Tigers Sniff the Rose

Not only did Yan Shang deduce that Mu Wan Yao was a princess, but he also guessed she was the renowned Danyang Princess.

Being habitually cautious, Yan Shang had thoroughly researched the prominent figures in Chang'an after his arrival. It wasn't for the purpose of flattering anyone, but to avoid offending anyone—this was an area that required attention.

The first time he encountered Mu Wan Yao, he had already guessed she was a member of the imperial family. Now, during this second encounter, seeing her swiftly and confidently writing on the scroll, it wasn't difficult for him to deduce that she must be the youngest and most favored daughter of the emperor—the Danyang Princess.

The reason Yan Shang hadn't left yet was that his companion had suddenly remembered something and went off to attend to it, leaving Yan Shang waiting there.

He never expected Mu Wan Yao to come out.

Even more unexpectedly, Mu Wan Yao headed straight toward him.

When she stood before him and eagerly asked for his name, Yan Shang was already on guard. As she gazed at him with starlight shimmering in her eyes, Yan Shang remained silent for a moment, sensing her youthful infatuation with him.

Since arriving in Chang'an from Lingnan, Yan Shang, the country bumpkin, had come to realize that he was the type of gentleman who greatly attracted young ladies. This troubled him, but he didn't know what to do about it. And now, he had actually caught the attention of a princess... Yan Shang felt his head spinning, inwardly sighing in resignation.

Given his status, the gap between them was as vast as the clouds and the mud.

He had no interest in romance, and her status was far too exalted... Under such circumstances, why should he involve himself with matters of the heart?

Thus, he must distance himself from this princess and give her no room for fantasies.

As Yan Shang made this decision, Mu Wan Yao stood before him, her cheeks burning with heat. Her heart raced even more fiercely, for she truly had never stood so close or spoken so much with any man other than Yang Sanlang. Suppressing her shyness, she boldly conversed with Yan Shang, unable to help herself.

Perhaps it was simply the ignorance of youth—upon meeting a gentleman she felt slightly fond of, her heart had blossomed all too quickly.

Mu Wan Yao lowered her head, not daring to move any closer. She whispered, "Brother Yan, do you want me to help you with your submission of literary works? You helped me last time; I want to repay you."

Yan Shang replied politely and courteously, "There's no need."

He intended to draw a clear line between them.

Mu Wan Yao looked up in surprise, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "Brother Yan, do you not plan to submit your works, or is it just that you don't want my help?"

Yan Shang smiled. "I do not plan to submit my works."

Mu Wan Yao exclaimed in admiration, "Then Brother Yan must be exceptionally talented, with unparalleled poetic skill!"

Yan Shang humbly replied, "Not at all."

But he was only seventeen and still possessed some youthful pride. Although he had failed the exams three times in a row while in Lingnan, he had passed after just one year of instruction from his uncle. Yan Shang believed that perhaps he had been too isolated and narrow-minded before, and passing the provincial exam at seventeen was already quite an achievement.

Though his uncle did not have high hopes for him in the imperial exams in Chang'an, Yan Shang himself still harbored some blind confidence.

After all, he was a young man unaware of the depths of Chang'an's waters.

Mu Wan Yao wanted to speak with him further, but Yan Shang's companion arrived. With a gentle yet firm demeanor, Yan Shang bid farewell to Mu Wan Yao and left with his friend. Mu Wan Yao watched his retreating figure with a sense of loss.

Yan Shang's companion was named Liu Wenji.

As they walked, Liu Wenji glanced back at a beautiful maidservant standing downstairs in the tavern.

The maidservant kept her head down, pretending not to notice.

Mu Wan Yao stood there for a long while, feeling disheartened and conflicted. Finally, she called out, "Nong Hua, Chunhua!"Both maids responded in unison, and the one named Chunhua lifted her face—she was the very maid Yan Shang's friend Liu Wenji had kept glancing back at.

Mu Wan Yao whispered, "...Find out about Brother Yan."

The two maids exchanged a look before agreeing.

In making this request for information, Mu Wan Yao knew in her heart that investigating Yan Shang would inevitably be noticed by her father the Emperor, her mother the Empress, and her second brother. She didn’t want to be watched by them, but to learn Yan Shang’s identity and background, she couldn’t worry about that anymore.

