Caught off guard, the world turned upside down.
In an instant, Mu Wan Yao was pressed down into the bedding, her wrists pinned on either side of her body, held firmly in place.
Moonlight streamed in.
The light fell behind them. When Yan Shang finally succumbed and pressed her down, a sliver of moonlight touched Mu Wan Yao’s face but failed to illuminate his.
The atmosphere shifted from the moment she whispered by his ear. Her laughter began to carry a suggestive undertone.
Yan Shang, always composed, could not withstand Mu Wan Yao’s relentless teasing. The words "Second Brother" shattered his restraint. As he pressed her down, his breathing grew slightly uneven. For a fleeting moment, the taut string of reason in his mind snapped.
His mind went blank, devoid of thought.
Yan Shang looked down at the young woman beneath him, watching her every expression—each smile and glance, so captivating and graceful.
In all his life, he had never seen anyone who embodied "vivid and alluring" more perfectly than Mu Wan Yao.
Lost in the haze of impulse, he hardly knew what he was doing. His eyes fixed intently on her, he leaned in, tilting his head, about to kiss her moist, vibrant, petal-like crimson lips.
At the same moment, Yan Shang noticed the fear flashing in Mu Wan Yao’s eyes as he held her down.
Her body went completely rigid.
The sheer terror in her gaze was as if she had encountered some monstrous beast... It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over Yan Shang.
The room was dark, their breaths mingling, yet neither moved.
At first, Mu Wan Yao could not see Yan Shang clearly—when he pressed her down, when he restrained her wrists... The disparity in strength between men and women was inherent. Previously, when Yan Shang had let her push him away time and again, it was only because he had been indulging her.
When Mu Wan Yao struggled and realized she could not break free, she was instantly seized by a heart-wrenching dread.
Memories surged vividly to the surface.
Powerful, terrifying men, the unavoidable intimacy between men and women. The beast-like, burning stares of men in the darkness, the heavy, murky breaths lurking in the shadows, the inescapable fate... All of it left Mu Wan Yao frozen stiff.
For a moment, she was disoriented, thinking she had returned to the land of the Black Barbarians.
She stiffened, even trembling uncontrollably... until Yan Shang whispered softly, "Your Highness."
The light in the young princess’s eyes, pinned to the bed, flickered slightly.
Yan Shang looked down at her and said gently, "Your Highness, don’t be afraid. It’s me."
It was Yan Shang’s voice.
Mu Wan Yao snapped back to reality.
She immediately struggled, and Yan Shang obligingly released her wrists, retreating and sitting up. Mu Wan Yao also sat up, clutching her chest as she looked at the young man leaning against the bedpost.
His still-damp hair clung to his face, and his apricot-yellow outer robe shimmered with a soft, warm glow under the moonlight.
He sat there, watching her.
Mu Wan Yao turned her head away in embarrassment and fell silent.
She knew she had ruined it.
He had finally been provoked beyond restraint, wanting to kiss her... He had been about to do it, but her sudden display of fear must have chilled his heart in an instant.
Mu Wan Yao sat dazed on the bed, filled with regret, confusion, and a touch of self-loathing for her hurtful reaction.
Why had she been afraid?
Was it so easy for Yan Shang to soften his heart and be seduced by her?Yan Shang watched Mu Wan Yao sitting there with her head bowed, lost in thought. As someone highly attuned to others' emotions, seeing her sitting so dazedly and silent made his heart ache faintly. He couldn't bear to see the usually haughty princess now sitting alone in a daze.
So, even though he knew he shouldn't, even though his rationality had returned, Yan Shang still leaned over and sat beside her.
In her confusion, Mu Wan Yao caught the soothing, mellow scent of calming incense.
Yan Shang gently placed his hand on her back and softly embraced her.
He spoke in a warm tone, "Your Highness, don't be sad. I won't harm you.
"You don't need to call me 'Erlang.' I am a man of my word. Since I promised to serve as your retainer, I won't change my mind easily. Your Highness need not worry that I have ulterior motives in helping you. Even if I did, I would never harm you.
"Your Highness, could you trust me this once?"
