The breeze was gentle, the surroundings quiet.
The Crown Prince leaned against the armrest, one leg curled up, the other stretched out. He sat somewhat lazily, scrutinizing Yang Si, who stood before him questioning him, with a sense of listlessness.
The recklessness of youth had been replaced by the steadiness of adulthood, yet Yang Si remained Yang Si. He could not sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' sacrifices on his behalf.
He was still that dashing and unrestrained Yang Sanlang of the Yang family. Having sneaked back to Chang'an without following orders, he cared little about whether he would achieve the outcome he desired.
Yet he had come nonetheless.
Just as the Crown Prince was about to speak, fireworks burst into bloom outside, dazzling in their myriad colors.
The Crown Prince turned his head to watch the booming fireworks in the sky, admiring their resplendent beauty before seeing them fall like dust and debris from the heavens.
Brilliant at first, but ending in disarray.
Such is life.
Yet one cannot resign oneself to it.
The Crown Prince said softly, "Since you’ve already guessed what I intend to do, why come back? My affairs are inevitably tied to the Yang family. I only meant for you to stay away and remain safe. If I succeed, you will share in the rewards. If I fail, at least you will be spared involvement.
"Only a fool would return."
Yang Si replied, "Only a fool would not return."
He knelt down, gazing at the Crown Prince’s indifferent expression. A heavy weight pressed on his chest, aching, as if something were struggling to burst forth. Clenching his fists, he took several deep breaths and reopened his sharp, cold eyes.
Like a heavy sword without an edge, he knelt upright and said hoarsely to the Crown Prince, "Eldest Brother, I don’t need you to do this. We’ve been together since we were young—it makes no sense to cast me aside now. Even if you believe in this reasoning, would anyone else?
"Our fates are intertwined, for better or worse. I’ve always followed your lead—if you told me to return to Chang’an, I did; if you told me to leave, I left. If you told me to marry someone, I would; if you forbade it, I refused. All these years, I’ve been under your care... I know that my ability to act recklessly was only possible because you had my back. I know that I could be the carefree Yang Sanlang only because you cleaned up my messes.
"People often say that those in the imperial family are heartless. You may be ruthless, but you’ve always been different with me. Others may blame you, and I have nothing to say to them, but I alone cannot speak a single word against you. You’ve done everything you could for me, yet if I were to turn and walk away, Eldest Brother, what kind of sense would that make?"
A flicker of something unusual appeared in the Crown Prince’s eyes, and his gaze toward Yang Si was no longer as dismissive.
Mockingly, the Crown Prince asked, "What do you intend to do?"
Try to persuade him to give up?
Yang Si said, "I will stand with you."
The Crown Prince froze, then sprang to his feet in anger. "Nonsense!"
Still kneeling, Yang Si looked up, his expression somber and his eyes calm. "I won’t try to dissuade you. I know it hasn’t been easy for you. You’ve endured for years, yet he refuses to die—now, with physicians prolonging his life, the resources you hold are being stripped away one by one... He doesn’t treat you as a son. He has always suppressed you, held you down.
"You feel wronged, you can’t bear it any longer... Then let me stand with you. After all, the Yang family is tied to your fate, and I have always been on your side. Eldest Brother, between you and me, there is no 'each man for himself when disaster strikes,' only 'sharing weal and woe' and 'standing together in life and death.'"
The Crown Prince stared at him, stunned.
After a long silence, he lifted the hem of his robe and knelt as well. Forehead to forehead with Yang Si, he trembled—with anger, with sorrow. No words were needed to express the depth of his feelings. He simply said, "Good brother, your elder brother will not fail you."Yang Si: "I too have lived up to my elder brother's expectations."
Fireworks bloomed in the sky, bursting with clamorous brilliance, their radiance flowing like streams—the mortal world felt transient as a sojourn—
Fireworks bloomed in the sky, bursting with clamorous brilliance, their radiance flowing like streams—the heavens and earth had fallen silent.
In Danyang Princess Residence, small tables had been arranged in the main hall with screens removed. Servants had withdrawn, allowing the masters to reminisce.
Wei Shu looked over and saw Mu Wan Yao still in her splendid attire, seated behind the same table as Yan Shang.
She leaned intimately against Second Brother Yan's shoulder. As the fireworks were too loud, she covered her cheek with her hand and whispered into Second Brother Yan's ear while speaking with him.
Her cheeks flushed with slight intoxication, her eyes clear and sparkling with laughter.
Yan Shang listened to the princess, smiling as he lowered his head to peel fruit for her.