Sure enough, that very evening, just as information about Yan Shang reached Mu Wan Yao, the Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince also learned his name.

The Crown Prince pondered for a moment but decided to wait and see. His sister was merely inquiring about a name—perhaps she simply admired his talent?

When Mu Wan Yao saw the rest of Yan Shang’s information, it was all acceptable, but upon discovering he was half a year younger than her, she recalled how she had repeatedly called him "Brother Yan." Instantly, her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she felt utterly mortified. She was a bit flustered—how could Brother Yan be younger than her?

Then he should be considered a younger brother.

Ah... but how could she possibly have feelings for a younger brother?

He should still be an older brother.

No, Yan Shang was the second son in his family, so she shouldn’t call him Brother Yan anymore, but Second Brother Yan instead.

After wrestling with it for a long time, Mu Wan Yao decided to forget the matter and pretend she didn’t know she was half a year older. She comforted herself, thinking it was only half a year—they were practically the same age, so there was no need to distinguish between older brother, older sister, younger brother, or younger sister.

Mu Wan Yao continued reading the other details and was relieved to see that since arriving in Chang’an, Yan Shang hadn’t grown close to any young ladies. She didn’t know why she cared about this, but seeing it did ease her mind.

Lying in bed, Mu Wan Yao secretly and happily thought that with Brother Yan’s remarkable talent, he was sure to excel in the imperial examinations.

If Second Brother Yan could become this year’s top scholar... Her thoughts ran wild, making her blush with embarrassment. She hid under the covers, giggling and kicking the quilt—

But Yan Shang did not secure a place on this year’s list of successful candidates.

When the results were posted in March, Mu Wan Yao nearly cried after sending someone to check. She grew anxious, thinking he must be terribly upset, and then inwardly criticized the old officials in the Ministry of Personnel, convinced they were jealous of Second Brother Yan’s good looks and had denied him a spot.

Confined to the palace by the Emperor and Empress, Mu Wan Yao could hardly leave. She begged Yang Si to take her comforting words to Yan Shang, promising to visit him herself when she had the chance to leave the palace.

Yang Si stared at her strangely.

Mu Wan Yao: "What is it?"

Yang Si: "...Do you like him that much? He only helped you once. What do you see in him?"

Her secret feelings exposed, Mu Wan Yao denied it in embarrassment: "I don’t."

She murmured, "I just consider Second Brother Yan a friend."

Yang Si said coolly, "He has never once asked about you."

Mu Wan Yao retorted, "How do you know Second Brother Yan hasn’t asked about me? I’m a princess living in the palace—even if he wanted to, he couldn’t reach me."

Yang Si’s eyes turned cold, and he said sharply, "And you still claim you don’t like him! You care so much about whether he’s asked about you?"

Mu Wan Yao was left speechless, unable to respond. Under Yang Si’s intense gaze, her eyes grew moist with unshed tears. Anxious and shy, her eyes glistened, unsure what to do. Pressing her lips together, she looked back at him with a hint of stubbornness.Seeing her foolish appearance, Yang Si reined in his imposing manner and ruffled her hair.

Yang Si: "Yaoyao, you don't understand men. In my opinion, someone of his background deliberately plays hard to get, toying with young ladies like you. Does he know you're a princess? See, he's doing it on purpose! The way he treats you, he surely treats other young ladies the same. I've seen plenty of men with such intentions!"

Mu Wan Yao doubted: "Is that so?"

Yang Si assured her: "That's exactly it. How about this: I'll go comfort him on your behalf, help him secure an important position in Chang'an. That way, you can consider his kindness repaid. After this, don't concern yourself with this matter anymore. Do you agree? If not, I won't even go see him for you this time."

Mu Wan Yao was filled with grievance.

The thought that Yan Shang might be the kind of hypocrite Yang Si described, who deceived young ladies, made her uncomfortable. She wanted to refute this, but couldn't find evidence. Yet Yang Si spoke with such confidence, as if he truly understood Yan Shang well. Mu Wan Yao reluctantly agreed with a sense of loss, forcibly burying her budding affection like digging earth to conceal it.

However, when Yang Si went to see Yan Shang, another story unfolded.

No one knew how Yang Si assessed him, but the final outcome was that he and Yan Shang began addressing each other as brothers. Yang Si quite admired Yan Shang and wanted to recommend him to serve as an advisor to the Eldest Prince.

