Tigers Sniff the Rose - Extra Chapter 5

Extra Chapter - Young Wanderer (Part 5)

The more Mu Wanyao cared, the more she felt that Yan Shang might not actually like her.

He treated her quite properly, indeed.

But didn't he treat everyone the same?

Mu Wanyao felt... perhaps she lacked that certain fatal attraction for Yan Shang.

Perhaps she was missing something that could stir his emotions.

Beauty, talent, status—all these were enough to make Yan Shang treat Mu Wanyao very well. But this was not love. Love should be... that kind of excitement, intensity; it should be an emotion like her own, right?

But Yan Shang felt none of that.

Her bridegroom was a man who appeared gentle, yet was exceptionally cold-hearted in reality. In the deepest depths of his heart, perhaps there was only room for himself. He was good enough to Mu Wanyao, but Mu Wanyao could not share him with her.

He belonged only to himself.

Yet, Mu Wanyao wanted the whole of him—

Mu Wanyao had never snooped through Yan Shang’s belongings before, but ever since doubt took root, she began looking for clues. She read his letters to friends, checked his correspondence with his family... and she had to admit, Yan Shang rarely mentioned her.

His love was different from hers.

His feelings toward her were not the same as her feelings toward him.

How could a little princess, raised pampered since childhood, endure such a blow? She choked back sobs, heartbroken over a love that didn't exist. She dared not return to the palace to complain to her father the Emperor or her mother the Empress, nor did she dare go to anyone else; she feared that if they found out, they would punish Yan Shang.

But why punish Yan Shang? Was it a crime not to love someone?

Mu Wanyao went to Yang Si’s mansion to drink. After a while, urged on by Yang Si, she choked out her frustrations. The moment Yang Si heard, he drew his sword and rose, intending to go find Yan Shang and settle the score. Mu Wanyao blocked him: "No!"

Yang Si said coldly: "He dares not to like you!"

Mu Wanyao hiccuped through her sobs: "He can't help it himself. If he could have helped it, he would have liked me the first moment he saw me. But he didn't.

"Third Brother Yang, I've checked—he has no female confidantes outside, and he is extremely careful in this regard during his daily socializing. He is a person who is exceptionally proper, never bringing any trouble upon himself."

Mu Wanyao said blankly: "He is the same with me. He brings me pastries, comes to pick me up, and whenever I ask him to play, he will put aside his work to accompany me... but Third Brother Yang, am I also just a 'trouble' to him? Is he just treating me as he would anyone else, just to deal with me?"

Seeing her eyes and the tip of her nose flushed red from crying, Yang Si’s heart softened. He felt indignant; Yaoyao was such a cute and pretty girl, and since Yan Shang didn't have anyone else on his mind, why couldn't he love her?

But at the same time, he was lost in confusion.

He wondered, could emotions really be controlled?

Emotions follow the heart; if the heart does not move, how can feelings flow like the tide or a stream? A person can decide what to do or not do, but they cannot force themselves to fall in love.

Yang Si asked gloomily: "Then what will you do? Are you going to divorce him?"

Mu Wanyao widened her eyes in shock: "Are you crazy! I like him so much; I haven't even won him over yet, why would I divorce him and let someone else have him? If I can’t get the man, why would I give him to someone else!"

Yang Si: "..."

He was stunned: "Then what do you want?"

Mu Wanyao said sullenly: "I want to make him like me."

She was quite unconvinced: "I am so amazing, why is he able to remain as still as a stagnant pool?"

Yang Si looked at her: "...Then coming to me—since you didn't ask me to help you beat him up—what is your meaning?"

Mu Wanyao revealed a smile and sat closer to him: "Third Brother Yang, it’s like this. You know I’ve been kept under such strict control by my brothers since I was little that I haven't met many men. I don't understand men, nor do I know how to get along with them. I only know you, and I only have a good relationship with you... can you help me think of some ideas? What kind of girl does my husband actually like?"

Yang Si understood.

Sitting with her on the railing of the long corridor, he rested his hands on his bent knees, smiling mysteriously: "I’ll tell you, men all like girls who are well-behaved, sensible, virtuous, and gentle!"

Mu Wanyao felt baffled: Wasn't she well-behaved and sensible? Perhaps she was a bit lacking in virtue, but she was very gentle, too.

