Tigers Sniff the Rose

Yun Shu claimed Yan Shang had no evidence.

But Yan Shang didn't actually need evidence.

The only ones capable of suppressing a political faction were its political opponents.

And the Crown Prince's political opponent happened to be Prince Qin.

After being confined at the beginning of the year, Prince Qin had been recuperating for quite some time. Now he was contemplating where to stir up trouble to show the court he hadn't been defeated and that he had returned. Since October, because the Ministry of Justice was investigating Luo Xiu's death, Prince Qin had been interacting with Yan Shang much more frequently than before.

So when Yan Shang arranged to meet Prince Qin in the Pleasure Quarter this time, Prince Qin gladly accepted.

What followed was the suppression targeting the Crown Prince.

Though surprised, Prince Qin was pleased to see it happen, watching as Yan Shang broke ties with the Crown Prince's faction. If Yan Shang's plan could weaken the Crown Prince's power, why wouldn't Prince Qin help him?

With this spectator mentality, Prince Qin sat drinking tea at a tavern in the Pleasure Quarter in broad daylight. Seated across from him was the Vice Minister of Justice. Hidden throughout the tavern, standing or concealed in shadows, were various officials from the Ministry of Justice handling the case.

Everyone waited attentively for Prince Qin's orders.

Just as Prince Qin was growing impatient, he suddenly heard the sound of a man and woman entangled in a noisy argument below. Lifting the bamboo curtain slightly, Prince Qin and the Vice Minister of Justice looked down and saw it was precisely the courtesan named Chun Niang, arranged by Yan Shang, entangled with Zhang Shiyi Lang from the household of a director in the Ministry of Revenue.

After returning to Chang'an, Zhang Shiyi Lang had repeatedly spent extravagantly on Chun Niang, becoming one of her favored patrons.

However, after a year's time, Chun Niang was no longer the ordinary courtesan Zhang Shiyi Lang had known before. Now Chun Niang could play instruments, sing, and her poetry had improved by leaps and bounds. She had been frequently invited by Chang'an scholars to serve as "Head courtesan" at banquets. Great Wei's requirements for courtesans' poetic skills had reached quite exaggerated levels.

With her talent elevating her status at banquets, Chun Niang's influence in the Pleasure Quarter had naturally grown beyond ordinary measure.

The most obvious example was that Zhang Shiyi Lang wasn't Chun Niang's only favored patron. Moreover, Chun Niang kept Zhang Shiyi Lang at arm's length, never allowing him to truly possess her. Now the two stood on the staircase arguing over a man.

The man they were arguing about stood on Chun Niang's other side, holding her wrist.

Zhang Shiyi Lang, flushed from drinking, grew increasingly angry as he grabbed Chun Niang's other wrist: "How many times have you stood me up? You're just a courtesan - do you really think you're some great talented lady, giving me no face like this? Today, for this banquet, you must come with me!"

Chun Niang looked troubled.

The gentleman on her other side seized the opportunity: "Sir, how can you be so rude to this beauty? Chun Niang, you accepted my gifts, you should come with me."

Chun Niang frowned apologetically at Zhang Shiyi Lang: "Sir, I've already made arrangements with someone else..."

Zhang Shiyi Lang couldn't take it: "It's like this every time! You must come with me!"

Initially he restrained himself because he had previously been sent away from Chang'an by his father to avoid trouble after causing disturbances in the Pleasure Quarter. Now that he had finally returned and his father's official position had been restored, he naturally didn't dare to act recklessly as before. But this time, though he didn't want to cause trouble, someone was deliberately provoking him to do so.

Chun Niang covered her face, sobbing delicately, while the other gentleman grew furious and pushed Zhang Shiyi Lang.

Zhang Shiyi Lang pushed back, cursing and grumbling under the influence of alcohol.

