In March and April, the rainy season arrived, immersing the entire Lingnan region in a continuous drizzle that was quite vexing.
Due to the rain, sea pirates refrained from harassing the harbors, offering a few days of potential leisure. However, Yan Shang was not one to remain idle. After recuperating his health considerably in Lingnan, he began pondering more matters, such as encouraging farming and reclaiming wasteland.
There was an abundance of abandoned, useless wasteland in Lingnan, and finding fertile fields was no easy task. Yan Shang was somewhat troubled by this.
In contrast to his busy comings and goings, Mu Wan Yao was tormented by the month-long drizzle, her mood growing increasingly gloomy. The incessant rain left her lounging on her couch for days, listless and devoid of energy, to the point that Yan Father personally came to check on her, fearing she had fallen ill.
Mu Wan Yao had no choice but to muster her spirits.
As soon as the rain ceased and a bit of sunlight emerged, Mu Wan Yao, worried that the good weather might be followed by another half-month of rain, hastily dragged her husband—who had been constantly occupied with official duties—to accompany her for some flower viewing and a spring outing.
If she stayed indoors any longer after the rain, she felt she would grow moldy, and if Yan Shang continued his busy schedule, he would likely fall ill again.
Mu Wan Yao pulled Yan Shang along to stroll by a lake—a scenic spot she had discovered during her leisurely explorations after arriving in Lingnan. The lake was vast, its waters soft and clear, flanked by lush, towering ancient trees, creating a delightful landscape.
Mu Wan Yao busily arranged for the carriage and horses to stop by the lake, happily directing servants to unload stools and incense burners from the carriage, and gathering firewood to build a fire, clearly intending to enjoy the day with Yan Shang.
However, after bustling about for a while, she realized that, in her distraction, she had forgotten about her husband and lost track of him. Mu Wan Yao panicked momentarily, as Yan Shang had been somewhat absent-minded lately due to his farming concerns, and she genuinely feared he might accidentally come to harm.
Mobilizing the servants to search for Yan Shang, she eventually found the young man under the shade of a willow tree, staring blankly at the lake.
Yan Shang’s eyes were fixed unwaveringly on the lake. Only when Mu Wan Yao coughed twice behind him did he snap out of his reverie and turn to look at her. Upon seeing her, a gentle smile softened his eyes.
Mu Wan Yao could no longer blame him for wandering off and causing worry.
Standing beside him, she smiled cheerfully as her gaze joined his on the lake surface. "What do you think?" she asked, brimming with pride, implying that she was the one who had discovered this scenic spot.
Yan Shang smiled. "Good."
Mu Wan Yao’s eyes lifted, ready to boast, when she noticed Yan Shang’s gaze remained fixed on the lake, reluctant to look away. She heard him murmur, "If we fill in this lake, we could gain over a hundred hectares of fertile land. That would solve the problem of scarce good farmland I’ve been worrying about lately."
Mu Wan Yao: "…?"
Her eyes widened: Fill in the lake? While admiring such beautiful scenery, his mind was actually on filling in the lake?
She had thought his unwavering gaze was in appreciation of the fine view.
Displeased, Mu Wan Yao said, "Don’t you find the lake and sky beautiful?"
Yan Shang replied, "I just find it troubling. Such a large area left unused… why leave it empty? Draining the water and converting it into farmland could solve Lingnan’s issue of abundant wasteland and scarce fertile fields… It’s worth a try."
Mu Wan Yao was unhappy with his practicality. Her face fell, and she remained silent.
After pondering for a while and figuring out how to proceed, Yan Shang took Mu Wan Yao’s hand and said with a smile, "Yao Yao, you’re truly wonderful, helping me with such a significant matter…"
He turned to praise her, only to meet her sullen expression. Yan Shang paused, realizing something had gone wrong.Mu Wan Yao indeed shook off his hand, flying into a rage: "Filling the lake, filling the lake! I brought you out because I was afraid you'd stifle yourself, but now it seems you'd be better off rotting away in your little room! You spoil my fun the moment we step out—what use are you!"
She turned and strode away.
Yan Shang followed her, suddenly displaying some cleverness as he trailed behind her and said softly, "What did I do wrong this time? Do you dislike the idea of filling the lake?"
