Yan Shang was left speechless.
Having come from Lingnan, he truly had never seen women dressed in such a manner. Judging by Danyang Princess's demeanor and the accustomed reactions of those around her, it was clear that in Chang'an, there were quite a few women who, despite being daughters of respectable families, deliberately wore men's clothing.
He couldn't help but marvel at the openness and boldness of Chang'an's customs.
While lost in these thoughts, he was abruptly shoved aside by Mu Wan Yao, who snatched the poetry board from his hands: "Move aside!"
When Danyang Princess found someone blocking her path, it was only natural that all under heaven should make way.
Mu Wan Yao, holding Yan Shang's poetry board, didn't bother placing it in the modest, carefully chosen spot he had picked. Instead, she pushed her way into the crowd of talented scholars.
Yan Shang followed behind her: "My poem is rather ordinary, there's really no need to display it in such a prominent location..."
Mu Wan Yao retorted: "If your poem is ordinary, what are you doing in Chang'an? Trying your luck? I think you're hopeless. You should just go back to your rural Lingnan and farm the land."
Yan Shang sighed helplessly as he trailed after Mu Wan Yao. Noticing several scholars gathered nearby stepping back and nearly stepping on her, he quickly stepped forward and gently stopped one scholar's back with his hand, shielding Mu Wan Yao from being bumped.
Mu Wan Yao turned her head, her beautiful eyes slightly lowered and her cherry lips partly bitten, giving Yan Shang a coquettish, sidelong glance.
That gentle, watery gaze made Yan Shang's face grow warm. He quickly averted his eyes, coughing once to avoid her intense stare.
The scholar whom Yan Shang had stopped turned around and, upon seeing Yan Shang, greeted him first before noticing Mu Wan Yao in her men's attire. The scholar's eyes lit up: "Yan Suchen, who might this young lady be..."
Yan Shang cut off the other's suggestive speculation: "A friend, just a friend."
When he turned back, he saw that Mu Wan Yao had already disappeared into the crowd of scholars. Worried she might haphazardly place his poetry board somewhere inappropriate, he hurried after her again.
This time, Mu Wan Yao finally found the perfect spot. She seriously measured the position with the poetry board before hanging it right in the center of the wall at the ideal eye level, ensuring that anyone glancing at the wall would immediately see Yan Shang's masterpiece front and center.
Under the astonished gazes of those around them, the usually low-key Yan Erlang found himself in an uncharacteristically conspicuous situation. He covered his face with his sleeve and coughed violently.
Without even turning her head, Mu Wan Yao said: "If you're sick, go see a doctor. All this coughing, when will it end?"
"Now that you're in Chang'an, even if you think your poetry isn't great, you should carry yourself with confidence. If you don't believe in yourself, what can you possibly hope to achieve when you stand before the Emperor?"
Her words made perfect sense.
Yan Shang fell into thoughtful contemplation.
What made Mu Wan Yao superior to him was that no matter what she did, she always carried immense confidence.
As he watched the princess from behind, her small mouth chattering incessantly with not particularly pleasant remarks, Yan Shang found himself focusing only on how the sunlight fell upon her, highlighting her exquisitely delicate profile.
This bold and beautiful princess of Great Wei wore a black gauze headpiece covering her cloud-like hair bun, dressed in a round-collared robe with slits at the sides. Her delicate figure stood straight, with a belt adorned with small holes from which hung delicate threads bearing a small knife, sachet, jade pendant, and other ornaments.
She carried herself with such heroic grace and vibrant spirit.
When Mu Wan Yao turned back to show Yan Shang the perfect spot where she had hung his poetry board, she found him standing behind her, staring intently. His dark eyes shimmered like flowing water, their clear pupils reflecting her suddenly turned face and the somewhat triumphant smile that had blossomed upon it.Amid the flow of people, the two suddenly locked eyes.
Mu Wan Yao was momentarily stunned, then seemed to suddenly remember her status, annoyed at herself for going out of her way to help Yan Shang hang the poetry board. He didn’t even care himself.
She bit her lip, somewhat angry, her delicate face instantly darkening.
Without a word, she pushed Yan Shang aside and turned to leave.
Yan Shang was slightly taken aback. After briefly explaining the situation, he went after the princess—
He could have chosen not to chase her, pretending nothing had happened;
but if he didn’t, she would surely blame him later for not following her—
“Your Highness, Your Highness…” Yan Shang trailed behind Mu Wan Yao.
Mu Wan Yao stopped, her expression stern as she scolded, “What are you calling me? Can you shout that so carelessly in public?”
Yan Shang: “Then… Lady Mu?”
