Tigers Sniff the Rose

Lovers who share a close bond often find themselves unable to resist lingering in each other’s company, reluctant to part even for a moment.

Though Yan Shang knew exactly what he needed to do, as Mu Wan Yao accompanied him all the way to this point, he still found it difficult to say, "You should go back now," when he turned to bid her farewell.

Under the shimmering glow of the lanterns, Mu Wan Yao looked up and noticed the hesitation in Yan Shang’s expression.

She felt a mix of amusement and tenderness, thinking to herself, Do men truly feel such reluctance and tenderness toward women?

Then, moved, she reflected, Perhaps only someone as gentle as Yan Shang would be like this.

Hearing the sound of a gong, Mu Wan Yao tilted her head toward the noise. To her surprise, she saw a vendor doing business right in the Pleasure Quarter. They had set up a tent, hung lanterns, and erected bamboo poles.

These clever vendors quickly assembled a simple frame with the poles, hanging small wooden plaques marked with characters like "A," "B," and "C." Correspondingly, the ground was spread with an array of charming trinkets, each matching one of the plaques.

"Dong—" The gong rang out once more, crisp and clear, wielded by the loudly hawking vendor.

"Who’s making all that noise?" Several windows on the upper floor slid open impatiently, and delicate ladies in the midst of their makeup frowned down at the commotion below. "How annoying!"

The vendor, eager to attract customers, put on a cheerful smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, look here! We have arrows ready. If your gentleman companion can shoot the item you desire, it’s yours for free! Just twenty coins per try. And I assure you, every item here is worth more than twenty coins.

"You are all discerning and capable ladies and gentlemen. Come and see for yourselves—am I deceiving you?"

Sure enough, the vendor’s gong and calls drew the attention of many gentlemen visiting the Pleasure Quarter. Arm in arm with their favorite ladies, they took turns drawing bows and shooting arrows, eager to display their skills before the beautiful women. In no time, the small stall was bustling with people.

The people of Chang’an admired those skilled in both literary and martial arts, and here, in front of the ladies, everyone was eager to show off.

Soon, laughter and cheers rose intermittently from the crowd.

Mu Wan Yao found the scene amusing. She wasn’t particularly fond of games, but among the trinkets laid out on the ground were over a dozen vividly painted clay figurines, so lifelike and adorable that they instantly captured her heart. Eager to try, she lowered her head, pondering whether she could pass as a young man and shoot for herself.

The trouble was, Chang’an’s customs were so open that women often wore men’s clothing. At that moment, she was dressed in a quekua robe, typically worn by men, yet no one in Chang’an would mistake her for a man.

In such an open-minded society, where people were discerning, how could she possibly convince anyone she was male?

Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao had only stood there for a short while when his keen ability to read others became evident. With a gentle smile, he said, "Your High… If there’s a trinket you fancy, I could try shooting it for you."

Mu Wan Yao looked up at him.

She studied him from head to toe.

Yan Shang stood tall and straight as a pine, his face as refined as polished jade, exuding an aura of serene elegance and graceful composure.As he grew older and spent more time in Chang'an, his demeanor had improved remarkably. So much so that you simply couldn't associate someone with such refinement with those who wielded swords and practiced martial arts.

After staring at him for a long while, Mu Wan Yao said, "Forget it. Relying on you is no better than hoping my male disguise can fool everyone."

Yan Shang: "..."

He pursed his lips. Even for someone like him, constantly having his capabilities doubted by his beloved couldn't be completely ignored.

Yan Shang said, "My archery is actually quite decent."

He hesitated for a moment.

Yan Shang had never been one to boast, but faced with Mu Wan Yao's complete lack of trust in him, he ultimately suppressed his embarrassment and went against his usual principles to praise himself: "Even General Qin said my skills are sufficient for the battlefield."

Mu Wan Yao looked at him.

She couldn't recall who General Qin was, but Yan Shang actually boasting... After his self-praise, his face flushed unnaturally, showing clear regret and self-reproach.

