When Mu Wan Yao stepped out to close the door, Yan Shang hastily fastened his robes, feeling somewhat vexed.
He had originally returned to change clothes before heading out again in the evening—a simple plan with no expected complications. Who could have anticipated the Danyang Princess barging in unannounced?
Only she would go wherever she pleased without even knocking, entering directly...
As Yan Shang stewed in irritation, he heard footsteps returning. He stiffened, quickly grabbing an apricot-colored outer robe tossed on the bed and draping it over himself. When he tried to pull the lapels tighter, he felt the gesture was too effeminate, as if he were guarding against her...
His fingers lingered on the sash, but before he could gather his thoughts, Mu Wan Yao had already returned. Yan Shang was slightly startled—under normal circumstances, wouldn’t she have simply left after his polite dismissal? Why had she come back?
Not only had she returned, but the young princess’s dark, liquid eyes now held none of the bold arrogance she had displayed when pushing the door open earlier. Instead, her gaze was curious, slightly bashful, teasing... and even a little foolish.
She stared unblinkingly at him.
Her eyes trailed downward from his neck... Yan Shang turned sideways, tugging at his collar.
Mu Wan Yao had now regained her composure, no longer the flustered princess he had shooed away to close the door. Seeing him evade her gaze, a faint smile touched her lips.
Her cheeks burned, yet her heart felt light. She said, "Why are you hiding? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before..."
She had indeed seen his chest before.
That night, when he lay breathless and near death in her arms, his face drenched in sweat, beads of perspiration had trickled down his neck into his robes. His disheveled clothing, damp with sweat, had made her too apprehensive to look closely at the time... But now, as fragmented memories resurfaced, she felt that moment paled in comparison to the present.
Here stood a beautiful youth draped loosely in an outer robe, his undergarments visible beneath, his limbs slender and frame well-proportioned, poised like a snow crane in radiant elegance.
His hair, still damp, dripped intermittently, soaking through his inner robe and rendering the snowy fabric almost translucent...
Lost in her wandering thoughts, Mu Wan Yao noticed Yan Shang glance sideways at her.
The rims of his eyes were slightly red, but his tone was earnest and puzzled: "When has Your Highness ever seen it?"
Mu Wan Yao: "Uh..."
Seeing him stare intently, aware of how clever he was—likely to deduce the truth if their eyes met a moment longer—she swiftly averted her gaze, clasped her hands behind her back, and scolded, "Why ask so many questions? Shouldn’t you be properly dressing yourself?"
She played the accuser first: "You’re so strange! How could you change clothes without locking the door?"
Yan Shang sighed helplessly: "I’m in my own room, in my own home. Why would I need to lock the door to change? How was I to know someone would—"
Mu Wan Yao: "What did you say?"
Yan Shang sighed again: "Nothing. Could Your Highness step out once more so I may finish dressing?"
Mu Wan Yao retorted, "Leaving would make me seem guilty! I’m not even looking at you—why should I feel guilty? Just hurry up and dress. Why are you, a man, acting so fussy?"
Yan Shang stood rigidly, his back to her, unmoving for a long while. She watched as he tugged at his sash a couple of times, seemingly entangled in hesitation.
The apricot-colored outer robe draped over him—a shade often too delicate for men to carry off—somehow suited Yan Shang perfectly, lending him a gentle, refined charm.Mu Wan Yao couldn't help but stare at his retreating figure, lost in thought for a long while, biting her lip.
...Indeed, he was quite a feast for the eyes.
Then she blushed again, feeling that such thoughts were improper. Her gaze swept across the bed and landed on the neatly folded clothes. She couldn't help imagining these garments being held by his hands, being worn by him one by one... Mu Wan Yao heard Yan Shang's soft voice: "Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao responded lazily: "What is it?"
Yan Shang kept his head lowered, his voice soft and warm with a hint of pleading: "If Your Highness doesn't wish to leave, at least go behind the screen... I truly cannot undress before you."
Mu Wan Yao said: "...You're truly troublesome."
Despite her words, Mu Wan Yao still stood up and went outside the screen. She actually felt relieved herself, because if Yan Shang hadn't asked her to leave and made her sit there watching him change clothes... Mu Wan Yao would have felt somewhat embarrassed too.
She was just even more embarrassed to show it—
After about fifteen minutes of this back and forth, Mu Wan Yao finally sat down again and could have a normal conversation with Yan Shang.
Yan Shang had already finished dressing, his long hair half-tied with a ribbon and half-draped over his shoulders to dry naturally. He sat on the bed, leaning against the bedpost and curtains, maintaining distance from Mu Wan Yao who sat diagonally across on the daybed.
The two sat in awkward silence.
For a long while, neither spoke.
