Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao worked together to plant the water lilies she had brought into a pot.
Since Yan Shang had never been one to spare time for gardening, there truly wasn’t a flowerpot in his room. Mu Wan Yao froze for a moment—her water lilies were being carried in water, and she hadn’t realized Yan Shang didn’t even have a flowerpot.
Mu Wan Yao then stood up: “Then let’s go next door to find a lotus bowl.”
As she spoke, she made to leave, but Yan Shang stopped her.
Yan Shang glanced at her thin, gauzy clothing, thinking it was practically no different from being bare-chested and exposed... Ah.
The customs of Great Wei were open-minded—Mu Wan Yao often even wore men’s clothing, so what did it matter if her attire was a bit sheer?
Yan Shang restrained himself for a long while but ultimately couldn’t hold back. He fetched one of his own outer robes and draped it over her shoulders, saying softly, “It’s an old garment of mine. I haven’t worn it in a long time, so it won’t carry my scent. Your Highness, please don’t disdain it.”
Mu Wan Yao: “...”
It wasn’t that she disdained it.
But why suddenly drape clothes over her?
Mu Wan Yao raised an eyebrow, glanced down at her own attire, then looked at Yan Shang’s perfectly proper, tightly fastened round-collar robe—despite the sweltering heat and sitting indoors—and pondered thoughtfully.
Mu Wan Yao: “What, do you think I’m wearing too little and it’s an eyesore?”
Yan Shang replied gently, “It’s raining outside, and I’m afraid Your Highness might catch a chill, so I ask that you wear an extra layer.”
As he spoke, he had already pushed the door open and raised an umbrella, clearly preparing to go out.
Yan Shang turned back to look at Mu Wan Yao, intending to tell her to wait here for him. But when he turned, he saw the delicate and charming young woman standing in the room, draped in his oversized snow-white outer robe—her dark lashes against fair skin, elegant and graceful—and he was momentarily stunned.
For a brief moment, his heart felt hot and pounding.
Mu Wan Yao wondered why he had turned to look at her without speaking: “What’s wrong?”
Yan Shang snapped out of it, reining in his wandering thoughts, and instructed softly, “It’s pouring outside, Your Highness. Please wait here for me. I’ll go next door to find a lotus bowl.”
Mu Wan Yao: “Ah...”
She wanted to say, why not send a servant? Why trouble himself?
But Yan Shang had already pushed the door open and left, so Mu Wan Yao didn’t press further. After he left, she stood alone in his room, draped in his outer robe, feeling an indescribable strangeness in her heart.
Mu Wan Yao stood dazed for a while, then lowered her head, her cheeks flushing.
This was the first time she had actively sought out a gentleman at night—
When Yan Shang pushed the door open and stepped out with an umbrella, he also wanted to assess the situation that evening.
As he went out, he saw Guard Fang and several maids standing under the eaves to avoid the rain. His eyes flickered slightly, and he understood that Mu Wan Yao had come fully prepared tonight, with no other intentions.
He felt a bit embarrassed, a flicker of panic at the impending situation.
He thought vaguely, since she liked it, he might as well go along with it. After all, men weren’t expected to guard their chastity.
But how exactly should he proceed? He was a little... unsure.
For Yan Shang, who was accustomed to keeping everything within a controlled scope, this was somewhat beyond his expectations. He could only brace himself and think that once they were in bed, he would surely figure it out naturally. He could probably muddle through.
And besides... Mu Wan Yao had experience, didn’t she?
The thought that she likely knew how made him slightly uncomfortable, but he tried to suppress it. He recalled Mu Wan Yao mentioning her ex-husband back in Lingnan—her tone had been displeased, so her relationship with him probably hadn’t been good. He should be careful not to upset her.Last time in bed was out of necessity... This time I should go along with her—
When Yan Shang returned carrying the lotus bowl, Mu Wan Yao had already been sitting idly playing with her fingers for quite some time.
She turned her head upon seeing him enter, noticed the raindrops on his robe, and hurried to greet him.
