Everything was mired in tedious affairs. The exact circumstances of the late emperor's death and whether it was truly connected to the Crown Prince accused of treason remained unresolved, yet the late emperor still had to be laid to rest.
The new emperor had a sense of having obtained the throne by sheer luck—not only did the court officials think so, but even he himself felt this way. Because his ascension had been too effortless, he was plagued by unease and thus exerted extraordinary effort in overseeing the late emperor's funeral arrangements.
He wished the entire empire would observe three years of mourning for the late emperor, but was rebuked by the veteran ministers and had to sheepishly restrict this demand to the imperial family.
Meanwhile, Liu Wenji remained preoccupied with Cheng An's disappearance. Unfortunately, the imperial guards were busy currying favor with the new emperor and paid little attention to the vanishing of an old eunuch.
Having failed to locate Cheng An, Liu Wenji concluded that the man must have either died or truly escaped far away. So be it—as long as this person no longer caused trouble, Liu Wenji was willing to spare his former mentor this once.
The late emperor's interment in the imperial mausoleum was scheduled for early August.
Though it should have been the height of summer, that day saw a drizzling rain from dawn onward.
The imperial family and court officials braved the rain to accompany the new emperor to the imperial mausoleum for the final homage to the late emperor.
Having thoroughly performed the role of a filial son to his satisfaction, on the last night, the new emperor yielded his position to the late emperor's most beloved child—the current Eldest Princess, Mu Wan Yao—to keep the final vigil.
Mu Wan Yao was indifferent.
Had the late emperor loved her most?
Perhaps.
Driven by compensation and guilt, the late emperor had indeed treated her better than the other princes and princesses in his final years.
Now that the late emperor was gone, the former Luling Grand Princess wandered about in a daze, anxious that her days of hardship were approaching; the former Princess Yuyang, implicated in her biological brother's rebellion, saw her husband removed from his position as Capital Governor, and appeared somewhat haggard on this occasion.
Looking around, the new emperor indeed lacked siblings with whom he could perform scenes of deep affection. Only his youngest sister, Mu Wan Yao, who held significant power and maintained a less strained relationship with him due to Chunhua... received more attention from the new emperor as Princess Danyang.
Mu Wan Yao had long contemplated all this.
Initially, she had intended to participate in the selection of the emperor, but was later manipulated by the late emperor until no options remained. Now, being able to continue as a princess was already quite favorable.
—
Mu Wan Yao kept the final vigil for the late emperor before the imperial mausoleum, accompanied by her Imperial Son-in-Law, Yan Shang.
The couple remained awake through the night, kneeling before the spirit hall and silently adding paper money to the burning basin. Dressed entirely in plain white, they resembled common children mourning their father.
Mu Wan Yao turned to look at Yan Shang. His refined demeanor, enhanced by the plain garments, resembled clear moonlight—exceptionally elegant and pleasing. Yet, noticing his gaunt face with cheekbones protruding sharply, she felt he appeared pale and haggard, his health clearly poor, and urged him to rest.
Yan Shang shook his head.
To divert her attention from him, he softly began speaking about the late emperor.
Yan Shang gazed at her with tenderness. "From now on, all your blood-related kin are truly gone. You must be feeling very distressed, aren't you?"
Mu Wan Yao seemed bewildered.
Staring at the fluttering ashes of paper money above the burning basin for a moment, she replied with uncertainty, "I don't know. I'm not particularly distressed. Although my father, mother, and brothers are all gone, I don't feel especially pained.""To be honest, perhaps it's because the time they loved me was too brief, while the period of dragging things out and going through the motions after they stopped loving me lasted far too long. When Second Brother and Mother passed away... I might have felt sorrow then. But today, with the Emperor gone too, I find myself completely numb instead.
"I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. When it finally arrived, I felt relieved, thinking... an era has truly come to an end.
"The past that made me love and ache has finally been buried deep beneath the earth. Second Brother Yan, you ask if I'm grieving? No, I'm not. I only feel... liberated."
She lifted her face, gazing into the void as if looking upon her ancestors in the imperial mausoleum. She laid bare her heart to him without reservation. Peering into her own soul, she realized she truly had been, all along... even secretly anticipating this day's arrival.
Seeing her like this made Yan Shang's heart ache.
Their experiences differed, and his understanding of parental affection was entirely unlike hers. When a child perceives their parents' love as protracted and perfunctory, whose fault is it really?
Yan Shang gently rested his hand on her shoulder and asked softly, "Would you... be willing to talk to me about it?"
Mu Wan Yao: "About what?"
