Under the bright daylight, Meng Zaishi's gaze was fixed intently on Mu Wan Yao, causing Yan Shang to slightly furrow his brow in displeasure.
Mu Wan Yao, true to her stature as a princess of a great nation, initially felt a moment of shyness under the Uman King's captivated stare, but soon responded with a gentle smile. Following the teachings of her Emperor and Empress, she nodded graciously to the Uman King, just as any poised princess would.
Meng Zaishi's eyes sparkled as if cleansed by clear water, radiating a brilliant, nebula-like light. He stared unwaveringly at Mu Wan Yao and was about to utter a few more words in his unpolished Great Wei dialect when a figure in a blue robe blocked his view.
Yan Shang cupped his hands in apology and said, "Your Highness is somewhat fatigued. My wife and I must retire to change attire and cannot accompany you further, my lord."
Meng Zaishi raised his long eyebrows in surprise.
Whether it was due to his limited grasp of the Great Wei language or not, he couldn't help but feel that the gentle and refined Yan Erlang had deliberately emphasized the words "my wife."
Struggling with his inadequate command of the language, Meng Zaishi wanted to stop them but found himself at a loss for words. He could only watch as Yan Shang exchanged a few words with the officials behind him, then took Mu Wan Yao by the arm and led her away.
The officials behind Yan Shang were equally astonished: Yan Suchen, a man known for his meticulousness and dedication to official duties, would actually leave midway with Her Highness?
—
Yan Shang indeed intended to take Mu Wan Yao to change clothes.
Mu Wan Yao also had her own residence in Fanchuan. However, Yan Shang had only recently taken office and had not yet accumulated much wealth, so he still relied on the princess for his sustenance—eating her food and drinking her wine. It almost seemed as though the princess was supporting him, leaving him with little masculine dignity.
But having married the princess, Yan Shang had long prepared himself for such circumstances.
Now, as he led Mu Wan Yao back to the residence, he sighed inwardly. The frustration he hadn't felt when marrying the princess was now surfacing frequently.
He felt bewildered, utterly at a loss about the changes in his emotions.
Yet before he could sort out his own heart, Mu Wan Yao was already scattering hers in all directions, captivating the attention of numerous gentlemen around her.
Mu Wan Yao, following behind with her wrist held by him, remarked lightheartedly, "Second Brother Yan, what you did earlier wasn't right."
Yan Shang snapped out of his chaotic thoughts and focused on his wife. "What?"
Mu Wan Yao's forehead was glistening with fragrant sweat, her cheeks flushed from the vigorous movement. Her lips curved upward, vibrant and moist.
She parted her lips and said, "It's about how you treated the Uman King. You showed no grace of a great nation. You didn't even entertain him properly before dragging me away. We should have spoken with him more, letting him experience the elegance of Great Wei."
After speaking at length, Mu Wan Yao noticed that Yan Shang had stopped walking and was staring at her but showed no reaction.
Puzzled, she waved her hand in front of his eyes and asked with concern, "Second Brother Yan, what's wrong? Why are you spacing out?"
Yan Shang abruptly turned his face away, his neck burning with embarrassment over his momentary distraction. He waved his hand awkwardly and frowned, deeply resenting himself for reacting this way.
Mu Wan Yao grew anxious. "What's the matter? Why did you suddenly blush and frown? Are you ill? Weren't you fine just a moment ago?"Worried, she stood on tiptoe and reached out to stroke Yan Shang’s brow, causing him to step back abruptly in surprise. Her hand brushed against his face, and despite his evasive movements, she exclaimed, “You’re burning up! Do you have a fever? It seems severe—the illness must be formidable. Brother, sit down quickly. Let’s rest here and not go any further. Fang Tong! Fang… Ah!”
Pushed by her, he sat on a rugged roadside rock. She nestled restlessly into his embrace, leaving him flustered and speechless, able only to dodge her advances.
As she turned to call for Fang Tong, Yan Shang grew anxious. He clamped a hand over her mouth and pulled her tightly against him. “Don’t call anyone! Do you think I’m not embarrassed enough?”
Mu Wan Yao was puzzled.
Leaning against his thigh, she stood between his knees, still in his arms. She pulled his hand away from her mouth, her delicate fingers continuing to play mischievously on his face.
In a hushed, concerned tone, she asked, “But you’re unwell, aren’t you? What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Yan Shang stared at her in disbelief.
After a long pause, he said, “Do you truly not understand?”
Mu Wan Yao replied, “I truly don’t.”
His expression grew complicated, and under her innocent gaze, the heat in his cheeks gradually subsided.