A once-in-a-millennium occurrence!

Mu Wan Yao immediately became excited and pulled him up: "Come on, come on, let's go practice archery!"

Whether Yan Shang was truly capable or not, she couldn't let this opportunity slip by—just for those words of his.

Wearing a mask, Meng Zaishi stood with arms crossed under the lanterns in front of the building, watching the pair.

He saw the young gentleman being forcibly dragged away by the young princess, half-resisting yet half-yielding.

The young man's bearing was refined and dignified, his features already handsome and clear-eyed. What stood out more was his exceptional demeanor—like polished jade, embodying the ideal of a noble gentleman that Great Wei always admired.

Meng Zaishi clicked his tongue, thinking that Mu Wan Yao was indeed still a princess of Great Wei.

No matter how long she stayed among the Black Barbarians, her aesthetic preferences still leaned toward the trends favored in Great Wei.

Meng Zaishi silently watched them for a long time before following them.

Though Meng Zaishi and his party claimed they had come to Great Wei to gradually study local customs, time was short. To make it for the year-end ceremony, they had traveled quickly with urgent haste.

Among the group, Meng Zaishi possessed the highest martial skills. At this hour tonight, the other Black Barbarians were still traveling through the night. The puppet king was closely watched by Luo Xiu, the envoy sent by the Southern Barbarian King, while Meng Zaishi, the true king of the Black Barbarians, had already entered Chang'an under the pretext of "scouting the situation."

He had come to the most bustling and lively Pleasure Quarter of Chang'an.

Only when the main Black Barbarian forces entered Chang'an the day after tomorrow would Meng Zaishi reunite with them.

Chang'an had a curfew. After entering the city, Meng Zaishi could only freely visit places like the Pleasure Quarter at night. He never expected that here, in the Pleasure Quarter, he would reunite with the Danyang Princess after such a long separation.

Even more unexpected was how restless Mu Wan Yao remained. Having returned to Chang'an for just two years, she already had a handsome young man by her side.

In the past, she had deceived and used him. How much genuine feeling did she hold for the gentleman beside her now?

Meng Zaishi smiled to himself and followed behind them. Seeing them push through the crowd to play at archery, he raised an eyebrow, feeling a spark of interest—

Very well.

Having just arrived in Chang'an, he hadn't brought a greeting gift for the little princess.

Why not win something through archery now and present it to her as a greeting gift?

Meng Zaishi also entered the crowd—

By the time Meng Zaishi quietly squeezed his way in, Yan Shang had already notched an arrow, while Mu Wan Yao stood beside him nervously clutching his sleeve.

Yan Shang said softly, "Your Highness, please don't hold my sleeve. It hinders my movement."

Mu Wan Yao was scolding him, "See? I told you you're no good. You're just too much trouble."With those words, she released his sleeve and even took two steps aside to avoid disturbing him.

A tall man stopped nearby.

The vendor greeted him enthusiastically, "Sir, would you like to try archery? Twenty coins per attempt."

Mu Wan Yao glanced casually sideways, her gaze lingering only briefly on the man's mask before shifting away indifferently, focusing more on Yan Shang's situation.

Meng Zaishi nodded silently, wary that his accent might reveal his true identity. He simply tossed his purse to the vendor, who immediately beamed and fetched a bow and arrows.

Meng Zaishi fiddled with the bow in his hand, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. This was no functional bow—it had been tampered with, making it easy to miss the target.

He shot a glance at the vendor, his eyes cold as blades, seeming to strip away skin and bone, leaving a bloody trail.

The vendor stiffened under that towering, ruthless aura. Reading the situation, he whispered, "Sir, shall I fetch you another bow?"

Meng Zaishi scoffed.

At such close range, he could hit the target with his bare hands—why bother changing bows?

Pushing the vendor aside, Meng Zaishi caught sight of Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao whispering to each other in his peripheral vision, but he paid them no mind. He casually drew the bow, barely aiming before releasing the arrow. At the same moment, the person beside him also let his arrow fly.

