Tigers Sniff the Rose

Mu Wan Yao was speechless for a long moment, her eyes wide as she stared blankly at Yan Shang.

For someone like Yan Shang, who was already embarrassed to have whispered such words in her ear, being stared at so directly by Mu Wan Yao made half his face flush crimson. Both ashamed and flustered, he lowered his gaze, his hand holding hers growing sweaty. He instinctively pulled back, his hand bracing against the edge of the bed.

He felt utterly foolish—how could he have said such a thing?

He stood up to leave, but Mu Wan Yao reacted swiftly, grabbing his hand and pulling him back.

And this time, she didn’t just pull him back. She rose, turned around, and pushed him lightly on the shoulder. Yan Shang was forced to sit back down, and just as she often did when teasing him, Mu Wan Yao showed no hint of shyness. She directly sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Mu Wan Yao felt the muscles in his thighs tense up instantly.

She suppressed a laugh inwardly.

Outwardly, she clung to him, pressing her cheek against his, her sharp, cool nails tracing lightly over his face. Wherever her fingertips brushed, the skin beneath turned red.

She narrowed her eyes to observe him, noticing how he turned his face away, as if he were about to boil over with embarrassment.

Mu Wan Yao called out to him sweetly, "Second Brother Yan, don’t be like this. Every time I get close to you, you seem so nervous. Why are you always so tense?"

Yan Shang’s mind was in disarray.

He lowered his head with a bitter smile. Though he hadn’t intended to say it, given how far things had gone, he had no choice but to admit, "I’ve never encountered a situation like this before, so of course I’m nervous."

Mu Wan Yao’s eyes shimmered like spring water. She leaned against his cheek, her arms still wrapped around his neck, and gently kissed his face.

She felt his body stiffen, his waist arching slightly as if he were about to stand up, but he suppressed the impulse.

Mu Wan Yao found it amusing. "I just kissed your cheek, and you can’t handle it?"

Yan Shang complained, "You’re sitting on my lap, holding my neck, your face pressed against mine… and you say it’s just a kiss on the cheek? And you blame me?"

Mu Wan Yao adored this reaction of his.

She glanced at him sideways. "So, are you saying you want me to move away and let you sit alone quietly?"

She pretended to get up, and Yan Shang, who had been avoiding her gaze, seemed genuinely panicked. He suddenly turned to her, reaching out to press her shoulder and keep her from leaving. Acting on instinct, he pressed her downward slightly. Only when Mu Wan Yao looked at him with a teasing smile did he realize he had once again overreacted.

She had only been teasing him and had no intention of leaving.

Yan Shang remained silent for a long while, feeling disheartened and convinced he had made a fool of himself again.

Seeing his downcast expression, Mu Wan Yao quickly comforted him. "Don’t be like that. This is just a little fun between lovers—I’m not deliberately bullying you. It’s just that when I see you like this… I can’t help myself."

Seeing how proper and serious he was in public made her want to tease him like this in private. Watching him maintain his dignified composure among court officials made her want to undress him in private, to see him breathless and hear sounds he would never normally make.

Such was the flawed nature of human beings.

Mu Wan Yao held Yan Shang close, kissing him again and again, sweetly and tenderly. Yan Shang’s face was burning red, but as she showered him with kisses, his rigid expression gradually softened. He slowly lifted his eyes to look at her, just in time to meet her mischievous, downward gaze as she secretly peeked at him.

Their eyes met.Mu Wan Yao whispered softly, "You don't seem as tense anymore, have you noticed?"

Yan Shang's mind was a complete muddle, and he mumbled vaguely, "Mm."

Mu Wan Yao gently teased a strand of hair from behind his ear, twirling it playfully between her fingers. After sitting in his lap for a while and teasing him endlessly, she finally leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Are you really not satisfied?"

Yan Shang was taken aback and asked, "What?"

