Chunhua's departure from the Princess Residence to enter Prince Jin's mansion was merely an insignificant interlude. Since the schemer's objective remained unfulfilled, the entire plot lost its meaning.
What truly captivated the scholars of Chang'an these days remained the topic of Yan Shang, also known as Yan Suchen.
Whispers circulated that Lord Liu had attempted to recruit Yan Shang directly into the Secretariat, only to be refused. Yan Shang insisted on taking the Imperial Examination scheduled for October.
This news left the scholarly community simultaneously astonished, envious, and regretful.
The Secretariat represented one of the most pivotal institutions in the imperial court! Gaining entry promised brilliant prospects even if one never attained ministerial rank... Yet Yan Shang had casually declined this coveted opportunity that countless scholars strove for in vain. Though his character was widely praised, this particular decision inevitably stirred complex emotions of admiration and jealousy.
Even scions of noble families struggled to maintain composure upon hearing this, let alone those from humble backgrounds.
While Yan Shang's reputation swept through Chang'an, Zhao Lingfei was practicing spear techniques at the family's Practice Field.
Her father, Duke Zhao Ye, served as Chancellor of the Imperial Academy - a prestigious sinecure much admired by civil officials for its high rank and leisurely duties.
However, this powerless position offered no access to substantive governance. For Duke Zhao, who constantly sought to advance his family's influence, this appointment remained a source of profound dissatisfaction.
The duke entered his rear courtyard with a darkened expression, the clashing of weapons from the Practice Field immediately worsening his headache. Lacking real authority pained him; having a daughter obsessed with martial arts equally tormented this scholarly official.
Yet today, unlike his usual exasperation at hearing his fifth daughter's training, he found himself contemplative.
"What has Wuniang been doing lately?" he asked an attendant. "Has she gone out?"
"The young mistress mostly practices martial arts and studies," came the reply. "Occasional outings only involve visiting taverns for drinks or listening to storytellers."
The attendant added unprompted: "She hasn't caused any trouble recently."
Duke Zhao glared at the talkative servant - since when had "not causing trouble" become a maiden's virtue?!
Flapping his sleeves in displeasure, he headed toward his least favorite place in the household - the Practice Field.
Standing in a corridor corner, he observed the slender girl in riding attire, sweat glistening like pearls on her forehead under the sunlight.
Her eyes shone with fierce concentration as she wielded the long spear, creating whistling gusts with each sweeping motion that made watching servants tremble.
This violent maiden possessed startlingly delicate features. When she paused to let her maid wipe her brow, her carefree laughter transformed her completely.
Duke Zhao sighed heavily.
He reflected how Wuniang's marriage prospects suffered not only from her temperament but also her formidable martial skills. Had he known earlier, he wouldn't have let her associate so freely with that Yang Si in her childhood. What had become of his properly bred daughter?
"Lingfei!" he called out.
Zhao Lingfei stood wiping sweat by the weapon rack. Turning at her father's voice, she registered surprise. Their constant arguments over her training had made Duke Zhao detest this place so much he'd take circuitous routes through the residence to avoid passing the Practice Field.Zhao Lingfei dashed over, and under Duke Zhao's twitching gaze, his beautiful daughter didn't even bother walking properly along the corridor. With a light touch on the outer railing, she nimbly leaped into the covered walkway.
The height and agility of that jump... Could the average gentleman even manage such a feat?
Zhao Lingfei smiled cheerfully, "Father, what brings you to visit me today? Are you trying to set me up with another promising gentleman? I've told you, I'm not interested in any of your picks!"
Duke Zhao grew angry at this, "A young lady like you, always fighting and brawling—decent gentlemen wouldn't even look at you! Who wouldn't fear marrying you and ending up half-crippled by your blows?"
Kicking at pebbles beneath her feet, Zhao Lingfei replied nonchalantly, "I'm reasonable, I don't just hit anyone. Why would I attack a proper gentleman? Why would I harm someone who does no wrong? Some gentlemen commit plenty of misdeeds themselves, yet complain that I'm not gentle or virtuous enough... But there are truly gentlemen in this world who shine like the bright moon, exemplifying noble character. I would only admire such men, never strike them."
Her thoughts drifted to Yan Shang, and her tone grew wistful.
A faint blush touched her cheeks.
Seeing her like this, Duke Zhao paused before asking, "That Yan Erlang... have you stopped seeking him out recently?"
