Tigers Sniff the Rose - Extra Chapter 3

Extra Chapter - Young Wanderer (Part 3)

On the night of Princess Danyang’s wedding, the newly renovated Princess’s Mansion was opened to the public. The festivities lasted all night long, and lanterns hung from both sides of the entire lane, making for a magnificent and dazzling sight.

Liu Wenji, who had come to Chang'an with Yan Shang to take the imperial examinations, had also failed to make the list that first year. Fortunately, with Yan Shang to keep him company, he hadn't felt quite so depressed. However, after Yan Shang caught the eye of the Princess and was chosen to marry her... for Liu Wenji, this meant he could often see Chunhua, the maidservant who frequently helped the Princess deliver messages.

Liu Wenji, attending the wedding banquet that night, indeed spotted the maidservant Chunhua. Their eyes met, and she immediately pursed her lips in a smile, turning her head away to avoid looking at him as she went to entertain the guests.

Liu Wenji gave a cough, followed her, and said softly from behind her: "Young Lady, I am the bridegroom's friend from back home. I have seen you many times before. In the future, I may often come to the mansion to look for Second Brother Yan... the bridegroom. But as the Princess's Mansion is not easy to enter, I hope that you could..."

Chunhua stood with her back to him, her face already burning hot.

She more or less understood what it meant when this handsome young man’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her.

Afraid of being noticed by others, she said softly: "I understand. I will instruct the servants. Please go and take a seat, sir; I still have work to do..."

Liu Wenji followed her without even blinking an eye. He rolled up his sleeves and said, "I'll help you."

And so, he followed behind the maidservant for the entire night, refusing to leave.

Yang Si was drinking with the First Prince and others. Partway through, he went to freshen up, and upon returning, he bumped into a little girl holding a jar of fine wine. The girl was walking out from a corner, carefully hugging the enormous jar to her chest.

She was small and lacked strength, and just as she was about to tumble over because of the heavy jar, a man's hand reached out to steady her shoulder, helping her regain her balance.

She immediately whispered: "Many thanks."

She raised her face.

The light from a lantern shone upon the face of this twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl; she was delicate, fair, and pale, with dark, ink-like pupils. She had a look of naive, shy innocence, the appearance of a young girl from a remote place who hadn't seen much of the world.

Not yet grown up.

Not yet world-weary.

Yang Si, however, stared at her in a daze. For a moment, the hand resting on her shoulder trembled slightly, and he felt a sharp, stabbing sense of heart-palpitation without knowing why.

In a trance, it felt as if he had met her in a dream before.

The page following the long-striding Yang Silang, seeing his master holding a young girl, feared that the Third Young Master was up to his usual mischief and quickly rushed up to whisper: "Third Young Master, this is the Yan young lady, the bridegroom's own sister."

He gave a flattering smile to Yan Xiaozhou.

Yan Xiaozhou blushed and returned the smile.

Yang Si stared at her face, trying to discern why she felt so familiar to him. Carelessly, he refused to let her go: "What is this wine jar of yours?"

Yan Xiaozhou’s voice was as clear and melodic as an oriole's: "It is wine I brewed myself, wine from our hometown called Lingxi Wine. My second brother has married, so I took out the wine I brewed..."

Yang Si gave an "Oh," and decisively extended an arm, easily snatching the wine from her grasp.

Yan Xiaozhou: "Hey..."

Yang Si took the wine and turned to leave: "I’ll take this wine."

Yan Xiaozhou stared wide-eyed, not expecting someone to be so overbearing.

She bit her lip and chased after him, plucking up her courage: "You... who are you... you cannot do this! This wine is for my sister-in-law... it is not for you to drink!"

Yang Si scoffed.

He looked back with a devil-may-care attitude and curled his lip at her: "Once it is in my hands, it is for me."

He walked away with such ease, and after chasing him for a long while without catching up, Yan Xiaozhou soon reached the tables of the nobles. She stood blankly outside the hall, unable to go inside to snatch back her wine. She saw the young man who had just stolen her wine turn back to smile at her, then open the wine jar and pour a drink for that table...

Tears welled up in Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes, her heart filled with grievances.

A servant nearby said uneasily: "Young lady..."

How could the Third Young Master make the bridegroom’s own sister cry?

