Yan Shang kept his promise. After the imperial examination ended, he invited Wei Shu to his home as a guest.
Mu Wan Yao felt somewhat embarrassed because she had forgotten her uncle's request to take care of this young man. When she saw Wei Shu arriving at their residence, she revealed an elegant smile.
Wei Shu bowed his head in greeting to her.
Yan Shang stood nearby with a peculiar expression.
During the evening banquet, both husband and wife busied themselves urging Wei Shu to eat more dishes and taking care of him. Wei Shu, feeling awkward, kept his head down and remained silent.
Yet his jade-like profile already showed traces of the radiance he would possess in the future.
Although Mu Wan Yao was married, she couldn't help stealing extra glances whenever she saw a handsome young man. And these extra glances did not escape Yan Shang's notice.
After arranging for Wei Shu to stay overnight in their residence, Mu Wan Yao personally went to check the guest room prepared by the maids. When she returned to her bedchamber satisfied, Yan Shang was waiting for her at the corridor entrance and walked with her.
Yan Shang remarked meaningfully: "Ju Yuan hasn't purchased a residence in Chang'an yet. Coming to the capital hastily for the examination with no one to care for him, and being so reserved in speech - it must be quite difficult for him."
Mu Wan Yao: "That's why my uncle asked me to look after him!"
She expressed some regret: "Indeed, Ju Yuan is too quiet and unwilling to trouble others. Since he never visited, I naturally forgot about this matter."
Yan Shang turned to look at her: "Your Highness need not worry. Since we are married, your affairs are my affairs. I will help you take good care of Ju Yuan."
Mu Wan Yao's eyes curved and lips lifted as she linked arms with him: "Second Brother Yan is so good. I never worry about that."
Yan Shang said quietly: "But I'm not a saint either."
Mu Wan Yao blinked, tilting her face up to look at him in confusion, not understanding what he meant.
Yan Shang suddenly asked: "Let me ask you - if Young Master Wei the Seventh weren't so handsome, would you have remembered to take care of him and invited him to stay at our residence?"
Mu Wan Yao froze, then her gaze became somewhat evasive.
Yan Shang grasped her wrist, his tone more forceful: "Yao Yao!"
Mu Wan Yao stammered softly: "I... I didn't do anything wrong... When people see beautiful people or things, wanting to look a bit more isn't wrong, is it?"
Yan Shang leaned down to look at her: "Then have you ever thought about possessing all beautiful people or things?"
Mu Wan Yao's clear black-and-white eyes fixed on him: "Everyone wants to possess beautiful things, and I'm no exception. I don't understand what Second Brother Yan means."
Yan Shang pressed his lips together.
A trace of irritation rose in his heart.
His tone remained consistently gentle as he reached out to brush away the strands of hair blowing across her cheeks in the wind.
Yan Shang: "Then let me be clearer, Your Highness. Do you want to possess Wei Ju Yuan?"
Mu Wan Yao: "What kind of possession?"
Yan Shang: "Do you want him to become one of your admirers?"
Mu Wan Yao's eyes widened instantly, utterly shocked. How could she have thought that far? How could she have such intentions?
She had merely found Wei Shu good-looking and looked at him a few extra times!
Mu Wan Yao: "No!"
Yan Shang lowered his eyes: "Then do you intend for him to replace me?"
Mu Wan Yao immediately grabbed his arm tightly. She had endured all the previous questioning well enough, but this particular question made her bristle like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.
Mu Wan Yao: "No one can take Second Brother Yan away from me!"
Yan Shang was taken aback.
Mu Wan Yao exclaimed loudly: "Second Brother Yan is mine! Mine! I'll kill anyone who tries to take you from me!"
Yan Shang stared at her in astonishment.Seeing the girl's eyes dark and clear, her expression was utterly serious, not at all like she was joking.
Yan Shang had always known that Mu Wan Yao held an inexplicably strong fondness for him—perhaps his temperament suited her tastes, or maybe some quality he himself was unaware of had moved her... Yan Shang had always known Mu Wan Yao liked him very much.