Chun Niang said timidly: "Please don't argue, gentlemen..."In the midst of the quarrel, the two men began shoving and hitting each other. Chun Niang pressed her lower back against the staircase, trembling as she dodged. She stared at the two fighting men, her handkerchief clenched so tightly it seemed about to be wrung dry, her heart pounding so fiercely it felt ready to leap from her throat.

The gentleman she had picked to confront Zhang Shiyi Lang was a hot-tempered man, prone to impulsive conflicts. And Zhang Shiyi Lang was drunk—these two were bound to...

Suddenly, Zhang Shiyi Lang gave a forceful shove, sending the other man tumbling down the stairs. The man rolled downward, initially crying out for help, but after crashing at the bottom, he startled everyone in the building and lay motionless for a long while.

Amid Chun Niang's screams, Zhang Shiyi Lang began to sober up.

He grew fearful: "I didn’t use much force—I just pushed him..."

Chun Niang cried, "You’ve killed him! Quick, quick, someone help him..."

Fearing a death, everyone in the building crowded around. Zhang Shiyi Lang retreated in terror, repeatedly insisting he hadn’t used much force. Chun Niang wept. Upstairs, Prince Qin felt the timing was finally right. With his command, the Minister of Justice seated across from him stepped forward: "Who dares disturb my drinking here?"

The Minister of Justice feigned surprise: "What? Has someone died?"

Zhang Shiyi Lang looked up and saw the Minister of Justice descending the stairs with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, it dawned on him as he noticed Justice Ministry agents closing in from all directions. Fear seized him, recalling how he had been pursued by Danyang Princess’s men here last year.

Without looking back, Zhang Shiyi Lang turned and fled outside.

The Minister of Justice immediately ordered: "After him!"

Regardless of whether the man Chun Niang was holding was truly dead, the Minister of Justice’s stance was firm: "A life for a life!"

Hearing "a life for a life," Zhang Shiyi Lang, fleeing for his life, became convinced he had killed someone. With the Minister of Justice present, he feared he might be executed on the spot, given his lack of official rank.

Zhang Shiyi Lang ran desperately, pursued by Justice Ministry officials.

Out of the building, out of the Pleasure Quarter, galloping through Chang’an streets, they chased him wildly.

Yet, none of the Justice Ministry agents managed to catch up with Zhang Shiyi Lang, who rode like a headless fly toward his home. All of them remembered Prince Qin’s instruction: "Do not catch him. Let him run. He is not our target."

Zhang Shiyi Lang dashed into his family’s residence.

The neighborhood where the Physician Zhang’s residence was located suddenly grew lively with the arrival of Justice Ministry officials.

Diagonally opposite the residence of the Vice Minister of Revenue stood the home of Physician Zhang. As Justice Ministry officials filled the alley, the Vice Minister of Revenue stood at his doorway watching the commotion, stroking his beard and sighing with amusement: "It seems young Shiyi from Physician Zhang’s household has gotten into trouble again. That son of his is truly a calamity."

His eldest son stood beside him, respectfully agreeing: "You are right, Father."

The Vice Minister of Revenue used his neighbor’s frequent troubles to admonish his own son: "Take note—never emulate young Shiyi from next door. If you act as recklessly as he does, I won’t bail you out like Physician Zhang does. In my current precarious position, I must be extra cautious."

His eldest son respectfully assented.The Vice Minister of Revenue returned to his residence to continue drinking tea, intending to finish this cup and wait for the Ministry of Justice personnel next door to leave before heading to the Department of State Affairs to handle official duties. During this leisurely moment, his eldest son rushed in, panting and drenched in sweat.

Disheveled and missing a shoe, the young man stumbled inside.

Just as the Vice Minister was about to scold his son for his impropriety, the latter exclaimed in panic, "Father, it's terrible! The Ministry of Justice officials claim Zhang Shiyi Lang and his accomplices scaled the wall and fled into our estate. They’re knocking at the gate, demanding our cooperation in the investigation. Seeing their hostile demeanor, I immediately shut the gate. But now they’ve started breaking it down!

