Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 152

Chapter 152

At the end of September, the Hai clan relocated back to Chang'an.

The Hai clan had young disciples preparing to participate in the imperial examinations the following year. Whether out of respect for the examiner or guilt toward the Princess, the Hai family sent people to the Princess Danyang’s estate three times, paying visits to both the Princess and Yan Shang respectively.

Yan Shang was supportive of the Hai disciples participating in the upcoming exams. He was gentle, polite, and humbly reassured the Hai family. After meeting this official of the Ministry of Rites once, the Hai family privately analyzed this gentleman’s character—concluding from their experience that he was mild-mannered, easy to bully, and served as a breakthrough point.

In stark contrast was his wife, Mu Wanyao. Mu Wanyao did not speak of holding a grudge regarding the Hai clan’s past suspicion of plotting to murder the Emperor; however, her attitude was ambiguous, leaving the Hai family unable to fathom her true intent.

Since the Hai clan had returned to Chang'an, they naturally intended to manage their affairs well. Not only did they cultivate good relations with the aristocratic clans and the scholars of humble origin, but in October, they also sent their youngest daughter into the palace to serve as a concubine.

Immediately following this, Mu Wanyao selected several beauties and sent them into the Emperor’s harem, as if competing in a contest.

The Emperor, deep within the palace, found himself besieged by these officials, his head aching from the pressure. Late at night, he sat in the imperial study, sighing as he faced an endless stack of memorials.

With his hand supporting his forehead, the Emperor could not make up his mind regarding the disposition of a plot of fertile land on the outskirts of the city:

Someone from an aristocratic clan wanted this land and had presented the Emperor with a century-old coral tree. The Emperor used it to please a new beauty in the harem and thus carelessly approved the request with a stroke of his brush.

However, a legal dispute immediately arose over the land. It was said that a minor eunuch under Liu Wenji had already purchased it, only to be beaten up by the aristocratic family that had obtained the Emperor’s imperial approval. Consequently, Liu Wenji came to file a complaint.

The Ministry of Justice personnel responsible for adjudicating the case were themselves from aristocratic backgrounds, which the eunuch faction felt was unfair. However, the Supreme Court was controlled by the eunuchs; if they handled the case, the aristocratic clans felt it was unfair.

A minor case reaching the Emperor’s desk was not really about the land at all, but rather whether the Emperor favored the aristocrats or the eunuchs. Both sides glared at the Emperor, and he was caught in a dilemma, unable to make a firm decision. After staring at the case for half an hour, he finally turned his head and asked the young eunuch: “Has Yan Shuchen returned from his leave?”

The young eunuch lowered his head: “He just returned to the Secretariat yesterday to sign the documents.”

The Emperor breathed a huge sigh of relief and tossed his pen aside: “Then send this case back to the Secretariat and let Yan Shuchen handle it. Tell him to settle it well. If there is any further dissatisfaction, I will mediate for them.”

Chancellor Liu, who had been waiting outside the hall for the Emperor to sign his documents for half an hour, had not expected this result. Seeing that the Emperor had barely reviewed any memorials and was pushing difficult matters back to the Secretariat—especially pushing them onto Yan Shang—Chancellor Liu sneered. Ignoring the obstructions of the eunuchs, he burst into the inner cabinet.

Although he was old, he was still spirited, solemn, and imposing. The Emperor had only been trying to sneak a moment of laziness when he encountered the Chancellor storming in. He dared not show disrespect to these veteran officials left behind by his father, so he hurriedly ordered the eunuchs away and had a seat prepared for the Chancellor.

Seeing the Emperor’s attitude, Chancellor Liu’s expression softened slightly as he said: “Your Majesty has been governing for nearly three months; you should be able to make decisions on these matters. You cannot avoid taking a stance in the struggle between the scholars and the eunuchs. I bring the memorials to you, yet you push them back. Do you intend to keep pushing them away forever?”

The Emperor played the rascal: “Isn’t there Yan Shuchen? I hear that Yan Shuchen is your prized student, Chancellor; you should believe in his ability.”

Chancellor Liu suppressed his anger: “He is stationed in the Secretariat, concurrently serving as a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel, and on top of that, managing the Hongwen Academy. At most, he can manage the palace guards in his capacity as a chariot-escorting general... How can it be his turn to handle these legal cases?”

