Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 156

Chapter 156

In February of that year, while Yan Shang was still in Chang’an preparing for the imperial examinations, the internal strife that had plagued the Southern Barbarians for a decade finally came to an end. The heroic and mighty King Ale unified the highlands, merging the various tribes of the Southern Barbarians into one.

Meng Zaishi, the King of Wuman, became a key advisor by King Ale’s side. The resentment Meng Zaishi felt toward King Ale may never have dissipated, but King Ale’s status as a monarch did not allow him to provoke him easily. He could only lie low for the time being, waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables.

King Ale despised the culture of the Great Wei, but once he had unified the nation, the backward nomadic people were forced to learn how the advanced Wei monarchs governed their states. With Meng Zaishi guiding him from the side, King Ale clumsily appointed generals and meritorious officials, declaring his intent to lead the Southern Barbarians toward strength and prosperity.

However, when looking back at the vast territory behind them, this grand ambition inevitably felt disheartening—

The cost of the ten-year civil war was that although the Southern Barbarians were unified, the people within the country were destitute, the population was sparse, productivity was nonexistent, and bandits and robbers ran rampant.

For the Southern Barbarians, the only way to solve their current domestic problems was through war.

They had to rely on war to plunder and on war to feed their citizens.

The Southern Barbarians were in desperate need of an external war to seize resources, acquire wealth, and improve their domestic situation. Ten years of civil war had left the Southern Barbarians exhausted and unwieldy, yet without war, they could not even maintain their current status quo.

For this reason, King Ale, who already looked down upon the Great Wei, set his sights on his neighbor: the strong and prosperous Great Wei.

The warlike King Ale faced the vast territory of the Great Wei with serious intent, despite his boastful words. Because he was skilled in battle, he would not underestimate any enemy. He brewed this war, seeking knowledge about the Great Wei from Meng Zaishi day and night, and recalled the servants who had fled back from the side of the deceased Luo Xiu.

The content of the transactions from several years ago between Luo Xiu and the now-powerful and prominent eunuch of Great Wei, Liu Wenji, began to take on new significance.

And heaven seemed to favor the Southern Barbarians, wishing to save this backward nation.

A Great Wei man named Cheng An had fled the country after traveling thousands of miles, disguised all the way from Hexi as he escaped toward other small nations. This man had never communicated with the envoy Minister Wei Qilang, and he did not know that the small nation he had fled to, believing it to be safe based on his map, had already been annexed and its people slaughtered by the Southern Barbarians.

The iron hooves of the Southern Barbarians showed no mercy in wanting to crush this Great Wei man whose life was as insignificant as an ant. This man, with greying temples, knelt on the ground and wept loudly: "You cannot kill me! I am the Grand Eunuch by the Emperor’s side; I know many secrets... I had a difficult time escaping from Liu Wenji’s hands; I should not die here!"

Just then, Meng Zaishi was in the street, watching with cold eyes, pondering how to profit from this war. He understood the Great Wei language, and Cheng An’s wailing in the street caught his attention.

The tall and formidable Meng Zaishi squinted to size up the hunched, disheveled man who was collapsed on the ground weeping. After a long while, his eyes narrowed as he recognized who this person was. Several hours later, after Cheng An had been cleaned up, he appeared in Meng Zaishi’s tent.

A few more hours later, Cheng An was presented to King Ale.

When King Ale heard that this Cheng An was the Grand Eunuch of the late Wei Emperor and the master of the current Grand Eunuch, Liu Wenji, he mocked the Great Wei: "Ministers kill the Emperor, the Emperor has no authority; the Great Wei is nothing more than this!"

Seeing that this barbarian, who only knew how to fight, had a simple mind and had completely failed to see the opportunity to use this to his advantage, Meng Zaishi sneered inwardly, feeling even more convinced that he would have a chance to usurp King Ale.