Yang Si hooked his arm around her shoulder and said with longing: "Come, come, silly sister. Third Brother will discuss this with you while we drink. Seducing a man requires a long-term plan..."

Mu Wanyao blushed and defended herself: "It’s winning my husband’s heart! Not seducing! I wouldn't do that!"—

Yang Si pulled Mu Wanyao along, and they drank until they were dead drunk. The two "wise guys" initially remembered to discuss the problem of "what kind of girl Yan Er-lang likes," but by the end, Mu Wanyao was so muddled and dizzy that she had forgotten her original purpose.

That night, when Yan Shang came to the Yang mansion to look for her, what he saw was the sight of two drunks holding a wine jar in a foolish stupor.

Yan Shang saw the two of them sitting under the corridor, shoulders hooked together, and after a moment’s pause, his face stiffened slightly.

The young servant leading the way hurriedly spoke up for his master: "Bridegroom, please don't misunderstand. Our Third Young Master and the Princess have called each other brother and sister since they were young; their relationship is excellent, and there is no other intent."

Yan Shang managed a strained smile. There was a thorn in his heart; seeing Mu Wanyao and Yang Si like this made him feel miserable. He was surprised and introspective, trying to persuade himself not to overthink it.

Yan Shang squatted down. In front of Mu Wanyao, he gently hooked his finger under the chin that was flushed red from drinking and patted her face softly: "Your Highness... Your Highness..."

Mu Wanyao opened her eyes, drunk and hazy. Seeing her eyes open, Yan Shang revealed a smile, not anticipating that her eyes would instantly fill with a misty resentment.

She was no longer the well-behaved little lady he knew; she reached out and pushed against his chest, knocking the unprepared Yan Shang over until he fell to the ground. Yan Shang was stunned. Mu Wanyao shouted: "You annoying ghost!"

Yan Shang’s face turned bright red, then quickly pale.

A man who had always been so particular about his conduct, being seen in such an unseemly state by the servants of the Yang household, felt as if he could die from embarrassment. And that Yang Third Young Master next to Mu Wanyao also looked at him with unfocused eyes and a mysterious smile... Yan Shang’s face turned green and white, and only after a long time did he say: "It is me."

Mu Wanyao: "I know it's you! Annoying ghost! Why do you always call me 'Your Highness' instead of 'Yaoyao'? Everyone loves me, only you don't. You are truly annoying!"

Watched by the shocked servants of the Yang household, Yan Shang’s face was red enough to drip blood. He propped himself up to rise from the ground, gently moving to hug her shoulders to help her up. He said obsequiously: "It—it is my fault... let’s go home and talk about it, shall we?"

Mu Wanyao: "Then call me 'Yaoyao'!"

Yan Shang: "Very well, Yaoyao."

Mu Wanyao sat on the ground, spread her arms, and tilted her face up to him: "Hold me."

Yan Shang hesitated for a second, then bent down to pick her up horizontally. He tried his best to ignore the Yang servants as he carried his drunken wife out of the mansion. Carried in his arms, Mu Wanyao turned her head, looking at him with a mix of surprise and triumph.

She was drunk and muddled.

Yet, her heart was very clear.

Looking at her husband’s handsome profile and jade-like chin, the Princess, who was always well-behaved, became extraordinarily bold that night. She suddenly reached out, cupped his face, leaned in, and planted a loud "pop" of a kiss on his lips.

Holding her, Yan Shang stumbled, almost falling. He looked at her in confusion. The little girl in his arms puckered her lips, tilted her head, and looked at him with a smile that was impossibly cute.

His face turned even redder.

After a long while, he managed to choke out: "Do not do this in public."

Mist instantly filled Mu Wanyao’s eyes, and she began to sob: "You are mine; I gave you a mark, and you scold me. You really don't like me."

Yan Shang panicked: "I—I didn't mean it that way... when did I scold you?"

But he couldn't win an argument against her.

And he didn't need to win.

Because she had only kissed him like that, and Yan Shang’s head began to spin. He silently cursed, knowing that with just a touch from her, he was going to be "drunk." He never touched a drop of alcohol and was prone to getting tipsy just by smelling it, let alone being kissed mouth-to-mouth by a girl.

Fearing he would make a spectacle of himself in the Yang mansion, Yan Shang didn't dare stay longer and hurried his pace while holding Mu Wanyao.