Mu Wan Yao lifted her skirts, cursing him as she walked: "Who in their right mind would like it! If you fill the lake, where will I go to enjoy the scenery? I truly regret bringing you out. You blockhead, stone-brained fool, incapable of appreciating any romance, only remembering your official duties and mundane affairs...
"Go marry your commoners then! Go wed thousands upon thousands of them by yourself!"
The maidservants following behind the princess, including Qiu Si, glanced around leisurely, even pointing and admiring the lake and sky with amused smiles in their eyes. Clearly, the princess scolding the Imperial Son-in-Law was a common occurrence. The maids had progressed from initial panic to treating it as routine, no longer fearing the princess's outbursts.
Yan Shang felt both guilty and embarrassed, finally understanding why he had angered her.
He quickened his pace to catch up, taking her hand to stop her. His fingers gently rubbed her wrist, carrying a hint of reconciliation. Mu Wan Yao halted and cast a sidelong glance at him with her dark eyes.
Yan Shang said apologetically, "Then we won't fill the lake?"
Hearing this, Mu Wan Yao arched an eyebrow. Her gaze held a mix of coldness and playfulness, clearly softening slightly.
Yan Shang explained with a smile: "I misunderstood. I thought you brought me here to enlighten me, to teach me about filling the lake to create farmland. I was too foolish—I didn't realize Your Highness was concerned for me and wanted to spend time together, to rest and relax.
"Yao Yao, I made a mistake. Don't be angry, alright? On such a beautiful day, why waste your temper on someone as dull as me?"
His voice was gentle and persuasive as he explained and admitted his fault... Sincerity was an excellent conversational technique, one Yan Shang wielded masterfully. Who could stay angry with him while looking at his gentle face?
Mu Wan Yao turned her face away, refusing to look at him. Her lips pouted slightly as she muttered, "I'm not angry."
Yan Shang readily agreed: "Yes, I must have misread you."
Mu Wan Yao's cheeks burned. Turning over his explanation in her mind, she found she quite liked the lofty praise he had given her. She then issued a command: "Well then, about you thinking I enlightened you about filling the lake for farmland—you can keep believing that. And you must say the same to outsiders!"
Yan Shang smiled and agreed.
Thus, she softened her stance and allowed Yan Shang to embrace her. Standing by the lake, with Yan Shang holding her close, Mu Wan Yao felt her love return and her mood lift once more.
Mu Wan Yao demanded: "You can fill other lakes, but save this one for last. Let me enjoy it for a few more days."
Yan Shang replied: "Yao Yao is truly kind-hearted. When I do fill the lake, I'll erect a stele for Your Highness, stating that you guided me in this endeavor. Our lives may last but decades, yet the stone will endure for centuries. Future generations will see what a profoundly wise and righteous princess you were."
Mu Wan Yao burst into laughter.
She looked up, her fingers tracing his chin: "You really know how to talk... such a sweet tongue. Come here, give your big sister a kiss."
Yan Shang's eyes darted meaningfully toward the maidservants behind them, hinting that she shouldn't speak so recklessly in their presence.Mu Wan Yao forcefully pulled the back of his neck to make him lower his head, then bit his lip.
His heart thumped, and he stumbled back three steps in shock.
Mu Wan Yao shot him a glare, then smiled radiantly: "The stone tablet won’t just say I’m righteous and noble—it will also record how deeply affectionate we are as husband and wife..."
Yan Shang: "Ah..."
Once he thought of this, he became somewhat reluctant to have the stone tablet engraved. He had always preferred to keep a low profile and didn’t want their private feelings to be broadcast to the whole world, much less speculated upon by future generations. Yet it was precisely at this moment that Mu Wan Yao truly began to take the matter seriously, contemplating the lake reclamation project.
Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang enthusiastically discussed the general plan for filling the lake before finally feeling satisfied. Afterward, Mu Wan Yao was in the mood to pull Yan Shang to sit by the lake, grilling fish while enjoying the scenery.
Mu Wan Yao obediently sat on a large rock, which had already been covered with a handkerchief by her maid. Once seated, she shooed the servants far away to play, not wanting them to disturb her and Yan Shang. Only when they were alone could Yan Shang truly relax.