Only after speaking did he realize that from the moment Mu Wan Yao sat on his lap, she had been testing his reactions, probing his earlier remark about "not being satisfied."

Yan Shang couldn't help but smile wryly.

He complained slightly, "It's true. You... you only care about your own comfort and pay no attention to me."

Mu Wan Yao widened her eyes. "How can you say that? Like this, are you really not comfortable?"

She didn't believe him and reached her hand toward his waist and lower abdomen. Yan Shang had already relaxed earlier, but her sudden movement startled him back into tension. He grabbed her hand to stop her from touching him. But Mu Wan Yao's fingers had already brushed against him slightly, and he had already felt something... Mu Wan Yao glanced at him sideways, looking as if she suspected he was lying to her.

Yan Shang's lips trembled, his face flushing even more and stiffening.

There were many things he didn't like to say, but Mu Wan Yao truly forced him to speak. Struggling internally for a long time, he finally decided that since they were in private, Mu Wan Yao probably wouldn't go around gossiping about it.

He said, "It's precisely because of this that I... am not satisfied."

Mu Wan Yao asked, "Then, are you comfortable or not?"

Yan Shang remained silent.

Mu Wan Yao pressed her petal-like lips against his cheek, her breath warming his face. "Like this, are you comfortable or not?"

Yan Shang slowly nodded.

Mu Wan Yao immediately burst into laughter, her eyes curving with delight. She wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly breathless from his adorableness. "Oh, so Yan Erlang is both comfortable and in agony.

"You really are a genius. When you feel the pain, you try to block out the comfort and simply distance yourself from me, not letting me touch you at all. Naturally, you won't feel uncomfortable anymore, but then your 'comfort' is gone too, isn't it?"

Yan Shang's eyes reddened from her teasing. Gripping her wrist, he whispered, "Stop talking!"

Mu Wan Yao buried her face in his neck, laughing, then stuck out her tongue to tease him. He let out a muffled "Mm," pulling away in shock as he stared at her, speechless. Clearly, he hadn't expected her to tease him with her tongue while they were in the middle of a serious conversation. Instantly, his neck flushed bright red.

Mu Wan Yao lazily nestled into his neck, only to have Yan Shang cover her mouth with his hand.

But Mu Wan Yao didn't mind at all.

He looked down and saw her small face tilted against his shoulder, her nose and below covered by his hand, leaving only a pair of cat-like, seductive eyes visible. The way her silky eyes gazed at him made his body burn with heat. As he stared in a daze, he felt her lick his palm.

He immediately withdrew his hand, no longer covering her mouth.

Even someone as composed as Yan Shang was driven to a bit of frustration. "Don't do that! You always tease me like this, making me feel... making me feel like you're bullying me."

Mu Wan Yao widened her eyes. "You only just realized I'm bullying you? I've been bullying you all along. I love seeing you like this."

Yan Shang frowned. Her scent was so fragrant. He felt a little... a little uncomfortable again.

Unaware of Yan Shang's restless thoughts, Mu Wan Yao delightfully took his hand and kissed the back of it. He trembled slightly.She looked down at the slender fingers of the gentleman she held in her hand and sighed, "Such long fingers, truly beautiful."

After a long pause, Yan Shang whispered, "You kissed me again."

Mu Wan Yao looked up at him, studying him for a moment before saying slowly, "You could always kiss me back."

Yan Shang was taken aback and looked down at her curiously, "But don't you dislike it when I take the initiative?"

Mu Wan Yao: "..."

They stared at each other in silence for a long while.

Yan Shang suddenly seemed to understand: "...Actually, you don't dislike it that much, do you?"

Mu Wan Yao smiled faintly—not the teasing smile from before, but a genuine, slightly fond, gentle smile.

Leaning intently against his shoulder and looking up at him, she suddenly understood Yan Shang's dilemma. It wasn't that he disliked such intimacy; on the contrary, he enjoyed it very much. But because she didn't like him taking the initiative, he rarely asked for it.