But after he had braced himself and walked two steps, the girl in his arms wouldn't behave. Seeing him ignore her, Mu Wanyao began to feel sad again, sobbing that he didn't have her in his heart. Yan Shang was so miserable he couldn't speak; his face was flushed a deep, alarming red—at this point, it was no longer a psychological issue.

Sweat seeped from his temples, his body stiffened, and his face was hot with shame.

Mu Wanyao hugged his neck and rubbed her cheek lightly against his chin.

Yan Shang said in agony: "Don't, don't..."

Mu Wanyao: "Are you not even going to let me touch you now... ah."

Yan Shang’s pace finally faltered. He couldn't hold on anymore. Before he had even walked out of the shadow wall, his body swayed while holding her, and he tumbled toward the ground. He hit the floor with a "thud," his head striking the cold wall. Before he lost consciousness, he only had time to tuck Mu Wanyao’s head into his chest, trying his best not to hurt her as he fell.

Before fading out, Yan Shang only remembered Mu Wanyao’s wide, startled eyes.

He smiled bitterly in his heart.

He hadn't wanted to make a fool of himself, yet he had done exactly that—

Mu Wanyao sat on the ground, stunned, watching Yan Shang’s head hit the wall, blood instantly bleeding from his temple. Mu Wanyao was scared silly, while Yang Si suddenly pushed her aside, grabbed the unconscious Yan Shang from the ground, and carried him inside.

Yang Si: "What happened to Yan Er?"

Mu Wanyao said blankly: "I don't know..."

The group spent the whole night in the Yang mansion, and in the end, it was Mu Wanyao who brought the comatose Yan Shang back to the Princess’s Mansion. Her alcohol-induced haze was half-frightened away after Yan Shang fainted, and after drinking some sobering soup, by the time they returned to the mansion, Mu Wanyao sat beside the bed, heavy-hearted, watching the gauze wrapped around her husband’s forehead.

She was anxious and full of regret—she knew Yan Shang didn't drink.

But she hadn't known his tolerance was this poor.

Mu Wanyao sadly held his hand, weeping for a long time, praying for him to wake up, for the scar not to remain on his forehead, and for him not to hold a grudge against her for being so high-maintenance.

Suddenly, Mu Wanyao commanded: "Chunhua, Chunhua! Smash every wine jar in this mansion; from now on, not a single drop of alcohol shall enter this house!"—

When Yan Shang woke the next day, he saw his wife busy fussing over him.

He sat propped up against the bedstead. She was clearly feeling extremely guilty; while ordering the maids to bring soup and medicine, she kept her head lowered: "I took the liberty of asking for leave from Second Brother for you. You should rest well for a couple of days. Aren't the imperial examinations at the beginning of next year? Just study well at home..."

Yan Shang watched her for a moment and stroked his forehead: "Have I been disfigured?"

Mu Wanyao immediately looked up and glared at him: "Not at all! I’m using the best medicine on you; you won't be disfigured!"

Yan Shang laughed, then said softly: "Why go to such lengths, Your... Yaoyao?"

Hearing him call her "Yaoyao," Mu Wanyao stared at him blankly.

Yan Shang blushed and said bashfully: "Didn't you want me to call you that last night? They say that words spoken while drunk are the truth; it seems Yaoyao has been dissatisfied with me for a long time. It was I who neglected your thoughts, it was I..."

Mu Wanyao interrupted: "Don't reflect."

Yan Shang was stunned.

Mu Wanyao pursed her lips.

She said: "I don't like Second Brother Yan reflecting on himself over and over, blindly following my lead. Why do you always follow my lead? Is it because in your eyes, I am no different from anyone else? You are a person who likes to reflect, always demanding strictness of yourself, not allowing yourself a single mistake. I enjoy your attentiveness, but I... I... also want more."

She was lost in thought.

Her heart was in a tangled mess; she didn't know what she really wanted. She could only try her best to express her thoughts: "I want, I want Second Brother Yan to treat me like a wife, treat me like one of your own. You can ignore me, you can make fun of me, you can lose your temper with me...

"A person cannot have no temper at all. If he has no temper, it must be because he has kept all his temper inside, forcing himself to endure, letting himself be wronged.

"I, I also want to be one of Second Brother Yan’s own.

"Second Brother Yan losing his temper at me makes me happier than him being gentle and soft-spoken."