Zhao Lingfei tilted her head, her dark grape-like eyes fixed on her father, "Didn't you disapprove of me visiting him? Said his poverty made him unworthy of our family? I stopped long ago."
Duke Zhao cleared his throat.
Then he declared solemnly, "I've come to realize I was too narrow-minded. Yan Erlang is an exceptional man. If you fancy him, how could you give up just because of a few words from me?"
Of course, Zhao Lingfei hadn't abandoned her feelings due to her father's remarks.
She studied Duke Zhao for a long moment, a knowing smile playing on her lips, "Oh, I see. Now that Second Brother Yan's reputation spreads through Chang'an, and you've learned even Lord Liu admires him... you've grown anxious. You think such a man should be courted. So you remembered me, hoping I could use our past connection to draw Second Brother Yan to your side, help your political career, and elevate the Zhao family further."
Hearing his daughter refer to Yan Shang as "Second Brother Yan," Duke Zhao felt pleased by their closeness.
Yet her blunt exposure of his motives left him embarrassed.
He retorted angrily, "I'm doing this for the family's benefit!"
Zhao Lingfei looked skyward and scoffed, "Ha!"
Duke Zhao insisted, "Anyway, I approve of your marriage to Yan Erlang!"
Zhao Lingfei clasped her hands behind her back, "So what? I won't bother Second Brother Yan just because you've taken a fancy to him now!"
Duke Zhao exclaimed, "...What's wrong with you, girl? Where's the courage you had when you clamored to find a gentleman even while I had you locked up?"
Zhao Lingfei stated, "It's not that I lack courage. If Second Brother Yan loved me, I'd dare to traverse mountains of blades and seas of fire. Even if he doesn't love me, as long as I love him, I'd pour all my courage into him. But the problem now is—Second Brother Yan is busy with examinations. Too many people in Chang'an want to forge connections with him. He already has enough on his plate. I don't want to add to his troubles and cause him distress.""Besides, I currently don't deserve Second Brother Yan. After hearing the storyteller recount how Second Brother Yan killed that Zheng Family Head, I finally understood that what Her Highness said that day was correct. When I heard about Second Brother Yan's actions, I felt both admiration and fear. I admired how, despite being merely an Awaiting-Decree Official, he dared to kill; I feared his decisiveness - if I were someone close to him but couldn't understand him, and ended up resenting him and causing trouble, what would become of us?"
Zhao Lingfei lowered her head with a self-mocking smile: "In any case, I'm not worthy of being with Second Brother Yan now. When I finally understand him, if he hasn't married by then, I'll go find him... I hope I can mature quickly, before Second Brother Yan takes a wife!"
Duke Zhao: "..."
He said: "You foolish girl, have you gone mad? I never understand what nonsense you're spouting all day!"
Zhao Lingfei waved her hand dismissively - after all, her way of thinking had always differed from her father's. They had been arguing for so many years, unable to understand each other, so there was no need to say much more.
Zhao Lingfei: "If Father has nothing else, I'll continue my martial practice! Tomorrow I've made plans with Cousin Yang San to play Cuju. Father, could you ask Mother to come watch too?"
Duke Zhao: "Covered in foul sweat - what's there to watch! Girls should be demure and elegant!"
With that, he stormed off angrily—
In the evening, Yan Shang was in his quarters, applying medicinal powder to Liu Wenji's wounds.
Liu Wenji had been sitting blankly for hours. After hearing Yan Shang's explanation, he had washed up. Now changed out of his mud-stained clothes and wearing Yan Shang's old garments, he continued sitting vacantly in Yan Shang's room for a long time.
The corners of Liu Wenji's eyes and mouth bore bruises from being struck by the Princess Residence guards. Yet when Yan Shang treated his wounds, he showed no reaction, as if feeling no pain at all.
Liu Wenji was undoubtedly a handsome young man, and even with facial injuries, he only appeared more pitiful and innocent. However, the bright, upward-striving pride he usually carried had completely vanished. His entire being seemed shrouded in gray.
After putting away the medicine, Yan Shang sat opposite him and said quietly: "...So that's the situation. Chunhua was used as a pawn. She had no choice but to enter Prince Jin's residence."
Liu Wenji kept his eyes downcast: "But she was already pregnant before entering Prince Jin's residence. If not for this child, if not for carrying imperial lineage, there might have been room for negotiation."
