Yan Shang's problem was actually not difficult to discern.
Initially, when Mu Wan Yao was pressed down by him and they sat together in the rain, she felt utterly helpless because he was unconscious. However, after the Princess Residence's attendants brought Yan Shang back to the residence and the young master lay on the bed barely breathing, Mu Wan Yao stood by the bedside and glanced at him a few times—then she understood what was happening.
His body was burning with fever, his entire handsome face flushed beyond recognition. Mu Wan Yao lifted the blanket and glanced down toward his lower abdomen, a faint smirk curling at the corner of her lips.
The other maids standing behind the princess were both horrified and blushing at Yan Erlang's condition, while also growing increasingly anxious.
Following the princess out of the room and closing the door, the maids worriedly said to her, "Your Highness, isn't The Eldest Princess too cruel? How could she administer such a potent drug to Erlang?"
They indignantly added, "Erlang has always been upright and proper. If he were to comply with Her Highness's intentions, his reputation would truly be ruined."
They looked pleadingly at Mu Wan Yao: "Your Highness, what should we do?"
Mu Wan Yao gazed into the empty space and said, "Isn't Wei Shu wandering around the palace? Send someone on horseback to inform him immediately—tell him to stop wandering and go straight into the palace to fetch a physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Say... say that I am unwell and need them to send someone quickly."
One of the maids curtsied and hurried out to carry out the princess's orders.
Mu Wan Yao walked along the corridor.
She had just returned from outside and had removed her face-covering veil, but she hadn't yet changed her clothes. At this moment, Mu Wan Yao's garments were still somewhat damp, less splendid than her usual attire, but they had the advantage of being light and agile.
Lost in thought, she took a couple of steps before turning back to look at the other maids still following her: "Why are you still following me?"
After exchanging glances, the maids sent a representative to cautiously address Her Highness: "Your Highness, if we send someone to fetch Young Master Wei the Seventh, wait for him to enter the palace and find a physician, and then wait for the physician to return... it will take a long time. Erlang might... might... possibly be pushed beyond his limits."
Mu Wan Yao said, "That is his fate."
After speaking, she fell silent.
Then she hesitated slightly.
She had already saved Yan Shang... The thought that her negligence might actually cause his death made her somewhat uneasy.
As a woman, she didn't fully understand how powerful a man's desires could be. Yet she knew that the male anatomy often defied rational control. Their emotions and physicality could sometimes operate independently.
Men's infatuation with women was something they often couldn't control themselves.
Mu Wan Yao thought, Yan Shang probably couldn't control it either, could he?
Even if he aspired to be a saint, he was ultimately not one.
If she left him unattended like this, he might truly be driven to his limit... Mu Wan Yao slowly said, "Find two bold and attractive maids to go in. He's unconscious and immobile—don't... let him suffer."
The maids were stunned, never expecting Her Highness to say such a thing after her contemplation.
Her Highness actually wanted maids to attend to Yan Erlang...
Mu Wan Yao said no more and quickly walked away, leaving the maids behind. Returning to her bedchamber, she first changed her clothes and combed her hair, while another maid went to fill the bathtub and prepare for the princess's bath.
During the wait, Mu Wan Yao sat on her couch, drinking cup after cup of water, her mind restless and disturbed.
The more she drank, the more unsettled she became.Her mind uncontrollably drifted to the image of Yan Shang’s flushed face, lying weak and breathless in her arms.
Then she thought of the beautiful maidservants, blushing as they boldly untied his collar, kissing him, embracing him…
Mu Wan Yao found it unbearable. With a sharp “bang,” she smashed her teacup, startling the maidservants attending her. They turned to look at the princess, noticing the spilled tea and stains on the ground covering, only to see Mu Wan Yao abruptly rise, pull open the door, and stride out.
“Your Highness!” the maidservants called out, following her.
Mu Wan Yao pushed open the door to the room where Yan Shang lay. Inside, a refreshing, mood-soothing cold incense burned. Two maidservants were crouched beside the bed, about to reach out toward the young master on the bed.
The curtain was yanked aside, a gust of wind sweeping in. A slender, pale wrist reached from behind, firmly pressing down the hand of the maidservant who was about to touch Yan Shang’s arm.
The force was so heavy that the maidservant burst into tears on the spot.
The two maidservants turned around in alarm, only to see the frost-faced princess, Her Highness.
Mu Wan Yao’s voice was icy: “Do not touch him!”
The maidservants stammered, “B-but… Erlang is fading fast.”
