Outside Pujiu Temple, the chaos had escalated beyond what the officials stationed there could handle. A cacophony of noise and commotion filled the air—officials hurriedly descended from the opposite pavilion, robes hitched up, shouting, "Reinforcements! Call for reinforcements!" Commoners cried out in alarm, dodging beggars, while beggars shoved their way into the temple, arguing loudly, "They're giving out things for free here—why weren't we told?"
Amid the turmoil, someone yelled, "The officials are killing people!" pushing the situation to the brink of explosion.
At the temple entrance, a stranger—a woman surrounded by officials—was forced to wash her face and endure interrogation simply because her makeup bore some resemblance to the Danyang Princess. When the rough-handed officials saw her cleansed face, which looked nothing like the portrait provided by their superiors, they cursed and turned away: "Lock her up in jail first!"
The woman was stunned. This wasn’t what she had expected—when hired, no one had mentioned the risk of imprisonment. She shrieked, "Why are you arresting me? On what grounds?"
The officials roared back, "Clear the crowd! Clear the crowd! Damn it, everyone move aside! With such a dense crowd, do you all have a death wish? Aren’t you afraid of being trampled or a fire breaking out?"
They drew their blades: "Make way for us—"
Tonight, the brilliant lanterns outshone the moonlight, illuminating the entire temple and even the city in dazzling splendor… Yet the officials trembled with fear, dreading any incident on this Dragon Boat Festival night.
The highest-ranking official present, an eighth-grade magistrate, strode toward the temple with a grim expression, ordering his subordinates, "Close the city gates! From tonight onward, everyone entering or leaving must be strictly inspected! Say it’s due to beggar riots threatening the government—we had no choice but to seal the gates… Keep watch tonight. If so much as a mosquito slips out, I’ll hold you accountable!"
His subordinates wiped their sweat and stammered, "Sir, we likely don’t have the manpower to guard the gates… Everyone is stuck here. We can’t abandon the commoners just to protect the princess, can we?"
Unlike the officials, these clerks came from common backgrounds and naturally sided with the people. They had believed all along that they were safeguarding the princess and had thrown themselves into the task with extra zeal.
A sudden realization struck the leading official, and his breath hitched: "Are you suggesting we’d neglect the gates? Then we must send more men there immediately! Hurry! Don’t let anyone leave the city!"
The reporting clerks were aghast: "But here—here it’s packed with people. The beggars, finding no food, have started looting from the commoners…"
The official froze, sweating profusely as he grasped the gravity of the situation. Yet he made a swift decision: "Go block the city gates! As for this place… seal the temple! No one enters or leaves. We’ll deal with it later."
The clerks stared at him in horror. Seeing their superior’s stern face and realizing he truly intended to divert all manpower to the gates, they thought of the commoners trapped inside Pujiu Temple by the beggars, the rootless vagrants, and the monks struggling against restraints…
Muttering, "This will lead to disaster," one clerk turned to relay the orders.
Seeing his subordinates comply, the leading official breathed a slight sigh of relief, though tension still gripped him.
He had been promoted by the local magistrate and always followed the lead of the Nanyang Jiang Clan. The local magistrate himself was from the Jiang Clan—unfortunately, not the main lineage but a collateral branch. The main Jiang line was in Nanyang and Chang’an; what influence did they have here?When setting out, the county magistrate had quietly informed him that capturing the princess, or even taking advantage of the chaos to kill her, would be a great boon for the Jiang family. If this succeeded, his official career in Nanyang would proceed smoothly.
Yet such a promising opportunity had descended into chaos tonight!
"Sir! The medicinal herbs we were guarding in the temple have gone missing!" Another minor official, drenched in sweat, scrambled down the temple wall—the main gate was completely blocked by beggars and commoners, making entry or exit impossible.
Who cared about medicinal herbs now? The official waved his hand irritably, vexed only by how he would explain the situation to the county magistrate upon his return.
Frowning deeply, he mentally retraced the night's events: someone outside the temple claimed to have found someone resembling the princess, then another princess look-alike appeared at the temple gate, followed by the sudden intrusion of beggars... He muttered to himself, "So the renowned official Yan Suchen is truly with Her Highness."
Originally, they had only used the medicinal herbs as a pretext to lure them out, but now the herbs were missing... A faint smile touched the official's lips. He thought, a blind man and a delicate princess—how could they possibly escape the city gates he had turned into a cage?—
Near the temple, officials were continuously being recalled, but those dispatched earlier had not received the latest orders. In a deep alley, a patrol of four or five minor officials noticed figures in the shadows and cautiously approached.