But it was only at this moment, gazing at this girl whose eyes shimmered with lamplight, innocent and naive yet uttering the word "kill," that he truly realized just how much he attracted Mu Wan Yao.
Unparalleled.
Irreplaceable.
Never letting go.
Such words made him feel ridiculous and ashamed even as he thought them—what virtue or ability did he possess to rate himself so highly? But this was how Mu Wan Yao felt about him.
A surge of awe and joy rose in Yan Shang's heart. Suddenly, he felt deeply embarrassed, suddenly he felt intensely shy. He had only meant to ask about Wei Shu—he hadn't expected to receive such a grand, surprise confession.
To Yan Shang, Mu Wan Yao's words were no different from a heartfelt declaration of love.
He averted his gaze and said softly, "Why talk of killing or not killing? Holding a sharp blade and having power over others' lives means one should keep the scabbard secure all the more. Would Your Highness not let someone live over some trivial matter?"
Mu Wan Yao remained innocent: "You say I hold a sharp blade and have power over others' lives, so I should keep my scabbard secure. Then Second Brother Yan, why don't you be my scabbard?"
Yan Shang coughed lightly.
Her words were innocent, without any hidden meaning. But to him, it felt as if a feather had lightly brushed his heart—she stirred him without realizing it, which was most vexing.
Yan Shang looked down at the little princess, truly wanting to pull her into his arms and ruffle her.
The rational and restrained Yan Shang straightened up, afraid of revealing his awkward state. He took one last look at Mu Wan Yao and headed back to his quarters alone.
Mu Wan Yao was left bewildered, abandoned by her husband midway.
She didn't understand why she had been suddenly left behind... Weren't they just having a good conversation?
Ah, could this be... jealousy?
Mu Wan Yao chased after him: "Second Brother Yan, wait for me! Were you jealous just now? Let me explain! Brother..."
Yan Shang was caught up to, his sleeve tugged by her. He turned his face away, refusing to look at her. Anxious, she simply bent down and slipped out from under his arm.
The lantern swayed in the wind, its light flowing like algae on the ground.
Startled, Yan Shang was forced to raise his arm, only to see a delicate little beauty emerge from his embrace, smiling at him.
Mu Wan Yao's voice was soft: "Second Brother Yan, let me explain..."
Yan Shang sighed softly: "No need to explain. I know what happened."
Mu Wan Yao was confused: "Then why did you run? I thought you were angry."
Leaning against the corridor pillar, Yan Shang didn't know if it was the red glow of the lantern or if he was genuinely blushing. Mu Wan Yao pressed close to him, feeling him turn his face away, his entire body stiff as stone.
Yan Shang whispered: "Can't I leave even if I'm not angry? Please get up, don't be like this."
His hand rested properly on her shoulder, trying to gently push her away. But Mu Wan Yao refused—he was always pushing her away, constantly pushing her away. Why did he have to be like that?Mu Wan Yao, thinking herself clever, declared: "Brother, you must still be angry. Look, you won't even glance at me. Though I don't know why you're upset, I'll cheer you up."
She insisted on positioning herself right under his gaze, pulling faces and sticking out her tongue at him. She tugged at her cheeks, contorting them into all sorts of bizarre and comical shapes. Her eyes, like a kitten's, curved upward at the corners with each playful expression.
The lamplight flickered in layers, merging with the color of the lake.
Yan Shang watched her various attempts to appear adorable, her efforts to amuse him and lift his spirits. Ripples had long been stirring in his heart, and this little cat, secretly testing the waters, kept extending her paws to probe his feelings...
And she still thought he felt nothing at all!
Mu Wan Yao's face was growing stiff from her antics. Seeing his dark, unreadable eyes fixed on her without a word, she felt a pang of discouragement. Just as she was inwardly grumbling about how hard he was to please, Yan Shang suddenly leaned down and swept her into his embrace.
He turned his head, his long hair tangling with hers. His entire body was burning hot, trembling uncontrollably. Unable to restrain himself, overcome by emotions he could no longer suppress, he gave in to the deep yearning within and gently kissed the tip of her ear.