The Emperor replied sheepishly: “Then why not give Yan Shuchen the position of Mayor of Jingzhao?”

Chancellor Liu’s tone was stern: “The new Mayor of Jingzhao is a member of the royal family. You have only been in office for three months and yet you want to dismiss him. What would the world think? What would the royal family think? Is Your Majesty pushing the humble scholars up, or is he pushing Yan Shuchen up? He is but a subject; holding multiple offices is already the limit. Do you intend to push all decisions onto him?”

The Emperor was also somewhat displeased by the reprimand.

He said: “There is a reason why I am doing this. The aristocratic clans and the eunuchs are fighting, so letting the leader of the humble scholars mediate between them makes perfect sense.”

Chancellor Liu looked at this Emperor, who was acting like a muddler, and after a long while, said: “Is Your Majesty reluctant to deal with the eunuchs? You only see that the aristocrats want the land, but you do not see the arrogance of the eunuchs. Liu Wenji relies on your favor to run rampant; no one in the court dares look him in the eye. A eunuch’s rank is equated to ours, the high ministers... Who is listening to whom, really?”

The Emperor said: “Liu Wenji was left to me by my father; he is a man of loyalty. He treats me like family. You are worrying too much, Chancellor.”

Chancellor Liu: “...”

Chancellor Liu ultimately could not win an argument with the Emperor. Since the Emperor was determined to act like a rascal and refused to handle the conflict between the eunuchs and the scholars, what could he do? Chancellor Liu worried that Liu Wenji’s power would grow and that he would turn the Emperor into a mere figurehead, yet the Emperor relied on Liu Wenji for entertainment...

Chancellor Liu finally left, and the Emperor exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. None of these officials were easy to deal with, but did they take him for a fool? If he dealt with Liu Wenji, those officials would surely climb all over him and demand more... What "eunuch chaos in politics"? They were creatures without roots; what chaos could they possibly cause?

The young eunuch bowed beside the Emperor, whispering: “Your Majesty, Eunuch Liu has arranged for you to visit the Huaqing Pool tonight...”

The Emperor waved his hand, his interest piqued: “That lady sent by Danyang the other day has a wonderful voice. Let’s go see her tonight.”

The young eunuch had listened to Liu Wenji’s instructions, not wishing for the Princess to grow too powerful, so he smiled: “Lady Hai has also sent someone to invite you...”

The Emperor suddenly lost interest, feeling as though he were being pulled back and forth, with everyone using him. After a long while, the Emperor said: “Forget it. Let’s go to the Empress’s place tonight.”

The young eunuch reported the events in the imperial study to Liu Wenji. Hearing how Chancellor Liu had disparaged him and instigated the Emperor to suppress the eunuchs, Liu Wenji couldn't help but sneer, cursing under his breath: “Old rascal. About to retire, yet still refuses to settle down.”

A eunuch reported: “Recently, the aristocratic clans have frequently held banquets in the North Ward, inviting Second Master Yan to attend.”

Liu Wenji narrowed his eyes, a trace of worry rising in his heart. Yan Shang shared a teacher-student bond with Chancellor Liu. After Chancellor Liu retired, the resources of talent—disciples and students—would likely all be left to Yan Shang. And the current Mister Liu, who was leaping about the court and inviting others to jointly crusade against the eunuchs, was Chancellor Liu’s son.

Liu Wenji was truly worried that the aristocrats and the humble scholars would join forces.

But would Yan Shang join him to deal with the aristocratic clans represented by his own teacher?

Liu Wenji hesitated, then ordered his people: “Hold a banquet in the North Ward tomorrow. Say that I invite Second Master Yan to dinner, and see if he comes.”

If Yan Shang did not come, Liu Wenji planned to join forces with the aristocrats to defeat Yan Shang first.

The Emperor was currently finding Yan Shang so convenient to use that Liu Wenji felt a sense of crisis, fearing that if Yan Shang submitted advice to the Emperor to crusade against the eunuchs, the Emperor would actually listen... If Yan Shang refused to cooperate, his side would have no choice but to strike first—

Yan Shang did not attend Liu Wenji’s banquet. Given his current status, everyone was watching his every move. The aristocratic clans had already sought him out many times. Even if he represented the humble scholars, he was, first and foremost, a member of the scholar class. If he walked side-by-side with a notorious, powerful eunuch, the entire scholar class would overthink the implications.