"Father, what is happening? You are a Vice Minister, a high-ranking official of the fourth rank! How dare the Ministry of Justice officials smash our gate! Aren’t they afraid of being impeached?"

The Vice Minister’s face instantly paled.

He murmured, "This is bad!"

He sprang to his feet, his complexion ashen.

In an instant, drawing on years of political acumen, he realized that the Ministry of Justice’s blatant gate-smashing couldn’t possibly be aimed solely at a mere Zhang Shiyi Lang—it had to be targeting him... Zhang Shiyi Lang!

Though he hadn’t yet grasped how Zhang Shiyi Lang was connected to him, the Vice Minister keenly sensed that the Ministry of Justice was brewing a conspiracy.

He urgently instructed, "They must be coming for me. Go to the main gate and stall them. I’ll escape through the back door first."

His eldest son was stunned. "But they’re only after Zhang Shiyi Lang..."

The Vice Minister rebuked him, "Fool! Whether it’s a minor official or his son, neither warrants them breaking down our gate. Do they think my fourth-rank official title is a joke? They must be trying to shift the blame eastward... I hope I’m overthinking this, but for now, I must flee and hide!"

He added, "Send someone to the Eastern Palace for help!"

His eldest son hastily complied, rushing to block the officials at the front gate.

The Ministry of Justice officers moved swiftly, but they hadn’t anticipated the Vice Minister’s cunning and quick reflexes. By the time they broke down the gate, they found only his eldest son; the Vice Minister had already fled the estate.

This time, the Ministry of Justice officials’ expressions darkened for real. "After him!" one shouted.

The leader, standing beside an officer restraining the captured Zhang Shiyi Lang, remained unblinking. "Zhang Shiyi Lang’s accomplice has escaped! This is a matter of life and death. Since we witnessed it publicly, how can we not give the people an answer? We must bring this accomplice to justice!"—

Trembling with fear, the Vice Minister dodged through alleys and fled the ward. As the dark mass of officials closed in behind him, he knew his ominous premonition had come true—

Indeed, the Ministry of Justice’s true target was him.

Though unsure what crime he was accused of, he understood that Prince Qin and the Crown Prince were political rivals. If he fell into the Ministry of Justice’s hands, he’d be lucky to escape with his life, let alone avoid severe punishment. Drenched in cold sweat, the Vice Minister didn’t hesitate. Stumbling and staggering, he fled toward the Princess Residence where Danyang Princess resided.

Given his disheveled state, even if the imperial city gate were open, the palace gate beyond it posed another barrier. And even if he passed that, the Eastern Palace’s gates wouldn’t readily open for just anyone at a moment’s notice.

Unable to rely on the Crown Prince’s immediate protection, the Vice Minister followed his instincts and sought refuge with Danyang Princess!—

Danyang Princess was currently on her way out of the city.Today, Yan Shang unusually refrained from investigating Luo Xiu’s case and instead went to the Princess Residence to have breakfast with Mu Wan Yao. Mu Wan Yao had been in a poor mood lately and did not greet him warmly, but when Yan Shang suggested they go out of the city to visit the Qujiang Pond together, she did not object.

Yan Shang had said, "Because of recent events, Your Highness and I have grown distant. I even missed out on the coming-of-age ceremony you promised to prepare for me, which is truly regrettable. Why not accompany me out of the city for a couple of days, as if celebrating my coming-of-age ceremony with me?"

Mu Wan Yao hesitated, "Your coming-of-age ceremony should be presided over by your teacher. I’m not your elder—wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to do it?"

Yan Shang replied, "However, I only wish to celebrate it privately with Your Highness and not trouble too many people."

Hearing this, Mu Wan Yao softened. She thought that due to the Yizhou incident, Yan Shang’s coming-of-age ceremony had been hastily conducted by Lord Liu, without proper celebration. Moreover, his desire to spend two days alone with her struck a chord in her heart.

