Han Shu Xing's arrival made both individuals feel uneasy. Yet Han Shu Xing himself seemed oblivious to the discomfort. Not being from Great Wei, he couldn't decipher the subtle complexities of Great Wei people's interactions.
Han Shu Xing dutifully described the surrounding terrain to Yan Shang, explained the nearby waterways, and finally mentioned that he had searched within a one-mile radius without detecting any enemy presence, assuring them they could rest easy. Only after finishing his report did he sense the peculiar atmosphere.
Looking over, he saw in the small patch of moonlight that Yan Shang sat with his collar gathered, sideways with knees bent, head lowered in silence; Mu Wan Yao knelt beside Yan Shang, her fingers resting on her own knees, also keeping her head down without speaking.
Seeing the two remaining wordless, Han Shu Xing could only press on awkwardly. He dryly stated: "Your Highness, I... this servant just inspected this wooden cabin. There's a partitioned bed in the inner room to the right. Perhaps Your Highness could sleep there tonight? I... this servant will keep watch outside."
Though Yan Shang had taught him to habitually say "I," when facing his former master, the exalted Danyang Princess, he still couldn't help but become subservient, wanting to please her.
This deeply ingrained servility disgusted even himself, yet he could do nothing about it.
Mu Wan Yao glanced up at him. Only then did Han Shu Xing notice Her Highness's face showed some swollen redness, yet Mu Wan Yao remained beautiful. Her clear, cold gaze swept over him—both aloof and condescending—making Han Shu Xing unconsciously straighten his posture.
Mu Wan Yao: "What about Yan Shang?"
Not understanding her meaning, Han Shu Xing responded according to his own understanding: "Hasn't Erlang's wounds not been dressed yet? I... this servant will help him treat his injuries first. I just fetched a pot of clean water."
Mu Wan Yao found herself at a loss for words.
She placed her hands on her knees to stand up, preparing to yield the space to the two men as Han Shu Xing suggested. But as her clothing rustled while moving, Yan Shang's fingers resting on his knee trembled slightly, and he grasped her hand.
Having already risen, Mu Wan Yao looked down to see him holding her hand without letting go. Though his black hair fell beside his cheeks, the partially concealed ear beneath his locks had already reddened with embarrassment.
Yan Shang said quietly: "Han Shu Xing, you go sleep in the partitioned room. You're the only martial expert among us three, needing intact physical strength more than Her Highness and I. The Princess and I will manage for tonight."
Han Shu Xing stared blankly. He thought: but that's Her Highness. The best bed should go to Her Highness.
Yan Shang continued: "Besides, Her Highness dressed my wounds... she actually handled it quite well."
Mu Wan Yao didn't speak. She hadn't even started bandaging his wounds yet, but if he wanted to say so, she didn't mind. And indeed, Yan Shang understood Han Shu Xing well—he easily persuaded Han Shu Xing to take the bed, leaving Mu Wan Yao here.
After Han Shu Xing departed, Mu Wan Yao knelt down again and, using the clean water Han Shu Xing had brought, properly bandaged the wounds on Yan Shang's body.
Fortunately, they were all external injuries, and there was medicine left behind by hunters here. Although the wounds on Yan Shang's back looked alarming, surface wounds would eventually heal. What worried Mu Wan Yao more was Yan Shang's eyes. She feared that if his eyes didn't receive timely medication, the delay might cause permanent damage. Would she be harming him yet again if such delay led to lifelong regret?
Yan Shang gently tugged her hand, somewhat uncomfortable: "What is Your Highness thinking about?"Mu Wan Yao snapped back to reality. She stared down at his hand gripping her wrist for a long moment before saying, "I was wondering, what are you doing? Why do you want me to stay by your side? Since this afternoon... you've been holding onto me and wouldn't let go."
Yan Shang remained silent for a while. His face was already somewhat pale, but now it looked even more haggard and weary.
His bowed head showed both sorrow and resentment—contradictory emotions rarely seen on him at the same time. Mu Wan Yao observed him as he lifted his face, his voice hoarse: "Naturally, I want Your Highness to stay by my side, not leaving me for even a step... I had thought Pei Qing would... would protect you well. Yet you were captured by mountain bandits... I can no longer trust others.
"I only trust myself."
He recalled the sound of the slap he had heard. At that moment, it was as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss, his bones and blood turning cold inch by inch, all his strength draining away. A girl he cherished so deeply, whom he so desperately wanted to protect... why was she struck in front of him by someone else?