Mu Wan Yao immediately bristled and jumped, clutching her kissed ear. Her eyes widened in shock, but he pulled her back into his arms. It was really him—his hand cradling her back, him actively holding her... and he had even kissed her!
Mu Wan Yao exclaimed, "You actually hugged me in public!"
Yan Shang, utterly embarrassed, lowered his voice: "What public? This is our home, and it's already dark outside."
Mu Wan Yao lifted her face, accusing him in a somewhat smug tone: "And you sneaked a kiss."
Yan Shang had no rebuttal.
His eyes fixed on her red lips parting and closing, he forced himself with great difficulty to look away and not let his thoughts wander. Meanwhile, Mu Wan Yao, overjoyed, tugged at Yan Shang's hand and led him back to their room.
The hand she held felt scorching to Yan Shang.
He smiled wryly to himself, knowing he would surely struggle to sleep again tonight.
—
Yan Shang was beginning to feel a little afraid of Mu Wan Yao.
He found it hard to articulate his thoughts.
He had long known she liked him, but that night with Mu Wan Yao made him realize that the "liking" he had imagined was far different from the actual depth of her feelings.
And as she held his hand, as she kept pulling faces to amuse him, Yan Shang's heart grew unsettled.
He feared this sensation within himself.
At night, he began tossing and turning. With his wife sleeping beside him, the torment he had to endure was greater than ever. Sometimes, when she was asleep, he would lie there watching her and think how truly beautiful she was.
Yan Shang was no longer the effortlessly composed Yan Erlang in his dealings with others. How should he interact with Mu Wan Yao?
Embarrassed and flustered, yet unable to let anyone notice, he could only try his best to avoid her and maintain his composure.
Fortunately, the imperial examinations had ended, and he soon became busy, with little time to dwell on matters of the heart.
—
At the end of that year, due to the Emperor's grand birthday celebration, envoys from various nations came to Chang'an.
Yan Shang was temporarily assigned by the Crown Prince to assist at the Court of State Ceremonial, where he was overwhelmed with work day after day. With the envoys' arrival, Chang'an became much livelier.
Mu Wan Yao was also witnessing such a grand event for the first time and found it delightful. To showcase the grace of Great Wei, the Empress tasked her, as a princess, with entertaining the foreign noblewomen, and Mu Wan Yao agreed.
Great Wei esteemed poetry, lyrics, and song.
The title of Danyang Princess quickly became renowned among the envoys of various nations.Composing poetry and prose were Mu Wan Yao's forte; whatever she penned effortlessly surpassed the works Yan Shang had agonized over for days. Mu Wan Yao was also delighted to use her talents to help the nation gain prestige...
Seated in the Empress's palace, Mu Wan Yao enthusiastically recounted the highlights of that year's grand ceremony. Pouting, she said, "Second Brother's organization of this ceremony is perfect in every way, except for one thing—Second Brother Yan is so busy I've barely seen him at all."
The Empress replied, "You young couples have plenty of time ahead for meetings. Focus on getting through the ceremony first."
Turning to glance at her demurely seated daughter, the Empress's eyes sparkled as she suddenly laughed. "Yao Yao, did you know that the envoys are all inquiring about who the Danyang Princess is? Your father mentioned that many minor kingdoms, captivated by your elegance, are pleading with Great Wei to secure a princess for their kings."
"You, my dear, simply married early. Otherwise, the number of suitors would be countless."
Mu Wan Yao blushed crimson, lowering her head to insist she had done nothing remarkable.
As mother and daughter chatted, a palace maid entered with a troubled expression. "Your Highness, for the polo match scheduled this afternoon, Lady Chen Six has unfortunately broken her leg and cannot compete."
The Empress's face darkened at once.
"We must find a replacement then..." she murmured, her gaze—along with the maid's—settling on Mu Wan Yao.
Mu Wan Yao stared in shock, leaping up to wave her hands in protest. "I-I-I can't do it! Mother, you know I'm fine with poetry and essays, but how can you ask me to ride and play polo? I'd be terrified!"
