Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 145

Chapter 145

In the gloom, Mu Wanyao’s breath mingled lightly with Yan Shang’s. She rubbed her thumb over the jade pendant, feeling a sudden sense of daze and heartache.

When Yan Shang first showed her this pendant, he told her it was their family’s betrothal token, an ancestral heirloom. At that time, she had avoided him, terrified that he would insist on her, that he would force the pendant upon her.

But that was the only time Yan Shang had ever given her a chance to see it. Later, no matter how many times Mu Wanyao regretted it, Yan Shang never took it out again. After they were married, she had struggled with the question of why he wouldn’t give it to her.

Wasn't it a betrothal token? Wasn't it a family heirloom? Why didn't he give it to her?

But later, Mu Wanyao thought that perhaps it was because she and Yan Shang could not have heirs, and such a pendant would be a waste between them. Since it could not be passed down, perhaps Yan Shang had returned it to his father, who had then given it to his eldest or third brother.

She had not expected it to still be with him.

Mu Wanyao looked down and whispered: "Why didn't you return the pendant?"

Perhaps they shouldn't be discussing such sentimental topics in the midst of a tense battle, but since they were trapped and couldn't move, worrying about other things was useless, so she might as well ask the question plainly.

Yan Shang smiled slightly and said softly: "If I had returned it, you would have been so sad. Since it’s something from my family, wouldn't you want to wear it?"

Mu Wanyao replied: "Who cares about things from your family?"

Yan Shang just smiled, saying nothing. Perhaps he was in too much pain to speak, or perhaps the pain had already numbed his senses. His head swam, his spirit began to tire, and his physical state was likely quite dire.

As Yan Shang struggled, he felt Mu Wanyao reach out to take his hand. He paused, listening to her mutter quietly: "Are you trying to talk to distract yourself, to keep yourself awake?"

Yan Shang was silent for a moment, instinctively wanting to say no.

Mu Wanyao looked up: "Don't hide it from me. Have you forgotten what I said? Be yourself in front of me, don't be so tired. Don't carry everything on your own—Yan Er-gege, you have a wife, you have a partner. Let me share the burden with you."

Yan Shang was stunned.

After a long time, he smiled and said hoarsely: "Alright."

In the darkness, unable to move, Mu Wanyao reached out with difficulty to embrace him. She tried several times but could not wedge her hand between his back and the stone. But she touched the sticky blood, incredibly thick.

Yan Shang likely didn't know it himself; his pain was gone, and he didn't know how much blood he had lost. But Mu Wanyao felt her heart race just from the blood on his sleeve.

How much blood could a person lose before they couldn't endure it?

But she was good at forcing herself to remain composed.

No matter how terrified or heartbroken she felt inside, the face Mu Wanyao lifted toward him held a hint of a smile: "Speaking of which, your home is in the middle of nowhere, so how could you possibly have a family heirloom like this?"

Yan Shang said sheepishly: "I wondered that myself. But it seems it was passed down from my mother’s family. I don't know… I was curious when I was young, but it seemed my father and mother didn't want to say much about it."

Mu Wanyao smiled.

She suddenly tightened her grip on the jade pendant.

The darkness amplified one’s senses. Just as a bit of light seeped through a crack, Mu Wanyao’s heart gave a sudden jump, suspecting that Fang Tong had dug their way here and that they would soon be saved.

But fearing a false hope, Mu Wanyao stared wide-eyed at the light coming through the crack without telling Yan Shang immediately.

She gripped the corner of his garment tightly, digging her fingers into the cloud patterns to maintain her calm.

Mu Wanyao: "We are so tired."

Yan Shang: "Don't be afraid."

Mu Wanyao sighed: "Do you have any wishes?"

Yan Shang was quiet for a moment, then said: "I do."

Mu Wanyao was instantly surprised, for in her understanding of Yan Shang, he was the most pragmatic person imaginable. He had no crafty schemes, no unrealistic thoughts, and no lofty, empty expectations for the future.