Mu Wan Yao cast a glance toward the bed and saw that, aside from the deep flush, the young man’s face had taken on a grayish, ashen pallor. His forehead was drenched in sweat, his sleep restless, his body trembling faintly from time to time…
Unable to bear the sight, Mu Wan Yao averted her gaze and repeated, “Do not touch him.”
She first escorted the maidservants who were concerned about Yan Shang out of the room. As she fretted over how to explain the situation, a panicked maidservant rushed in from outside: “Your Highness, Your Highness! Young Master Wei the Seventh has returned!”
At these words, Mu Wan Yao froze.
The maidservant explained with a tearful face: “I had just sent someone to look for Young Master Wei the Seventh when he returned on his own…”
Thinking of Wei Shu, Mu Wan Yao suddenly had an idea.
She instructed the maidservants, “Do not tell Ju Yuan about Yan Shang’s condition inside. If he finds out I intended to send you in to attend to Yan Shang, he’ll argue with me again, saying I’m humiliating people.”
The maidservants nodded silently.
Mu Wan Yao then scolded the tearful maidservant who had reported Wei Shu’s return: “Why the panic? Since he’s back, send him out again. Just because he just returned doesn’t mean we shouldn’t summon the medical officer, does it?”
The maidservants, having received their orders, hurried off to their respective tasks.
Thus, Wei Shu, anxious and worried about Yan Shang’s condition, had rushed back only to be sent out again before even catching a glimpse of the princess or Yan Erlang.
After instructing the maidservants to prepare some broth and await the medical officer, Mu Wan Yao dispatched all the attendants around her. She paced outside the room for a moment, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby.
Gritting her teeth, Mu Wan Yao pushed the door open and entered.
She closed the door as if feeling guilty, afraid the maidservants might wonder why she had gone inside. Quickly stepping forward, she lifted the bed curtain and sat at the edge of the bed, leaning over to gently pat Yan Shang’s face as he lay unconscious.
She called out twice: “Yan Er? Yan Shang? Yan Shang… You can’t hear anything from outside anymore, can you?”
Leaning closer, she struggled to lift him into an embrace. His scorching body pressed against hers, his rapid heartbeat making Mu Wan Yao’s own heart race like a thief’s.
She took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face. He leaned weakly against her shoulder, utterly listless, his breath faint.
Mu Wan Yao murmured to herself, “I can’t hand you over to another woman. You’ve only just managed to leave my aunt’s side, and even in this state, you haven’t touched a woman. If I were to casually give you away, wouldn’t that go against your will?”She gazed at the flowing floral patterns on the bed canopy and murmured softly, "You collapsed right after seeing me. That means you've entrusted yourself to me... Even if I didn't want to care for you, your trust in me makes it impossible for me to harm you."
In a low voice, she added, "The medical officer won't arrive for quite some time. I won't allow anyone else to touch you... So I can only help relieve your discomfort myself. I hope you won't remember any of this when you wake up."
"Let's go our separate ways afterward, each minding our own business. Is that alright?"
As she spoke these words, a shimmering light seemed to flicker in her eyes, misty and indistinct.
Though she knew rationally that cutting ties with this person was the right decision, and believed she could do it when he wasn't around—after all, her memory was poor and she loved no one—when she held him sitting on the couch, when she embraced his shoulders, when she lowered her head to press her forehead against his and saw his face... a bleak feeling still rose in her heart, accompanied by overwhelming reluctance.
He was such a good person, caring toward everyone... So why couldn't he be the best to her?
Mu Wan Yao suppressed her emotions, tightening her grip on the handkerchief. She closed her eyes, unable and unwilling to look further. Through the cloth, she pulled open his collar and loosened his belt.
The handkerchief covered him, pressed against his skin, while her hand worked on the other side, clutching the fabric.
He couldn't control his ragged breathing... The sounds reached Mu Wan Yao's ears, making her closed eyelids tremble and her cheeks flush uncontrollably.
She couldn't resist opening her eyes for a glance.
Then immediately shut them again quickly.
Her hands continued their work, letting the burning heat consume them—
Mu Wan Yao remained inside for a long time. The maids outside heard intermittent, hoarse masculine panting. They stood like wooden statues, not daring to speculate or ask questions.
About half an hour later, when Wei Shu returned through the rain, a maid finally gathered the courage to call inside: "Your Highness, the medical officer has arrived."
After a long pause, when the young man's panting ceased, they heard the princess's lazy, slightly husky voice: "Have someone come in to burn incense. Open the windows for a while before letting the medical officer enter."
