The sky had darkened for some time, with night rain flowing like a stream. The faint scent of fresh flowers drifted from beyond the courtyard, enveloping everything in silent tranquility.
Inside the humble abode, a single lamp flickered like a bean. After serving tea, the maids withdrew.
Yan Shisheng sat opposite Mu Wan Yao, his heart pounding like thunder as he gazed at the young princess across from him.
Her hair was styled in high, cloud-like coils, her lips crimson and eyes captivating. Her dazzling beauty made the entire Yan family’s modest home seem resplendent. A princess like her was as far removed from him as clouds from mud.
How could such a princess act so abruptly as to kiss his cheek?
Yan Shisheng could sense that the atmosphere between him and Mu Wan Yao sometimes grew peculiar. Though they usually lacked tacit understanding, in such moments, they were remarkably in sync. Whenever the mood turned strange, both would tacitly avert their gazes, breaking the tension.
They had managed well before—so why had she suddenly kissed him?
What bewildered him more was that he distinctly… could not forget the sweet fragrance as she leaned in. Soft, warm, and sweet. When her tender lips brushed his cheek, the entire world seemed to freeze in that instant.
Mu Wan Yao was also quietly observing Yan Shisheng. Seated across from her in plain, coarse clothing, he lowered his eyes, his lashes dusted with a golden glow from the lamplight, delicate and gentle.
Mu Wan Yao felt her heart flutter uncontrollably and couldn’t help but cough lightly.
Yan Shisheng’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he looked up at her.
Their eyes met, sparks flickering faintly between them. Another wave of awkward silence fell.
Gradually, Mu Wan Yao grew somewhat annoyed and impatient. She spoke with conviction, “Why didn’t you dodge just now?”
Yan Shisheng: “…Probably because my back was turned to Your Highness, and I don’t have eyes on the back of my head.”
Mu Wan Yao’s cheeks flushed crimson as she fanned herself with her feather fan. “Oh.”
Silence descended once more.
After a long while, Yan Shisheng seemed to feel he must say something. He spoke dryly, “…Why did Your Highness suddenly kiss me?”
Mu Wan Yao smiled leisurely at him. “Because I saw you grieving for the common people and worrying for the nation. I was moved by your magnanimity. That surging emotion overwhelmed me—no words could express my admiration for you. I couldn’t help myself, so I kissed you.”
Yan Shisheng fell silent.
After a moment, he offered a somewhat strained smile. “I see. It seems Your Highness has the world in her heart.”
Mu Wan Yao shot him a glance.
She said, “I’m not. Don’t misunderstand.”
Yan Shisheng: “…”
Mu Wan Yao continued, “Precisely because I am not like you, I admire you—I admire what you have that ordinary people like me lack. If I were like you, my reaction probably wouldn’t have been to kiss you, but to become sworn siblings… ah, sworn sister and brother.”
Yan Shisheng gazed at her without speaking: Sister and brother?
She was only half a year older than him. Was it worth her remembering so persistently?
His features were handsome, his eyes clear and gentle, still carrying a youthful air. The way he looked at her so ambiguously made Mu Wan Yao’s cheeks burn and her heart race like a startled deer, unable to withstand the pressure.
Mu Wan Yao turned her face away, using her feather fan to conceal everything below her eyes. She cast him a sidelong glance, yawned, and rose to her feet. “It’s late. I’m going to sleep. You should retire early too.”
As she moved to pass by him toward the inner chamber, Yan Shisheng suddenly stood, took a few steps, and blocked her path. Without a word, he bowed deeply to her.Mu Wan Yao was instantly flustered and exasperated: "What more do you want? I already said I was just too excited. Blame yourself for suddenly saying such impassioned words!"
Yan Shisheng looked at her: "So Your Highness won't even give this humble scholar an explanation?"
Mu Wan Yao lifted her chin: "Do you want me to compensate for your losses? How about gifting you a thousand gold?"
Yan Shisheng said: "That won't be necessary."
Mu Wan Yao, both embarrassed and angry: "Then what do you want?"
Yan Shisheng lowered his gaze: "Your Highness could teach this humble scholar what books to read, what skills to learn, which powerful families in Chang'an must not be offended, which noble houses require formal visits... That would suffice."