Mu Wan Yao naturally called out to Wei Shu with frank warmth: "Ju Yuan, make yourself at home, no need for formalities. It's been years since I last saw you—you've already come of age. Today I must properly observe how you've grown.A sense of daze drifted through Wei Shu's heart, recalling a New Year's Eve long ago spent with Second Brother Yan and the princess.
Only back then, the princess and Second Brother Yan weren't openly together. At that time, Her Highness had sat with him, as if deliberately maintaining distance from Second Brother Yan to avoid suspicion.
But this time was different.
This time, Mu Wan Yao could openly nestle against Yan Shang's shoulder, resting her head against him without fearing gossip.
A refined smile surfaced on Wei Shu's face as he softly sighed: "How wonderful."
Yan Shang glanced over, his eyes dark as night, gazing at him with concern.
Wei Shu said sincerely: "Second Brother and Her Highness getting married—I think it's truly wonderful."
Yan Shang's face flushed slightly. He cupped his hands but naturally couldn't find words to respond. Mu Wan Yao, however, laughed generously, the corners of her eyes tinged with flying crimson: "I think so too."
She sighed: "When I was younger, I was immature. I thought marriage was something terrifying. Your second brother kept lecturing me daily, urging me to settle on marriage, but I persistently refused. Back then I always felt marriage wouldn't affect our relationship. Could lacking a marriage certificate possibly impact our feelings?"
She said earnestly: "Now I understand that status truly matters. Second Brother Yan dispelled my fear of marriage, showing me not all men are the same. He eliminated so many of my fears..."
She wanted to say she wasn't afraid of men's kisses in darkness because she knew it was Yan Shang; she wasn't afraid of being embraced from behind because he was so gentle; she wasn't afraid of men's dominance because Yan Shang would never treat her that way.
A gentleman is like water, supreme goodness resembles water. Yan Shang was such a water-like gentleman—he reflected on his every word and deed daily, disciplining himself like a sage, and Mu Wan Yao reaped the benefits of this.
Because these benefits were exceptionally great, she could accept his other shortcomings—
Such as his universal compassion for all things, such as his numerous friends.
Mu Wan Yao whispered: "Without becoming husband and wife, we could never truly be family, always separated by barriers. Only by becoming family could your second brother truly accept me and properly build a life with me.
"Did you know before marriage, he always slept facing away from me... Mph!"
Her mouth was suddenly stuffed with a peeled fruit.
She glared over. Yan Shang said: "Eat properly. No nonsense."Mu Wan Yao knew he didn’t want her to discuss his private affairs. She swallowed the fruit in her mouth, shot Yan Shang a glare, and then complained like a little girl, "Your Second Brother Yan is just so stubborn."
Wei Shu chuckled softly.
Like all married couples in the world, Mu Wan Yao, happy and content in her own marriage and believing it to be a wonderful thing, wished for those around her to share the same happiness.
Leaning forward with enthusiasm, Mu Wan Yao looked at Wei Shu and said, "Ju Yuan, now that you’ve come of age, is there any young lady you fancy? Doesn’t the Wei family have any plans for your marriage? Surely that can’t be right?
"If you’ve taken a liking to someone, I could help you assess her and even propose on your behalf."
Yan Shang interrupted her eager suggestions, "Ju Yuan has just returned to Chang’an. How could he possibly know any young ladies? Don’t go making matches recklessly."
Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Wei Shu spoke up, "There is actually someone I like."
Yan Shang raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn’t expected someone as reserved and introverted as Wei Shu to already have someone in mind so soon after returning to Chang’an. A flicker of unease stirred within him, but he suppressed it and asked with a smile, "Might I ask which young lady it is?"
Wei Shu looked slightly uncomfortable.
He replied, "It’s Zhao Wuniang."
Mu Wan Yao immediately exclaimed, "Ah... it’s her."
Yan Shang pressed further, "The fifth daughter of Censor Zhao’s household? The same Wuniang who accompanied you on the diplomatic mission?"
Wei Shu nodded.
Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang exchanged a glance, both unavoidably recalling certain underlying complications. By now, the past incidents of Zhao Lingfei’s fervent pursuit of Yan Shang were no longer a concern for either of them.
However, Wei Shu had just returned to Chang’an and likely didn’t understand the current situation in the capital. The couple set aside their worries and smiled warmly at Wei Shu.
Without delving into other matters, Yan Shang spoke only of Zhao Lingfei herself: "Wuniang is charming and adorable, bold and lively. She and Ju Yuan would complement each other well—a very suitable match."
Hearing Yan Shang speak so favorably, Wei Shu naturally felt pleased.