On his side, Yang Si saw the tears in Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes. He was stunned and somewhat at a loss, never imagining that a little joke could make a little girl cry. As the people at his table were about to start drinking, Yang Si felt irritable and shouted: "No more drinking! Pour the wine back for me!"

He stepped toward the outside of the hall, frowning as he walked toward Yan Xiaozhou, wanting to say something.

Yan Xiaozhou’s eyes were flowing with clear, shimmering light, misty and watery. Her heart was full of grievance and anger, but she could not quarrel with anyone at her brother’s wedding banquet. Moreover, these aristocratic sons were the kind of people her family could not afford to offend.

Yang Si said awkwardly: "Hey, that, um..."

Yan Xiaozhou didn't even look at him, turned around, and walked away to find her father and brother.

Yang Si: "..."

He only thought she looked familiar and wanted to play with her; he truly hadn't intended to make an enemy of her—

Not mentioning the irrelevant bystanders, Mu Wanyao felt that her wedding had been a great success.

She had married the bridegroom she liked most.

She had the most magnificent wedding.

Although Second Brother Yan had hurt her at night, he had spoken to her several times, his tone just as gentle as before the wedding. She felt she hadn't married the wrong person.

Moreover, starting tomorrow, she would have her own mansion, no longer needing to live in the palace or be watched by the Emperor, Empress, and her brother all day long.

Marriage is wonderful!

It was just... it hurt so much.

Mu Wanyao was simply too tired, and it was her first time lying in the same bed with a man. She was nervous about sharing a pillow with a stranger and afraid that Yan Shang would find her troublesome, so despite the discomfort, she endured it and drifted into an muddled sleep.

She woke up suddenly, feeling light falling onto her eyelids. The light was shaking slightly, keeping her from falling back asleep.

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes to see the curtains drawn. Outside the curtains, Yan Shang, dressed only in his undergarments, had his hair half-tied, with a few loose strands brushing against his cheeks.

The window curtains were not pulled open, and the light Mu Wanyao felt came from the glimmer of the candle holder Yan Shang held in his hand. He was frowning slightly, leaning over as he sat by the edge of the bed, his head lowered as if he were using the light to inspect something closely.

Usually, the young man had the refined bearing of a distant, lofty mountain, but in private at this moment, perhaps because his hair was untied, he looked like nothing more than a beautiful and elegant youth; the only word that came to mind when looking at him was "handsome."

As bright as jade.

Mu Wanyao’s heart began to pound again.

Seeing him holding the candle and looking at something like this, she became curious about what he was looking at.

While Yan Shang had his head lowered, he heard a slightly sticky, soft voice come from the curtains: "Second Brother Yan, what are you looking at?"

Yan Shang was given such a start that the light from the candle in his hand wavered. He abruptly raised his face, opening the embroidered curtains he had been carefully shielding.

A warm, fragrant breeze wafted over, and a pair of lovely, sparkling cat-like eyes were the first to emerge from the curtains. Mu Wanyao was sprawled on the mattress, her long hair scattered like clouds of ink, framing a face as white as snow and beautiful.

With disheveled hair and arms white as snow protruding, she leaned over. Her cheeks were soft and tender, and as she looked up, two rows of dense, long eyelashes were clearly visible, like a brush.

Yan Shang was stiff and blushing, instinctively leaning his upper body backward. He relied on his strong willpower to keep himself from turning away, desperately telling himself that this was his wife—he couldn't always be so unaccustomed to her.

Yan Shang didn't speak, and Mu Wanyao followed his gaze, suddenly realizing what he had been using a candle to look at early in the morning.

He was looking at the spots of blood on the bed sheets.

Mu Wanyao instantly recalled what happened last night, and her face flushed crimson. Shy at seeing the bloodstains, she hid back under the quilt. She sat on the bed wrapped in the bedding, but still raised her pair of shimmering, watery eyes to look at him.

Yan Shang coughed in embarrassment.

He said in a low voice: "I am used to waking up early, so I rose rather early... I didn't mean to disturb Your Highness, but I vaguely saw bloodstains and, suspicious, took a candle to look more closely. It was my fault for waking you."

Mu Wanyao mumbled: "This... what is there to look at?"