He always followed his own plans step by step, never dwelling on things that weren't practical. Such a person usually had no wishes.

Mu Wanyao muttered: "It wouldn't be something like 'hoping for peace under heaven, prosperity for the people, and a golden age as before,' would it?"

Yan Shang smiled, looking quite embarrassed.

He said: "No, it’s my own wish. I wish I were strong and healthy, like my eldest brother, like Yang San. I wish my martial arts were exceptionally good, that I could easily crush metal, shatter jade, leap over rooftops, and kill people from a thousand miles away without breaking a sweat."

Mu Wanyao found this strange.

She stopped caring about the light seeping in and became more concerned with Yan Shang’s odd thought. Mu Wanyao asked: "Why would you have such a wish?"

Yan Shang replied softly: "If that were the case, you and I wouldn't be pinned here, unable to move. If Third Brother were here, you wouldn't have been caught in this situation. Perhaps if I knew martial arts, I could have carried you away the moment the stone fell."

"And in reality, I am too weak."

Mu Wanyao was lost in thought.

Heartache welled up within her, a mix of joy and bitterness. She lifted her hand with effort to stroke his face in the gloom. She leaned toward him, huddling close as she tried to hold him tightly.

Mu Wanyao said longingly: "Don't think like that. The reason I love you is because you are exactly who you are now. I don't want you to turn into someone else; I don't want you to be a master of everything. I like you as you are now—I like your face, I like your smile; I like your waist, I like your stature."

"I like Yan Shang, not someone else. So don't let your mind wander; you are the best as you are now. You don't know how much I love you."

Yan Shang’s face flushed red, and he couldn't speak.

They had been married for over half a year, which was different from when they were lovers. Marriage was a matter-of-fact attitude that didn't leave much room for sweet nothings.

Yan Shang had thought he didn't like to hear them or care about them. But to hear Mu Wanyao say such things, he still blushed and felt a secret joy.

Mu Wanyao smiled. She didn't need to see him; just by touching the temperature of his face, she knew he was both happy and secretly enduring the urge not to speak, savoring it in his heart.

He was always like this.

Mu Wanyao teased him: "Actually, I have a wish, too. Do you know what it is?"

Yan Shang’s face was hot; his wife was a woman who enjoyed teasing him and tossing his world into chaos. He guessed her wish had to do with him, but he was too shy to admit it.

Yan Shang said softly: "I don't know."

Mu Wanyao said with a straight face: "I just feel that both you and I are too tired. After we get out of here, after all these things are over, we need to have a good rest. We’ll find a place where no one can disturb us, and stay there for seven days and seven nights without letting anyone bother us. How does that sound?"

Yan Shang thought, what could be bad about that? Didn't that mean she wanted to be alone with him?

He said gently: "Alright."

Mu Wanyao let out a laugh.

She said: "You don't even know what I meant, yet you dare to say 'alright' so recklessly."

Yan Shang was puzzled.

Mu Wanyao: "It means I want to sleep with Brother without being disturbed."

Yan Shang: "..."

As soon as Mu Wanyao heard his silence, she knew he understood this time. She leaned against his neck, biting her lip and laughing into his shoulder.

Yan Shang felt he was being teased, so he said: "Everything is so serious, why talk about that?"

The matter of the Prince of Qin wasn't over yet.

What was she doing?

Yan Shang whispered: "I can't."

Mu Wanyao said seriously: "You can. Big Sister will teach you when the time comes."

Yan Shang laughed: "You aren't my big sister."

The two huddled together like this, whispering many private things. All the words they hadn't had time to say during their months of separation finally found a chance to be released.

It was unknown how much more time had passed when Mu Wanyao said quietly to Yan Shang: "Brother, I have one thing to confess to you."

Yan Shang’s mind was already growing hazy, but he struggled to listen: "What?"

Mu Wanyao: "Do you remember when we were together that day, I brought a water lily to find you? It was our betrothal token."