Yan Shang hesitated somewhat.

Because this year's imperial examination in Chang'an had dealt him a heavy blow. Not until he took the exam did he realize how shallow his knowledge truly was. He felt momentarily lost, thinking he might not be suited for scholarly pursuits.

What did it matter if Yang Si initially scrutinized him critically? With Yan Shang's interpersonal skills, he easily dispelled Yang Si's prejudices. When Yang Si recommended him to work for the Eldest Prince, he hesitated briefly, feeling this might be an alternative path.

After serving as an advisor for a long time, one could still become an official. It seemed better than single-mindedly pursuing the imperial examinations.

But before Yan Shang could agree, he was summoned by the Crown Prince. In his surprise, Yan Shang vaguely guessed the reason, sensing these people were paying him unusual attention because of Princess Danyang. Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn't have summoned him right after Yang Si's visit.

Yan Shang felt quite wronged—he truly hadn't fed the young princess any love potions.

But whether he did or didn't wasn't important; what mattered was making others believe it.

After this summons, the Crown Prince assigned Yan Shang the role of advisor, keeping him by his side. In the Crown Prince's eyes, Yan Shang was still young, but already showed talent in strategy. With some guidance, given time, he would surely become his right-hand man.

Yan Shang's uncle was overjoyed. Having invested so much effort in his nephew, having him directly serve the Crown Prince was even better than he had imagined... Even achieving the top scholar rank might not guarantee such proximity to the Crown Prince.

Yan Shang's official career was smooth sailing.

The Crown Prince genuinely valued talent, which was why he kept Yan Shang. But beyond appreciating his abilities, the Crown Prince also watched to see if his younger sister inquired about Yan Shang again.

Mu Wan Yao did not.

Only then did the Crown Prince truly believe Yan Shang's words—that there was no improper relationship with Her Highness the Princess, nor any inappropriate aspirations toward her—

Yan Shang hadn't anticipated that he would see Mu Wan Yao again so soon.On a late March day, Mu Wan Yao went to the Eastern Palace to pay respects to her elder brother the Crown Prince and his consort. She moved through the Eastern Palace as freely as in her own residence, with no one stopping her. Hearing that her brother was handling state affairs in his chamber, she pushed the door open directly.

Curtains fluttered as the Crown Prince sat behind his desk, his features refined and expression solemn. When he saw his sister barging in, his gaze lifted slightly, darting a meaningful glance toward one corner of the room.

Mu Wan Yao failed to notice.

In a coquettish voice, she cried, "Second Brother!"

Like a little girl acting spoiled, she knelt beside the desk and threw herself into her brother's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. Having seen the chamber empty upon entering, she assumed the Crown Prince was alone. Without waiting for him to speak, she clung to his arm and whined.

Mu Wan Yao said, "Second Brother, is Nong Hua your spy planted in my palace? Please send her away. I really don’t want this."

The Crown Prince coughed lightly. "Yao Yao, step back. Don’t be unruly."

Mu Wan Yao peeked at him with one eye. Around those she was close to, especially without outsiders present, she was exceptionally skilled at playing the adorable, spoiled child. She kept shaking her brother’s arm, her voice soft, her eyes misty, persistently lamenting how pitiful she was, how she had no freedom at all...

Then she heard a light chuckle.

She froze instantly and looked toward the corner where the sound had come from.

Deep in the curtains, against a wall of bookshelves, two people sat behind separate desks. Clearly, they had been assisting the Crown Prince with administrative tasks and had overheard the princess’s coquettish pleas.

The one who had laughed was a middle-aged man familiar to Mu Wan Yao—her brother had mentioned this man would soon become a Vice Minister of Revenue, though she didn’t understand what that meant. But what made Mu Wan Yao blush was spotting the other person—a fair-skinned scholar.

Yan Shang sat properly behind his desk, his expression gentle and composed, not at all appearing to mock the princess. He acted as if he hadn’t heard her childish antics, keeping his head lowered as he reviewed the memorial in his hand. Only when Mu Wan Yao looked over, implicated by his colleague’s laughter, did Yan Shang have to offer a polite smile, nodding and cupping his sleeves in her direction.

Yan Shang said gently, "Your Highness."

