Mu Wan Yao was nearly frightened by Yan Shang's silence.
What did his silence mean? Was he tacitly agreeing?
Fortunately, just as Mu Wan Yao was about to be terrified out of her wits by him, he seemed to finally regain his composure and broke the tension with a smile: "Your Highness is joking again."
Mu Wan Yao breathed a huge sigh of relief: It was good that he hadn't tacitly agreed.
Admittedly, she had always wanted to share a romantic encounter with Yan Shang. She still wanted it now, her original intention never changing.
However, she did not want any relationship with Yan Shang beyond the "bed."
Mu Wan Yao fanned herself with her hand, pretending to be at ease as she stood up, muttering that the weather was getting hotter and hotter.
Then, as if changing the subject or finally remembering the matter, she ordered someone to fetch Fang Tong.
Mu Wan Yao said with slight anger: "Who allowed him to bring Yan Erlang? Is my Princess Residence a place where random people can come and go as they please? Can random people eavesdrop on my words so freely? And you all! You saw it, yet none of you spoke up! If an assassin were to enter my Princess Residence one day, would all of you just stand there like corpses?"
This was a veiled criticism, implying that Yan Shang was at fault.
The maids were bewildered and flustered, blushing under the princess's scolding as they bowed their heads and admitted their mistake.
In truth, they felt wronged because they simply couldn't understand the princess's attitude toward Yan Shang.
The princess often said she didn't want to see Yan Erlang, but when they actually stopped him and Yan Erlang didn't come, she would get angry and take it out on the maids. When Yan Erlang did come, she never blamed the maids. This had happened several times... so the servants had tacitly agreed that Yan Shang was different in the Princess Residence.
Others couldn't come and go freely, but Yan Erlang should be able to.
Who knew the princess would now say that Yan Erlang couldn't come and go freely either?
Yan Shang sighed softly. Seeing the servants being punished because of him, he stepped forward to apologize. In truth, when he came over, he had considered that Mu Wan Yao might punish Fang Tong and the others. But he was concerned about the dispute between Mu Wan Yao and Zhao Lingfei, so he hadn't pointed it out. Or perhaps he had held onto a sliver of hope, thinking Mu Wan Yao wouldn't mind.
But Mu Wan Yao did mind now.
Naturally, it was his fault.
Yan Shang said: "...It was entirely my fault for being too impatient and forgetting the distinction between superior and subordinate. Your Highness, if you must punish someone, punish me. Fang Tong and the others were only implicated because of me. Please do not punish them too severely."
Mu Wan Yao shot him a glare and coldly rebuked: "So now you remember the distinction between superior and subordinate!"
In front of Yan Shang, Mu Wan Yao sternly reestablished the rules for the people in her Princess Residence. The rules were essentially directed at Yan Shang, with veiled criticisms aimed at him. Clearly, to cover up the meaning behind their earlier exchanged glances, she was particularly merciless.
Yan Shang saw it but pretended not to know.
If it were anyone else, being ridiculed like this by the princess, they would have fled in shame long ago. But Yan Erlang remained impeccably polite. When the princess punished Fang Tong by making him copy texts, Yan Shang even offered to help, earning Fang Tong's gratitude.
The ensuing commotion need not be detailed—
After leaving the Princess Residence, Yan Shang did not return to the Institute for the Advancement of Literature but went straight home to continue studying late into the night.
Although he had many friends, he was selective and met with them infrequently. Everyone knew he was busy studying, so they rarely disturbed him. At the same time, his friends had given Yan Shang many books and reference materials from senior scholars, all to help him achieve a good ranking in the Erudite and Eloquent Examination.
Late that night, after finishing a day of studying, Yan Shang sat at his desk and pondered quietly for a while.Then he lifted his wrist and raised the brush, silently writing down the books he had read, the tasks he had accomplished, the words he had spoken, and the people he had met that day.
Through daily practice in calligraphy and guidance from a friend born into a family of master calligraphers, Yan Shang's handwriting now appeared entirely different from what it had been just a few months prior. His current script was characterized by classical brush techniques and a dignified, composed grandeur. Just as one's handwriting reflects their character, a single glance at his strokes revealed the profound steadiness of Yan Shang's temperament.
Beyond his daily calligraphy practice, Yan Shang also made it a habit, as he did today, to reflect on his every action before sleep, examining whether any oversights had occurred.
This was something he had learned from his mentor.
