Having drunk wine at the Crown Prince's earlier and now skipping the evening meal, Mu Wan Yao directly ordered her maids and guards to line up in the hall.
She intended to interrogate them about who had received letters from Yan Erlang.
Chunhua stood among those being questioned below the hall. She cautiously glanced at the princess's expression and noticed that the gold and silver powder makeup around her eyes had smudged, leaving her complexion looking somewhat pale.
The princess reclined sideways on the long couch, resting her head on her arm, while her maids attended to her with bated breath, afraid to provoke Her Highness's anger.
Under Mu Wan Yao's questioning, guards and maids gradually stepped forward, uneasily admitting they had received letters from Yan Erlang—
"Back in Lingnan, this subordinate casually mentioned to Yan Erlang that I suffer from old injuries causing headaches on rainy days. Later, he wrote to inquire about it and even sent some medicinal herbs."
"This maid caught a chill in Lingnan once, and it was Erlang who provided medicine. After returning to Chang'an, when he asked about trivial matters here, seeing how kind he was, I answered truthfully."
As the accounts continued in tedious detail, Mu Wan Yao's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.
She understood now. That Yan Erlang with his boundless magical power hadn't merely exchanged letters with her servants but had also regularly sent them gifts.
Seeing more people preparing to speak, Mu Wan Yao rose and flung a cup of tea across the room.
Immediate silence fell below.
Mu Wan Yao called, "Guard Fang."
Fang Tong: "Yes!"
Heavily intoxicated, the princess's temper was worse than usual: "Since you've scolded Yan Erlang before and even developed a friendship through those exchanges, you shall take charge again. Have Chunhua write a letter. Help me properly berate Yan Erlang—ask him why he shows such ingratitude?
"Why hasn't he spoken a single word to me? Wasn't he using me quite effectively before? Wasn't he fawning over me like a dog? How could he turn his back so quickly?
"This won't do, Yan Shisheng! If you want to curry favor with me, you must be consistent!"
Mu Wan Yao's words were harsh as she slammed the table and spoke through gritted teeth: "Make sure you curse him properly!"
Maids nearby whispered reminders: "Your Highness is drunk and should rest."
The women clustered around the princess to escort her to bed. Chunhua dismissed the other servants first, then exchanged helpless looks with Fang Tong.
Shortly after, the maid Xiarong emerged and informed them: "At the Crown Prince's banquet today, some officials remarked that a princess who had been married off for alliance shouldn't wander about so freely. Her Highness lost her temper there and was scolded by the Crown Prince. She left immediately afterward.
"That's why she's in such a foul mood and spoke so harshly after returning. Fortunately, her anger was directed at Yan Erlang rather than resulting in punishments for us."
Chunhua and Fang Tong sighed, their hearts aching with sympathy. They worried that since the princess had shown such disrespect to the Crown Prince, she would likely have to swallow her pride and apologize to him after sobering up...
Her Highness wasn't just acting for herself but for everyone in the Princess Residence.
Fang Tong asked: "Should we still write that letter cursing Yan Erlang?"
Chunhua replied helplessly: "We must. Otherwise, the princess will be angry again. We'll just add another letter to Yan Erlang explaining the situation, asking him not to blame our princess."
The letters were written. The next day, after Mu Wan Yao sobered up and reviewed them, she merely uttered "Hmm" without further comment.
Chunhua went out to arrange for the letters to be delivered to Lingnan when a maid approached to inform her: "Sister Chunhua, Young Master Liu has come to the residence looking for you."Chunhua was momentarily taken aback, her joy at seeing her beloved naturally overwhelming. Yesterday's results had been posted, and Liu Wenji's name was absent from the list—she had been worrying about him ever since.
Was Young Master Liu doing alright today?
Clutching the letter in her hand, she stepped out of the inner residence and made her way to the side room near the outer gatehouse. There, she spotted the young man dressed in a light tung-cloth gown, his back turned to her as he gazed absently at the walls of the Princess Residence.
Hearing footsteps, Liu Wenji turned around. His features were refined, though his eyes bore traces of redness from sleepless nights.
He smiled at Chunhua.
Chunhua began, "Yesterday's results—"
Liu Wenji cut her off, "It's nothing, just a failed attempt! After two months in Chang'an, I've come to understand—there are so many talented scholars here, and I simply need time to adjust. I plan to write home to my parents, telling them I'll stay in Chang'an and try again next year. I won't return to Lingnan until I become a jinshi! With this experience under my belt, I'm certain I'll pass next March."
Chunhua felt uneasy, having grown up in Chang'an with the princess and knowing all too well how many brilliant minds crowded the capital, with only a minute fraction ever achieving the jinshi rank.
Yet, seeing Liu Wenji's brimming confidence and the youthful arrogance and self-assurance unique to his age, she offered a soft smile and nodded in encouragement.
Noticing her gentle expression, Liu Wenji flushed slightly, ashamed of having avoided her the day before.
He cleared his throat and changed the subject, "What's that in your hand? Are you sending a letter for your princess?"
Chunhua replied softly, "Yes, Her Highness wishes to send a letter to Lingnan, to ask Yan Erlang... ahem, about some matters."
Liu Wenji paused, feeling strangely unsettled. "So Yan Erlang still corresponds with Her Highness the Princess?"
Naturally, Liu Wenji himself exchanged letters with Yan Shisheng, but hearing that Yan Shisheng also communicated with the princess left him uncomfortable.
He recalled what he had heard in Chang'an—countless scholars presenting flattering poems and submissions, currying favor with officials and nobles in hopes of gaining their patronage to secure success in the imperial exams.