Together they crouched beside the lotus bowl, using small shovels to transplant the water lilies Mu Wan Yao had brought.
Mu Wan Yao was a princess who never soiled her hands with manual labor—she was accustomed to watching others work while doing nothing herself. Yan Shang, though experienced in farming, had always been slender and delicate; his father and elder brother never allowed him to work in the fields, merely letting him observe from the sidelines.
Thus, both Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang felt they had theoretical knowledge about planting water lilies, yet neither had ever actually done it.
They exchanged ideas and methods, fumbling through the process as they clumsily planted the water lilies in the bowl.
Mu Wan Yao tilted her head and noticed Yan Shang’s wide sleeves dragging on the ground, now stained not only with rainwater but also with mud. She frowned, suddenly struck by a thought: Why was she crouching here with him, figuring out how to plant flowers?
Wasn’t she here to sleep?
It was all his fault—his harmless demeanor had somehow lured her into squatting here planting flowers!
Yan Shang carefully inspected the water lilies transplanted into the bowl. Seeing only a few unopened buds, he grew anxious, wondering whether her imperial uncle had gifted her flowers that hadn’t yet bloomed or if he and Mu Wan Yao had mishandled them, causing the flowers to die...
He turned to discuss it with Mu Wan Yao, only to find her crouching there with a dark, displeased expression.
He paused, taken aback. “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
Had he done something wrong again?
Mu Wan Yao turned her head, her dark eyes fixed on the mud stains dotting his slender, jade-like fingers. Her frown deepened. She pushed him lightly and scolded, “Weren’t you going to wash up? Why haven’t you gone yet? Do you plan to spend the whole night planting flowers?”
Yan Shang’s face flushed instantly.
He understood her implication.
Yet he hesitated, glancing at the water lilies in the bowl, unsure whether they had survived the ordeal. “But...”
Mu Wan Yao urged him, “Go on, go! I’ll take care of the flowers—they won’t die!”
Thus prodded, Yan Shang left.
As soon as he was gone, Mu Wan Yao stood up and abandoned the flowerpot. Earlier, she had been spellbound, crouching with Yan Shang to examine the flowers, but left alone, she couldn’t be bothered with them.
What was so interesting about them anyway?
If the flowers died, they could just plant new ones.
Back when she brought white ox tea trees from Lingnan, half of them died before she managed to keep one or two alive.
Princess Danyang had a habit of discarding what didn’t suit her.
No longer foolishly preoccupied with the flowers, Mu Wan Yao began to curiously, albeit idly, glance around Yan Shang’s quarters. Since he wouldn’t be back from washing up anytime soon, she decided to wander around his room to pass the time.
A man’s living quarters weren’t particularly intriguing to Mu Wan Yao. Moreover, Yan Shang’s room was impeccably clean, with everything neatly arranged and plainly visible—utterly unremarkable, devoid of any hidden details.
He didn’t even keep any secrets tucked away in his room.
Just like the man himself—smooth and transparent, leaving no room for criticism.Mu Wan Yao yawned, kneeling on Yan Shang's desk before lowering herself to lie prone for a while. Compared to other places, perhaps the spot where he studied offered slightly more detail. Bored out of her mind, she casually picked up the books piled on his desk and began flipping through them.
There were various types of books—some she had read, others she hadn't. But Mu Wan Yao had no intention of taking exams like him, so even the unread books held no interest for expanding her knowledge.
While browsing, a sheet of paper slipped out from one of the volumes, fluttering gracefully to the ground—
Curious, Mu Wan Yao picked up the densely written page and discovered it wasn't his study notes but rather something akin to a plan... or a self-reflection?
It was filled with meticulous entries: whom he had met, what books he had read, what words he had spoken, where he had fallen short, and where improvements could be made...
Mu Wan Yao was horrified, wondering what kind of monster he was.
What shocked her even more was that, at the end of his exhaustive self-reflections, her name appeared. The character "婚" (marriage) following the three characters of "暮晚摇" startled her, and it wasn't the only instance.