His voice was particularly quiet and tender in the empty mourning hall: "Anything. Like your mother, or your second brother. What... what kind of person was your second brother really? Was your mother truly so devoted to him that she neglected you?"
He pressed his lips together, somewhat perplexed: "When you first became close to me, was it because... I reminded you of your second brother?"
Mu Wan Yao immediately turned to look at him, astonished by his assumption.
Yan Shang's eyelashes cast faint shadows on his cheeks, resting on her heart like butterfly wings. He murmured: "You've always called me 'Second Brother Yan'."
Mu Wan Yao found this strange: "What's wrong with calling you 'Second Brother Yan'? You are the second-born after all, so many people call you 'Second Brother'."
Yan Shang tilted his head slightly, pausing before speaking: "You never considered me as a replacement for your second brother?"
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Her heart had been filled with melancholy, but Yan Shang's misunderstanding unexpectedly made her laugh. The exhaustion and tension that had built up over months suddenly eased at this moment.
She smiled while looking at his profile, her heart softening as she thought that Second Brother Yan remained truly himself, never changed.
No matter how gentle his exterior appeared, no matter how capable he seemed before others, in private he would always have that stubborn, tangled part of himself that he couldn't quite resolve.
And before he voiced it, who knew how long he had been troubled by this very doubt?
He was truly adorable.
When Yan Shang turned to look at her, he saw her dark pupils curved in laughter, her fair cheeks glowing with a pearlescent softness. Meeting his gaze, Mu Wan Yao burst into laughter.
Startled by her laughter, Yan Shang immediately reached to cover her mouth. So easily flustered, his cheeks burned at her unrestrained behavior as he whispered: "What are you laughing at? Stop laughing!
"Do you want people to say the Imperial Son-in-Law made Danyang Princess laugh before the late Emperor's spirit? How could I continue to live with dignity?"
As he pushed her shoulder, Mu Wan Yao simply wrapped her arms around his neck. Yan Shang stiffened, initially unwilling to be so intimate before the mourning hall, but with his hand covering her mouth to prevent louder laughter, he could only let her cling to him like this.Mu Wan Yao's eyelashes brushed against his neck, tickling him.
After laughing her fill, she finally pulled away the hand he had used to cover her mouth, cupped his face, and said affectionately, "You're really overthinking it. You and my second brother are nothing alike. Although both of you are outstanding, your temperaments are completely different—how could anyone compare you two?
"Second Brother Yan, rest assured, among men of your temperament, I've only ever met you. I find you endearing, but I would never think of my second brother that way. Does that put your mind at ease?"
Yan Shang's face grew warm: "I was already at ease. I was just asking casually, without any particular meaning."
Mu Wan Yao teased him with a playful smile: "Go on, say it! Voice all your doubts—how would I know what bothers you if you don't speak up? Have you been brooding over this for a long time?"
Yan Shang replied, "Not at all."
He defended himself: "I'm not that kind of person."
Mu Wan Yao stared at his face for a long while, her gaze growing slightly distant. The topic he had started led her to think of more.
She sighed wistfully: "My father and mother both loved my second brother. I always felt they only loved him. After my second brother was gone, they forgot about me."
Yan Shang said softly, "They did love you once."
Mu Wan Yao: "But not after that, right?"
Yan Shang: "They still did. It's just that in imperial families like yours, it's different from ordinary households. Yao Yao, you must believe that your father, mother, and second brother all loved you."
He emphasized this point, not wanting her to completely negate the past.
Mu Wan Yao tilted her head to look at him, her eyes suddenly curving with a hint of seductive charm. She smiled coyly: "Are you worried I might stray down the wrong path and become extreme? Don't worry—with Second Brother Yan by my side, I'm willing to be a good person."
She lifted her face, half-joking and half-serious: "But if you're not here, I can't make any promises."
Yan Shang murmured, "Nonsense. I don't believe you'd ever become wicked."
Mu Wan Yao chuckled. She didn't confirm or deny it—after all, Yan Shang was her husband, someone she could reach out and touch every day.
As long as he was there, all the troubles in the world meant nothing.
—
After the late emperor was laid to rest in the imperial mausoleum, the new emperor's reign and reforms finally began.
When Prince Jin was still a prince, he had been an inconspicuous one. However, during that time, he managed the Ministry of Works without any major errors. Initially ascending the throne, Prince Jin was ambitious and felt that being emperor wasn't so difficult.
He thought he only needed to issue commands and let his ministers handle the rest.
He wanted to be a formidable emperor, to change the old adversarial and distrustful relationship between the emperor and his officials. He sought to be tolerant, benevolent, and to become an emperor who satisfied everyone.