Mu Wan Yao felt that recent events had driven a wedge between them. Since he was taking the initiative to mend things, she naturally agreed gladly.

However, Mu Wan Yao did not know that Yan Shang was looking at her with an apologetic expression, thinking to himself—he wanted to keep her out of this matter.

By leaving Chang’an for two days, the affairs in the city would be settled by the time they returned.

He did not wish to oppose Mu Wan Yao or involve her in the situation. The best solution he could think of was to remove her from it and leave Chang’an together.

In any case, the Ministry of Revenue did not need Yan Shang at the moment, and they would be glad to see him go for a countryside outing. Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang rode out of the city on horseback, with the Princess Residence’s attendants and maids following behind on their own horses. For someone as low-key as Yan Shang, he was increasingly open about his relationship with Mu Wan Yao. Mu Wan Yao glanced at him, a smile in her eyes, no longer keeping her distance as she used to.

At the city gate, the guards asked to see the Princess Residence’s fish-shaped tally and jade token.

While Fang Tong handled the formalities, one of the guards greeted Yan Shang with a smile, "Yan Erlang, are you heading out of the city?"

The polite smile on Yan Shang’s lips faltered for a moment before he replied courteously, "Yes."

Mu Wan Yao, riding beside him, naturally turned her face toward him.

Mu Wan Yao asked, "You know him?"

Yan Shang explained, "I’ve had frequent dealings with Prince Qin lately, so I’ve run into this brother a few times."

The guard praised Yan Shang to Mu Wan Yao, "Yan Erlang is graceful and never looks down on us martial types. Naturally, we’re happy to be acquainted with him."

Yan Shang, however, clearly did not want to prolong the conversation and merely said, "Hmm."

He turned to Mu Wan Yao and whispered, "Let’s hurry and go."

But Mu Wan Yao did not respond.

She recalled Yan Shang’s complaint that she never cared about his friends or understood his social circle. Now that she had the opportunity, she decided to learn more. Though still on horseback, she looked down at the guard with a faint smile, "Standing guard all morning must be quite exhausting, right?"

The guard was taken aback, flattered by the princess’s concern, and quickly replied, "Not at all, not at all! Actually, I just started my shift—I haven’t been guarding all morning."

Yan Shang’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he once again hinted to Mu Wan Yao that they should leave the city.Mu Wan Yao persisted in her conversation with the young officer: "How can that be? This isn’t the time for the city guard shift change. There’s still half an hour left before your rotation should begin."

The young officer naively replied: "Because Prince Qin temporarily transferred some troops and took away those he was familiar with. I was sent here as a replacement..."

Yan Shang urged once more: "Your Highness, let us leave the city."

Mu Wan Yao was displeased and shot Yan Shang an annoyed glare. He was the one who claimed she didn’t care about his circle, yet now that she showed concern once, he repeatedly rushed her. She sensed something amiss but couldn’t pinpoint it immediately, so she allowed herself to be hurried along by Yan Shang.

Not wanting to embarrass Yan Shang publicly, Mu Wan Yao ended her conversation with the young officer and exited the city with him.

Yan Shang breathed a slight sigh of relief—

Prince Qin had mobilized personnel from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War to jointly apprehend the escaped accomplice in the murder case.

Chaos reigned throughout Chang’an City. The Vice Minister of Revenue was furious at being inexplicably labeled an accomplice to murder, but he dared not stop, fearing a trap that would inevitably land him in prison.

Though the Vice Minister of Revenue couldn’t seek refuge in the Eastern Palace, news traveled swiftly there. The Crown Prince, upon receiving a desperate plea for help from the Vice Minister’s eldest son, immediately changed expression. Unlike the panicked Vice Minister, the Crown Prince remained calm.