Sometimes, the moment he made a move, she would pull away.

So Yan Shang thought she disliked it.

If she disliked it, he would give up.

That was why he said he couldn't satisfy her.

Mu Wan Yao whispered, "If I dislike it, will you give up taking the initiative?"

Yan Shang looked down at her and said, "I thought that would make you happy."

Mu Wan Yao smiled; she was indeed quite pleased.

She reached out and gently brushed his chin, feeling the faint stubble. He had grown up; he was already nineteen... and she was almost twenty. She hadn't met this gentleman at the best of times, yet he was so elegant in appearance and gentle in demeanor—how wonderful.

As Mu Wan Yao caressed Yan Shang's brows and eyes, his gaze remained fixed on the tenderness in her eyes, not shying away.

Suddenly, Mu Wan Yao said, "Yan Shang."

Yan Shang murmured softly, "Hmm?"

Mu Wan Yao said coolly, "Actually, you don't like me as much as I like you."

Yan Shang looked at her in surprise, feeling the room grow a bit warm.

A hint of a smile curved in Mu Wan Yao's eyes as she whispered, "I've had feelings for you since long ago. Back in Lingnan, I already felt a little... but I suppressed it. Later, in the humble lodging you stayed at in Yongshou Temple in Chang'an, I saw you again.

"It was pouring rain, and Ju Yuan pushed open the wooden door. I saw you rise from beneath a mountain of books. You slowly lifted your face—your long, gentle eyes, your tall, straight nose, your pale red lips... At that moment, my heart raced. Looking at you then, I felt as if something I had let slip away had come back to find me.

"But you, at that time, didn't really feel anything, did you?"

Yan Shang felt a bit dizzy, a wave of restlessness rising in his heart, making the room feel too warm. Could it be that the charcoal fire was too strong?

He glanced apologetically at Mu Wan Yao, indicating that he hadn't caught what she said and asking if she could repeat it. But as he opened his mouth to speak, Mu Wan Yao pressed her fingers to his lips, signaling him not to speak.

Her voice remained cool: "Actually, you've never particularly liked me. Just as you've said yourself, you're quite indifferent to emotions. Because so much of your affection is given to family, friends, teachers, and colleagues. Your feelings are spread too thin, so when it comes to love, you're rather indifferent.

"Your kindness to me stems from many reasons. Of course, I believe one of them must be that I'm quite adorable. Otherwise, why wouldn't you treat other young ladies the same way?"

As she praised herself as "adorable," under Yan Shang's intense gaze, she finally broke character, her cheeks flushing slightly.Yan Shang was suppressing his restlessness, forcing himself to listen to what she was saying. He had to focus intently on her eyes to avoid distraction.

To keep his thoughts from wandering—from thinking how beautiful her eyes were, how soft her face looked and whether it would feel just as soft to touch, how lovely the color of her lips was, and how even more captivating they appeared when parting and closing...

Mu Wan Yao's eyelashes fluttered as she avoided his somewhat scorching gaze.

She continued speaking from her heart: "You don't like me as much as I like you. But after convincing yourself to be with me, you started trying to get closer and work on this relationship. Everything I say and do comes from my heart, while you plan how to be good to me.

"I like you without much effort, while you, who don't like me as much, put in extraordinary effort. We two are just... too ridiculous.

"Your blushing and racing heart now... it's only because this is your first time being in love. It's inevitable."

Yan Shang whispered: "Hearing you say that makes me feel... like a failure. Are you blaming me for not loving you enough, yet acting as if I treat you well? But what is the best kind of love? I already like you. Are you... are you..."

He was too upset to continue.

Because the remaining words were about breaking up with him.

As Mu Wan Yao spoke, Yan Shang grew increasingly agitated, struggling to suppress it. Yet hearing her words left him bewildered, unsure why things had to be this way. Could feelings really be compared like this? Did she have to keep hurting his heart over and over...