Instantly, the blush on Mu Wan Yao’s face spread all the way to her neck. Though it was the middle-aged man who had laughed at her, she could only see Yan Shang’s gentle demeanor. He hadn’t made a sound, yet she felt utterly embarrassed and humiliated.

He must be laughing at her inwardly.

Mu Wan Yao turned to her brother, slightly annoyed. "Second Brother, why didn’t you tell me there were others here?"

The Crown Prince sighed. "I was about to, but you rushed over... Never mind. You two may withdraw for now. Alright, Yao Yao, don’t be upset."

Mu Wan Yao pestered the Crown Prince to remove Nong Hua, but he never agreed. Partly because she was somewhat distracted, she didn’t press her brother further. She left the chamber in low spirits, and just as she was about to return to her quarters, she encountered Yan Shang again.

To be precise, it wasn’t exactly a chance meeting—she spotted him in the Eastern Palace courtyard, leaning against a corridor pillar, while a blushing maid spoke to him in soft, gentle tones. He smiled faintly as he listened.

His lashes lifted slightly, his eyes dark and clear, gazing at others with focused tenderness.

Mu Wan Yao watched as the maid’s voice grew three shades softer than when she usually addressed her. Stunned, she saw the maid boldly reach for Yan Shang’s sash, but he seemed to turn aside just in time, avoiding her touch.As Yan Shang turned his head, he saw the young princess standing dazedly under the magnificent hall, gazing at him.

Yan Shang was momentarily stunned before cupping his hands and bowing.

His wide sleeves fluttered gracefully, his long robes billowing in the wind, a polite smile lingering at the corners of his lips. Yet the moment their eyes met, Mu Wan Yao's heart raced with unprecedented intensity.

Instantly, a bold thought formed in her mind—she wanted him.

She wanted this person so badly.

She wanted him to be entirely hers, smiling only for her and speaking only to her.

Perhaps, as Yang Si had said, it was because she hadn't encountered many young men that she felt such untimely palpitations every time she saw Yan Shang. But Mu Wan Yao was a princess—no matter how gentle and soft-tempered she appeared, deep down she possessed the pride of a Great Wei princess—

If she liked something, she would have it. If she wanted it, she would obtain it.

There wasn't a man in this world that a princess couldn't have.

Having lived to seventeen, Mu Wan Yao mustered her courage for the first time and decided to exercise her privilege as a princess.

She wanted Yan Shang to become her Imperial Son-in-Law—

Indeed, in Great Wei, there was no man a princess couldn't obtain. As long as a princess didn't aspire to rebel, she could have anything she desired. Especially a particularly favored princess. The only concern for a beloved princess was whether the other party's status was too low for the imperial family to approve.

Mu Wan Yao first approached the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was her own elder brother, and since Yan Shang was currently serving under him, he was the easiest to persuade.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince wavered and pleaded on her behalf to the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor and Empress remained hesitant.

Mu Wan Yao nestled in her mother's embrace all evening, sweet-talking and even vowing how well-behaved she would be in the future, yet the Empress remained unmoved. Mu Wan Yao began to weep, declaring how desperately she wanted Yan Shang, but the Empress only hesitated briefly.

The Crown Prince coughed lightly, signaling his sister with a glance to leave first.

After Mu Wan Yao departed tearfully, the Crown Prince advised, "Since our younger sister likes him, and he's merely a man—not of common birth—why not grant her wish?"

The Empress retorted unhappily, "Nonsense! Just because he isn't of common birth doesn't mean he's fit to marry a princess! What status does Yao Yao hold, while he... he's a commoner without any official rank, from an ordinary family..."

The Crown Prince smiled, "That's easily remedied. Have him take the imperial examinations, grant him the title of Tanhualang, and next year I'll assign him an official post. Yan Shang's talents aren't limited to being my advisor. The more you oppose it, Mother, the more Yao Yao will want him. She's at that rebellious age—you can't simply forbid her."

He added softly, "Just give him to Yao Yao. If she loses interest later, she can divorce him. A princess has plenty of men to choose from."

Although the world naturally prioritized men over women, above all stood the sovereign—imperial authority.

Before being a woman, Mu Wan Yao was first and foremost a ruler. A ruler could have as many men as she desired.

The Empress's stance thus softened.