Yan Shang remained silent for a moment before saying: "What room for negotiation? Attempting to secretly abort an imperial heir is a capital offense. It might be fine if undiscovered... but who can guarantee remaining undetected forever? Moreover, the Princess told me that if Chunhua loses this child, she might not conceive again. How many women could endure the peculiar looks they'd receive throughout their lives without children of their own?
"How could you bear to see Chunhua reach that point? You're the only son in your family - you must have heirs. Even if you claim willingness to give up everything for Chunhua now, would your father and mother agree? How would they view Chunhua? They would see her as a seductress who ruined the Liu family, and would resent your wife.
"Chunhua has made her choice. You should accept it."
Liu Wenji covered his face, slowly bent forward, and buried his face in his palms.His voice choked as he said, "I understand, I understand everything! You, Yan the Second, reason so clearly, breaking everything down for me to analyze—how could I not understand... But who can compensate for the love Chunhua and I shared? I'm just aggrieved, just unwilling.
"Without my knowledge, Chunhua became pregnant with Prince Jin's child. By the time I found out, the situation was beyond redemption. I skipped straight past anger, resentment, jealousy—all those stages—and had to immediately accept that the woman I loved would become a concubine for a prince. It's too... too painful."
Yan Shang remained silent, listening to his longtime friend's muffled sobs buried in his palms.
Liu Wenji's shoulders trembled. Yan Shang quietly patted his shoulder and sat with him, offering comfort through companionship. Yan Shang possessed strong empathy, easily feeling others' experiences as his own, so when Liu Wenji wept with his face hidden in his hands, Yan Shang too felt that heart-wrenching pain.
Yan Shang said softly, "Don't blame Chunhua."
Liu Wenji continued sobbing.
Yan Shang: "Live your life well—only then will her departure have meaning."
Liu Wenji's shoulders shook more violently.
Yan Shang spoke slowly, somewhat lost: "Right now, we're weak and powerless to change this. Perhaps after you enter court service, after you obtain an official position, there might be a way..."
Liu Wenji: "What way?"
He lifted his face from his hands, eyes red and swollen, hot tears streaming down.
Liu Wenji trembled: "Are you trying to make me endure this, afraid I'll do something foolish, trying to convince me that a gentleman's revenge can wait ten years? But Su Chen, while a gentleman's revenge may wait ten years—who should I seek revenge against? This entire matter... it's a vicious cycle!"
His voice turned bitter: "Should I seek revenge against Prince Qin who wants to exploit all this?
"Or against Chunhua's brother who sold his own sister?
"Or against the Zheng clan who forced Chunhua's brother to sell their family property?
"Or against Prince Jin who took Chunhua by force?
"Or against Princess Consort Jin who forced Chunhua into Prince Jin's mansion?
"Or against all of you who watched this unfold, knew full well what was happening, yet couldn't lift a finger?"
Yan Shang stared blankly.
He watched Liu Wenji shakily rise to his feet, standing in the middle of the room. Liu Wenji looked at Yan Shang with tragic disappointment.
Liu Wenji said miserably: "Then aren't there too many people I should seek revenge against? A mere scholar like me—must I challenge the entire imperial authority to get my revenge? Did any of them do what they did specifically to humiliate Chunhua? Su Chen, do you know what's most tragic about this? Chunhua and I were sacrificed, yet I knew nothing, and Chunhua was powerless.
"We were sacrificed. But the entire matter, the entire matter... even Chunhua and I were the most insignificant part of it all!
"Does Prince Qin care about us? Were any of his schemes aimed at dealing with Chunhua and me? Does Prince Jin care about us? He just wanted a maid carrying his child in his mansion—he doesn't care about anything else. Or Danyang Princess, or the lofty Crown Prince... To them, this matter means rectifying powerful families, restoring clarity to the realm."
Liu Wenji stood emptily on the floor, head bowed as tears fell.
He murmured: "We're the least important ones. Tell me, Su Chen, even if I want revenge, who should I seek it from? I can't even find a direct cause."
Yan Shang remained silent.He stared blankly at the desolate Liu Wenji, for the first time realizing the terror of politics through his close friend.
Politics was a monster that distorted everyone beyond recognition and rendered all efforts powerless.
This dreadful monster was devouring them... yet the bleak truth was their utter helplessness—
Half an hour later, Yan Shang led Liu Wenji to the neighboring Princess Residence for an audience.