Mu Wan Yao smiled faintly and slowly explained: "What I mean is, I feel I haven't been very good to you. Even though I fell for you first, I made you take the initiative to build this relationship. It's true that due to certain matters... I have some issues in this aspect.

"Yan Shang, please be more patient with me. Don't let go of my hand easily, alright? I might be terrible at it... but I'll try my best."

Yan Shang froze, staring at her in a daze, forgetting the restlessness within him. He let the agitation consume him, making his face burn even redder, his mind growing somewhat hazy.

He murmured: "You're not going to break up with me?"

Mu Wan Yao: "..."

She immediately sat up straight, eyes wide and blazing: "When did I say I was breaking up with you? Is that how you interpret someone's good intentions?"

Yan Shang: "..."

Looking into her furious eyes and realizing she wasn't leaving him, he felt relieved and had room for other thoughts. For instance, seeing her eyes, he thought how charmingly cute she looked when angry with them rounded like that... making him want to kiss her.

Though he thought it, he didn't dare act on it. Feeling it improper to have such thoughts while she was seriously discussing matters with him.

Yet while Yan Shang restrained himself, Mu Wan Yao did not. Seeing his slight smile stirred emotions in her. When she didn't suppress her feelings, she could see just how much she liked Yan Shang.

She adored his gentle, noble demeanor... and now, with his face so flushed, he looked rather adorable.

Mu Wan Yao leaned in and kissed his lips.

Yan Shang had been tormented by lustful thoughts while pondering Mu Wan Yao's words, wondering how to bare his heart to her. Just as his emotions were in turmoil, she pressed her lips to his. Startled, he jerked backward.With that tilt, Yan Shang somehow lost control of his balance and fell backward, landing directly on the bed.

This resulted in him being pinned down and kissed by Mu Wan Yao once again.

Yan Shang’s face instantly flushed crimson. As he tried to rise, a nimble tongue pressed against his lips, urging him to part them. He involuntarily opened his mouth, but she did not enter. He waited for a long time, yet the intoxicating sensation he had grown accustomed to never came.

It left him both unsettled and disappointed.

He opened his eyes and looked at Mu Wan Yao, who was still nestled against his chest, her arms wrapped around his neck.

Mu Wan Yao’s hand rested on his neck, her lips brushing his as she remarked in surprise, “You’re sweating. Why are you getting nervous again?”

Yan Shang could feel the sweat himself and couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze. Lying in the warm bedding, he turned his face away in embarrassment. “I’m sorry…”

Mu Wan Yao was even more astonished. “Silly, why are you apologizing for this? I’m not blaming you. It’s so endearing and amusing how easily you get flustered.”

Her cheeks flushed pink as she gazed at him with lingering affection, then leaned down to kiss his eyes and nose. Her enthusiasm was overwhelming, and suddenly, Yan Shang reached out, covering her mouth. To her surprise, he wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her into an embrace as he shifted sideways on the bed.

Holding Mu Wan Yao, they lay facing each other.

Mu Wan Yao was intrigued that he had pulled her down and curved her eyes into a smile.

Yan Shang whispered softly, “Your Highness, may I kiss you?”

Mu Wan Yao looked puzzled. “What do you mean? Aren’t I already kissing you?”

Yan Shang clarified, “I mean, I want to kiss you, not have you kiss me.”

The bed curtains were still open, and the two of them lay together in the confined space, which seemed to radiate warmth and newfound boldness.

Yan Shang spoke with daring, “Could you let me take the lead this time? Let me kiss you properly? Next time… next time, you can take charge again, alright?”

Mu Wan Yao hesitated.

She frowned in conflict. It wasn’t that she disliked Yan Shang; she was afraid… afraid she might unintentionally show an unpleasant expression and hurt his feelings.

She feared his initiative might trigger unpleasant memories… She couldn’t bear the thought of Yan Shang being hurt over something so trivial.