A maid asked blankly, "But isn't Erlang ill? Is opening the windows advisable?"
Mu Wan Yao said coldly, "He's already in this state. What difference does opening windows make now?"
Hearing the trace of embarrassed anger in the princess's voice, the maids immediately fell silent.
A while later, Mu Wan Yao finally emerged from the room.
The maids stole glances and saw that while she maintained her usual elegant appearance, Mu Wan Yao's face now glowed like peach blossoms, with dewy moisture gathering in her eyes.
Mu Wan Yao asked for a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and the maids hurriedly presented one. Yet even after cleaning her hands, she still frowned, showing clear disgust and resentment.
She finally said, "Take Wei Juyuan to care for Yan Erlang. Since it's late, let Ju Yuan rest at the residence. I'm going to bathe—don't disturb me tonight for any reason. Also, have the medical officer stay here overnight. Tell him... the rainy night makes the roads slippery, and I'm concerned for the elder's safety, so he shouldn't return to the palace."
Princess Danyang turned and left without even meeting the medical officer. Everyone thought how willful and cold-hearted the princess was, to abandon Yan Erlang like this... But she was the princess after all—what could they say?—
The medical officer summoned to the Princess Residence hadn't been invited in vain.In the first half of the night, the physician administered acupuncture to Yan Shang, finally allowing him to fall asleep. During the latter half, the maidservants woke the physician again, reporting that Yan Erlang had developed a high fever.
Stroking his beard, the physician expressed understanding. After all, with both being drugged and drenched in the rain... fever was to be expected.
Moreover, this young gentleman's endurance was truly remarkable—he had held out for so long... but eventually, his body could bear no more. Youthful recklessness indeed.
The physician didn't inquire why this drugged youth was at the Danyang Princess Residence. As a palace physician, he naturally understood that some matters were better left unasked; focusing solely on treatment ensured his safety.
The next day, Wei Shu came to check on Yan Shang, who remained unconscious, though the ashen pallor of death had vanished from his face.
Mu Wan Yao urged Wei Shu to return to his studies, not wanting him to linger at her residence and tarnish her reputation. Wei Shu was surprised she had any reputation to speak of, but ultimately, Mu Wan Yao drove him out of the residence and sent him off to the Institute for the Advancement of Literature.
Mu Wan Yao initially intended to move Yan Shang out of her Princess Residence and relocate him across the street. However, the physician advised against it, stating that Yan Shang's condition was unstable and he should not be moved lightly. When Mu Wan Yao suggested discarding him outright, her attendants pleaded with her not to be so heartless...
Mu Wan Yao fell silent, resenting Yan Shang's popularity while reluctantly allowing him to recuperate in her Princess Residence.
Then, annoyed by the maidservants constantly checking if Yan Erlang had awakened, she took over the task of feeding him medicine herself.
Thus, in the eyes of everyone, Mu Wan Yao personally cared for the ailing Yan Erlang, daily administering medicine and inquiring after his condition... Her Highness treated Yan Erlang with such distinct favor.
Unfortunately, after merely two days of attentive care, Mu Wan Yao herself fell ill, throwing the Princess Residence into chaos—
Chunhua was unaware of the events that had transpired with Yan Shang at The Eldest Princess's place or his convalescence at the Danyang Princess Residence.
Chunhua had requested leave from the princess early on to visit her relatives.
In her childhood, her family had met with misfortune, and she became a government slave. By chance, she ended up serving the Danyang Princess. The Danyang Princess was a kind mistress to her maidservants, and over the years, Chunhua gradually reunited with her family.
Her father had already passed away from illness, but her mother was still alive; she had an elder brother who spent his days stealing and loafing, devoid of ambition.
This brother had also taken a wife, and the couple frequently quarreled and fought. Thanks to Chunhua's occasional financial support, her brother's family managed to live comfortably.
Originally, when Chunhua accompanied the princess for the Peace Marriage, her family thought they would never see her again. They wept bitterly, sold their house in Chang'an, gave the proceeds to Chunhua for her journey, and then left the capital in despair.
Now that Chunhua had returned, her family observed that the princess she served was unlikely to be sent for another Peace Marriage, meaning Chunhua would probably not leave again.
After discussing it, the family decided to move back to Chang'an, where they could visit Chunhua regularly.
Chunhua was deeply moved.
Her brother was a dissolute idler, and her sister-in-law was shrewd and fierce. Yet, her brother and sister-in-law had cared for her mother all these years, and when her future seemed bleak, they had even given her their family's savings.
