Yan Shisheng stepped out of the main house and walked a few paces along the eaves before spotting his anxious family huddled beneath the corner wall.
Beyond the fence gate, torchlights flickered like scattered stars amidst the pattering rain. Townsfolk and villagers holding umbrellas stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to glimpse the Yan residence now guarded by sentinels.
As Yan Shisheng emerged, his family hurried forward, fixing him with pleading eyes.
Yan Father, though middle-aged, carried himself with dignified elegance. He paced over with hands clasped behind his back, every inch the refined scholar. Yet upon reaching his son, he anxiously grasped the youth’s sleeve with slender fingers: "Erlang..."
Yan Shisheng gently disentangled his sleeve. "One moment."
Instead of comforting his family first, he turned toward the concerned crowd beyond the fence, offering a respectful bow of gratitude. Catching the village chief’s eye, he signaled that the household matter had been resolved and all was well.
Through the slanting drizzle, the young scholar’s clear voice carried: "...I shall visit personally to express thanks another day. My gratitude for our neighbors’ concern."
The village chief chuckled, "Think nothing of it—we barely lifted a finger. Still, seeing you return, we knew your family’s troubles must be settled. We lingered only for peace of mind. Since all is well, everyone may disperse."
Yan Shisheng bowed again.
The third Yan son boomed thunderously, "Second Brother, these are our own villagers! Must you stand on such tedious ceremony..."
Yan Shisheng shot him a glance, and the young man was instantly pulled aside by their youngest sister, who gestured for him not to burden their second brother further.
Only after the crowd dispersed did Yan Shisheng explain his conversation with Mu Wan Yao to his family.
Hearing they could remain in their home, Yan Father exhaled in relief, a smile breaking through his worried expression. Having dared not confront the occupiers himself, he’d waited for Erlang’s return to resolve the crisis.
The rest of the family nodded agreement. The third son muttered discontent about being relegated to side rooms, but under Yan Shisheng’s steady gaze, he swallowed his complaints.
Having stabilized the situation, Yan Shisheng turned to his youngest sister Yan Xiaozhou, speaking softly: "Little Sister, you’ll sleep alone tonight. Rise early tomorrow and retrieve the Lingxi Boluo we buried behind the rear gate last year. As a renowned Lingnan liquor, Lady Mu likely hasn’t tasted it. Brew it tomorrow to welcome her."
Yan Xiaozhou stared in astonishment.
Her clear eyes widening, she protested weakly, "But Lingxi Boluo is precious! I fermented it for a full year, saving it for Eldest Brother’s wedding. Why must we serve it to some stranger? She’s merely passing through!"
Yan Shisheng countered, "Even treasures must be used when occasion demands. This Lady Mu holds noble status—we must not offend her, but rather cultivate goodwill. As for the rest of you... never mind, I’ll handle this myself."
He shook his head, unwilling to risk his family’s interactions with the noblewoman.
The memory of kneeling maids filling the hall and Mu Wan Yao’s utter nonchalance still chilled him—such composure suggested one accustomed to constant obeisance. He couldn’t allow his family near her; a single misstep might bring disaster upon their household.
This matter required his personal attention.Yan Shisheng, having settled his thoughts, turned to Yan Dalang. "Eldest Brother, do you mind if I have Little Sister fetch the Lingxi Boluo wine?"
Yan Dalang, a man of imposing stature with the vigor of one who could hunt tigers barehanded, was the most robust among them. He trusted his second brother implicitly and immediately thumped his chest. "No trouble at all! Who knows when I'll manage to find you all a sister-in-law? Drink it if you must."
Yan Shisheng nodded in approval.
Only his third brother curled his lip in disdain. But given Yan Shisheng's authority in their household, the third brother dared not speak further—
At daybreak, behind the gold-embroidered silk bed curtains, Mu Wan Yao stirred awake. Maidservants stood outside the canopy holding her garments, drawing aside the drapes to reveal a slender young maiden whose raven hair cascaded to her ankles as she languidly emerged.
Her snow-white bare feet, crimson-painted nails gleaming like flower petals, trod upon the warm ground covering. The delicate translucence of her skin invited reverie.
As Mu Wan Yao seated herself, her maid Chunhua and several others approached to comb her hair and help her dress.
Suddenly, Mu Wan Yao caught a whiff of fragrance.
She frowned.
Before she could inquire, Chunhua—ever observant—explained while brushing her mistress's glossy black tresses: "It's the Yan family's youngest daughter brewing wine outside since dawn. She says her second brother instructed her to fetch some family treasure called Lingxi Boluo for you."