Yan Shang gave a grunt: "I remember. Wasn't that water lily being kept in our bedroom? I saw you caring for it every day. I haven't been home this year, but I imagine it must have bloomed beautifully?"

Mu Wanyao said: "That was a lie I told you."

Yan Shang paused for a moment and said: "What do you mean?"

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes, seeing the light from behind Yan Shang’s shoulder growing brighter. She focused on it, speaking dismissively: "That water lily, our betrothal token—it died a long time ago."

"You were away from Chang'an for three years. I never went to your courtyard. That water lily was long ago killed by both of us. In other words, our betrothal token was gone long ago."

Yan Shang: "..."

Mu Wanyao: "But I was afraid it was an ominous sign, that people would think you and I wouldn't last. So, before the wedding, I replaced it with a new one."

She gripped Yan Shang’s hand tightly. She could already hear the anxious voices of the guards outside.

Mu Wanyao: "I didn't dare let you know. But it doesn't matter now. You’ve given me the pendant, which means you’ve chosen me… That fake token isn't needed anymore. When we get back, I’ll throw the water lily away."

Yan Shang said: "I knew."

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

Her gaze fell upon his face. Her eyes narrowed slightly because, with the light shining through the crack in the rocks, she could finally see Yan Shang’s face. She saw that his forehead was covered in cold sweat, his lips pale and devoid of color. His face was tinged with a sickly, deathly hue—where was the gentle, jade-like appearance of his past?

But his voice was still calm. If she hadn't seen his complexion, just by listening to his voice, she would never have guessed how poor his condition was.

Yan Shang smiled gently: "I knew the water lily was fake. I spent a year tending to that flower myself, worrying about it dying every day, watching over it three times a day—how could I not recognize that the one you showed me later was fake?"

"But what does it matter if the flower is fake? I knew you wanted so desperately to keep me that you used a fake flower to coax me. You hoped the flower wouldn't die, that we would be together forever. How could I not understand that?"

His dark eyes looked at her. His gaze was already beginning to unfocus, yet he said softly: "Yaoyao, I love you."

He said each word clearly: "You must believe that no matter what happens, I love you."

Mu Wanyao’s eyes brimmed with light. She restrained her emotions, trembling slightly. As more and more light shone in, she could see this man who was kneeling in front of her, shielding her—half his body seemed to be soaking in blood.

How could a person lose so much blood?

Mu Wanyao’s cheeks tensed, her expression twisted. She gripped the jade pendant in her hand, her nails almost digging into her palm, before she finally managed to control her emotions: "I believe you."

Yan Shang’s shoulders drooped slightly. He said: "I, I…"

Mu Wanyao said understandingly: "Are you a little sleepy? Yan Er-gege, close your eyes and sleep for a while. As for what comes next… I’ll handle it!"

Yan Shang’s unfocused gaze slightly tightened: "No…"

Mu Wanyao: "Trust me."

He paused for a long while before murmuring vaguely: "I’ll only rest for a moment. You must remember to call me when we get out."

In fact, a large hole had already been broken through to his rear, and the faces of Fang Tong and the other guards were already visible. Fang Tong was shouting joyfully inside, telling the Princess not to worry, that they would save them soon.

Mu Wanyao expressionlessly embraced Yan Shang. Behind her, light spilled through the hole. Yan Shang leaned on her shoulder and closed his eyes, his long eyelashes lightly brushing her dust-covered cheek.

His eyelashes wiped away the bead of mist on her own.

She wouldn't cry!

Yan Shang couldn't see, and she wouldn't cry for anyone to see!

Mu Wanyao stared at the guards rescuing them, her heart filled with hatred for the Prince of Qin, and hatred for the Emperor as well—this throne was neither Yan Shang’s nor hers. Yet it was they, husband and wife, who had to labor for it.

This hateful empire!

This wretched land of Great Wei!

Why did Yan Shang have to be hurt!

Fang Tong and the others reached them to save the Princess and the Prince Consort. They had been joyful, intending to greet them, but their eyes narrowed as they saw the large patch of blood on the Prince Consort’s back, soaking his robes through.