Yan Shang, likewise hesitating for a long time, finally gritted his teeth and asked her: "Is Your Highness... is Your Highness... injured?"

Mu Wanyao’s eyes widened as she stared at him blankly.

Yan Shang’s face was as red as blood. She watched as his ear roots, visible under his hair, turned as red as a little adzuki bean.

Enduring his embarrassment and shyness, he whispered to her: "I... I was reckless last night, perhaps I injured Your Highness somewhere... I wanted to take a look, but... but I thought that might not be appropriate.

"Since Your Highness is awake, that is good. Could you tell Shang where you were injured..."

Mu Wanyao: "..."

She was too shy to raise her head.

After a while, her voice was as faint as a mosquito's: "Doesn't Second Brother Yan know?"

Yan Shang didn't say anything.

He was just as shy and embarrassed as she was, perhaps even more so. But as a man, he felt he had to take responsibility for this. He stammered: "I... I vaguely guessed a little, but I couldn't be sure... Your Highness, is it... there?"

Mu Wanyao: "...Mm."

Both were unable to speak due to their embarrassment.

After a long while, Mu Wanyao heard Yan Shang’s slightly strained, low voice: "Then, then what should we do? Do you need medicine?"

Mu Wanyao whispered that the palace matrons had told her before marriage that this was normal, and they had prepared medicine. Yan Shang let out a sigh of relief; it was good that she knew what was going on.

He remained deeply embarrassed: "Then, should I have a maidservant come in to serve Your Highness..."

Mu Wanyao immediately said: "No!"

She raised her face: "How could I let anyone else see me there!"

Yan Shang stuttered: "Then... then could it be that I have to..."

Mu Wanyao: "I... I can do it myself."

Yan Shang turned around awkwardly: "Oh, oh."

He followed her instructions, fetched the ointment for her, handed it to her, and turned his back without looking back. Mu Wanyao gripped the ointment nervously but couldn't bring herself to use it for a long time. Shy to the point of tears, she tentatively moved her leg and let out a hiss of pain.

Yan Shang’s back, as he sat by the side of the bed with his back to her, stiffened, and he was startled by her sound: "What, what happened?"

He thought in a chaotic jumble, did the noble Princess not even know how to apply medicine?

Mu Wanyao: "I want to bathe first, then apply the medicine."

Yan Shang: "That, that is also good."

Mu Wanyao choked back a sob: "But it hurts so much whenever I move; I can't get up, Second Brother Yan."

Yan Shang remained silent.

Slowly, he turned around to look at Mu Wanyao, who was sitting on the bed with her legs bent. Her undergarment was disheveled, revealing a bit of her jade-white shoulder and clear collarbone. Her cheeks were crimson, her eyes filled with mist as she looked at him pitifully. Yan Shang met her gaze for a moment, and she gave a small sob, a drop of water clinging to her eyelashes.

Yan Shang’s heart suddenly fluttered; he thought of how she looked the first time they met.

Yan Shang leaned over and pulled her into his arms.

He said softly: "Don't cry, it is my fault for hurting Your Highness. I will carry you to the washroom, all right?"

Perhaps physical intimacy really can quickly shorten the distance between two people. Mu Wanyao couldn't let her maidservants see her current state, but she was willing for her new husband to see it. She gave a small sob, and he placed one hand on her shoulder and the other under her slender, white knees, lifting her from the bed.

Mu Wanyao buried her face in his chest and hugged his neck.

Mu Wanyao whispered: "Am I heavy, brother?"

Yan Shang couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness is like a little cat; where would you find any weight?"

Mu Wanyao felt relieved, because his voice was gentle, dispelling the nervousness she felt upon waking up in the morning when facing him. He carried her straight through the gauze curtains toward the washroom. Finally, putting her down, Yan Shang hesitated and looked down at her.

Mu Wanyao kept her head lowered.

Yan Shang bent down to look her in the eye: "Is Your Highness all right alone?"

Mu Wanyao felt his breath brush over her face and was instantly blushing and heart-thumping. She was nervous: "I am fine!"

Yan Shang, however, frowned, worried that as a Princess, she wouldn't know how to wash herself. But he was too embarrassed to go in and accompany her, so he pressed the ointment into her hand and said softly: "Then I will wait for you outside. If you need anything, just call me. Don't be afraid, Your Highness."