However, his mentor's original intention had merely been to encourage him, never imagining that someone would actually engage in such daily self-reflection and persist in it unwaveringly.
After silently transcribing his daily activities and readings, Yan Shang meticulously reviewed each entry, adding corrections and annotations where necessary to reinforce his memory. Finally, with his brush suspended mid-air, he pondered for a long time, hesitating to set it down.
Ink droplets gathered at the brush tip fell onto the paper, scattering intermittently.
After a long while, Yan Shang lowered his wrist slightly and wrote a few characters in the blank space on the paper: Mu Wan Yao.
Setting down the brush and sitting upright, he stared at this name, his gaze growing complex.
Princess Danyang, Mu Wan Yao...
Before this, he had occasionally written her name during his nightly self-reflections. But never before had he stared at it for so long, uncertain of how to think or proceed.
He recalled once more the words he had overheard Mu Wan Yao using to dismiss Zhao Lingfei during the day.
He did not know that Mu Wan Yao had merely been speaking offhandedly, nor did he realize that she herself might not have given much thought to her own words. But she was exceptionally articulate.
Not only had she moved Zhao Lingfei, making her retreat in recognition of difficulty... she had also touched Yan Shang, who stood behind the screen, listening quietly without stepping forward for a long time.
As he watched her through the screen, he felt her image becoming strikingly vivid and resilient in his eyes.
She spoke of the people's welfare and touched upon his own thoughts... In that instant, Yan Shang felt struck by Mu Wan Yao. He was left speechless, feeling as though he had finally found someone who understood his aspirations.
"Those who know me say my heart is troubled; those who know me not wonder what I seek."
How rare it is to find someone who shares one's ideals?
Moreover, this alignment of ideals moved Yan Shang far more deeply than mere appearance or temperament ever could. Though he had been stirred by her beauty and charm, it was her broad-mindedness that truly won his admiration.
Yan Shang closed his eyes, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. Initially, he had no thoughts of romance; even when he occasionally struggled to restrain his urge to care for and approach the princess, he made great efforts to keep his distance... Yet in this life, a true confidant is hard to find.
Only at this moment did he realize how fortunate he would be if someone so aligned with his ideals could become his partner.
A prosperous and peaceful world, a few close friends, and a beloved companion by his side... Was this not all that Yan Shang sought in his lifetime?
Countless thoughts flashed through Yan Shang's mind. When he reopened his eyes, he let out a soft sigh and rubbed his sore neck, strained from a day of reading.
He stood up, took the pages filled with his reflections, and held them over a candle, burning them bit by bit. Truly, he was a man of such caution—even without having done anything wrong, he left no traces behind.When the candle flame burned through the characters "Mu Wan Yao," a gentle light flickered in Yan Shang's eyes, and he smiled faintly.
He had already made up his mind: a young princess so aligned with his aspirations—not only would he assist her, but if he could truly marry a princess... how fortunate that would be.
It was time to adjust his attitude when interacting with Mu Wan Yao.
After the note had burned to ashes and he had washed up, Yan Shang went to his chest to fetch the clothes he would wear the next day. While arranging his robes, a jade pendant fell out from the chest. The pendant was emerald green and cool to the touch.
Seeing it, Yan Shang paused for a moment, then picked it up and turned it over in his hand, lost in thought for a long while.
This was a family heirloom, a token of betrothal, given to him by his father when he left Lingnan. His father had instructed him to present it to a woman he truly admired.
However, as Yan Shang had no interest in such matters and circumstances made marriage unsuitable at the time, he had tossed the pendant into the chest shortly after arriving in Chang'an and never looked at it again. Now, stumbling upon it unexpectedly, his heart stirred.
He seemed to recall something, his cheeks flushing slightly.
He took the pendant out of the dark chest and placed it among the clothes he wore daily, then extinguished the lamp and went to bed.
It seemed that starting the next day, this jade pendant, carrying Yan Father's profound hopes, would finally make an appearance on Yan Shang—
After daybreak, Mu Wan Yao leisurely finished her breakfast, flipped through some music scores for a while, and reviewed the memorials submitted by her advisors the previous day.
Estimating that the morning court session had ended and the timing was about right, she unhurriedly stepped out, intending to head to the Eastern Palace.
As she passed through the outer courtyard and reached the gatehouse in front of the mansion, Mu Wan Yao spotted a tall, elegant figure with a demeanor as refined as bamboo, speaking with Fang Tong and a couple of maids.
