan’s."

"Their stances are so different. The Wei family cultivates Juyuan as an excellent heir; they will certainly not accept a woman from the Zhao family. If Juyuan were the Juyuan of the past, his wanting to marry Zhao Wuniang would be no matter... but he is truly talented, and once revealed to the world, he will certainly not be able to do whatever he wants."

Mu Wanyao was silent for a long time.

She suddenly whispered: "Different stances do not necessarily mean one cannot form a marriage alliance."

Yan Shang felt a stir in his heart and turned to look at her.

She stared at him, exceptionally earnest: "As long as one has the determination to charge forward, the determination to sacrifice, and two people truly love each other, there is a way to be together. Stances can be adjusted, can be circumvented; as long as one truly loves this person, one will naturally move toward them without hesitation."

Yan Shang’s face grew slightly warm.

He wanted to say something, but in the end, he only smiled and, as if to reward her, poured a cup of wine and handed it to her.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes curved, and she accepted the toast without hesitation, throwing her head back and drinking it down.

With Yan Shang watching, she didn't drink much after marriage, tasting only a little each time; this made every opportunity to drink precious.

The wine was sweet, and the gentleman’s shyness was also sweet. All this made her head spin; she wanted more.

Mu Wanyao gripped Yan Shang’s sleeve, sweet words flowing toward him as if they cost nothing: "I liked you when I was eighteen! I liked you when I was still in Lingnan!"

Yan Shang laughed, his voice warm: "I know."

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow, and Yan Shang bowed his head: "I knew you liked me back then. When you teased me in subtle ways, I felt it in my heart. But you held your stature too high back then; I was not worthy to look up to you. Later... later, I felt your affection wasn't worth much, so I let it go."

Mu Wanyao immediately countered: "How could my affection be worth nothing?"

Yan Shang thought for a moment and said: "Because when you liked me back then, I felt it was no different from liking a kitten or a puppy. You just thought I was fun and liked to tease me. Because you were too suppressed back then, and having just entered the political arena, you didn't understand anything and were always being schemed against. You needed to find some fun in your life, and it just happened that you thought I was fun, so you came to tease me."

"But you actually didn't want to take responsibility. When I first arrived in Chang'an and didn't go to see you, I felt that you probably felt a sigh of relief in private."

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips.

She had indeed been heartless before, and she had nothing to say. But Yan Shang’s acting as if he were so innocent made her unhappy.

Mu Wanyao countered: "And how were you simple? You were the same. Back then, when you talked to me, you would often run out of things to say. Wasn't that just because you were feeling guilty? So what if I liked teasing you? With your nature, weren't you just waiting for me to provoke you? When I kissed you, you clearly opened your mouth..."

Yan Shang suddenly covered her mouth, blushing as he spat: "I was only seventeen back then, I didn't understand anything..."

Mu Wanyao pulled his hand down, her eyes round and charming like a cat’s: "You didn't understand anything, yet you opened your mouth. You clearly had feelings for me, but just didn't want to admit it. I dare say, if I had wanted to sleep with you back then, you would have half-heartedly agreed."

Yan Shang was annoyed: "Nonsense! I would never have done that."

Mu Wanyao wanted to retort, but paused, feeling what she was doing—it was like digging up the past to argue with him. And the subject was the question of who liked whom first.

Mu Wanyao couldn't help but laugh, leaning her head against his neck, and smiled charmingly: "Alright, say whatever you want; in my heart, I know just how easy you were to push over."

Yan Shang’s cheeks were burning hot. He turned his face away, lowering his head to look at her helplessly: "In the future, let’s keep such things between ourselves. Let’s not let outsiders hear it, shall we?"

Mu Wanyao secretly reached for the wine cup on the table and said offhandedly: "No."

Yan Shang: "..."

He didn't speak, but reached out and pressed his hand onto Mu Wanyao’s, stopping her from continuing to drink. Mu Wanyao snatched the wine flask from his hand, but he wouldn't let her have it.

He was usually easygoing with her, rarely defying her, but at this moment, Yan Shang’s attitude was firm. He wouldn't give her the wine, and Mu Wanyao was so anxious her eyes turned red.

She scolded coquettishly: "You’re bullying me!"

Yan Shang whispered: "What do you mean 'bullying you'? You must have secretly drunk a lot of wine at the palace banquet tonight; did I say anything? It’s one thing to drink so much at the banquet, but why drink more when you get home? Don't you know that drinking hurts the body? I don't know who is left to feel sad when your stomach hurts."

Mu Wanyao tilted her face up, acting grumpy: "I was wrong before; being married to you is not good at all. You control me in every way; I have to report to you wherever I go. You’ve made me lose my freedom."

Yan Shang said softly: "Marriage was never about freedom to begin with. Even if you say that, I still won't give you any more wine tonight."

Seeing that she couldn't snatch the wine from his hands, and that he wouldn't be swayed by her tricks, she had to let go in anger. She stiffened her face, wanting nothing more to do with him.