Finally, Yan Shang coughed lightly, breaking the strange atmosphere: "What did Your Highness wish to discuss with me? I have an appointment with someone tonight and cannot break it."
Mu Wan Yao said: "I thought as much."
The fact that he specifically returned to bathe and change clothes clearly indicated he was going out.
Mu Wan Yao looked up at him, fixing her gaze on his face. Although he kept his eyes lowered, half his face was cast in shadow... Still, looking at his face was better than looking at other parts of his body that might invite wild imaginations.
Mu Wan Yao said: "I know about your plan to send someone to the Black Barbarians for six months to gather information."
Yan Shang remained silent.
Mu Wan Yao made her tone icy, unaffected by what she had witnessed earlier: "Why are you gathering information? Is this any of your business? Yan Shang, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Yan Shang slightly lifted his face.
His gaze still didn't rise as he countered: "Can't Your Highness guess?"
Mu Wan Yao maintained an expressionless face: "Your mind is full of more holes than a honeycomb. Who knows what you mean? Perhaps you want to threaten me with my past, thinking I've been too harsh on you normally, and you want to rebel against me."
Yan Shang finally couldn't help but look up at her. Since she clearly guessed but deliberately said this, Yan Shang had to explain himself: "Because the most troublesome matter regarding Your Highness is your past connection with the Black Barbarians. Since I told you I would become your retainer and help you, I naturally need to find ways to solve your biggest problem.
"I naturally don't have any clues yet. And precisely because I have no clues, I need to send someone to the Black Barbarians to help me understand the five tribes of the Southern Barbarians, to understand the relationship between the Black Barbarians and Southern Barbarians... Only by knowing these things can we avoid being completely lost if something really happens, not knowing where to start."
Mu Wan Yao remained silent.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, her hands gripping the wooden table.
Actually, she had guessed this was the case.
Because Yan Shang had no reason to harm her... He would only ever be good to her.Mu Wan Yao lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat vacant. She murmured softly to herself, "If you want to help me resolve the troubles I'm facing, if you want to understand the Black Barbarians, why not just ask me directly? In all of Great Wei, is there anyone who understands the Black Barbarians better than I do?"
Her most painful two or three years were spent there.
If Yan Shang wanted to know, he could simply ask her. Why go through the trouble of sending someone to the Black Barbarians?
Yan Shang remained silent.
Mu Wan Yao felt utterly humiliated, convinced that his silence and lack of response stemmed from pity. His excessive consideration felt like mockery to her! Sometimes, such gentleness was as sharp as a blade, cutting deep into the bone... Mu Wan Yao began trembling uncontrollably, starting from her fingers.
She tried to suppress her emotions but couldn't conceal the hoarse, harsh edge in her voice.
She tried to save face, saying, "I know why you don't ask me. You think my memory is poor—that I forget what you told me yesterday by tomorrow, that I dismiss what we did together moments ago as if it never mattered... You think my memory is so unreliable that it's pointless to ask me, so you simply don't."
Yan Shang was taken aback.
Moonlight streamed in from outside.
The sky had darkened, yet no lamps were lit in the room. In the pitch-blackness, no one was in the mood to light candles now.
Yan Shang sat by the bed, gazing at the princess reclining on the couch. She sat with slumped shoulders and downcast eyes, her fingers hidden in her sleeves, revealing no trace of emotion.
He watched her for a long time, repeatedly fighting the urge to rise and embrace her. But Yan Shang restrained himself, turning his gaze away and reminding himself that he must not.
She was reckless and unrestrained, unpredictable in her moods—charmingly girlish when coquettish, yet vicious and hurtful in her outbursts. The distance between them was too vast. He knew full well she had no heart, knew exactly which path she intended to take. He could not indulge her...
So Yan Shang did not approach her, merely speaking gently, "Your Highness, please don't say that. Your memory is not poor. I've heard that in the past, you were exceptionally talented in both arts and music. How could someone with such gifts have a poor memory?"
"It's just that your previous life was too bitter. You don't wish to remember, so you deliberately make yourself forget. Your heart constantly urges you to forget, which is why you often can't recall many things. Those unpleasant memories won't affect your life now. If you don't want to remember them, if you recall them today and forget them tomorrow, what is wrong with that?"
"None of that matters. Your Highness, rest assured. From the day I agreed to become your retainer, matters concerning the Black Barbarians were always meant to be my Pledge of Allegiance to you—to demonstrate my capabilities. These are precisely the kinds of matters your advisors and retainers should handle for you. Your Highness need not concern yourself with them at all."
Mu Wan Yao abruptly lifted her head to look at him.
In the hazy moonlight, the room was dark, with only the two of them sitting quietly on opposite sides, the distance between them as vast as the Milky Way.
As Yan Shang met Mu Wan Yao's raised eyes, he saw them shimmering, the moon's reflection flowing like ripples in their depths.