Mu Wan Yao: “Are we that distant?”
Yan Shang: “…”
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow, looking at him.
Yan Shang hesitated: “Yao Yao?”
As he expected, Mu Wan Yao was furious: “Are we that close?”
In short, nothing seemed right.
She was here to make things difficult.
But who was Yan Shang?
He was someone who could make everyone around him feel at ease and like him.
With the princess’s reprimand ringing in his ears, Yan Shang was neither embarrassed nor flustered. He lowered his gaze to look at her, his expression calm. Even as Mu Wan Yao turned away in displeasure, he continued to follow her, saying, “You’re in a bad mood. Did someone upset you?”
Mu Wan Yao: “How do you know someone upset me? Maybe I just find you annoying and am deliberately trying to provoke you?”
Yan Shang said gently, “Though you have a temper, you don’t lash out at people without reason. Someone must have upset you. If you can vent a little on me, then that’s my role.”
Mu Wan Yao’s face suddenly flushed.
She felt somewhat embarrassed by his words.
She was exactly the kind of person who would lash out without reason. But Yan Shang had polished her image, making her seem like a lovely princess who had suffered great grievances and could only vent through a little temper.
She wasn’t as good as he made her out to be.
He continued to follow her, the two of them walking leisurely through the temple, one in front and the other behind. The temple was filled with countless men and women strolling like them, but some couldn’t help but glance their way in admiration.
Ahead, the young woman dressed in men’s clothing was delicate and charming, while the young man following her kept his eyes lowered, refined and humble. A handsome man and a beautiful woman walking together always drew attention.
After a few words from Yan Shang, Mu Wan Yao fell strangely silent, too embarrassed to vent her anger on him. She thought, Forget it. With someone as even-tempered as Yan Shang, arguing with him is like punching cotton—no effect at all. Why tire myself out?
As she remained silent, Yan Shang observed her profile for a moment and repeated, “If someone has upset you, or if you have something troubling you, you can actually tell me. Perhaps I can help you think of a way to resolve it.”
Mu Wan Yao dismissed it: “You’re of low status, without any official position. What solution could you possibly think of?”
Yan Shang said, “Let’s try.”
His tone was calm and steady. Mu Wan Yao glanced back at him, remembering the few times he had offered advice back in Lingnan. Like with the White Ox Tea incident, he had led her in circles, and it wasn’t until her uncle pointed it out that she finally understood.Mu Wan Yao’s heart stirred slightly. If even her uncle expressed a desire to have Yan Shang as an advisor, perhaps Yan Shang truly excelled in this area?
She tilted her head, studying him for a moment, then leaned slightly toward herself, signaling him to come closer.
Yan Shang uttered a polite “Forgive my impropriety” and took a step forward, standing so close that their shoulders nearly touched.
Her shoulder bumped against his arm, and both stiffened momentarily before pretending nothing had happened.
They continued walking, with Yan Shang lowering his head to listen to her speak.
Willow branches brushed the water’s surface, and incense smoke curled lazily within the temple.
Yang Si, dragged along reluctantly by his sisters-in-law and cousins to stroll through Yongshou Temple, walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression blank as he trailed behind the women of his household. Suddenly, his sharp eyes narrowed as he spotted a young man and woman leaning against a wall and resting against a tree not far away.
Yang Si recognized Mu Wan Yao at a glance.
Even in her male attire.
But the young man beside her… wasn’t that Wei Shu?
Yang Si crossed his arms, watching the pair thoughtfully—
Mu Wan Yao was saying to Yan Shang, “…In short, the Crown Prince is dissatisfied with me helping Young Master Wei the Seventh. The Wei family doesn’t think highly of the Crown Prince. If Young Master Wei the Seventh enters the court, it’s highly likely he won’t side with the Crown Prince but will be drawn to my uncle’s faction instead.”
Yan Shang asked, “Why does the Wei family look down on the Crown Prince? Wouldn’t it be easier to work under him?”
Mu Wan Yao paused, then replied succinctly, “Because if my second brother hadn’t died young, the Crown Prince’s position wouldn’t belong to the current one. Prominent families who emphasize orthodox lineage naturally disdain the Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince holds the greater influence, and I personally think he’s quite good.
“The Crown Prince is bound to have a promising future, which is why the Li Family doesn’t object to my aligning with him. But because my mother, the Empress, clashed with the Emperor over the Li Family’s excessive influence, the Li Family no longer wishes to tie themselves too closely to the royal house.”
Yan Shang glanced at her.
He understood that Mu Wan Yao had chosen to side with the Crown Prince.