Indeed, why should she oppose it and create a rift with her daughter? Her daughter was currently infatuated with a man—once she lost interest, she could simply replace him. There was no need for conflict between mother and daughter—

At the end of April, Yan Shang inexplicably received an imperial decree of marriage.

His uncle was overjoyed, while he remained bewildered about how this had come to pass.

The Emperor had only summoned him for a brief conversation before ordering the construction of a Princess Residence, scheduling the princess's wedding for six months later. Simultaneously, the Emperor instructed Yan Shang to study diligently and retake the imperial examinations the following year.The Imperial Son-in-Law of the princess, even if just going through the motions, must participate in the imperial examinations.

This was because it was a new policy currently being promoted by the Emperor, and his children were obliged to support it.

Yan Shang received the imperial decree in a daze and, equally bewildered, returned to the Imperial Academy to resume his studies. By the time the fifth month arrived, and the Yan family had traveled from Lingnan to Chang'an for his wedding, Yan Shang could only offer a bitter smile.

He had no idea how this had come to pass.

Yan Father pondered the situation and privately took Erlang aside to ask, "Do you like that princess?"

Yan Shang sighed. "What does it matter whether I like her or not? I've only met Your Highness three times in total."

Yan Father, well-acquainted with his second son's temperament, understood from his gentle demeanor that he held no genuine affection. After struggling internally for a long while, Yan Father said, "If marrying the princess is not your wish, perhaps our family could flee overseas..."

"How dare you!" Before Yan Father could finish, the uncle who had been eavesdropping outside burst through the door, berating him furiously. "You eloped with my cousin back then and lived a life of secrecy—do you want my nephew to hide for the rest of his life too?

"Do you think the Emperor's daughter is so easily offended? That she's as easy to bully as our family? You'd flee overseas with your whole family without a thought for anyone else!"

Yan Father protested, "But Erlang doesn't like her..."

The uncle bristled with anger. "What does 'like' have to do with it? Her Highness is exquisitely beautiful—I think he just doesn't know how lucky he is! He's still immature now, but he'll understand once they're married. A delicate beauty is being offered to him, and you want to run away? Is there no justice in this world..."

Yan Shang intervened to stop his uncle from scolding his father.

Helplessly, he said, "I have no intention of resisting the marriage. This is an imperial decree—how could I possibly defy it? Besides... I don't really mind."

He truly didn't mind.

Perhaps, as his uncle said, he simply didn't understand matters of the heart yet.

But from Yan Shang's personal perspective, he had no strong feelings about marriage one way or the other. After all, he would have to marry eventually, and now he was even wedding a princess—a tremendous blessing had fallen upon him, and Yan Shang had no reason to avoid it.

Before the wedding, Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao did not meet again.

The Emperor and Empress kept a close watch over their youngest daughter, and it wasn't just empty talk. They ultimately disapproved of Yan Shang, believing he had seduced their daughter, and thus forbade any further meetings before the wedding.

Yan Shang was indifferent.

Mu Wan Yao, on the other hand, was delighted that after marriage, she could move out of the palace and have her own Princess Residence. She would no longer be constantly monitored by her father, mother, and brothers... Mu Wan Yao sent Chunhua out of the palace daily to check on the progress of the renovations at her Princess Residence.

Mu Wan Yao was indeed a talented young woman. Based on Chunhua's reports and the blueprints provided by the Ministry of Works, she could make slight modifications and incorporate her own ideas to ensure the Princess Residence suited her preferences.

Remembering that she wouldn't be living alone in the Princess Residence, Mu Wan Yao shyly asked Chunhua to go out of the palace and inquire if Yan Shang had any requests.

Chunhua reported back: Yan Erlang had no demands and said that whatever pleased Your Highness was fine.

Mu Wan Yao sighed. "Second Brother Yan has such a gentle temper."

Filled with the worries of a young maiden, she anxiously asked Chunhua, "Do you think he's just pretending? Will he continue to be like this after we're married? Chunhua, I don't want another person constantly controlling me."

Recalling Yan Erlang's demeanor, Chunhua smiled and replied, "Your Highness, rest assured. In this servant's opinion, he is a practical person and not the scheming type."The master and servant were about to discuss more matters concerning Yan Erlang when a palace maid announced from outside that the Empress had sent a matron to instruct the princess on matters she ought to know before marriage.