Mu Wan Yao pursed her lips.
In her heart, she said she didn't believe him.
She didn't trust anyone's promises, especially not a man's.
But Yan Shang was holding her, comforting her gently. His hand rested on her back, separated only by a thin spring robe, and she was enveloped in his presence.
So perhaps she had truly lost her senses.
Mu Wan Yao whispered, "You are a gentleman, with the integrity of a nobleman—more steadfast and unyielding than even the Emperor.
"I am willing to trust you once."
Just as Yan Shang was about to smile, he heard Mu Wan Yao's voice turn cold and distant again, "But if I ever find you untrustworthy, I will kill you. If you and I choose different sides, I will strike you down.
"If that day ever comes, we'll each rely on our own abilities, and neither should hold back."
Yan Shang sighed, realizing how stubborn she was.
He held her as they sat on the bed. Having said what needed to be said, the atmosphere between them stiffened and began to turn awkward again...
Yan Shang's arm around Mu Wan Yao's back grew rigid. He started to frown, troubled by what to say next. Despite his usual skill in steering conversations, Mu Wan Yao never followed his lead and instead forced him to follow hers... Now, as he tried to calm her emotions, he found himself at a loss.
Fortunately, at that moment, a timid voice called from outside the room, "Langjun, Langjun... The horses are ready. It's time for you to leave."
Both Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
If no one had interrupted their strange atmosphere, they would have been at a loss.
The servant outside calling for Yan Erlang was also deeply conflicted.
After all, Danyang Princess had barged in.
Night had fallen, and the lanterns in the courtyard were gradually lit.
If the two were talking inside, why weren't any candles lit? If there were no candles, who knew what might happen between a man and a woman alone in a dark room?
But if something did happen between them in the pitch-black room, and the servants outside were calling and disturbing them... Erlang had a gentle temper, so it might not matter, but if Danyang Princess got angry, what then?
Yet if they didn't call out, Langjun would miss his appointment.
As the servant wrestled with this dilemma, Yan Erlang's calm voice came from inside the room, "Alright, I'll be out shortly."
The servants breathed a collective sigh of relief.In the room, Yan Shang released Mu Wan Yao and stood up. He explained to her once more that he had an appointment and needed to go out. However, seeing her state, he suggested she sit for a while longer to tidy her appearance before returning to the Princess Residence.
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him. "If I leave a while after you, wouldn't it just cause misunderstandings? People might think something happened between us in the room, and as a woman, I couldn't resist you and needed to rest before going out?"
Yan Shang was slightly taken aback.
Clearly, he hadn't considered this layer.
Mu Wan Yao gave him a disdainful look and stood up. "Let's go together."
The two then adjusted their clothing slightly before heading out. Having been reminded by Mu Wan Yao earlier, Yan Shang glanced at the servants as they exited and noticed their expressions. His face immediately showed a complicated mix of emotions.
He thought to himself: So the servants all assumed something must have happened between him and the princess? And now that they came out so quickly, they actually seemed relieved?
Neither Mu Wan Yao nor Yan Shang spoke. The trace of vulnerability the young princess had shown in the room earlier had completely vanished.
As they moved from the rear courtyard to the front, Mu Wan Yao spotted a servant holding a lantern and leading a horse, waiting there. She turned her head sharply to look at Yan Shang, surprised. "You're actually going out on horseback?"
Yan Shang paused, unsure why she seemed so astonished. "...Time is running short. Riding is always faster, isn't it? Is there something wrong?"
Mu Wan Yao said, "I thought you were the type who couldn't carry a load or lift a hand. I didn't expect you to know how to ride."
Yan Shang: "..."
He replied helplessly, "The first time I rode a horse in Lingnan, I wasn't very good at it, and I gave Your Highness a laugh. But I've practiced since then and have improved greatly."
Mu Wan Yao responded indifferently, "Oh.Looking at her proud profile, Yan Shang felt somewhat unconvinced. After all, he was still a young man. Even if he aspired to become a sage, he hadn't truly achieved that level of cultivation yet.
He couldn't resist adding, "And I'm not someone who can't carry a load or lift a hand. I listen to my eldest brother and practice martial arts for a while every morning."