Moreover, Yan Shang had not been in good health lately, and the Emperor kept piling tasks upon him. When Chancellor Liu called Yan Shang over to say that the Emperor wanted him to handle the dispute between the aristocrats and the eunuchs over the fertile land, Yan Shang sighed softly, feeling the exhaustion of having been so busy for so long.

Yan Shang gave a bitter smile: “I am swamped all day, and His Majesty keeps pressing more work onto me. I cannot take on this case. If I do, I’m afraid I won't even have time to sleep.”

Chancellor Liu looked at his student, who was now thin and refined, and thought back to when Second Master Yan had first entered Chang'an, so suave and elegant. Now, however, he looked cool and detached, as dismal as the dim moonlight, which made one’s heart ache. If this were his own child, Chancellor Liu would certainly keep him at home, feeding him meals and medicine every day until he was fully restored to health.

It was a pity that Yan Shang was a Tong Pingzhangshi—a position equal to a Chancellor. The Emperor was determined to use him, and no one could stop it.

Chancellor Liu sighed, waving his hand in frustration: “Fine. You should take good care of your health. I will intercede with His Majesty on your behalf and let someone else handle this case.”

Yan Shang paused and said: “I fear that if I don’t take it, His Majesty will have further complaints.”

Chancellor Liu: “You must treasure your life. Princess Danyang has sent people to beg me several times to arrange fewer tasks for you... Shuchen, you are young and have a bright future; why push yourself so hard?”

Hearing that Mu Wanyao had specifically sought out his teacher to plead for him, Yan Shang felt both moved and ashamed.

He said: “I also want to rest... Once this period passes, I may request a long leave.”

Chancellor Liu was happy to hear this, saying he would certainly approve the leave request. However, although they spoke this way, Chancellor Liu did not know when Yan Shang would ever truly be able to rest. The three factions were fighting so fiercely that if Yan Shang collapsed, the other two forces would surely devastate each other.

Yan Shang could not collapse.

Yan Shang chatted with his teacher about idle matters and heard how Liu Ruozhu and her husband were traveling in Hexi, visiting the common people to find ancient books. He was happy to hear this and said he would reply to his junior disciple, Liu Ruozhu, when he returned. Chancellor Liu then mentioned that the young couple planned to start a family, and he teased Yan Shang: “You and the Princess are not so young anymore; you should consider having a child.”

Yan Shang laughed: “The Princess and I are both very busy; I’m afraid we have no time to have children.”

Chancellor Liu sighed. He wanted to say that Mu Wanyao should stop participating in politics and stay home to have children, as that was the proper path. Chancellor Liu never agreed with a Princess participating in politics in such a way, but since the Emperors had not indicated otherwise, he didn't say much. However, considering the pressure Yan Shang was under... if Princess Danyang wasn't helping him, wouldn't Yan Shang collapse even faster?

Yan Shang bade farewell to Chancellor Liu, saying he needed to check on the Ministry of Personnel. He still held a post there, and as an exceptionally important examiner, he could not afford to be absent.

Chancellor Liu let him go, but as he watched Yan Shang’s tall, bamboo-like back, he was suddenly moved to say: “Shuchen, tell me, is it better for the world to be in chaos while the Emperor is not, or for the Emperor to be in chaos while the world is not?”

Yan Shang looked back at his teacher’s weary, world-worn eyes.

The world being in chaos while the Emperor is not referred to the late Emperor; the Emperor being in chaos while the world is not referred to the current Son of Heaven.

After a long moment, Yan Shang said: “One always hopes that the world remains clear and that no one is muddled.”

Chancellor Liu chuckled and said no more. He sat in the main hall of the Secretariat, his wide sleeves brushing the floor, his temples graying. He gazed for a long time at Yan Shang’s retreating figure, watching the sun set in the west as red clouds spread across the sky.

He was old now, and he no longer had the strength to bolster the mountains and rivers to restore the Great Wei. He could only watch as the edifice collapsed...—

Yan Shang did not take on the conflict between the aristocrats and the eunuchs that the Emperor had arranged for him. That night, the Emperor wrote a letter, scolding Yan Shang thoroughly.

The Emperor was furious, claiming that Yan Shang did not hold him in his eyes, was arbitrary and self-willed, and lacked respect for his ruler...

