Heavy fog shrouded the South Sea.
Li Zhi, the magistrate of Nanhai County, sat in his temporary residence, repeatedly examining the latest correspondence he had received.
The place was described as tranquil, but in truth, it was desolate and remote. Yet Li Zhi paid no mind to the crude surroundings. As he read the letters and sipped tea, his lean figure and flowing sleeves gave him the dignified air of a great Confucian scholar.
When the late Empress was still alive, Li Zhi had been the distinguished leader of the Li clan, rallying the noble families of Chang'an to contend with imperial authority. However, it had already been a year since the Empress's passing. The Li clan had long been driven back to Jinling by the Emperor to live out their retirement, and Li Zhi himself had been demoted to Lingnan.
The current Emperor was a peculiar man.
While the late Empress lived, he had battled her faction to a stalemate. After her demise, he had feigned "grief unto death," ordering the entire empire to observe a year of mourning for her. It was even said that the Emperor had spared the Li clan from complete annihilation out of respect for the late Empress.
Whether that was true or not, it was all up to the Emperor to say.
In any case, Li Zhi had been exiled to this godforsaken Nanhai County, with little hope of ever returning.
The letter Li Zhi was perusing now came from his niece, Princess Danyang, Mu Wan Yao. She had intended to visit him in person, but before her arrival, she had vanished without a trace. Thinking of his niece, Li Zhi took a sip of tea and sighed deeply...
The bamboo door creaked open as Lady Li entered to refill her husband's tea. Seeing his wife, Li Zhi casually inquired, "Has another letter from the Princess arrived?"
Lady Li replied, "It's been three days since we last heard from the Princess... My lord, should we send someone to investigate?"
Li Zhi's expression shifted slightly, and he unconsciously tapped his fingers on the long table. Lingnan was no place for comfort. When he first arrived, his youngest son had nearly died. Mu Wan Yao was a delicate young lady... Li Zhi immediately declared, "Summon the county magistrate. We must dispatch men to escort the Princess."
That afternoon, a contingent of riders departed from Nanhai, galloping swiftly toward Dayu Ridge in search of Princess Danyang—
Meanwhile, deep within the dense, mist-shrouded forests.
Mu Wan Yao and Chunhua trudged unsteadily through the rugged mountain terrain. Fang Tong and the other guards, after ensuring the carriage was secure, followed closely beside the Princess.
They had been wandering through the woods for days, all in search of the White Ox Tea Tree.
In her heart, Mu Wan Yao cursed Yan Erlang over and over. Why had he mentioned this obscure tea tree to her? If it was so interesting, why hadn't he simply presented it to her instead of making her search for it herself?
Yan Erlang had left to take the imperial examinations, but in Mu Wan Yao's opinion, his efforts were futile—he would have been better off staying to help her find the tree.
For several consecutive days, the mountain fog had grown increasingly thick.
Being outsiders, they failed to recognize the unusual nature of the conditions. They merely found the area inaccessible, the forests vast, and the paths treacherous. The guards were primarily concerned with protecting the Princess from wild beasts or accidental falls into streams or waterfalls—beyond that, no one sensed any imminent danger.
Trapped deep in the woods, Mu Wan Yao grew more irritable with each step.
Suddenly, Chunhua, who was supporting her arm, pointed toward a jutting cliff on the mountainside and exclaimed with delight, "My Lady, look! Is that the White Ox Tea Tree we've been searching for?"
Everyone followed Chunhua's gaze and saw a lone, lush shrub growing before the cliff face. Comparing it to the portrait the Princess held, they found it a perfect match.
Instantly, the entire group was invigorated.
Mu Wan Yao finally broke into a smile for the first time in days. "Let's go. There are likely more tea trees nearby. We'll dig up a few to take back to Chang'an. Once we have the tree, we'll head to Nanhai to visit my uncle."Chunhua was about to respond when she suddenly felt a drop of water fall from above, splashing onto her forehead.
Wiping her forehead, she looked up at the overcast sky. Worried, she said, "My lady, it seems it's about to rain."
Mu Wan Yao reassured her, "It's fine. We'll leave as soon as we finish digging up the tree. It won't take long."—
In Guangzhou, a large number of scholars emerged from the state examination hall, many feeling lightheaded and unsteady on their feet.