Thus, after the new emperor took the throne, he would issue twelve decrees a day to the Secretariat, urging them to act.
The Secretariat grew increasingly annoyed, responding to the emperor with vague excuses. After a full month of his decrees not being promptly executed and constantly being rejected by both the Secretariat and the Chancellery, the new emperor finally realized that being emperor wasn't so easy.
His ministers wouldn't obey—he couldn't command these high officials. Should he have Liu Wenji execute them all?
No, he couldn't fully trust Liu Wenji either.
The new emperor discovered that everyone was watching his every move, interpreting his every word and action. A mere glance in the court, though he meant nothing by it, would be taken by the ministers as his intention.Even in the imperial palace... the new Emperor could not regard the palace as his own home.
In the past, Prince Jin’s residence was merely a courtyard, easily managed by Princess Consort Jin. But now, his home had become so vast, with spies everywhere... When Prince Jin returned to the old home he had yearned for over many years, he realized it was not as he had imagined.
He had never studied the ways of an emperor, so the ministers and grand tutors took turns lecturing him; his words in the palace only carried weight when conveyed through Liu Wenji; and the court officials were eager to fill his harem with women. For the sake of balance, the new Emperor accepted them all.
The new Emperor felt as pitiful as a "cowherd,"
relying on sleeping with women to make the court officials obey.
...He had never thought his father, the Emperor, had relied on women to achieve his goals, nor had he seen the former Crown Prince obsess over taking concubines. Yet, as a newly enthroned emperor, though ambitious, he was inexperienced and clumsy, making mistakes everywhere.
The aristocratic families were the most cunning and detestable.
Discovering that the new Emperor was easy to deceive, they all treated him with casual neglect.
After two months as Emperor, he felt utterly helpless.
But the new Emperor did not give up.
Unable to command the high-ranking ministers, he grew tired of having every one of his edicts rejected and adjusted by the ministers. The new Emperor wanted to cultivate his own officials—
He sifted through the court officials left by the late Emperor and discovered the current Director of the Ministry of Personnel, Yan Shang.
Also the Imperial Son-in-Law of Danyang Princess.
The new Emperor suddenly realized.
After ascending the throne, every ministry had caused him trouble, except for the most crucial Ministry of Personnel, which had given him the least difficulty.
The old and powerful ministers looked down on the new Emperor, delighting in his struggles, yet Yan Erlang had never treated the Emperor with neglect.
Every imperial decree sent to the Ministry of Personnel was dutifully studied and implemented. Upon investigation, the new Emperor found that the Minister and Vice-Minister of Personnel were not necessarily loyal, but Yan Erlang was so capable that the ministry functioned smoothly.
Yan Erlang held multiple responsibilities and, since the Emperor’s ascension, had not made a single mistake or caused any trouble—how remarkable!
This was how a loyal minister should behave!
Moreover, Yan Suchen’s reputation was so great! At such a young age, no one in the entire Chang’an officialdom dared to underestimate him—what an impressive presence.
The new Emperor decided to start with Yan Erlang to gain control over the entire court.
—
As dusk rain fell, Yan Shang remained in the Ministry of Personnel.
Under the gloomy sky, he leaned over his desk, coughing intermittently as he wrote.
The collar of his pale blue robe was dampened, for he had already left the ministry office and was nearly out of the imperial city when his attendant Yun Shu reminded him of the promise he had made to Mu Wan Yao. He turned back to the ministry.
He had promised Mu Wan Yao to take a leave of absence.
With the recent rain, his knees ached, making it hard to sleep at night, and his back was in severe pain. He had kept it to himself, but when Mu Wan Yao found out, he had been running a low fever for several days. The couple argued over it, and Yan Shang agreed to take a few days off.
Yet, after a busy day, Yan Shang had forgotten to request leave.
He had no choice but to return to draft a memorial, planning to visit the Vice-Minister of Personnel’s residence overnight to explain his poor health.While Yan Shang was bent over his desk writing these documents, the new Emperor paid an unofficial visit to inspect the Six Ministries. At such a late hour, all departments were already empty of personnel. When the Emperor arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, he instructed not to be disturbed. Standing behind the brightly lit doorway curtain, he saw Yan Shang still working in the office and felt deeply moved.
If all ministers were as loyal and dedicated as Yan Suchen, what difficulties would there be in governing the country?
Hearing the Emperor’s soft cough, Yan Shang turned his head, recognized who it was, and rose to bow in greeting.
The Emperor said kindly, “So late, and Suchen is still working?”
Yan Shang smiled slightly and replied, “I was actually requesting a few days off.”
This was not what the Emperor had expected.