Mu Wan Yao blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Yan Erlang's casual remark last night about having his sister bring her homemade wine to be genuine.
Such a trivial promise, yet he hadn't deceived her.
Lowering her gaze to her slender, pale fingers, Mu Wan Yao chuckled softly.
Noting her mistress's ambiguous half-smile, Chunhua hesitantly suggested, "...I doubt this backwater Lingnan region produces any decent wine. If it displeases you, I'll send the Yan girl away."
Reclining against the cushioned divan, Mu Wan Yao shot her maid a disdainful glance.
"Lingxi Boluo from Lingnan," she drawled, "Sword South Spring Burn from Sichuan, and Wucheng Ruoxia among others—these are all renowned wines of our time. How amusing that you've reached Lingnan yet remain ignorant of its most famous vintage."
Chunhua offered an apologetic smile. "This humble maid is unlearned and common-born. How could I compare to your ladyship's erudition?"
Perhaps pleased by the flattery, Mu Wan Yao's lips curved upward.
A peony adornment graced her forehead, its hanging ornaments casting golden-green highlights against her rosy complexion—a vision of vibrant allure—
Yan Shisheng had left for the academy before dawn, braving the rain with his umbrella. Meanwhile, his youngest sister Yan Xiaozhou, ever obedient, had dug up the wine jars buried beneath the old tree at the back door while the sky was still ash-gray, spending the entire morning brewing as her second brother instructed.
Who could have anticipated their female guest's lofty airs? When Yan Xiaozhou arrived bearing the wine jar to offer a drink, the guest's maid intercepted her at the doorway, coldly stating, "The lady hasn't awakened. Wait here."
Though resentful, the timid Yan Xiaozhou saw the guards swarming their residence and dared not protest, resigning herself to waiting with bottled frustration.
After standing so long in the corridor that her feet grew numb, a maid finally opened the door and summoned her inside.
Keeping her distance, Yan Xiaozhou found herself inexplicably positioned in the lower hall, bewildered as to why she should await summons like a servant. As she pondered this confusion, Mu Wan Yao finally emerged, stepping forth in her upturned-toe slippers.Yan Xiaozhou opened the wine jar and gestured for the maid to pour. She hadn't just brought wine—unpacking a food container, she also presented a bowl of fragrant, soft cheese curd.
Her voice was light and sweet as she deftly arranged the dishes: "Madam just woke up—drinking on an empty stomach isn't good. I've prepared some lychee cheese for you, hoping it suits your taste."
Mu Wan Yao sat down, propping her chin in her hand as she watched the lively youngest daughter of the Yan family at work. With a faint, ambiguous smile, she asked, "Who told you to prepare cheese?"
Yan Xiaozhou lowered her head and murmured, "My second brother said you come from the Central Plains and might not be used to our local food. He mentioned northerners often eat dairy, and since lychees are plentiful here but rare up north, combining them might make a breakfast you'd enjoy."
As she spoke, the maid returned to Mu Wan Yao's side with the dish.
Mu Wan Yao reached out, pinched a bit of the cheese, and brought it to her lips. The delicate curd melted instantly on her tongue like flowing cream, while the fruity fragrance of lychee balanced out the natural tang of the cheese. It was truly soft and delightful.
She took another sip of wine.
Thoughtfully, she remarked, "This wine doesn't taste like just Lingxi Boluo."
Yan Xiaozhou was taken aback, now believing what her second brother had said—this lady truly came from noble origins, having even tasted Lingxi Boluo before.
Even though Lingnan produced this wine, it wasn't something ordinary people could afford. Their family had only stored this one jar, and they cherished it dearly when drinking it themselves. Yet this lady could discern its authenticity.
Yan Xiaozhou explained, "My second brother said with the recent continuous rain and your days of travel, you might be fatigued. He had me add some red dates to the wine to help clear your mind and nourish your spleen."
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
The maid Chunhua: "..."
Chunhua felt somewhat bewildered and a hint of unease. This Yan family's second brother was being too attentive, taking over tasks that should belong to the maids. Would the princess think they were incompetent?
Mu Wan Yao took another sip of wine.
She scoffed, "Who needs to clear their mind and nourish their spleen? Some country bumpkin is really going overboard."
Yan Xiaozhou grew slightly angry. Despite her fear of this lady, she mustered the courage to lift her head and retort, "You can't speak of my second brother like that!"
Her eyes blazing, the Yan family's youngest daughter's somewhat delicate features now radiated with vibrant spirit.
Mu Wan Yao let out a light laugh.
Lazily, she asked, "Why doesn't your second brother come serve me himself?"