That night at the Princess’s estate, Mu Wanyao had already let Yan Shang go to sleep. She opened the letter herself and scanned the Emperor’s vitriol, unable to help but sneer. Lightly, Mu Wanyao folded the letter and ordered her people to tell the beauties she had sent into the palace to whisper more "ear-side wind" in the Emperor’s presence.

Mu Wanyao turned around and saw that under the shadow of the phoenix tree, in the vacant corridor, Yan Shang stood wrapped in a robe.

He reached out a hand toward her, his eyes fixed on the letter in her grasp.

Mu Wanyao remained expressionless and hid the letter behind her back.

Yan Shang couldn't help but laugh: “Why hide it?”

Mu Wanyao: “It’s filled with insults against you; I don’t want you to see it.”

Yan Shang: “It’s not like the Emperor hasn’t scolded me before. Rest assured, I am not so fragile that I cannot bear it. I just wanted to see if there were any other instructions in the letter that I might have missed.”

Mu Wanyao stared at him for two moments, and seeing that his attitude was resolute, she had to concede. She sat on the steps under the corridor with Yan Shang to read the letter, holding his arm and observing his expression. Seeing his eyes dim after reading the letter, Mu Wanyao bit her lip.

Mu Wanyao: “Do not pay him any mind. He wishes for nothing more than for you to do everything for him. He wishes we would do everything that needs to be done so he could just be Emperor and enjoy himself... Where could such a good thing exist?”

She tucked her fluffy head into the crook of his neck, burying herself in his embrace, her voice coquettish yet domineering: “Brother Yan Er, I’m cold. Hold me!”

Yan Shang smiled warmly. He hugged her gently and whispered that he wasn't sad and that she didn't need to be this way. While the two were fooling around, someone arrived at the front hall—the Emperor had sent a new letter.

The letter encouraged Yan Shang to work hard, stating that the Emperor still trusted him. The Emperor also invited the couple to enter the palace the next day for lunch, saying he hadn't eaten with them in a long time.

Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao looked at the two contradictory letters and were both speechless—

In mid-November, the first snow fell.

As the struggles in the court grew increasingly intense, Zhao Lingfei, the youngest daughter of Censor Zhao—who was currently negotiating her marriage with the Wei family of Luoyang—stepped out of her residence.

Zhao Lingfei met the distinguished guest who had been waiting for her in a wine shop. She flicked the snowflakes from her body, masking her natural unruliness to adopt the attitude of a young lady, and bowed respectfully to the young man opposite her.

The young man opposite had a kindly face but cold eyes, his brows and eyes five or six parts similar to those of the seventh son, Wei Shu. It was Wei Shu’s elder brother, Wei Kai.

Currently, Wei Shu was a Langzhong in the Ministry of Rites, a rank of Cong Wu Pin Shang. As for Wei Kai, the eldest son of the Wei family, who had already held a rank of Cong Wu Pin when he entered Chang'an years ago, he was still a Secretary, holding the same rank as the seventh younger brother he once looked down upon.

Wei Kai nodded at Zhao Lingfei, gestured for her to sit, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, brought up the main business: “Since Juyuan returned from his embassy, the family has recognized his abilities and has spared no effort in cultivating him. At my age, I struggled for ten years to reach the fifth rank, while Juyuan is just barely twenty and is already a high official of the fifth rank. Back then, he was even the top scholar... It was our family who consistently underestimated Juyuan.

“We are cultivating him now, and I hope it is not too late.”

Zhao Lingfei’s face broke into a smile, letting the contrived docility fade a little to reveal her natural, lively personality.

She endured her happiness and said: “Brother Juyuan is indeed very capable.”

Wei Kai nodded.

Looking at her young, beautiful face, Wei Kai slowly said: “Juyuan is good in every respect, but his marriage is ill-suited. As an outstanding disciple from an aristocratic clan, receiving the family’s cultivation and the expectations of the scholars, if he enters into a marriage alliance with someone from the eunuch faction, how do you think the world will view Juyuan?”

Zhao Lingfei was slightly stunned. Her eyes narrowed and flickered toward the flying snow outside.

Wei Kai, however, stared at her fixedly: “Your Zhao family long ago pledged allegiance to Liu Wenji, becoming the eunuchs’ running dogs. Liu Wenji is determined to marry into an aristocratic family, and there are already some in the clans who have loosened their resolve. But no matter who is wavering, the one who does so must not be Juyuan. Juyuan has a bright future and is young and promising. He was a Langzhong in the Ministry of Rites by the age of twenty—how many in this world can achieve that at his age?