This was Liu Wenji's first visit to the Princess Residence, not to see Chunhua, but to pay respects to the princess.
The Princess Residence was magnificently decorated, brightly lit at night with its own lush scenery. Yet Liu Wenji had no heart to appreciate it. He trailed listlessly behind Yan Shang, watching his friend's tall, bamboo-straight back, listening to his gentle greetings to the Residence's attendants.
Naturally, Mu Wan Yao wouldn't receive visitors in the main hall at night. They entered the inner chambers of the Residence, where maids asked Liu Wenji to wait briefly.
Yan Shang spoke softly to Liu Wenji: "Brother Liu, please wait a moment. I'll speak with Her Highness briefly, then she will summon you."
Liu Wenji nodded indifferently, his eyes vacant and detached from everything.
Knowing the immense shock he'd suffered today, Yan Shang sighed and said no more—
A maid lifted the curtain for Yan Shang, who then entered the princess's bedchamber.
It was said Mu Wan Yao had a headache, had slept through the afternoon, and had just woken up. Therefore, Liu Wenji would have to wait awhile, as Mu Wan Yao wasn't in the mood to receive anyone yet.
When Yan Shang entered, he saw Mu Wan Yao sitting by the window, writing.
Gold-woven curtains fluttered like sand, beneath which the young woman sat with loosely tied hair, her emerald and vermilion hair ornaments shimmering.
Yan Shang curiously studied her pale, slender fingers—this was his first time seeing Mu Wan Yao holding a brush to write. Typically, all written correspondence was handled by her attendants; she rarely wrote personally.
Mu Wan Yao asked coldly: "What are you looking at?"
Yan Shang snapped back to attention and asked: "What is Your Highness writing?"
Mu Wan Yao replied indifferently: "Letters to several court officials, urging them to criticize the Noble Consort's recent actions in court."
Yan Shang was somewhat puzzled: "What is the purpose?"
Mu Wan Yao stated concisely: "The Noble Consort is the birth mother of my Third Brother, Prince Qin."
Yan Shang understood immediately.
Mu Wan Yao was retaliating for Prince Qin's previous actions.
Prince Qin had cost Mu Wan Yao the Zheng family's support. Now that she had breathing room, she intended to make Prince Qin pay for her losses through the Noble Consort.
Staring at the princess's cold profile, Yan Shang again recalled Liu Wenji's earlier lament... This monster called politics made Mu Wan Yao suddenly appear strange and distant in his eyes.
Mu Wan Yao turned her head toward Yan Shang: "How is your hand?"
Yan Shang was momentarily startled, then remembered his hand had been bitten by Liu Wenji until it bled. He approached Mu Wan Yao, lifting his sleeve to show his already medicated hand, saying: "It's nothing."
But Mu Wan Yao frowned, pulling his hand to make him sit: "What kind of medicine is this? Too careless. Let me reapply it properly."
Pulled down to sit, and seeing her instruct a maid to fetch medicine, Yan Shang's eyes softened with a smile. He felt he'd been mistaken earlier. Though politics was terrifying, Mu Wan Yao remained the young princess he knew—sharp-tongued yet soft-hearted, utterly endearing—
Holding Yan Shang's hand while reapplying medicine, Mu Wan Yao asked: "How did the questioning go?"
Yan Shang paused.She said, "Your Highness makes it sound as though my conversation with Brother Liu had ulterior motives."
Mu Wan Yao glanced up at him. "Do I not know you by now, Yan Shang? You never do anything without purpose. Even when comforting your friend, you'd inevitably extract something from it. Otherwise, I would have met Liu Wenji directly—why would I have let you take him away?"
She said lazily, "Let's hear it then."
Distractedly, she held his hand while sprinkling golden medicinal powder onto the back of it, then lowered her head, her lips nearly touching his fingers as she gently blew to disperse the powder.
Her crimson lips almost brushed against his fingers...
The sight made Yan Shang's heart pound. He quickly averted his gaze to hide his sudden discomfort.
He coughed before speaking. "Chunhua had been corresponding with Brother Liu before. After being taken away by Princess Consort Jin, she intended to cut ties with Liu Wenji. So she wrote letters step by step—first claiming she had a minor cold that would heal in a couple of days, then saying she kept coughing and feared infecting Brother Liu, urging him not to visit. Later, the letters stopped. According to Brother Liu, he assumed she was recuperating.