The current problem was that while Mu Wan Yao supported the Crown Prince, she was also entangled with the Jinling Li Clan. A single misstep could easily offend both sides.
By recommending Wei Shu, she had already planted a thorn in the Crown Prince’s side.
Seeing him remain silent, Mu Wan Yao impatiently nudged him. “Do you have any ideas? Don’t just listen to my information without giving me any analysis.”
Yan Shang snapped back to attention.
He smiled faintly.
Slowly, he said, “Actually, Your Highness, there is a way to avoid offending both the Crown Prince and the Li Family in this matter.”
Mu Wan Yao froze, looking up at him in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to actually come up with a solution.
Yan Shang continued, “Besides recommending Wei Shu, you could recommend a few more individuals to strengthen the Crown Prince’s faction.”
Mu Wan Yao thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t want to recommend anyone else. Prominent families already have their own allegiances. Few are like Wei Shu, who would choose their own side in the imperial examinations. Even if I recommend them, they won’t repay me in this regard later.”
Yan Shang explained, “It’s not about making them take sides. No one would commit so easily. It’s about showing the Crown Prince that you’ve taken a step back and made a concession.”
Mu Wan Yao stopped in her tracks, seeming to grasp his meaning. Yet, after a moment, she still rejected the idea. “Your method is sound, but dealing with scions of prominent families is truly troublesome. Once involved, it’s hard to extricate oneself. I’m already in enough trouble and don’t want to invite more.”Yan Shang seemed to have anticipated her response long ago. Unhurried and composed, he guided her step by step: "Then recommend scholars from humble backgrounds."
Mu Wan Yao scoffed: "If they're not from noble families, how many can truly stand out in the imperial examinations? How can I guarantee that someone I recommend will rise above thousands of other scholars? If he fails to pass, how do I prove my loyalty to the Crown Prince? Should I say 'I recommended him, but he was incompetent—I'm innocent'?"
Yan Shang smiled without speaking.
Suddenly, Mu Wan Yao understood.
She lifted her head and met his gaze.
Narrowing her eyes, she grabbed his sleeve fiercely: "The humble scholar you're referring to... is it you?"
Yan Shang smiled.
Mu Wan Yao widened her beautiful eyes, staring at him intently: "Just moments ago you couldn't even be bothered to properly hang a poetry board, and now you're manipulating me into recommending you?
"Are you genuinely offering me advice, or are you exploiting official matters for personal gain?"
Yan Shang retreated a step, leaning against a tree. Mu Wan Yao pressed closer, scrutinizing him.
Yan Shang smiled gently: "Didn't you just advise me to strive for advancement?"
Mu Wan Yao snorted derisively.
Her jade-white finger tapped twice against his chest: "Your attempt to submit literary works through Chancellor Zhang failed, didn't it?"
Yan Shang: "Mm."
Mu Wan Yao gloated: "I told you long ago—Chancellor Zhang doesn't get along with the chief examiner."
Yan Shang then helped her stand properly, creating some distance between them. He bowed deeply with folded hands and said softly: "Then I beg Your Highness to take pity on this humble scholar."
Mu Wan Yao remained silent.
As Yan Shang straightened up, she glanced behind him and suddenly changed expression, pulling him away: "Let's go!"
Yan Shang looked puzzled.
Mu Wan Yao urgently explained: "I think I saw an acquaintance. I don't want to meet him."
Hearing this, Yan Shang asked no further questions and followed Mu Wan Yao into the crowded area.
When Yang Si came to investigate, all he saw was Mu Wan Yao dragging the young man into the crowd before disappearing.
Yang Si clicked his tongue, knowing Mu Wan Yao must be avoiding him.
Hah, she's avoiding him?
He couldn't be bothered with her anyway.
Just then his cousin called out to him, so Yang Sanlang turned and left—
Mixed in the crowd with Yan Shang, aware of Yang Si's exceptional martial skills, Mu Wan Yao's heart pounded wildly. She didn't dare look back, fearing she might meet Yang Si's mocking gaze.
She didn't want to encounter Yang Si at this moment.
That Yang Si who only had the Crown Prince in his heart—if he saw her, he'd likely gossip about it to the Crown Prince later. And Mu Wan Yao absolutely didn't want her every move reported to the Crown Prince.
Mu Wan Yao didn't even know what queue she and Yan Shang had joined amidst the crowd. She had simply dragged him toward wherever people were gathered.
Distractedly worrying whether Yang Si had followed them, she suddenly felt Yan Shang nudge her arm. A young monk ahead chanted "Amitabha" and said: "Please draw lots, benefactors."
Mu Wan Yao turned back in surprise, realizing their turn had come in the queue.