Her family had their flaws, but these were merely the common vices of the lower classes. Once their circumstances improved, they would gradually mend their ways.
And Chunhua, too, needed her family by her side.This time when she left the Princess Residence, Chunhua was going to help her elder brother and sister-in-law build a house. Though it was called helping, her only contribution was providing money.
Her sister-in-law was usually fierce, and her nephew mischievous, but upon seeing Chunhua, they became exceedingly attentive, not allowing her to do any work or touch any household chores.
Her sister-in-law said, "Our Chunhua serves the princess! At the Princess Residence, she enjoys good food and fine clothes without doing rough work. How could she come back to her own home and labor? Chunhua, you rest properly. We'll handle these matters."
Feeling extremely embarrassed, Chunhua could only help her brother and sister-in-law take care of her nephew and niece for a few days.
However, on this day, while walking along the rural ridges with her two young relatives, Chunhua encountered an old acquaintance.
That acquaintance was riding in a carriage, seated upright like all noble figures, putting on a show of caring for the common people. But when he looked closely from the carriage, he saw a beautiful young woman standing in the fields, her sleeves fluttering in the wind.
He paused, emerged from the carriage, and exclaimed in surprise, "Chunhua?"
Chunhua turned around, momentarily stunned before curtsying: "Your Highness, Prince Jin."
She asked, "Why has Your Highness come here?"
Prince Jin sighed: "I oversee the Ministry of Works. Recently, the Crown Prince ordered the ministry to construct waterwheels, so I had to personally come to the countryside to survey potential locations."
He gazed at Chunhua and said, "Fortunately, I came. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known I'd see you here. Why are you here? Could it be that Danyang girl actually came here to play?"
Chunhua politely responded to His Highness, and because Prince Jin was present, she had to lead her nephew and niece, following the prince as he walked through the countryside, answering his questions about the local terrain and soil.
Prince Jin glanced at Chunhua from time to time, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Among the six ministries under the Department of State Affairs, the Ministry of Works was actually the weakest. After all, the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants had been established since ancient times, and scholars had never held the Ministry of Works in high regard. Only those with little status or prospects were assigned to the Ministry of Works.
Prince Jin's oversight of the Ministry of Works was also because his two elder brothers were locked in such intense rivalry that he couldn't intervene, leaving him no choice but to languish in the ministry. Who would have thought that such a dull ministry would allow him to encounter Lady Chunhua again... Prince Jin felt a stirring in his heart.
His temperament was gentle and somewhat soft, but however soft, he was still a man. Now, meeting Chunhua in the countryside felt like fate, and he was determined not to let this opportunity slip away.
That evening, Chunhua reluctantly brought Prince Jin to her brother and sister-in-law's home for dinner.
Prince Jin's amiable and gentle demeanor eased much of the family's fear. During the meal, his constant glances toward Chunhua made the family thoughtful...
After dinner, Chunhua was compelled to sit outside with Prince Jin to converse. Her sister-in-law, washing dishes in the courtyard, said to her husband, "That Prince Jin seems to fancy our Chunhua. If this works out, and Chunhua enters Prince Jin's residence as his consort, wouldn't that be a much brighter future than serving as a maid to a princess?"
Her husband hesitated and said, "But..."
The sister-in-law continued, "Chunhua is literate, cultured, and beautiful. Look around—who among the people we know is worthy of your sister? We'd only be letting her be mistreated for no reason. Since that's the case, why not form a marriage alliance with Prince Jin? I think Prince Jin is kind and amiable, very well-mannered."
Her husband asked, "But this matter isn't for us to decide..."The sister-in-law chuckled, "Let's slip them some knockout drug and lock the two in a room. I don't believe Prince Jin wouldn't take a liking to our little sister. By dawn, she'll be entering the prince's residence!"
The husband asked, "Where would we get knockout drugs?"
The sister-in-law replied, "Remember when Mother-in-law sprained her foot and was afraid of the pain? That wandering physician gave us a packet of knockout drugs. Don't worry, it'll be fine. Chunhua will thank us."
The husband hesitated for a long while but ultimately couldn't resist his wife. And when he considered that if his sister became part of Prince Jin's inner household, their family would become the prince's in-laws... it truly seemed like a good thing...
Seeing him nod, his wife immediately stopped washing dishes, wiped her hands, and went to find the drugs to arrange this "wonderful affair."
Once greed takes root in a person's heart, they become susceptible to temptation and will inevitably convince themselves they're doing the right thing—
At Danyang Princess Residence.