Mu Wan Yao smiled faintly beside them, watching as her husband seemed to weigh his words, as if about to add some less pleasant remarks. But just then, the maids announced from outside, "Your Highness, Miss Yan is here."
Both Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao were surprised. Why would Yan Xiaozhou come at such a late hour?
They instructed the servants to invite her in. As a guest, Wei Shu stood up, and soon a slender, lotus-faced young lady draped in a heavy cloak entered gracefully.
After Yan Xiaozhou and Wei Shu exchanged greetings, she turned to her brother and sister-in-law with a cheerful smile and said, "It’s like this: We knew you attended the palace banquet tonight, so we didn’t want to disturb you earlier. But just now, we heard movement at the Princess Residence and guessed you had returned.
"Father said it’s too late to ask you to join us for the New Year’s Eve vigil. He sent me to bring you your New Year’s money."
She took out two red envelopes containing gold leaf coins and handed them with a smile to the princess’s maid. Then, she offered an apologetic smile to Wei Shu, indicating that she hadn’t known he would be present—otherwise, she would have prepared an extra envelope.
Receiving the New Year’s money from Yan Father, Mu Wan Yao was both astonished and delighted.
She had always felt a distance between herself and the Yan family, as though she couldn’t fully integrate. But receiving this gift tonight made her feel that Yan Father regarded her as a daughter-in-law.
Mu Wan Yao treasured the red envelope, turning it over and over, stroking the gold leaf coins inside repeatedly. Overjoyed, she asked again and again, "Is this for me? Really for me? I’ve never received New Year’s money before!"Yan Shang initially felt embarrassed about accepting New Year's money from his father after getting married.
But seeing Mu Wan Yao's evident delight beside him, he sighed inwardly, feeling tender toward her hardships, and swallowed his words of refusal. Instead, he cupped his hands respectfully toward his sister.
His sister cheerfully explained to the princess: "Isn't it customary to give New Year's money to a new bride during her first Spring Festival after marriage? That's how we do it here. After all, my brother has married you now.
"Though Elder Sister-in-law might not have received such gifts before, you've surely received many precious rewards from His Majesty—far more valuable than this. My father even worried Your Highness might look down on this."
Mu Wan Yao smiled faintly. "It's different."
She frequently received rewards from her Emperor father, but those imperial gifts never shook any foundations. Her father felt no pinch when bestowing them, perhaps never even knowing what exactly he had given her. Only that they were precious.
But what truly mattered was the human heart.
The Yan family was willing to offer her this heart, while her own father withheld it.
Mu Wan Yao smiled at Yan Xiaozhou: "Tomorrow, Second Brother Yan and I will visit to pay New Year's respects and thank Father for the gift. Actually, we should prepare New Year's money for you too—Xiaozhou remains unmarried, still a child after all."
Yan Xiaozhou instantly recalled Yang Si's appearance from their recent street encounter.
Blushing, she protested: "Why would Your Highness mention such things out of nowhere?"
Thus, they merrily saw Yan Xiaozhou off from the Princess Residence. As night deepened, Yan Shang noticed Wei Shu's weariness and had a maid escort him to rest.
Wei Shu, who cherished both spouses' company, felt completely at ease in the princess' residence and offered no objection.
After Wei Shu's departure, Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao returned to the dining table in the main hall, sitting together to watch fireworks blooming across the night sky.
Clutching the New Year's money from Yan Father, Mu Wan Yao gazed at the successive firework bursts.
Following Wei Shu's retreating figure, she sighed: "Duke Zhao, now acting as the eunuchs' lackey, is despised by scholar-officials. Ju Yuan favors Zhao Wuniang, but the Wei family would never consent to marriage with a eunuch's pawn."
Yan Shang murmured: "Indeed. I'll explain this to Ju Yuan another day. He doesn't grasp the current conflict between eunuchs and scholars. Now that Ju Yuan has returned from his diplomatic mission, his status far surpasses before—the Ministry of Personnel is discussing appointing him as Director of the Ministry of Rites. At his peak of glory, the Zhao family also prospers... though their glory differs from his.
"With such opposing stances, the Wei family cultivating Ju Yuan as their outstanding descendant would never accept a Zhao daughter. Had Ju Yuan remained his former self, marrying Zhao Wuniang might have been feasible... but his exceptional talent, once revealed, inevitably restricts his freedom."
Mu Wan Yao fell silent for a long while.
Suddenly she whispered: "Different stances don't necessarily prevent marriage."
Yan Shang's heart stirred as he turned to look at her.
Eyes fixed on him with unusual seriousness, she declared: "With unwavering determination and willingness to sacrifice, two truly devoted people can find a way. Stances can be adjusted and circumvented. If you genuinely love someone, you'll charge forward regardless."