“He ought to be the leader of the aristocratic clans, the leader of the scholars. He should not be marrying into the Zhao family or forming an alliance with the eunuch faction! Scholars and eunuchs will always be at odds; even if they cooperate now, they will surely fall out in the future... Where do you want to place Juyuan?”

Zhao Lingfei stared at him in a daze.

Wei Kai softened his tone: “I know that during those few years of the embassy, you and Juyuan entrusted your lives to one another and have already fallen in love. Juyuan requested to marry you; I shouldn't have had much to say about it. He is a son of a concubine in my family; the higher his status, the more unfavorable it is for me. But as members of the same clan and as his eldest brother, I must consider my younger brother’s future.

“Even if you are happy today, you will be enemies in the future. If Juyuan were still the same Juyuan from before, the Wei family wouldn't care if we sacrificed his marriage. But he is no longer that Juyuan, and his marriage can no longer be a sacrifice for the family.

“Lady Zhao... you are young, and your father has pledged allegiance to the eunuchs, holding immense power. You need not worry about marriage or finding a match. Please, let our Wei family go, let Juyuan go!

“I have said my piece. I hope that out of regard for the love you share with Juyuan, you will give him a future and not ruin him!”

Having said this, Wei Kai stood up and prepared to leave.

Zhao Lingfei stood up, raising her voice: “Brother Wei, aren't you afraid that Brother Juyuan will be angry when he finds out you told me these things?”

Wei Kai lifted his eyes and looked back. He said calmly: “I am the eldest son of the Wei family. I must protect and manage every younger brother in the clan. The prosperity of the Wei family does not rest on me, but its decline will surely be my doing. Although I do not like him, he is, after all, my younger brother. I have done what I had to do. If you insist on being together, if you insist on ruining his future... I cannot stop you.

“Lady Zhao, decide for yourself.”

Zhao Lingfei trembled: “But can I control what my father does? Just because my father pledged allegiance to someone, does it mean I have too? My father only pledged allegiance to the eunuchs; he is not some treacherous official harming the people...”

Wei Kai: “As the daughter of Censor Zhao, your stances are naturally tied together. Do you intend to break with your father? If you break with him, where would you go? What home would you have? Lady Zhao, we aristocratic children have no control over our own fates. Love and affection are wonderful things; I was moved by the romance of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, but back in reality... I am sorry, I still wish to break you two apart.

“If you can refrain, please refrain. If you cannot, then be prepared—to ruin Juyuan’s future.

“The choice is yours.”

Zhao Lingfei watched in a daze as the eldest son of the Wei family descended the stairs with his umbrella. She slumped against the window, watching the young man leave the building and get into his carriage. The carriage wheels became stuck in the snow, and it took the driver much effort before the carriage finally moved. Wei Kai lifted the curtain and looked back at Zhao Lingfei with a sigh.

Zhao Lingfei lay at the window, her vision blurring. Looking at Wei Kai, she seemed to see Wei Shu. That cool, clean... gentleman who was like an icy heart in a jade lake.

But she covered her face and wept, beginning to hate many people. If only they were still on their embassy, if only they had never returned to Chang'an... Back in the desert, when the chief envoy jokingly suggested acting as a matchmaker for them, it would have been perfect if they had just nodded then.

She began to loathe Chang'an.

She began to miss the moonlit nights of the frontier, the endless desert, and the days spent running and struggling, where life was uncertain but they relied on each other for survival.

She missed the Wei Shu from those days—

In November, Zhao Lingfei used the threat of death to refuse the marriage with the Wei family.

Censor Zhao cursed her loudly, and Wei Shu came to talk to her, but she refused to see him. However, Wei Shu blocked her door several times; it was clear that Zhao Lingfei could not hide forever.

As for Yan Shang, he found an opportunity to rest for a few more days. This time, however, a newly built garden required someone to write an inscription, and the owner had sought out Yan Shang. Yan Shang was ashamed, claiming his scholarship was poor and his handwriting was not good, so it would be a waste to write the inscription.

However, the owner insisted on the prestige of the Tong Pingzhangshi’s calligraphy. He sent gifts every day and even came to the Princess’s estate to beg for it.