Yan Shisheng stood at the entrance, watching the stream of scholars file out. Recalling Mu Wan Yao's remark a few days earlier that Lingnan could barely send two scholars to Chang'an in a year, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Compared to the prosperous Central Plains, Lingnan was often called the "land without education." Ordinary people from the Central Plains, if exiled here, could only wait for death, with no hope of ever returning.
It was merely a matter of each person striving against fate.
Even in his own studies, his father spent his days drinking and paid him no mind. The Yan family pooled their resources to support his education only because they were few in number and had no shortage of funds, and because Yan Erlang, being slender and frail, was unsuited for farm work...
As Yan Shisheng pondered this, scholars behind him kept greeting him one after another. Yan Shisheng responded to each with a smile, wishing them all good results this year.
In truth, most knew they had little chance of success, but Yan Shisheng's gentle and soothing words made everyone enjoy conversing with Yan Erlang... A voice called from behind, "Yan Erlang, you haven't left yet?"
Yan Shisheng turned and saw the young prodigy Liu Wenji approaching.
At the sight of Liu Wenji, the scholars gathered around Yan Shisheng exchanged uneasy glances and quickly dispersed: "Yan Erlang, I have matters to attend to. Let's talk another day."
Liu Wenji came over and, seeing the space around Yan Shisheng cleared, didn't think for a moment that the scholars were avoiding him. He remarked, "Just a bunch of good-for-nothings. Why do you always mix with these useless people?"
Yan Shisheng's expression remained unchanged. "Lingnan may be a desolate land, but scholars are scholars everywhere. What use is there in labeling them as useful or useless? Brother Liu, your words make little sense."
A trace of disdain flickered across Liu Wenji's handsome face.
Yan Shisheng never offended anyone, but Liu Wenji was different. These mediocrities would never leave Lingnan in their lifetimes, whereas he, once he left, would never return.
Though Liu Wenji prided himself on his exceptional talent, his father often praised Yan Erlang's smooth interpersonal skills in front of him, leaving Liu Wenji with a subtle mix of jealousy and contempt whenever he faced Yan Shisheng.
Liu Wenji probed, "How did you fare in the exam—the poem and the rhapsody? Confident about this year?"
Yan Shisheng noticed the wary look in Liu Wenji's eyes.
He smiled.
"I'm not skilled at poetry, as you know, and my rhapsodies are just passable. With you here, Brother Liu, how could I possibly be confident?"
Liu Wenji's lips curled slightly.
But feeling it improper to appear too pleased, he feigned praise: "Actually, you're quite capable too. My father often speaks highly of you. If there were two spots in the state exam, the one below mine would surely be yours!"
Yan Shisheng nodded with mild amusement, finding Liu Wenji's forced compliment rather interesting.
Liu Wenji followed him, asking, "Yan Erlang, are you heading home now?"Yan Shisheng nodded: "To be honest with you, Brother Liu, I'm utterly exhausted from days of travel. I plan to go home and sleep for two full days."
Liu Wenji's heart stirred.
He recalled the beautiful maidservant he had seen at Yan Shisheng's home.
That maidservant had been staying at the Yan residence with her mistress. He wondered if they were still there?
Too embarrassed to ask Yan Shisheng directly, Liu Wenji proactively suggested: "Your home is closer. May I rest at your place for a couple of days before returning to my own home?"
Yan Shisheng gave Liu Wenji a thoughtful glance.
In that fleeting moment, his mind rapidly connected all of Liu Wenji's previous behaviors at his home.
Though he had formed a suspicion, he showed no sign of it, maintaining his usual amiable demeanor: "Certainly."—
The rain finally began to fall, fine as sand.
Just as Mu Wan Yao had anticipated, several tea trees grew near the cliff edge.
Fearing the guards might damage the tea trees with their clumsy hands, she decided to dig up the trees herself with Chunhua.
Initially, everything went smoothly. When the roots were pulled from the soil and everyone had relaxed their vigilance, a snake emerged from the earth. In the blink of an eye, it darted out, hissing as it struck at the two women's mud-stained hands...
Chunhua screamed as the snake bit her wrist. She kicked at the serpent but couldn't shake it off, only feeling sharp pain shooting through her wrist!
As the snake was about to slither up Chunhua's sleeve, a "clang" sounded. A flash of white light appeared before her eyes as Mu Wan Yao drew a dagger from her sleeve and pinned the snake to the ground. The snake twitched twice and fell still.