The Prince Consort lay dying on the Princess’s shoulder, his profile white to the point of translucence.

Mu Wanyao reached out, her voice cold: "Why aren't you taking us out yet!"

She asked: "Was the Prince of Qin captured? Capture him alive for me! I have a score to settle with him!"

The guards helped the Princess, carefully carrying Yan Shang out on their backs. Mu Wanyao listened to them talk about the outside world while ordering people to take Yan Shang away. There were no imperial physicians here, so they could only wrap him in bandages in haste.

Mu Wanyao’s voice was strained: "Be careful of his back… there are stones embedded in it. Don't touch it recklessly."

Fang Tong: "The ministers…"

Mu Wanyao took a deep breath: "Have them come see me."

The air was muggy, thick with the damp vapor of rain clouds. Mu Wanyao looked up at the sky and once again heard the rumble of thunder. The sound of the thunder accompanied the grinding of Mu Wanyao’s teeth—

"Capture the Prince of Qin alive!"

—

In a Chang'an alley, lightning illuminated the horrified faces of the people.

Yan Xiaozhou carefully led the people as they hid, sneaking all the way toward the alley where the Princess’s residence was located. But being unable to watch both front and back, with so many people fleeing, Yan Xiaozhou couldn't drive anyone away, yet the more people there were, the greater the chance of exposure.

Before Yan Xiaozhou noticed, amidst the pushing and pulling between adults and children, one child was pushed out of the alley. At the same time, the sound of iron hooves pursued them from outside.

Yan Xiaozhou’s heart leaped. She couldn't spare the time to talk to the adult who had shoved the child out; she chased after them to save the child. At that very moment, the child who had been pushed out was caught by a pair of arms and left effortlessly dangling in the air.

Before the soldier’s spear could thrust forward, the soldier was dragged off his horse and knocked unconscious with a single blow.

A young lady held the child by his collar with one hand and withdrew the blow with the other. She turned her head and looked at Yan Xiaozhou.

Zhao Lingfei stared at the many commoners hiding in the alley behind Yan Xiaozhou, her brow furrowing in surprise.

Yan Xiaozhou was alert and careful: "Thank you for the rescue, Miss. I am leading these people home… My brother is a court official, and my sister-in-law is a favored Princess. If anything happens, my brother and sister-in-law will protect me."

Zhao Lingfei was stunned, opening her eyes wide, her breathing shallow: "You… is your brother Yan Er-ge? Is your sister-in-law Princess Danyang?"

She blurted out: "So you are Yan Er-ge’s younger sister! You are the one my cousin…"

She almost said that Yang San couldn't forget Yan Er-ge’s sister, something even she had heard. But thinking that Yang Si was the one leading the assault on the city, and not knowing Yan Xiaozhou’s attitude… Zhao Lingfei shut her mouth.

Zhao Lingfei just stared at Yan Xiaozhou, thinking it was no wonder. This girl had a gentle temperament and was so kind, truly very similar to Yan Er-ge.

Yan Xiaozhou felt a stir in her heart: "Does the lady know my brother?"

Zhao Lingfei smiled, looking somewhat happy: "Naturally. I am Zhao Lingfei…"

She offered: "You want to take these commoners to the Princess’s residence? I will help you."

Yan Xiaozhou was naturally overjoyed.

With Zhao Lingfei’s help, the flight of the group became much smoother. But now, enemy troops were everywhere in the city; finding a completely safe route was impossible.

When they were just two alleys away from the Princess’s residence, the group was overtaken. The sound of iron hooves was deafening. What caught up to them was not the Northern Administration army led by Liu Wenji, but the army led by Yang Si.

The army surrounded Yan Xiaozhou, Zhao Lingfei, and the others behind them. A young general shouted indignantly: "General, it is them blocking our assault on the city again! The Northern Administration is using these commoners to block us; why don't we show them something to let that eunuch know this is useless!"