Knowing that Yan Shang had recently been associating with Prince Qin, the Crown Prince instantly guessed Yan Shang’s motive if he were involved in this affair—

Yan Shang had no evidence of the Ministry of Revenue’s bribery.

The accounts had been meticulously covered up, and an official of Yan Shang’s rank would never uncover proof.

However, by having the Ministry of Justice arrest the Vice Minister of Revenue on other charges, a forced confession under torture could make him reveal matters concerning the Ministry of Revenue. As the second-in-command of the ministry, his testimony would inevitably spark a major scandal by year’s end!

The Crown Prince immediately ordered: "Where is Yao Yao! Have her rescue the Vice Minister from the Ministry of Justice! Use her status as a princess to buy time—under no circumstances should the Vice Minister be taken away by the Ministry of Justice!"

The Crown Prince grew increasingly anxious.

He issued a second command: "Dispatch the Chief of the Dali Temple with his men to confront them! Have the Dali Temple compete with the Ministry of Justice for custody! Regardless of the charges, the Vice Minister of Revenue must remain on our side!"

Despite these two swift orders, the Crown Prince still felt uneasy.

He could only hope he was overthinking things, that Yan Shang wouldn’t take such action. After all, Mu Wan Yao had assured him that Yan Shang had reconciled with them. Yan Shang wouldn’t collaborate with Prince Qin... but if he did!

The Crown Prince’s face contorted with rage, a surge of bitterness flooding his heart!

If the Ministry of Revenue were implicated, he would make Yan Shang pay with his life!—

News of the Vice Minister of Revenue being pursued through the streets eventually reached the residence of the Minister of Revenue himself.

Although the Minister of Revenue was like a silent Buddha who kept his eyes closed all day in the ministry, as the actual head of the department, certain matters had to be reported to him as a formality.

The Minister of Revenue was playing chess with his son, discussing his planned retirement two years later.

When word of the Vice Minister’s plight arrived, the Minister, seated in the courtyard, held a chess piece between his fingers, hesitating to make his move.

After a long silence, the Minister sighed: "It must be Yan Shang collaborating with Prince Qin."His son said, "Let's just watch them fight like dogs. Yan Shang is still young after all—his flip-flopping will cost him dearly. Even if the Crown Prince falls this time, he'll strip a layer of skin off Yan Shang. Father, you're about to retire—don't involve yourself in their internal strife."

The white-bearded Minister of Revenue’s face was deeply lined with wrinkles, his eyes dull and listless, appearing aged and frail.

The Minister of Revenue remarked, "The Crown Prince is an ambitious and cunning man. I’m afraid the Vice Minister hasn’t yet grasped why the Ministry of Justice is targeting him, but the Crown Prince has likely already figured it out and is preparing to strike."

His son nodded. "I heard Yan Suchen has just reached adulthood? So young—what a pity."

He invited his father to continue the game, but the Minister did not place his piece; instead, he tossed it back into the chess box.

In a slow, aged voice, the Minister of Revenue said, "I once paid respects to Lord Liu and also met Yan Suchen. Now that we are old, the future of Great Wei does not depend on us, nor on officials like the Vice Minister of Revenue, but on young men like Yan Suchen.

"The future of Great Wei belongs to people like Yan Suchen. His teacher said he is exceptionally talented, no ordinary talent. When he first came to the Ministry of Revenue, his teacher privately asked me to look after him. But Yan Suchen is so capable, he never needed my help.

"Although the Ministry of Revenue is now... in a sorry state, when I think that young men like Yan Suchen will rise to power in the future, I feel it’s not so bad after all.

"Yan Suchen—excellent in every way. However, he underestimates the world! There is more than one clever person under heaven!

"The Crown Prince will surely have the Court of Judicial Review act quickly to seize him. As long as the Court of Judicial Review moves faster than the Ministry of Justice, the Vice Minister of Revenue will still suffer no loss."

With that, the Minister of Revenue stood up. He turned his back and walked outward.