He loathed himself!
Mu Wan Yao stared at him, then said after a moment, "So, you mean tonight I can't leave your sight either?"
Yan Shang: "Yes... please don't blame me."
Mu Wan Yao remained silent for a long time. Leaning against Yan Shang's shoulder, her mind went blank, overwhelmed by exhaustion. She couldn't tell whether it was due to today's events or the weariness that had weighed on her heart for three years. Human emotions were difficult to articulate in a moment, but in her despondency, it was only by staying close to Yan Shang that she felt she could catch her breath.
Unable to hear her response, Yan Shang couldn't gauge her emotions. He asked hesitantly in a low voice, "Why... why did you leave the city... Did you get separated from Pei Qing? What were you doing outside the city? Why didn't you listen to me and bring more guards?"
Mu Wan Yao turned her face to look at him. Of course, he couldn't see her, but a mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "What do you think it means when a man takes a woman out of the city without bringing many guards?"
Yan Shang was taken aback.
He said, "...I don't know."
Mu Wan Yao replied nonchalantly, "He wanted to sleep with me."
Yan Shang: "..."
His grip on her hand suddenly tightened, and the shoulder she leaned against stiffened. Yan Shang held his breath, his entire body rigid, clearly not expecting that his suspicions would lead to such a conclusion. His expression went blank, momentarily unsure how to react.
He seemed both bewildered and sorrowful, with a hint of... displeasure.
Mu Wan Yao almost laughed at his reaction.
Resting her hand on her forehead, she said, "Pei Qing has been pursuing me for three years, but unfortunately, I've never given him a favorable response. Recently, there was a perfect opportunity, wasn't there? What one person doesn't want, another treasures. I thought he was the right one. He's always followed me, always addressing me as 'Your Highness' this and 'Your Highness' that. You hurt me so deeply, and even though he saw how I couldn't let you go, he still cared for me and asked after my well-being... I'm a little tired.
"Yan Shang, I'm a little tired. I started thinking, perhaps finding someone who loves me is better than chasing after someone I love. I could see Pei Qing's advances, and I thought about accepting them.""If he wants to kiss me, then let him. If he wants a spring breeze encounter with me, then come. Only, I cannot bear children—I wonder if he can accept that... If he cannot, it doesn't matter. I can arrange for him to take a few concubines then. Between men and women, between husband and wife, muddling through like this, a lifetime will pass."
She fell silent for a long time.
Yan Shang tightened his grip on her hand. After a long while, he whispered, "I'm sorry."
Mu Wan Yao said lightly, "Don't always say 'I'm sorry.' You're like this—always inclined to give endlessly. It's because you always adopt such a humble stance toward me that I've grown accustomed to men being this way. But now I realize... not everyone is like you.
"If you were as smooth-tongued as Pei Qing, I would have been swept off my feet by you long ago. There are many people like Mu Wan Yao in this world, but someone like Yan Shang—I've only ever met you."
She thought of Pei Qing, of the events that had unfolded during the day. She recalled how Pei Qing had initially protected her when the bandits appeared, only to panic and flee later... At that time, she had merely watched, her heart undisturbed, finding it all rather laughable.
Even someone carefully chosen turned out to be just like that. Or perhaps, the one Pei Qing loved was not Mu Wan Yao, but the "Danyang Princess."
Mu Wan Yao murmured, "I don't want to settle anymore."
Just as Yang Si had said. She was a princess—why should she have to settle?
Yan Shang turned his face toward her and said earnestly, "Nonsense. Your Highness, do not belittle yourself. I too have only ever met one 'Mu Wan Yao.' Unyielding in the face of bandits, never showing weakness, daring to resist enemies a hundred times stronger than you even when captured... never bowing to fate. I know only one 'Mu Wan Yao' like this."
Mu Wan Yao couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips, leaning closer against his arm. Being praised always brought joy. Especially when it came from Yan Shang, whom she both loved and resented—a man of such noble character, almost saintly. She despised the ways of saints, yet she yearned for the security they brought her.
So contradictory.
Mu Wan Yao tilted her head to gaze at his smooth jaw for a moment, then abruptly changed the subject: "Are you going to break off your engagement with your fiancée or not?"
Yan Shang was taken aback, not expecting her to bring this up so suddenly.
After a long pause, he whispered, "Do you care about it that much?"