Yan Shang could not refuse, and Mu Wanyao thought it sounded fun and encouraged him to write it, so he agreed.

But on the third day after Yan Shang wrote the inscription, a "Third Master Hai" of the Hai clan was also invited by the garden owner to write an inscription. Third Master Hai was preparing to participate in the imperial examinations next year, was only sixteen, and was known as a child prodigy. The youth, unaware of the vastness of the world, was filled with pride and agreed to write it.

Third Master Hai was overflowing with talent, and his calligraphy was like a dragon dancing and a phoenix soaring, stunning all who saw it.

The owner, delighted by this talent, immediately placed Third Master Hai’s calligraphy at the first gate at the entrance of the garden, and moved the original inscription by Yan Shang to the second wall inside.

Consequently, Chang'an was abuzz with talk, everyone saying that a sixteen-year-old youth had surpassed the Tong Pingzhangshi. They said sixteen-year-old Third Master Hai was a child prodigy like Wei Juyuan of the past, and should be the "second Wei Shu."

Wei Shu had once surpassed Yan Shang, and in the end... Yan Shang’s talent had always been superficial; whether then or now, he lacked the brilliance to match these young, arrogant child prodigies.

Mu Wanyao was incensed when she heard this rumor. She grabbed her sword, intending to go to the Hai family to settle the score, hating them for needing to make a name for themselves by stepping on others. Yan Shang stopped her, saying it was of no consequence. That night, Wei Shu came to the estate to comfort Mu Wanyao, saying that he had never looked down on Second Master Yan.

Wei Shu was also annoyed by the Hai family’s promotion and their use of him as a stepping stone. Currently, he was deeply entangled in lawsuits with the eunuchs and the complications of his marriage to Zhao Lingfei, leaving him restless and irritable.

In the end, it was Yan Shang who had to comfort his own disgruntled wife and the dejected, directionless Wei Shu.

The next day, the Hai family brought the unconvinced Third Master Hai to the estate to apologize to Yan Shang. Yan Shang, generous and broad-minded, took no offense. He believed his own talent was indeed shallow and had never intended to write the inscription anyway. Now that he had made several parties unhappy, he blamed himself for being too arrogant when someone flattered him.

Yan Shang reflected: “...I shall never write inscriptions for others again.”

Mu Wanyao was still fuming, expressionless, and did not respond to Yan Shang—

In March of the following year, the first imperial examination since the new Emperor’s ascension was held. Yan Shang, as the official in charge of merit examinations for the Ministry of Personnel, naturally presided over the year’s examinations.

Fearing that Yan Shang would hold a grudge for the humiliation Third Master Hai had caused him last year, the Hai family nervously submitted their papers to the Princess’s estate many times. After the results were announced, Third Master Hai was ranked first, becoming the year’s top scholar. When the news reached the harem, Third Master Hai’s sister, who was a concubine, was also overjoyed for her younger brother.

The Hai family finally felt at ease, realizing Yan Shang was truly the gentleman everyone claimed him to be, having taken no secret revenge.

The Apricot Garden held a grand banquet for the year’s successful candidates. The Emperor attended the feast, while the ladies of the Hai family hosted a banquet in the palace for the brother’s success, inviting all the concubines to join. Mu Wanyao compromised and skipped the Apricot Garden feast, instead attending the harem banquet.

At the table, Chunhua, who had not been seen for a long time, looked with conflict at the beauty surnamed Huo whom the Princess had sent into the palace. She exchanged sharp, barbed words with the Hai lady. That beauty Huo had an outstanding appearance and a supple frame; she would occasionally exchange glances with Mu Wanyao, and both would smile.

Back and forth, there were hints in their expressions that others could not understand.

Chunhua looked at Mu Wanyao’s smiling face and her slowly swaying fan, then looked at the soft, charming beauty Huo whom the Princess had sent into the palace...

Chunhua felt lost and somewhat painful in her heart. She suddenly felt that the distance between herself and the Princess was growing wider and wider.

The Princess would rather send new beauties into the palace for the Emperor than use her. The Emperor said that Liu Wenji and Second Master Yan were fighting fiercely in the court. Was this the reason the Princess viewed her as an enemy? But Chunhua was merely a woman of the inner chambers; she could never speak of those matters, nor did she understand them.