Thinking she might be mistaken, Mu Wan Yao blinked and halted her steps.
"Your Highness!" The servants' greetings prompted the figure to turn around. The person smiled, his expression gentle and refined, and bowed to her along with the servants.
Mu Wan Yao looked him over from head to toe—elegant and distinguished as always, yet something felt different. Ah, perhaps it was the branch of pink apricot blossoms he held, still glistening with dew.
Noticing Mu Wan Yao's gaze fixed on the flower in his hand, Yan Shang glanced down and explained with a smile, "A friend of mine had an apricot tree that was nearly dying. We spent two months nursing it together, and unexpectedly, it bloomed again. Overjoyed, he brought me this branch early this morning."
Yan Shang gently swayed the apricot blossom branch in his hand.
Dewdrops lightly sprinkled onto his robes and hand.
The pink hue illuminated his face, accentuating his refined and elegant features.
He casually swayed the branch a couple of times and, seeing Mu Wan Yao's intent gaze, offered it to her. "If Your Highness likes it, please take it. Such fresh and delicate apricot blossoms naturally suit someone like you. Keeping them with me would be a waste."
His words were as charming as ever, and Mu Wan Yao was already accustomed to it.
Mu Wan Yao: "...Did you come here so early in the morning just to give me a flower?"
Though her tone was sharp, Mu Wan Yao still signaled to Xiarong behind her, instructing the maids to take the dew-kissed apricot blossom branch. She truly liked the flower at first sight... though what she liked even more was Yan Shang's carefree demeanor as he swayed the branch.
A man holding a flower without appearing effeminate—truly a testament to Yan Shang's exceptional grace.Yan Shang smiled as he replied to the princess, "It's because Guard Fang and the others were punished on my account yesterday, so I came to check on them."
Mu Wan Yao glanced at Fang Tong and the others, indeed seeing them looking deeply moved. Clearly, Yan Shang had been quite successful in winning their hearts before Mu Wan Yao even appeared.
Mu Wan Yao snorted disdainfully, unwilling to engage with him, and strode outward.
Unexpectedly, she heard footsteps following her.
She cast a sidelong glance at Yan Shang, who had caught up with her.
Yan Shang followed her and retrieved a memorial from his sleeve, handing it to her: "I should have presented this to Your Highness along with the other advisors yesterday, but I was too busy and forgot. Feeling anxious about it, I naturally decided to deliver it in person today."
Mu Wan Yao took the memorial from him, flipped through it briefly, and then handed it to a nearby maid to store.
The advisors were there to offer her counsel, after all; she usually made the major decisions. However, Yan Shang rarely submitted memorials to her due to his busy studies, so she was surprised he had presented one now.
Mu Wan Yao muttered a few words to herself but didn't dwell on it. Yet, to her surprise, Yan Shang still hadn't left.
As she was about to board her carriage, she noticed Yan Shang standing at the estate gate, watching her depart.
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Only then did she find it strange: "Aren't you usually at the Institute for the Advancement of Literature by this time? Why are you still at home so late today?"
Yan Shang said apologetically, "I stayed up late studying yesterday."
Mu Wan Yao: "Oh."
After a pause, she stared at him for a long while, a suspicion forming in her mind, though she found it unlikely. Still, she hesitantly tested the waters: "Are you implying that you want me to give you a ride?"
Yan Shang's face lit up with pleasant surprise, and he said, "That would be much appreciated, Your Highness. I happen to have some political matters I'd like to consult you about."
Mu Wan Yao was taken aback, but then her eyes fell on the wound on his face—the one she had inflicted with her hairpin—and a pang of guilt made her agree to his request.
Because Yan Shang had proactively boarded Mu Wan Yao's carriage that morning, she found herself distracted all day.
Even while discussing state affairs with the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace, her mind wandered several times, recalling Yan Shang's smile from the morning. She couldn't shake the feeling that his smile had been more genuine than usual, that he had felt closer to her... Had she misread it?
"Yao Yao, are you even listening to me?" The Crown Prince sighed helplessly, setting down the memorial and looking at his absent-minded younger sister.
Mu Wan Yao snapped back to attention and said casually, "I'm listening. Eldest Brother, you were saying that the Emperor has no one close to him on his side, but the Noble Consort is Third Brother's mother. You're worried she might whisper falsehoods to the Emperor, so you hope I'll spend more time with the Emperor and speak on your behalf."