Once the war between the Southern Barbarians and the Great Wei broke out, the wealthy and powerful Great Wei would never be as easy to resolve as the five tribes of the Southern Barbarians. Although the Great Wei’s combat strength was inferior to the Southern Barbarians, their vast territory and ample reserves of food and supplies were the very foundation of their existence.

The self-willed and stubborn King Ale was bound to suffer greatly at the hands of the Great Wei.

And this was the perfect opportunity for Meng Zaishi to replace King Ale and negotiate with the Great Wei. When King Ale died, he would strike a low posture and pledge allegiance to the Great Wei; the hypocritical and self-proclaimed generous Great Wei Emperor would surely bestow countless riches to help the Southern Barbarians become strong... How could such an opportunity be missed?

Meng Zaishi suggested to King Ale: "We can use this Cheng An to threaten Liu Wenji. After all, Luo Xiu is dead; Liu Wenji will not admit he committed treason. If he is truly as powerful in the Great Wei as Cheng An says, the Great Wei Emperor might actually believe him. But with Cheng An in our hands, Liu Wenji will be wary.

"We need Liu Wenji to cooperate with us and try his best to drag the Great Wei down, to make the Great Wei hand over their vast territory to us. This is what the Wei people call 'subduing the enemy without fighting.'"

King Ale was startled, but then he patted Meng Zaishi’s shoulder in dissatisfaction: "Meng Zaishi, you are good! But do not learn everything from the Great Wei. The Great Wei is treacherous, a cunning fox. Our Southern Barbarians are protected by the Goddess on the high mountains, and the blood of the eagle flows in our veins. You learn everything from the Wei people, and you no longer look like a good son of our Southern Barbarians!"

Meng Zaishi respectfully agreed.

After the strategy against the Great Wei was set, Meng Zaishi exited King Ale’s royal tent. He stood with his arms crossed, thinking of the contemptuous attitude King Ale had just shown toward the Great Wei. He pulled at the corner of his mouth, waiting for the other party to reap what he had sown.

Perhaps he truly had learned too many things from the Great Wei.

He stood there like an evil Asura, plotting a war, leading the entire Southern Barbarian nation tirelessly toward a fiery war... but the Southern Barbarians needed war, and he could not stop it.

Meng Zaishi merely looked up at the clear blue sky, cloudless and bright for ten thousand miles, as a black falcon spread its wings and flew across the firmament. This made him think of that Great Wei Princess once again—

Five or six years had passed, and he already had a son and a daughter. Had she emerged from the shadows of the past?

Where was that Princess now?

Had she and that young minister, the youth originally named Yan Shisheng, found their happy ending? If they knew about the war he was planning, would they all be enemies again?

In the legends of the Great Wei, every star in the sky was the embodiment of a hero who had passed away.

If one day he killed King Ale, became the King of the Southern Barbarians, and formed a friendly alliance with the Wei monarch, he would want to ask Mu Wanyao upon meeting her again: If he unified the Southern Barbarians, ended the war, led them to live in peace with the Great Wei, and taught his people to walk out of the wilderness—at that time, would he be qualified to become a star in the sky?

Meng Zaishi couldn't help but let a smile touch his lips. He murmured Mu Wanyao’s name and scoffed: "...Little Princess."——

In May, after parting ways with Zhao Lingfei, they traveled for another half-month until the Yan couple reached Lingnan.

Upon arriving in Lingnan, local officials led the common people to pay their respects to the newly appointed Governor of Guangzhou, Yan Shang. For hundreds of years, the relationship between the central government and the local provinces had always been a muddled account. The people of Guangzhou were worried that the highest official sent by the central government would be an incompetent fool. Now that they heard this Governor was a native of Lingnan, and after inquiring about Yan Erlang’s reputation in Guanzhong, the people felt much more at ease.

In the carriage, Mu Wanyao was awakened by the sound of gongs and drums.

She leaned on her maid’s hand to step out of the carriage, her long skirt trailing on the ground, revealing the pointed tips of her red shoes. The officials below, whom Yan Shang had softly persuaded not to be so formal, were all stunned as they looked at the woman accompanying Yan Langjun—the Princess of Danyang.

