Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Mu Wanyao covered her face and shouted, "You actually dared to pinch my cheek? Do you not want to live anymore?!"

Usually, such a shout carried a great deal of imposing force, which would certainly have made Yan Shang hesitate. However, now that she was being pressed softly and weakly into his arms, her limbs slender and her figure delicate, her crying out without any real action only gave her the cute, petulant air of a girl putting on a brave front. It could not make anyone fear her.

A very strange feeling stirred in Yan Shang's heart. This was something he often encountered with Mu Wanyao: she was always high and mighty, looking down on him, disdaining him, hitting and scolding him.

Yet, every time he held her, he could feel how fragile she was.

Although she jumped around fiercely, the control was, in truth, often in his hands.

Because he was a man, his physical strength was naturally greater than hers. With one hand, he could hold her, pull her, and make her unable to move... She was so delicate. If he truly wanted to do something, she would have no way to resist.

This feeling made Yan Shang feel distressed, because he could easily subdue her, he felt he could not do so. He could not use his physical strength to suppress her or force her. She was clearly a gentle, adorable girl who should not be bullied.

Yan Shang leaned down, brushed aside the messy dark hair on her face, and kissed the corner of her lips lightly.

It was that kind of compassionate, gentle way of kissing.

Mu Wanyao covered one eye and whined twice, peeking at him. When she met his gaze, her heart suddenly calmed, and the playfulness from just before seemed to recede. She had always liked this gentleness of his; the way he looked at her with such eyes, kissing her so delicately and lightly... it all made her heart race.

She crawled up from the bed, buried herself in his embrace, and tilted her head to kiss him. His heartbeat, his body temperature, and his scent all enveloped her. The lamp light outside the canopy was somewhat dim, and the gauze curtains cast a hazy, blurred reflection of the two of them. The corners of Mu Wanyao's eyes were slightly red, and she suddenly felt that as he kissed her with such intimacy, his breathing grew too fast, and his body began to revive again.

Before Mu Wanyao could react, her waist was clasped and she was pressed back down. Yan Shang’s hand rested on her knee, gently stroking it. That movement made Mu Wanyao's body tremble, and the corners of her eyes instantly flushed crimson.

His gaze was also flickering, and a stimulating redness rose at the corners of his eyes.

He lowered his head to her ear: "I... still want one more time."

Mu Wanyao knew in her heart how difficult it was to get a person like him to take the initiative and admit he had desire. She wanted to go along with him, but... Mu Wanyao stammered: "But, but I'm tired..."

Yan Shang blushed: "Can you not just let me do it one more time?"

Mu Wanyao: "..."

He regretted saying those words the moment they left his lips, but since he had finally managed to say them, he did not want to give up. He lowered his face, kissing her as if to appease her, and whispered: "Don't be afraid of me... if it’s even a little bit uncomfortable, just tell me to stop, alright, Yaoyao?"

Mu Wanyao looked up at him.

She thought that being pressed by a man was quite frightening, but the candlelight outside the canopy was bright. As long as she kept her eyes open, what she saw was Yan Shang’s face.

She was not afraid of Yan Shang at all.

Everyone in the world might hurt her, but Brother Yan the Second would not. Brother Yan the Second was such a convincing, good man.

He was a good man as a friend, a good man as an older brother, and naturally an even better man as a lover.

Mu Wanyao smiled. Her thick, dark hair was spread out across the pillow. She did not speak, but opened her arms to hug him, letting him press down upon her, letting him hold her. She whispered: "Brother Yan the Second, you must love me."

Yan Shang’s voice was hoarse: "Naturally."

The evening banquet left everyone in high spirits.

It was already late into the night, yet songs and instrumental music still drifted intermittently from the private residences of the nobles in Fanchuan.

The music was faint and trailing, out of tune, and honestly not very pleasant to listen to. Yet, in the middle of the night, it felt like a beautiful dream, causing people to set aside their worries.

In the bedchamber on the Princess's estate, the room was filled with the fragrance of flowers, sweat clung to skin, and the curtains were draped in hazy moonlight, the atmosphere inside chaotic.

A young lady cried out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, both miserable and gratified; the gentleman would sometimes grunt in a muffled voice, speaking a few words in a low tone.