The Princess should have known this.

Yet, was it because she was so useless that she had become the Princess’s abandoned pawn... Clearly, she was the noble Xianfei, yet except for her son, she had nothing.

Chunhua stared blankly at Mu Wanyao’s brow and eyes, wanting to find an opportunity to speak to the Princess, wanting to ask if the Princess no longer wanted her... Just then, two palace maids hurried into the banquet, one rushing to the Hai lady, the other to Mu Wanyao.

Immediately, the expressions of both Mu Wanyao and the Hai lady changed as they looked at each other.

Mu Wanyao stood up with a whoosh and left the table with a cold face.

Whispers immediately broke out among those at the banquet. Half an hour later, the concubines finally learned why Princess Danyang had suddenly left—at the Apricot Garden banquet, Third Master Hai had provoked the examiner Yan Shang, setting a challenge for Yan Shang to compose a poem.

Every year’s candidates were supposed to regard the chief examiner as their teacher; for Third Master Hai to hold the examiner in such low regard and humiliate Yan Shang in front of the Emperor... Mu Wanyao grabbed her whip, mounted her horse, exited the imperial city, and headed straight for Fanchuan, toward the Qujiang Pool, rushing toward the Apricot Garden.

Her eyes were red, filled with a hint of hatred. Gritting her teeth, she hissed: “The Hai clan! I will kill you all... to actually humiliate him again and again, like this!”—

At the Apricot Garden banquet, Mu Wanyao dismounted and hurried over. Ignoring all attempts to block her, she barged toward the banquet for the top scholars. She held a whip in her hand, followed by the guards from her own estate. It was clear she was enraged and intended to vent her fury today.

Yan Shang stood near the stairs on the second floor of the pavilion, having just answered the question posed by Third Master Hai, barely scraping by. He had just escaped the students when his servant whispered a few words into his ear, saying the Princess was killing her way toward them.

Yan Shang was stunned. He stood by the window, pushed it open, and looked out into the misty night. He saw Mu Wanyao in a red robe, adorned with gold and green ornaments. She walked rapidly, whip in hand. Just as she was about to enter the pavilion, perhaps hearing what Fang Tong had whispered to her, Mu Wanyao suddenly raised her head and looked up at the pavilion.

She met Yan Shang’s downward gaze.

One high, one low, separated by the window, separated by the night, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao locked eyes.

He saw her eyes were red-rimmed, saw the hatred in her gaze, and saw her trembling hand clutching the whip.

Her eyes seemed to flow with mist; she was hard and cold, yet the way she looked at him was full of pain—

Humiliation.

Humiliation again and again.

Yan Shang did not care, but Mu Wanyao felt it as if it were her own. He thought Third Master Hai was just a youth, and youths are prone to arrogance, so it was nothing worth caring about. But Mu Wanyao heard the rumors, saw him being pointed at as unworthy, and saw the Hai clan trying to step on him to rise... Mu Wanyao felt pain, and felt miserable.

Yan Shang stared at her in a daze.

The humiliation directed at him was unbearable to her, burning like fire. For a fleeting instant, he understood Mu Wanyao’s concern; he understood how she protected him.

Yan Shang stood before the pavilion and slowly spoke: “Third Master Hai.”

Third Master Hai, who had hidden among the scholars after his attack, looked up at the young man in the green-white robes standing by the window.

Yan Shang stood with his back to all the scholars, his back to Third Master Hai. He kept his eyes on the beautiful Princess below and spoke: “You challenged me to test if I am fit to be an examiner. But in truth, I am not the one who sets the exam questions this year; I am not the one who tests your talent.

“However, I do wish to propose a couplet today to test you.”

Yan Shang suddenly turned around. His gaze, gentle as water yet cool as lightning, locked onto Third Master Hai. The night wind blew his sleeves, and he spoke in a clear voice, so that Mu Wanyao below could hear his question—

“I ask you: The phoenix strikes nine thousand miles upward, cutting through clouds and rainbows, bearing the vast heavens, its feet tangling the clouds; for ten thousand years, it watches the ephemera—who is the one soaring?”

The universe was in the heavens, looking down at the ephemera. Such grandeur, such spirit. The scholars stared blankly at Yan Shang, seeing for the first time an imposing aura radiating from this examiner.

They heard Yan Shang say calmly: “The question is set. Please, respond.”