Yan Shang bent his head to grill fish for her. With the maids absent, he took it upon himself to care for her. Being naturally considerate and meticulous, he had prepared a handkerchief specifically for removing bones, insisting on picking out every tiny bone from the fish before handing it to Mu Wan Yao.
Mu Wan Yao: "Second Brother Yan, you treat me so well."
Yan Shang looked up at her in surprise, puzzled by her sudden remark.
Mu Wan Yao exclaimed admiringly: "You’re so wonderful—outside, you’re thinking about the lake reclamation, and inside, you’re taking care of me by picking out fish bones. You manage both without neglecting either—how are you so perfect?"
She was praising him again.
No matter how many times it happened, whenever she got carried away with enthusiasm and lavished him with compliments, Yan Shang would feel bashful. He lowered his head, focusing on removing the bones, and said with a hint of amusement: "What’s brought this on again? You praise me every day—soon I’ll be so puffed up I won’t know my own limits."
Mu Wan Yao: "But you really are this good! Aren’t I allowed to praise such excellence? With all you do, doesn’t anyone else praise you?"
Yan Shang replied almost like a complaint: "Others aren’t like you, suddenly saying so many nice things."
Mu Wan Yao: "But I’m just speaking my true feelings! I really think you’re exceptionally good—so good that sometimes I feel inferior, as if my own level can’t keep up with yours and I’m not worthy of you."
Instead of reassuring her about whether she was worthy, Yan Shang answered: "Sometimes it’s like that. Maybe sometimes... you just feel you’re not good enough for the other person. I often feel that way too. But it only lasts a moment—most of the time, we’re just ordinary men and women; there’s no such thing as being worthy or not."
Mu Wan Yao asked in surprise: "You feel you’re not worthy of me? Is it because of your background?"
Yan Shang kept his head down: "There are many reasons. For instance, Your Highness’s courage, purity, determination, and relentless stubbornness... I admire all of it."
He drifted into thought for a moment, then said: "All I can do is handle mundane affairs, while Yao Yao is a woman of great talent. I lack appreciation for many things—I can’t tell what’s good or bad—so I envy how you can instantly judge something as good or not...
"The world in Yao Yao’s eyes must be vibrant and dazzling, full of color, right?
"The colors in my eyes are so dull and monotonous. I often wonder why your emotions fluctuate so intensely—the world you see must be incredibly vivid."Mu Wan Yao rested her chin in her hand, her eyes curved into crescents as she gazed fondly at the young man seated below her. While grilling fish for her, he meticulously laid bare his innermost thoughts.
The gap between individuals was vast; even lovers, at the peak of affection, could not claim complete understanding of one another. Mu Wan Yao cherished these moments when Yan Shang shared his troubles and reflections... She listened as if to tales from a world entirely different from her own, marveling once more at the wondrous serendipity that connected people.
Her husband was a man of simple tastes. It turned out he didn’t consider himself flawless—he, too, yearned for richer sensory experiences.
Being with him brought her such joy!
A breeze brushed her cheeks. Leaning forward, Mu Wan Yao gently caught a stray lock of hair that had fallen beside Yan Shang’s temple. She told him his hair crown was askew and urged him not to move. So Yan Shang continued grilling the fish with bowed head, while Mu Wan Yao, seated on a boulder half a head taller, leaned down to adjust his crown.
As she lowered her gaze, she noticed his thick, upturned lashes, his jade-pale complexion, and his rosy lips.
In her daze, he looked up and offered her a carefully selected piece of fish. His eyes shimmered like scattered stars, and he softly cautioned her to mind the heat.
For a moment, being fed by him, Mu Wan Yao felt that the present was perfect. So perfect she was reluctant to leave, so perfect she wished nothing would change.
Yan Shang held the chopsticks aloft for a long while, but Mu Wan Yao didn’t open her mouth. Seeing the fish about to cool, he glanced at her in puzzlement. He found Mu Wan Yao watching him, and slowly, laughter welled in her eyes, curling the corners of her lips.
Yan Shang sighed in mock exasperation, yet her inexplicable amusement made him smile too. "What are you laughing at?"