Mu Wanyao was held in Yan Shang's embrace, her knees propped up. As she pressed her face against his, covered in sweat, she felt as if she had come to know a brand-new Yan Shang.

He was still considerate; although inexperienced, he constantly observed her, clumsily yet diligently trying to give her a good experience. And he himself was so clever that when he was determined to do something, Mu Wanyao really could not escape. She could only tremble in his arms, softening like spring water, and weeping softly.

However, Yan Shang would often lose himself and become reckless. His pride—his self-restraint—was usually focused on her at the start, but later he would be unable to hold on himself. Only when Mu Wanyao cried out would he regain his senses, then apologize profusely, kissing her to comfort her.

He still dared not look at her; his gaze darted around, and he hardly dared to touch her anywhere below her neck. Only when he touched her accidentally would his eyes light up, and he would grow bashful. Mu Wanyao would pull his hand to make him touch her, but he wouldn't dare, saying he "couldn't do it."

Yan Shang had a clear understanding of his own self-restraint. Every time he said he couldn't, Mu Wanyao stopped forcing him. She dared to close her eyes in his arms, pressing against his neck and humming softly, thinking that after a few more times, he would definitely dare.

Mu Wanyao liked this version of Yan Shang—both calm and sinking, not like his usual self, yet entirely him.

She thought randomly: Was his sinking like this because of desire, or because of her?

It was because of desire, and it was also because of her.

Yan Shang looked down at her, always unable to resist wanting to hold her and kiss her.

She was as beautiful as a peony unfolding its leaves and blooming alone in the night—its petals a deep red, its branches and leaves sprawling. The milky-white moonlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating her.

Such allure, such beauty.

Dark hair spread out, skin like ice, bones like jade. Her eyes were like water, her lips slightly parted.

She was not the type of young lady to be reserved in the boudoir; on the contrary, she was exceptionally uninhibited in her ability to accept him. She did not just accept him; she herself enjoyed the act. Such boldness, such self-release... made Yan Shang stare at her fixedly, unable to look away for even a moment.

Yan Shang was undoubtedly a very reserved person.

He was a very uninteresting person.

He had no longing for the love between a man and a woman, and his thoughts on marriage and husband-and-wife relationships were only for the sake of continuing the family line. He did not feel that love was a particularly good thing, and his admiration for the beauty of women was all because they were of good character and gentle nature. Deep in his heart, he was always thinking about what more he could do for the country and the countless commoners; the amount of heart he put into romance was truly pitifully small.

Mu Wanyao shattered his narrow understanding.

She made him realize that a vivid, colorful beauty—a beauty blooming in his arms—was this full of radiance. Every frown and smile, the charm in the corners of her eyes and brows, whether she was being willful or acting coquettish... such self-indulgence, ignoring everyone else, made someone like him, who was born to take care of others, unable to help but surrender to her.

She walked into his world.

Filled with the warmth of spring, vibrant with life.

She was like the entire light of spring, brightening his dull, drab, and thin world, causing Yan Shang's world to collapse in defeat, lining the road to welcome her—this proud, beautiful, and arrogant Princess.

Compared to the shortness of the first time, was the second time the true essence of desire?

After it was over, both of them felt as if they had been fished out of water. Mu Wanyao lay there, breathless, truly unable to imagine that Yan Shang could have such an intense side. She was sleepy and tired, yet carried the lazy satisfaction that followed, lying on the bedding with her eyes closed, about to drift off to sleep.

Yan Shang’s hand rested on her waist, which startled Mu Wanyao so much she shuddered.

She hurriedly tried to scramble away, not letting him touch her: "I don't want anymore! No more!"

Yan Shang quickly covered her mouth, telling her not to shout randomly. He said in a hoarse voice: "Keep your voice down, don't let the maids outside hear."

Mu Wanyao pulled his hand away and scolded him: "You only think of telling me to keep my voice down now? Why didn't you say so before? You had your fun, and now you’ve forgotten about me, haven't you?"

Yan Shang blushed: "Nonsense."

He held her waist and dragged her up from the bedding. As Mu Wanyao touched his burning hot skin, she clutched his neck with a mournful face, begging him "no more," all the while muttering to herself about why he had to act so strong.