Yan Shang then whispered, “I don’t believe you’re unaware. I blush when I’m nervous, yet you insist I’m ill. Yao Yao, are you doing this on purpose?”
Mu Wan Yao cooed, “Not at all!”
But she giggled and burrowed deeper into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist. She adored his waist—every time she touched it, she couldn’t resist giving it a gentle rub or a squeeze.
Yan Shang’s body stiffened instantly, his back straightening as he pleaded helplessly, “Yao Yao, don’t do that!”
Having been married for a year, Mu Wan Yao had discovered how extraordinarily sensitive his waist was. She took delight in teasing him there from time to time, much to his discomfort.
Caught red-handed, she buried her face in his chest and nuzzled softly. Her cheeks flushed hot as she whined defensively, “I didn’t do anything.”
For some reason, a faint desire to tease him stirred within her. She struggled to suppress it, shocked at her own thoughts—how could she be so mischievous toward him?
Yet, every time she saw Yan Shang’s pure, innocent demeanor—as if he were the most blameless and saintly person in the world—an itch would creep into her heart, urging her relentlessly: Tease him, just a little.
He was so easily flustered and held himself to near-impossible standards. Such a refined gentleman was simply too tempting to toy with.
If she didn’t take the opportunity, she’d be wasting how wonderfully easy he was to fluster.
Still, Mu Wan Yao tried hard to restrain herself: she wanted to be a well-behaved, thoughtful wife who pleased her husband. After all, Second Brother Yan hadn’t yet grown fond of her. What if she accidentally drove him further away with her teasing?
Tilting her head up, she was about to speak when Yan Shang suddenly tensed. He pulled the girl—who had melted like water in his arms—upright and pushed her by the shoulders to hide in a certain direction. “Someone’s coming.”
Mu Wan Yao was taken aback. Why should they hide just because someone was approaching? As a princess and him being a favored confidant of the Crown Prince, did they need to worry about others’ opinions?
Forced by Yan Shang, she was shoved into a small artificial cave, with him following closely behind. The space was cramped, but as a married couple, pressing close posed no issue.
Mu Wan Yao stood face-to-face with Yan Shang, nearly nose-to-nose.Mu Wan Yao curiously turned her head to look outside the cave. Her face flushed instantly as she understood why Yan Shang had pulled her into hiding—
It was a pair of intoxicated noble lovers, lost in abandon, one vaguely dressed as a married woman. The two kissed while walking, and before reaching the bushes thick enough to conceal them, they impatiently stopped, their hands roaming and lips locked in an inseparable embrace.
Blushing, Mu Wan Yao buried her face in Yan Shang’s chest. He held her close, signaling for her to stay quiet.
But hiding like this wasn’t a solution. After only a moment of embarrassment, Mu Wan Yao was drawn by the unrestrained sounds of passion from outside and peeked out again.
This time, she saw their half-undone garments and witnessed their immediate, reckless indulgence.
The woman’s pale, glowing skin seemed to scorch Mu Wan Yao’s eyes, while her lover’s murmured endearments, uttered in a dazed, longing tone, shook Mu Wan Yao to her core. The woman’s seductive, misty eyes lifted, her lips parting with sighs and soft moans, extreme pleasure flushing the corners of her eyes and veiling them in a hazy allure.
Yan Shang covered Mu Wan Yao’s eyes with his hand and gently pulled her back from peeking.
Mu Wan Yao looked up at him, noticing his awkward expression as he shook his head, urging her not to watch.
Her heart pounded wildly.
She whispered, "They’re… so passionate."
Yan Shang: "…"
He hadn’t expected her to be in the mood for conversation at such a moment. Fortunately, her voice was soft, and fearing that silence might provoke some mischief from the little princess, he awkwardly murmured in reply, "Mm."
Mu Wan Yao gazed at his face.
Her thoughts drifted to the man outside, and she unconsciously superimposed her and Yan Shang’s faces onto that couple. If she and Yan Shang were to lose themselves like that… She bit her red lip, torn between shyness and shame.
Seeing her flushed cheeks, Yan Shang leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "Yao Yao, calm your mind. Don’t let your thoughts wander."
The touch of his lips against her ear made her cheeks burn even hotter. Widening her eyes, she denied it, "I’m not thinking anything improper!"
Yan Shang offered a polite smile. "If not, then… Yao—"
Before he could finish saying "Yao Yao," Mu Wan Yao wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. His face turned crimson, not only from her sudden move but also because a delicate, teasing tongue lightly touched his lips.
Flustered, Yan Shang tried to push her away, but the confined space of the cave limited his efforts—she clung to him stubbornly. Gritting his teeth, he refused to yield, his hand on her back clenching into a fist as he fought against her allure.