Mu Wan Yao was about to explain that she had merely brought it up casually—that she actually didn't want to discuss it with him because she didn't want to slap him again—when she heard him say wearily, "I will break it off. I just need some time, so as not to ruin the young lady's reputation. After all, I'm too well-known. I don't want her name tied to mine, forcing her to live in obscurity because of me."
Yan Shang gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He lowered his head, offering what might have been a smile, though it was strained: "If you truly care so much, then I won't marry. I'll wait for you... until you've been married for two or three years... until you've completely moved on. Then I can consider marriage. After all, if one wants to marry, when is it ever too late?"
Mu Wan Yao was stunned.
She murmured, "...You'd delay for several more years because of me? What about your family? What about your reputation?"
Yan Shang: "What else can I do? Since you can't bear this, I can't ignore how you feel."Mu Wan Yao gripped his arm, her heart feeling damp. In that instant, she once again sensed Yan Shang’s kindness toward her. He hadn’t made any promises to her, yet he had gone this far to consider her feelings. And if she were sensible, she ought to cherish him… Mu Wan Yao lifted her head, nearly blurting out the truth—wanting to tell him about her and Pei Qing, to tell him she had never liked Pei Qing.
She wanted to tell him what had happened during the day… that he didn’t need to guard her, she wouldn’t marry Pei Qing anymore.
But as she looked up, Mu Wan Yao saw Yan Shang’s lowered face, his utterly haggard appearance, and she froze. He was forcing himself to chat with her, to soothe her emotions. But after all that had happened today, Yan Shang was already exhausted…
These matters could wait until later.
Mu Wan Yao leaned against Yan Shang’s arm and slowly closed her eyes.
There were still pursuers, and it was still unsafe. Yet her heart no longer felt like an empty, dark hurricane; the cold stars no longer trembled, the wilderness no longer seemed desolate. The hurricane had ceased, and the nearly extinguished candle flame rekindled its light—her safe harbor had returned.
Although he hadn’t fully returned yet.
But perhaps he had never truly left.
Let her have a sweet dream for the night—
The next day, the chirping of birds grew sparse behind the Earth Dragon. When Mu Wan Yao woke, she found herself curled up asleep on a straw-covered floor. Rubbing her sore arms as she rose, a man’s outer robe stained with a little blood slipped from her shoulders.
Mu Wan Yao stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly jumping to her feet. Without a word, clutching the man’s outer garment, she circled the wooden cabin. She found neither Yan Shang nor Han Shu Xing.
Mu Wan Yao rushed out of the cabin, fear flooding her heart, her blood running cold with terror. Panicked, she wondered if they had both left, if she had been abandoned again. But how could Yan Shang abandon her? He shouldn’t be that kind of person—she couldn’t have misjudged his character so badly.
If even he wasn’t the person she thought he was, she would be utterly wretched.
Mu Wan Yao searched around the cabin, unable to utter a single word. She didn’t know how long she wandered, stubbornly refusing to return to the now-empty wooden cabin. Hearing the murmur of flowing water, she followed the babbling stream upstream.
Mu Wan Yao froze.
There, by the rushing creek, she saw a young man’s shoes and socks left on the bank. And standing barefoot in the chilly stream, sleeves rolled up and bending over, was the young gentleman she had been searching for—the one she thought had left with Han Shu Xing—Yan Shang.
The white gauze bandage over his eyes was slightly damp from the water. Bent over in the stream, his movements clumsy, even with his sleeves rolled up, the creek water had soaked the hem of his clothes. He was groping for something in the water when he heard the girl’s angry, startled cry from the bank: "Yan Shang!"
Yan Shang turned his face slightly, offering a faint smile: "Your Highness is awake?"
Mu Wan Yao stormed toward him in a fluster. Hearing her footsteps, he quickly stopped her: "Your Highness, don’t come closer—don’t get your clothes wet. The mountain water is quite cold; it’s better for a young lady not to touch such chilly water."
Mu Wan Yao was furious but halted at the bank. Clutching his outer robe, she glared with reddened eyes: "If the water’s cold, why are you standing in it?"Yan Shang smiled helplessly: "Han Shu Xing went to gather information for me. I wanted to try my luck at catching a fish—we can't let Your Highness go hungry. Of course, if I couldn't catch any... there are dry rations in the cabin."
Mu Wan Yao frowned: "Why bother when we have dry rations? Was it easy for a blind man like you to grope his way here?"