Yan Shang flushed crimson, feeling as if she took him for a lecherous, dissolute fellow who only cared for this sort of thing. Yan Shang coaxed her: "I won't touch you, I won't! I'm just taking you to wash up... Your Highness wouldn't want to sleep all covered in sweat, would you?"

Mu Wanyao opened one eye to look at him, half-believing: "Just wiping off will do."

Yan Shang pursed his lips, looked at the bedding, and said awkwardly: "No... the sheets need to be changed as well. Does Your Highness know where the clean ones are?"

Mu Wanyao: "I don't! Ask Xia Rong if you want."

Yan Shang: "How can I... ask a maid about such things?"

Mu Wanyao pushed his face, wanting to crawl out of his arms and continue sleeping with the pillow. She mumbled vaguely that it didn't matter, she was too tired, she didn't want to wash, and if he wanted to change the sheets, he could ask a maid himself, but he shouldn't disturb her.

Yan Shang, helpless, had no choice but to coax her to sleep. Yet he carried the half-asleep girl off the bed, took her to the washroom, and served her painstakingly by washing her himself. Whenever Mu Wanyao teased him, he always blushed and felt embarrassed; but when she was asleep quietly in his arms, Yan Shang could be slightly more daring, sneaking looks at her body.

Though he was still too embarrassed to look for long.

Mu Wanyao vaguely felt Yan Shang’s hand brush across her chest as water was poured over her; he washed her earnestly and was very proper. Then he carried her back, rummaged around for clean sheets, and remade the bed. The curtains rustled as they were let down, and he went off to fold the quilts.

As Mu Wanyao was being tucked in, she opened her eyes in a trance to look at him. Her final thought before falling completely asleep was: This person must be a born workaholic, right?

He was so tired and yet he still had to wash, and after washing, he still had to fold the quilt... Fortunately, he had a good character and only forced himself, never using his own standards to force Mu Wanyao to do anything. Otherwise, no matter how good-looking he was, she wouldn't dare provoke him—

She had probably not been asleep for long when Mu Wanyao felt Yan Shang’s movements as he got out of bed.

She was actually a little frightened by him.

She collapsed and threw off the quilt: "What else do you want to do?!"

The youth had a long, slender build, dressed only in his undergarments, his long hair loose. He was facing away from the canopy, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed, about to put on his clothes. Hearing the girl's hoarse, angry voice behind him, he turned back in surprise to see Mu Wanyao had actually sat up, glaring at him accusingly.

Yan Shang was slightly stunned, then whispered: "I... I’m going back. I can't let people see me leaving Your Highness’s residence after dawn, can I?"

Before Mu Wanyao could start getting angry again, he leaned over. Mu Wanyao thought he was going to kiss her, but instead, he just leaned in to pick up the quilt she had kicked off, wrapping it around her body again.

He lowered his lashes and said softly: "Your Highness shouldn't kick off the quilt; it wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

The fire in Mu Wanyao’s heart was instantly extinguished by him. She felt a bit stifled—the man was so good, her getting angry was so unreasonable.

Mu Wanyao: "But I haven't slept well all night, and you have to get up so early."

Yan Shang felt guilty: "I’m sorry, I won't do this in the future. After I leave, Your Highness can sleep a while longer... in any case, there shouldn't be anything to do today."

Mu Wanyao glanced at him: "Are you going back to catch up on sleep too?"

She was so adorable that Yan Shang couldn't help but smile, saying: "I still have official business to attend to."

Mu Wanyao looked at him earnestly: "Working day and night without a moment of rest, you’re going to work yourself to death."

Yan Shang smiled, coaxed her to lean back against the bed, and went to get the clothes he had folded neatly and placed on the low table beside the bed the night before, beginning to dress with a soft rustling sound. Mu Wanyao watched him quietly, hugging her bedding. Seeing him quickly transform from a handsome youth who looked good enough to eat into an upright gentleman, she couldn't help but click her tongue.

Mu Wanyao felt a sense of joy. If she weren't so physically exhausted, she would really want to lean over, kiss him, and strip off his serious-looking clothes, making him lie back on the bed.

After fastening his waistband, the only thing left on the low table was a piece of jade pendant.

When Yan Shang’s hand touched the jade, his fingers hesitated slightly, and he looked back toward the bed curtains.

Mu Wanyao was no longer sleepy; she was watching him dress with great interest, chin in hand. When he looked back at her holding the jade pendant, Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow.

