Rain pattered on the eaves.
The maid Chunhua stood behind Mu Wan Yao, discreetly observing Yan Erlang who blocked their path. Seeing Yan Erlang emerge, Chunhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, riding alongside the princess in the rain was hardly a pleasant experience.
From behind her veil hat, Mu Wan Yao let out a cool laugh.
She mocked, "Yan Erlang, do you even know why I’ve come out before offering your help?"
Yan Shisheng sighed.
In truth, Guard Fang had asked him to come out and find this Lady Mu. Guard Fang was busy disciplining the bold maids but feared the princess might get lost wandering here, so he naturally sought a local’s assistance. Moreover, in Guard Fang’s eyes, Yan Shisheng seemed quite capable.
And Yan Shisheng was indeed capable.
He persuaded the princess, "I heard from Guard Fang that what was ruined by the rain was a keepsake left to you by your mother. The facial cream and hand balm, personally crafted by your mother, must hold great importance to you. Venturing out in the rain now, if I’m not mistaken, you likely wish to restore them, don’t you?"
Mu Wan Yao fell silent.
She detested this feeling of being instantly understood and seen through.
Yan Shisheng, of course, knew this lady wasn’t easy to get along with and dared not flaunt his cleverness too much. After hinting lightly, he said with some embarrassment, "Actually, I know how to make facial cream and hand balm."
Mu Wan Yao: "……?"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Even Chunhua gasped, "What? You can?"
Chunhua muttered to herself, wasn’t this Yan Erlang encroaching on her duties?
Seeing their reactions, Yan Shisheng couldn’t help but smile, his earlier embarrassment fading slightly.
Clearing his throat, he explained, "Although my family’s circumstances are somewhat better than our neighbors’ because my father is a local gentry, Lingnan is a remote place where many things are unavailable. I have a younger sister still waiting to be married, and when she was even younger, I helped make her facial cream and hand balm."
Yan Shisheng added, "My father collected some peculiar ancient texts, and I learned from them."
Mu Wan Yao studied him for a long moment before saying, "However, the facial cream and hand balm made by different people are not the same."
Yan Shisheng bowed to her with a sigh, "This humble scholar merely wishes to try his best. I hope you will grant me this opportunity. You’ve been in the rain for so long—it’s truly worrying."
The words "truly worrying" struck Mu Wan Yao’s ears like a stone plunging into a deep, ancient pool, causing her to sway slightly. Her icy heart was unexpectedly moved.
No longer cold and aloof, Mu Wan Yao narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Are you worried about me, then?"
Yan Shisheng looked up.
She stood on the steps, leaning slightly forward to peer at him. Below her snow-white neck, accompanied by wisps of fragrance, the snowy hills of her bosom swelled gently, as if about to reveal themselves. Yan Shisheng stiffened and took half a step back.
Fearing she might misunderstand him again for having improper thoughts, he replied respectfully, "As a guest staying in our humble home, having traveled from afar, I naturally worry about your comfort and wouldn’t wish for you to fall ill from braving the rain due to the crude accommodations."
Mu Wan Yao’s face abruptly darkened again. "Hmph!"
He was using the host-guest formalities to brush her off.
If she weren’t a guest, would he not care about her at all?Mu Wan Yao walked past Yan Shisheng, with Chunhua hurriedly following behind. Yan Shisheng was somewhat dumbfounded, unsure where he had misspoken. He had been so polite and respectful—why did her temper seem to grow worse the more he spoke?
"Madam!" Yan Shisheng called out, turning back. His robe was dampened by the rain, his hair ribbon and sleeves tangled together.
Mu Wan Yao had already reached her white horse and was preparing to mount. She glanced back and saw Yan Shisheng standing in the distance, his blue robe fluttering slightly, his features as elegant as mountains and rivers—truly handsome.
A flicker passed through Mu Wan Yao’s eyes. She smiled playfully, pursing her lips in mock annoyance. "Didn’t you want me to go back so you could make face and hand cream for me? Why aren’t we leaving yet?"
Yan Shisheng was pleasantly surprised—he hadn’t expected to persuade her.