He took care of her completely like a little sister who didn't know anything, offering many reminders. Mu Wanyao felt both shy and happy, nodding as she was sent inside.

Just as Yan Shang was about to leave, Mu Wanyao called out to him again.

Thinking she needed something, he turned back, only to see her gripping the wooden door, raising her face and asking naively: "Did I bewitch you, Second Brother Yan, so that you are head over heels for me?"

Yan Shang: "..."

Even though he had been nervous and keeping a distance from his new wife, when she looked up and asked such a silly question, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Mu Wanyao looked at him blankly, seeing the smile in his eyes for the first time—no longer that polite, courteous one, but a few notes of playful teasing: "Doesn't Your Highness have a clue in her heart?"

Mu Wanyao: "..."

Submerged in warm water, Mu Wanyao buried her face in the water, holding her breath until her little face turned red before she surfaced, hugging her own arms. The little Princess sat in the wooden tub with her knees tucked up, thinking blankly—what did that chuckle mean, and what did it mean when he asked if she had a clue?

Could it be that she hadn't bewitched him?

Father, Mother, and Brother all said she was a beauty!—

Mu Wanyao felt her life was extraordinarily smooth.

From a young age, she had been pampered by her family, and after marriage, her husband was the best-tempered person she had ever met. Her husband accompanied her during meals, cared for her body, and reminded her to apply her medicine three times a day.

Because of the medicine, it seemed they shared a secret unique to the two of them, and the distance between them had shortened considerably.

Actually, it didn't hurt that much, and after resting for two days, Mu Wanyao was fine. But she enjoyed Yan Shang’s concern for her, so she kept complaining of pain, making him feel even more guilty.

On the whole, Mu Wanyao was very satisfied with her newlywed life. The only thing she wasn't quite satisfied with was that Yan Shang had to go to the Crown Prince’s palace to work during the day, and when he returned, he had to study. That aside, when it was time to sleep, Yan Shang wouldn't even stay in the same room as her.

The number of times Mu Wanyao could see Yan Shang in a day could be counted on one hand.

Because the matrons from the palace said that unless summoned by the Princess, the bridegroom was not allowed to take the initiative to see the Princess, let alone sleep in the Princess's quarters. The bridegroom had his own courtyard and bedchamber in the Princess's Mansion. There was a distance between his quarters and the Princess’s, to avoid disturbing her.

Mu Wanyao was dumbfounded.

When the Princess’s Mansion was being renovated, of course she knew there were separate quarters for the bridegroom, because every Princess's Mansion was like that, and Mu Wanyao hadn't paid it any mind. Mu Wanyao just hadn't expected that without her summons, Yan Shang wasn't allowed to see her.

And since their marriage, apart from mealtimes, Mu Wanyao didn't get to see Yan Shang at all.

Mu Wanyao would sometimes get anxious, and hearing the bridegroom had returned to the mansion, she would want her maidservant to summon Yan Shang. But the matron from the palace would put on a stern face: How could Your Highness summon the bridegroom to serve in bed every single night? A young lady must be modest.

Mu Wanyao felt so aggrieved: When had she ever summoned him every night? She hadn't summoned him even once!

Every time she wanted to, the matron would start lecturing her on self-cultivation and the impropriety of indulgence... frightening away all of Mu Wanyao’s courage.

She hated these matrons from the palace—

As for Yan Shang, his heart was as still as calm water. Every day, he spent his time either studying or acting as a staff member, gaining experience while following the Crown Prince.

He hadn't been prone to desire to begin with, and he had always been restraining himself. On their wedding night, Mu Wanyao had been in such pain, and later she was injured, so any spark of interest he had was dampened, making it all seem a bit dull.

As for Mu Wanyao herself, not knowing how to interact with her, Yan Shang had simply decided to treat her like a younger sister. Since he was already skilled at taking care of his own younger sister, switching to Mu Wanyao didn't make much difference.

His own younger sister, Yan Xiaozhou, had followed his family back to Lingnan not long after his wedding. Yang Si had specifically asked, but was met only with Yan Shang’s contemplative gaze, and Yang Si hadn't felt comfortable saying that he had made someone's sister cry.