Mu Wan Yao recalled the materials the matron had shown her last time, her face instantly flushing crimson. Blushing with embarrassment, she endured for a long moment before finally speaking in a slightly trembling voice, "Let the matron in."—

The same instruction was happening to Yan Shang as well.

It was customary for the palace to send eunuchs to teach Yan Shang about marital intimacies.

Yan Shang felt rather awkward.

It wasn't shyness but sheer awkwardness... The thought of being so intimate with a stranger on his wedding night left him flustered and speechless.

Why must people do this? Couldn't they remain pure and manage themselves properly? Wouldn't such acts expose the beastly nature within humans, making it truly indecent?

Yan Erlang's peculiar thoughts naturally remained unknown to others.

He never shared these inner reflections with anyone, only listening awkwardly to the eunuch's teachings, enduring and learning. Since he felt awkward, his learning process was equally awkward. The eunuch also found the situation uncomfortable, and with both parties sharing the same sentiment, the instruction became perfunctory and rushed, delivered in vague terms.

For Yan Shang, what mattered more was that after marriage, he would need to shoulder the responsibilities of a husband. Responsibilities, more than romance, stirred Yan Shang's heart—

After half a year of wedding preparations, in the tenth month of the latter half of the year, the eighteen-year-old Danyang Princess had a splendid wedding.

The ten-mile bridal procession and the magnificent scenes in Chang'an need no elaboration.

After all the elaborate rituals were completed, Mu Wan Yao changed her clothes and waited in the chamber for her new husband. As she anxiously thought about the Imperial Son-in-Law, she heard the creak of the door opening. Lifting her beautiful eyes, she met Yan Shang's gaze as he entered.

Both were stunned.

Silence fell between them.

Yan Shang lowered his gaze, momentarily dazzled by her resplendent attire. Vermilion robes and a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin.

In his mind, during their few brief encounters, she had always appeared as a charming, innocent girl. But tonight, her makeup was dazzlingly radiant and opulent, making his heartbeat quicken for an instant, so much so that he dared not look too long.

Mu Wan Yao kept her head lowered, also thinking about how handsome he was.

Nervously, she listened as Yan Shang softly instructed the maids to withdraw. His footsteps approached, and he sat down beside her. After a long pause, Yan Shang smiled and asked, "Your Highness must have had a tiring night."

Mu Wan Yao whispered, "It wasn't tiring." Gathering courage, she added, "You returned so quickly."

Her jade-white, delicate fingers traced the phoenix patterns on the mattress beneath her, and she added as if to cover her embarrassment, "Yang San, Third Brother, told me that on the wedding night, I would have to wait a long time for my husband to return. But you were so quick."

Yan Shang replied gently, "It's because I don't drink, so the guests didn't pester me at the banquet."

Mu Wan Yao expressed surprise, then said, "Then I won't drink anymore either."

Yan Shang chuckled and said, "There's no need for that. Your Highness need not change your habits for my sake."

Mu Wan Yao said very seriously, "But I must. We'll be living together for a lifetime, so naturally, we must adapt to and care for each other. I'm willing... to follow Second Brother Yan's dietary habits."

Yan Shang was taken aback.

He turned his head, studying her with lowered eyes.

He asked softly, "What did you call me?"

Mu Wan Yao, startled by his reaction, bowed her head. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her cheeks flushed crimson. She hated how timid she felt, as if her face were burning up under his gaze, making her unbearably nervous.

Mu Wan Yao's voice was soft and sweet, "Second Brother Yan... Don't you like me calling you that?"Yan Shang gazed at her for a long moment, his heart stirring with ripples over a single form of address. Yet these ripples were quickly suppressed by his own will. He said quietly, "Let's wash up."

Mu Wan Yao continued nodding, nearly brought to tears of embarrassment by her own incompetence—

Mu Wan Yao kept recalling what the palace matrons had taught her, feeling somewhat uneasy yet faintly curious and expectant. The thought of being intimate with a man like that... She instructed her maids to hurry with the washing, still feeling a bit shy.

When she rushed back from the bath, she found the bridal chamber empty—Yan Shang had not returned. She breathed a sigh of relief. Without hesitation, she burrowed into the bedding, ordered the maids to extinguish the lamps, wrapped herself tightly, and tucked herself deep into the bed curtains.