Mu Wan Yao chuckled, hugging her knees and propping her chin. She opened her mouth for the fish, but Yan Shang declared it too cold and unfit to eat. He ate the meticulously prepared morsel himself, and Mu Wan Yao watched, knees drawn to her chest, as he began picking bones from a fresh piece. After all his efforts, he had consumed only that tiny bit.
Mu Wan Yao stared at him, chin in hand, studying him intently. After a long pause, she suddenly said, "What should I do, Second Brother?"
The busy Yan Shang lifted his face slightly.
The wind tousled his hair, his robes fluttering like blossom petals. Mu Wan Yao grinned foolishly, chin propped. "I don’t want to return to Chang’an."
Yan Shang didn’t grasp her true meaning at first.
Mu Wan Yao gazed at him, smiling. "I don’t want to go back to Chang’an anymore, nor do I desire that power. I don’t even want to read the letters from court officials each month. I’ve been away so long—what do those affairs have to do with me? I can’t become empress anyway.
"It seems I’ve grown fond of this life. Second Brother, you’re recuperating here, so official duties are light, and you can spend more time with me. I’ve picked up the skills I abandoned in my youth—reading books, studying ancient scores. Let’s stay in Lingnan, shut our doors, and live our own lives, ignoring the storms and schemes of Chang’an.
"We’d be like an Immortal Couple! No—I wouldn’t trade this even to become a celestial!
"Suddenly... I don’t seem to care for power as much. It seems... I care for you more. Enough authority to protect ourselves is sufficient—Second Brother is the one who’ll share my entire lifetime."
Yan Shang stared at her, speechless.
Mu Wan Yao pouted playfully. "Say something! I confessed to you—said I love you more than power—and you have no reaction at all?"
Light swirled in Yan Shang’s eyes.
He spoke slowly, "Yao Yao, I am very happy."
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow.He whispered, "It's not because you said I finally occupy the first place in your heart. It's because you being able to say such words means... you've finally made peace with the past. I don't intend to dwell on what you love more—those things aren't very meaningful. When people make real choices, momentary impulses, genuine thoughts, and deeply ingrained beliefs might all differ.
"I'm just happy, Yaoyao, that you've finally let go of the past and stepped out of the shadows. I've accompanied you for years, we've known each other for nearly a decade... I've managed to pull you out of your past nightmares, to help you stop holding grudges, to make you think about the present and future...
"I deserve your love, I haven't failed you, have I?"
Mu Wan Yao gazed at him quietly.
Tears gradually welled up in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but when she parted her lips, a smile escaped the corners of her mouth instead. Her heart felt both sour and astringent, bitter yet sweet. She would never be grateful for past sufferings, but she was thankful to heaven for letting her meet Yan Shang. Heaven had ultimately been kind to her—taking away some things but compensating her with the world's best Yan Shang.
She loved this compensation.
Mu Wan Yao said obediently, coquettishly, "Second Brother Yan, do you want to hold me?"
After a pause, the shimmer in her eyes resembled tears. She spread her arms toward him, lifting her face with closed eyes, both docile and charming: "Do you want to kiss me?"
Yan Shang laughed. He stood up, abandoning what he had been busy with, sat beside her, leaned over, and embraced her in his arms—
Birds sang and flowers bloomed, the world was tranquil and beautiful.
The married couple snuggled together, but their tender moment didn't last long before they heard urgent hoofbeats.
Yan Shang released Mu Wan Yao. Standing beside the seated Mu Wan Yao with his hand on her shoulder, he turned and saw Fang Tong holding several letters, rushing toward them in haste.
Fang Tong addressed Mu Wan Yao: "Your Highness, the letters from Chang'an officials for this month have arrived."
Mu Wan Yao lowered her eyes.
Fang Tong then turned to Yan Shang: "Erlang, Lady Xiaozhou has written to you... but she used the emergency delivery channel we arranged with Han Shu Xing, sending it express by fast horse."
Yan Shang's expression stilled. The hand resting on Mu Wan Yao's shoulder trembled slightly. The emergency channel wouldn't be used under normal circumstances. Could something have happened to Xiaozhou...?