Liu Wenji had always looked down on such people.
To think Yan Shisheng would also...
Chunhua asked cheerfully, "By the way, Young Master Liu, do you also need to send a letter to Lingnan? Why not bring it here? I can have the Princess Residence send it along with ours. Letters dispatched from the Princess Residence are handled swiftly by the courier stations, so you'll receive a reply much faster."
A flash of shame and irritation crossed Liu Wenji's eyes. "I am not one to cling to the powerful or flatter superiors! I have no place for such favors from the Princess Residence."
Chunhua pressed her lips together, aware of his strong pride and disdain for those who relied on connections, and said no more.
If only Young Master Liu would understand—water too clear breeds no fish.
A month later, in Sand Water Town of Lingnan, Yan Shisheng sat in his room, reading a letter from Chang'an—from Mu Wan Yao.
The princess was reproaching him for not writing to her.
Yan Shisheng remained silent, lost in thought.
Thinking of Mu Wan Yao brought back the memory of their farewell—when she had pulled him into her carriage and kissed him... The feel of her hand on his cheek, the fragrance of her lips, still left him restless and sleepless whenever it crossed his mind.
He didn't know how to face Mu Wan Yao.
But at least, it seemed, the princess remained entirely unaffected.
She didn't believe that parting kiss meant anything, nor did she think it had made their relationship awkward... She didn't care for him; it was merely a fleeting impulse, a way to tease him.Princess Danyang treated him as a plaything, leaving without a word and giving no message afterward.
With her heartless actions, she made it clear that their encounter meant nothing, and he should not think of using it to make any demands of her.
Sitting by the window, Yan Shisheng, with his gentle and refined demeanor, pondered her intentions privately.
She was a capricious young lady. She neither wanted him to dwell too much on their relationship nor wished for him to deliberately avoid her. Yet Guard Fang had mentioned that the princess was currently facing difficulties...
Yan Shisheng did not want to add to her distress.
He sat rigidly before the desk, holding a wolf hair brush, unsure for a long time how to reply to such a letter.
Outside, his younger sister Yan Xiaozhou called out, "Second Brother, you've been sitting there all afternoon! Eldest Brother wants you to go for a run with him!"
Yan Shisheng acknowledged her and set down his brush—
Mu Wan Yao still received Yan Shisheng's letter.
She had written to scold him; given Yan Erlang's diplomatic nature, how could he not reply?
In the fifth month, Mu Wan Yao sat on the veranda eating cherries while listening to Chunhua read the letter.
Chunhua said, "...In short, Erlang apologizes to Your Highness and, as a gesture of atonement, has sent an eyebrow inkstone. He says it's a famous stone ink from Lingnan, for Your Highness to use when drawing your eyebrows."
Mu Wan Yao was unimpressed—
Lingnan produced stone ink, which was gentle and soft. When blended with fragrant dew, the resulting ink was vibrant and pleasing, perfect for creating fresh and beautiful eyebrow lines.
Who didn't know that? Only he would know how to present another's gift as his own.
Yet when Chunhua brought over the box, Mu Wan Yao leisurely opened it.
Inside lay an eyebrow inkstone carved into the shapes of the Twelve Zodiac Animals, each so lifelike they seemed like twelve little creatures gazing eagerly at Mu Wan Yao.
The attending maids exclaimed in unison, "Heavens!"
Mu Wan Yao was stunned. She reached out to play with one piece, then, unable to resist, picked up another. Her slender, pale fingers gently traced the carvings, noticing they were freshly made.
A thought stirred in Mu Wan Yao's heart. Given Yan Shisheng's cautious nature, these Twelve Zodiac Animals must have been carved by his own hand—he would never have entrusted the task to anyone else.
This man... always put on the best show of sincerity.
As if afraid the recipient wouldn't grasp the depth of his effort.
Mu Wan Yao pressed her lips together, resenting how adept he was at pleasing others. But as she caressed the zodiac figures with lingering fondness, she rested her cheek on her hand and smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
No matter what gifts he gave others, the one sent to her was the most painstaking and the finest.
Seeing the princess's smiling expression, Chunhua knew her anger had subsided and teased deliberately, "Is Your Highness pleased now?"
Mu Wan Yao retorted, "Pleased about what? Carving the eyebrow inkstone so exquisitely—how could anyone bear to use it? He must have done it on purpose, so I can only admire it but never put it to use."
Chunhua: "..."
The princess was too hard to please.
Mu Wan Yao bit her lip softly and whispered, "Send some grapes transported from the Western Regions to Lingnan."
Chunhua was astonished. "But those were a gift from the Crown Prince to you, Princess! The journey is so long—what if they spoil along the way..."
Mu Wan Yao hid her face behind a fan and turned over on the couch. The fluttering bed curtains obscured her figure.
The maids couldn't see the princess's expression but heard her nonchalant reply, "If they spoil, they spoil. I just thought that country bumpkin has never tasted grapes and should try them. If they go bad on the way, it simply means he has no luck."
As the maids gathered around the princess, chatting and trying to please her, someone suddenly announced from outside, "Your Highness, a Young Master Wei the Seventh requests an audience. He says his teacher sent him to pay respects."
The maids exchanged puzzled glances.Buried in her pillow, Mu Wan Yao opened her eyes and remembered. Wei Juyuan, the illegitimate son of the Wei family recommended by her uncle, had arrived in Chang'an.
According to her uncle's plan, this man should become her Imperial Son-in-Law.
...It was time to go make things difficult for him.
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