She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep, but couldn't help straining her ears to listen for any movement outside. She heard Yan Shang speaking softly with the maids, his voice clear and mellow, making her heart nearly leap out of her chest.

After a while, she saw Yan Shang enter holding a lamp. In the faint light, through the bed curtains, Mu Wan Yao noticed his attire remained neat—jade crown and silk sash, not a hair out of place. As he approached the bed curtains, she hurriedly shut her eyes.

Yan Shang asked gently, "Has Your Highness fallen asleep?"

Mu Wan Yao feigned sleep and did not respond.

Yan Shang watched through the curtains for a while, a faint smile flickering in his eyes. Exceptionally perceptive, he didn't believe she had fallen asleep so quickly. While he himself felt no discomfort, seeing his new bride equally awkward amused him.

Yan Shang placed the lamp on the small table outside the bed and gently blew out the flame before slowly beginning to undress.

Mu Wan Yao opened her eyes again, stealing a glance at him.

As his robes fell away, his silhouette stood stark and graceful, flowing like mountains and rivers. He removed his jade hairpin, and his long black hair cascaded to his waist, a striking contrast of ebony against snow-white, dazzling to behold.

When Yan Shang turned his head to glance back, Mu Wan Yao panicked and shut her eyes again.

Yan Shang then slowly climbed into bed, lying flat on the outer side. His mind was tangled—should they simply sleep like this? He didn't mind, but would she? Why should strangers share a bed...

As he wrestled with these thoughts and was about to turn his back to Mu Wan Yao, he suddenly felt a small, warm body roll into his embrace. His body stiffened instantly, caught off guard as she lifted the quilt and nestled in.

Mumbling as if just awakened, she said, "Second Brother Yan, you smell so nice."

Yan Shang: "..."

He remained rigid, letting her hold him, unsure where to place his hands. He managed an awkward reply, "Perhaps it's from the bath."

Mu Wan Yao sniffed, burying her nose against his neck. Immediately, Yan Shang's entire body tensed, a tingling sensation shooting up his spine as inexplicable fluster and heat surged through his veins. He instinctively leaned back, but Mu Wan Yao, oblivious and utterly innocent, insisted, "No, it's your natural scent... I noticed it the first time we met. I've been trying to recreate it, but I haven't succeeded."

Yan Shang's mind went blank.

After a long pause, as she looked up at him, he finally replied hoarsely, "Perhaps it's a fragrance from our Lingnan region... I'll teach Your Highness how to make it another day."

Her eyes curved with delight as she happily agreed.

Yan Shang fell silent.

She buried herself in his embrace, clinging tightly to his slender waist.

The two of them remained stubbornly like this for a long time, neither willing to yield.He did not evade, nor did she return to her own bedding. After a moment of stiffness, Mu Wan Yao heard Yan Shang sigh softly. His hand, which had remained strictly proper without touching her, came over and gently embraced her shoulder. Finally, he held her and proactively drew her into his arms.

He turned over while holding her, sheltering her within his embrace. He whispered, "It might hurt a little."

Mu Wan Yao closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling as she wrapped her arms around his neck, cooing softly, "I'm not afraid."

In the room, a warming incense burned out, and red candles flickered brightly beyond the bed curtains. The moment she cried in his arms, he stiffened and stopped. He remained silent in the darkness, their breaths the only sound intertwining.

He patted her back as if soothing a child, comforting her until her tears subsided. Then, he hastily concluded and held her as they went to bathe, patient and considerate throughout. Mu Wan Yao waited drowsily in bed for a long time until he returned, only then feeling at ease enough to close her eyes and sleep.

Before drifting into dreams, Mu Wan Yao thought happily: She and Second Brother Yan were finally husband and wife.

Meanwhile, Yan Shang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was finally over.

He mentally calculated how to maintain proper boundaries in the future—both respecting Your Highness the Princess and not neglecting her.

Mu Wan Yao understood little of such matters, and Yan Shang paid them no mind. Throughout, he neither kissed her nor touched her anywhere else. Mu Wan Yao only felt pain—sharp, intense pain—and assumed it was the same for everyone. She endured it naively, thinking, as the matron had said, that it would get better with time.

Thus began the life of this young newlywed couple, sharing a bed but harboring different dreams.