Mu Wanyao lifted her chin. She was as beautiful as a peach blossom and as graceful as the most magnificent peonies in Chang’an, like the boundless red clouds covering the sky.

She blossomed in this remote and desolate countryside. As she glanced about with casual indifference, the officials humbly lowered their heads to pay their respects to the Princess.

Mu Wanyao tilted her chin at her husband, who was surrounded by officials, as if bestowing a reward upon him: "This place isn’t bad. We will live here from now on."

Yan Shang looked at her helplessly: "This is the government office; I only work here, I don't live here."

Mu Wanyao: "..."

She was immediately piqued and indignant: "If there is no mansion, then build one! I think the environment here is quite nice, and it’s close to your office; what’s wrong with wanting to live here? Not only am I going to live here, I am also going to bring your father, your brother and his wife, and your younger brother and his wife to live here with me. Do you have any objections?"

Yan Shang smiled: "No objections. I shall defer to your Highness’s decision."

Hearing the gentle and pleasant tone of the young master, the officials felt relieved, thinking the Governor would be easy to get along with. It was just that the Princess seemed arrogant and pampered, and they feared she would be difficult to serve.

Regardless of how the officials whispered about the couple, both settled in. Yan Shang took the official seal and began to sort through the administrative affairs of Guangzhou. Just as Mu Wanyao had requested, Yan’s father and the others soon moved from the countryside to Guangzhou prefecture to live with them.

Only the third brother of the Yan family was still secretly doing business in the Western Regions and was not home. As for the youngest daughter, Yan Xiaozhou, she was in Jiannan, which caused Yan’s father some slight displeasure. However, Yan’s father was timid by nature; after grumbling a few times about why his youngest daughter hadn't married yet, he said nothing more.

This way of living felt vaguely like being neighbors with the Yan family back in Chang’an, yet it was far more relaxed than the turbulent times in the capital.

At least there were no ministers lining up every day to see Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang, at least their gates weren't crowded with carriages and horses day and night, and at least Yan Shang wasn't doing the work of several officials while only receiving one salary.

Yan Shang served as the Governor of Guangzhou with ease. Perhaps because they were back on his native soil, while Mu Wanyao struggled to adapt to the heat of Guangzhou, Yan Shang adjusted quite well.

Mu Wanyao had originally wanted to properly nourish Yan Shang’s health, but upon returning to Lingnan, she became so ill she was on the verge of death several times. Yan Shang had to turn around and take care of her instead, and he didn't fall ill himself.

The spectacle of the two of them taking turns being sick was truly both exasperating and amusing.

Yan Shang was very worried that Mu Wanyao wouldn't adapt to the local climate and feared she would suffer from the water and soil. Her constitution was not very good, and seeing her languishing every day, he was always worried that her old illnesses would flare up. Because Yan Shang’s health was poor, Mu Wanyao would spend the whole day urging him to take his medicine.

Consequently, physicians were constantly entering and leaving their estate.

This left the Yan family living next door bewildered and deeply worried: Yan Shang and the Princess had been married for two years without an heir. They didn't dare to ask too much, but they were deeply concerned.

Fortunately, Mu Wanyao was a princess. Although she initially suffered from the change in environment, she was in good spirits. With the meticulous care of her maids and Yan Shang’s gentle thoughtfulness, she soon adapted and felt better. Once she recovered, she started looking for ways to amuse herself.

This wasn't Chang’an; she didn't need to ask after state affairs with ministers every day. At most, letters from the ministers in Chang’an arrived once a month. Most of the time, Mu Wanyao had no interest in snatching the busywork of a governor from Yan Shang’s hands.

Without state affairs to ponder, after a few days of low spirits, she picked up her konghou, guqin, and books, which she had set aside for a long time.