On the table before them stood two bamboo containers filled with ivory tablets. The young monk was naturally asking them to draw lots.
Mu Wan Yao looked bewildered.
Yan Shang, reading her expression, explained: "It's like drawing fortune sticks—they call it 'reading tablets,' similar to fortune telling. Whether you believe it or not, just draw one or two casually so we don't hold up the people behind us."
Mu Wan Yao nodded.
Wasn't this the same mentality as Princess Consort Jin praying for a son?The young novice monk smiled and said, "Please silently think of your question in your hearts, then draw a lot from the bamboo tube. The lady takes from the left side, the gentleman from the right. What is written on the lot will naturally be the answer to what you have in mind."
Mu Wan Yao hadn't even properly worshipped the Buddha with her sister-in-law, so why would she believe in this?
She roughly understood that this was merely a scam to seek peace of mind.
People come to the temple seeking peace of mind—women pray for marriage, children, their husband's safety, and their family's well-being, while men ask about marriage, career prospects, or how many beautiful concubines they can marry. The words on the lots are nothing more than auspicious phrases, universally applicable no matter what you ask.
Mu Wan Yao had no intention of disrupting others' affairs.
She casually thought of a question about marriage in her heart: Let me see what this princess who doesn't want to marry will draw.
She drew an ivory tablet from the bamboo tube and glanced at it. Her hand gripping the tablet suddenly tightened. The tablet read:
"Fallen petals grieve the spring wind, cherish the one before you."
The one before you...
Holding the long tablet, Mu Wan Yao lifted her gaze in a daze, looking toward Yan Shang just a step away. Her strange eyes stared at him, scrutinizing him from head to toe. His profile was gentle, yet he remained silent.
Did Yan Shang's expression seem... similar to hers?
Yan Shang held his tablet, staring at it for a long time before lifting his eyes to meet Mu Wan Yao's gaze.
Yan Shang broke the silence: "Is yours... accurate?"
Mu Wan Yao let out a dry laugh: "Seems not very accurate."
Yan Shang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "Mine isn't either."
They both uttered a peaceful "oh," turned around, and placed the tablets back into the bamboo tube. But perhaps the contents of the tablets had affected them both, as they were somewhat absent-minded. Mu Wan Yao's right hand holding the tablet brushed against Yan Shang's left hand. Both shuddered, and the long tablets in their hands fell to the ground together.
They both crouched down to pick them up.
Mu Wan Yao picked up Yan Shang's tablet and caught a glimpse of the words on it:
"Purple robe with golden jade belt, first among all officials."
Mu Wan Yao tightened her grip on this long tablet.
A storm of shock surged in her heart.
She abruptly looked up at Yan Shang: Purple robe with golden jade belt, first among all officials... This is the Prime Minister's Tablet!
It's the Prime Minister's Tablet!
Was Yan Shang asking about his career prospects?
He drew the Prime Minister's Tablet?
Yan Shang picked up Mu Wan Yao's long tablet and saw "cherish the one before you." After a moment of silence, he looked at her: "What did you ask about?"
Mu Wan Yao's beautiful eyes met his.
She had originally asked about marriage, but after seeing Yan Shang's Prime Minister's Tablet, the topic they had half discarded was picked up again by Mu Wan Yao.
She had an idea in mind.
She smiled at Yan Shang: "I asked whether I should recommend you."
Cherish the one before you.
Princess Consort Jin had successfully prayed for a child here, and Yan Shang had drawn the Prime Minister's Tablet... This couldn't help but make Mu Wan Yao feel a subtle sense of belief in Yongshou Temple as well.
If he would truly become that powerful in the future... then if she helped him from the very beginning, he should repay her later.
Thinking of this, Mu Wan Yao's beautiful eyes sparkled. She grabbed Yan Shang and pulled him up.
She hastily threw the tablets in their hands to the young novice monk and dragged Yan Shang out of the crowd—
Returning to the backyard of the temple, familiar with the path, Mu Wan Yao pushed open the door to Yan Shang's humble dwelling. Yan Shang had been inexplicably dragged all the way back here by her and, before he could react, was forcefully pushed by the princess.
Yan Shang fell sitting behind the desk, looking up in astonishment as Mu Wan Yao leaned down toward him.He leaned back warily, testing the waters: "Your Highness, this is..."
As soon as he raised his hand, Mu Wan Yao seized it firmly.
Grasping his hand, her eyes fixed on him, she smiled brightly: "Didn't you want me to recommend you? I agree!"
Being the cautious man he was, Yan Shang noticed her sudden change in attitude and immediately declined with a smile: "There's no need..."