His son rose to follow him, suddenly panicked, calling out from behind, "Father! What are you going to do? Are you going to help Yan Suchen? Father, you mustn’t! This means opposing the Crown Prince, opposing the Ministry of Revenue! It will only end badly!"

Tears welled in his son’s eyes as he blocked the Minister’s path, kneeling before his father and pleading desperately, "Father, you’re about to retire—why come out of seclusion for this? Why not retire peacefully? Why invite trouble? Why plunge yourself into such danger?"

The Minister looked down at him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said gently, "Zicheng, in this world, some things can be left undone, but others must be done.

"For an old man like me, soon to return to the earth, isn’t my purpose to support you all?

"We will be below, holding you up... Today, by saving Yan Suchen, I am saving all of you. The greatest sin is not death. In my decades as an official, I’ve often been called a clay Buddha, turning a blind eye to everything. Today, it’s time for me to step in..."

"It’s time to let the world know that the Ministry of Revenue is not one man’s private domain!"

He stepped around his son, hands clasped behind his back, and walked out of the courtyard. Naturally, he was heading to the Court of Judicial Review to intercept the Chief Minister and buy time for the Ministry of Justice and Yan Shang.

His son remained kneeling on the ground, head bowed.

Suddenly, his son knelt facing the direction his father had left, raised his sleeves in a formal salute, and called out loudly, "Father! I’ll be waiting for you to return and finish this game of chess! This match between father and son—I will wait for you to come back!"

The Minister glanced back at him, his eyes filled with both pride and sorrow. Gazing at his son kneeling in the midday sun, he seemed to see a faint glimpse of his eldest son from the babbling days of infancy.A myriad of emotions, a heart full of bitterness.

In the end, no words were spoken.

Forcing a bitter smile, the Minister waved his son away and stumbled out the door, walking off—

Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang had already left the city. Mu Wan Yao kept her head lowered, pondering what exactly was amiss.

Suddenly, she lifted her gaze to look at Yan Shang, who stood a few steps away.

He held the reins, unusually quiet.

Even more unsettling.

Though Yan Shang was a shy and reserved person, he had always taken the initiative to draw closer to her. If she made the first move, he would retreat; if she didn't, he would urge her to act... Yet today, he had been quiet from start to finish, speaking very little.

Was it because of their recent argument?

Mu Wan Yao frowned, feeling that something was still amiss. She sifted through all her memories of the day, pulling the vague fragments from her mind.

That morning, Yan Shang had lingered in her quarters, refusing to leave. Though his tone was gentle and his voice calm when he invited her out of the city, he was clearly nervous. Even after she agreed, he didn't smile—too tense to do so.

Earlier, at the city gate guard post, Yan Shang had repeatedly urged her to leave the city.

Wait... that city guard!

That guard was very familiar with Yan Shang, yet Yan Shang acted coldly toward him—completely unlike his usual demeanor with friends. This meant he knew the guard but didn't want Mu Wan Yao to find out.

The guard mentioned he had just been assigned there because Prince Qin had transferred some personnel away. Why would Prince Qin suddenly reassign people in broad daylight, without any apparent reason?

After the guard finished speaking, Yan Shang urged her to leave again...

Mu Wan Yao tightened her grip on the reins and halted, refusing to go further. Yan Shang turned to look at her. Mu Wan Yao stared at him for a moment, then slowly tested him: "I just remembered I forgot to bring something. I need to return to the residence to fetch it."

The veins on Yan Shang's hands, gripping the reins, bulged noticeably—a detail Mu Wan Yao didn't miss.

He suggested calmly, "What could be lacking at Qujiang Pond? Why go back specifically for it? We've already come so far out of the city—why turn back midway?"

Mu Wan Yao curled her lips. "I insist on turning back midway."

With that, she turned her horse around, her skirts fluttering lightly as she prepared to gallop back to the city. Yan Shang immediately urged his horse to her side, blocking her path. "Why not tell me what you forgot, Your Highness? I'll make the trip for you..."