She invited people over to be guests every day, held banquets, and went out dressed in finery, looking vibrant and colorful. Elegant music and the sounds of instruments filled the Yan estate daily, leaving Yan Shang feeling somewhat dazed every time he returned home. It was only then that he remembered his Princess was a great talent herself.

Versed in both arts and music.

It was just that she hadn't had the chance to pick them up before.

And once she resumed her old studies, she made him look utterly vulgar.

Yan Shang felt quite ashamed, so when he was free, he would hesitantly beg Mu Wanyao to teach him to play the qin or the konghou. He had had such thoughts in his youth, but later, he had become too preoccupied with worldly affairs to have the mood. Now that he was picking it up again, Mu Wanyao was also quite enthusiastic.

But she wouldn't say yes; she said no.

Yan Shang was helpless: "Why won't you teach me? Didn't you used to teach me in the past?"

The two sat under a pavilion in the estate. The summer breeze was not cool, and they relied only on ice blocks placed in the wall niches. Mu Wanyao lifted her chin and said: "It’s not that I don't want to be a teacher. If I am to be a teacher, I must be exceptionally strict with my students. I want tuition before I’m willing to teach anyone!"

Yan Shang sat on a stone stool beside her, looking refined and indifferent. Upon hearing this, he turned his face to look at her and smiled: "What tuition do you want?"

Without waiting for her to answer, he said: "I am entirely yours; what other tuition could you possibly want?"

Mu Wanyao was startled, then greatly annoyed: "You are truly boring! Speaking so bluntly—you are no longer as cute as when you were shy."

Yan Shang sighed.

Mu Wanyao rose and walked gracefully toward him. Bamboo curtains hung on all four sides of the pavilion. She wrapped her arms around his neck, lifted her leg, and knelt on his lap, letting him hold her. Her maids kept their eyes straight, admiring the lake and sky on all sides, but Yan Shang was genuinely embarrassed by her display.

He placed his hand on her waist and pushed gently: "Get down. Out in the open, what does this look like?"

Mu Wanyao squinted at his hypocritical expression: "Don't hold my waist; if I don't kneel firmly, won't I fall off?"

Yan Shang: "How could I watch you fall?"

Mu Wanyao smiled brightly, her beautiful eyes shimmering with light, thoroughly charming. She muttered: "Then blame yourself for being soft-hearted."

She reached out to pinch his cheek, lowered her head to inspect his face, and then said with satisfaction: "You have some meat on your face now."

Yan Shang blushed and couldn't help but laugh. His smile was light and shallow, and as Mu Wanyao cupped his face, she felt a great deal of affection in her heart. Her fingers stroked his brows and eyes, and suddenly, her heart stirred, and she said happily: "I know what tuition I want."

She pressed against his ear, kissing and biting him as she told him what she wanted him to do.

He was utterly shocked and looked up at her, feeling that he didn't really want to learn anymore at this moment...

Yan Shang stammered for a long time and sighed. Mu Wanyao was delighted: "Tell me, am I amazing?"

Yan Shang blushed deeply: "How would I know if you’re amazing?"

Mu Wanyao hooked a finger over his brow bone and said solemnly: "I meant that I have fed you until you have meat on your face—I am amazing. What did you think I meant?"

Yan Shang was stunned, then felt ashamed. He began to reflect on whether he was the one who was lewd. Seeing this, Mu Wanyao was even more amused and kept hugging and kissing him.

When Yan’s father came to visit, across the lake, he could vaguely see the figures of his second son and the Princess frolicking in the pavilion. He felt quite comforted, thinking that perhaps the atmosphere in Chang’an had been poor and the situation too tense, which had led to his second son and the Princess having no children. The two of them were so deeply in love that after living in Lingnan for two years, perhaps they would have a child—

Having reached some kind of agreement with Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao began to teach him to play the qin. She felt that the konghou was more suitable for women to play, while the guqin was elegant and more fitting for Yan Shang. Mu Wanyao dreamed of the day when she and her husband would be in harmony, playing music together.