In the flickering, dim light, the patrol vaguely discerned a man and woman embracing in the alley.
The man was tall and slender, slightly hunched over, one hand cupping the lady's face, the other wrapped around her waist. His moon-white outer robe was draped over her, obscuring her form—only her jet-black hair spilled through his fingers, entwining around his arm and cascading like a waterfall to the ground.
Only a princess of the imperial family could possess such hair, flowing down to her ankles.
After removing Mu Wan Yao's hairpin, Yan Shang realized his oversight. Feigning absorption, he used his arm to gather her hair, hoping the minor officials wouldn't notice its extraordinary length.
The couple's murmurs were hushed and low, clearly indicating their intimate activity. However, the leader of this patrol, well-versed in the ways of the world, sensed something amiss. He hadn't immediately noticed the lady's unusually long hair; instead, he thought, with the temple in such turmoil, how could any couple be so carried away here?
Gripping their sword hilts, they cautiously advanced and shouted from a distance, "Turn around! What are you two doing here? Identify yourselves!"
Yan Shang felt Mu Wan Yao's eyelashes flutter against his cheek—she had clearly heard the officials' approaching footsteps. Remaining composed, he continued kissing her while tightening his grip on the dagger concealed in his sleeve. He listened intently, calculating how to discreetly incapacitate the officials as they drew nearer...
He had no intention of killing, but they needed to be rendered unconscious.
Mu Wan Yao kept her eyes closed as if lost in passion, burying herself in Yan Shang's embrace, her hands clasping his waist affectionately. Yet, within her sleeve, her fingers tightened around a dagger. She thought that if it came to it, she would let Yan Shang escape while she covered his retreat. With his impaired vision, she at least had her dagger... and even if she fell into the hands of the authorities, her status as a princess might offer a sliver of hope.
Thus, as the footsteps behind them grew closer, the couple only embraced more fervently, as if unable to tear themselves apart.Lips and teeth mingled, breaths flowing like streams. Soft yet unrestrained, the mind deliberately indulged in intoxication, while maintaining a cold detachment at the most impassioned moments.
But Mu Wan Yao tilted her face upward, eyes slightly open, intending to watch the approaching officials, yet inadvertently noticing first Yan Shang’s face lowered in a kiss, his eyes closed. The surroundings were deathly still, distant clashes of battle echoing—amid this endless game of wits, he kept his eyes shut.
Disheveled strands of hair fell across his face, a few tracing along his collar and dipping into his neck. His robe was draped over her, specks of mud splattered on his sleeves. Lean and clean, his brows furrowed in the throes of passion, cheeks flushed—it made her feel…
Hmm.
Yan Shang opened his eyes.
Though he couldn’t see, in that instant of “eye contact” with her, his slight pause made Mu Wan Yao feel the fingers pressing against her cheek tremble.
As if overcome with emotion, he pushed her shoulder, pressing her against the wall.
The officials behind them shouted, “Stop!”
Of course, they couldn’t stop.
Actions spoke louder than words.
In this silent contest, Mu Wan Yao remained quiet, pinned against the wall by Yan Shang. His hand slid upward from her waist, moonlight bathing their faces. He grew rough and exhilarated, like a regular in the Pleasure Quarter—excited yet detached. The unfamiliarity was terrifying, abruptly reminding Mu Wan Yao of those men from the Black Barbarians…
Those malicious touches, those crushing taunts.
But she lifted her face, eyes dark and calm, watching Yan Shang’s face. His clean, gentle features were close to hers, his breath hot against her neck. A chill seeped into her bones, heat racing up her spine.
Mu Wan Yao arched her neck high, holding him tightly, a lingering murmur escaping her lips: “Hmm…”
Like a cat’s purr, seductive to the core.
The minor officials flushed at the sound, let alone Yan Shang? That hint of enchantment teased his heart—she was right there under his palm, her cool cheek against his warm skin. She hummed softly, her nose lightly brushing his neck, sending shivers cascading across his skin.
He suddenly felt parched, tension coiling throughout his body. Not the feigned kind, but genuine… instantly recalling countless past intimacies between them in the bedchamber.
The officials had closed within three zhang.
Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao each tightened their grip on their concealed blades or daggers… The officials, seeing the pair still ignoring them, sensed something amiss. They raised their swords, a brief standoff ensuing. Just as they prepared to strike, a shout echoed from the alley’s entrance: “What are you still doing here?! The lord has summoned reinforcements to the city gates! Protect Your Highness!”
