The Zheng clan members were all exiled to the southern frontier, signaling the beginning of the end for this vigorous crackdown on powerful magnates.
Luling Grand Princess relinquished the Taoist temple the Emperor had specially built for her and moved to another palace to nurture her spirit.
Many handsome men were forced to leave her—some imprisoned, others fleeing far away. The once glorious Luling Grand Princess now secluded herself in a suburban palace near Chang'an, a rather desolate sight.
On a sweltering July day, Feng Xianyu left the government office and made a special trip to the suburbs to visit the Grand Princess.
The courtyard scenery remained exquisite, with lush grass and flowers, yet as Feng Xianyu walked through, he felt it was merely a facade to uphold the Grand Princess's dignity.
Through the curtain, Feng Xianyu paid his respects to the Grand Princess and saw two young actors kneeling at the feet of the noble lady. The two actors were laughing and joking, trying to amuse the princess.
Luling Grand Princess lifted her eyelids and, upon seeing Feng Xianyu, waved for her attendants to withdraw. The two actors reluctantly retreated, shooting fierce glares at Feng Xianyu as they left.
They believed it was this man who always persuaded the Grand Princess to send them away—truly detestable.
Feng Xianyu's expression remained unchanged. As a scholar, he had his pride and would not bother with these unruly actors.
Once the room was quiet, Feng Xianyu reported to the Grand Princess, "The crackdown on the powerful magnates is gradually concluding. The Crown Prince privately said that he appreciates Your Highness's sacrifices and will not forget them."
Luling Grand Princess sneered.
She said slowly, "I hope he truly doesn't forget."
Feng Xianyu remained silent.
He knew she was putting on a brave face. Now, the initiative lay with the Crown Prince. The Grand Princess... ultimately depended on the Emperor. Once the Emperor abandoned her, she would be cast aside.
The Grand Princess whispered, with a hint of sorrow, "Tell me, why is His Majesty unwilling to see me? Why does he no longer dote on me? Is it because Danyang is by his side now, so he has forgotten me? Or is he building momentum for the Crown Prince, giving him face? Why is my imperial brother treating me this way?"
After a long pause, Feng Xianyu replied, "The thunder and the dew are both the grace of the sovereign. His Majesty's will is unfathomable; who can truly say? In any case, Your Highness is now resting here, which is better than remaining in Chang'an. Wait for some time, such as the year-end ceremony, when Your Highness enters the palace to see His Majesty again. Perhaps then, the favor will be restored as before."
The Grand Princess murmured, "I cannot understand my imperial brother's thoughts. If you say he loves power, yet he easily handed over military and financial authority to his sons for training. If you say he doesn't love power, he still firmly controls everything. If you say he dotes on the princes, yet when Prince Jin injured his leg, no one spoke of it openly, and he acted as if he didn't know. If you say he doesn't dote on the princes, he has given the Crown Prince and Yaoyao opportunities to gain prestige...
"I cannot understand him."
Feng Xianyu said, "Your Highness need not worry about such matters. You are the Grand Princess. As long as His Majesty lives, no one would dare move against you as long as you do not overstep. This time, they only targeted those attached to Your Highness. If Your Highness endures, there is still a possibility of returning to the past."
Luling Grand Princess whispered, "Feng Lang, come closer."
The curtain lifted slightly. Feng Xianyu, standing behind it, stiffened slightly and raised his eyes to look at the lady behind the veil.The Eldest Princess murmured softly, "It's been so long since I last saw you. Ever since you took up the post of Collator, you've visited me far less often. I've missed you dearly. Feng Lang, come closer, let me have a proper look at you."
Feng Xianyu remained silent for a moment before rising and stepping forward.
The curtain lifted and fell again, the gentle clinking of pearls and jade echoing softly.
In the dim light behind the drapes, the gentleman and the lady embraced. He was clad in light attire, while her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms.
Passion overwhelmed them as the faint cicada songs of the fading summer afternoon occasionally rose—
The retreat to the mountain villa had come to an end.
With summer's conclusion, the crackdown on the powerful families concluded as well. Though the Emperor had not been in Chang'an, he had watched the entire performance unfold over a full month.
This drama had been enacted collectively by his children, with perhaps only the Princess of Yuyang abstaining from participation. It allowed the Emperor to scrutinize each of their intentions carefully.
Having seen enough of the play and with the heat subsiding, the Emperor returned to the palace. The Danyang Princess, who had accompanied him for over a month, could finally return to her Princess Residence.
The month of accompanying the Emperor had brought the princess and him much closer.
Occasional laughter and jest could be heard.