There were notes on when to see her, what official rank he needed to reach to advance their relationship further... all pointing toward one conclusion—
Wooing the princess—
Mu Wan Yao's expression shifted uncertainly. She tucked the paper back into the book, stood up, and paced around the room, her mind in disarray.
She had two speculations:
The first possibility was that Yan Shang's current kindness toward her was all for the purpose of wooing the princess. And his aim to woo the princess was for his own future prospects.
In Great Wei, it wasn't uncommon for imperial sons-in-law to rise through marriage. The official positions of Great Wei's imperial sons-in-law weren't restricted; they weren't deliberately suppressed for marrying a princess. Many noble families disliked the temperamental nature of Great Wei's princesses and avoided alliances with the imperial family. However, many scions from noble families sought such marriages, as whispering in a princess's ear might easily secure an official position.
Yan Shang came from a humble background—how difficult it was for him to climb upward. After experiencing the incident with Feng Xianyu, he should have realized the hardships of low birth... Someone like him would likely connect wooing the princess with his future prospects.
The second possibility was that Yan Shang had no such intentions; he simply enjoyed making plans, as evidenced by the fact that his notes included not only plans about her but also about other matters.
This would align with Yan Shang's displayed character of not coveting power and wealth.
But this also raised a significant question—was he placing too much importance on their relationship?
Did he actually intend to pursue a serious outcome with her?
Was he striving step by step to achieve that outcome?
Yet, when she had asked him if they could avoid responsibility, he had said he wasn't the type to demand accountability from her—
The first possibility made Mu Wan Yao angry, wanting to cut off all ties with Yan Shang and sever their relationship completely.
The second possibility made Mu Wan Yao afraid, hesitant to interact with him further.
She had only wanted to relax casually and happened to encounter someone she liked... She truly had no further intentions.
Nor could she afford to have such intentions.
Either she wouldn't marry at all, or if she did, she would maximize the benefits of the marriage—she'd be a fool to end up with Yan Shang—
Yan Shang had frightened Mu Wan Yao, leaving her pacing the room with a troubled expression, several times on the verge of pushing the door open and fleeing.Just as Mu Wan Yao was once again contemplating pushing the door open to flee, the door swung open—Yan Shang had returned.
She looked up at him, a faint glimmer lighting her eyes.
Perhaps fearing it improper to leave her alone in the room, Yan Shang had returned swiftly. Yet while he could hurry, his long hair could not dry so quickly, nor could his robes be as impeccably arranged as usual.
Rushing back like this, he carried the cool scent of rain, his eyes clear and lips red, his dark hair half-tied. Wind and rain swept from behind, billowing his sleeves, making him appear like an immortal descending from the clouds.
There was an air of effortless grace about him.
Yan Shang, who had returned holding a lantern, closed the door and turned to meet Mu Wan Yao’s gaze. He offered a slight smile, droplets still clinging to his face and misting his lashes.
Mu Wan Yao’s feet seemed rooted to the spot—she couldn’t bring herself to leave.
Such a beautiful youth.
How could she bear to?—
Hesitating, Mu Wan Yao decided to test Yan Shang.
As he lingered uncertainly by the door, she approached with a playful smile, linking her arm with his and pulling him inside. She shot him a small glare and chided, “I never thought someone like you would be so impatient. Men, ha.”
Yan Shang: “…”
As she tugged him to sit, he felt somewhat uneasy. Her mocking tone seemed to hold a deep disdain for men’s inherent nature.
Unable to resist, Yan Shang defended himself: “I hurried back because I felt it improper to leave Your Highness alone in the room—not for any other reason.”
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him. “So you didn’t come back to take me to bed?”
Yan Shang was left speechless.
Mu Wan Yao poked his arm through his sleeve. “If that’s the case, don’t deny your desires. Who says your heart is pure?”
Yan Shang pressed his lips together and fell silent.
It wasn’t exactly a denial, was it?
He just sometimes struggled with how to interact with her.
Like now…
Yet at this moment, Mu Wan Yao had her own little schemes in mind. Without waiting for Yan Shang to find a topic, she leaned in close to chat with him.