She looked at the pendant in his hand with interest: "What's wrong? The material of this pendant looks quite good. It seems I often see you wearing it."

She was just speaking casually; in reality, she had never cared about what jade pendant he wore every day. But seeing Yan Shang’s expression, Mu Wanyao paused, knowing she had probably guessed correctly.

Yan Shang stroked the jade with his thumb, lifted his robes to sit on the edge of the bed, looked at her, and said warmly: "This jade pendant was given to me by my father when I left home last year. My father said this is our family's ancestral token of love. My father said that if I were to like someone and wanted to betroth myself to a young lady in Chang'an, I could give this pendant to that young lady."

Mu Wanyao froze.

She thought with fear in her heart: Marriage! Again, marriage!

She looked at the jade pendant in Yan Shang's hand with a bit of terror, then looked up at Yan Shang. Her entire body went stiff, thinking: With this attitude of his, isn't he going to give the pendant to her?

Was there really any need? They had only slept together for one night, and he already wanted to marry her?

Yan Shang saw the panicked look in Mu Wanyao's eyes, and the shyness, joy, bashfulness, and expectation in his heart instantly retreated.

He was silent for a moment, his heart feeling vaguely cold and chilled.

Fortunately, this process was extremely short. Yan Shang regained his composure in a few breaths, put the jade pendant back at his waist, and didn't mention giving it to her. Mu Wanyao breathed a sigh of relief, looked up at him, and felt a bit guilty.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Yan Shang had already smiled gently: "I’ll be going first."

As he got up to leave, Mu Wanyao tugged on his sleeve, making him look back. She tilted her face up pitifully: "Brother Yan the Second, there is no problem between us, right? You will still pay attention to me in the future, right?"

Yan Shang looked down at her, was silent for a moment, and said: "Of course."

But then he added in a low voice: "But Yaoyao, I am also human, and I have emotions and desires. I will also have times when I want to give up... do you understand?"

If she continued to play dumb at this moment, Yan Shang would probably truly be disappointed. Mu Wanyao did not want to be abandoned by him the very day after she had slept with him.

She nodded hurriedly: "I will, I will try my best. I won't let you wait in vain... I will give you an answer. Brother, please wait for me a little longer, alright?"

Yan Shang smiled. This time, he leaned down, lifted the hair on her forehead, and kissed her forehead—representing his stance.

After Yan Shang left, Mu Wanyao lay on the bed for a while, thinking about some things, when she heard the door knocked twice and Yan Shang’s voice outside.

She was astonished, thinking: How did he come back already?

Yan Shang pushed the door open and entered, holding a bowl in his hand, from which steam was rising. Mu Wanyao thought he was bringing her porridge, but the smell of this porridge... was it not a bit too foul?

Mu Wanyao hesitated: "Did you... boil this porridge yourself?"

If the porridge smelled this foul and was boiled by Yan Shang himself, did she have to endure drinking it?

Seeing her expression, Yan Shang knew exactly what she was thinking. He smiled and said: "Your maids gave it to me; I didn't boil it. They said you probably wouldn't want to drink it, and they were hesitating and muttering, so when I passed by, I happened to overhear what they were saying. Since that was the case, I just brought it to you myself."

He also seemed a bit hesitant.

He looked down at her through his lashes: "Are you... going to be angry at me?"

Mu Wanyao was bewildered: "You brought me porridge, so kind of you, why would I be angry at you? Bring it here."

Yan Shang sat on the edge of the bed, his head bowed for a long time, but he did not hand over the bowl. After a long while, he looked up and said in a low voice: "It is not porridge."

Mu Wanyao: "Hmm?"

Yan Shang said softly: "It is a contraceptive decoction."

Mu Wanyao’s mind went blank, and she stared at him blankly.

He didn't know anything, so he just looked at her with a furrowed brow, worried for her, and regretting his own recklessness: "Last night... last night... I am sorry. You should drink this, shouldn't you? Why did your maids say you were unwilling?"

Mu Wanyao was silent for a moment, then smiled. He was too sharp; she could not let him see any clues in her expression, for she did not want to be disdained by him.

She said calmly: "I was not unwilling. I was just being temperamental and throwing a tantrum as usual."

She smiled at Yan Shang: "Give it here, I’ll drink it."