But Yan Shang would soon learn that a wife is not a sister.

At night, after Yan Shang finished practicing his calligraphy and had gone through his routine of reflecting on whether his words and actions had been appropriate that day, he extinguished the light to sleep. He hadn't been asleep for long when he heard extremely light knocking on the door.

A young girl’s voice came from outside, small and almost a whisper: "Second Brother Yan, Second Brother Yan..."

Yan Shang was stunned, sitting up in bed and recognizing it as Mu Wanyao’s voice. Surprised, he lit a lamp, hurriedly threw on his outer robe, and went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, his little wife pounced over, crashing into his arms and hugging his waist. Mu Wanyao said nervously: "Quick, close the door, close the door!"

Yan Shang did as he was told.

He couldn't figure it out for a moment, but after closing the door, he politely placed his hands on Mu Wanyao’s shoulders and gently pushed her away from his chest. He took Mu Wanyao to sit down and poured her tea to drink. Yan Shang observed her expression, seeing she looked lingeringly fearful, yet her eyes were narrowed and shining brightly as she looked at him.

Yan Shang couldn't guess what was wrong with her.

Yan Shang: "At this hour, shouldn't Your Highness be asleep?"

Hearing this, Mu Wanyao pouted.

She angrily set down her teacup and said: "Right, I should be asleep. That’s why I snuck past those matrons' eyes and had Chunhua lead people away so I could come and see Second Brother Yan. They watch me all day long and lecture me on the 'Rules for Women' every day; I’m too embarrassed to summon Second Brother Yan...

"I hate it!"

Yan Shang understood, and then he smiled.

He said warmly: "The matrons are here to teach you deportment, and it is for your own good, Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao studied him for a moment and felt even more aggrieved: "You don't come to see me either. You never come!"

Yan Shang was startled and said: "I... I am not in a convenient position..."

Mu Wanyao said: "You're also being blocked by those matrons who lecture you on not being overly indulgent or something... I hate it; you are my only bridegroom, when have I ever been overly indulgent!"

Yan Shang smiled slightly.

He asked: "Does Your Highness want to see me?"

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips.

He was understanding and said: "Then I will go and plead with the matrons, bribe them with a bit of money, so they agree to let me see Your Highness."

Mu Wanyao was happy in her heart, but made a face of difficulty: "But they will lecture you, Second Brother Yan, and say you are overly indulgent..."

Yan Shang said warmly: "It doesn't matter. I am a man; it is of no concern if I am said to be so."

Mu Wanyao frowned: "But I don't want your reputation to be damaged."

Yan Shang pondered for a moment and said: "How about this, next time you and I go to the palace to see the Emperor and Empress, I will find a way to have them recall the matrons so they aren't in the mansion influencing you, all right?"

Mu Wanyao’s eyes widened instantly, shining with brilliance: "Can you?"

Yan Shang: "Yes, I can."

She smiled immediately and leaned over to hug his waist. Yan Shang stiffened as a warm, fragrant body was already in his arms. He desperately tried to adapt, sighing in his heart that the Princess loved physical contact so much. She was always leaning over at the slightest opportunity.

Buried in Yan Shang’s arms, Mu Wanyao caught the scent on his body. She looked up at him occasionally, blinking her eyes.

Yan Shang was too knowledgeable about the human heart, too capable of seeing through what people’s eyes were expressing. After a moment of hesitation, he couldn't help but smile.

He said: "It is so late, Your Highness... would you like to stay the night and let me take care of you?"

Mu Wanyao was reserved: "But if the matrons don't see me in bed tomorrow morning, they will talk about me again..."

Yan Shang: "Before dawn tomorrow, when I get up to study, I will wake you up and take you back."

Mu Wanyao was satisfied, mumbling in his arms: "You are so good."

Yan Shang gave a bitter smile.

He thought in his heart that while she thought he was good, she wanted to sleep here tonight; with such a beauty by his side, how was he going to endure it...—

Yan Shang made the bed for Mu Wanyao and found a new quilt for her. He went back and forth bustling around, and Mu Wanyao sat with her chin in her hands, watching him with relish. Whenever he turned around, she would offer a radiant, shy smile.