Mu Wan Yao glared coldly. "Step aside."

Yan Shang remained soft-spoken. "Your Highness, as a princess, why trouble yourself with such trivial matters? Let me..."

Mu Wan Yao sneered. "Are you so unwilling to let Fang Tong handle it that you must go yourself?"

Yan Shang's pupils contracted.

Mu Wan Yao pressed him, her gaze intense. "What have you arranged in the city that you're so afraid of my return?"

He flinched slightly.

She wasted no more words on him and immediately maneuvered around him to continue toward the city. Yet Yan Shang followed again, attempting to stop her. Mu Wan Yao grew increasingly impatient and shouted, "Fang Tong!"

Fang Tong and the other guards, who had been trailing behind, sighed inwardly but swiftly rode up on either side, blocking Yan Shang and pulling him away from the princess. Yan Shang refused to leave, still trying to follow Mu Wan Yao as he pleaded, "Your Highness!"

Mu Wan Yao cut him off. "Enough! You cannot stop me from doing what I wish!"

Yan Shang pressed his lips together. "And you cannot stop me from doing what I wish, either."

Mu Wan Yao's eyes blazed with fury. He tried to persuade her again: "If Your Highness just leaves Chang'an for a few days, none of it will concern you... Even if you return now, it will be too late."

Mu Wan Yao exclaimed, "Too late?!"

She closed in on him. "What have you done? What have you arranged? Why do you say it's too late? My horsemanship is exceptional—I can return to the city twice as fast as you. Would that still be too late?"Yan Shang gazed into her eyes and said softly, "It's too late. Because... this is an overt scheme.

"Whether you return or not, what is destined to happen will happen.

"I only wish for you to stay out of it."

Mu Wan Yao cut him off, "Whether to stay out of it is my decision, not yours to make! Do you think your strategies are so brilliant that every person and event will unfold as you predict? If you're truly so confident, why are you stopping me now?

"Yan Shang, you're just afraid I'll ruin your plans!

"Fang Tong! We're heading back to the city!"—

Unable to stop Mu Wan Yao, Yan Shang could only spur his horse to follow closely behind her. True to her word, her riding skills were exceptional. Convinced Yan Shang had wronged her, she rode with frantic urgency—so fast that not only Yan Shang but even Fang Tong and the others were left trailing in her dust.

The Princess Residence's entourage moved swiftly, kicking up clouds of dust along Chang'an Avenue!

Upon reaching the district where the Princess Residence stood, Mu Wan Yao dismounted, with Yan Shang struggling to catch up behind her. He still attempted to persuade her, but she strode forward purposefully, ignoring him completely. Ahead of them appeared a disheveled figure stumbling toward them.

The Minister of Revenue, in his panic, saw the Princess returning from outside the city!

He rushed over and clung to her leg, pleading desperately, "Your Highness, save me! Your Highness, save me!"

Mu Wan Yao looked up and saw officials from the Ministry of Justice surrounding the area. Yan Shang's face stiffened slightly, but Mu Wan Yao remained composed. Placing a hand on the kneeling Minister of Revenue's shoulder, she stared down the Ministry of Justice officials. "With me here, I dare anyone to take him!"

No one dared move against the Princess, and the situation froze in a standoff.

The Minister of Revenue breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Helped to his feet by the Princess, he knew he was safe. A smug, mocking smile crept onto his face, but as he turned, he met Yan Shang's gaze. In an instant, Yan Shang stepped toward him. While the Princess confronted the Ministry of Justice, Yan Shang pressed a blade against the Minister of Revenue's shoulder.

The Minister of Revenue erupted in fury, "Yan Suchen! How dare you!"

Mu Wan Yao turned and saw what Yan Shang was doing. Her face pale with rage, she exclaimed, "Yan Shang! How dare you!"

Tension thickened once more, escalating abruptly!