Her gaze dropped, noticing the red marks on his hands after he stood up. Her heart clenched as if pierced by needles. Though she was notoriously stubborn, witnessing his condition made her prone to tears lately.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears: "Do you... do you think I can't stomach those rations? That I'm too pampered from lavish living to endure hardships? Yan Shang, don't look down on me!"
Her voice trembled with suppressed sobs when she yelled at him—a nuance Yan Shang, who now relied solely on his heightened hearing, didn't miss. He hesitated, flustered: "Are you crying? What did I do wrong this time?"
As he tentatively moved toward the riverbank, he winced upon standing, feeling something brush against his bare leg submerged in the stream. Mu Wan Yao saw it clearly and shrieked, pointing: "Fish! Fish! Schools of fish near your legs!"
Two quarters later, a fire crackled in the wooden cabin. Wrapped in robes by the hearth, Yan Shang handed Mu Wan Yao a freshly grilled fish.
Steam rose from the hot fish. Though its appearance suffered from one cook being blind and the other clueless, Mu Wan Yao's prolonged hunger overcame her pride, filling her with delight when Yan Shang offered it.
She took a bite and whimpered.
Yan Shang bent his head worriedly: "What's wrong? Too hot?"
Covering her swollen cheek—unwilling to mention how chewing pained her lest he blame himself—she glanced at him and felt grateful for his blindness. He wouldn't see her badly swollen face or her least attractive state.
She smiled: "A bit hot, but delicious. Have a taste too."
Eagerly, she held the skewered fish to his lips, wanting to share this small joy. Yan Shang chuckled softly and took a bite. Watching his reaction, she saw him frown briefly before smoothing his brow and declaring it "tasty." Beaming, she turned to find another stick to divide their hard-won meal.
But when she retrieved the stick and looked back for his help, she caught Yan Shang discreetly spitting something into his sleeve.
"Yan Shang," she called sharply.
He looked up.
Her face darkened: "What's wrong? Are you unwell?"
He blinked, then shook his head with a smile: "Nothing."
Enraged, she thrust the skewered fish into his hands with a slap. As she moved to sit elsewhere, he reacted swiftly, grasping her wrist with confused innocence: "Have I upset you again?"Mu Wan Yao said coldly, "Now that we only have each other to rely on, if you keep hiding your discomfort from me and always endure it alone, what am I supposed to think? I know you're being considerate and taking care of me, but if you fall ill, wouldn't I be heartbroken? You're always protecting me like this—how long will you keep it up? Will you never let me grow up?
"My terrible temper is all because you spoiled me! If I can't get married, it's all your fault! You made me like this, and now you turn away—what am I supposed to do alone?"
Yan Shang was bewildered for a long moment, unsure how she had managed to make things sound so serious. But being exceedingly clever, he quickly deduced the reason for her anger beneath her incessant complaints. He couldn't help but chuckle softly, feeling a warmth in his heart.
He pulled her back to sit down again and said in a low, embarrassed voice, "What nonsense are you talking? I haven't done anything, and I'm not uncomfortable at all."
Mu Wan Yao, seeing that he still wouldn't admit it, widened her eyes. "I saw you vomiting! You were so unwell you threw up, and you still say you're fine?"
Her heart ached so much she felt like stamping her feet. "Actually, I noticed it a long time ago—ever since we reunited, you haven't been well... You've gotten so thin, even your waist is this slender..."
Yan Shang blushed and murmured, "Why are you talking about my waist again?"
Mu Wan Yao wondered when she had ever mentioned his waist before, but then she heard him explain gently, "I'm not unwell. I wasn't vomiting earlier—I just had a fishbone stuck in my throat. You can't expect me not to cough up a fishbone, can you?"
Mu Wan Yao froze.
Then her face burned crimson.
She felt utterly embarrassed and foolish, unable to speak for a long while. Yan Shang never teased her like this, but he sighed despondently, "If only I could see... I could help Your Highness remove the fishbone. As it is, I can only trouble Your Highness to take care of yourself."
Mu Wan Yao retorted, "Stop nagging! How could I possibly get a fishbone stuck? I've never had one stuck before... ah."
Yan Shang understood and said, "You have one stuck? May I take a look?"
Mu Wan Yao covered her mouth vaguely, "No, no! You can't see, so you're not allowed to touch me."—
Yan Shang regretted having grilled fish for the two of them, as Mu Wan Yao truly lacked the ability to take care of herself, making breakfast a difficult affair. Before they could finish the fish, Han Shu Xing returned. Han Shu Xing had never been able to read the awkwardness between the two and directly reported on the current situation in Rang County.
