At daybreak, the envoy sent by the Southern Barbarian King finally gained an audience with the Uman King.
Having heard that the Uman King was cruel and bloodthirsty, a "butcher"-like figure... the envoy felt somewhat timid. But when he was led into the half-built palace of the Black Barbarians and saw the Uman King in the main hall, the envoy was taken aback and grew less panicked.
For the Uman King sitting on the throne wore a bronze mask.
The bronze mask perfectly concealed the scars on the Uman King's face while also blocking the imposing aura of a superior looking down from above.
The Southern Barbarian envoy clumsily performed an awkward salute of uncertain origin: "This humble servant pays respects to the Great King."
Flanking the main hall of the palace, following the example of Great Wei, stood the ministers of the Black Barbarians. Strangely, however, when this envoy saluted the Uman King above, the expressions of the surrounding Black Barbarian ministers turned peculiar. Some even turned away and closed their eyes, assuming a "too horrible to watch" posture.
Thinking these people lacked manners, the envoy grew somewhat angry.
But the envoy suddenly noticed a tall, sturdy young warrior standing behind the masked Uman King.
The man wore a gleaming silver ring in his left ear, with a scar running across half his face. Initially frightening at first glance, upon second look he appeared strikingly handsome. His cross-armed stance carried a presence no less imposing than what the envoy had witnessed from Bule, King of Nanman.
The young man smiled at the envoy, revealing white teeth.
The courtiers' expressions grew even more peculiar.
Yet the envoy felt this warrior beside the Uman King understood propriety.
Just then, the masked Uman King cleared his throat, drawing the envoy's attention: "This year's birthday celebration of the Great Wei Emperor coincides with their New Year festival. I have decided to personally visit Great Wei. I remember King Bule's kindness in my heart, nor can I forget the rewards from the Great Wei sovereign."
The envoy urgently responded: "Great King, King Bule's meaning is that we truly belong to the Southern Barbarians, and the Black Barbarians will eventually..."
Under everyone's gaze, the envoy didn't dare speak too plainly, trailing off vaguely: "We are one family. The alliance between the Black Barbarians and Great Wei will inevitably be abolished sooner or later..."
The Uman King seated high above said: "Since an alliance has been established, it will not be lightly abandoned."
Unless there were greater benefits.
The envoy continued persuading, repeatedly using the words taught by King Bule to convince the Uman King.
The Uman King's attitude remained firm: "My decision is final!"
The envoy had no choice. Actually, he had long guessed he likely couldn't persuade the Black Barbarians during this mission. Currently, King Bule couldn't unify the four Southern Barbarian tribes, and could only watch the Black Barbarians growing close with Great Wei. But... this would eventually pass.
Once the Black Barbarians resubmitted to the Southern Barbarians, all these problems could be resolved.
The envoy compromised: "Very well. Since the Great King insists on personally going to Great Wei, King Bule hopes to have this humble servant accompany your party."
The Uman King asked: "What is your name?"
The envoy replied: "Luo Xiu."
The Uman King said nothing more, but the scar-faced warrior standing behind him inexplicably spoke: "Are you from Great Wei?"
The envoy named Luo Xiu paused, then said: "My father was from Great Wei, my mother from the Southern Barbarians. During the great drought years ago, my father fled here from Great Wei with no intention of returning alive. I am naturally a Southern Barbarian."
The young man nodded and said no more.
Luo Xiu found this person baffling, but didn't dwell on it.However, after Luo Xiu left, the Uman King sitting on the throne immediately rose as if his seat had scalded him, hastily offering the position: "Your Majesty..."
It was the warrior who had been wholeheartedly acting as a guard earlier. With a casual laugh, he swept his robes aside and sat upon the throne, exuding an air of unrestrained arrogance.
This was the true ruler of the Black Barbarians—Meng Zaishi.
After the Southern Barbarian envoy departed, the Black Barbarians naturally held their own discussions. Some ministers who intended to accompany the Uman King to Great Wei expressed unease: "Your Majesty, do you truly plan to have someone impersonate you throughout this journey while you yourself follow as a guard?"
Meng Zaishi retorted, "Isn't this rather amusing?"
The ministers were bewildered: What was amusing about it?
Yet, given Meng Zaishi's long-standing authority, they dared not contradict him.
They suggested, "Since Your Majesty has decided to go personally, we should draft a state letter to Great Wei..."
Meng Zaishi responded with a nonchalant "Hah."
His slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of the throne as he drawled, "No state letter. We shall first enter Great Wei's borders under assumed identities as merchants, traveling all the way to the capital. With a month still remaining until the Great Wei Emperor's birthday, wouldn't it be splendid to journey leisurely, taking in the sights of Great Wei along the way?"
"Once we near our destination, we can send a letter instructing Great Wei to make preparations."
"This journey will allow us to witness what Great Wei is truly like."
Meng Zaishi narrowed his eyes, thinking that only in this manner might he see the real Great Wei and find answers to the questions in his heart—how exactly should the Black Barbarians develop to achieve the same prosperity and strength as Great Wei?
The following day, Luo Xiu, the Southern Barbarian envoy tasked with a mission from the Southern Barbarian King, found himself utterly bewildered as the Black Barbarians disguised him as a Black Barbarian merchant.
The Uman King he had met the previous day still wore a mask but was now dressed as a businessman.
Their party, numbering around a hundred, entered Great Wei's borders in separate groups before gradually merging.
The tall guard with a scar on his face proved exceptionally reliable, sticking close to the Uman King throughout the journey, earning Luo Xiu's praise for embodying the ideal personal guard.
However, each time Luo Xiu complimented this guard, several members of their party would display peculiar expressions, leaving Luo Xiu thoroughly perplexed.
As Meng Zaishi and his retinue entered Great Wei's borders in disguise, another group—this one consisting of genuine merchants—departed the Black Barbarians' border, returning to Great Wei's capital, Chang'an.
In the depths of winter, this caravan trudged onward.
Half a year prior, they had accepted a task at Chang'an's West Market: under the guise of conducting business, they lived among the Black Barbarians for six months, assisting a client in gathering intelligence on the region.
Now that the half-year period had ended and the funds provided by their client were exhausted, these merchants—though of Hu descent—had long since pledged allegiance to Great Wei, with their wives and children residing in Chang'an. Moreover, the year-end celebrations in Chang'an were set to be unlike any before.
Eager to reunite with their families, the Hu merchants had no desire to spend the New Year in the desolate lands of the Black Barbarians and were thus hastening back to Chang'an before the year's end.
Yet, the pace of these genuine merchants could not match that of Meng Zaishi's party. Though their departure dates were similar, they lagged far behind Meng Zaishi's group in terms of travel time.
Meanwhile, in Chang'an, the arrival of envoys from various minor states, coupled with the year-end festivities, had filled the city with bustling activity.
And Danyang Princess Mu Wan Yao watched coldly from her residence, where she had been hosting her neighbor Yan Erlang for dinner for five consecutive evenings.
As for the midday meal—that required no attention.It wasn't because Mu Wan Yao failed to return to her residence, but rather because the court prepared a "communal meal" at noon for officials working in various government offices within the imperial city. For minor officials like Yan Shang, who held the eighth rank and had been assigned from the Secretariat to the Court of State Ceremonial, he could choose to eat either at the Secretariat or the Court of State Ceremonial during lunch.
In any case, he wouldn't go hungry.
Yet, he shamelessly came to Mu Wan Yao's residence every evening to share her meal—wasn't that true?
Initially, Mu Wan Yao thought he had some ulterior motive, but after observing him for two days, she realized he came simply to eat and chat with her. She was utterly astonished—
When had Yan Erlang learned to freeload meals?
How poor could he be?
That evening, Yan Shang dined at Mu Wan Yao's residence as usual.
They did not sit at separate tables but shared a long one laden with dishes. However, Mu Wan Yao merely swirled her wine cup and drank, eating very little, simply enjoying the sight of Yan Shang eating.
After Yan Shang finished his meal, the dishes remained on the table. He looked up and met the princess's eyes.
Yan Shang paused slightly, slowly setting down his chopsticks, wondering if he had appeared awkward earlier.
He politely remarked, "Your Highness only drinks wine but does not eat?"
Mu Wan Yao frowned and said, "Combining wine and food creates a strange taste—who can stand it?"
Yan Shang advised, "Your Highness should drink less wine."
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him and, as if deliberately opposing him, poured herself a full cup of wine, raised it to him in a toast, and downed it in one gulp.
Yan Shang: "..."
Though aware that his words would likely go unheeded, Yan Shang still murmured, "Then at least drink warm wine, Your Highness. As a woman, you should know not to drink cold wine. It can cause stomachaches and headaches. I specifically consulted the imperial physician..."