When she was a young girl, before her marriage, her fantasy of a husband was of a divine gentleman who shared her interests and could play music and study with her.

However, as soon as Yan Shang started learning, Mu Wanyao received a huge blow.

The qin music that wafted out of the estate all day long sounded like a pig being slaughtered. Every time Yan Erlang was off duty and at home, the sound would ring through the halls, and within a ten-mile radius of the estate, not a single passerby dared to stop and enjoy it.

Mu Wanyao scolded him: "Why are you so stupid? I told you to pluck! This technique is called 'pluck,' not 'flick'! You did it wrong again!"

Yan Shang scrambled to correct himself.

After a while, Mu Wanyao scolded him again and pushed him aside to demonstrate for herself.

She was fierce, her scolding extremely loud, and when she looked back at Yan Shang and saw that he remained calm and peaceful—Mu Wanyao became even angrier: "Are you listening to me? Why is there no reaction from you? Have you not taken my words to heart at all?"

Yan Shang was bewildered.

He said softly: "I’ve always been like this."

Mu Wanyao angrily plucked the strings: "Show some reaction!"

Qiusi listened from the side, trembling with fear, feeling that the Princess had a bad temper and fearing the Prince Consort wouldn't want to learn the qin anymore. The Prince Consort was even being scolded for his peaceful demeanor...

As for the scoldings Yan Shang received during the day, by the time night fell, Mu Wanyao would reflect and feel ashamed, thinking she had been too fierce with him. She vowed in her heart to be gentler with him tomorrow; even if he were tone-deaf, even if he didn't have the talent, she would be gentle and patient...

Mu Wanyao’s love would well up, and in bed, she would be completely compliant with Yan Shang, calling him "brother" affectionately and bringing him pleasure.

But the next day, the scolding and humiliation would repeat... Over the past half year, this had become a daily routine in the estate. Yan Erlang was usually so intelligent; why was he so incapable of mastering the qin? It had become a great mystery—

On New Year’s Eve of that year, Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao naturally spent the holiday with Yan’s father. Yan’s father gave them both large red envelopes, and this time, it was quite clear that he was hinting that they should have a child.

But as Yan’s father watched, the two of them were like clay buddhas, showing no reaction at all to his words.

Did the Princess dislike children?

Yan’s father observed that the children of the first and third brothers loved to swarm around the second son; the second son had a gentle personality, and the children liked their second uncle. Compared to the second son, the Princess seemed a bit more cold toward children... but she didn't seem to hate them either.

Yan’s father was anxious and felt he couldn't drop hints anymore.

After the New Year, one day Yan Shang returned from the government office. Before he could change his clothes, he was called away by Yan’s father for a talk. Yan’s father stammered for a long time before finally asking in embarrassment: "Second Son, you and the Princess have been married for almost three years; why have you still not had children? I see that your relationship as a couple is good; although the Princess has a big temper at times, she treats you quite differently than others.

"Since the relationship is so good, why no children? Is it... is it that both of you have some underlying illness? You are both so young; if there is any illness, do not hide it from the doctor. It is better to seek treatment early."

Yan Shang had known this day would come.

When he returned to Lingnan, he had thought that this day would arrive. Staying by his father’s side every day, his father would surely care about this issue.

Yan Shang smiled bitterly.

He said the answer he had prepared long ago: "Does Father know that my health has not been good these past few years?"

Yan’s father was bewildered, then sighed. He didn't understand court affairs very well, and he didn't dare to ask. However, he knew that his second son had used recuperation as an excuse to return to Lingnan.

Yan Shang said: "In my younger years, I suffered a disaster in prison, which left me with a root of illness that has never fully healed since. When I came back this time to recuperate, I secretly asked a physician. They all said it would be difficult for me to have children... I fear I will be childless for life."

Yan’s father: "..."

He was stunned, dumbfounded, and shocked.

He said hurriedly: "Then why aren't you seeking treatment immediately?"