Yan Shang looked at her for a long time, and ultimately could not see anything, so he handed over the bowl of medicine with the foul smell. Mu Wanyao was extremely bold, drinking it all in one gulp. Seeing that he was still observing her with his head bowed, she raised an eyebrow at him.

Mu Wanyao teased: "If you keep looking at me with those deep, affectionate eyes, I won't be able to stop myself from kissing you.

"If I can't stop myself from kissing you, you won't be able to leave."

Yan Shang was instantly flushed scarlet by her teasing. He hurriedly took the medicine bowl, stood up in a rush, and didn't dare to stay too close to her. He awkwardly said goodbye, telling her he would come to see her later, and hurried out the door.

This time, Yan Shang was truly gone.

As soon as the door closed, Mu Wanyao leaned over the edge of the bed and began to vomit. She hooked her finger to her throat and threw up all of the contraceptive decoction she had just gulped down.

The black medicinal liquid dripped everywhere, spilling foul water all over the floor in front of the bed. Mu Wanyao lay on the edge of the bed, retching heavily, feeling as if even her stomach acid was going to be vomited out.

Her body rejected it, and her mind truly could not accept it... She was so repulsed and resistant to all topics concerning children that she could vomit up a bowl of contraceptive medicine entirely, leaving not a single drop—

Mu Wanyao lay on the edge of the bed, panting, and closed her eyes in despair.

Like this, how could she marry? How could she consider marriage?

She could not give Yan Shang anything... she would only drag him down, wouldn't she?

But even knowing she would drag him down, she was so willful, unable to bear letting go.

She would rather drag it out like this, drag it out... why did he have to be married?

After the military exercises and the literary contest on Le You Park yielded results, the Emperor’s birthday concluded successfully, and everyone returned to Chang’an.

After offering their birthday wishes to the Emperor, the envoys from various countries began preparing to return to their homelands one after another, and the Great Wei court began to get busy with these matters.

The Crown Prince had been in high spirits recently.

Lately, no matter what the matter was, he was the one who benefited in the end. Whether it was the success of Mu Wanyao’s literary contest or Yang Si and Yan Shang receiving recognition from the central government during the military exercises... all of them were on his side. Upon returning to the imperial court, the Crown Prince keenly felt that his influence was much greater than it had been in the past.

Those ministers, who were like old foxes, were slowly leaning toward him.

How could this not be exhilarating?

Yet, happiness often leads to sorrow, and there were always those who would not let him be at peace.

In the evening, after the Crown Prince had met with the ministers in the Eastern Palace, a palace maid said that Third Young Master Yang had been waiting outside for a while.

Having finished reading the last memorial, the Crown Prince washed his hands, wiped them with a towel, and tilted his head: "It’s hard for him to have such patience today, waiting for so long. Fine, let him in."

Soon, the youth in black martial robes walked into the hall, brazenly untying the sword at his waist and removing his shoes.

The Crown Prince was sitting and watching him with a smile, but his expression suddenly froze, because as Yang Si lifted his robes, he actually knelt down before him, upright and rigid.

The Crown Prince: "..."

Whenever Yang Si knelt, he instinctively felt that Yang Si must have caused some trouble again.

The Crown Prince rested his elbows on the desk, took a few deep breaths to adjust his mood, and said quietly: "Speak. Who did you hit again, who did you kill again, or were you beaten up by your father again, or did you make an enemy of someone, and need me to act as a lobbyist?"

Yang Si lifted his eyes: "None of those. I haven't done anything lately."

The Crown Prince said "Hmm," and added: "I suppose you wouldn't have. The military exercises have just concluded; how would you have the energy to cause trouble for me so quickly... Then why did you kneel before me?"

Yang Si replied: "I want to go to the border and join the army."

The Crown Prince’s brow jumped: "...!"

Yang Si did not mind the Crown Prince’s darkened expression and continued: "Before the military exercises, Suchen (Yan Shang's courtesy name) and I visited many veteran generals in Chang’an. Their teachings made me realize that the military strength of our Great Wei is truly too weak. And during those days of dueling at the military exercises, Suchen and I studied both the enemy and our own sides, compiling a lot of data on military strength, which I believe Your Highness has already seen.