Feeling awkward, Mu Wan Yao could only mumble vaguely, “Isn’t it fine if I take the lead? I’ll make it last longer this time, so you’ll be satisfied, alright?”

Yan Shang shook his head.

He insisted, “I want to take the lead too.”

Mu Wan Yao replied, “But you’ve done it before, haven’t you?”

Wasn’t it him who initiated their first kiss when they nearly slept together? And that night on the city tower watching the snow—wasn’t that him too?

Yan Shang’s face flushed deeply, but he argued, “It’s different… I didn’t understand back then.”

He persisted stubbornly, “Let me do it once, please?”

Ah, even in matters like this, he had to discuss them with her so gently… After a long pause, Mu Wan Yao said hesitantly, “But you’re not very good at kissing.”

Yan Shang felt a flicker of displeasure.

He restrained himself and said, “That was before… Now, after so many times, I’ve learned. It won’t be unpleasant, Yao Yao. Let me try once, just once.”

He had even started unconsciously calling her “Yao Yao.”His soft, mellow voice calling her "Yaoyao" made Mu Wan Yao's heart soften a little, almost making her want to nod in agreement. For some reason, Yan Shang usually insisted on addressing her as "Your Highness," deliberately keeping their relationship distant in front of others.

Only when he occasionally called her "Yaoyao" did Mu Wan Yao feel utterly delighted.

She had already resolved to suppress her expressions, forcing herself not to dwell on the past, and to let Yan Shang enjoy this moment. Still, she couldn't resist teasing him: "Call me 'Yaoyao sister,' and I'll let you come closer."

Yan Shang's voice was gentle and tender: "Yaoyao sister."

Mu Wan Yao froze.

Her heart melted instantly, yet she couldn't believe how easily Yan Shang had yielded. He never usually…

But this time, she had no chance to overthink.

He propped himself up slightly, leaning over to kiss her. He took the initiative, guiding the moment—

Mu Wan Yao was nervous.

Her hands clenched the bedding beneath her, afraid she might push him away. Afraid she wouldn't be as moved as she had been during their previous two encounters, worried it might discourage Yan Shang…

Yet when his lips touched hers, it felt as if snow had gently fallen upon her heart.

Mu Wan Yao was taken aback.

Her tightly clenched hands gradually loosened their grip.

She closed her eyes, letting his kisses descend like sweet spring rain.

She felt enveloped by the spring breeze, embraced by pure snow. The corners of her lips tingled faintly, her heart softened bit by bit. The haze deep within her dissipated, and the iceberg within her crumbled and sank, melting away. As the ice thawed, spring drew nearer… She felt it with extraordinary clarity—

The hairpins and ornaments in Mu Wan Yao's hair slipped away, her long tresses cascading down, spilling over Yan Shang's hands. In the hands of this elegant gentleman, her hair resembled a beautiful, dark waterfall.

Yan Shang whispered softly: "Your Highness, are you crying? Am I not good enough?"

Mu Wan Yao shook her head, her eyes still closed. She didn't know if her lashes were damp. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into an embrace.

Yan Shang held her loosely, noticing the blush at the corners of her eyes and the way her damp lashes clung together. This beauty, lying in his arms, was utterly enchanting. Her snow-white skin flushed pink, her lips lightly bitten, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, revealing a glimmer of light. Her fluttering lashes radiated a captivating allure.

With desire, she was like an opium poppy. Without it, she was a pure, beautiful peony.

Like a peony, she seemed somewhat withered, yet he felt as though his kisses could make her bloom anew… Could he truly make her blossom?

As Yan Shang gazed at her, lost in thought, Mu Wan Yao secretly opened one eye to look at him. A mischievous glint shone in her eyes as she reached out without looking. Their playful antics had already disheveled their robes, and as she extended her arm, her sleeve slipped down, revealing a jade-like, softly glowing arm.

