There is a maiden fair and fragrant, gracefully pacing the eastern chamber.
Her moth-eyebrows part like kingfisher feathers, her bright eyes sparkle with clarity...
Her virtuous fame outshines the white clouds, her renown flows to the four directions.
How splendid are the virtues of this heroic maiden, worthy to match lords and kings.
— "Song of a Fair Maiden" from Yan Ge Xing —
In the tenth month, heavy rain fell for three consecutive days.
The Plum Pass Ancient Road, connecting north and south, was flooded by the rain, shrouded in vast mist, with faint tendrils of smoke hanging low.
The young scholar Yan Shisheng, carrying a wooden case on his back and holding an oiled paper umbrella, trudged step by step through the muddy rainwater on the ancient road.
The Lingnan region had always been treacherous and rugged, with travelers relying solely on the Plum Pass Ancient Road carved through the Dayu Ridge for passage. For Yan Shisheng, who traveled for his studies, this road was his only route.
Amid the lush green wilderness and the pattering rain, the previously clear path was blocked by several carriages. Large umbrellas shielded the figures from the rain, casting shifting shadows. Yan Shisheng paused in surprise and couldn't help but approach for a closer look.
It turned out that the foremost carriage among them had become stuck in a muddy rut. Several attendants, dressed in light and practical attire, were gathered around the carriage, devising ways to push it out of the ditch.
This was not an unusual sight.
Yan Shisheng’s gaze fixed on the area beside the carriage:
Beside the carriage, a small stool had unexpectedly been brought out and placed by the roadside.
A young woman sat gracefully upon the stool, with a beautiful maidservant holding an umbrella over her, standing behind.
The torrential rain poured down, yet it seemed to have no effect on the woman seated on the stool.
Her hair was styled in a simple coiled bun, adorned with golden hairpins and dangling ornaments. The hairpins and the necklace around her neck swayed gently in the breeze, complementing her crimson silk skirt, which trailed elegantly on the ground.
The long skirt swept the earth, dazzlingly resplendent.
Her eyes were outlined with a touch of red at the corners, and a pearl graced the center of her forehead. With her eyes half-closed, she gently fanned herself with a feather fan, as if leisurely enjoying the rain.
The trapped carriage, the pouring rain, and the desolate wilderness—none of it diminished her aura of noble elegance.
Yan Shisheng felt as if his entire vision was consumed by her radiant crimson attire.
The beautiful maidservant, struggling to hold the umbrella steady, noticed the young traveler staring at her mistress and scolded sharply, "How dare you, insolent fool! Why are you staring at my lady?"
The leisurely woman, who had been resting with her eyes closed, lifted her face in their direction, her languid aura unchanging. When she opened her eyes, her stunning beauty instantly became overwhelming.
Through the hazy curtain of rain, she looked toward the young man who had suddenly appeared on the road.
She studied him:
The traveling scholar, carrying a wooden case and holding an umbrella, wore nothing but a simple round-collared white robe, his hair tied back with cloth—his attire plain and humble. Yet his brows were clear, his eyes bright, and his demeanor carried an air of divine elegance, making him seem almost like an immortal in the midst of the drenching rain.
Though the young man was exceptionally handsome, Mu Wan Yao merely fanned herself with the feather fan, thinking indifferently: Just a country bumpkin from the remote lands of Lingnan.
Chastised by the maidservant, Yan Shisheng flushed slightly and quickly bowed in apology. "It was my impropriety to disturb the lady."
The woman seated on the stool was, in fact, Danyang Princess Mu Wan Yao, the youngest daughter of the current Emperor. After the passing of her former husband, she had left the capital to nurture her spirit.
Naturally, the country youth knew none of this.
Mu Wan Yao rested her chin on the feather fan, slightly raising her eyes to gaze at him. Her glance was as alluring as a hook, yet the expression in her eyes remained cool and detached.
She did not utter a single word.
The maidservant holding the umbrella behind her softened her expression slightly and said, "Since you know you’ve disturbed my lady, why don’t you leave quickly?"