Yan Shang said: "Can the damage left by an old illness be cured so easily?"

Yan’s father was silent for a while: "...Still, you must seek treatment."

Yan Shang sighed and said: "I am."

Yan’s father whispered: "Does your wife... the Princess, know?"

Yan Shang said in a low voice: "How could I let her know?"

Yan’s father immediately became anxious: "Then aren't you, aren't you harming the Princess... If the Princess knew that she couldn't have children because of you, wouldn't she be furious? What if she decides to kill you?"

Yan Shang laughed innocently: "My wife and I have an excellent relationship; she will not kill me."

He stood there as a refined gentleman, handsome as jade, yet at this moment, a gloomy color gathered in his brows as he said: "I also do not want her to be with another man, to have children with another man. Therefore, I must hide it from her and not let her know. Father, please don't say anything, help me this once, okay?"

Yan’s father: "...Second Son, how could you be the kind of person to deceive a woman?"

Yan Shang: "In the matter of love, it is difficult for anyone to look at it objectively. Who can be truly noble, truly exempt from the mundane?"

Yan’s father wanted to scold him more, but perhaps Yan Shang had spoken to his own hidden feelings. Yan’s father sighed, wanting to speak but holding back, not knowing what to say. Yan’s father felt conflicted, filled with guilt toward the Princess... In the end, he sided with his son and didn't want the Princess to abandon his son because he couldn't have children. However, he also did not approve of his son’s deception in marriage.

Yan’s father began avoiding Mu Wanyao.

Occasionally, when he accidentally bumped into Mu Wanyao, Yan’s father would treat her extremely well and always look at her with guilty eyes.

Mu Wanyao found this baffling.

Yan’s father also sent many strange medicines to their estate. In Lingnan, witchcraft was prevalent; Yan’s father invited quite a few shamanesses to the young couple’s estate, making the place filled with a chaotic and foul atmosphere every day. Every time Mu Wanyao returned home and heard the various chanting, music, and drum beats, she felt disoriented.

When Mu Wanyao encountered Yan’s father in the courtyard, he would talk a lot about how she should be considerate of Yan Shang, and say that they had wronged the Princess, adding that if one day the Princess wished to divorce her husband, the Yan family would accept it.

Mu Wanyao returned to their bedroom and saw Yan Shang drinking the strange, pungent-smelling medicinal liquid his father had concocted for him again.

He frowned and drank it while sighing; Mu Wanyao watched with a heart full of pain.

She said: "Is your father getting old? Why has he been so muddled lately? He sends all kinds of people to our house and forces you to drink all kinds of strange medicines... Is he senile? But he’s not that old."

Yan Shang listened to Mu Wanyao talk about how his father had been tormenting her lately; she wanted to get angry, but felt embarrassed to do so... Mu Wanyao was furious: "He always looks at me with such guilt! Yan Er, did you do something bad again? Why are you laughing?"

Mu Wanyao: "He even asked me to divorce you!"

Yan Shang joked: "Perhaps my father found out I was having an affair behind your back and is afraid you will divorce me?"

Mu Wanyao was startled, then said earnestly: "No, you wouldn't. Brother Yan Er would never do such a thing."

Yan Shang: "How do you know I wouldn't? All men in the world are the same."

After a year in Lingnan, his health had improved a lot, his spirit was better, and he enjoyed telling her jokes. This meant he was becoming more and more relaxed and comfortable in front of her; of course, Mu Wanyao was happy.

Mu Wanyao seriously refuted him: "Brother Yan Er would never treat me like that. Even if all the men in the world were like that, Brother Yan Er would not be. I will never believe it."

Yan Shang gazed at her, seeing her extreme trust in him. His heart trembled, and he set down the medicine bowl, his voice husky: "Come here, Yaoyao, I want to give you a hug."

Mu Wanyao put her hands behind her back, not moving, fully acting the part of the Princess.

Yan Shang was helpless: "If you come here, I’ll tell you why my father is like this."