Yan Xiaozhou looked up abruptly at the young general—a man like a towering mountain on a black horse, holding a blade in his hand: Yang San-lang, Yang Si.

Zhao Lingfei stood a step in front of Yan Xiaozhou, instinctively wanting to shield those behind her from the assault.

Yan Xiaozhou was stunned and couldn't speak, while Zhao Lingfei looked at the general on horseback and blurted out: "Cousin!"

At the word "cousin," everyone looked over at Yang Si.

Yang Si didn't look at them and said: "Step aside."

Yan Xiaozhou said softly: "We will not."

Zhao Lingfei said firmly: "We will not."

Yan Xiaozhou: "How can innocent commoners become the sacrificial lambs of your cause?"

Zhao Lingfei: "I spent years in the Western Regions; I have witnessed countless homes destroyed. Cousin, whether you seek to achieve an eternal legacy or act as a traitor, I will not block your ambitions, and I will still call you 'Cousin.' I have nothing to say about what you are doing today, but these commoners—Xiaozhou and I are determined to save them."

Yang Si was indifferent: "You are no match for me."

Yan Xiaozhou pleaded: "We are going to the Princess’s residence, and we will never come out. Can you not pretend you didn't see us?"

Zhao Lingfei: "Cousin, if you let Xiaozhou leave, will you take me as your captive instead?"

Yang Si’s gaze fell on Yan Xiaozhou, then back to Zhao Lingfei. He was urged by the young general beside him to act, to remember that those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with minor details.

He said the Crown Prince was waiting for him.

If the Imperial City wasn't taken, Chang'an would not be theirs.

And Yang Si’s hands could shatter metal and jade, his strength could move mountains; what were these unarmed commoners to him?

Yang Si raised the blade in his hand, the tip pointed toward the two women. With a single flick, the old bonds of affection would be severed.

The people beside him urged him urgently: "General Yang—"

Yan Xiaozhou’s gaze was bright and clear; she said nothing, only clutching the child in her arms more tightly, refusing to yield.

Zhao Lingfei struck a defensive pose. In the past, she had practiced martial arts with him, but now she had outgrown his influence and had become a woman with her own ideas.

After calling him cousin, she stopped, tilting her chin slightly, her gaze firm—If you want to fight, then let’s fight!

BOOM—

The thunder that had been rumbling all day finally reached its climax, and raindrops the size of beans began to pelt down, splashing onto the edge of Yang Si’s blade.

The sharp blade was stained with blood, reflecting the bright gaze of the two women and the eyes of Yang Si.

Through the water mist, Yang Si stared at the two of them.

One was the woman who haunted his dreams; the other had grown up alongside him.

Both stood in his path.

Yang Si averted his gaze. He tightened his grip on the reins, whipped his horse around, and shouted: "Move out—"

He took the lead in turning his horse away, acting as if he hadn't seen the group. Yan Xiaozhou and Zhao Lingfei breathed a sigh of relief, but the soldiers behind Yang Si were dumbstruck. The young general followed, unconvinced and pained: "General Yang, you let them go. When we attack the Imperial City, that eunuch will use the same method against us…"

Yang Si’s horse moved like lightning, his voice still clear in the heavy rain: "There are six gates in the Imperial City; Liu Wenji doesn't have the capability to fill every gate with commoners. We will attack the gate with the least defense!"

The young general: "Why do it this way…"

Yang Si cut him off sharply: "Military orders are like mountains! You will listen to me!"

With that, no one questioned him again.

However… a commander who is soft-hearted and cannot strike at the people, while the enemy is despicable—even if the commander is powerful, this battle might have been lost from the start.

—

At the summer palace, when Yan Shang arrived, the Prince of Qin fell into a passive position; later, when the troops Yang Si gave him joined the Prince of Qin, he regained the upper hand. But it was all in vain.

By evening, private soldiers coming from the south via the Li family arrived as reinforcements, and coupled with the sudden torrential rain that impacted the war, the Prince of Qin’s side collapsed in a one-sided defeat.