Mu Wan Yao had had enough: "I know, I know. You're so annoying."
With lingering apprehension, she instructed her maids to remove the wine in front of her. Yan Shang's gentle yet persistent manner, insisting until she agreed, truly irritated her.
Yet she had no choice but to endure it.
As the maids cleared the table, Mu Wan Yao noticed Yan Shang still seated and couldn't help giving him a puzzled look.
Steeling himself, Yan Shang maintained a warm smile and struck up a conversation: "What did Your Highness do today?"
Under the lamplight, Mu Wan Yao thought to herself that he was planning to chat with her after the meal again.
Ah, what was there to talk about?
They barely saw each other all day and shared no common experiences—what was worth discussing over and over every evening?
Perhaps a bit intoxicated from the wine, she propped her chin on her hand and scoffed at him, "I don't feel like talking."
Yan Shang paused briefly, pretending not to notice her dismissive tone, and smiled. "Then let me share some interesting things from my day..."
He began narrating his daily schedule as if telling a story. Mu Wan Yao remained silent. After all, his voice was pleasant, and his storytelling was engaging. Even if she didn't feel like responding, there was no harm in listening.
Just then, the maid Xiarong appeared outside, holding a booklet and peering into the room on tiptoe. Noticing her, Mu Wan Yao gestured with her chin. Xiarong entered, placed the booklet on the table before Mu Wan Yao, curtsied, and withdrew.
Yan Shang continued his gentle, rambling chatter.
Although he was the only one speaking, Mu Wan Yao kept her head lowered, flipping through the booklet the maid had brought her, showing no intention of engaging with him.Yan Shang felt slightly uncomfortable inside.
Yet he could only sigh helplessly, knowing this was exactly how Mu Wan Yao had always been.
When she was happy, she became utterly adorable, clinging to him with endless coquetry; when displeased, merely ignoring him already counted as good temper.
He had mentally prepared himself for this temperament back when he decided to be with her. But her constant indifference... still made him question himself, wondering if he was truly so dull that she showed no intention of responding despite his lengthy chatter.
Could it be... could it be that only by selling his looks could he capture her attention? Perhaps he wasn't doing well enough, though he was stumbling along trying his best—but Mu Wan Yao... she wasn't even trying at all!
Though they were clearly lovers, Yan Shang felt Mu Wan Yao simply... had no desire to be with him.
Love dulls the wise and fills them with anxieties. Amid these distracted thoughts, Yan Shang didn't neglect his casual conversation with Mu Wan Yao. But just as he himself began drifting off-topic, Mu Wan Yao tapped the table sharply.
Mu Wan Yao complained, "Do you even know what you're saying? One moment you're talking about how your Teacher Liu disapproves of the tutor your father arranged, the next you've jumped to how you practice archery. Yan Shang, since when did you become so incoherent?"
Yan Shang froze, not embarrassed by her questioning but instead lighting up slightly with surprise. "Your Highness was actually listening to me?"
Mu Wan Yao looked puzzled, "...I'm not deaf."
Yan Shang's lowered eyelashes trembled faintly, his cheeks flushing slightly as his earlier gloom suddenly vanished, replaced by renewed spirit. But before he could resume their previous topic, Mu Wan Yao lifted her head from the ledger she'd been browsing, a hint of laughter in her eyes.
She declared, "Enough! I don't want to hear those boring matters anymore. Tell me—do you admit your mistake?"
Under her cold stare, Yan Shang was momentarily bewildered.
He said, "What have I done?"
Mu Wan Yao slammed the table, "Are you keeping another woman behind my back?"
Yan Shang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Your Highness is joking again."
Seeing his completely unruffled and forthright demeanor, Mu Wan Yao felt both disappointed and relieved: her trap had failed. Probably he really hadn't done anything improper.
Only then did Mu Wan Yao say what she truly meant, "You still claim ignorance? You come to my residence every night—don't you know perfectly well what for?"
Yan Shang suddenly grew uncomfortable.
He turned his face slightly away but maintained proper posture, looking down at her as he said, "I merely wish to speak with Your Highness since I don't get to see you all day. Is that wrong too?"
Mu Wan Yao propped her chin, watching his earnest expression.
Internally she cursed—men truly were unreliable.
She abruptly threw the account book at him, hitting Yan Shang squarely as she scolded, "Lies about wanting to see me! You're just here to freeload meals because you're too poor to feed yourself. Yan Shang, I've misjudged you. For someone who looks so dignified and upright, you'd actually stoop to this!"