After two days drifting between consciousness and feverish dreams, Yan Shang's fever finally broke, allowing him to rise from his sickbed.
The awakened Yan Erlang remained as gentle and refined as ever, politely inquiring from the maids about the current situation.
The maids greatly admired Yan Erlang's temperament after he regained consciousness, and they eagerly recounted everything that had happened since he collapsed on the road and was brought to the residence by the princess.
Having just awakened, Yan Shang still sat on the bed with his hair half-unbound. Strands clung to his face, and after his serious illness, his features appeared much more gaunt.
The young man's robes hung loosely about him, and when he rose gracefully, he resembled an immortal being—even more striking than usual.
Yan Shang asked, "Did Your Highness... fall ill from taking care of me?"
The maids replied, "Yes. But it's nothing serious. Her Highness only feels slightly dizzy and will recover after two days of medicine."
Yan Shang asked, "May I visit Her Highness?"
The maids exchanged glances for a long moment before succumbing to Yan Shang's clear and luminous presence. They nodded, "...Her Highness is asleep. Young Master may just take a look. Please don't do anything else, or Her Highness will blame us when she wakes."
Yan Shang said gently, "Ladies, rest assured. I still understand propriety and won't cause you any trouble."
The maids blushed and said, "We naturally trust Young Master's character. We also hope Young Master can help improve Her Highness's temper... We're afraid she'll find reasons to scold us after waking."
Yan Shang nodded.
He remained as elegant as jade, radiant and distinguished. Compared to the critically ill Yan Erlang during his unconscious state, everyone naturally preferred this version of him—courteous and considerate to all.
After returning to his adjacent residence to change clothes and freshen up, Yan Shang returned to the princess residence.
Living nearby had this advantage—just through a few gates, and he could see her.
Yan Shang knocked on the outer door, but there was no response from within. He pushed open the door himself and entered the princess's bedchamber, sitting by her bedside and leaning over to look at the still-sleeping young princess.
Yan Shang gazed down at her and called softly, "Your Highness?"
Mu Wan Yao was truly asleep, quiet and well-behaved, lying on her side with her head pillowed on her arm, her dark hair spread across the bed. Yan Shang reached out and pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. Finding no fever, he felt slightly relieved.
Thus Yan Shang sat by her bedside lost in thought, simply watching her.
He examined her intently, examining his relationship with Mu Wan Yao, examining the series of scenes that constituted their friendship.
That day, he had stubbornly struggled back to his residence and encountered Mu Wan Yao outside the gates. His mind was already hazy then, and when he collapsed... he actually felt he was safe.
And indeed, she had saved him.She had gone to the Eldest Princess’s residence to demand his release, and afterward, instead of abandoning him, she had brought him back to the Princess Residence. Yan Shang had no memory of what had happened during the days he was unconscious, but he at least knew that Mu Wan Yao had fallen ill because she had been caring for him.
Because of him.
But why?
For someone like him who aspired to become a sage, it was understandable to help others without reason. Seeing someone collapse and offering assistance... this was something only Yan Shang would do.
This was not something Mu Wan Yao would do.
Why on earth was she treating him this way?
Yan Shang slowly reached out, placing his hand over Mu Wan Yao's, looking down at it intently.
Yan Shang whispered: "My connection with Your Highness is partly because you are truly lively and lovely, and partly because of ambition and interests.
"My decision not to sever ties with Your Highness, not to become enemies, is partly because I sympathize with Your Highness's difficulties, and partly because I'm unwilling to give up the benefits of our association.
"Even when I treat Your Highness well, it comes with utilitarian intentions. Yet Your Highness... why do you help me time and again, treat me well repeatedly?
"Such great kindness from Your Highness - how could I ever repay it?"
Holding her hand, he murmured to himself, his emotions already somewhat unstable. Otherwise, someone as meticulous as him would never pull someone's hand at a sickbed and pour out his heart.
His innermost thoughts were something he would normally never voice.
As Yan Shang gazed at Mu Wan Yao in a daze, he noticed her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
She was probably about to wake up.
Yan Shang discreetly moved his hand away, no longer holding hers. He then straightened her blanket and brushed aside the long hair scattered across her face.
In the dimly lit tent, when Mu Wan Yao opened her eyes, she saw Yan Shang sitting by her bedside.
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
He sat quietly watching her, so calm that Mu Wan Yao was momentarily bewildered, wondering when their relationship had become so close... that he would actually sit by her bedside.