"After the Earth Dragon, many houses in the city collapsed, burying the commoners beneath. The bandits' former hideouts are probably half destroyed as well. Although the government troops and bandits are trapped in the mountains now, their focus clearly isn't solely on each other. This morning, Lord Pei led troops into the mountains to rescue everyone and has been searching for the princess..."
Han Shu Xing looked at Mu Wan Yao.
Mu Wan Yao sat beside Yan Shang, her expression icy.
Han Shu Xing continued, "It's said that the princess was captured by the bandits, and the Prefect was also captured while trying to rescue Your Highness. The Nanyang Provincial Governor and the Military Commissioner are both extremely anxious, vowing to rescue Your Highness from the bandits. They've captured some of the bandits, but those captured are confused and unsure whether Your Highness is in their hands. Because the eighty bands of bandits aren't all united.""In short, while the officials were settling the people, they began searching all over the mountains and fields for Your Highness and the Prefect. Young Master Pei was the most active, wanting to seek help from Chang'an, but the two prominent figures in Nanyang requested two more days. They said, 'We must see them alive or find their bodies.'"
Mu Wan Yao was lost in thought.
Yan Shang also lowered his head in contemplation.
Han Shu Xing glanced left and right, unsure what each of them was thinking. Han Shu Xing suggested, "Erlang, Rang County is in chaos right now—it's the perfect opportunity for you to return and restore order. Taking advantage of this Earth Dragon incident, we can root out all the spies planted in our residence. It will also make the people trust you more!"
Han Shu Xing said optimistically, "Your Highness as well. I see Young Master Pei is almost in tears from anxiety, and Guard Fang is also very worried. They are all waiting for Your Highness to return. Once Your Highness is back, you can arrest all those who betrayed you and deal with them properly."
Mu Wan Yao said, "I'm not going back."
Mu Wan Yao and he spoke simultaneously: "Your Highness should not return."
Han Shu Xing looked bewildered, watching as Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao exchanged glances. Yan Shang explained: "Your Highness... do you also feel it's unsafe to return?"
Mu Wan Yao replied indifferently: "Of course it's unsafe. I'm not a fool. The chief official of Nanyang has set me up like this. If I return now without catching them red-handed, wouldn't my capture by the mountain bandits have been in vain? What would be the point of this trip then? To help Yan Erlang suppress bandits? Suppressing bandits is Yan Erlang's business, not mine. Whether Nanyang has many mountain bandits or not has nothing to do with me.
"Only by remaining missing—neither seen alive nor found dead—can I make the Jiang family of Nanyang anxious. If they're ruthless enough, they'll send assassins after me to eliminate me here... after all, the mountain bandit excuse is just too convenient. If they don't reveal themselves, I won't have an excuse to suppress Third Brother. If they take the initiative... I can just use it to claim that Third Brother wants me dead and stir up trouble in Chang'an."
She lowered her eyes, already contemplating how to exploit the situation.
Yan Shang didn't argue. Though his thoughts weren't aligned with hers—he wasn't concerned about the situation with Prince Qin in Chang'an—he indeed shared Mu Wan Yao's view. He too felt Nanyang was unsafe at the moment, that the Jiang family would use this incident to kill Mu Wan Yao and silence the matter.
And Pei Qing... Yan Shang didn't trust Pei Qing either, unwilling to entrust Mu Wan Yao's safety to that man. He wanted to persuade Mu Wan Yao to call off the marriage, but feared she hadn't come around yet—that bringing it up would only lead to an argument... After much deliberation, Yan Shang said: "Your Highness should leave Nanyang first. Then keep those people on edge while having Guard Fang investigate from behind to identify who poses a threat to Your Highness.
"The Jiang family's influence in Nanyang runs deep. We can't overthrow them entirely, but we can use this incident to replace their key figures with ones favorable to us."
Mu Wan Yao nodded, and the two began discussing arrangements in low voices.
Han Shu Xing listened in confusion but remained quietly silent. When the two had discussed for about half an hour and finalized their plan, Han Shu Xing perked up, finally having a role to play. Yan Shang crouched on the ground, using a twig to sketch a map, explaining the terrain to Han Shu Xing and instructing him to escort Mu Wan Yao out of Nanyang discreetly.