The Empress chuckled. "Just give it a try. Yao Yao, you hardly move all day—wouldn't it be fun to play on the polo field?"
Flushing even deeper, Mu Wan Yao continued to shake her head in refusal.
The Empress added, "I vaguely recall Yan Erlang is assisting the Court of State Ceremonial in managing these events, isn't he? Didn't you say you haven't seen your husband in ages? This is the perfect chance."
Mu Wan Yao pursed her lips and fell silent.
—
The polo match was held at Leyou Plains.
As the Empress had mentioned, Yan Shang was overseeing the affairs here. The nobles had no shortage of amusements, but such events became even more appealing to Chang'an's elite when foreign guests joined in.
Many had traveled specially to Qujiang and Leyou Plains just to watch the polo match.
The larger the crowd, the greater the concern for mishaps.
Naturally, Yan Shang couldn't leave his post for a moment, monitoring everything throughout.
While Yan Shang was head down, instructing a subordinate, he suddenly heard gasps around him and the accented Great Wei dialect of a minor envoy shouting, "Danyang! Danyang!"
Yan Shang jolted, immediately looking up.
He was positioned at the periphery of the event, the sea of people blocking his view. His heart leaped; hastily dismissing the official, he pushed through the crowd to see if it was her.
But how could it be her?
Wasn't she a literary talent?
What would she be doing here?
As Yan Shang navigated the throng, he accidentally bumped into a tall, burly man. He promptly clasped his hands in apology, recognizing him as Meng Zaishi, King of Wuman.
Finally reaching the front of the crowd, Yan Shang gripped the railing and looked out at the field. In that instant, his heart nearly burst from his chest.
It really was Mu Wan Yao!She wore black and red masculine riding attire, holding a long mallet as she chased a white ball on horseback. Yang Si's cousin Zhao Lingfei partnered with her, the two women moving with seamless coordination. The small ball darted swiftly under their mallets, yet never slipped from their control.
Envoys from various foreign nations cheered for the ladies representing their countries.
The Great Wei contingent was equally fervent.
The roar of the crowd shook the heavens, banners flapped vigorously—what unrestrained excitement!
Yan Shang watched his wife unblinkingly, the light in his eyes growing increasingly bright. His stagnant emotions surged like colossal waves.
He could never remain calm in the presence of someone so dazzling, flamboyant, proud, and relentlessly forward-charging.
Meng Zaishi stood beside Yan Shang, also fixated on Mu Wan Yao riding across the field.
That Great Wei possessed a woman of such striking allure made his heart stir... Having arrived only recently, Meng Zaishi had only heard the title "Danyang Princess" and didn't know who she was.
—
Sweat poured down Mu Wan Yao's forehead. While on horseback, she spotted Yan Shang. His scholarly elegance, robes flowing as if winged—that distinguished bearing made him instantly recognizable to her.
Her heart tightened with anxiety, fearing he might disapprove of her current appearance.
But having taken the field, victory was the only option—everything else could wait.
When the match concluded, Great Wei emerged victorious thanks to the coordination between Mu Wan Yao and Zhao Lingfei. Dismounting, Mu Wan Yao eagerly rushed toward Yan Shang's direction.
Meng Zaishi stood beside Yan Shang, watching helplessly as that vibrant, fiery maiden charged over and threw herself into Yan Shang's embrace.
Yan Shang bent to catch Mu Wan Yao as if catching a ball of fire. He wiped her sweaty face and asked, "Are you thirsty? Let's get you some water."
Mu Wan Yao cooed, "You feed me then."
Yan Shang coughed lightly, tugging at Mu Wan Yao to remind her of their company. Covering his mouth with a hand, he cleared his throat twice before introducing her to Meng Zaishi: "This is Danyang Princess, also my wife."
Meng Zaishi stood stunned.
He gazed at Mu Wan Yao.
Just as she turned to look back at him.
So this was... what the Great Wei people called "Luofu already has a husband," wasn't it?
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