Because Yan Shang was too composed, Mu Wan Yao didn't react immediately. When he helped her sit up, she actually obediently let him assist her, sitting there dazed and quiet.
Yan Shang looked down at her and said: "Your Highness fell ill while taking care of me, so I came to check on you."
Mu Wan Yao blinked, understanding the current situation.
She immediately turned her face away from him and said indifferently: "Now that you've seen me, you can leave. Since you've recovered from your illness, there's no need to sit here with me."
Yan Shang looked at her and said slowly: "Your Highness's health doesn't seem very good - you fall ill quite easily."
Just like before in Lingnan, after walking through the forest for just one day while everyone else was fine, only she had succumbed to miasma and collapsed.
And now it was happening again.
She had only taken care of him for two days before falling ill.
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him in surprise, never expecting he would notice such trivial matters that others overlooked. But then she remembered - this was Yan Shang after all. With his meticulous and abundant attention to detail, discovering such things wasn't difficult for him.
Even though since her return from the Peace Marriage, aside from Yan Shang, no one else had noticed this problem.
Mu Wan Yao dismissed it casually: "Just some old ailments, nothing serious."
Yan Shang said gently: "Then Your Highness should rest properly."
Mu Wan Yao was growing annoyed.
His mere presence here was affecting her; his soft-spoken voice irritated her; even his long eyelashes when he lowered his eyes reminded her of that night when he leaned against her shoulder in his vulnerable state... She really couldn't stand any of it.Mu Wan Yao began shooing him away: "What business is it of yours? Must you continue this insincere, hypocritical act? Aren't you tired of behaving like this all day? I acknowledge your kindness and understand completely. Please leave quickly and go rest."
Yan Shang watched her silently.
After a long pause, he said: "Your Highness seems unwilling to see me lately. Have I done something wrong?"
Mu Wan Yao said: "No. You're perfectly fine."
Yan Shang murmured softly: "How could I compare to Your Highness?"
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
She couldn't help turning to look at him. Seeing his gaze fixed on her, she felt a chill run down her spine and said: "Are you feeling alright? You actually think I'm better than you? Just ask anyone what they think of us, and don't say such laughable things again."
Yan Shang smiled faintly.
He said: "Actually, this serious illness has given me much to reflect upon. There are some things I wish to tell Your Highness."
He glanced at her.
Mu Wan Yao immediately stiffened, sensing from that look that he was about to say something frightening.
Yan Shang said: "I haven't treated Your Highness well enough before. I intend to change that from now on. Please grant me this opportunity."
Mu Wan Yao watched him lean in, watched him take her hand. She was completely stunned by him, could only stare dumbly into his eyes, her heart racing uncontrollably—
This demeanor of his.
Gentle as water, gaze filled with emotion.
Was he going to confess his feelings to her?
Could it be that because she cared for him for two days, he was so moved he wanted to pledge himself to her?
No, there's no need for such courtesy, no need to treat people so well!—
Yan Shang held her hand and said warmly: "Before, I never paid Your Highness enough attention, seeing you merely as a friend I'd met a few more times than others. I also hesitated inwardly, unwilling to bear the reputation of courting a princess, so I always deliberately maintained distance from Your Highness, perhaps indirectly hurting you."
Mu Wan Yao maintained an expressionless face, suppressing the panic in her heart—
He was really confessing.
Her heart pounded, her face flushed crimson. She wanted to refuse, yet wanted to hear what he would say. She wanted to pull her hand away, yet couldn't bear to.
Torn with conflict, her gaze toward him became indescribably complex.
Yan Shang said: "But things will be different from now on. In the past, when I helped Your Highness, it was out of a sense of duty. From now on, when I help Your Highness, besides duty, there will also be friendship."
Mu Wan Yao misheard "friendship" as "affection."
Her face was already completely red, her palms beginning to sweat. Extremely unsettled, she frowned tightly, lowering her eyes, not daring to look at him anymore.
She didn't want to accept his confession.
But, but... he's such a good person.
After all, he's so good.
Yan Shang released her hand, straightened his robes, and knelt beside her bed. Under Mu Wan Yao's astonished gaze, he said: "I wish to pledge myself to Your Highness from now on, to offer strategies and truly assist you. I wish to become Your Highness's retainer, holding nothing back from you."
His gaze was gentle yet firm, sincere and heartfelt:
"Willing to be Your Highness's bow, henceforth driven by your command."
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
After a long silence, her nearly leaping heart settled back.
She said: "...That's it?"
Yan Shang, kneeling before her, looked up at her in confusion.
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