Yan Shang said, "Your Highness, don't cry."
Mu Wan Yao immediately retorted sharply, "Which eye of yours sees me crying? Since you've known me, when have you ever seen me cry? Are you blind?"
Her words remained as sharp as a dagger, leaving no room for mercy.
Yet Yan Shang remained as composed as ever, unharmed by her harshness.
He continued to gaze at her tenderly, speaking softly, "Then, Your Highness, don't be sad."
Mu Wan Yao was momentarily stunned.He said, "Don't be so sad. It's nothing."
Mu Wan Yao's eyes suddenly reddened.
She had told herself she wouldn't cry, wouldn't shed tears. Ever since she had endured endless grievances and humiliation, she had vowed never to shed another tear. Yet tonight, with just a few words from him, she truly couldn't hold back the redness in her eyes... Mu Wan Yao gritted her teeth, forcing back the tears, and simply stared at him.
She gazed at him for a long time.
Suddenly, she said, "Are you using the matter of the Black Barbarians to win my heart, to make me depend on you?"
Yan Shang was taken aback.
Then his expression turned slightly cold, his jaw tightening.
Even though he was usually amiable, he couldn't help but find it ridiculous at this moment.
Yan Shang said, "Does Your Highness think I am heartless? That everything I do is solely for exploitation and gain, with no other reason?"
Mu Wan Yao: "I don't know. Because that's just how you are—you have too many hearts. Who knows how many pieces I am fortunate enough to receive?"
Yan Shang was somewhat angered. He leaned back slightly, opening his mouth to defend himself but not knowing where to start. In her eyes, his image was that of someone who curried favor with everyone, who never acted without benefit... No matter what he did, it was always with some ulterior motive...
She really was... really...
He lowered his gaze, somewhat dejected and powerless. Yan Shang said, "Your Highness may think whatever you wish."
Mu Wan Yao smiled, "Are you angry?"
She paused, "I was only asking, clarifying whether you're trying to win my favor. I just wanted to confirm."
Yan Shang: "Confirm what?"
Mu Wan Yao said, "If you're not deliberately trying to win my favor, then I'd think you're being kind to me for no reason at all."
As she spoke, she suddenly stood up and walked toward the bed. In the periphery of Yan Shang's lowered gaze, he saw Mu Wan Yao stop beside him. He thought she was about to say something, but the next moment, she knelt on the bed, opened her arms, and embraced him.
Yan Shang was stunned, leaning back. His back pressed against the bedpost as he looked up at her in surprise. She held him, kneeling on the bed with her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest.
Yan Shang's entire body stiffened, not daring to move. His voice trembled, "Your Highness..."
—Had she grown so accustomed to suddenly running over and hugging him?
Mu Wan Yao's voice was muffled against his chest, "I really envy Yan Xiaozhou so much."
Yan Shang was bewildered, "What?"
How did this suddenly involve his younger sister?
Mu Wan Yao said, "Yan Xiaozhou has an older brother like you. You think of everything for her, arrange everything for her. After all, you're naturally good to her, not like how you are with outsiders. Your heart for outsiders can't possibly compare to how you feel about Yan Xiaozhou."
Yan Shang didn't know what to say.
He was also troubled by her embrace. He knew she was hurting and needed comfort, but being held like this... he struggled internally.
Mu Wan Yao suddenly had an idea, lifting her face from his chest and whispering, "How about I call you 'Second Brother' too? Be good to me like you are to Yan Xiaozhou, be good to me for no reason at all, okay?"
Yan Shang was taken aback, then chuckled, "Don't joke."
She was the Emperor's youngest daughter, a member of the imperial family. She had her own real brothers—how could she casually call someone else "brother"?
Mu Wan Yao said, "Don't you like me calling you 'Second Brother'? Well, many people call you that. Even Wei Shu calls you 'Second Brother.' How about... I call you... Second Brother, okay?"Yan Shang flushed red and began pushing her shoulders to make her get up. He could tell she was no longer in such discomfort, that she was starting to tease and indulge in whimsical ideas.
Yan Shang repeated, "Don't joke around."
Mu Wan Yao paid no heed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned close to his ear, and in a delicate, soft voice, as if nibbling at his ear, called out, "Second Brother..."
In that instant, pressed against Yan Shang's ear, she felt his ear flush crimson in an instant, his heartbeat quicken abruptly, and the artery in his neck begin to pulse violently. He turned to look at her, his gaze sharp as lightning, with a torrent of emotions simmering beneath...
Mu Wan Yao, in a charming, alluring, gentle, and coquettish tone, called out, "Second Brother!"
Her wrist was seized, and she was abruptly pushed down onto the bed. Yan Shang's voice, tense and strained from above, was filled with suppressed emotion, verging on collapse: "...Don't make a joke of people!"
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