He warned that there would be pursuers later and they must proceed with caution.
Mu Wan Yao crouched listening and didn't object to Han Shu Xing escorting her. Since he was someone Yan Shang had trained, even if he was of Black Barbarian origin, she would trust Han Shu Xing out of respect for Yan Shang. But after saying all this, Yan Shang hesitated for a long time. He clearly had more to say, yet repeatedly held back.
Mu Wan Yao looked up at him: "What's wrong?"
Yan Shang pressed his lips together and said quietly: "Besides Han Shu Xing escorting Your Highness out of Nanyang, I must accompany you as well."
Mu Wan Yao stared blankly.
Then she frowned: "No."
The situation in Nanyang required his presence to take charge, and those pursuing her needed him to handle matters from the rear. Mu Wan Yao only trusted Yan Shang—if he wasn't managing things behind the scenes, she still feared the situation would slip from her control.Yan Shang said softly, "I... I'm not at ease with you traveling alone. I'm familiar with all the terrain in Nanyang, familiar with all the official deployments. Even if I'm not in Rang County, Yun Shu is there, my personal attendants are all there—they'll keep in constant contact with me... I want to see Your Highness safely out of Nanyang. Nanyang is so unsafe, and Han Shu Xing is just a military man—I fear he won't be able to handle the traps the authorities have laid.
"As for matters in Rang County... it's not that I'm indispensable. Isn't Lord Pei in Rang County? His official rank is even higher than mine. If Your Highness finds him trustworthy... why not let him handle affairs in the rear, and insist I stay? I don't wish to remain."
Mu Wan Yao spoke earnestly, "But he's not the local official of Nanyang—how can he contend with those two powerful figures there? He's not like you... Yan Shang, don't be so willful. Can't you consider the bigger picture?"
Yan Shang hung his head.
After a long pause, he said, "I've always considered the bigger picture, always refrained from being willful... but the outcome hasn't been good for me. I had to watch as you were... treated like that. I can't rest easy. This time, I want to be willful just once."
Mu Wan Yao was taken aback, "It was just a slap... don't make it sound like I was violated."
His face tightened, his expression already pained. Han Shu Xing, standing nearby, coughed once.
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Mu Wan Yao softened her tone, "But what use is a blind man following me?"
Yan Shang retorted, "Who caught the fish for you? Who grilled the fish for you?"
Mu Wan Yao turned her face away, "I don't know!"
Her expression remained impassive, but her fingers tightened on his sleeve, and inwardly she couldn't help feeling somewhat pleased. Yet she restrained herself, not letting it show. She merely covered her slightly swollen cheek, feeling as if the pain wasn't so severe anymore—
The three of them discussed how to escape under the officials' pursuit.
Yan Shang suggested, "Let's pose as siblings."
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him, "What siblings? Are you older than me? You should call me 'Sister Yao Yao.' It would be better to pose as elder sister and younger brother."
Yan Shang was taken aback, his face slightly flushed, he said awkwardly, "...But don't you always call me 'Second Brother Yan'?"
Mu Wan Yao widened her eyes, "When? Han Shu Xing, have you ever heard me call him that?"
Han Shu Xing certainly hadn't. Han Shu Xing had only interacted more with Mu Wan Yao after their reunion this time. And during this period, Mu Wan Yao had consistently addressed him as "Yan Er" or "Yan Shang"—never anything like "brother." Yan Erlang was being overly imaginative.
Yan Shang had no reply.
Mu Wan Yao looked triumphant; though he couldn't see, she still tossed him a smug glance. But Han Shu Xing then asked, "But whether siblings or elder sister and younger brother, can they share a guest room at night?"
Mu Wan Yao was slightly startled.
Yan Shang stammered, "Wh-why would we need to share the same guest room?"
Han Shu Xing found it strange, "Isn't Erlang escorting Your Highness out of Nanyang? Shouldn't close protection involve sharing the same room? If you stay next door and Your Highness is kidnapped at night, wouldn't you be unaware? Whether siblings or elder sister and younger brother sharing a room—I don't know if, according to you Great Wei people, that would be considered odd?"
Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao both fell silent.
After a long while, Yan Shang said softly, "...As husband and wife, then."
Mu Wan Yao's voice was as faint as a mosquito's, "...Mm."Han Shu Xing didn't understand: "You mean we should pretend to be husband and wife?"
Mu Wan Yao: ...This person is so superfluous!
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