His heart stirred with waves of concern, but Mu Wan Yao grasped his hand. Collecting himself, he smiled at her before tearing open the letter.
Mu Wan Yao skimmed through several letters from officials, finding no changes in Chang'an's political situation. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yan Shang's expression growing increasingly solemn. As anxiety for him rose in her heart, he lifted his head and handed the letter to Mu Wan Yao.
Yan Shang said: "The intelligence from Yang Sanlang... must be delivered to Chang'an by express horse."
Yang Si was currently doing labor at the border, building city walls, but his years of military service had honed a sharp observational skills that shouldn't be underestimated.
Through Yan Xiaozhou's account, he detailed the unusual activities of the Southern Barbarians' border troops over recent months. For instance, their troops were increasingly withdrawn, and the frequency of conflicts with Great Wei differed from previous years... All these pointed to one piece of intelligence: the Southern Barbarians might be preparing to launch an attack against Great Wei.
Yang Si judged that with spring grass just sprouting and all things reviving, the Southern Barbarians had recovered from their winter dormancy. If they intended to attack, now would be the best time.
Yang Si suspected that the internal strife among the Southern Barbarians had ended. Their current actions were merely feints to lull Great Wei into complacency. The ambitious Southern Barbarians might have been coveting this war for a long time.When such news reached Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao, the two naturally could not treat it as ordinary.
Yan Shang excelled at social interactions and had numerous friends in official circles. As soon as Yang Si’s letter arrived, Yan Shang began writing to the military governors of Jiannan Circuit and Longyou Circuit, as well as several generals guarding the two major fronts, inquiring about detailed military intelligence.
Moreover, Yan Shang was concerned that Lingnan’s remote location would cause delays in correspondence, potentially hindering military affairs. He instructed these recipients to send their replies directly to Chang’an first, with responses to him to follow later.
With multiple intelligence reports arriving simultaneously, Yan Shang’s mentor, Lord Liu, stationed in Chang’an, would undoubtedly identify the underlying issues. At the same time, Yan Shang also wrote a letter to Lord Liu, explaining in detail why Yang Si had relayed the message through him.
Yan Shang even exercised caution—he realized that if Great Wei were to go to war with the Southern Barbarians, Yang Si’s letter could serve as a breakthrough for Yang Si to atone for his crimes and redeem himself.
Not only was Yan Shang considering the interests of Great Wei, but he also sought to use this opportunity to clear Yang Si of his charges and help Yang Sanlang restore his reputation—
By the fourth month, the official circles in Chang’an had entered a state of tension. Lord Liu presided over court deliberations to discuss the situation with the Southern Barbarians, the mobilization of Great Wei’s troops, and the preparation of provisions.
Liu Wenji, who held a military position, naturally participated in these court deliberations.
The only one excluded was the Emperor.
However, the Emperor clearly showed no concern—his ministers were too capable, leaving him with little to do. While the entire court debated the credibility of the intelligence sent by Yan Erlang and whether Great Wei should wage war or seek peace with the Southern Barbarians, the Emperor was busy persuading his ministers to approve his grand tour of the realm.
The Emperor was brimming with enthusiasm, eager to tour the lands of Great Wei in his capacity as the Son of Heaven and witness the prosperity of the empire under his rule.
State affairs were managed by several ministers, leaving the Emperor with little room to intervene. When Yan Shang was in Chang’an, the Emperor had still attempted to contend with his ministers. After Yan Shang’s departure, the Emperor found himself unable to match these officials and, fearing that prolonged exposure would reveal his limited capabilities, he simply let the ministers take charge.
Now, the Emperor only wished to tour the realm!
However, Lord Liu and others slammed the table, insisting on war. To wage war, the Ministry of Revenue had to audit accounts, ensure the state treasury was well-stocked with provisions, and meticulously calculate every expenditure. The Emperor’s desire for a grand tour had to be postponed and could not be approved.
Lord Liu, being resolute and uncompromising, forcefully suppressed opposition to the war in the court. In his view, the Southern Barbarians had long been scheming, and if Great Wei sought peace instead of war, it would only embolden them to press further. Although Great Wei’s military strength might be inferior to that of the Southern Barbarians, its abundant reserves and resources far surpassed what the Southern Barbarians could muster.