The officials blocking the alley hesitated, “But…”
The couple continued embracing as if no one else existed. The shouting official barked that it was a superior’s order—the city gates were the priority. With authority pressing down, the alley officials, though suspicious, gritted their teeth and followed the messenger out of the alley…
The reluctant leader of the dispatched team glanced back one last time upon exiting: he saw the couple sink to the ground, the man burying his face against the woman’s neck, moving lower…
He cursed under his breath, “Disgusting,” convincing himself he must have overthought it—perhaps they were just a pair of unrestrained, vulgar lovers—
Once the officials were gone, Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao faced each other, sliding down the wall to sit. Their bodies trembled, numb, a deep ache seeping into their bones.When Yan Shang lost strength, his fingers brushed against hers and touched something, pausing: "Why are you holding a dagger?"
Mu Wan Yao rolled up his sleeve, smiling ambiguously as she hooked a finger between the dagger's hilt in his hand and his wrist, implying: Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
With just that light hook of her fingertip, his body trembled. His face rested against her neck, his breath scorching hot, his tense body not relaxing despite the enemy's departure. Mu Wan Yao didn’t push him away either, acting as if nothing was amiss: "Can you still walk?"
Yan Shang gave a bitter smile.
He knew in his heart that he had revealed his disgraceful state, his true nature laid bare. He was pressed so close to her—having draped clothing over her to conceal her identity from the enemy, fitting tightly against her—how could she not feel it when his desire spiraled beyond control?
With anyone else, Yan Shang would have been so ashamed he’d wish for death. Someone who valued his image so highly, how could he bear to show such an unsightly state in public? But this was Mu Wan Yao, the one who had witnessed his past... and that made him, despite his tension, a little less afraid.
Yan Shang whispered: "I need a moment."
Mu Wan Yao said carelessly: "Do you want me to use my hand?"
Yan Shang: "..."
The fingers he had pressed against her wrist twitched slightly as he turned his face toward her. Mu Wan Yao leaned against the wall with a bent knee, watching him. His lips were red and moist, glistening. His mouth slightly parted, chin tilted up as he panted. This dazed, struggling look of his... made one truly want to do something.
And Mu Wan Yao was the one who most enjoyed doing something to him.
A string in their minds tightened faintly; the distance between them was already minuscule. Mu Wan Yao lowered her head and kissed his lips. He froze, his upper body leaning back slightly. Mu Wan Yao didn’t move, and after a moment of stillness, he leaned forward again, parting his lips to respond to her.
Mu Wan Yao chuckled mockingly.
She said: "You’re so dishonest."
He murmured softly: "You’re too honest."
Continuing the earlier pleasure, continuing the earlier affection. Their minds went blank, perhaps not wanting to think too much. But once emotions are unleashed, they must find release; once floodwaters burst from the dam, they need time to recede... Han Shu Xing’s voice suddenly cut in: "I’ve got the medicine."
Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao, faces still close, stiffened simultaneously.
Both realizing that momentary loss of control.
Mu Wan Yao’s voice was slightly hoarse, deliberately indifferent: "Can you stand up?"
She was speaking to Yan Shang. Yan Shang’s face flushed crimson; after a long pause, he smiled bitterly: "Give me a little more time."
Han Shu Xing grew instantly anxious: "What’s wrong? Has Erlang been injured? Where is he hurt? Can he not stand?"
He held Yan Erlang in such high regard that, thinking he was injured, he moved to check. Yan Shang recoiled in alarm, while Mu Wan Yao directly stretched out an arm to block him, preventing Han Shu Xing from touching Yan Shang. Mu Wan Yao glared at Han Shu Xing, gritting her teeth: "...Are you an idiot?"
Han Shu Xing, scolded by the princess, was at a loss. He habitually looked to Yan Erlang for explanation, but Yan Shang hung his head, fingers clutching the princess’s sleeve, merely sitting rigidly hunched over without speaking—
While the counties under Nanyang’s jurisdiction were thrown into chaos by Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao, the Dragon Boat Festival night in Chang’an city carried the true atmosphere of celebration.The Crown Prince had originally invited Yang Sanlang to spend the festival at the Eastern Palace, mentioning that the Crown Princess would personally cook to treat him. However, Yang Sanlang replied casually and somewhat smugly that he had an appointment with a beauty, leaving the Crown Prince both surprised and feeling a sense of "the pig I raised has finally learned to root around" amusement.
Now, the Crown Prince had no particular demands of Yang Sanlang. If Yang Sanlang could marry soon, it would also set the minds of his parents at ease.
In the evening, Yang Sanlang happily went to meet his beauty. The Crown Prince spent some time with his wives, concubines, and children in the Eastern Palace. After hearing a piece of news, the faint smile on his face faded, causing his eldest son, who had come to toast him, to tremble and not dare to speak further.