His lips pressed tight, sweat beaded on his skin, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Yet he remained vigilant, not daring to relax.
If she persisted any longer, he would crumble; if she entangled him further, he would lose his mind.
Just as Yan Shang’s resolve teetered on the brink, Mu Wan Yao, unable to breach his lips, withdrew in defeat.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, full of accusation.
Only then did Yan Shang speak, his voice already trembling and hoarse, "What are you doing?"
Mu Wan Yao looked down, on the verge of tears and utterly dejected. "Let’s separate."
Caught off guard, Yan Shang felt as if struck by lightning. He stared at her in stunned silence.
After a long pause, he couldn’t control his voice, murmuring dazedly, "Why? You…"
Don’t you like me anymore?
The moment he opened his mouth to speak, his defenses down, Mu Wan Yao’s sweet, soft lips deceived him once more, boldly invading like a thief seizing an opportunity.
Yan Shang made a muffled sound and tried to push her away, but Mu Wan Yao grinned mischievously and held him tighter.As the couple outside were locked in their inseparable embrace, the young pair within the cave also descended into an abyss of ice and fire.
It was like stepping into a dazzling new world.
When that radiant door was pushed open, Yan Shang shuddered yet couldn’t resist its pull. Gradually, it was no longer her clinging to him, but him chasing after her.
His hands, which had been pushing her away, now drew her into his embrace, as if wanting to meld her into his very bones and blood.
Breaths grew ragged, heads spun with dizziness.
Yan Shang had long known it would come to this, yet he couldn’t control it. Once the floodgates broke, emotions surged like a torrent, overwhelming everything in their path. He was but flesh and blood, an ordinary man of this mortal world—what could he do?
Just as he pressed against her, testing the waters, Mu Wan Yao couldn’t bear it any longer and pushed him away.
By then, the couple outside had long departed. Mu Wan Yao’s robes were in disarray, his hand pressed against her soft waist. She let out a faint, kitten-like whimper. Yan Shang’s eyes reddened, and after a long pause, he rasped, “Don’t make that sound. I... I can’t hold back.”
Mu Wan Yao’s face flushed even hotter.
She lowered her head, gazing at his hand gripping her waist—his slender fingers, the faintly protruding veins on the back of his hand—reminding her of Yan Shang’s earlier abandon.
She whispered, “You were so... intense just now.”
In her heart, she added softly: She had never seen him like that before.
But what had driven him to such abandon? Was it the thrill she herself brought, or the allure of their surroundings?
Yan Shang replied distractedly, “Mm.”
He bent his head to straighten her clothes and smooth her hair, then suddenly said, “When you mentioned ‘separation’ earlier, you were lying, weren’t you?”
Mu Wan Yao looked up in surprise, meeting his gaze. She burst into laughter. “Of course I was lying! If I hadn’t said that, how would someone as reserved as Second Brother Yan ever speak up? If you didn’t speak up, how could I have kissed you?”
She marveled, “So this is what ‘kissing’ really means—when tongues meet! We were doing it all wrong before. How foolish we were!”
Her innocent, candid words were all the more enthralling. Unaware of their effect, she didn’t notice Yan Shang’s fist clenching at his side as he struggled to restrain himself.
Yan Shang’s voice was hoarse. “You shouldn’t have deceived me like that. I believed you. Don’t ever use such words to trick me again.”
Mu Wan Yao was taken aback.
She asked softly, “Are you afraid I’ll leave you, Brother?”
Yan Shang leaned down and gathered her into his arms. He murmured, “Yao Yao, I’ll give you anything you want, but not like this. The moment I married you, I vowed in my heart to be your husband forever. I truly want to be your husband. Otherwise... otherwise...”
Mu Wan Yao looked up dazedly, nestled in his arms as he bent over her. Her gaze drifted past his shoulder to the blue sky outside.
She finished his sentence softly, “Second Brother truly wants to be my husband. Otherwise, when I approach you and tease you, you wouldn’t indulge me. You allow me to come close because you want to be with me, don’t you?”
Yan Shang whispered, “Yes.”
Mu Wan Yao curved her lips into a smile and wrapped her arms around his waist. She vowed, “I’ll never tease you like that again! I’ll never make you sad again. But Second Brother Yan, you must believe me too. I like you so much—how could I ever bear to let you go?”
She tilted her head, half in jest, half in earnest. “I’ll cling to you and never let go.”
Yan Shang smiled bashfully, his unsettled heart finally put at ease.He gently pushed her away a little, lowering his gaze to look at her. Seeing her bright eyes and rosy lips, so charming and endearing, he couldn't help but be moved by the moment, lightly brushing his lips against hers.