No one had expected the princess to carry a dagger with her...
Fang Tong and the other guards rushed forward. Fang Tong pulled the bitten Chunhua to her feet, watching in horror as her slender white wrist rapidly turned purple, then black...
They anxiously turned to the princess, seeing Mu Wan Yao's dagger still embedded in the snake's body. The princess knelt on the ground, her face only slightly pale. Mu Wan Yao said: "I'm fine."
However, Fang Tong didn't dare be careless, for soon they heard hissing sounds surrounding them from all directions in the wild forest. He looked up and, with his exceptional eyesight, saw snakes swarming toward them from every direction... The guards drew their swords one after another, sweat beading on their foreheads.
Mu Wan Yao had someone carry the tea tree she had dug up and stood up. She glanced at Chunhua, who was leaning weakly against Fang Tong, already breaking out in cold sweat and trembling.
Mu Wan Yao frowned slightly.
She had only read about Lingnan's abundance of snakes in books, but this was her first actual encounter...
Fang Tong said: "Princess, we must leave this place quickly!"
Mu Wan Yao murmured quietly: "I'm afraid it won't be easy to escape now."
She commanded: "Light fires!"
Chunhua felt her whole body growing cold, her consciousness gradually fading. Supported by Guard Fang, she could barely manage to warn the princess: "It's raining... the fires probably won't light..."
Mu Wan Yao remained silent.
Yet she still stepped forward, letting the fine raindrops splash against her long eyelashes, creating a misty veil. Holding her dagger, her long sleeves flowing, she stood before the guards, cold eyes watching the snakes surrounding them: "Light the fires!"
Even if it meant gambling, they would gamble their way to survival!—
The light rain continued, pattering into the night.
In the deep of night, the Yan residence heard violent knocking at the door. Liu Wenji was also awakened by the urgent knocking outside. Peering through the window, he saw the eldest and third Yan brothers putting on raincoats and hats, carrying torches as they went to open the fence gate, where a row of imposing guards stood at the entrance.The guard captain bellowed, "Where is the princess? Where have you hidden her?"
Yan Father trembled as he hid inside the house, not daring to step out. Meanwhile, the youngest daughter Yan Xiaozhou peeked timidly from behind her two elder brothers and asked, "What princess?"
The guards impatiently shoved them aside. "Move!"
Yan Sanlang shouted, "How dare you break into our home again? Eldest Brother, let's stop them!"
Yan Shisheng, who had fallen asleep upon returning home, was awakened by the rain and the commotion outside. He threw on his robes and stepped out, just in time to see the guards scuffling with his brothers, a conflict about to erupt.
Standing beneath the eaves in the cold rain, his robes slightly lifted and hair half-tied, Yan Shisheng’s eyes were calm and serene in the chilly night. "What is happening?" he asked gently.
Yan Xiaozhou, afraid they would come to blows, turned and saw her second brother’s composed figure. Relieved, she complained, "Second Brother, they’re looking for some princess! How would we know anything about a princess?"
Yan Shisheng fell silent for a moment.
Then he said slowly, "I know."
Everyone about to fight: "…!"
Instantly, all eyes—whether from the Yan siblings or the guards sent by the Nanhai County Magistrate to fetch Mu Wan Yao—turned to Yan Shisheng.
The guard captain sized him up, noting he was merely a scholar, and sneered, "So, young master, you’re the one in charge here? Do you know which princess we’re searching for?"
Though they claimed to be looking for the princess, their true intent was to raid the house under cover of night and seize valuables.
In remote regions, soldiers were no different from bandits. Bandits combed through like a coarse comb, but soldiers scraped clean like a razor.
Yan Shisheng looked at these uninvited guests and smiled faintly. "The one you seek is Danyang Princess Mu Wan Yao, who was once sent for a Peace Marriage to the Black Barbarians. After the Black Barbarians dispersed, she returned to our kingdom. Is that correct?"
Yan Shisheng continued, "The princess did stay with us a few days ago, but she has since departed."
Everyone: "…!"
The three Yan siblings, along with Yan Father hiding inside, stared blankly at Yan Shisheng—
Living under the same roof, sharing the same meals.
Yet the gap between people could be so vast.
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