The Crown Prince nodded.
He sighed and said, "This year's year-end ceremony coincides with the Emperor's grand birthday. I want to organize it well, inviting envoys from various countries to come and celebrate. That will require a lot of silver. I'm afraid some might object, so I need you, Yao Yao, to speak up for me in front of the Emperor."
The Crown Prince came from a humble background and had only become the heir after the premature death of the second prince, the legitimate son, by virtue of being the eldest son.
Struggling with having no one to speak for him near the Emperor, the Crown Prince placed his hopes in Mu Wan Yao. After all, the Emperor had only two daughters.
Moreover, Mu Wan Yao was such a pitiable figure—both the legitimate daughter and the youngest. Considering that she was the only bloodline left by the late Empress, the Emperor surely felt a surge of compassion every time he saw Mu Wan Yao.Mu Wan Yao felt a subtle unhappiness within. She was extremely reluctant to play the pitiful role in front of others, inviting their sympathy. But now, for the Crown Prince's sake, she had no choice but to act more obediently before the Emperor, making him feel indebted to her.
Mu Wan Yao agreed to the Crown Prince's request, promising to cooperate, after which she went to attend to her father the Emperor with filial devotion.
The Crown Prince advised, "Keep your temper in check and play the part of your former self well."
Mu Wan Yao paused briefly before replying calmly, "I understand."
How ridiculous.
She actually had to pretend to be her old self before the Emperor, just to feign pitifulness and win his compassion. That former version of her had long been dead... yet everyone missed and hoped for that old Mu Wan Yao.
They wanted her to play the role of Mu Wan Yao perfectly, so they wouldn't feel guilty—
Yan Shang spent the entire day studying at the Institute for the Advancement of Literature.
He kept running into friends.
Every time friends saw him and exchanged greetings, they would notice his face: "Suchen, what happened to your face?"
Yan Shang touched the scratch on his left cheek, having answered the same question countless times over the past two days.
He replied succinctly: "Scratched by a cat, someone else's cat that's already gone. I've applied medicine, it'll heal in a couple of days. No need to help catch the cat."
Seeing the usually polite Yan Erlang answer so tersely due to being annoyed by the repeated question, his friend was taken aback, then laughed, cupped his hands in salute, and left.
Then another friend came, shocked at the sight of his face;
Yet another friend worriedly asked if this counted as disfigurement;
Still another friend stared at his face for a long time, prompting Yan Shang to proactively explain...
In short, throughout the day, everyone who saw Yan Shang expressed concern about the injury on his face. After all, it was too conspicuous. And basically every time someone asked, Yan Shang would recall Mu Wan Yao's ferocity when she hit him with the hairpin.
Recalling it repeatedly, he even spaced out several times because of it, making Yan Shang smile wryly. He felt he couldn't stay at the Institute any longer... he came here to study, not to have people constantly concerned about his face every day.
He decided that until the wound on his face completely healed, he'd prefer not to come to the Institute—
After spending half the day at the palace, visiting a sick minister's residence in the afternoon, and returning to the deep alley where the Princess Residence was located by evening, Mu Wan Yao was utterly exhausted.
She rested briefly in the carriage, and when she alighted to return to the Princess Residence, she unexpectedly saw Yan Shang returning with a bamboo case of books on his back. His return in the evening breeze, as he did every day, lifted her spirits that had been depressed all day.
Having pretended all day, she could now drop the act.
Mu Wan Yao stopped to look at him for a moment. When he saw her, he bowed in greeting.
As he bent to salute, Mu Wan Yao noticed sweat covering his neck, glistening and damp, even soaking through the white garment inside his round collar. When he lifted his face, Mu Wan Yao saw the scratch on his cheek, her gaze flickering.
Seeing him drenched in sweat, carrying so many books... Mu Wan Yao asked: "Did the Institute for the Advancement of Literature kick you out? Are you moving all your books back?"
Naturally, Yan Shang didn't mention that the wound on his face made it impossible for him to stay at the Institute.
He was always one to save face for others.
He smiled: "The weather's too hot, and there are too many people at the Institute. The air gets stuffy every day, and studying there really makes my head dizzy. So I decided to bring the books home and temporarily not go to the Institute for the next month or two."Mu Wan Yao asked curiously, "You're taking the books home to read? Do you have ice at your home?"
Yan Shang hesitated slightly.