Mu Wan Yao: "I insist on recommending you. Do you dare stop me?"
Yan Shang: "...But I might not pass the imperial examination..."
Mu Wan Yao said gently: "It doesn't matter. It's just a try."
Yan Shang reminded her: "I won't take sides with the Crown Prince either."
Mu Wan Yao's smile grew more genuine as she said softly: "I don't mind."
She released his hand and caressed his face. She gazed at him tenderly, but not with the look one gives a lover—rather, with the excited expression of someone eyeing a pig about to be served at their table.
As a chill ran down Yan Shang's spine, she stroked his face and murmured to herself: "How come I never realized how handsome you are? With looks like yours, passing the exam should be easy indeed."
Yan Shang: "..."
He asked respectfully: "What does Your Highness mean?"
Mu Wan Yao shot him a coquettish glance, her eyes seductive as flowing waves, and said: "A beautiful young man like you is exactly what the central government favors. Don't you know? In officialdom, appearance matters quite a lot."
Yan Shang didn't know how to respond.
After a long pause, he could only say dryly: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao chuckled and said: "Alright, since I'm going to help you, let's start now. I'll tell you how to win the chief examiner's favor."
Yan Shang's face, slightly flushed from her teasing, turned serious as he said: "Please enlighten me, Your Highness."—
That night, Mu Wan Yao stayed at Yan Shang's humble abode for a long time.
Princess Consort Jin had long since left, unable to endure any longer. The maids waiting outside grew drowsy, and some, utterly exhausted, simply dozed off leaning against the carriage with their heads on their knees.
Meanwhile, inside the humble dwelling, a single lamp flickered like a bean.
The handsome young man sat under the lamplight, writing casually.
Mu Wan Yao, dressed in men's clothing, paced leisurely before him and said airily: "You say your poetry isn't good, but that's actually not a problem. When the chief examiner selects poetry, he isn't looking for literary excellence—he's checking if your verses carry an aura of jade halls and golden steeds.
"He wants to see if your poetry is lofty and majestic, with rich and ornate diction. To be honest, what can you newly appointed jinshi actually do? At first, it's just about flattering the court—writing poems that please my father the Emperor and sing his praises.
"The better you are at praising, the more the chief examiner will commend you. Tone down your humble demeanor and write as magnificently as you can. Practice how to compliment people—how to praise others subtly yet with lavish language.
"Oh, and when you go to take the exam at the Department of State Affairs, make sure to dress handsomely."
Mu Wan Yao mused dreamily: "Who knows? The chief examiner might be so taken with your looks that he names you 'Tanhualang'?"
Yan Shang coughed incessantly and poured himself some tea.
Mu Wan Yao shot him a glare, annoyed at his thin-skinned, unambitious nature.
After such exchanges, it grew very late before Mu Wan Yao finally left the temple. Her movements, naturally, struck those tracking her whereabouts as peculiar—
On the day of the imperial examination in mid-February, rain fell.
Yan Shang, Liu Wenji, Feng Xianyu, and others entered the Department of State Affairs together. As they closed their umbrellas, they noticed a carriage parked outside the courtyard gate, from which Wei Shu emerged holding an umbrella.The youth Wei Shu was as pure as floating snow, drawing the attention of all.
Yan Shang, along with the others, turned to look and saw the carriage curtain lift slightly. Through the rain-streaked veil, Mu Wan Yao glanced in their direction.
He abruptly averted his face.
Others thought she was watching Wei Shu, but Yan Shang knew she was watching him. She rarely expended such effort on him, and she was determined to see the results.
"Next."
It was Yan Shang's turn.
Yan Shang closed his umbrella and allowed himself to be searched. Nearby stood a civil official, watching the examinees with an expressionless face.
None of the candidates knew this was the newly appointed evaluation bureau vice director—the chief examiner for their current examination.
The chief examiner stood at the courtyard entrance observing them enter the examination grounds. Since no one recognized him, naturally no one attempted to curry favor.
When the examiner heard his subordinate announce the young man's name as "Yan Shang," his ears perked up as he recalled the submission of literary works Danyang Princess had sent over two days earlier.
He couldn't help but glance at Yan Shang, taking in the young man's tall stature, handsome features, and refined bearing that carried a touch of cool elegance. The rain soaking his robes didn't make him appear disheveled—instead, it enhanced his translucent aura.
The chief examiner paused momentarily, lost in thought: ...This must be the most handsome candidate this year, isn't he?
If his poetry and prose are reasonably good, then we'll name him the Tanhua.
Since the imperial examinations were established, the selection of Tanhua had always been based on appearance.
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