While dining with the Emperor, the Danyang Princess had even learned to act coy and amuse him. The Emperor, pleased, cherished his young daughter's renewed affection.
Whether genuine or not, everyone was striving to play their roles well, perfecting their images.
However, when departing the mountain villa, Mu Wan Yao still brought Chunhua from Prince Jin's residence to her side. Mu Wan Yao's reasoning was that she could gift Chunhua to Prince Jin, but only if he formally took her into his household as a concubine.
A princess's maid entering Prince Jin's residence might not attain the status of a noble consort, but whatever honor could be bestowed, Prince Jin must grant it.
Over the month, Prince Jin had likely exhausted himself. Moreover, with Mu Wan Yao having just lost the Zheng clan, she was at her most vulnerable. Unwilling to provoke her further, Prince Jin readily agreed to properly accept Chunhua into his household—
At the end of the seventh month, Mu Wan Yao alighted from her carriage at the entrance of her residence's lane.
It was not that the carriage refused to enter the lane, but rather that someone was blocking the path at the lane's mouth. While the carriage driver negotiated for passage, Mu Wan Yao had already impatiently stepped down, her splendid skirts sweeping the ground.
Two maidservants followed Her Highness as she descended, but Chunhua was not among them. Chunhua remained in another carriage, feeling unwell and unable to attend to the princess.
Mu Wan Yao spotted Yan Shang.
Of course, he could not have known when she would return, so encountering him at the lane's entrance was merely a coincidence.
She saw him bending down at the lane's mouth, surrounded by a crowd of young children. Yan Shang and his two or three servants held bronze bowls, distributing malt candy to the clamoring youngsters amidst the noise.
Yan Shang's voice was clear and gentle: "No need to rush, there's enough for everyone."
His personal attendant, Yun Shu, was far louder than his master: "Behave yourselves! Don't tug at our gentleman's belt!"
The sudden appearance of the Danyang Princess and her entourage startled everyone present. Mu Wan Yao, supported by her maid, descended from the carriage as all at the lane's entrance came to pay their respects.
Yan Shang, who had his back to her, turned at the commotion and looked toward her.
In that instant of turning, his robes fluttered in the breeze, his hair ribbon flowing gracefully. As he turned to gaze at her, he still held the bronze bowl, yet his eyes never wavered from her. They sparkled intensely, bright and luminous like jade.Mu Wan Yao gazed at him quietly, her eyes sweeping inch by inch over his brows and eyes, skimming past his collar and neck, taking in his entire form.
No one spoke, those around them sensing something profoundly different in the air.
It took Yan Shang a long moment to break their shared gaze. Following the others, he bowed to her with a hint of laughter in his voice: "Your Highness has returned?"
Mu Wan Yao averted her eyes, refusing to meet his gaze. She looked down at the children clustered around him and asked, "What is this? Have you suddenly taken to adopting children?"
She spoke with utter seriousness: "I won't accept a horde of children living in the same alley as me. If you're going to disturb me with this noise every day, you should move out."
Yan Shang sighed with a laugh.
Yet his laughter carried seven parts joy.
He explained to Mu Wan Yao: "I received a letter from home. My sister-in-law has completed her ten months of pregnancy and finally given our family its first child. A boy, weighing a full eight jin. My elder brother wrote to inform me, and I was so overjoyed that I distributed some malt candies sent from home to the children nearby, sharing my happiness with everyone."
He added with slight embarrassment: "Though I fear my boisterous celebration has disturbed Your Highness's return to the residence."
Mu Wan Yao fell silent.
After thinking for a long while, she could only vaguely recall that Yan Shang's eldest brother was a burly man. His specific appearance had faded from her memory, but she barely remembered him as a simple and amiable person.
Precisely because he was so easygoing, all major and minor affairs of the Yan family had been left to the second son to manage, while the eldest brother had no say at all.
But now that Yan Shang was in Chang'an, family matters had fallen back onto Yan Dalang's shoulders. And that Yan Dalang already had a son... Yan Shang was distributing candies out of joy for his elder brother.
Mu Wan Yao looked down at the children surrounding Yan Shang—all noble children, exquisitely dressed with jade-snow complexions, yet each clinging to Yan Shang as if they adored him.
Mu Wan Yao said tonelessly: "You like children?"
Yan Shang smiled slightly, glancing down at the children around him: "Who doesn't?"
Mu Wan Yao: "I don't."
The air stilled for a moment.
She looked at him mockingly: "Do you find it unreasonable that I, as a woman, don't like children?"
Yan Shang said: "...Everyone has their own preferences, that's only natural. There's no rule that women must like children."