Mu Wan Yao was taken aback, withdrawing her forcibly composed gaze.
She smiled slightly, tapped his shoulder with her feather fan, and said cheerfully: "That simple? Very well."
Yan Shisheng looked at the feather fan resting on his shoulder.
Mu Wan Yao chuckled, retrieved her fan, turned and swayed away, her retreating figure graceful and alluring.
Yan Shisheng watched as the curtains fell behind her one after another, her form disappearing behind layers of deep crimson drapes as maids filed into the chamber to attend her. Caught off guard, he averted his gaze, bowed once more before taking his leave—
Thus, the atmosphere became deceptively harmonious.
Liu Wenji's family kept urging him to return home, but he knew the princess's entourage wouldn't stay at the Yan residence much longer. Defying family pressure, he lingered around the Yan household, diligently currying favor with the maid Chunhua.
Chunhua was gentle and bashful, yet dared not inform the princess. Liu Wenji promised that once he passed the imperial examination, he would petition the princess for Chunhua's hand. After repeated assurances, Chunhua gradually began to anticipate his scholarly triumph... Everyone said Liu Wenji was talented, the prodigy of Lingnan—surely passing the examination would be easy for him?
Compared to Liu Wenji's situation of being accompanied by a beautiful woman, Yan Shisheng had it rather rough.
Though Mu Wan Yao claimed she would teach him, she was a princess—her methods differed entirely from ordinary instruction.
She casually listed numerous books Yan Shisheng had never heard of, mocked him for being provincial, then revised the list to include texts he could actually access. Yan Shisheng asked his third younger brother to borrow books from Liu Wenji's father while he himself sat in the princess's chambers, practicing calligraphy under the maids' supervision.
From behind the curtain, Mu Wan Yao taunted: "Your penmanship needs correction starting now. Shame on your father—a former imperial scholar—for not teaching you proper handwriting."
Yan Shisheng smiled wryly: "My writing isn't that poor, is it?"
Mu Wan Yao: "It's not poor. But the young masters of Chang'an's noble houses are taught by calligraphy masters from centuries-old lineages. Their brushwork is nothing a country scholar like you could replicate. I'll give you a copybook—practice slowly. I doubt you'll achieve much, so I might as well consider it discarded."
Yan Shisheng filtered out her sarcasm and diligently noted her advice.
Mu Wan Yao took another sip of the sour plum drink Yan Shisheng had prepared for her, the sweet-and-sour flavor bringing a smile to her eyes: "Also, you must improve your martial skills starting now. In Great Wei, we value both literary and military prowess. Every minister I've met can draw his sword at a moment's notice. You can't even ride properly—that won't do."
Yan Shisheng pondered: "My Eldest Brother excels in martial arts. I'll learn from him. Does Your Highness have any other instructions?"Mu Wan Yao thought for a moment, staring at him: "What you most need to change is this reserved temperament of yours."
Yan Shisheng was taken aback: "Huh?"
Mu Wan Yao said with a playful smile: "What Chang'an admires are those bold, unrestrained, and wildly confident individuals. Someone as introverted as you won't be well-liked there."
Yan Shisheng stared in stunned silence.
He murmured quietly: "Are you perhaps deceiving me?"
Mu Wan Yao put on a stern face: "I'm not, I'm telling the truth. Believe it or not. Anyway, no one likes someone like you."
Yan Shisheng asked for advice: "What exactly counts as 'bold, unrestrained, and wildly confident'?"
Mu Wan Yao: "It means shouting back at anyone without changing your expression."
Yan Shisheng said: "But if I dared to shout at Your Highness, wouldn't the sword hanging by your bedside come straight down to strike me?"
From behind the curtain came the girl's suppressed laughter, clear and refreshing like a spring.
Yan Shisheng couldn't help but glance sideways, seeing her faint silhouette inside the tent—she seemed to be laughing so hard she had collapsed onto the bed, shaking with mirth. His heart stirred slightly, and he couldn't help but smile along with her.
Mu Wan Yao suddenly stopped laughing and straightened her face: "I'm tired and need my afternoon nap. You can study by yourself, but don't make any noise and don't disturb me."
Yan Shisheng: "Perhaps I should go outside..."