Pulling him down to sit beside her, she rested her hand on his knee and snuggled against his stiff shoulder as if making casual conversation. “When my imperial uncle sent the water lilies today, I ran into my aunt at the Eastern Palace.”
Luling Grand Princess.
Yan Shang’s lashes lifted slightly as he looked at her.
Mu Wan Yao grinned. “It’s because the Eastern Palace is building a garden for the Emperor and ran short of funds, so they asked my aunt for money again. She was furious—rarely does she seize a chance while visiting the palace to see my father to storm into the Eastern Palace and pick a fight.”
Yan Shang smiled faintly.
He said, “It’s no problem if the Grand Princess argues with the Crown Prince. As long as they quarrel, it shows they aren’t forming factions. The Emperor won’t suspect the Grand Princess, and her position will remain secure.”
Mu Wan Yao: “But my aunt has to painfully fork over a huge sum! I saw her fuming, almost at her breaking point. I’m afraid she might really lose control one day and go complain to my father…”
Yan Shang said softly, “It’s all right. Brother Feng will stop her and explain things. He’ll make sure the Grand Princess understands that only by enduring this can she have a chance to rise later.”
Hearing him mention “Brother Feng,” Mu Wan Yao paused a moment before realizing he meant Feng Xianyu.
She gave him a light look.
“Actually, when my aunt came to the palace today, it was to ask my father to grant your ‘Brother Feng’ an official post. By the time I found out, that Feng gentleman had already been appointed as a Collator.”"Though it's only a minor ninth-rank official position, it's still an official post. He no longer needs to take next year's imperial examination... He's already been appointed as a ninth-rank proofreader in the Secretariat. The Secretariat is close to the central government, making it a good placement. Moreover, the position of proofreader essentially involves reading books in the library—leisurely and relaxed, everyone likes it."
Yan Shang's eyelashes fluttered slightly in initial surprise before he nodded in understanding.
He said, "It seems I should find an opportunity to congratulate Brother Feng another day."
The imperial examination naturally wasn't the only path to becoming an official.
Feng Xianyu had originally attached himself to the Eldest Princess to participate in next year's imperial examination... But now that the Eldest Princess had directly secured him an official position, that was quite good too.
Mu Wan Yao observed Yan Shang's expression, noticing he only seemed genuinely happy for Feng Xianyu. Though he had been momentarily stunned, there was no trace of wistful envy.
Mu Wan Yao decided to speak bluntly: "Do you need me to go to the Emperor and directly request an official position for you too? Working hard for the October examination with no guarantee of success—if you fail, not only would you waste another year, but you'd also lose face. Why not let me get you an official position now? Then you wouldn't need to study hard—you could just become an official directly."
She used these words to test whether Yan Shang wanted to advance through her connections. Whether his recent change in attitude toward her was because he hoped she could secure him an official position.
Yan Shang was taken aback, his expression turning serious.
He explained carefully: "I don't know why Your Highness always believes I want to advance through your connections... If I had such intentions, given how many times I've refused Your Highness, even if it could be explained as playing hard to get, wouldn't the number of refusals be too many? I've known Your Highness since Lingnan, and after coming to Chang'an, our relationship has always been good. If I wanted to advance through Your Highness... why would I wait until now?"
Mu Wan Yao watched him.
He continued gently: "What official position I hold doesn't require Your Highness to plan for me. Please rest assured... how I treat Your Highness now has nothing to do with such matters. Please don't overthink it."
Looking into her eyes, he said softly: "For such an excellent lady as Your Highness, isn't it normal for gentlemen to admire you? Why must you always suspect my intentions?"
Mu Wan Yao stared at him.
Thinking to herself—in what way was she excellent? And since when was it normal for people to like her? It had never been normal.
Yet Yan Shang's words warmed her heart, making her feel that testing him was her own problem... But her unease persisted. Even though she repeatedly accused him like this, he always patiently explained over and over that he didn't mean it that way... Never once did he feel she was insulting him or get angry with her.