Thinking she was reaching out for a hug, Yan Shang bent down to embrace her. But instead, her hand slipped behind his neck, gently tugging and loosening his hair tie. His long hair cascaded over his shoulders, a few strands falling across her face.

Mu Wan Yao buried her face in his arm and laughed, playful as a little fox.

Yan Shang's voice was hoarse: "Mischievous."

He paused, suppressing his discomfort, and said, "I've kissed you. Now I can make it up to you. What do you want?"

Mu Wan Yao looked at him strangely. Was he truly so foolish?

She said, "I just want you."Yan Shang was taken aback for a moment, then said sincerely, "Then I wish for you to be able to have me."

Mu Wan Yao: "..."

Yan Shang propped himself up for a while, his body swaying slightly before he lay back down, meeting her gaze. He seemed somewhat dazed, a trace of desire still lingering at the corners of his eyes, yet he murmured softly, "Can... I stay the night here?"

Mu Wan Yao remained silent.

She thought to herself, haven’t I already tacitly agreed? What is he even asking?

Mu Wan Yao didn’t respond, but Yan Shang clearly couldn’t hold on any longer. He closed his eyes and mumbled, "I... I’m feeling a bit unwell."

Mu Wan Yao: "...Isn't it normal for you to feel unwell? You're just... wait, no."

Seeing his eyes closed, his face flushed so deeply, yet he lay beside her unable to prop himself up as he had earlier... Mu Wan Yao hurriedly scrambled up, kneeling beside him as she patted his cheek: "Yan Shang, Yan Shang? What's wrong with you?"

She touched his face—the heat of his skin startled her.

She shook him, but he couldn't even open his eyes, as if he had fainted.

Mu Wan Yao was terrified, genuinely panicked to the point of tears: "Yan Shang, Yan Shang... what's happening? How did it come to this so suddenly? Do you have some incurable illness you haven't told me about?"—

Late at night, the Danyang Princess Residence secretly summoned the imperial physician.

The physician noticed Danyang Princess looking weary, her face pale, with traces of tears as if she had been crying.

Not daring to look further, the physician hurried to diagnose the patient.

Mu Wan Yao stood anxiously behind the physician, her distress palpable. The physician turned and gave her a strange glance.

Mu Wan Yao stiffened.

Clenching her hands nervously, she maintained a cold, rigid expression: "What's wrong with him? Speak the truth. I can handle it."

She thought to herself—if Yan Shang really had some incurable illness... as a princess, could she not save him?

Even if she had to summon all the renowned physicians in the world, she would cure him.

The physician spoke slowly, his tone somewhat odd: "This gentleman... if I'm not mistaken, he's simply drunk."

Mu Wan Yao: "...?"

She opened her mouth to deny it: "Nonsense, he didn't... ah."

She abruptly closed her mouth.

She remembered.

Yan Shang hadn't drunk any alcohol.

But Mu Wan Yao had drunk quite a lot. Throughout the evening, while Yan Shang was dining, Mu Wan Yao, bored, had been drinking continuously.

She had held him for a long time, and most importantly... he had ended up kissing her.

And it had lasted quite a while.

Perhaps the alcohol from her mouth had transferred to his...

And so, he collapsed.

Just that tiny amount of wine... really, just the trace from her mouth—

Mu Wan Yao cast a disdainful glance at the useless young man on the bed.

After such a farcical misunderstanding, Mu Wan Yao felt the maids standing in the room, heads bowed, were all stifling laughter.

Her face cold with anger, she snapped: "See the guest out!"

The maid Xiarong whispered: "Should we prepare hangover soup?"

Mu Wan Yao grew even angrier: "No need!"

Xiarong said: "But Erlang has to go to the government office tomorrow. If he doesn't wake up... what if the office sends someone to inquire?"

Mu Wan Yao: ...Then the whole world would know about this embarrassment.

A mischievous smile touched her lips as she snorted: "Then let everyone laugh at our Yan Xiao Er. I hear our Yan Xiao Er has many friends, isn't that right?"