Yan Shisheng hesitated for a moment but did not move.
After a brief thought, he bowed once more and addressed the resplendent woman seated on the stool in a gentle tone, "Might I ask if the lady intends to cross the Dayu Ridge?"Mu Wan Yao remained silent.
It was her maid who spoke: "What business is it of yours?"
Yan Shisheng was not bothered by their cold expressions and wariness. He still spoke gently: "My humble home is in Sand Water Town just ahead. If the lady continues a bit further, she can rest there."
The maid was somewhat taken aback, unsure how to respond, and looked toward her mistress. Meanwhile, Mu Wan Yao gazed at the scholar in white and suddenly revealed a smile, breaking her cold demeanor.
She spoke, her voice soft as sand: "In these wild mountains and desolate plains, with such a long road ahead, are you perhaps inviting me to accompany you to your home?"
Mu Wan Yao sighed delicately, still sitting steadily on her short horse without changing her posture: "Do you see me traveling alone with fine carriage and horses, appearing noble, and thus develop wicked intentions, wanting to... befriend me?"
With her feather fan covering the lower part of her exquisite face, her eyes smiled but her gaze suddenly turned cold, radiating sharp intensity: "Presumptuous scholar, are you worthy?!"
Such words, if spoken to an ordinary person facing such humiliation, would surely make them either angry or ashamed, turning to leave immediately.
Yet Yan Shisheng only froze momentarily, his expression stiffening briefly, before continuing gently: "The lady misunderstands me. I am no villain. The Dayu Ridge path is long, and traversing the Plum Pass Ancient Road from dawn till dusk might not reach its end. My home is in Sand Water Town nearby, suitable for travelers to rest. Seeing the lady travel-weary and trapped by rain, I thought she might go there to rest."
He lowered his eyes: "There are many households in Sand Water Town, not just mine."
Hearing this, Mu Wan Yao's eyes lifted slightly.
She studied him searchingly: Had she misjudged him?
Was he not some reckless libertine stirred by her beauty?
Yan Shisheng also understood that a lone woman traveling on this ancient road might be unsafe, so her suspicion was reasonable. He patiently suggested: "Last month, a family traveling this path was attacked by wild wolves. The lady should not linger here too long."
Yan Shisheng added: "I must proceed to the academy and will trouble the lady no further."
He cupped his hands in farewell. Except for one initial glance at Mu Wan Yao, he had kept his eyes respectfully lowered since, not looking at her again.
Mu Wan Yao watched indifferently as he took his leave.
She noticed mud stains splattered on his sleeve.
The dirty mud sullied his white robe. Like a flaw in white jade, it looked rather glaring.
Such mud on this handsome youth's clothing made one itch to wipe it off and fetch him a new robe.
Moreover, the carriage contained numerous items, and a robe fitting a young man's stature could certainly be produced.
Mu Wan Yao watched expressionlessly as the scholar retreated into the distance, her gaze fixed on the mud stains on his sleeve.
So unsightly.
Yet she did not speak again, simply watching him gradually disappear on the vast ancient road—
The rain pattered softly.
The servants were still pushing the carriage.
The maids stood properly, holding umbrellas for the princess.
Mu Wan Yao suddenly said: "Is Sand Water Town ahead?"
The maid replied apologetically: "Lingnan is remote, the maps are unclear. This maid doesn't know what towns lie ahead."
Mu Wan Yao said leisurely: "Then let us journey on, heed that country bumpkin, and lodge in Sand Water Town."
The maid worried: "What if that scholar deceived us?"Mu Wan Yao’s golden hairpin swayed gently in her locks as she fanned herself with a smile. "I just want to see if he’s truly moved by lust, trying to imitate those absurd ancient tales and stir up some drama, or if he’s genuinely kind-hearted—a rare fool."
It took Yan Shisheng an hour to reach the academy and another hour to return.
The heavy rain showed no sign of stopping, and darkness fell early. By nightfall, he finally made his way back to the village, carrying a horse lamp as he headed toward his home.