Seeing her like this, Yan Shang hesitated for a moment, then leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

Mu Wanyao raised her eyelids and said stiffly: "What are you doing? Is a kiss enough? Am I so easy to appease?"

Yan Shang: "Shall I peel some fruit for you to eat?"

Mu Wanyao turned her face to look at him, seeing him bow his head and start peeling fruit again.

She looked at his profile, clear as jade, dressed in white, and watched him for a long time. The grumpiness in her heart dissipated, and her heart felt as if it had been brushed by a feather, swaying gently.

Mu Wanyao rested her chin on her hand and asked: "Second Brother Yan, are you sleepy?"

Yan Shang thought for a moment: "I’m fine."

He sighed: "The fireworks are too noisy, and tomorrow morning there is a grand banquet to attend. Tonight, sleep will not come easily."

He paused and tilted his head to look at her: "Are you sleepy? Then go to sleep. Um... do you need me to accompany you?"

Mu Wanyao: "Blockhead."

Yan Shang tilted his head: "What did I do now?"

Mu Wanyao repeated: "Second Brother Yan, do you want to sleep?"

Yan Shang stared into her eyes for a moment, suddenly realizing her true meaning. His face instantly felt hot, and he turned his head away in embarrassment, avoiding her beautiful, alluring eyes.

His Adam’s apple rolled slightly; because they had both been so busy, it had indeed been a long time since they...

Yan Shang whispered: "What do you mean."

Mu Wanyao’s eyes curved in a smile; he was embarrassed, so she leaned closer, her long, thick eyelashes brushing against his face. She felt his face grow even redder, and his eyelashes started to tremble.

The arm he had resting on the table tightened, and his whole body became as hard as stone.

Mu Wanyao loved his honest reactions and laughed: "What do you mean 'what do I mean'? I mean sleep. Can you go all night?"

Yan Shang blushed, but couldn't help laughing: "I don't know."

Mu Wanyao’s heart was as drunk as if on wine, murmuring: "Silly brother, why say 'I don't know' at a time like this? You should say you can do it."

He turned his face to look at her, and Mu Wanyao blinked her eyes at him.

His eyes curved, and he reached out to hold her face, bowing his head to kiss her. Mu Wanyao closed her eyes, enjoying this tender kiss. Suddenly, she felt a chill on the tip of her nose and couldn't help but open her eyes.

Mu Wanyao: "It’s snowing."

Yan Shang looked down and smiled: "Yes."

The two sat under the hall, Mu Wanyao clutching Yan Shang’s arm. He bowed his head to kiss her, and she smiled and pulled him to watch the snow instead, not letting him kiss her. He felt helpless, but finally laughed, accepting her new idea—

A propitious snow foretells a year of abundance; husband and wife sat together under the veranda to watch the snow.

The world was vast, silver-white and elegant.

Mu Wanyao said pensively: "I hope the gentleman I loved when I was eighteen will accompany me year after year, month after month, just like this for as long as I live."

Yan Shang whispered: "Even if he is very bad?"

Mu Wanyao: "He is the best."

Mu Wanyao quickly became dissatisfied: "I already said that; why don't you say a few nice things?"

Yan Shang sighed with a smile. He looked up at the snow in the sky; his eyes were as black as the night, yet clear as a lake.

He did as she wished and spoke slowly: "Yaoyao, we spend our whole lives struggling and balancing between reason and emotion. For some, reason wins; for me, emotion won. No one can say they chose correctly; one only asks for no regrets."

"The young lady I quietly fell for when I was seventeen is the love of my life. In my heart, I had wanted to marry her long ago."

He turned his head to look at her tenderly: "I do not regret knowing you."

Mu Wanyao looked at him. She was immersed in the dream he had woven, the emotions in her eyes eager to try, always intense and flamboyant. Yan Shang loved this about her, so he stared at her, lost in thought.

Mu Wanyao hugged his arm tightly and whispered: "I do not regret it either."

Yan Shang smiled. He didn't speak anymore, but hugged her tightly and asked if she needed a cloak. His wife shook her head, burying herself in his arms, saying it was warm in his embrace—this was his wife.

The wife who, no matter what happened, would go and return with him.

Yan Shang felt a sense of peace and warmth in his heart, bowing his head to kiss the top of Mu Wanyao’s hair. They continued to watch the snowflakes dancing in the world. The sound of fireworks had faded, but the light of the snow covered the sky, wrapping the entire world in feathers.

In their gaze, the new year arrived—

The new year arrived, all things came back to life, and the spring imperial examinations followed.

Yan Shang presided over the imperial examinations that year. At the same time, the Yan family bade them farewell, leaving Chang'an to return to Lingnan.

There was no movement from the Crown Prince’s side; on the side of the Prince of Qin, having survived the winter, he finally could not hold back any longer when the official posts of the Nanyang Jiang clan were one by one being revoked.