He was so good.
Mu Wan Yao pressed her lips together, watching him in the candlelight, her heart filled with both joy and fear.
Joy because he didn't want to use her; fear because if he didn't want to use her, then he truly wanted to be with her...
That was too frightening.
Mu Wan Yao was nearly scared to death by him.
But... with such beauty before her, something she had longed for so long yet couldn't obtain at all, she really couldn't resign herself.
So Mu Wan Yao summoned her courage and decided she still wanted to stay... At least she should claim some benefits before escaping?
Moreover, if the benefits turned out unsatisfactory and she didn't like them, wouldn't that give her a legitimate excuse to completely break with Yan Shang and make him stop bothering her?Mu Wan Yao's thoughts churned for a long while. Seeing Yan Shang gazing at her gently, she suddenly flashed a toothy grin, spread her arms toward him, and cooed, "Give me a hug."
Yan Shang was taken aback.
Then, blushing, he leaned in to embrace her, his arms encircling her body.
As he held her, he caught the fragrance of her scent, felt her softness and slenderness... His heart pounded wildly, nearly leaping out of his chest. Yan Shang's arms around her stiffened slightly, but he didn't let go.
Yet Mu Wan Yao wasn't satisfied.
She tilted her head back and glanced at him.
Yan Shang was ever so perceptive.
He whispered, "What's wrong?"
Mu Wan Yao smiled with a hint of teasing, "Not this kind of hug."
Yan Shang's face reddened even more.
Utterly unable to keep up with her, he had no choice but to ask softly, "Then what kind of hug is it?"
Mu Wan Yao thought to herself, Is this guy an idiot?
She chuckled, "It's for you to carry me to the bed."
Yan Shang froze, realizing he'd misunderstood. He coughed awkwardly and slightly turned his face away.
Mu Wan Yao deliberately prodded, "What, can't you carry me?"
Yan Shang sighed helplessly, "Your Highness!"
Somewhat unaccustomed, he slipped one arm around her neck and the other under her knees, lifting her horizontally into his arms as he stood up. His clumsiness was entirely evident to Mu Wan Yao. She looked up at him, laughing, and kicked her legs playfully in his embrace.
Her smile bloomed like a flower as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face against his neck. The golden hairpin swayed with each step—
Mu Wan Yao sat on the bed with Yan Shang for a while.
He said stiffly, "Shall we rest then?"
Mu Wan Yao looked at him with a smile.
There was a hint of intentional mockery in her expression, so Yan Shang could only rise and go to extinguish the candles himself, thinking that once the room darkened, everything would surely be better.
Who would have thought that upon seeing his intention to blow out the candles, Mu Wan Yao's heart skipped a beat. She instantly grabbed his wrist, preventing him from leaving the bed.
She blurted out, "Don't blow out the candles!"
Yan Shang paused, turning his head to look at her. Mu Wan Yao averted her gaze, her face slightly pale, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet he seemed to understand all at once.
Yan Shang smiled faintly and said softly, "I was just going to lower the bed curtains. Actually, I'm not used to blowing out candles at night either. Having a little light in the room is quite nice."
Mu Wan Yao didn't believe him.
Sometimes when she couldn't sleep at night, she would sit in the three-story pavilion of her own residence and look across at the neighboring estates, only to see complete darkness. He wasn't afraid of the dark at all; like any normal person, he had no habit of refusing to blow out candles at night.
He said this for her sake.
Mu Wan Yao felt both touched and fond.
She chided, "Then how many candles are you going to waste? You're so poor—do you even have the money?"
Yan Shang replied, "I'm not that poor, am I?"
Mu Wan Yao hugged the bedding and looked up at him, just as he lowered his head to gaze at her.
He sat before her with his hair loose, his eyes dark, his demeanor pure and harmless.
The candlelight flickered softly outside, and occasionally, the sound of rain pattering could be heard beyond the room.
Inside the bed curtains, only the two of them sat like this. Mu Wan Yao's face flushed, her heart racing uncharacteristically, her cheeks burning.