Yan Shang looked at her, brows knit. These were not things she would usually say. Mu Wanyao had been raised to be naive and spoiled; how could she have such thoughts? Was it he who had changed her?

After a long while, he held her hand and whispered: "Yaoyao, is it that... you have some grievance against me?"

Mu Wanyao: "Not at all!"

Yan Shang said gently: "We are husband and wife; if there is anywhere I have done poorly, just tell me. There is really no need to be roundabout and get angry with me. Both you and I are very busy, why waste time on this?"

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

She actually lowered her head and thought about his words seriously. After a long while, she whispered: "Second Brother Yan is good in every way; the only bad thing is that you don't love me."

Yan Shang: "Nonsense..."

Mu Wanyao interrupted: "Listen to me! You really don't love me. You are good to me, it’s the same goodness you show a little sister. You care about me, it’s the same care you show family. But this isn't love, is it? You don't have a heart that hammers wildly when you see me, right? I don't know what kind of girl you like, but in any case, it’s not someone like me!"

Yan Shang said with difficulty: "Yaoyao..."

Mu Wanyao hurriedly interrupted, fearing that if she didn't say it now, she would never have the courage again: "I am not blaming you, I am just saying I will work hard to make you fall in love with me! Just watch, Second Brother Yan, you will definitely like me... but tell me first, what kind of girl do you actually like?"

Yan Shang: "I, I... you shouldn't be like this..."

Mu Wanyao: "Tell me!"

Yan Shang didn't want to say it, but with Mu Wanyao clinging to him and urging him, asking again and again, and finally feigning a pout as if to cry, he had no other choice. He lowered his head and said, feeling utterly helpless: "I really don't have anyone. What do you want me to say?"

Mu Wanyao was deeply shocked: "Have you never even looked twice at anyone? Have you never felt the stirrings of youth?"

Yan Shang was incredibly ashamed and angry, his voice rising: "No, truly no! Do not keep asking!"

Mu Wanyao: "You just raised your voice at me..."

Yan Shang immediately returned to his normal tone: "I am tired, I will rest for a while..."

He pulled the quilt over himself and prepared to sleep, but Mu Wanyao reacted with lightning speed, pouncing on him from behind to hug him. She shook his arm, excitedly saying: "You really just raised your voice at me! Second Brother Yan, you have emotions, right? Try letting them out a little more, try again..."

Yan Shang covered his face with the quilt. Being so relentlessly entangled by her, he couldn't help but laugh, yet he was too embarrassed to let her see.

He didn't truly understand what kind of love she wanted. But he was willing to try and give it to her... He and she would be husband and wife for a lifetime; he would certainly strive to be good to her—that was no idle boast.

And so, from that day on, Yan Shang began to watch his little Princess turn his world upside down every day.

He didn't like her mixing with Yang Si all day long, but given the current situation, he couldn't openly say so, so he could only plan to look for an opportunity later.

And Mu Wanyao was right; the imperial examinations were imminent. He stopped going to the Crown Prince’s palace to help organize government affairs and started studying diligently at home. Although everyone held no hope for his exam and only wanted him to go through the motions, Yan Shang was unwilling to do that.

He had to prepare seriously; he could not disgrace the Princess’s reputation, nor his own.

This gave Mu Wanyao the opportunity to harass Yan Shang all day long.

Yan Shang was in the study reading, and Mu Wanyao suddenly ran in: "Second Brother Yan, look at me, look at me!"

Yan Shang looked up and was instantly speechless. Mu Wanyao was dressed in men’s clothes, in a long robe with cuffed sleeves, having tied her hair up just like a man. She spun around in front of him and bowed with a grin: "Do you like it?"

Yan Shang held his book and snorted with laughter: "Naturally."

Mu Wanyao hummed, stood up, and stopped smiling: "You’re just coaxing me again. You don’t really like it."

Yan Shang was still laughing: "How am I not really liking it? Are you me? How are you so good at judging my mood?"

Mu Wanyao was angry.

She wasn't joking with him; she was being very serious. She leaned against the desk and reached out to touch his eye corner very carefully: "I can judge it! Your usual smile is very shallow, very polite, very courteous. But your smile right now is slightly more open, and your eyes are curved a bit."

"But I feel this is not enough..."