The account book struck Yan Shang right in the face, leaving him momentarily stunned.He picked up the object Mu Wan Yao had thrown at him and quickly flipped through it. His memory was exceptionally sharp. The household accounts Yun Shu had shown him two days ago were identical to what he now held in his hands. He immediately realized that Mu Wan Yao had thrown his own household ledger at him.
Although the neighboring residence was technically Yan Shang’s property, all the servants and attendants were provided by Danyang Princess. If Mu Wan Yao truly wanted to know something, there was no way to stop her.
Besides, Yan Shang was open and honest—he had never intended to hide anything from her in the first place.
Seeing this ledger, Yan Shang knew his little secret had been discovered by Mu Wan Yao. Overwhelmed with shame, he looked up to see her flushed with anger, rising from her seat to leave. Panicked, he hurried after her.
Catching up to her at the doorway, Yan Shang grabbed Mu Wan Yao’s hand: "Your Highness!"
Mu Wan Yao: "What?"
She stood at the entrance of the hall, turning back to look at him. Her expression was cold, making it impossible for Yan Shang to tell if she was genuinely upset.
Yan Shang studied her for a long moment. Mu Wan Yao shook off his hand, and he frowned, his expression slightly conflicted.
After a pause, he said: "It’s my fault. But I had no other choice..."
Mu Wan Yao shot him a sidelong glance. She was a little displeased, but not angry enough to lose her temper over such a trivial matter.
Stopped by Yan Shang, Mu Wan Yao said: "If you can’t afford meals, just say so. I could lend you money. Why go to such lengths?"
Yan Shang looked at her and replied after a moment: "Do you think I did this just because I’m short on money? Would it be enough if Your Highness simply lent me money?"
Mu Wan Yao was puzzled: "What else?"
He lowered his gaze to his hand still holding her wrist and said: "Has Your Highness never considered that I did this... because I wanted an excuse to see you?"
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Yan Shang raised his eyes to look at her.
Mu Wan Yao responded belatedly: "Huh?"
Yan Shang frowned slightly—he had been frowning almost all evening. His hand still held her wrist as they stood at the hall’s entrance. He glanced at her, seeing her utterly confused expression, and felt a pang of sadness.
Yan Shang said: "You... you... have you never wanted to see me? We don’t see each other all day—I’m at the Court of State Ceremonial, and you’re busy with your own affairs. Then, when we return at night, sometimes you’re out banqueting with officials and come back very late... and I have to study and practice calligraphy in the evenings.
"We often go entire days without seeing each other, without exchanging a single word."
Mu Wan Yao remained silent.
She said: "So what?"
Yan Shang grew slightly agitated.
He said: "Lovers aren’t like you and me. They should see each other often, talk often... I’m always thinking of you, but I don’t know if you ever think of me."
Mu Wan Yao glanced at him and said: "How do you expect me to respond to that..."
She struggled slightly and freed her wrist from his grasp.
Rubbing her hand, she stepped into the lantern-lit corridor and headed toward her quarters. Yan Shang followed behind her, occasionally reaching out to lift the curtain for her. Mu Wan Yao said slowly: "We live so close to each other. If we want to meet, it’s actually quite easy."
Yan Shang: "How is it easy?"
He paused before continuing: "You are, after all, a princess. Without a proper reason, I can’t just visit you. One moment I’m using government affairs as an excuse, the next I’m relying on mooching off meals to see you... You, a noble princess, have no idea how difficult it is for me."His face flushed as he murmured softly, "How could I lie every day? How could I constantly come up with excuses? I've racked my brains until they're about to burst, but what's the use if I still can't see you?"
Mu Wan Yao walked ahead, listening to his continuous complaints behind her.
She was utterly astonished.
Because Yan Shang spoke in such a low voice, merely following her and murmuring like this, the maidservants not far behind them couldn't hear their conversation. Mu Wan Yao naturally understood that Yan Shang was too concerned about saving face and didn't want others to know what he was saying to her. But he... kept whispering such things to her in that gentle tone. Mu Wan Yao, who had originally been very composed, found herself blushing because of him.
Who would keep telling her things like "I want to see you" and "I really want to see you"?
Mu Wan Yao's cheeks turned pink.
She found it both amusing that he had such a side to him and delightful that he actually wanted to see her so much.
She missed him too... but wasn't he always finding excuses to visit? That saved her the trouble.