Yan Shang's cheeks warmed.
Though he wished to speak, he ultimately simply smiled and poured her a cup of wine, presenting it beneath her gaze as a reward.
Mu Wan Yao's eyes curved as she unhesitatingly accepted Yan Shang's toast, tilting her head back to drain the cup.With Yan Shang watching over her, she drank very little after marriage, only taking small sips each time, which made every drinking opportunity feel particularly precious.
The wine was sweet, and her husband's shyness was equally sweet. These made her head spin, and she wanted more.
Mu Wan Yao grabbed Yan Shang's sleeve, pouring out sweet words to him as if they cost nothing: "I've liked you since I was eighteen! I liked you even back in Lingnan!"
Yan Shang smiled softly: "I know."
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow, and Yan Shang lowered his head: "I knew you liked me back then. I could feel it when you subtly teased me. But you were too high above me at the time, completely out of my reach. Later... later I thought your affection wasn't worth much, so I let it go."
Mu Wan Yao immediately retorted: "How was my affection not worth much?"
Yan Shang thought for a moment and said: "Because when you liked me back then, I felt it was no different from liking a kitten or a puppy. You just found me amusing and enjoyed teasing me. Because you were too repressed then, new to politics and completely ignorant, always being schemed against. You needed to find some joy in your life, and you happened to find me amusing, so you came to tease me."
"But you actually didn't want to take responsibility. When I first arrived in Chang'an and didn't look for you, I think you must have secretly breathed a sigh of relief."
Mu Wan Yao pressed her lips together.
She truly had nothing to say about her past heartlessness. But Yan Shang making himself sound so innocent made her unhappy.
Mu Wan Yao countered: "And how were you any simpler? You were the same. When you talked with me back then, you often ran out of words mid-conversation. Wasn't that because you felt guilty? What's wrong with me liking to tease you? With your temperament, weren't you just waiting for me to flirt with you? When I kissed you, you clearly opened your mouth..."
Yan Shang immediately covered her mouth, his face red as he scolded: "I was only seventeen then, I didn't understand anything..."
Mu Wan Yao pulled his hand down, her round eyes both cat-like and charming: "Even without understanding anything, you still opened your mouth. You clearly had feelings for me, you just never dared to admit it. I dare say if I had wanted to sleep with you back then, you would have half-heartedly agreed."
Yan Shang angrily said: "Nonsense! I would never have done that."
Mu Wan Yao was about to retort further when she suddenly paused, realizing what they were doing - it seemed like they were digging up old grievances to argue, and fighting over who liked whom first at that.
Mu Wan Yao couldn't help but laugh softly, resting her head against his neck as she said charmingly: "Alright, say whatever you want. I know in my heart how easy you are to push over anyway."
Yan Shang's cheeks burned hot. He turned his face away, looking down at her helplessly: "In the future, let's keep such talk between us privately. Don't let outsiders hear, alright?"
Mu Wan Yao secretly reached for the wine cup on the table, casually saying: "No."
Yan Shang: "..."
He didn't speak, but reached out to press his hand over Mu Wan Yao's, preventing her from drinking more. When Mu Wan Yao tried to snatch the wine pot from him, he wouldn't let her have it.
He was usually so accommodating toward her, rarely going against her wishes. Only at times like this would Yan Shang firmly refuse her wine, making Mu Wan Yao so anxious her eyes reddened.
She coquettishly scolded: "You're bullying me!"Yan Shang said softly, "What do you mean by 'bullying you'? You must have drunk a lot behind my back at the palace banquet tonight—did I say anything about that? Drinking so much at the banquet is one thing, but why did you have to drink again after returning? Alcohol harms your health—don’t you know that? And when your stomach aches, who do you think ends up worrying?"
Mu Wan Yao lifted her face defiantly. "I was wrong before—marrying you is not good at all. You control everything I do; I have to report to you wherever I go. You’ve taken away my freedom."
Yan Shang replied gently, "Marriage was never meant to be free. Even if you say that, I won’t let you drink anymore tonight."
Seeing that she couldn’t snatch the wine from him and that neither trickery nor pleading would work, Mu Wan Yao let go in frustration. She turned away, her expression stern, refusing to engage with him further.
Noticing her mood, Yan Shang hesitated for a moment before leaning down to kiss her on the lips.
Mu Wan Yao lifted her eyelids stiffly. "What’s that for? Do you think a kiss will make everything better? Am I that easy to pacify?"
Yan Shang offered, "Shall I peel some fruit for you?"