A girl's sweet, joyful voice rang out, "You hit it! You hit it!"

Her voice was crisp, like a oriole's song, brimming with excitement and unrestrained laughter.

Hearing it, Meng Zaishi's mind went blank for a moment, thinking she was cheering for him. A faint smile touched his lips as he turned to look beside him, but his gaze froze.

There was no young princess clinging to him, beaming with delight and praising his skill.

Instead, Mu Wan Yao was holding onto Yan Shang's arm, tugging at it happily while hopping and stamping her feet. Despite her male attire, her feminine charm shone through. When she laughed brightly, pulling at Yan Shang, her eyes curved into crescents, devoid of any shadow.

Carefree and girlish, she followed her man joyfully, leaning in to whisper and act playfully coy.

Meng Zaishi stared, his heart feeling hollow.

It seemed he had never seen her so pure before. She was anything but pure when scheming against him... Could it be that the Mu Wan Yao he knew wasn't the real one?

He had taught her not to depend on men, and she had learned well among the Black Barbarians.

So why, upon returning to Great Wei, did she still look up at a man with such adoring, joyful eyes like a little girl?

Lost in thought, Meng Zaishi barely noticed as the vendor reluctantly pointed at the clay figurine, offering it to him. Meng Zaishi gestured with his eyes toward the opposite side, signaling the vendor to give it to Mu Wan Yao.

The vendor glanced back, somewhat hesitant. The young lady clearly had her own man with her, and he had hit the target too... Wouldn't it be inappropriate to approach her so boldly?

But when the vendor tried to argue, Meng Zaishi's icy stare made him shudder. Swallowing his fear, the vendor steeled himself and went over—

Mu Wan Yao happily cradled the clay figurine Yan Shang had won, praising endlessly, "So you really can hit the target?"

Yan Shang sighed, "I told you so earlier. You just didn't believe me."Mu Wan Yao laughed: "Then I believe you now. Quick, quick, quick, help me shoot a few more! I really like their little clay figures."

Yan Shang said quietly: "The street vendor is just trying to make a living, using twenty coins to build goodwill. But the real value of each clay figure—how could it be compared to twenty coins? Since we've already won once and cost him some profit, why not let it be? Don't hinder his business."

Mu Wan Yao: "..."

She looked up expressionlessly, giving him a cold glance, and said: "You're such a killjoy."

Yan Shang said: "If you like them, I'll buy them for you. Just don't shoot arrows anymore."

Mu Wan Yao rolled her eyes at him.

Then, with a shift in her gaze, she pleaded: "How about just one more shot? Look, no one around can hit the target—only we managed it. Some people are saying this stall is a scam, but if you hit it again, wouldn't that prove it's not? Help them out one more time, please?"

She pouted, pointing reluctantly at a grinning clay figure on the ground: "That one's my favorite! I didn't ask you to shoot it earlier because I didn't know you were so rigid. Can you shoot one more time? Just once. Once won't cost him much, right?"

Yan Shang didn't want to see her unhappy. Hesitating, he walked back toward the vendor. Mu Wan Yao immediately beamed, happily following behind him, clutching the clay figure he had already given her.

Unexpectedly, when they approached, they saw the vendor holding the clay figure Mu Wan Yao had her eye on. She grew anxious at once, but before she could ask, the vendor came over to give her the clay figure. Mu Wan Yao stepped back warily, while Yan Shang shielded her and looked questioningly at the vendor.

The vendor smiled wryly: "The guest over there shot it and is giving it to the young lady..."

Yan Shang and Mu Wan Yao looked over and met the gaze of a tall, masked man. Seeing him, Mu Wan Yao's eyes narrowed slightly, instinctively sensing something dangerous about him that made her want to keep her distance.

Mu Wan Yao immediately turned her head away and said coldly: "I don't want it! I'm not interested!

"Second Brother Yan, let's go! I don't want some smelly man's things!"