Mu Wan Yao snorted dismissively.
Seeing her disbelief, Yan Shang felt frustrated. But there was no way to prove to her that he wasn't weak.
Mu Wan Yao walked leisurely out of his residence. At the entrance of the Princess Residence, Fang Tong and the others had long since returned. Seeing the princess finally emerge from across the way with Yan Shang following, leading his horse, everyone felt relieved.
Yan Shang nodded and smiled slightly at them, and they returned polite smiles. They thought to themselves, seeing Yan Erlang still as gentle and refined as jade, it seemed the princess had not tormented Erlang.
Mu Wan Yao noticed the barely suppressed smiles on her people's faces. She knew, of course, that these smiles weren't for her but for the person behind her.
She snorted, and the servants quickly wiped the expressions from their faces. Mu Wan Yao turned around, standing on the steps, and looked at Yan Shang, who was already mounted on his horse in the alley.
Mu Wan Yao said with aloof coldness, "Yan Shang."
Yan Shang looked toward her.
She said, "If you have any questions about the Black Barbarians, just ask me directly. Whatever you ask, if I know, I'll tell you. I'm not as fragile as you think, making you afraid to ask anything. There's nothing in my life that can't be spoken about. As long as you dare to ask, I dare to answer."
Princess Danyang's imposing manner drew admiration and respect from the servants who had come out to see their master off.Fang Tong, Chunhua, and the others remained composed, knowing that ever since returning from the Black Barbarians, the princess had long forged a heart of iron. She could endure even the slightest of matters without faltering.
The princess did not shy away from her past with the Black Barbarians. It was merely those around her who assumed she avoided the subject.
Gazing down into Mu Wan Yao’s eyes, Yan Shang smiled faintly. "Indeed, I underestimated Your Highness. You are far more remarkable than I had imagined."
Mu Wan Yao gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and said, "I know your abilities are exceptional—your practical skills even surpass your scholarly ones. But what matters now is the Erudite and Eloquent Examination in October. You should focus your mind on that. If you fail, you’ll waste another year. I don’t have time to wait for my retainer year after year."
She spoke without the slightest regard for his dignity, right in front of so many servants.
The servants felt somewhat embarrassed on Yan Erlang’s behalf.
Yet Yan Shang merely smiled and replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."
Such an unshakably calm disposition—
It compelled nothing but admiration.
As Yan Shang rode on horseback to the banquet, his inner state was far from the tranquility he displayed.
His thoughts lingered on the night before, on the look of sheer terror that had crossed Mu Wan Yao’s face as she lay on his bed.
Her expression had been so fearful… as though he were about to force himself upon her.
In that chilling moment, Yan Shang had also felt a sharp, wrenching hatred toward whoever had hurt her before.
A princess should never have been subjected to such treatment. Yan Shang had previously guessed that her time among the Black Barbarians had been difficult, but he had assumed it was merely because a young princess in her teens, raised entirely in Great Wei, could not adjust to the barbaric ways of a foreign people.
Yet Mu Wan Yao’s reaction told him… it was more than that.
She seemed to harbor a deep-seated fear of male dominance.
Even his own involuntary act of pressing her down had frightened her so. Just how harsh had her life among the Black Barbarians been… for her to fear even that? Was she only allowed to initiate intimacy herself, never to let others take the lead?
The horse’s hooves clip-clopped against the bluestone pavement. Yan Shang held the reins, but his mind was adrift.
The arrogant Mu Wan Yao, the teasing Mu Wan Yao who scolded and laughed at him, the Mu Wan Yao who clung to him, embraced him, and kissed him when her emotions overflowed—the Mu Wan Yao who could act coquettishly and play the fool, yet turn cold-hearted and ignore him without warning.
Countless versions of Mu Wan Yao surfaced in Yan Shang’s mind.
He thought of her in a daze, his heart filled with both pity and affection. He longed to draw closer to her, yet resented her for letting go so easily… She was contradictory and endearing, both good and bad.