Mu Wan Yao ignored him.
So Yan Shisheng didn't leave, remaining seated by the window to read—
The drizzle continued softly.
When Mu Wan Yao woke from her nap, she saw him still sitting outside the curtain. The maids had left at some point and were chatting on the steps outside. The young scholar by the window sat as straight as bamboo, not having rested for a moment.
Mu Wan Yao got out of bed, her cloud-like hair disheveled, and lifted the curtain to stand behind him.
Yan Shisheng seemed to sense her presence. As he was about to look up, Mu Wan Yao leaned forward from behind, her delicate hand covering his, both holding the slightly worn-out brush together.
Mu Wan Yao said calmly: "Your calligraphy is incorrect. Let me teach you."
Yan Shisheng stiffened completely, remaining silent.
Then he heard her laugh softly by his ear, her breath brushing against his slightly reddened earlobe, light as mist: "You, you only memorize by rote without understanding the literary principles. Your strokes lack strength and flow; your family has no power or influence, yet you don't socialize. If you continue studying like this, even ten years from now, you won't pass the imperial examinations."
Yan Shisheng looked up at her.
Their eyes met for a moment before each looked away, gazing at the sky and the rain—
Mu Wan Yao had been recuperating well at the Yan residence, but her uncle kept sending letters urging her to go to the South Sea. Mu Wan Yao used Chunhua's incomplete recovery as an excuse, wanting to delay a few more days.
Her daily routine of scolding Yan Shisheng and then teaching him to study felt light and pleasant, even better than her life in Chang'an.
That evening, after finishing her tea, Mu Wan Yao received a letter from Chang'an.
The letter was sent by an advisor from Danyang Princess's Residence on Crown Prince's orders—
The Black Barbarians had reunified, and a new Uman King had ascended the throne.
The new Uman King had someone ask her: did she still remember their agreement?—
Mu Wan Yao's face drastically changed.
In that instant, the past she had deliberately forgotten and discarded came roaring back like a tidal wave, engulfing her completely.
The lonely days of being ostracized among the Black Barbarians, watching helplessly as her maid was bullied to death, Meng Zaishi whispering in her ear while holding her hand, proposing collaboration...
It all came rushing back.
Just as Yan Shisheng had said, the past never truly passes.
No matter how good the present might be!—
Thunder exploded across the sky, rumbling violently.The night was deep and serene. Yan Shisheng stood before the house, gazing absently at the gloomy sky, thinking it would likely rain again tomorrow.
The thought of rain inevitably brought back memories of that day... Yan Shisheng gently touched his cheek, as if he could still feel the warmth and fragrance she had left behind.
He closed his eyes, suppressing his wandering thoughts.
The boisterous voice of Yan Sanlang, the third son of the Yan family, called out from behind, "Second Brother, why are you touching your face and smiling?"
Yan Shisheng: "..."
Yan Shisheng opened his eyes and saw Yan Sanlang, who had just returned from outside, panting as he carried a box of books for him. As Yan Shisheng stepped forward to help his younger brother unload the books, a loud "bang" echoed from the door being forcefully pushed open.
Instinctively, he turned his head and saw Mu Wan Yao stepping out of the main room, standing on the corridor.
Her gaze met his and paused briefly.
Mu Wan Yao sharply addressed the guards and maids in the courtyard, "Pack your things. Tomorrow, we leave for the South Sea!"
The guards and maids in the courtyard were stunned, taken aback by the suddenness of the order—
Distant thunder rumbled, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminated the corridor with a stark, cold light. After instructing the guards and maids to prepare for departure, Mu Wan Yao turned and walked along the corridor, with Yan Shisheng following closely behind.
Yan Shisheng: "Your Highness, Your Highness... Mu Wan Yao!"
He caught up to her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to a halt.
Mu Wan Yao turned around, forced by his grip, and met his gaze.
Yan Shisheng's eyes softened as he sighed, "Why are you leaving in such a hurry? If there's a problem, perhaps I can help you think of a solution..."
Mu Wan Yao stared coldly at him.
She said, "You care so much about me—are you planning to come with me? The only ones who can stay by my side for long are eunuchs. Are you prepared to castrate yourself?"
Yan Shisheng: "..."
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