Mu Wan Yao's lips quirked faintly, and she said nothing more.
Once again, she had found another deep chasm between herself and Yan Shang, just when—after a month apart—she had been enjoying their reunion.
Reality kept reminding her how unsuitable they were for each other.
He liked children, while she would likely never have the chance to consider whether she liked them or not.
Mu Wan Yao ignored Yan Shang and stepped toward her residence. Yan Shang paused briefly where he stood, handed the bronze bowl to a servant, and hurried after her.
He gently tugged her sleeve. When Mu Wan Yao looked over, he offered her a piece of malt candy.
Mu Wan Yao: "I don't care for such childish treats."
Yet Yan Shang remembered how much she had enjoyed candy when she was ill in Lingnan.
Yan Shang said: "Could you please share in my joy for my brother's newborn? I'll give you some candy, and you'll grant my brother this small favor, alright?"
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him. He lifted his eyes to meet hers. Her heart fluttered slightly, and she looked away, but offered no rebuttal.Yan Shang offered a faint smile.
Having followed her all the way to the Princess Residence, Mu Wan Yao was about to ascend the steps when she turned her head and noticed Yan Shang still trailing behind.
Mu Wan Yao: "...Why are you still following me? Do you have nothing better to do?"
Yan Shang's face flushed slightly.
He whispered: "May I visit you tonight?"
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Her emotions were in turmoil.
What could he possibly want visiting her at night? Surely not just innocent conversation under the quilts? His intentions were as transparent as Sima Zhao's ambitions!
Yet Mu Wan Yao struggled with how to handle her relationship with Yan Shang, leaving her uncertain how to respond.
If she were to sever ties with him decisively, claiming she had never been interested and demanding he stop pestering her, she couldn't bring herself to be so cruel. But if she were to be with him freely and sweetly without restraint, she feared losing control of her emotions and worried she might lead him astray.
Since she couldn't offer him any promises, she would only be wasting his time.
But she was too addicted to Yan Shang's kindness... like this piece of candy he had pressed into her hand. So sweet yet not cloying—who could bear to throw it away after just one taste?
Mu Wan Yao stood dazed for a moment until Yan Shang gently tugged her sleeve again. He said: "Your Highness, if you have something to say, can't we discuss it inside? Must we linger like this at the residence entrance?"
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Was she the one wanting to linger?!
It was him bringing up visiting her at night that had her so conflicted.
Mu Wan Yao snatched her sleeve back from his grasp, speaking with extreme politeness: "I'm extremely busy and have no time for you. Focus on your studies instead of entertaining frivolous thoughts that waste both your time and mine."
Yan Shang stared at her in momentary confusion, his gaze searching for her true meaning.
Mu Wan Yao avoided his eyes, afraid he might detect her indecision, and hurried into the residence. In her haste, she stumbled on the steps. Hearing what sounded like a sigh from Yan Shang behind her, she immediately turned back, glaring at him with flushed anger.
He averted his gaze, pretending not to have witnessed her near-fall. Yet his tall figure stood with casual elegance, a faint smile playing on his lips that only deepened Mu Wan Yao's embarrassment and irritation—
That night, Mu Wan Yao pushed open the guest room door to find Chunhua bent over the desk writing a letter.
Since Prince Jin's household would send someone to fetch Chunhua to the prince's residence tomorrow, it was no longer appropriate for her to stay in the servant quarters. Mu Wan Yao had specially prepared this room for her. Entering to check on her former maid, Chunhua stood up and hastily bowed to the princess.
Chunhua was over two months pregnant, not yet physically hindered, though the fetus frequently caused its mother morning sickness.
Yet gradually, Chunhua had begun to carry the hazy beauty unique to expectant mothers.
Chunhua welcomed the princess to sit, kneeling beside the princess's skirts as she bowed her head: "Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao picked up the letter on the desk and saw it was addressed to Liu Wenji.
After scanning it briefly, Chunhua softly explained: "I told Young Master Liu that I'm gravely ill and nearing my end. I asked him not to think of me anymore, and not to come looking for me after I'm gone. I want to remain pure—a maid of the Princess Residence. I don't wish to be remembered after death as someone entangled with outside men, tarnishing the reputation of the Princess Residence."Chunhua sat leaning against Mu Wan Yao’s knees, her gaze fixed on the void as she murmured softly, “After I enter the Prince’s residence, Your Highness, if Young Master Liu sends another letter to inquire, please send today’s letter to him. Tell him that I am no longer here, that he should not worry about me, and that he must live well.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she forced a dry, brittle smile. “Wasn’t he preparing to marry me before? Hadn’t the betrothal gifts and everything already been arranged? How perfect. Now there’s no need for further preparations. When he meets another good young lady, he can propose directly. In my letter, I urged him to treat her well and never speak of me to anyone.