Hearing the lady imply her brother was there to serve others, Yan Xiaozhou grew even angrier. As she prepared to argue back, she met Mu Wan Yao's sparkling, perceptive gaze. Fine shards of ice seemed hidden behind that smile.
Yan Xiaozhou shivered, her voice softening again. "...My second brother has gone to school."
Mu Wan Yao gave a faint "oh," somewhat bored, and pushed aside the cheese and light wine on the table.
She wasn't one to indulge excessively in food or drink.
She simply lacked interesting people to amuse her—
The rain continued to fall.
The Yan family tread carefully, fearing that Lady Mu Wan might cause more trouble.
But she didn't. Since Yan Xiaozhou had delivered the wine to Mu Wan Yao in the morning, the lady hadn't ventured out. Apart from the added maids and guards in the courtyard making everyone nervous, nothing else happened at home.
In the afternoon, Yan Shisheng asked for leave from school and returned home. He had already taken several days off—partly because the esteemed guest at home was difficult to deal with, and partly because the rainy weather made travel inconvenient. He decided it was better to study at home rather than go to school.When Yan Shisheng returned home, he learned from his family that Lady Mu hadn't sought further conversation with them, nor had she even stepped outside her door. Relieved by this news, Yan Shisheng considered the situation and concluded that maintaining distance and avoiding disturbance was for the best.
After reassuring his family and directing them to resume their respective duties—some to martial practice, others to studies—Yan Shisheng retrieved a book from his satchel, intending to focus on his reading. Yet, anxiety gnawed at him. Each year, by the end of the season, the local and provincial authorities would select qualified students to send to Chang'an for the imperial examinations held early the following year—a crucial step toward attaining the prestigious jinshi degree. However, he had already failed to secure such a recommendation for three consecutive years. Now in his fourth attempt, uncertainty loomed over his prospects.
Pushing aside these distracting thoughts, Yan Shisheng unrolled the scroll, ready to immerse himself in study. But as he glanced down, he noticed the dim, gloomy light in the side room made the characters difficult to decipher. Hesitating briefly, he decided against wasting candles during daylight hours. Instead, he rolled up the scroll and ventured out into the rain-drenched corridor, seeking a suitable spot to read.
Seated under the eaves, with the gentle patter of rain as his backdrop, Yan Shisheng contentedly opened the Book of Documents. Just then, his younger sister Yan Xiaozhou stealthily approached, complaining about the intimidating lady and anxiously asking Yan Shisheng when she would finally leave—
Meanwhile, Mu Wan Yao sat upright by the window, positioned before a chessboard, engaged in a solitary game. Boredom soon gave way to drowsiness, and she began to nod off, her head gently bumping against the window frame as she drifted toward sleep.
The maids, observing their princess through the curtain, exchanged hushed remarks but dared not approach to inquire if she wished to rest.
In her drowsy state, Mu Wan Yao dreamed of riding a horse through a forest of stone steles, the sweeping wind rustling her robes. Galloping freely, she felt an exhilarating release, casting off the gloom in her heart. Her white steed reared with a triumphant neigh, and the princess glanced back at the abandoned steles and the vast army left behind. A smug smile touched her lips, but before she could taunt her pursuers, she suddenly plummeted—her horse misstepping, sending her tumbling from a great height...
"Thump!" Mu Wan Yao's head struck the chessboard.
The sharp sound startled the maids.
Eyes snapping open, Mu Wan Yao hitched up her skirts, stepped onto the chessboard, and leaned out the window, eavesdropping on the deliberately hushed conversation outside—the very disturbance that had jolted her from her dream.
The maids watched their princess's unrefined posture with exchanged glances and peculiar expressions—
"Smack!"
Yan Shisheng, seated on the steps and quietly urging his sister not to speak carelessly, was abruptly showered from behind by a bowl of chess pieces flung through the opened window. The pieces rained down like hailstones, nearly striking him dead.
It was nothing short of attempted murder.
The Yan siblings scrambled to their feet, with Yan Shisheng shielding his sister in his embrace. As the chess pieces clattered against him, he gritted his teeth and endured, turning to see Mu Wan Yao gazing out the window, her eyes lifted.
A light rain brushed his face, carrying a faint, lingering fragrance.
She smiled. "Were you asking when I plan to leave?"
Yan Shisheng responded immediately, "I'm afraid there's been some misunderstanding..."
Mu Wan Yao chuckled warmly. "No misunderstanding at all. I overheard your wish for me to depart sooner. I had intended to leave tomorrow, but now I've decided to extend my stay. Yan Shisheng, you'll have to endure my torment a while longer. Aren't you upset?"
Yan Shisheng: ...
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