He said, "Even without ice, it's better than crowding with a large group of people."
Mu Wan Yao stared at his embarrassed expression for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter, immediately understanding that he was too poor to afford ice.
Mu Wan Yao said softly, "Forget it. Seeing how pitiful you are, you can bring the books to my residence to study. In this sweltering heat, don't risk getting heatstroke from staying cooped up, which would only delay your studies further due to illness."
Yan Shang thanked her.
Then looking at her, he gently advised, "Since the weather is so hot, Your Highness should also go out less and rest more at the residence. Your delicate constitution can hardly withstand going out every day like this."
Mu Wan Yao was taken aback.
Then she lowered her head and smiled faintly.
Though pleased by his concern, she didn't want to show it, so she only mumbled vaguely, "Since when do I need you to tell me that?"
She always spoke with such sharpness. Yan Shang smiled helplessly and said nothing more—
In the scorching afternoon, the main hall of the Princess Residence's outer quarters had only one screen remaining, with the other three sides open to reveal the view of the clear lake and pavilions in the courtyard.
Before the screen, a container held ice chips to cool the area. The maids had all withdrawn to a distance, not disturbing their mistress.
The chirping of cicadas blended with the sound of turning pages, creating an atmosphere of utter tranquility.
Yan Shang sat at a long desk, flipping through books and occasionally taking notes. Besides writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, the desk also held sliced fruits chilled with ice.
Slightly behind Yan Shang stood a daybed.
Mu Wan Yao had originally been leaning against the daybed, holding a book to read. But the sunlight was drowsy and too glaring. She used a round fan to shield her eyes and closed them to rest for a while.
Once settled like this, she found it quite comfortable.
After finishing a section of his book, Yan Shang stretched his arms and turned around. He saw Mu Wan Yao reclining against the daybed's pillows, her round fan covering her face, a pale wrist exposed, and her fingers loosely holding a book. The maids, noticing that Her Highness seemed to have fallen asleep, came over to check.
They bent down and gently pulled the fan slightly downward from her face, noticing beads of sweat on Her Highness's forehead. Seeing that the ice in the container had melted, the maids hurried to fetch more. After replacing the ice, they attempted to move the ice container closer to the daybed where the princess lay.
With her eyes closed, Mu Wan Yao vaguely heard Yan Shang speaking with the maids.
Yan Shang softly stopped them, "The ice is too cold. Don't place it too close to Her Highness."
A maid replied, "But Her Highness is sweating."
Yan Shang hesitated briefly before saying gently, "I'll use a fan to cool her instead."
The maids quickly responded, "How could we trouble Erlang..."
Yan Shang smiled and said, "It's no trouble. I was just getting tired from reading and need a break anyway."
With her eyes still closed, Mu Wan Yao smiled, turned over, and let them do as they pleased—
Yan Shang sat by the daybed and softly called her name twice. Mu Wan Yao heard him but didn't feel like responding.
Assuming she was truly asleep, he carefully took the book from her hand and draped a thin quilt over her. Just as Mu Wan Yao was about to open her eyes in displeasure and ask if he meant to suffocate her, she felt the round fan covering her face being removed, replaced by a refreshing breeze.
Mu Wan Yao's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her eyes closed.
The cool breeze continued, and soon a handkerchief gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.He was extremely meticulous and considerate, even reaching out to gently brush away a speck of leaf debris from her cheek.
Mu Wan Yao was almost horrified.
She no longer felt the heat, for the sun before her was entirely blocked by Yan Shang. Not only did he fan her, but his hand even landed on her face, wiping something away. His fingers were slightly warm, tracing lightly across her cheek, and Mu Wan Yao blushed crimson from his touch.
She had to exert immense effort to keep her eyelashes still and resist opening her eyes.
She felt that if she opened them now... both of them would be deeply embarrassed.
Yan Shang's hand rested on hers as he used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her palm. He murmured, "Your Highness, why are you clenching your fists even in your sleep? Isn't that tiring?"
Mu Wan Yao thought to herself, if you weren't sitting here with me, I wouldn't need to clench my fists to resist.
Though he wiped her sweat, his proximity—sitting right before her, occasionally adjusting her here, tidying her clothes there—left her stiff and inwardly frantic.
Her face grew increasingly flushed, yet Yan Shang continued his slow, deliberate fussing over her.
Just as she was about to lose control and open her eyes, a maid announced, "Your Highness, Young Master Wei the Seventh has arrived."