He had a foreboding that he could not continue to grow closer to Mu Wan Yao like this. She would shatter his peaceful life, disrupt his plans and pace… Yan Shang felt it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a safe distance between them.
This troubled and confused him.
The best course of action, he told himself, was to retreat to a safe place and avoid growing too close to Mu Wan Yao.
So Yan Shang reasoned with himself.
By the time he arrived at his friend’s residence, dismounted, and handed the reins to an approaching servant, he was still repeating this advice inwardly.
Suddenly, someone called out cheerfully behind him, "Second Brother Yan, you’re here!"
Yan Shang stiffened abruptly and turned to look.
It was his friend, who had grown impatient waiting and come out personally to greet him.
Noticing the blank expression on Yan Shang’s face, his friend asked with concern, "Second Brother Yan, what’s wrong?"
Yan Shang: "...Please don’t call me ‘Second Brother’ anymore."Hearing someone call out "Second Brother" in that moment, he was instantly reminded of Mu Wan Yao's sweet and coquettish cry of "Second Brother."
His friend looked at Yan Shang strangely. Yan Shang snapped out of it, waved his hand, and smiled wryly as he asked the other not to mind—
Over the next few days, Yan Shang diligently studied at the Institute for the Advancement of Literature. He left early and returned late, doing his best to avoid Mu Wan Yao.
He didn't know if Mu Wan Yao was avoiding him too.
The two of them didn't see each other again for several days.
As for Chunhua, after the Princess perfunctorily told her it didn't matter, she made up her mind to forget Prince Jin and reconcile with Liu Wenji.
When Liu Wenji received her letter, he was in the middle of studying but immediately went out to find her. Chunhua had arranged to meet him at a tavern, but Liu Wenji was too anxious. He hurriedly rode his horse to the appointment.
Chunhua had just left the Princess Residence, worried and preoccupied, and was about to lead her horse out of the alley when she heard Liu Wenji's nervous yet joyful voice behind her: "Chun... Chunhua."
Chunhua turned around and saw the handsome young man standing there uneasily, holding his horse's reins. He took a step forward but stopped, afraid she might retreat.
Chunhua was taken aback. It had been a long time since she had seen him.
Liu Wenji gazed at her with longing, too dazed to do anything but stare, not daring to move for a long while.
Chunhua slowly pursed her lips into a smile. Feeling shy about being seen like this by the people at the Princess Residence, she turned her face away and chided, "Didn't we agree on a place to meet? Why did you come here?"
Liu Wenji stared at her intently, stammering, "Because it's been so long since you last saw me, I was afraid you wouldn't come... I couldn't help it, I wanted to see you. I'm sorry."
Chunhua lowered her head. "There's no need to apologize for that."
She glanced down and saw her lover take a step forward.
His voice trembled with excitement: "Chunhua, have you really forgiven me? Are you willing to reconcile with me?"
Hearing him say "forgive," Chunhua inwardly smiled bitterly, thinking that she was the one who had done wrong. She nodded vaguely and perfunctorily, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, but Liu Wenji suddenly took a big step forward and let go of his horse's reins.
He lifted her up in his arms.
Chunhua let out a shriek as her feet left the ground. Blushing deeply, she patted his shoulder: "Young Master Liu, put me down right now!"
Liu Wenji held her tightly, refusing to let go. He looked up at the girl he had lifted high, his eyes sparkling like stars.
He laughed and said, "I won't! Chunhua, you've really forgiven me, haven't you? You're not angry with me anymore, right? I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Chunhua's face flushed completely red.
The guards at the entrance of the Princess Residence were watching them curiously, and even the servants at the gate of the mansion opposite the Princess Residence were looking over.
Chunhua's face burned with embarrassment as she patted Liu Wenji's shoulder, but he refused to put her down. His bright eyes looked up at her, and she couldn't help but be swept up in his emotions.
She couldn't resist pursing her lips into a smile, resting her hands on his shoulders, and looking down at him: "Do you like me that much?"
Liu Wenji said, "Of course. I liked you immensely from the moment I first saw you, but you were always so shy, always following your Princess Highness, making it impossible for me to find a chance to talk to you.""Chunhua, perhaps I have many flaws, perhaps I will make many mistakes, but I truly like you... especially like you. When I first saw you, I felt I must marry you in this lifetime. If I cannot be with you, how dull my life would be."