Crown Princess: "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
The Crown Prince composed his expression, a slight smile on his lips, and said, "The Emperor has summoned a folk healer. I am uneasy and will go check on the situation."
The Crown Prince immediately left the Eastern Palace and went to the Emperor's bedchamber to pay his respects. Prince Jin and Prince Qin were both there, and Cheng An, the Emperor's personal eunuch, explained the Emperor's condition to the princes. Liu Wenji stood silently in a corner, observing them.
As they spoke, a short, thin old man in a loose Daoist robe drifted out of the main hall. Cheng An hurriedly went to inquire about His Majesty's condition.
Cheng An nervously introduced to the princes: "This is the divine physician that Gong Liu brought from overseas for His Majesty..."
The Crown Prince's gaze, cold and penetrating, fell upon Liu Wenji in the corner. Liu Wenji, now enfeoffed as a general and holding a high position, was no longer the same as before. Facing the Crown Prince's icy stare, Liu Wenji bowed respectfully without saying anything unnecessary.
The divine physician cheerfully announced to the princes: "Your Highnesses, rest assured. With me here, I can at least help His Majesty hold on for two or three years..."
Everyone was stunned.
The princes quickly recovered and put on expressions of tearful gratitude. Liu Wenji inwardly mocked their performance but was satisfied with the outcome—the Emperor living for another two or three years was beneficial to him. As a eunuch in power, Liu Wenji needed the Emperor's support.
Liu Wenji likely wished for the Emperor to live more than even the princes did.
The Crown Prince led his two younger brothers in bowing to the Emperor outside the bedchamber before taking his leave. The three then parted ways, some returning to their palaces, others leaving the palace. After Prince Qin and Prince Jin departed, palace attendants lit the way with lanterns as the Crown Prince walked silently back to the Eastern Palace.
The advisors following him kept their heads down and said nothing.
Just before reaching the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince suddenly stopped. He turned and sharply gazed back at the golden palace buildings, the resplendent towers... The stifling anger in his chest refused to dissipate. He muttered under his breath, "...Why isn't he dead yet?"
Another two or three years of such torment—how could it be endured?
The advisor closest to the Crown Prince was terrified, lowering his head even further and pretending not to hear.
But he heard the Crown Prince's gritted teeth, his pent-up fury, his resentment—
"Doesn't he know that everyone is waiting for him to die?"
"Why isn't he dead yet?!"—
In a remote county under Nanyang's jurisdiction, the magistrate had deployed all his men to the city gates, believing that with such chaos tonight, Mu Wan Yao would surely be in a hurry to leave the city.
But Mu Wan Yao was in no rush to depart.Fang Tong and the other guards from the Princess Residence had already left Rang County, heading south to find her. Mu Wan Yao was no longer as anxious as before... Searching within the city would be more troublesome, but with her and Yan Shang's abilities, they could still manage.
The top priority was Yan Shang's eyes.
Irritated, Mu Wan Yao sent the tactless Han Shu Xing away, ordering him to sneak to the city gates and observe the government's arrangements. If they could leave the city, they would; if not, they wouldn't, but at the very least, they needed to understand the authorities' stance.
Before he left, Mu Wan Yao specifically instructed Han Shu Xing: "After applying medicine to Yan Shang, the two of us will sleep tonight. When you return, unless it's something extremely important, do not knock or disturb us. Any major matters can wait until tomorrow."
Finally having sent Han Shu Xing away, Mu Wan Yao breathed a sigh of relief. In the rented house, Yan Shang sat on the bed while Mu Wan Yao knelt behind him, carefully applying medicine to his eyes and then covering them with gauze.
Mu Wan Yao was as solemn as if performing an important task, softly reminding him: "Starting tonight, you must apply this for two hours every night without interruption. If you stop again, your eyes might truly be ruined."
A faint smile touched Yan Shang's lips. With his eyes lowered and sitting upright, his hands rested quietly on his knees.
As she brushed aside the hair scattered over his shoulders, he closed his eyes and felt her fingers gently applying the medicine around his eye sockets. Yan Shang spoke softly: "I know. Thank you, Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao said: "Keep the gauze on. Do not remove it."
Yan Shang froze.
A sudden, wrenching pain twisted in his heart.
She continued kneeling behind him to apply the medicine, then helped him lie down. Perhaps due to the burning sensation from the medicine, his entire body began to ache. As she stood up to fetch the gauze, Yan Shang grasped her wrist and whispered: "Why?"
Mu Wan Yao paused: "Why what?"