After sitting for a moment, Mu Wan Yao said, "Don't you have anything you want to do?"
Yan Shang lowered his gaze.
His fingers, resting on the bed, trembled slightly, and Mu Wan Yao saw his throat move.
She heard him whisper, "May I kiss you, Your Highness?"
Mu Wan Yao was both exasperated and amused. Clutching a pillow, her face completely red, she hit his arm with it, saying, "You fool! Did I ever stop you from kissing me? Why even ask?"
So he leaned in, his lips meeting hers.Mu Wan Yao trembled slightly. Her hands still clutched the pillow, but her fingertips began to grow numb—she couldn't bring herself to strike him again.
Just by enduring like that, he had already left her stunned.
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to think that enduring a blow was equivalent to a kiss.
After all, even if he truly didn’t know… Mu Wan Yao had already kissed him. Yan Shang had long understood that a kiss was more than just lips meeting lips.
So lips parted, tongues met, and he lowered his head to yield, their breaths entwining.
Fragrant and gentle, it began like a light drizzle, then turned into a drenching exploration.
His long hair spilled across the bedding, and as he leaned over, the slightly damp strands fell onto the back of Mu Wan Yao’s hand. Black hair and jade-white fingers intertwined, a stark contrast of colors, evoking tender affection and unspoken intimacy.
“Mmm…”
Mu Wan Yao secretly opened one eye to look at him and saw his eyes closed, the skin beneath them slightly flushed. His lashes rested on his eyelids, and she could hear his breathing grow uneven—so he wasn’t always composed after all. As her thoughts wandered, he reached out, suddenly wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her into his embrace.
Mu Wan Yao: “Ah!”
He drew her tightly against him, pressing her down.
Mu Wan Yao immediately struck his shoulder, mumbling in protest, “Don’t… don’t press on me!”
Yan Shang’s breathing was already ragged, his breath growing scorching hot. His emotions were slipping beyond his control, and he couldn’t help but hold her close. Yet she murmured her resistance in his arms, her strength so slight, like a kitten’s playful scratch. Yan Shang’s face flushed crimson as he struggled to regain his composure, only then catching the words she was muttering.
With some difficulty, he shifted away, lying on his side to avoid pressing down on her. With this change in position, the kiss came to an end. Just as he felt a pang of regret, he saw Mu Wan Yao open her eyes, gazing at him with mischief.
She pounced on him, pinning him down, and kissed him again.
But her playful antics, storm-like and unrestrained, stood in stark contrast to his gentle, cautious approach, born of fear of hurting her—
Inside the bed curtains, faint rustling sounds could be heard.
Yan Shang gradually grew uncomfortable, gently rubbing against her. Instinctively, he reached out, his fingers lightly tracing her neck with a slight downward drift. Mu Wan Yao, soft as spring water, remained alert nonetheless.
She grabbed his hand, her eyes wide: “What are you doing?”
Yan Shang, caught between overwhelming desire and embarrassment, replied, “Shouldn’t it be like this?”
Mu Wan Yao: “I only wanted to kiss you. What are you thinking? Do you not respect me at all, only wanting to bed me?”
Yan Shang: “…”
He was utterly exasperated, tormented by desire, and now accused unfairly. Any other man would have been driven mad by Mu Wan Yao’s capriciousness.
But Yan Shang’s patience was boundless.
Hearing her words, he reflected on whether he had indeed been disrespectful. He could only sigh, pulling her back into his embrace and whispering, “Then let’s just kiss.”
Mu Wan Yao was stunned.
She could feel the heat of his body, yet he was… content with just kissing?
As his lips captured hers, her mind grew hazy. Mumbling for a while, she forgot what she had been thinking—
Mu Wan Yao lay in Yan Shang’s embrace, listening to his heartbeat.
Eventually, she felt a twinge of guilt, thinking herself too cruel, and said, “Shall I help you?”
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t before…
But Yan Shang murmured vaguely, “It’s fine, don’t worry. It’ll pass soon. I just want to hold Your Highness.”