Yan Shang was watched until he blushed, immediately looking away.

After finally finishing, Yan Shang fiddled around for a while, folding the outer robe she had taken off, before struggling and finally getting into bed. He lay flat for a moment before feeling a warm body lean in, and she hugged his arm. Seeing he didn't dodge, Mu Wanyao felt relieved and leaned her face against his shoulder, closing her eyes in contentment.

She whispered: "Why are you so stiff? Are you nervous?"

In the darkness, Yan Shang answered after a long while: "Your Highness... are you not nervous?"

Mu Wanyao: "No."

She gave a somewhat naive smile, rubbed her eyelashes against him, and yawned: "Second Brother Yan is so good to me, I’m not nervous at all."

Yan Shang remained calm.

He didn't know what to say, and he felt too shy to do anything. He turned around slowly to face her; in the darkness, his fingers wanted to reach out to her, but they only trembled, and he bit his lip before finally managing to squeeze out: "Are... are you healed?"

Mu Wanyao was happy that he still cared about her injury. Even though she was healed, she wanted to enjoy his concern more, so she replied: "Not yet."

Yan Shang didn't speak again.

Mu Wanyao suddenly felt as if she had missed something, and she murmured, confused: "Why did Second Brother Yan ask that?"

Yan Shang smiled: "Nothing, go to sleep, Your Highness." —

Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang returned to the imperial palace to visit her father and mother.

The Emperor and Empress saw that their youngest daughter was as silly as before after the wedding, and they laughed, shaking their heads, feeling relieved. Listening to the matrons, they learned that Yan Shang was very good to their little daughter. Most marriages for princesses were political, and the couple simply hoped that in placing their daughter’s happiness in this union, they hadn't made a mistake.

Mu Wanyao cuddled with the Empress, acting spoiled, and said many things in front of her mother. When they left, the Empress’s brow relaxed upon seeing Yan Shang standing outside the palace, an outer cloak draped over his arm.

Seeing Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao ran toward him with a trot: "Second Brother Yan!"

The Empress watched coldly as Yan Shang gently draped the cloak over her daughter and placed a hand warmer into her arms. The Empress observed to see if he was putting on a show, but upon seeing how accustomed her daughter was to it, she knew that was how the young couple was in their daily life.

The Empress felt relieved.

She had just always felt that Yan Shang was consistently gentle, treating everyone the same, and was always afraid that he might be a hypocrite.

If he were a true gentleman, then that would naturally be good.

As Mu Wanyao followed Yan Shang out of the palace, she discovered that Yan Shang had already had the matrons from the mansion sent back to the palace. Learning this from the lady-in-waiting beside the Empress, she was surprised and caught up to Yan Shang.

Mu Wanyao walked beside Yan Shang, glancing at him sideways. When no one was paying attention, she pulled on his sleeve and shook it. Yan Shang lowered his head to look at her.

Mu Wanyao immediately grabbed his hand.

Yan Shang was startled, looking at their hands clasped together.

Mu Wanyao held back her shyness and smiled at him, batting her eyes. Yan Shang coughed and looked away, letting her hold his hand. Seeing he hadn't pulled away, Mu Wanyao was happy, leaning toward him and asking: "Second Brother Yan, did you send the matrons back?"

Yan Shang said warmly: "Yes. Didn't I promise you, Your Highness?"

Mu Wanyao was curious: "You are amazing. But what did you say to my father? They sent the matrons to the mansion to supervise me and weren't willing to withdraw them easily. It was so hard for me to just get rid of one, Nonghua... Second Brother Yan, what did you say to them?"

Yan Shang remained silent.

Mu Wanyao whispered: "Can't you say?"

Yan Shang sighed: "It's not that..."

He turned to look at her: "Does Your Highness really want to know?"

Mu Wanyao nodded: "Mm!"

Yan Shang lowered his head to whisper in her ear: "I told the Emperor that those matrons were always restricting you from being with me, so we couldn't share a bed. If we can't share a bed, we will have no heirs, and if Your Highness and I are pointed at by others for that, it would be a bad thing. Compared to that, is it really that important for the matrons to supervise you?"

Mu Wanyao’s face instantly flushed crimson.

She stammered: "For, for the sake of having children?"