Yan Shang: "Why do you want me to keep the gauze on? Is it because... you're leaving, and we'll be parting?"
Mu Wan Yao fell silent, looking down at the elegant young man lying on the bed, gripping her wrist.
Her mind wandered for a moment, as if speaking in a dream: "Of course. Once we leave this city, I can completely escape Shannan Circuit. Away from Shannan Circuit, even the Nanyang Jiang Clan won't be able to hunt me down. I'll regain my freedom and can turn back to counterattack. Naturally, I won't need you to follow me anymore. You can return to Rang County and focus on treating your eyes properly."
Yan Shang murmured: "When do you plan to leave the city?"
Mu Wan Yao narrowed her eyes slightly.
Yan Shang: "You don't have to leave the city. There's a better way."
Mu Wan Yao picked up the gauze and prepared to cover his eyes: "Are you talking about using the county magistrate here, supporting his rise, and replacing the head of the Nanyang Jiang Clan? I've considered that approach, but..."
Yan Shang's breathing quickened slightly. He sat up, her hand still holding the gauze over his eyes, while he grasped her other slender wrist. Yan Shang said: "I can help Your Highness with this matter. Since there's a best method, we should use it. Why settle for the second best?"
Mu Wan Yao stared at him blankly and said: "I'm afraid you'll be in danger."
Yan Shang lowered his head and replied: "...I won't be. Don't worry. I don't do things I'm not confident about."Mu Wan Yao gazed at him for a long time before whispering softly, "Do you... really have to take such risks? Why do this? Is it because of Pei Qing's betrayal that you pity me and want to make it up to me?"
Yan Shang was taken aback.
He said, "Why would you think that?"
After helping him secure the bandage, Mu Wan Yao noticed his furrowed brow. Unable to resist, she reached out to gently massage his forehead, her voice filled with concern: "Why are you frowning? Are you uncomfortable?"
Yan Shang replied quietly, "The medicine... stings a little. It's fine, I'll be better after a short while."
Mu Wan Yao asked, "Would you like to lie down for a bit?"
He shook his head. After some thought, she had him sit against the wall, and she leaned shoulder-to-shoulder with him against the wall, sitting on the couch, saying she wanted to keep him company. Yan Shang stubbornly repeated, "Why do you think I'm pitying you?"
Seeing that the topic still hadn't been diverted, Mu Wan Yao propped her chin on her hand. "Do you know what he did to me?"
Yan Shang pressed his lips together.
He said, "Are you talking about Pei Qing?"
Mu Wan Yao was surprised. "Didn't you used to call him 'Lord Pei'? Why are you suddenly using his full name?"
Yan Shang paused, somewhat petulantly. "I don't want to call him that. He makes me very angry."
Mu Wan Yao was dismissive. "Why are you angry? You don't even know what he did."
He said quietly, "...I can probably guess."
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow. She had been about to tell him the story, and here he was saying he'd already guessed. Curious about what he thought had happened, she waited. Yan Shang's voice was tight: "The bandits knew you were a princess, so they must have followed you after you left the city. You were captured because Pei Qing wasn't with you.
"He... he let go of your hand and ran away alone. Isn't that right?"
Mu Wan Yao was stunned, lowering her eyes.
Yan Shang continued, "So you sent him to Nanyang to handle the aftermath because you don't want to face him for now. And given your temperament... you probably don't want to marry him anymore. You're troubled by this."
Mu Wan Yao looked down. "Chang'an is preparing for my wedding."
Yan Shang said, "But I support you. Don't marry him."
He paused, both dejected and resolute. "Why is your marriage always so troubled... Why does this happen to you?"
Mu Wan Yao rested her cheek on her hand and turned to look at him, quietly watching him worry for her. A faint smile touched her lips as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Seeing him so troubled made her incredibly happy. Though delighted inside, she still tried to steer the conversation elsewhere: "Why talk about that? Let's chat instead."
Yan Shang asked, "About what?"
He hesitated, thinking about what happened in the alley that evening, growing uneasy, hesitant, and wondering how to bring it up...
But Mu Wan Yao said instead, "Let's talk about ourselves. Yan Shang, what kind of person do you want to be? Are your thoughts now the same as when you were seventeen? I want to tell you about myself too. I don't want to talk to anyone else... just you."
She tilted her face slightly, lifting her eyelids. Remembering his passion when he kissed her in the alley that night, she smiled slowly and slyly, nudging his arm coquettishly. "Anyway... well, you're not going to marry me, and I'm not going to marry you. Let's just be friends and get along well, okay?"
Yan Shang was astonished—could he really be friends with her? What was she thinking?
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