Mu Wan Yao was astonished: “…It’ll pass soon?”
Yan Shang: “Mm.”
Mu Wan Yao gave him a peculiar look, thinking to herself that this man truly didn’t know how to indulge in pleasure. Yet she also loved the feeling of being held by him. Nestled in his arms, she felt cherished and protected.Mu Wan Yao's eyes sparkled with laughter as she buried herself in his embrace, wrapping her arms around him. She dared not touch him recklessly, afraid of causing him more discomfort. Tilting her face upward, her gaze met his lowered eyes.
He reached out and gently brushed her cheek.
Yan Shang whispered, "Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao: "Hmm?"
Yan Shang smiled: "Has the water lily bloomed?"
His slightly warm fingers rested on her face as he leaned in to look at her, his gaze tender, lingering, and utterly focused. Mu Wan Yao was momentarily stunned before realizing he was using the flower as a metaphor for her. She pulled up the quilt to cover her face, shrinking down bit by bit.
Like a turtle retreating into its shell.
Hidden beneath the covers, she couldn't suppress a secret chuckle—
Of course, the water lily had bloomed—
A night of continuous rain.
They shared a pillow and slept together.
Inside the bedchamber, the curtains were drawn low, concealing the scene. Outside, in the bowl of water lilies, a faint red hue gradually seeped from the buds as they cautiously began to unfurl under the cover of night.
The room was filled with a delicate fragrance.
Mu Wan Yao carefully rose, leaning over to gaze down at Yan Shang. She gently freed her long hair from beneath his arm and, by the candlelight, lingered over him for a long time, reluctant to part. His sleeping face, with eyes closed, was especially endearing.
Yet, his determination to marry her had truly frightened her.
No matter how unwilling she was, Mu Wan Yao had to steel her heart and sever his hopes.
In his drowsy slumber, Yan Shang seemed to sense Mu Wan Yao getting up. He slightly opened his eyes, his voice hoarse: "Your Highness...?"
Mu Wan Yao quickly replied: "I'm returning to the residence. Go back to sleep."
Yan Shang paused, then tried to sit up: "I'll escort you..."
Seeing he was still half-asleep, Mu Wan Yao hurriedly pressed him back down. Her heart raced, afraid he might discover her hidden intentions. She chided him with a laugh: "It's just next door. What's there to escort? Sleep, don't get up."
With rare tenderness and consideration, she persuaded him to stay—
The next day, Mu Wan Yao entered the palace to discuss matters with the Crown Prince, then returned to her residence to pack her belongings before accompanying the Emperor to the summer retreat.
Half of the Princess Residence was emptied by her.
Before Chunhua could agonize over whether to terminate her pregnancy, Mu Wan Yao had already taken her to the summer retreat, where she spent her days in the Emperor's company.
On the third day at the summer retreat, Mu Wan Yao went to accompany the Emperor fishing, leaving Chunhua alone in her room.
After sitting in a daze for an hour, Chunhua finished brewing the medicine and, suppressing her fear, resolutely drank it down—
Praying only that it would truly end the pregnancy!
And that the imperial family would not detect it!—
For three consecutive days, Yan Shang came to the Princess Residence seeking an audience, but Mu Wan Yao refused to see him.
At first, she claimed to be busy, and Yan Shang didn't think much of it.
By the third day, Yan Shang began to feel that something was amiss.
No couple should behave this way after a night together. Using subtle verbal traps, he easily extracted information from the attendants left at the Princess Residence and learned that Mu Wan Yao had gone to accompany the Emperor at the summer retreat.
The Princess Residence's staff said she would likely stay at the summer retreat for at least a month.
Clearly, the Princess would not return within that month.
Standing before the Princess Residence, though it was the sixth month of summer, Yan Shang felt as if icy water had been poured over his head.
From top to bottom, his heart instantly turned cold.
He stood in a daze for a long time, wondering why she would treat him this way.
...Was it because that night was not good?
Did she not like it?
Could it be... she disliked his kissing?
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