Mu Wan Yao's eyes widened.
Yan Shang's eyelashes trembled as he quickly stood up. Mu Wan Yao grabbed his hand, staring at his face in disbelief: "You're blushing just from kissing me! You said you blush when you're nervous—what are you nervous about? Aren't I your favorite Yao Yao anymore?"
Yan Shang laughed while trying to push her hand away. With no one outside, he hurriedly walked out, eager to escape the situation.
Mu Wan Yao hugged him from behind, pressing against his back in even greater surprise: "You didn't deny it! Am I really your favorite Yao Yao now? Is that it, is that it?"
Yan Shang, both flustered and amused by her persistence, couldn't hold back a laugh. And so, the two of them, entangled in their affection, emerged from the cave. When the couple reunited with their maids, everyone sensed that the relationship between Your Highness and the Imperial Son-in-Law seemed much improved, though no one could quite put it into words.
—
Mu Wan Yao, however, could clearly perceive the change in Yan Shang's attitude.
Between two people in love, no one understands each other's emotions better than those caught in the whirlwind themselves.
Mu Wan Yao was no longer the young bride she had been when she first married last year.
She now understood that Yan Shang's initial attentive care had merely been politeness and courtesy; his subsequent evasiveness stemmed from his shyness and uncertainty about how to handle a feeling beyond his control; and now, Yan Shang was beginning to actively draw closer to her.
He was starting to confront his feelings, no longer running away.
Thus, Mu Wan Yao began to enjoy an unprecedented level of care from Yan Shang. He seemed eager to resolve every trouble around her, proactively inquiring about her affairs and gradually integrating himself into her world.
He subtly came to understand her and everything about her life. He was considerate and patient, yet deeply thoughtful, to the point where he probably learned everything about Yang Si and Wei Shu's ancestors for eighteen generations. Yang Si and Wei Shu even became his friends.
Yan Shang would take the initiative to get close to Mu Wan Yao.
At night before sleep, he would often gaze at her for a long time, then sigh as if defeated by his own emotions, leaning in to seek a kiss.
But kisses easily led to passion, to sparks flying, and then to other desires for intimacy between a man and a woman.
Especially with someone as proper as Yan Shang, who would only sit by the bedside to kiss her.
When they kissed within the bed curtains, when he pressed her down, it stirred deeper longings. Often, the kisses weren't enough to soothe the tension. Mu Wan Yao would blush, feeling both shy and fearful under his meticulous affection.
She had a clear sense of it.
Because sometimes, even when they woke up in the morning, he couldn't resist kissing her. But the more they kissed, the more his brows would furrow, his eyes clouding with mist. One day, in a moment of confusion, Mu Wan Yao accidentally touched him and was startled. Yan Shang sighed, turned to comfort her, then buried his face in her shoulder with another sigh of discomfort.
Mu Wan Yao thought: This isn't working.
Naturally, she wanted to be closer to Yan Shang. Besides, having been married for a year, they already knew how to be more intimate. But whenever Mu Wan Yao recalled their two previous experiences, all she remembered was pain... Was his pleasure meant to be her suffering?
Yet that didn't seem right either.
On the day they stumbled upon that couple in the midst of their secret affair, the woman's arched neck and dazed expression didn't seem pained—instead, she looked utterly blissful.Then, there must be... must be something that she and Yan Shang had misunderstood.
For two people who even misunderstood kissing, misunderstanding that sort of thing seemed entirely normal.
Mu Wan Yao blushed as she pondered these thoughts, while also resenting Yan Shang’s uselessness. But if he wasn’t anxious, she was.
Mu Wan Yao made up her mind and decided to take a trip to the Pleasure Quarter.
—
Only a few days remained until the grand ceremony, and Meng Zaishi spent his days frequenting the Pleasure Quarter in Chang’an. The Pleasure Quarter was a place of mixed crowds, concealing countless pieces of information.
The Black Barbarians wished to form an alliance with Great Wei to jointly deal with the troublesome Southern Barbarians, making it necessary to seek information in the Pleasure Quarter.
Yet Meng Zaishi pondered: his ascension to the throne was illegitimate. He had killed his father and younger brother to seize the kingship. Moreover, the Black Barbarians were one of the five tribes of the Southern Barbarians—why would Great Wei choose to ally with the Black Barbarians instead of the Southern Barbarians?
Ultimately, Meng Zaishi needed Great Wei’s recognition to secure his throne and even gain control over the entire Southern Barbarian territory.
While engaging with various officials in Chang’an, he was also considering other methods.