But just as she grasped the reins to mount, he quickly interjected, "Wait a moment!"
Mu Wan Yao was impatient with this fussy scholar. "What now?"
Yan Shisheng approached under his umbrella. Stopping before them, he asked a puzzled Chunhua to hold the umbrella for him while he set down the wooden chest he carried on his back and rummaged through it.
Mu Wan Yao was perplexed. "You’re not going to offer me an umbrella, are you? Unnecessary! I’m wearing a veil hat. Don’t bother with the fuss…"
Her impatient voice trailed off. Behind the veil, her eyes narrowed slightly, for she saw clearly: Yan Shisheng was pulling out a snow-fox cloak from the chest.
If she wasn’t mistaken, such a large chest could only hold this one garment. And Yan Shisheng had been carrying it the entire way.
He moved to drape the cloak over her.
Mu Wan Yao took a step back.
Yan Shisheng paused, then explained, "Before my journey, I borrowed this cloak from Guard Fang—it belongs to you, Madam. It’s not from my household. You needn’t worry that it’s been worn by others or that I’m offering you something beneath your station."
Through the veil, Mu Wan Yao watched him quietly.
She said, "You even prepared this."
Yan Shisheng explained, "I’ve always been this way—I never set out without thorough preparations… I feared you might fall ill from the rain."
Seeing that she no longer avoided him but also didn’t step forward, merely standing still in silence, he hesitated. Through the veil, he couldn’t discern her expression. Finally, he stepped closer, draped the cloak over her shoulders, and, noticing she didn’t move at all, resignedly tied the sash for her.
She must be accustomed to a life of privilege, used to others attending to her, if she wouldn’t even tie her own sash.
Mu Wan Yao watched as he stood within arm’s reach, lowering his eyes to fasten the cloak for her. Separated by the veil, she observed this handsome scholar with a curious, peculiar, and complex gaze.
Her thoughts drifted vaguely as she watched him, pondering many things… until Yan Shisheng stepped back, his voice clear and gentle. "There, Madam. You may mount your horse now."
Mu Wan Yao responded absently with an "Oh."
She mounted her horse, and Chunhua did the same. Mu Wan Yao glanced at Yan Shisheng, who stood alone on the ground, holding an umbrella as he trailed behind them.
Mu Wan Yao said, "Chunhua, dismount and ride with me. Let Yan Erlang have your horse."
As if afraid they might misunderstand, she quickly added, "I’m only concerned that Yan Erlang might walk too slowly and get lost."
And so, the two horses carrying their riders turned back the way they had come.Chunhua sat behind the princess, turning her head to secretly observe Yan Shisheng. The princess had made many exceptions for this man—though subtle, ever since her temperament changed drastically, she had shown patience toward no one except him... This scholar was truly remarkable.
Mu Wan Yao spoke leisurely, "Yan Shisheng."
Yan Shisheng was nervously controlling the horse. As a country bumpkin from Lingnan, he wasn’t accustomed to riding like the princess, who traveled on horseback daily. His nerves were on edge, fearing he might fall off. When Mu Wan Yao suddenly addressed him, he tensed up and replied, "Hmm?"
His attention entirely on the horse, he forgot to respectfully address her as "Madam."
Mu Wan Yao chatted with him casually, "How old are you?"
Yan Shisheng: "This humble one is seventeen this year."
He paused, thinking to himself: Is she asking because she intends to repay him?
Then all his careful efforts in serving her wouldn’t be in vain.
So Yan Shisheng added another sentence: "I began preparing for the provincial exams at fourteen, but perhaps due to my limited talent, I haven’t passed yet."
In truth, during this era, passing the exams required connections from higher-ups—something Yan Shisheng clearly lacked. By mentioning this, he was subtly hinting to this seemingly extraordinary Madam Mu.
Mu Wan Yao completely missed his hint. She only turned her head in surprise and smiled, "I’m also seventeen this year. My birthday is in March. What about you?"
Yan Shisheng: "This humble one was born in October."
Mu Wan Yao: "So you’ve just turned seventeen, half a year younger than me... Are you married?"