Caught in the middle—one trying to give, the other refusing to accept—the vendor was nearly driven to tears. Fortunately, Yan Shang was there.

Yan Shang took the clay figure the vendor was offering, smiled politely at the masked man, and said gently: "In that case, thank you for this gift for my sister. However, we are not greedy for such things. Young man, here are twenty coins—please give them to that gentleman."

Yan Shang handed over the money, the vendor accepted it, and Meng Zaishi stared blankly as twenty coins ended up back in his hand.

Meng Zaishi: "..."

Under the flickering lights, shadows intertwined like fire and water. Yan Shang stood illuminated by the lanterns, holding the clay figure, bowed slightly to Meng Zaishi, then turned and led a satisfied Mu Wan Yao into the bustling crowd behind them.

Meng Zaishi looked down again, feeling conflicted as he stared at the few coins lying in his palm. He grew intrigued:

The man the little princess favored this time was eloquent, knew when to advance and retreat—quite unusual indeed—

The encounter between Meng Zaishi and the other two that night passed quietly, unnoticed by anyone. After parting ways with Mu Wan Yao, Yan Shang went to the Northern Quarter in the Pleasure Quarter, putting Mu Wan Yao's mind at ease.The Pleasure Quarter's three lanes, where most courtesans resided, were located in the eastern part of the district. These three lanes were the Central Quarter, Southern Quarter, and Northern Quarter. Among them, the Northern Quarter housed courtesans of middle to lower status. Many official courtesans and daughters of disgraced officials were relegated to the Northern Quarter.

Had Yan Shang gone to the Southern or Central Quarter, Mu Wan Yao might have suspected him of visiting courtesans. But since he was heading to the Northern Quarter... the likelihood of that was minimal. He must genuinely have business to attend to or someone to meet.

Did Yan Shang truly think she had followed him all the way to the Pleasure Quarter because she couldn't bear to part with him? Her primary concern was distrust—she wanted to keep watch over him. She had never trusted men, not even Yan Shang.

Once assured of Yan Shang's innocence, Mu Wan Yao lost interest in his affairs. Clutching two clay figurines, she departed the area and returned to her residence by carriage. Seated inside, she admired the figurines from every angle, unable to put them down.

In the following days, Mu Wan Yao remained preoccupied with preparations for the grand ceremony. With only a few days remaining, she devoted all her energy to this matter.

Naturally, there were those who resented Mu Wan Yao's leadership of the palace banquet for the grand ceremony, discussing it in hushed tones.

When Prince Jin visited his mother, Consort Xian, in the palace, he heard her complain about Mu Wan Yao overstepping her authority.

After venting her frustrations, Consort Xian noticed her son's impassive expression and snapped, "While the Crown Prince and Prince Qin are busy with ceremony preparations, why aren't you making any effort? With the Noble Consort under house arrest, I tried to secure responsibility for the banquet to help you gain the Emperor's favor... yet you seem completely indifferent!"

Prince Jin replied, "I truly am indifferent."

Lowering his gaze, he continued, "I've been copying the Classic of Filial Piety recently and have gained new insights. His Majesty is weary and overburdened—Eldest Brother and Third Brother already demand much of his attention. I should cause him less worry. If you find yourself with idle time, Mother, why not join me in copying texts?"

Consort Xian retorted, "...Are you suggesting I become an idler like you?"

Prince Jin said, "Cultivating one's character and nurturing one's nature is hardly undesirable."

After a prolonged silence under his mother's stern gaze, Prince Jin relented—she was, after all, his mother, and he couldn't completely withhold his thoughts. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "Don't fret, Mother. His Majesty values virtuous rulers and those with good reputations among the common people... My position in the Ministry of Works serves precisely to garner public support."

"Otherwise, why would I cling to the lowest of the Six Ministries if I lacked capability?"