Mu Wan Yao reached the door of her room, pushed it open, and glanced back at him with a slightly reproachful look in her eyes. "Alright, I understand what you mean! From now on, when you come to the residence, you can come directly. I won't have the servants stop and question you anymore."
Yan Shang's face reddened.
He fell silent.
He knew this behavior of his wasn't proper, but... he truly had no other choice. Hearing Mu Wan Yao's words, the corners of his lips curved upward slightly.
After closing the door, Mu Wan Yao leisurely lit the lamps in the room one by one. With her back to Yan Shang, she said slowly, "But why do you need to see me?"
Yan Shang was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"
He watched her slender back as she drawled, "I think it doesn't really matter whether you see me or not. Even if you do see me, you just end up pulling me down to chat, going on and on about your endless topics—telling me about today's affairs in the political hall, tomorrow's affairs... Such boring matters, I'm not really interested in hearing about them."
Yan Shang: "...Is this why you've never been particularly fond of seeing me?"
Mu Wan Yao gently blew on the candle, and all the flames on the candlestick lit up, illuminating the entire hall. She turned to look at him, the bright flames casting a soft, radiant glow on her face.
Mu Wan Yao chided, "What's wrong? You're the one who keeps dragging me into these pointless conversations. Can't I dislike listening to them? Do I have to happily applaud everything you say?"
Yan Shang lowered his head in reflection.
Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "I didn't know... What would you like to hear? I'll talk about that, alright?"
Mu Wan Yao tilted her head in thought, then gave up. "I like listening to... never mind, I don't want to hear you talk at all."
Yan Shang: "..."
Yan Shang looked up in bewilderment, meeting her beautiful, teasing gaze. He wasn't a foolish man—with just that slight lift of her eyes, he instantly understood her meaning.
This time, even the tips of his ears turned red.
After a moment of daze, Yan Shang sat down by himself, lowering his gaze as he said, "I thought... between a man and a woman, it's not only that one matter that's interesting."
Mu Wan Yao: "Ah, what a pity then. You and I have no common interests. In my eyes, the only thing that's truly interesting is that matter you don't even dare to mention."
Yan Shang struggled to say, "...Don't you want to communicate with me at all, to get to know me better? We've known each other for so long, but I feel like you don't understand me at all, and I don't understand you either."Mu Wan Yao sat beneath the bed curtains. The charcoal burning in the room made it rather warm, so she picked up a feather fan to cool herself. With a faint, ambiguous smile, she gazed at Yan Shang, who sat about thirty or forty feet away from her, inwardly scoffing at the distance and thinking he might as well have stepped right out the door.
Mu Wan Yao: "Then I suppose I'm just vulgar."
Yan Shang had nothing more to say.
After a long while, he tentatively spoke again: "I'm not opposing you. I just feel that spiritual connection is more meaningful and lasting. Always focusing on the physical... seems somewhat desperate..."
Mu Wan Yao's face darkened as she snapped her fan shut and slammed it against the bed board.
She said angrily: "What do you mean by that? You're the only one I have, and I can't even touch you properly, yet you call me desperate? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say that if I had three or four men at the same time?"
Yan Shang quickly stood up: "That's not what I meant..."
Mu Wan Yao: "Get out!"
Yan Shang grew anxious. This time he took the initiative to approach, sitting beside her and gently hooking her hand, only to have Mu Wan Yao shake him off. Yan Shang said: "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just worried that affection fades with fading looks. If you only care about physical appearance, what will happen when I grow old and ugly..."
Mu Wan Yao became even angrier: "I haven't even done anything yet, and you're already worrying about fading affection? Before you wouldn't let me in bed, now there's not even kissing or hugging. Who would dare to be with someone like you?"
Seeing her growing displeasure, Yan Shang began to panic.
After a long pause, he said: "Then... then you can kiss me."
Mu Wan Yao laughed in frustration: "As your charity? Are you that reluctant?"
Yan Shang: "I just... I just..."
Mu Wan Yao: "What exactly is it? Explain yourself clearly! If you don't make yourself clear, we're done. Don't come looking for me anymore!"
Sweat had begun to form on Yan Shang's forehead. He hemmed and hawed for a long time, ultimately broken by her harsh words. He grabbed her hand as if afraid she would leave, his face pale, before finally leaning close to her ear and whispering a few words.
Mu Wan Yao: "..."
She was momentarily stunned.
Turning to look at him.
The words he had whispered in her ear were: "You always leave me unsatisfied, that's why I don't like it."
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