“Just as if… just as if I had never been with him.”
Mu Wan Yao’s fingers trembled slightly as she held the letter, feeling as though her heart had been violently seized, leaving her breathless.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, she turned her head away and spoke hoarsely, “I will help look after Liu Wenji. If he fails the imperial examination again next year, I won’t wait for him to beg favors from others. I’ll arrange an official position for him directly.
“Rest assured. As long as he does not oppose my interests, I will always protect him to some extent.”
Chunhua smiled faintly. “That’s good.”
Silence filled the room as mistress and servant remained wordless for a long while.
After some time, Mu Wan Yao looked down and saw tears falling drop by drop onto the ground covering.
Startled, she knelt on the floor and urged Chunhua to lift her head.
Chunhua raised her face, revealing it streaked with tears.
With tear-filled eyes, Chunhua smiled and asked Mu Wan Yao, “Your Highness, did I help you by entering Prince Jin’s residence? Did I delay your plans, waste my efforts, or cause you any trouble?”
In that instant, tears surged to the edges of Mu Wan Yao’s eyes.
But she gritted her teeth and held them back, forcing herself to stay strong. Her maid was fragile; she could not afford to be weak. She still had to uphold this Princess Residence. If Chunhua suffered after entering Prince Jin’s residence, she would have to rely on her.
Mu Wan Yao scolded, “Fool! Of course, you helped me. You bought me time, gave me the opportunity to make arrangements.
“You were merely outmaneuvered. You were just a pawn. They needed you, this pawn, to serve their purpose—they had to make you enter Prince Jin’s residence to drive a wedge between me and the Crown Prince… You had no choice, and you did nothing wrong. You didn’t waste your efforts, and you certainly didn’t cause me any trouble.
“You’re just a maid; you needn’t dwell on the schemes of those people. But once you enter Prince Jin’s residence, given the delicate circumstances, I won’t be able to intervene much on your behalf. You must keep a low profile… If the child in your womb survives and becomes the firstborn of Prince Jin’s household, you must stick close to Princess Consort Jin. Only she can protect you; only she has the standing to advocate for you.
“Serve Princess Consort Jin just as you have served me…”
Chunhua sobbed but nodded in agreement.
Mu Wan Yao clenched her teeth and added, “Also, cut ties with your mother and brother’s family! Do not contact them again!”
A pained expression crossed Chunhua’s face as she replied bleakly, “Naturally. I won’t repeat my mistakes. In the future, I’ll only send them a little money each year, but I will never see them again or give them another chance to scheme against me. In this life, one can live without family… So, Your Highness, you must not grieve over family either.”
Mu Wan Yao said, “I was never grieving over family to begin with.”Chunhua gave a helpless smile, knowing full well the princess would never admit it. She looked up at Mu Wan Yao and whispered, "Then, Your Highness, let me go. Please don’t think of me anymore in the future."
Tears clung to her lashes as she repeated softly, "Let me go."
From her fingertips to her heart, Mu Wan Yao went numb with pain at those words, "Let me go." Her jaw tight, she pulled Chunhua into a fierce embrace. Both women trembled slightly. Chunhua wanted to say this wasn’t proper, but in the end, her hands shook as she reached out and held the princess’s slender shoulders.
She thought she had still managed to help the princess a little.
That was enough.
Though she alone was shedding tears, and the princess hadn’t shed a single drop, Chunhua believed she understood the sorrow in the princess’s heart.
The next day, as expected, Prince Jin’s residence sent people to the Danyang Princess Residence. They left betrothal gifts for taking a concubine and escorted Chunhua into a carriage.
Chunhua wore luxurious robes she had never donned before and received bows reserved for masters, something she had never experienced. Entering Prince Jin’s residence, she was no longer a maid but Prince Jin’s concubine. Rising from servant to mistress, everyone ought to be happy.
Even the Princess Residence echoed with voices of blessing.
Mu Wan Yao stood expressionless at the entrance of the Princess Residence. After all, Chunhua had been her personal maid; coming out specifically to see her off was a gesture of respect for Chunhua.
As Mu Wan Yao stood at the entrance, she noticed Yan Shang emerge from across the way. He stood at his doorstep, watching her with concern in his eyes.
Mu Wan Yao shook her head at him, indicating she was fine and he needn’t worry.
Everything seemed normal until the carriage reached the end of the alley, when suddenly a man burst out from the side, rushing toward the carriage and shouting as he chased after it, "Chunhua! Chunhua!"