He looked up at her, pleading: "So Chunhua, don't leave me, alright?"
Chunhua's eyes smiled, her heart deeply moved, yet his directness made her blush even more.
When she first saw him too, though she had already turned to report to the princess, she couldn't help glancing back at him one more time. That one look back made her heart flutter, liking that elegant young man. How fortunate that Liu Wenji also liked her, taking the initiative to speak with her, taking the initiative to seek her out.
Her luck was truly excellent.
Chunhua whispered: "Let me down first."
After a moment, suppressing her shyness, she murmured: "If you don't betray me, I won't leave you."
Liu Wenji was naturally overjoyed. Holding Chunhua's hand, the two rode horses out of the alley. Having reconciled, they naturally went out to play. When Chunhua asked about his studies, he said it didn't matter, it was all fate.
Seeing Liu Wenji's mindset had broadened compared to before, Chunhua was happy for him too, accompanying him the entire day. When lovers are together, even a single moment feels too short—this goes without saying.
Mu Wan Yao had drunk several extra cups of wine. When she went out, she was riding a horse, but when returning, she was sitting in a carriage.
Having withdrawn from a banquet, she was now drowsily leaning against the carriage wall when she heard Fang Tong's low voice outside: "Your Highness, I see Yan Erlang."
Mu Wan Yao remained silent.
Yan Shang had seen her in such an embarrassing state that night, and he had almost kissed her... Her feelings were complicated, so she hadn't wanted to see him for several days. And since she avoided him, he didn't come either, which made Mu Wan Yao even angrier.
Hearing Fang Tong mention seeing Yan Shang, normally Mu Wan Yao would have ignored it, letting the carriage pass by directly, preferably letting Yan Shang see that she was ignoring him.
But today, perhaps due to the extra drinks, Mu Wan Yao felt somewhat dizzy. Hearing Fang Tong mention Yan Erlang, her heart stirred, and she lifted the carriage curtain.
She saw Yan Shang's slender, elegant back, with a young servant following beside him.
He was struggling to carry a box of books, his servant also carrying a box.
Mu Wan Yao reached out and knocked on the carriage wall from outside, sneering coldly: "After just two days of riding, you're not on horseback again. What, did riding hurt you? Did the horse rub your delicate skin raw so you can't ride anymore?In Great Wei, both men and women admired unrestrained elegance, and horseback riding was naturally the preferred mode of travel for noble men and women.
Yan Shang, currently struggling with the books, recognized the coolly mocking voice as Mu Wan Yao's. He sighed—he had actually noticed Danyang Princess's carriage earlier but assumed, as in previous encounters, Mu Wan Yao would simply ignore him.
Who knew she would actually lift the curtain and speak to him.
Yan Shang looked up at her, ignoring her sarcasm, and greeted her with his usual good temper.
Mu Wan Yao's eyes flickered slightly.
The June weather was beginning to heat up. Yan Shang had some sweat on his forehead and around his neck. While sweat would make other men smell unpleasant, on a handsome youth, it was different.The servant by Yan Shang's side paid respects to the princess before speaking up indignantly for his master: "Your Highness is mistaken. On our way back, my lord saw a family whose old horse had died on the road while they were entering the city to trade. The family was utterly heartbroken, so my lord gave them his own horse.
"My lord performed a good deed—it's not that he cannot ride!"
Mu Wan Yao's gaze shifted to the servant speaking up for Yan Shang.
Yan Shang said softly, "Yun Shu, do not be presumptuous before Her Highness."
Mu Wan Yao's eyes returned to Yan Shang's face as she remarked, "I never expected you'd even use your personal servant. Have you repaid the rent you owe me for the residence?"
Yan Shang replied with utmost patience, "It has already been repaid."
Mu Wan Yao wanted to find more fault, but noticing a drop of sweat trickling down his forehead along the bridge of his nose into his lips, her expression softened. She relaxed her demeanor and said, "Is it really that hot? You're heading back to your residence, right? Get in the carriage. I'll give you a ride."