Yan Shang glanced over, hesitating whether to have Wei Juyuan wait, when he sensed movement behind him. Turning, he saw Mu Wan Yao covering a yawn as she sat up. As she rose, her light, gauzy sleeve brushed against his hand.
The beauty, freshly awakened from her nap, breathed softly, her cheeks flushed, her watery eyes gazing at him in surprise.
Yan Shang froze.
Under her gaze, his face reddened too.
He said stiffly, "Your Highness fell asleep, so I was fanning you."
They looked at each other for a moment.
Then each averted their eyes, pretending nothing had happened.
Mu Wan Yao said casually, "Oh."
Wei Shu was led over by the maids.
Mu Wan Yao fanned herself impatiently with a fan, feeling stifled by the heat. But as her eyes fell upon Wei Shu approaching, she saw the young man walking through the courtyard like a handful of snow in the summer—cool and refreshing, without a trace of sweat.
His mere presence made the place feel instantly less hot.
Delighted at the sight of the handsome youth, Mu Wan Yao smiled warmly. "Ju Yuan, what brings you out in such sweltering weather?"
Yan Shang couldn't help but glance at Mu Wan Yao, noticing how her eyes were fixed intently on Wei Shu. She always brightened at the sight of a handsome, elegant young man, especially one as quiet-natured as Wei Shu.
Nearly every time Wei Shu visited Mu Wan Yao, her mood lifted noticeably.
Wei Shu was accustomed to this.
But Yan Shang studied Mu Wan Yao for a moment longer, frowning slightly.
Did she always act so openly when she saw good-looking gentlemen?
She didn't smile like that when she saw him—did she smile like that for all handsome men?
Wei Shu, noticing Yan Shang's presence, asked in surprise, "Second Brother Yan, what are you doing here?"
Yan Shang paused, unsure how to respond.
Wei Shu's probing gaze shifted between the princess and Yan Shang, thoughtful. "I've long thought that Your Highness and Second Brother Yan..."
Mu Wan Yao started in alarm.
She hurriedly interrupted, "Ju Yuan, don't speak nonsense! Yan Erlang and I are completely innocent!"
Wei Shu asked, "Then why is Second Brother Yan here?"
Mu Wan Yao said, "He's my retainer. What's strange about him being here?"
Wei Shu thought to himself, but you clearly look like you just woke up... and you let Second Brother Yan sit by your couch, watching you sleep?
Wei Shu's expression turned peculiar.
Knowing his sharp intellect, Mu Wan Yao dared not let him dwell on it and quickly asked, "Ju Yuan, what brings you to me?"
Wei Shu replied, "I came to borrow a rare book from Your Highness. I asked around and heard you might have it here."
Mu Wan Yao said, "Alright, I'll go look for it for you."Her maids were clearly incapable of finding the book, so Mu Wan Yao had no choice but to rise and head to the library herself. Before leaving, fearing that Yan Shang and Wei Shu might be together and that Wei Shu would press about their relationship, Mu Wan Yao shot a glance at Yan Shang. With his sharp perception, Yan Shang immediately understood.
Yan Shang stood up as well and explained to Wei Shu, "I will assist Your Highness in finding the book for you."
Wei Shu watched them rise together, his dark eyes clear and cool, remaining silent—
Walking along the corridor toward the library, Mu Wan Yao was followed by Yan Shang.
She flared up, "When Wei Shu asked earlier, why didn’t you speak and left it to me?"
Yan Shang: "What?"
Mu Wan Yao was furious: "He misunderstood our relationship. I explained that we are completely innocent, so why didn’t you explain? Ju Yuan has always been skeptical of my words, but he trusts you deeply. If you had spoken up to clarify then, he would have believed it without a doubt."
Yan Shang remained quiet for a moment.
Mu Wan Yao impatiently pushed him: "Speak!"
Outside, sunlight filtered through small openings, casting dappled patterns, while shadows in the corridor swayed like layers of pond algae drifting.
Cicadas chirped incessantly, the afternoon stiflingly hot.
Mu Wan Yao heard Yan Shang’s voice, low and cool: "How am I to explain? Your Highness and I—are we truly innocent?"
Mu Wan Yao froze, whipping her head around to stare at him.
He halted his steps, gazing at her calmly.
He said, "Perhaps in Your Highness’s heart, it is innocent. But in mine, it is not."
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