Inside the carriage, Chunhua froze, her hand gripping the door as she recognized the voice.
Mu Wan Yao and Yan Shang, standing in the alley, were also taken aback. Before Mu Wan Yao could recall who it was, she saw Yan Shang’s face pale. He descended the steps and strode quickly toward the alley’s end. Only then did Mu Wan Yao guess it must be Liu Wenji.
Her heart pounding, Mu Wan Yao glanced at Fang Tong, who and the others hurried after Yan Erlang.
Mu Wan Yao, too, lifted her skirts and followed, racing after them, fearing that today’s events might take a turn for the worse.
She dreaded that this incident would cause misunderstandings for Chunhua’s start in Prince Jin’s residence.
Liu Wenji chased the carriage, a letter in his hand, shouting, "Chunhua! Chunhua! I know you’re in there! You lied to me, saying you were sick and afraid of infecting me, so I shouldn’t see you. But Chunhua, Chunhua! How could I not worry? How could I abandon you?"
He ran after the carriage, his voice hoarse, "Where are you going? You’re not really sick, are you? Chunhua, Chunhua… 'Do not forget our bond, cherish Chunhua with all your heart!' Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten?"
Guards surrounded him, restraining him. He struggled fiercely, fighting them off, breaking free for a moment to dash forward a few more steps before being pinned down again by the Princess Residence’s guards.
Liu Wenji fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the carriage moved farther away. The guards and maids accompanying the carriage glanced back curiously.
Liu Wenji shouted, "Do not forget our bond, cherish Chunhua with all your heart!"He was pinned to the ground, his robes stained with mud, his voice growing louder and hoarser. Suddenly, Yan Shang stepped forward and clamped a hand over his mouth. Blocking the guards who were trying to press Liu Wenji immovably into the ground, Yan Shang held his friend in his arms, using only his hand to cover Liu Wenji’s mouth, silencing him.
The guards exclaimed, "Erlang…"
Yan Shang’s voice was tense: "I’ll handle this! Don’t lay a hand on him!"
But the guards, fearing Liu Wenji might shout something inappropriate again, saw that Yan Erlang refused to back down and had no choice but to intervene—until Mu Wan Yao’s voice cut in sharply: "Have you lost your minds! Who gave you permission to lay a hand on Yan Shang? All of you, stop at once!"
Yan Shang embraced Liu Wenji from behind, covering his mouth. His voice trembled slightly as he whispered, "Wenji, don't make a sound, don't make a sound! What's done is done... for her sake, don't ruin her reputation!"
Tears welled in Liu Wenji's eyes. Beaten by the guards, his face was smeared with dirt, and bruises marked the corners of his eyes. He glared furiously at Yan Shang, struggling to convey his accusation through his gaze.
Yan Shang closed his eyes, his voice shaking. "I'll tell you everything, I'll tell you... but you mustn't disturb her. Let her be well, let her rise high, let her focus without distraction. Isn't that right?"
A hot tear splashed onto the back of Yan Shang's hand as he covered Liu Wenji's mouth.
Mu Wan Yao stood at the entrance of the alley, watching Yan Shang kneel on the ground, holding Liu Wenji without the slightest hesitation, embracing him tightly.
The carriage faded into the distance. The young woman inside had cried herself into a tearful mess from start to finish, never once lifting the curtain to look back. The Princess Residence's people suppressed the incident, preventing its impact from spreading. Only when the carriage was completely out of sight did Yan Shang release his grip. His hand was already covered in bloody marks from Liu Wenji's bites.
Mu Wan Yao watched, her anxiety mounting unbearably.
Liu Wenji suddenly lost all strength, collapsing against Yan Shang's chest as he let out a heart-wrenching cry: "Why did it have to be like this... why like this!"
Mu Wan Yao stared blankly at the scene.
She walked over, crouched beside Yan Shang, and took his hand to examine the bite wounds. Liu Wenji sobbed in utter despair. Chunhua had already left for the prince's residence, leaving Mu Wan Yao quietly kneeling there, gazing at Yan Shang's hand.
Yan Shang glanced at her sideways, his eyes still gentle. He smiled softly at her and whispered, "It's fine, don't worry about me. Take Brother Liu back first."
Mu Wan Yao held Yan Shang's bleeding hand without a word, her expression cold. She simply rested her forehead lightly against his shoulder. Only like this could she feel she was stepping slightly away from the tragedy of Liu Wenji and Chunhua.
She knew she could never let go of this person. Her reason told her to stay away, but her heart drew her closer.
Yan Shang was too good... Even if he treated everyone with kindness, she could never bring herself to release his hand.
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