"But Brother Liu remained deeply concerned about Chunhua's condition. So when Your Highness returned to the residence yesterday, Liu Wenji came secretly today to check on her illness. Unexpectedly, he witnessed Chunhua being taken away... So it was all a coincidence, not deliberately orchestrated by anyone."
Mu Wan Yao nodded. "When I returned this afternoon, I investigated the Princess Residence and found no traces of an insider. It seems... everyone has their own intentions, and they just happened to converge into such a coincidence."
Still holding Yan Shang's hand after applying the medicine, she became lost in thought and forgot to release it.
Yan Shang: "..."
He felt his hand was nearly red from her grip.
He gently tugged outward, and only then did Mu Wan Yao react, letting go of his hand. While Mu Wan Yao remained composed, Yan Shang felt a faint melancholy and sense of loss. He glanced at Mu Wan Yao, then at the desk separating him from the princess.
Such distance—Mu Wan Yao maintained a strictly businesslike demeanor... Yan Shang frowned, thinking, "Shouldn't lovers be different?"
He recalled seeing men and women in the Pleasure Quarter laughing and being intimate. Even proper lovers might not be as overly affectionate, but surely they shouldn't be as detached as he and Mu Wan Yao—calm as ruler and subject, separated by a desk, sitting on opposite sides?
As Yan Shang's thoughts wandered, Mu Wan Yao rested her chin on her hand and said slowly, "Let's review this matter together and see if our thoughts align."
Yan Shang refocused. "Alright."
Mu Wan Yao: "Initially, Prince Qin must have learned that Prince Jin coveted my maid. Using Lady Zheng's arrogance and Prince Jin's fondness for Chunhua, he set this in motion. It wouldn't be hard for Prince Qin to find out—perhaps Third Brother and Fifth Brother drank together, and Fifth Brother might have revealed something while drunk, which Third Brother caught. Or there could be other reasons... In any case, learning this wasn't complicated."
Yan Shang nodded.Mu Wan Yao continued, "Afterwards, I believe Fifth Brother also took advantage of this matter. Fifth Brother usually maintains an appearance of staying out of political affairs, watching from afar as the Crown Prince and Third Brother contend. But now that I think about it, I realize Fifth Brother isn’t that foolish. Even if he didn’t know at first that Third Brother was using him, he would have eventually found out. Yet Fifth Brother pretended not to know and proceeded according to Third Brother’s plan."
"Either Fifth Brother is going with the flow, wanting to take Chunhua to win over the Li family behind me, creating a rift between the Crown Prince and me—which wouldn’t be a bad thing for him. Or, from the very beginning, Third Brother and Fifth Brother were already in alliance. Perhaps the Crown Prince’s prestige made them wary, the Emperor’s declining health this year has troubled them, and now the Crown Prince is currying favor with the Emperor by building a garden for the year-end ceremony... They fear the Crown Prince might earn the Emperor’s praise and solidify his position as heir apparent, so these two have joined forces."
After speaking, Mu Wan Yao looked at Yan Shang.
Yan Shang gazed at her with a hint of approval in his eyes.
He said, "Prince Qin’s involvement is obvious to anyone. But for Your Highness to deduce that Prince Jin is not innocent either shows significant progress compared to a few months ago. Your Highness’s political instincts are far beyond what they once were."
Mu Wan Yao blushed at his praise.
Clearing her throat, she continued, "And the Crown Prince has likely seen through it as well. He’s waiting to see how I choose. My decision to suppress the powerful families probably relieved him. If I hadn’t chosen this path, he might have had to step in... After all, his own backing isn’t strong enough, and he’d prefer not to offend the influential families lightly. So, he’s satisfied that I took action. Later, he conveniently included my aunt in the suppression targets, likely for financial gain.
"He wants to use this opportunity to fill the Ministry of Revenue’s coffers. Otherwise, with constant financial shortages and patching things up here and there, he’s been quite frustrated."
Yan Shang nodded, and with Mu Wan Yao’s analysis, he gained further insights, adding a few more remarks.
As the two of them deliberated and reexamined these events, they couldn’t help but sigh in realization.
Mu Wan Yao mused thoughtfully, "I always thought Fifth Brother had no interest in the throne and didn’t care who became emperor... In this matter, he appears to be the victim, with nothing to lose regardless of the outcome. He seems as obedient and ordinary as ever... But if he truly collaborated with Third Brother, that would be alarming. It means we’ve underestimated Fifth Brother all along."