The Emperor was taken aback, then displeased. “What? Are you, too, learning from those arrogant senior ministers to make things difficult for me? Do you all find it amusing to watch me make a fool of myself?”
Yan Shang remained gentle and composed. “Your Majesty, where does this come from? How could any subject ever think to trouble the Son of Heaven?”
The Emperor had spent very little time with Yan Shang, and his impression of him was of a highly capable minister with a formidable temper. If he weren’t so bold, would he have dared to execute the head of the Zheng clan, bring down the Ministry of Revenue, provoke the former Crown Prince, and fall out with Danyang Princess?
As for his capability, that was even more evident. If he lacked skill, how could he have reconciled with Danyang Princess?
Given Mu Wan Yao’s temperament...
It was only during this evening’s conversation with Yan Shang that the Emperor realized he had misjudged Yan Shang’s character. Yan Erlang’s demeanor appeared exceedingly gentle and accommodating... The rumors in the Chang’an official circles about him being fearsome were likely just exaggerations spread by those ministers.
So the Emperor opened his heart to Yan Shang, sharing the troubles of being an emperor.
Yan Shang offered him comfort.
Yan Shang’s conversational skill made this the most comfortable discussion the new Emperor had experienced since ascending the throne. Initially, the Emperor had only intended to vent casually, but Yan Shang’s trustworthy demeanor drew him in, and he found himself sharing more and more.
He spoke of his ambitions, of how he felt bullied by his ministers, and of his ideals.
Yan Shang listened attentively, deep in thought.
When Liu Wenji hurried to the Ministry of Personnel, he overheard the eunuchs outside discussing how the new Emperor was confiding in Yan Erlang inside. Liu Wenji’s eyelids twitched, and his face darkened.
Eavesdropping for a few moments, Liu Wenji heard the Emperor and Yan Erlang speaking in an increasingly familiar and intimate tone, which made him even more uneasy...
Among all the court officials, Liu Wenji was likely the one who understood Yan Shang best.
If Yan Shang wanted someone to like him, no one could dislike him.
Liu Wenji feared that the Emperor would be won over by Yan Shang... With Yan Shang’s subtle way of winning people over, even the shrewd former Emperor had valued him highly. Wouldn’t the new Emperor be even more susceptible?
Liu Wenji began to contemplate a plan.
—
In the end, Yan Shang did not succeed in taking leave.
He claimed poor health, but the new Emperor urged him that the capable should bear more responsibilities, repeatedly mentioning promotions and entrusting him with more important tasks. The Emperor even sought his advice on balancing the relationships among various factions and pledged his commitment to becoming a good ruler...
At Danyang Princess Residence, Yan Shang had his trouser legs rolled up to his knees as he soaked his feet. Mu Wan Yao had been eagerly awaiting news of his successful leave request, only to hear about how Yan Shang and the new Emperor had enjoyed a cordial and pleasant conversation.
Mu Wan Yao’s face fell.She sneered, "What, just because he said a few nice words, you're ready to throw your life away for him? A promotion? What promotion? We should have been promoted for successfully protecting His Majesty! But he didn't mention it at all. Fine, even if he didn't mention it, we don't care anyway. Now he spouts a few words about ambition, and you're moved... If he says a few more, will you abandon your family and children for him?"
Yan Shang sighed helplessly, "It's not that serious. It's just that His Majesty said he wants to be a wise ruler and asked for my help. Seeing his determination, I thought I'd give it a try."
Mu Wan Yao retorted, "So his orders for you to handle official duties are important, but when I ask you to enjoy flowers and watch operas, it's unimportant."
Yan Shang fell silent.
Mu Wan Yao's face flushed with anger, "So you really do think enjoying flowers and watching operas is unimportant!"
Yan Shang forced out a reply, "I've never been good at appreciating flowers, and I don't understand opera lyrics. Even if you drag me along, I won't be able to appreciate them."
Mu Wan Yao said coldly, "It seems this pleasure-seeking person has delayed Yan Erlang's important matters."
Yan Shang's face stiffened, and he whispered, "That's not what I meant."
Mu Wan Yao fumed, "Then are you saying my words are unimportant to you now? Something to be brushed off casually?"
Yan Shang looked bewildered, "I... I definitely don't mean that either."
Mu Wan Yao pressed, "Then why haven't you managed to take a few days off when I asked? Do you think I'm hindering your promising career? Are you secretly blaming me for not being considerate?"
Yan Shang grew somewhat anxious. He always spoke slowly, while she exploded like firecrackers, leaving him struggling to keep up.
After a long pause, Yan Shang finally said, "I never said I wouldn't take time off... I'll request it again tomorrow, alright?"