"The Book of Documents states: '(Emperor Yao) was reverent, intelligent, accomplished, thoughtful, and naturally calm. He was sincerely respectful and capable of humility. His light covered the four quarters, reaching heaven and earth. He manifested his brilliant virtue, bringing harmony to the nine clans. When the nine clans were harmonious, he distinguished and ordered the common people. When the common people became enlightened, he harmonized the myriad states.'"

"Since childhood, my tutors emphasized this passage. Sometimes when His Majesty examines my studies, he lingers over this text without turning the page. I suspect he holds this passage in high esteem. Though His Majesty himself may not embody these qualities, he reveres Emperor Yao."

"Throughout his life, Father has encountered countless scheming and ambitious individuals. Being strong-willed and domineering himself, he naturally prefers those who are obedient, honest, and upright. Haven't I spent all these years striving to become exactly that?"

Consort Xian found herself somewhat convinced by Prince Jin's reasoning, though lingering doubts remained.What kind of crown prince His Majesty the Emperor prefers is merely Prince Jin's own speculation. How reliable could such conjecture be? According to Prince Jin's interpretation, the Emperor dislikes arguments based on lineage and opposes theories of ambition. He neither requires exceptional wisdom nor military prowess. Among the three princes, the Emperor should logically favor the Crown Prince least... yet there's no sign of the Emperor imposing restrictions on him.

Prince Jin smiled wryly: "These are merely my conjectures. But once you have a theory, you must follow it through to the end. Abandoning it midway would be the greatest mistake."

Xian Fei remained silent for a long while before saying: "If you insist on walking the path of humility and deference, maintaining this pretense over time will transform you into that very person, with no return to your original self. Such an artificially crafted sage would have cut off all other paths, leaving you incapable of pursuing anything else... Is this truly desirable?"

Prince Jin replied calmly: "I can no longer afford such considerations. Both my elder brothers possess their own strengths. To surpass them, this is the only way."

Xian Fei whispered: "Do you truly believe that by remaining passive, that position will simply fall into your lap?"

Prince Jin remained silent, thinking to himself that perhaps it really might.

Changing the subject with a smile, Prince Jin said: "In a couple of days I'll have Chunhua come to the palace to pay respects to you, Mother. The imperial physicians all say her pregnancy shows signs of a boy, which should be accurate."

Speaking of Prince Jin's offspring, Xian Fei became cheerful. Yet she also expressed concern: "Chunhua's pregnancy is good news, but why has your wife shown no signs so far? Could she be infertile? We should have someone examine her."

Prince Jin responded: "The Princess Consort has already endured enough hardship. She invited Buddhist statues to our residence, filling the entire estate with incense smoke from her devotions. Since she's already struggling so much, Mother, please don't pressure her about children."

Hearing her son defend his wife displeased Xian Fei. Mothers-in-law naturally clash with daughters-in-law, even in the imperial family.

Xian Fei said: "What kind of talk is this? Am I not concerned about her offspring and her status? I've worried myself sick over you all, and now you find me bothersome?"

Her son having no heirs had caused her anxiety for years. Now that hope finally appeared, it was natural she would want more.

It would be best if the Princess Consort Jin could bear children. Whether the first child was boy or girl, it would still be better than the current situation... at least it would prove her fertility.

Now that Prince Jin's household was gradually expanding, with other women able to conceive, if the Princess Consort remained childless, her position would become increasingly unstable—

When the Black Barbarians' envoy arrived in Chang'an, they first reported to the Court of State Ceremonial.

The Court only experienced brief internal panic before systematically receiving the Black Barbarians' delegation. This unhurried composure, demonstrating a great nation's dignity combined with the splendid sights of Chang'an they had witnessed along the way, made the Black Barbarians' party somewhat intimidated.

Facing the officials dispatched by the Great Wei court, Meng Zaishi had the false king lead Luo Xiu - the Southern Barbarian King's envoy supervising them - to rest at the accommodations arranged by the Court of State Ceremonial. Meanwhile, Meng Zaishi took several men to accompany the Great Wei officials to the Court to provide their information for proper arrangements.