This war had to be fought, regardless of victory or defeat.
Lord Liu had initially been wary of Liu Wenji obstructing the war effort, given the evident conflict between scholar-officials and eunuchs. He expected Liu Wenji to oppose all his decisions.
However, Liu Wenji did not oppose the war, much to the relief of the scholar-officials.
Indeed, Liu Wenji did not oppose the war. Scholar-officials could profit from war, and so could eunuchs. War was the fastest path to promotion… Liu Wenji intended to embed eunuch influence even deeper and elevate all scholar-officials who had aligned with him, particularly those led by the Zhao family, to higher positions.
Only the Emperor was displeased, complaining to Liu Wenji that his opportunity to tour the realm had been rejected by Lord Liu, and no one cared about him, the Emperor.
Liu Wenji perfunctorily responded to the Emperor, inwardly despising his shortsightedness.However, Liu Wenji's mindset of cooperating with the war changed at the end of April. A group of Southern Barbarians disguised themselves and entered Chang'an. Instead of seeing the Emperor first, they went to see Gong Liu, requesting his cooperation with the Southern Barbarians—
Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao remained in Lingnan, exchanging daily letters carried by swift horses between Chang'an and the southern frontier. Their remote location caused significant delays in communication, preventing them from receiving the latest updates promptly.
Tormented by anxiety, Yan Shang began suffering from sleepless nights, fearing the war would erupt before Chang'an could adequately prepare.
On one such restless night for the couple, the Southern Barbarians had already mobilized their forces, dividing into two armies to invade from Hexi and Jiannan respectively. While another commander led the Hexi contingent, the fertile lands of Jiannan attracted the personal attention of King Ale, who stationed himself there to oversee the campaign and seize the region.
Meng Zaishi, accompanying King Ale, observed how the stubborn monarch’s decisive war plans unleashed an unprecedented sharpness in his instincts. Not only did King Ale dispatch envoys to Chang'an to meet Liu Wenji, but he also ordered investigations into the weaknesses of Jiannan’s military defenses.
That night, along Jiannan’s border, heightened vigilance had tightened security among the frontier troops. However, as the watch changed in the late hours, the guards grew lax.
Exhausted from the day’s duties, Yang Si had fallen asleep in his tent as usual when he sensed shifting shadows through his closed eyelids. He sat up abruptly, scanning the tent amidst slumbering soldiers. Soon, moving figures cast silhouettes against the tent fabric…
Yang Si leaped out of the tent in a flash.
Flaming arrows suddenly pierced the darkness, assaulting the camp as enemy scouts stealthily eliminated sentries. Turning around, they faced a black-clad youth darting forward like lightning—
“Seeking death!”
Yang Si’s roar jolted the entire camp awake, igniting the battle!—
Under a clear moon and sparse stars, after the night watch’s drumbeats, in Liu Wenji’s private residence in Chang'an, the foreign envoy spoke to him in broken Great Wei dialect:
“Our king holds evidence of all your deeds, Eunuch. Your mentor, Eunuch Cheng An, is currently living comfortably under our king’s provision. Only when Great Wei falls will his fate be sealed. Otherwise, we will personally escort Eunuch Cheng An back to Great Wei for a reunion with you.
“As master and disciple, we wonder if you wish to see him?”
Liu Wenji glared venomously at the bearded foreigner. Slowly, he asked, “What do you want?”
The envoy replied, “We demand land, wealth, gold, silver, jewels, and beautiful women… Eunuch, we have our eyes on Jiannan. If Great Wei cedes it to us, our king is willing to sign a treaty with your emperor, pledging never to invade again!”
Liu Wenji remained silent.
Jiannan… he thought. You truly have the audacity to ask for such a prize.
Lowering his gaze with a faint smile, Liu Wenji said, “I need time to consider.”
The envoy warned, “Do not take too long… Eunuch, if our calculations are correct, our first army has already entered your Great Wei.”
Liu Wenji’s eyes sharpened, gleaming with cold light. The other man smirked maliciously, adding, “Your Great Wei forces are no match for us.”
OpenNovel