Yun Shu, standing beside Yan Shang, thought his master, being such a courteous person, would repeatedly decline. To his surprise, Yan Shang did not refuse and merely said, "Then I'll trouble Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao's eyes lit up with delight. Happily, she ordered the carriage to stop, opened the door herself, and pulled Yan Shang inside.
Yan Shang did not refuse because he knew Mu Wan Yao disliked being turned down. The more he resisted, the angrier she would become, and she would force him anyway. Since he would inevitably be compelled in the end, it was better to comply from the start—
Once seated in the carriage, Mu Wan Yao warmly pushed the ice chips under the cover toward Yan Shang and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
Leaning her cheek on her hand and resting against the table, she sat in a casual posture, her clear eyes dark and sparkling as she quietly admired him wiping his sweat. She was both radiant and aloof, staring at him for a long time.
Under her gaze, Yan Shang's neck flushed slightly, and he turned his face away to avoid her eyes.
The two fell into silence.
After a while, Yan Shang managed to find a topic: "Where is Your Highness returning from?"
Mu Wan Yao replied lazily, "Spare me such polite talk. Even if you say a few more words, it won't improve my impression of you."
Yan Shang said softly, "When people speak to each other, it isn't solely about making a good impression. Could it not be that I am simply concerned about Your Highness?"
He glanced at her with a hint of reproach.
Unconsciously, under his gaze, Mu Wan Yao felt that her casual attitude was somewhat inappropriate. She coughed dryly, sat up straighter, and answered his question honestly: "I wasn't doing anything important. By the way, in the next couple of days, I'll be hosting a banquet for the Vice Minister of Revenue. Since you're my person, come to my residence and meet them. It'll be good for mutual support in the future."
Yan Shang nodded.
But then he said, "I am not Your Highness's person."
Mu Wan Yao chuckled dismissively and said, "As you wish."
With this small talk, the strange tension between them eased somewhat, and they were able to converse more freely. However, both carefully maintained boundaries, avoiding topics that might lead to uncontrollable directions.
When the carriage reached the entrance of the alley, it stopped, but no one outside called for them to alight for a long time.
After a while, Yan Shang's servant, Yun Shu, stammered in astonishment, "Erlang, in front of our residence... there are so many people."
Yan Shang laughed lightly, "How could they be here for me? It must be someone looking for Her Highness."
Mu Wan Yao thought the same. It was plausible for her Princess Residence to be bustling with activity, but it was unlikely that anyone would seek out Yan Shang, who was still awaiting appointment at the Institute for the Advancement of Literature.
Yun Shu stuttered from outside, "N-No... you'll understand once you see, sir."
Pushing the carriage door open, Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang looked out curiously together.
They saw the front of the residence piled high with goods. A charming young woman stood at the entrance, her voice clear as an oriole's, directing servants to carry items into Yan Shang's residence. The servants from the Princess Residence had been watching curiously for some time, while the servants from Yan Shang's residence were being directed by the young woman to help move the items.
Everyone was bewildered.
Hearing the commotion from the carriage, the young woman turned to look.
Her beauty was like a spring dawn, full of vitality.She spotted Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang seated inside the carriage, initially showing surprise before offering a perfunctory salute to Mu Wan Yao. Then, with unrestrained delight, she waved at Yan Shang.
While speaking to Yan Shang, she unconsciously blushed: "Erlang, you’re back! I heard you moved—really, why didn’t you tell me? I came to celebrate your new home."
This young lady was someone Mu Wan Yao recognized.
She was Yang Sanlang Yang Si’s cousin, the fifth daughter of the Zhao family—Zhao Lingfei.
Zhao Lingfei gazed at Yan Shang with a mix of shyness and boldness in her eyes—her intentions were obvious to anyone.
Inside the carriage, Yan Shang instantly stiffened from head to toe.
Mu Wan Yao’s sharp gaze shot toward him, and she grabbed his hand tightly: "What’s going on?"
Yan Shang looked at her.
His usual composure gone, he stammered: "I—I don’t know either."
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