With these thoughts in mind, Meng Zaishi spent his days in the Pleasure Quarter. That evening, as he sat by a pavilion window drinking in melancholy, he inadvertently glanced down.
Under the shimmering lights and bustling crowds, Mu Wan Yao strode confidently through the throng, dressed in men’s robes.
Great Wei’s customs were open-minded, and women often wore men’s attire, so no one paid much attention to Mu Wan Yao’s masculine disguise. At most, they glanced sideways, thinking this young lady was exceptionally beautiful.
But what was such a lady doing in the Pleasure Quarter?
Mu Wan Yao walked alone through the crowd, instructing Fang Tong and the others to follow at a distance without disturbing her. She felt a thrill of excitement, as she had never strolled through the streets like this before.
Before her marriage, she couldn’t even leave the palace without Yang Si sneaking her out; after her marriage, she could go wherever she pleased, but even as a noble princess, there was no reason for Her Highness Mu Wan to visit the Pleasure Quarter, so she had never been here before.
Tonight, she was determined to experience the Pleasure Quarter for herself.
Mu Wan Yao lowered her gaze, a sly smile flickering in her eyes as she turned. She knew Yan Shang was attending a banquet in one of the buildings in the Pleasure Quarter that very night.
She had absolute faith in her husband’s character, but she also wanted to sneak a peek at what Yan Shang was like when he wasn’t with her.
She wanted to surprise him.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Mu Wan Yao weaved through the crowd when suddenly someone bumped into her waist. She stumbled backward, and a figure darted away.
While Mu Wan Yao was still bewildered, a muffled groan sounded. The fleeing man’s knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, the jade pendant he had snatched slipping out of his sleeve.
A tall, imposing young man strode past Mu Wan Yao and approached the fallen man. The thief pleaded for mercy, but the young man, who had bent to pick up the jade pendant, turned and looked at the bright-eyed, radiant young princess.
Meng Zaishi removed the mask from his face. The warm, flickering lantern light illuminated his firm, handsome features and deep, distant eyes.
Meng Zaishi smiled at Mu Wan Yao and handed her the retrieved jade pendant, speaking in the language of Great Wei: “He stole this from you. I’ve taken it back.”
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him, then at the thief on the ground. She reached out with her slender, pale fingers to take the jade pendant, but Meng Zaishi did not let go immediately. Mu Wan Yao fixed her gaze on him.
Her voice was just as he remembered—soft and sweet: “Won’t you give it to me?”
Meng Zaishi coughed lightly: “I am…”Mu Wan Yao beamed a radiant smile, revealing her pearly teeth: "I recognize you. You are Meng Zaishi, the King of Wuman. The Great Wei ceremony invited you as well."
Meng Zaishi's eyes lit up: "You remember me?!"
Mu Wan Yao laughed: "Because I never forget a face."
Meng Zaishi didn't understand her "photographic memory," but seeing her smile, his heart warmed with a bittersweet surge of affection. He knew perfectly well what this meant, yet he quietly watched her slender figure standing in the lamplight. After a long moment, he merely resigned himself to fate with a helpless smile and returned her grin.
Mu Wan Yao retrieved her jade pendant and averted her gaze. "I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
But Meng Zaishi followed her. "The Pleasure Quarter isn't safe—all sorts of people gather here. Allow me to accompany Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao hesitated briefly, thinking it unwise to offend this foreign king. After failing to decline twice, she tacitly accepted his company.
Meng Zaishi walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure. Suddenly, he remarked, "Your Highness resembles a goddess."
Mu Wan Yao looked bewildered. "What?"
Meng Zaishi gazed into the distance. "In our Black Barbarians' legends, the highest deity is a goddess to whom we pray and make offerings. I've never seen the goddess, but I feel that if she truly exists in this world, she must be like Your Highness."
He sighed. "It's as if I've met Your Highness in a dream."
Mu Wan Yao was perplexed, understanding the bold implication in his words. She shifted two steps sideways, cautiously and tactfully rejecting him: "Then it must have been a nightmare."
Meng Zaishi froze momentarily, then chuckled.
He raised his hand to brush aside the tassels hanging from a lantern for her. This Uman King, who usually looked down upon the world, revealed a rare tenderness in his eyes. Then he lifted his gaze again, looking in a certain direction.
Not far away, Yan Shang pushed open a window and happened to see them.
His eyes met Meng Zaishi's.
Meng Zaishi smirked provocatively before looking away.
Yan Shang lowered his long lashes, feeling restless and agitated. He said to the friend beside him, "I'm going out to freshen up."
OpenNovel