What should have been an ordinary journey took an unexpected turn. While still some distance away, beyond the fence of his family’s courtyard, he spotted small groups of people gathered outside, arguing with someone.
Yan Shisheng’s expression tightened, fearing something had happened at home. He quickened his pace.
When he reached the entrance to his family’s courtyard, he found it brightly lit and guarded by maids, servants, and guards who were busily moving gold and silver items in and out of the house. His father and brothers had been driven out of the yard, while villagers gathered around, pointing and whispering. Those who tried to enter were thrown out by the guards.
"How dare you?! This is our house—how can you just take it like that?" Before Yan Shisheng could get closer, he heard his third brother shouting.
Yan Musheng, the third son of the Yan family, had no particular talents except for a booming voice. When he raised it, everyone within a ten-mile radius felt their ears ring.
The eldest son of the Yan family tried to calm him: "Third Brother, let it go, let it go..."
Just as Yan Musheng was about to argue further, he turned and saw Yan Shisheng approaching swiftly, holding an umbrella and the horse lamp.
"Second Brother!" Yan Musheng’s voice thundered.
Yan Shisheng’s ears buzzed from the shout.
The rest of the Yan family, noticing Yan Shisheng’s return, immediately crowded around him.
Yan Father said with a pained expression, "We don’t know what’s going on. They walked around the village, took a liking to our house, said they wanted to stay here, and drove us all out."
The eldest son murmured shamefacedly, "Those guards are too burly—I couldn’t fight them off."
The third son yelled, "I tried to reason with them, but they wouldn’t even listen!"
The youngest sister fretted, "Second Brother, will we get our house back? Where will we live?"
The village chief squeezed out from the crowd and whispered cautiously, "Erlang, you’re back! Let me tell you, these people seem very powerful—either wealthy or noble. It’s best to swallow this injustice and not cause trouble..."
The third son roared, "This is our house!"
The village chief’s ears rang. "Erlang, please talk some sense into your third brother. Don’t let him yell at me. I’m an old man..."
"Erlang..."
"Erlang..."
Everyone clamored at once, all trying to speak to Yan Shisheng.
Surprisingly, Yan Shisheng showed no impatience. He calmly reassured them one by one:
"I understand. Thank you for your advice, Uncle."
"Don’t worry, Father, Eldest Brother, Third Brother, Little Sister. There’s no need to panic. I’ll go inside and see what’s happening."
"Stay calm. Even if we truly can’t stay here, I’ll think of something. You won’t be sleeping on the streets tonight—rest assured."
He answered each person patiently and methodically, and the agitated crowd gradually settled.
Watching Yan Shisheng step out from the crowd, he approached the guard at the courtyard gate, bowed respectfully, and saluted—
Inside the house, maids were arranging the inner room by hanging curtains, while the outer hall had been temporarily laid with a luxurious ground covering.
The four corners of the ground covering were anchored by golden Qilin incense burners. In the center, the beautiful Danyang Princess sat on a couch, sipping a cup of light tea.
A maid entered to report that the family’s second son had returned. Unlike the others, he wasn’t making a fuss but had requested an audience with the princess.Mu Wan Yao was somewhat impatient, letting out a scoff, but did not refuse.
A moment later, Yan Shisheng stepped in from outside the door, and his eyes met Mu Wan Yao's.
He froze, blurting out, "It's actually you?!"
Mu Wan Yao held a teacup in one hand and rested her chin on the other.
She was also startled to see him.
But the next moment, she curved her eyes into a smile.
Mu Wan Yao said softly, "Are you regretting your attraction to beauty now, or are you regretting your reckless kindness?"
"You invited a vicious wolf into your home, and now the wolf has taken over your house with no intention of leaving. Dare I ask, sir, do you regret your actions from earlier today?"
Incense smoke curled in the room, its fragrance lingering in the air. And Danyang Princess, brimming with amusement, openly bullied him, waiting for his regret.
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