Yan Shisheng: "......?"
He was concerned about his career, not marriage! What was this madam thinking? Well... if she intended to arrange a match for him, at least one of life’s two major milestones could be accomplished.
Yan Shisheng had no choice but to reply, "I’ve been busy studying and haven’t met anyone suitable."
Mu Wan Yao: "Oh."
Then there was no follow-up.
Yan Shisheng craned his neck, waiting for a long time, but never received any assurance from Mu Wan Yao about matchmaking.
He couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed.
She really was too difficult to please—
With that thought, Yan Shisheng persuaded Mu Wan Yao to return. Once back at the Yan residence, Mu Wan Yao was naturally surrounded and escorted away like the moon among stars, and Yan Shisheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan Shisheng found his siblings and sternly reminded them again to avoid her if possible and not provoke that madam.
Moreover, Yan Shisheng began to nurture a fantasy: "...If I can successfully win her over, perhaps I might gain some benefits."
Mu Wan Yao’s questions clearly seemed like she intended to arrange a marriage for him. In such a remote place as Lingnan, Yan Shisheng indeed had few prospects for a good match.
If Madam Mu were willing... of course, that would be excellent—
Mu Wan Yao, however, had never considered matchmaking for him.
She slept soundly and was awakened the next day by noises in the courtyard.
In a foul mood, she pushed open the window and saw that the rain had stopped overnight, giving way to a bright, sunny day.
But that wasn’t the main point. What caught her attention was the crowd of maids and guards gathered in the courtyard, watching as if enjoying a spectacle.
Leaning against the windowsill, Mu Wan Yao focused her gaze and nearly gasped in astonishment.
She saw Yan Shisheng running in the courtyard, surrounded by onlookers.Yan Shisheng had changed into a narrow-sleeved robe with sandbags tied to his legs, being urged on by his eldest brother: "Erlang, push harder! One more lap! Reading every day is important, but you can’t be as weak as a kitten. Eldest Brother means well... One more lap!"
Meanwhile, Guard Fang and the others chimed in: "Don’t worry, Yan Erlang! This little run won’t kill you. A few more laps daily, and you’ll be as robust as us..."
Panting, Yan Shisheng gave a bitter smile: "I never asked to be robust..."
The maids, blushing, whispered among themselves: "Yan Erlang looks so handsome with sweat on his brow and his face flushed. Could we ask our lady..."
Mu Wan Yao inwardly scoffed, sneering at their poor taste—what was appealing about some country bumpkin?
Arms crossed proudly, Mu Wan Yao suddenly caught Yan Shisheng’s glance in her direction as he was being encouraged by the others. Perhaps he wasn’t even looking at her, but guiltily, she slammed the window shut.
After closing it, she bit her lip in frustration, angry at her own unease. She had every right to do as she pleased!
Yet, lost in thought, she refrained from reopening the window—
Yan Shisheng finally finished the laps demanded by his eldest brother. Exhausted, he walked slowly to a secluded wall, leaned against it, and sat down.
Nearby, Yan Dalang and Guard Fang were seriously discussing how to train Yan Shisheng next.
Yan Dalang believed that even if his younger brother couldn’t excel in both literary and martial arts, he shouldn’t be hindered by poor physical strength and needed daily exercise. Guard Fang, with his military background, had plenty of methods to suggest.
Watching them debate enthusiastically, Yan Shisheng sat beneath the wall, feeling disheartened.
Being overly cared for wasn’t always a good thing...
As he brooded, a window above him creaked open, and a girl’s amused voice rang out: "Hey, Yan Shisheng, let me help improve your physique."
She spoke with mock seriousness: "Do you prefer mountains of gold or beauties like jade?"
Yan Shisheng froze, tilting his head up to see Mu Wan Yao leaning down. Her waist was slender, her face blushed like peach blossoms, and her eyes held a natural charm.
Like a radiant spring scene, every part of her was exquisite, every part dazzling.
Yan Shisheng’s mind went blank, stunned by her breathtaking beauty, forgetting even to bow.
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