Yan Shang said, "We’ll need to observe further."
Mu Wan Yao hummed in agreement, "I’ll remind the Crown Prince."
Just as she was about to pick up a brush to write the letter, she noticed Yan Shang frown slightly—a fleeting, subtle expression. Mu Wan Yao looked at him, "What’s on your mind?"
Yan Shang glanced at her and shook his head.
Across the desk, Mu Wan Yao immediately kicked off her embroidered shoes and lifted her leg to nudge his knee.
Yan Shang winced at the pain in his knee: "..."
His face flushed slightly as her jade-like foot made contact, leaving him stiff and unsure how to react. Mu Wan Yao scolded, "If you have something to say, just say it! Why be so reserved as my retainer?"
Yan Shang sighed, "I’m just afraid my guess might be wrong, and I have no evidence."
Mu Wan Yao retorted, "What does it matter if you’re wrong? Your role is to help me identify all potential doubts. It’s my job to judge what’s right or wrong."
Reluctantly, Yan Shang shared the fleeting thought he’d had, speaking slowly, "Has Your Highness considered the possibility that all these events have been allowed to unfold smoothly due to the Emperor’s tacit approval? That this play could only go on because the Emperor wants to watch it?"
He added, "The reason I think this is because Your Highness mentioned earlier that the Luling Grand Princess tried to seek an audience with the Emperor, but he refused to see her. This suggests... the Emperor likely knows what you’re all doing."
Mu Wan Yao was stunned.
She and Yan Shang locked eyes.She said: "Could the downfall of the Zheng family have been my father's doing? Although the Zheng family obeyed me, as my mother's dowry attendants, my father must have intervened. So does my father want to eliminate me, or just the Zheng family?"
Yan Shang remained silent.
Seeing Mu Wan Yao's pale complexion, he comforted her: "These are just our speculations. His Majesty the Emperor hasn't actually done anything, has he? He didn't even inquire about Prince Jin's arrow wound. If he had investigated that matter, Your Highness would have faced punishment too."
Mu Wan Yao lowered her head, thinking about her interactions with her father over the past month - how amiable he had been, like any ordinary father in the world... Yet perhaps behind the scenes, her father was observing all of them, testing all of them.
Yan Shang stood up, walked over to Mu Wan Yao, bent down and placed his hand on her shoulder, saying softly: "Your Highness, don't be sad. No matter what happens, I will stay by your side."
Mu Wan Yao stiffened.
His hand rested on her shoulder as he stood before her. She suddenly didn't know whether to push him away - should she reprimand him for overstepping boundaries like a sovereign, or silently accept his closeness like a lover...
After a moment, Mu Wan Yao acted as if she hadn't noticed his hand on her shoulder. She casually stood up, rubbing her forehead.
Mu Wan Yao complained: "Thinking so much is exhausting."
Yan Shang smiled slightly.
Mu Wan Yao turned her shoulder, causing Yan Shang's hand to slip off.
Mu Wan Yao said: "You may leave now. I need to see Liu Wenji. Chunhua asked me to look after Liu Wenji. Although I don't particularly like Liu Wenji... well, I still need to ask about his thoughts. If he's willing... I can request an official position for him right now to compensate him."
Yan Shang said: "Brother Liu probably isn't in the mood right now."
Mu Wan Yao: "I still need to ask."
She stood up to leave, intending to meet him in the bedchamber. Yan Shang grabbed her hand, making her stiffen.
Standing behind her, Yan Shang said: "I won't leave. I'll wait here for you to return, alright?"
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Pretending to be natural, she said: "Why aren't you leaving? Shouldn't you go back to study? Be careful not to fail the Imperial Examination and make a fool of yourself."
Yan Shang said: "I want to study here at Your Highness' place... is that not allowed?"
Mu Wan Yao said casually: "Just studying?"
Yan Shang: "..."
Silence fell behind her, and Mu Wan Yao turned back.
Her glance at him was teasing and mischievous, her eyes sparkling with charm. Under the lamplight, their eyes met for a moment, both understanding each other perfectly.
Yan Shang blushed and averted his gaze, but continued holding her hand without letting go.
Mu Wan Yao also flushed red and snorted: "Do as you please."
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