The Prince of Qin was captured alive and brought to see Mu Wanyao.

Bound and covered in blood, the Prince of Qin saw his sister, who was likewise drenched in the rain, and laughed.

The Prince of Qin: "So, Yaoyao, are you still planning to save the Emperor?"

He couldn't understand: "Why save him? Can he let you be the Emperor? What kind of benefits did he promise you? If I were Emperor, I could give you those too. Isn't it just that you want the commoner class to develop? It’s not like I want them to die. I’m just—"

He gritted his teeth, angry and sorrowful: "I am just trying to survive!"

Mu Wanyao was indifferent: "You want to be a rebel; I do not."

The Prince of Qin laughed until he shook.

After muttering "rebel" a few times, he said: "Don't you hate the Emperor? He sent you away to marry into a foreign land—do you not hate him at all? Yaoyao, this is a great chance for you to take revenge." The Emperor gave you soldiers, told you to enter Chang'an to save him, didn't he? If you had arrived a little later… just a little later… he would be dead for sure. With the Crown Prince here… the Crown Prince would help us kill him!

"If he dies, wouldn't it be better if we divide who becomes Emperor? I and the Crown Prince have both promised you—isn't that enough?

"You trust the Emperor, but not us? Yaoyao, ask your heart—between me and the Crown Prince… who is as ruthless as he is?! Who is not a better partner to cooperate with than he is?"

Mu Wanyao ordered: "Block his mouth. Don't let him speak."

She turned and left, afraid that if she listened any longer, she might be tempted. Her heart was already in chaos; she was indeed swayed by the Prince of Qin… The troops were in her hands, and if she had just been a little later…

—

The rain was pouring down, and the army was regrouping.

Mu Wanyao gazed at the dark masses of soldiers in the rain, then stared blankly at the raindrops under the eaves.

"Your Highness, shall we send troops to support Chang'an?" a minister asked.

As Mu Wanyao hesitated, she heard a weak but firm voice behind her: "Send support to Chang'an immediately."

Everyone turned, and Mu Wanyao also turned in surprise, stepping forward to support the pale-faced young man who was being helped in by guards.

Mu Wanyao: "Why don't you rest for a while…"

Yan Shang gave her a reassuring smile, thinking how could he rest.

Yan Shang repeated the order. Seeing the Princess didn't object, everyone went off to carry it out.

After everyone had left, Yan Shang whispered to Mu Wanyao: "I know what you are thinking, but time cannot be delayed. The people in the city are innocent."

Mu Wanyao whispered: "You only care about the people."

Yan Shang paused and looked at her: "I care about you, too. You cannot commit patricide, even indirectly."

He said: "Yaoyao, the charge of patricide should not be borne by you. The torture of a guilty conscience should not destroy you in the future. No matter what others say, we must have a clear conscience. We will not be the villains, because…"

He looked with her at the heavy rain outside and said softly: "There are people who want to be the villain even more than us."

—

But the people who wanted to be villains were ultimately defeated by Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao.

As the troops entered the city, Yang Si’s ten thousand men, allied with the Northern Administration, were several times his strength and were even using commoners as human shields. After an unknown number of people died in the city, the rain cleared the next morning, and Yang Si was captured in the Imperial City.

When the news reached the Eastern Palace, it was filled with sorrow; the Crown Prince was also surrounded by guards and held as a traitor.

Liu Wenji said the Prince of Qin had already confessed and was begging for the Emperor’s mercy. The Emperor asked the Crown Prince if he had anything to say. For instance, begging for mercy, or perhaps an explanation. The Emperor wanted to hear it.

The Crown Prince was silent.

Liu Wenji stared at him with intense satisfaction, thinking that this was the man who had caused his own tragedy. Now that he was interrogating this person, Liu Wenji was trembling with delight, wishing he could gouge the man out.

The Eastern Palace was desolate, but the Crown Prince lifted his face and said calmly: "In this world, things are merely about who wins and who loses. I have nothing to say."