Mu Wan Yao found his helpless expression irritating, "Hmph."
She ignored him and began directing her maids to move bedding and clothes.
Turning back, she saw Yan Shang gazing at her, his eyes dark and clear. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Yan Erlang, focus on your official duties. This Palace won't disturb you further."
Yan Shang asked, "Where are you going?"
Mu Wan Yao said arrogantly, "My Princess Residence is large enough—surely I can find another room to sleep in?"
Yan Shang was taken aback, "You... want to sleep separately?"
Mu Wan Yao replied, "I've thought it over—I can't rely on you. When you can't sleep at night, the more I look at you, the angrier I get. I'm afraid one night I might wake up, see you lying there awake, and can't resist stabbing you... It's safer if we sleep apart.
"You focus on your official duties and be His Majesty's loyal minister. I'll enjoy flowers and pleasures and be my frivolous princess. We've been together long enough to grow tired of each other—it's normal for you to be sick of me. Perhaps separation is for the best. I'll go admire the handsome gentlemen in the world to cleanse my eyes. You should take the opportunity to meet more women and broaden your horizons... Actually, never mind. Yan Erlang is so busy, you probably don't have time for women. If you have needs, you can always come to me."
She turned and gave him a charming smile, "As you wish."
Yan Shang was stunned.
Watching her walk away, he finally realized she wasn't joking—she truly intended to sleep in separate rooms.
Without caring about the water dripping from his trousers, Yan Shang hastily threw on his outer robe and stood up to chase after her. He rushed out of the room in confusion, asking everyone where the princess had gone.
The Princess Residence was simply too large. Yan Shang, still disheveled and mindful of his appearance, emerged a few steps too slowly. He couldn't find Mu Wan Yao, but as soon as he stepped out, he ran into Yan Xiaozhou who had come looking for him.
Yan Xiaozhou said, "Second Brother, I need to talk to you!"Yan Shang peered into the pitch-black night, then lowered his head and hastily told his sister, "We'll talk tomorrow..."
Yan Xiaozhou said, "But tomorrow will be too late. Second Brother, I've already arranged to leave Chang'an tomorrow and have even secured a carriage. If I don't tell you now, you won't even know I'm gone when I leave."
Yan Shang was instantly taken aback.
He stared at her blankly: "Where are you going? Back to Lingnan to find Father? What's wrong? Did I... did I neglect you? Are you uncomfortable living in Chang'an?"
Seeing that he was about to blame himself, Yan Xiaozhou knew full well that her second brother must have started reflecting on himself again and feeling distressed. She quickly interrupted: "No, no, I want to go to Jiannan... to find Yang Sanlang."
Yan Shang was astonished.
He composed himself and slowly asked, "Does your sister-in-law... Yaoyao know about this?"
Yan Xiaozhou smiled, "I've already spoken with sister-in-law. She heard my thoughts and didn't object."
Yan Shang was stunned, realizing Mu Wan Yao had done this intentionally. He had no choice but to take his sister back to her room to understand what exactly she was thinking.
As for the princess... this was the first time since their marriage that he and Mu Wan Yao had quarreled so intensely. Having no experience in such matters, he could only take things one step at a time. He didn't yet know that when Mu Wan Yao said she wanted to look at handsome young men, she wasn't just teasing him.
In some ways, Mu Wan Yao knew better than him how to enjoy life.
—
As for the new Emperor, having just concluded a satisfactory discussion with Yan Shang, he returned to the palace in high spirits, carefully savoring their conversation.
Liu Wenji watched the Emperor's lingering fondness for Yan Erlang and sneered inwardly. Deliberately bringing up a matter, he said, "Your Majesty, it seems Yan Erlang deserves a promotion."
The Emperor understood immediately, "Naturally. Since I want him to work for me, I must..."
Liu Wenji feigned surprise, "It seems the late Emperor left an edict appointing Yan Suchen as chancellor. I'm not entirely clear about the details, but that imperial decree is enshrined in the Ancestral Temple."
The Emperor froze.
Then his face darkened, "Are you suggesting that the late Emperor had already arranged everything for Yan Erlang, so Yan Erlang was just putting on an act before me? He knew he would become chancellor all along, so when I mentioned promoting him, he didn't care at all.
"Is he treating me like a fool, just like those old ministers?"
Liu Wenji smiled, "That I cannot say. It's just that Yan Erlang is so talented - both the late Emperor and Your Majesty think highly of him and favor him.
"I just feel... for one person to make everyone like him, such cunning is truly something I envy."
The Emperor became thoughtful, and his enthusiasm for Yan Erlang cooled considerably.
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