"Your Highness also knows what I did during the exercises. The military exercise made me realize that I shouldn't stay in Chang’an and live a muddled life; my world should be at the border, on the battlefield. Please allow me to leave Chang’an and join the army at the border!"

The Crown Prince said immediately: "Nonsense!"

His voice was severe, and he slammed the desk heavily, scaring the palace servants outside into retreating quickly, not daring to approach the hall.

Yang Si, however, was indifferent and continued: "It is not nonsense. I am determined to leave Chang’an to go to the border to fight this time; I only hope Your Highness will agree."

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, wanting to erupt in rage, but remembered that this youth was impervious to reason. The harder he pushed, the more Yang Si would resist.

The Crown Prince tried to advise him as earnestly as possible: "I went to great lengths to have you transferred from the Longxi frontier army back to Chang’an, and now you’re telling me you want to go again? Have you thought about your parents, have you thought about me? The situation on the battlefield is such that swords have no eyes, and you, a dignified Third Young Master of the Yang family, insist on going to such a place... what are you after? If something should happen to you, never mind me, how will your family cope?

"Third Young Master, your father’s branch of the family only has you as their sole son! Do you have the heart to do this!"

Yang Si looked up and said calmly: "A man of great ambition should be in the four corners of the world; how can he be afraid of death? I came back once before because I couldn't bear it, but now that I have thought it through, I still want to leave. Now is the time when I should leave... Chang’an is full of debauchery, peaceful and prosperous everywhere. This is a good place, but it is not suitable for me.

"I have nothing to be sorry for toward my father and mother. They should be proud of me, and if they cannot be proud of me... then let it be as if I never existed. It is impossible for me to spend my whole life doing things I don't like for the sake of others. I can force myself for a while, but I cannot force myself for a lifetime!"

The Crown Prince: "Presumptuous!"

He stood up and shouted sternly: "The day I let you return to Chang’an, it was for you to marry the Sixth Sister. Fine, you are unwilling. I set this matter aside for the time being. Later, the Sixth Sister proved herself, and the marriage became less urgent... but I have always looked upon you two as a pair. Now I understand, you never had any intention of that at all...

"Don't you like Mu Wanyao? Haven't you always sympathized with her plight? Didn't you stay in Chang’an because you wanted to protect her? Are you not protecting her anymore? Have you abandoned her now?"

Yang Si lifted his chin: "She has someone more suitable than me to protect her. I am indeed relieved, and I can indeed leave without distraction, without worrying about her being bullied by you all. Brother Yan the Second is far more skilled at this than I am, and more favored by Yaoyao than I am. In the affairs of this world, those who are skilled should do the work! Those who are unskilled should find what they are skilled at, and not force one another!"

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth in hatred, angered to the point of laughter: "So, it was I who was forcing you all along?"

Yang Si looked down and remained silent.

The Crown Prince walked over and smashed a scroll against Yang Si’s head and face. Yang Si, however, did not move a muscle, his kneeling posture not even swaying, letting the Crown Prince vent his anger.

The Crown Prince was annoyed: "If you won't marry Mu Wanyao, then don't marry anyone at all!"

Yang Si: "I can do that!"

The Crown Prince then coaxed gently: "You are already this old, you will be of age soon, yet you have to run so far away... at least leave behind an heir, to give your parents something to look forward to?"

Yang Si looked up at the Crown Prince with a smile that was not quite a smile: "Your Highness should not think that I am truly a fool. Talking about leaving behind an heir, tricking me into staying in Chang’an, taking your sweet time to arrange a marriage, spending a year or half-a-year just to pick a wife. After I get married, you will start urging me to have children. After my wife gets pregnant, you will have to persuade me to wait until she gives birth before I leave. And after the child is born, it will be: ‘the child is so young, how can I bear to leave’..."

Yang Si’s eyes were crimson, his face lean, and his features sharp.

He furrowed his brows and said coldly: "I will not listen to your stalling anymore. I am determined to join the army, and if Your Highness does not agree, I will kneel here until you do."

The Crown Prince raged: "Then kneel there!"

The Crown Prince turned and left the hall without even looking at him. The palace servants carefully held their lanterns and took a look at the Third Young Master Yang kneeling in the hall, clicking their tongues, not daring to ask more. Yang Si knelt in the hall, the shadows of the parasol trees outside casting light and shadow upon him like water.