Mu Wan Yao turned her head to look at him, watching as he bowed his head and began peeling fruit again. His profile was as flawless as jade, his entire being pure and elegant. Staring at him for a long while, her resentment gradually faded, and her heart fluttered as if brushed by a feather.
Resting her chin in her hand, Mu Wan Yao asked him, "Second Brother Yan, are you tired?"
Yan Shang thought for a moment. "Not really."
He sighed. "The fireworks are too loud, and we have to attend the grand banquet tomorrow morning. We won’t get much sleep tonight anyway."
Pausing, he turned to her. "Are you tired? You can go to sleep if you’d like. Hmm... do you want me to accompany you?"
Mu Wan Yao retorted, "Blockhead."
Yan Shang tilted his head. "What did I do now?"
Mu Wan Yao repeated, "Second Brother Yan, do you want to sleep?"
Yan Shang stared into her eyes for a moment before suddenly understanding her true meaning. His face flushed, and he turned away, too embarrassed to meet her captivating gaze.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. With both of them busy lately, it had indeed been a long time since they...
Yan Shang murmured, "What do you mean?"
Mu Wan Yao’s eyes curved with a teasing smile. Deliberately leaning closer, her long lashes brushed against his cheek, making him blush even more and his eyelashes tremble.
His arm, resting on the table, tensed, and his entire body stiffened like stone.
Mu Wan Yao adored his honest reactions. She laughed softly, "What do you mean, 'what do you mean'? I’m talking about sleeping. Can you keep going all night?"
Yan Shang’s face reddened, but he couldn’t help smiling. "I don’t know."
Mu Wan Yao’s heart swayed as if intoxicated. She whispered, "Silly brother, why say 'I don’t know' at a time like this? You should say you can handle it."
He turned to look at her, and Mu Wan Yao blinked playfully.
His eyes crinkled into a smile as he reached out to cup her face and leaned in to kiss her. Mu Wan Yao closed her eyes, savoring his tender kiss. Suddenly, she felt a cool sensation on her nose and opened her eyes.
Mu Wan Yao exclaimed, "It’s snowing."
Yan Shang glanced down with a smile. "Yes."
Sitting together under the eaves, Mu Wan Yao clung to Yan Shang’s arm. He bent to kiss her, but she giggled and pulled him to watch the snow instead, refusing his affection. Though inwardly resigned, he smiled and accepted her new whim—
A timely snow promises a prosperous year; the couple sat together beneath the corridor, watching the snowfall.
The world was blanketed in a vast, pristine white, serene and pure.Mu Wan Yao said thoughtfully, "I hope the gentleman I loved at eighteen will accompany me year after year, month after month, just like today."
Yan Shang asked softly, "Even if he is not good enough?"
Mu Wan Yao replied, "He is the best."
She soon grew dissatisfied again, "I've already said it, why don't you say something nice?"
Yan Shang sighed with a faint smile. Gazing up at the falling snow, his eyes were dark as night yet clear as lake water.
As she wished, he slowly began: "Yao Yao, throughout our lives we face difficult choices between reason and emotion, constantly seeking balance between them. Some are conquered by reason, while I was conquered by emotion. No one can claim to have made the right choice—we only seek to live without regrets.
"The maiden who secretly captured my heart at seventeen remains the love of my life. In my heart, I've long wished to marry her."
He turned his head, gazing tenderly at her: "Knowing you is something I'll never regret."
Mu Wan Yao looked at him, immersed in the dream he had woven. The emotions in her eyes shimmered with intensity, always vivid and unrestrained. Yan Shang adored this about her, watching her with rapt attention.
Mu Wan Yao tightened her embrace around his arm, whispering softly: "I don't regret it either."
Yan Shang smiled. He didn't speak further, instead holding her closer and asking if she needed a cloak. His wife shook her head, burying herself in his embrace, saying she felt warm enough in his arms—this was his wife.
The wife who would stand by him through thick and thin, sharing every journey and homecoming.
A profound tranquility and warmth filled Yan Shang's heart as he lowered his head to kiss Mu Wan Yao's hair. They continued watching the snowflakes dancing between heaven and earth. The sound of fireworks faded, but the snowlight enveloped the sky, wrapping the entire world in swan-down whiteness.
Under their shared gaze, the new year arrived—
With the arrival of the new year, all things revived, and the spring imperial examinations followed.
Yan Shang presided over that year's civil examinations. Meanwhile, the Yan family bid them farewell, preparing to leave Chang'an and return to Lingnan.
The Crown Prince's faction remained quiet, while Prince Qin's side, having endured the entire winter, finally reached their limit when official positions of the Jiang clan in Nanyang were about to be revoked one after another.
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