She immediately thought of the pain of their wedding night and grew conflicted. Seeing this, Yan Shang comforted her: "Don't worry, Your Highness, it was just a reason. It is not really, really..." —

Ever since the matrons left the mansion, Mu Wanyao finally obtained her freedom. There were no longer any informants from the palace in the mansion, and no one was constantly telling her parents and brother about her affairs, so she began decorating the place to her heart’s content.

She had the servants move the bridegroom’s belongings into her bedchamber; she had no intention of sleeping in separate rooms or beds from Yan Shang all day. After touring Yan Shang’s study, she took the initiative to move Yan Shang’s books and official documents into her own study. She tidied up her own things and cleared space for Yan Shang.

After a happily busy day, Mu Wanyao felt she was incomparably virtuous.

When Yan Shang returned in the evening, he found the courtyard he lived in was locked. Just as he stood before the lock in thought, a sweet, delicate voice came from behind: "Second Brother Yan, Second Brother Yan..."

Yan Shang turned around, habitually placing a hand on Mu Wanyao’s shoulder to prevent her from crashing into his arms.

Mu Wanyao said eagerly: "Second Brother Yan, are you hungry, do you need to freshen up, do you want water? Second Brother Yan, I arranged a new piece of music today; would you listen to it and tell me what you think? I also tried making lotus cakes; they are sweet and especially delicious. I specially saved a lot for you, and also..."

Yan Shang focused on watching her.

She chattered on and on. Whatever she said was because she liked him. How could he break the heart of a girl who liked him?

Yan Shang listened patiently until she finished, answering her questions one by one, before pointing to the lock behind him and asking what had happened.

Mu Wanyao happily said: "Second Brother Yan should move over to sleep with me from now on. I also moved Second Brother Yan’s books, so that from now on, whatever Second Brother Yan does, he can be with me."

After she finished speaking, she suddenly felt she had been a bit presumptuous, so she raised her face nervously: "Are, are you angry that I did this without telling you?"

Yan Shang said warmly: "I wouldn't go so far as to say angry. But in the future, if you want to do something, could you ask for my opinion first? I know you are a Princess, Your Highness, and you are accustomed to putting your own affairs first. But between husband and wife, one should not just look out for oneself, right?"

Mu Wanyao was stunned; it was her first time hearing such ideas, and she found it quite novel. However, what he said made sense, so she nodded and agreed. Yan Shang couldn't help himself and stroked her hair.

With this, he himself was startled.

Mu Wanyao suddenly raised her head to look at him.

With the corners of her eyes slightly hooked, she looked a bit playful.

She said: "That was your first time touching me voluntarily."

Yan Shang froze, looked at her, and then looked at his own palm.

Mu Wanyao, however, didn't take it to heart.

That night, Yan Shang was pulled into her study by Mu Wanyao, who insisted he sit and study while she leaned against him, swearing to provide "red-sleeved fragrance addition" (literary companionship).

Yan Shang touched his forehead and laughed.

Mu Wanyao: "What are you laughing at? Do you think I can't do it?"

Yan Shang said politely: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Mu Wanyao was unconvinced and insisted on being a beautiful lady offering literary companionship. But she soon discovered she couldn't do it; she didn't have much of a knack for reading expressions, and couldn't immediately tell what Yan Shang needed. She watched him staring at his documents from the side, found it boring, and soon her mind began to wander.

By the time she snapped back to reality, Mu Wanyao had already slumped down. With a drooping head, she leaned against Yan Shang’s shoulder and began to doze off.

Yan Shang dragged his feet, not wanting to share a bed with her while she was awake. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to restrain himself, afraid of hurting her, and felt that there was no difference between that and beasts... The place where he was being leaned on, from his shoulder to his arm, remained stiff.

Yan Shang whispered: "Go to sleep, Your Highness. Reading these documents is very boring, you don't need to accompany me."

Mu Wanyao ignored him with her head down, but suddenly she tugged at his sleeve, as if remembering something she wanted to do. Yan Shang was always gentle with her, so when she tugged him, he lowered his head to listen to what she wanted to say. With this lowering and then raising of his head, his lips brushed against her moist, slightly parted mouth.

A momentary touch, soft and warm.

Both of them froze, their heartbeats accelerating in unison.