For this visit to the Court of State Ceremonial and audience with Great Wei officials, Meng Zaishi had removed his mask as a gesture of respect.

A long scar traversing half his face made his handsome features appear ferocious and terrifying. The receiving officials glanced only once before lowering their heads, avoiding further sight.Arriving at the Court of State Ceremonial, the escorting official breathed a sigh of relief. Meng Zaishi, relying on his halting command of the Great Wei official language, heard the man call out: "Yan Suchen! The Black Barbarians envoy has arrived. Come out quickly to receive them."

It should have been Yan Shang personally handling the reception, but he had been detained by some urgent matters. Another official—who didn’t speak the Black Barbarians’ language—had reluctantly stepped in, hastily cramming a few phrases along the way before meeting the guests. Now that they had reached the Court of State Ceremonial, this official sighed in relief and hurriedly called for Yan Shang to come out.

Meng Zaishi heard a young gentleman’s clear and gentle voice say, "Thank you for your trouble, elder brother. Please go inside and have some tea."

Meng Zaishi looked up and saw a young man in a white round-collared robe, his hair tied under a futou, emerging from the hall and walking toward them.

Elegant and refined, like flowing light upon jade.

The other party descended the steps, raised his eyes to give them a faint smile, and bent to perform a folded-hand salute. He spoke to them in flawless Black Barbarian language: "Gentlemen, please follow me."

His demeanor and bearing made the group of barbarians behind Meng Zaishi somewhat uncomfortable, feeling they had been contrasted into savages.

This young gentleman caused Meng Zaishi to freeze momentarily, for this refined and scholarly youth was clearly the same young man he had seen with Mu Wan Yao that night in the Pleasure Quarter.

Meng Zaishi narrowed his eyes: ...So he's actually an official—

Meng Zaishi and his companions followed Yan Shang, listening as he used their language to explain local customs and matters they needed to pay attention to.

Yan Shang finally said: "I need the birthday congratulatory letter from the Black Barbarians addressed to His Majesty, so I can translate it and present it to the palace."

The people behind Meng Zaishi looked at him blankly, their hearts filled with trepidation. They wondered what letter was needed? They hadn't heard of such a thing.

Unexpectedly, their king had come prepared and tossed out a letter. They watched as the young official glanced down at it, said "good," and prepared to take the letter back for translation, informing them they were free to move about and no longer needed to remain in the Court of State Ceremonial.

Meng Zaishi suddenly spoke in halting Great Wei official language: "May I observe how you translate it?"

Yan Shang was momentarily taken aback. Hearing that the other could actually speak the Great Wei language, he raised an eyebrow slightly and gently agreed.

Yan Shang returned to his office quarters, briefly invited the other to be seated, then sat behind his desk and began copying the letter, translating it into Great Wei language as he wrote.

Meng Zaishi crossed his arms and surveyed the room, his gaze eventually settling on Yan Shang. After staring at him for a long while, he suddenly said: "Earlier I heard your officials address you as 'Yan something.' Is your surname Yan?"

Yan Shang looked up with a smile: "Yes. Do you have any insights, sir?"

Meng Zaishi asked curiously: "Are you also quite familiar with the Danyang Princess?"

Yan Shang paused briefly, then continued writing while remaining amiable: "We've had some encounters."

Meng Zaishi grew even more curious: "Your surnames sound the same. Then do you know someone named 'Yan Shisheng'?"

Yan Shang: "..."

As he adjusted his sleeve and lifted his wrist to write, he slowly raised his eyes to look at Meng Zaishi.

Yan Shisheng was his original name.

He was certain that aside from old acquaintances from Lingnan, his first teacher in Chang'an, and those close to Mu Wan Yao, no one in this world knew his original name was Yan Shisheng.

Therefore, this Black Barbarian's question was quite intriguing.

Yan Shang said slowly: "I believe I've heard the name, though I'm not entirely certain. May I ask why you inquire about this person?"