She cupped her face and fantasized: "There must be a moment where, when you see me, your eyes will light up, and you will involuntarily walk toward me. There must be a moment where your gaze will always follow me, and you will be drawn to me. At that moment, you won't need me to come find you; you will come find me yourself... you will be madly in love with me!"

Yan Shang watched her, lost in thought.

He said softly: "Don't say silly things. Don't decide who I love based on your imagination."

Mu Wanyao: "Humph, you don't understand. I don't want to talk to you anymore!"

She turned to leave, but Yan Shang still had a trace of a smile on his lips. He reached out and grasped her wrist, giving a light tug, and pulled her toward him. He was still too bashful to hug her, but he pulled her to sit by his side, his face blushing slightly.

Yan Shang sighed: "The Princess being like this really puts a lot of pressure on me."

Mu Wanyao studied him: "Then hurry up and love me."

She hugged his neck, enduring her shyness to boldly kiss him. He was startled, his body tilting back and stiffening, but he cooperated with her and didn't push her away. And kiss after kiss, just as he was becoming distracted, he saw her tilt her face up in his arms, very obediently: "Are you madly in love with me yet?"

Yan Shang burst into laughter.

Mu Wanyao was angry: "You’re making fun of me again!"

Yan Shang held her soothingly in his arms, taking the initiative to lower his head and kiss her face. His fingers brushed her brows and eyes, thinking that he couldn't bear to make fun of such a cute and beautiful girl.

Yan Shang: "Who is making fun of you? I like you."

Mu Wanyao: "I don't believe it!"

But she hesitated, sitting in his lap and refusing to leave. It was rare for him to hold her, and she hugged his neck tightly, liking it very much. After a long while, the irrepressible little Princess extended a finger to point at her red lips.

She lifted her eyes, her gaze rippling like clear water: "Do you want to kiss me again?"

Yan Shang suppressed a laugh.

He lowered his head and planted a kiss on her lips—

At the end of February of the new year, the imperial examinations were held in the Department of State Affairs. Mu Wanyao had been suffering from insomnia since the night before, and she was even more nervous than Yan Shang himself.

It was raining that day. The Princess’s Mansion carriage stopped outside the Department of State Affairs. Yan Shang held an umbrella, stepped out of the carriage, and turned to speak softly to Mu Wanyao: "Yaoyao, go back now. Don't wait here; it’s no good if you get soaked in the rain."

Mu Wanyao shook her head, looking at him with eager eyes, insisting on being a good wife. Yan Shang tried to persuade her with a few soft words, but Mu Wanyao suddenly lit up, pointing in one direction: "Second Brother Yan, that person is truly handsome."

Yan Shang was slightly surprised.

He looked back, following Mu Wanyao’s finger, and saw a graceful young man stepping down from an old-fashioned carriage. The youth was as clean and transparent as clear snow. From the moment he arrived, everyone was looking at him, intentionally or not. The youth used his umbrella to block his face, avoiding the prying eyes of the crowd.

Chunhua, beside her, reacted and whispered to Mu Wanyao: "Your Highness, that is the Seventh Young Master Wei, the student your uncle took in. Young Master Wei is only fourteen this year. Your uncle also told you to take care of him."

Yan Shang was stunned. Standing under the umbrella by the carriage, half of his robe wetted by the rain, he looked at Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao was confused: "It seems I remember something like that... but Seventh Young Master Wei hasn't visited our mansion, so I’d forgotten. Only fourteen..."

She looked in that direction and smiled: "But he is truly handsome."

Her line of sight was blocked, and she caught sight of Yan Shang.

Yan Shang coughed.

Mu Wanyao suddenly lit up: "Second Brother Yan, after you finish the exam, invite Seventh Young Master Wei to our house to play. Didn't my uncle ask me to take care of him? But that Seventh Young Master Wei is so young and seems so shy... Second Brother Yan, why don't you take care of him?"

Yan Shang: "..."

Mu Wanyao whispered: "What’s wrong? Why aren't you speaking?"

Yan Shang smiled: "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will take care of him."

Mu Wanyao was displeased: "Why are you calling me 'Your Highness' again? Call me Yaoyao."

Yan Shang ignored her and turned to walk toward the examinees. In his heart, he began to ponder a question: A Great Wei Princess can only have one bridegroom, right?

But if a princess wanted to change her heart, how should he deal with that?